Is The Big Easy Worth Watching?
Answer: Yes, The Big Easy is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Drama movies.
It features a runtime of 102 minutes and offers a standard storyline that appeals to mature audiences.
The Big Easy Review
Last updated: January 18, 2026
Detailed Premise & Narrative Foundations
Released in the dynamic cinematic landscape of 1986, The Big Easy emerges as a significant entry in the Drama, Action, Crime, Mystery domain. The narrative core of the film focuses on a sophisticated exploration of Remy McSwain is a New Orleans police lieutenant who investigates the murder of a local mobster. Unlike standard genre fare, The Big Easy attempts to deconstruct traditional tropes, offering a conventional take on its central themes.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Drama is often anchored by its ensemble, and The Big Easy features a noteworthy lineup led by Dennis Quaid . Supported by the likes of Ellen Barkin and Ned Beatty , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
In summary, our editorial assessment of The Big Easy (1986) is mixed. With an audience rating of 6.2/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
The Big Easy Plot Summary & Detailed Storyline
Quick Plot Summary: The Big Easy is a Drama, Action, Crime, Mystery film that explores complex human emotions and relationships through nuanced character development. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
The Big Easy Ending Explained & Final Analysis
Ending Breakdown: The Big Easy concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to drama resolution.
The final reveal recontextualizes earlier scenes, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the drama themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of The Big Easy reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
The Big Easy Real vs. Reel: Is it Based on a True Story?
The Big Easy incorporates elements from real criminal cases. As a drama, action, crime, mystery film, it navigates the space between factual accuracy and narrative engagement.
Historical Context
The film takes creative liberties to enhance dramatic impact. Core events maintain connection to source material while adapting for theatrical presentation.
Creative interpretation shapes the final narrative, focusing on emotional truth over strict chronology.
Accuracy Assessment: The Big Easy adapts its source material for dramatic purposes. The film prioritizes thematic resonance over documentary precision.
Who Should Watch The Big Easy?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Drama films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of the cast or director
- Want a character-driven story with emotional moments
The Big Easy Box Office Collection
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $8.5M |
| Worldwide Gross | $17.7M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
The Big Easy Budget
The estimated production budget for The Big Easy is $8.5M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
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Full Cast & Crew of The Big Easy
- Dennis Quaid – Remy McSwain
- Ellen Barkin – Anne Osborne
- Ned Beatty – Jack Kellom
- John Goodman – Andre DeSoto
- Lisa Jane Persky – McCabe
Top Highlights
Dennis QuaidRemy McSwain
Ellen BarkinAnne Osborne
Ned BeattyJack Kellom
John GoodmanAndre DeSoto
Lisa Jane PerskyMcCabe
Ebbe Roe SmithEd Dodge
Tom O'BrienBobby McSwain
Charles LudlamLamar Parmentel
Grace ZabriskieMama
Marc LawrenceVinnie 'The Cannon' DiMotti
Where to Watch The Big Easy Online?
Streaming Hub🎟️ Rent on
Apple TV
Amazon Video🏷️ Buy on
Apple TVParents Guide & Age Rating
The Big Easy is rated R. Parents should be aware that it contains violence, action sequences, mature themes. It is intended for mature audiences only.
Final Verdict
Analyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 6.2/10, and global collection metrics, The Big Easy stands as a challenging project for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 1986 cinematic year.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Big Easy movie hit or flop?
The Big Easy has received mixed reviews with a 6.2/10 rating, making it a moderate success with the audience.
Is The Big Easy worth watching?
The Big Easy is a mixed bag. It might be worth watching if you're a fan of Drama, Action, Crime movies, but read reviews first.
Where can I watch The Big Easy online?
The Big Easy may be available for rent or purchase on digital platforms like Apple TV, Google Play, or Amazon Prime Video. Specific streaming availability can vary by country.
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How The Big Easy Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for The Big Easy
Decent enough mystery-thriller-romance features good performances from Dennis Quaid and Ellen Barkin. It is on the predictable side but still entertaining enough. **3.5/5**
**_Good ol’ boys on the take in New Orleans with Dennis Quaid and Ellen Barkin_** A new DA assistant (Barkin) arrives in town and zeroes-in on corruption in the force. While the head detective (Quaid) cozies up to her, they try to solve a curious mob-oriented slaying. Ned Beatty, John Goodman, Lisa Jane Persky and Ebbe Roe Smith are on hand as members in the agency. "The Big Easy" (1987) has the office camaraderie of Burt Reynolds’ “Fuzz” from fourteen years prior meshed with the milieu and more serious tone of “Cat People,” Eastwood’s “Tightrope” and Gere’s “No Mercy,” the latter of which came out just months before this. “Cop Land” was obviously influenced by it a decade later. It’s rich with the ambiance of NOLA, including Cajun, zydeco, R&B, and gospel music in the soundtrack. Many praise Quaid’s thick Cajun accent while others view it as overdone. I side with the latter but, then, I tend not to care about accents in movies, so it’s all good (for me). It just seems Dennis’ head detective comes across too convivial, but this can be explained by the fact that Quaid later admitted to being coked-up during the shoot in which he was only sleeping one hour a night. Nevertheless, both Dennis and Ellen consider this the favorite of the many films they've made. While it was overpraised at the time of release and I’d watch “Cat People” and “Cop Land” over it any day, it’s superior to “Fuzz” and certainly worth checking out for those interested. Aside from the amusing (and sometimes grisly) dramatics, not to mention Barkin’s beauty, I liked the insightful commentary on legalism: If you want to get technical about it, people break laws every day, like jaywalking. But what if you ARE the Law? Where do you draw the moral line? How much is too far? Where is the proverbial point of no return? It runs 1 hour, 41 minutes, and was shot in New Orleans. GRADE: B-
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This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
