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Comedy drama

Bagdad Cafe (1988): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Bagdad Cafe (1988) movie poster

Bagdad Cafe is a 1988 comedy drama directed by Percy Adlon, starring Marianne Sägebrecht, CCH Pounder and Jack Palance. It runs 1 hour 35 minutes and earned $3.7 million worldwide. It was nominated for 1 Oscar. Critics gave it 80% on Rotten Tomatoes and 71 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.4/10.

IMDb rating
7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes
80%
worldwide gross
$3.7M
award nominations
2
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Bagdad Cafe (1988) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 35m (95 min)
Director
Percy Adlon
Genres
Drama , Comedy
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Bagdad Cafe About?

The premise of Bagdad Cafe without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Stranded in the American Southwest due to car trouble, Jasmin seeks refuge at the unusual Bagdad Café. Initially experiencing friction with the café’s owner, she unexpectedly forges an unlikely friendship. This leads to a longer-than-expected stay amongst the café’s diverse and eccentric group of travelers, where Jasmin ultimately finds a sense of belonging and a surprising place within their vibrant, chaotic world.

Bagdad Cafe Themes & Keywords

· 32 tags
  • restaurant
  • f rated
  • ringing telephone
  • place name in title
  • desert motel
  • stranded in the desert
  • wife finds a new love interest
  • truck driver
  • house cleaning
  • quirky comedy
  • strong coffee
  • county sheriff
+20 more
  • immigrant
  • desolate place
  • magic show
  • east german woman
  • cross cultural relationship
  • marital reconciliation
  • aspiring pianist
  • scene before opening credits
  • desert landscape
  • cult film
  • motor home
  • rainbow
  • female protagonist
  • nude modeling
  • painting
  • boomerang
  • independent film
  • female topless nudity
  • female nudity
  • water tower
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Cast & crew

Bagdad Cafe Cast

Marianne Sägebrecht leads the cast, with CCH Pounder and Jack Palance. Directed by Percy Adlon.

From the director

More from Percy Adlon

More films directed by Percy Adlon: Mahler on the Couch, Younger and Younger, Salmonberries and Red Hot + Blue: A Tribute to Cole Porter.

Full filmography
Ratings

Bagdad Cafe Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Bagdad Cafe 80% on Rotten Tomatoes and 71 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.4/10.

Plot

Bagdad Cafe Plot Summary

What happens in Bagdad Cafe from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

German tourist Jasmin Münchgstettner (Marianne Sägebrecht) finds herself in a quarrel with her husband, Hans Stadlbauer, prompting her to storm off along a desolate desert highway. Coincidentally, Brenda (CCH Pounder), the fiery owner of the rundown Bagdad Cafe, experiences her own marital troubles when she has an argument with her husband, who also drives away.

As fate would have it, Jasmin arrives at the Bagdad Cafe, pulling her suitcase behind her, and inquires about a room at the adjacent motel that sits in the heart of the California desert. Settling in, she forms a bond with Brenda’s children and Rudi Cox (Jack Palance), a washed-up set designer from Tinsel Town who frequents the cafe.

Full summary

The whole story of Bagdad Cafe, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Bagdad Cafe Box Office

Bagdad Cafe grossed $3.7 million worldwide. $3.6 million came from the US and Canada and $144,526 (4%) from the rest of the world.

1988 box office

Worldwide gross

$3.7M

US & Canada
$3.6M
International
$144.5K
US & Canada 96% Rest of the world 4%
Awards

Bagdad Cafe Awards & Nominations

Bagdad Cafe was nominated for 1 Oscar. The 2 nominations come from 2 ceremonies.

2 nominations2 ceremonies

Videos

Bagdad Cafe Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Bagdad Cafe.

BAGDA CAFÉ - Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Bagdad Cafe?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What prompts Jasmin to leave her husband?

Cars

Cars in Bagdad Cafe

13 cars on screen, including the 1971 Buick Skylark and the 1964 Chevrolet C-10.

All 13 cars
  • 1971 Buick Skylark in Bagdad Cafe 1971 Buick Skylark Important role
  • 1964 Chevrolet C-10 in Bagdad Cafe 1964 Chevrolet C-10 Important role
  • 1981 Dodge Diplomat in Bagdad Cafe 1981 Dodge Diplomat Important role
  • 1985 Lincoln Town Car in Bagdad Cafe 1985 Lincoln Town Car Important role
Details

Bagdad Cafe Also Known As

12 alternative titles, including “Καφέ Μπαγκντάτ” and “バグダッド・カフェ”.

Also known as
  • Καφέ Μπαγκντάτ
  • バグダッド・カフェ
  • Bagdad Café
  • 甜蜜咖啡屋
  • קפה בגדד
  • 바그다드 카페
  • Кафе «Багдад»
  • Bağdat Cafe
  • Далеч от Розенхайм
  • Багдад кафе
  • 巴格达咖啡馆
  • Hotel Bagdad

Seen Bagdad Cafe?

FAQ

Bagdad Cafe FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Bagdad Cafe, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Bagdad Cafe?

Bagdad Cafe runs 1 hour 35 minutes (95 minutes).

When was Bagdad Cafe released?

Bagdad Cafe was released on April 22, 1988.

Who directed Bagdad Cafe?

Bagdad Cafe was directed by Percy Adlon.

More films by Percy Adlon

Who is in the cast of Bagdad Cafe?

Bagdad Cafe stars Marianne Sägebrecht, CCH Pounder and Jack Palance.

How much did Bagdad Cafe make at the box office?

Bagdad Cafe grossed $3.7 million worldwide ($3.6 million domestic, $144,526 international).

How is Bagdad Cafe rated?

Bagdad Cafe has 7.4/10 on IMDb, 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, 71 on Metacritic and 72% on TMDB.

Was Bagdad Cafe nominated for any awards?

Bagdad Cafe received 2 nominations across 2 ceremonies.

Does Bagdad Cafe have a post-credit scene?

No. Bagdad Cafe has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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