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Action comedy

The Blues Brothers (1980): Cast, Box Office & Plot

The Blues Brothers (1980) movie poster

The Blues Brothers is a 1980 action comedy starring John Belushi as 'Joliet' Jake Blues, Dan Aykroyd and Kathleen Freeman. It runs 2 hours 13 minutes and earned $115.2 million worldwide.

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The Blues Brothers (1980) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 13m (133 min)
Genres
Action , Music , Comedy , Crime
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Blues Brothers About?

The premise of The Blues Brothers without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Fresh out of prison, Jake Blues reunites his old rhythm‑and‑blues band with his brother Elwood for a wild, gospel‑fueled road trip. Their goal: raise enough money to rescue the Catholic orphanage that raised them, all while evading the police and staying true to a “mission from God.”

The Blues Brothers Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • release from prison
  • reckless driving
  • police chase
  • nun
  • police officer
  • shopping mall
  • chicago illinois
  • rhythm and blues music
  • grudge
  • street musician
  • man wears sunglasses
  • prison
+38 more
  • american nazi
  • redemption
  • race against time
  • on the run
  • anti hero
  • ex convict
  • police car
  • state trooper
  • singing
  • sunglasses
  • rock concert
  • flamethrower
  • brother brother relationship
  • arrest
  • car chase
  • car accident
  • orphanage
  • music band
  • scene during opening credits
  • mysterious woman
  • roadblock
  • epiphany
  • catholic
  • singer
  • musical number
  • preacher
  • divine intervention
  • car pileup
  • mass destruction
  • explosion
  • illinois
  • beach
  • attempted murder
  • concert
  • music store
  • restaurant
  • swat team
  • tunnel
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Cast & crew

The Blues Brothers Cast & Characters

John Belushi leads the cast as 'Joliet' Jake Blues, with Dan Aykroyd as Elwood Blues and Kathleen Freeman as Sister Mary Stigmata.

Also Starring in The Blues Brothers

· 64 more
Show all 68 cast members
Plot

The Blues Brothers Plot Summary

What happens in The Blues Brothers from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Jake Blues, John Belushi, a blues vocalist and petty criminal, leaves Joliet Prison after serving three years of a five-year sentence for armed robbery, and is picked up by his brother, Elwood Blues, in a battered former police car. Elwood’s unapologetic swagger and a few high-stakes demonstrations of the car’s capabilities reveal the duo’s reckless charm, as they head toward the Catholic orphanage where they were raised. There, Sister Mary Stigmata, played by Kathleen Freeman, informs them that the orphanage will close unless it can scrape together $5,000 in overdue property taxes.

Full summary

The whole story of The Blues Brothers, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

The Blues Brothers Box Office

The Blues Brothers grossed $115.2 million worldwide. $57.2 million came from the US and Canada and $58 million (50%) from the rest of the world.

1980 box office

Worldwide gross

$115.2M

US & Canada
$57.2M
International
$58M
US & Canada 50% Rest of the world 50%
Videos

The Blues Brothers Videos

2 videos: 2 clips.

Aretha Franklin Sings "Think" in 4K HDR
  • Clip Gimme Some Lovin’ Gets Rejected at the Country Bar in 4K HDR
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Blues Brothers?

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 are the first names of the two brothers who lead the band?

Cars

Cars in The Blues Brothers

92 cars on screen, including the 1974 Dodge Monaco and the 1977 Dodge Royal Monaco.

All 92 cars
  • 1974 Dodge Monaco in The Blues Brothers 1974 Dodge Monaco Featured role
  • 1977 Dodge Royal Monaco in The Blues Brothers 1977 Dodge Royal Monaco Main role
  • 1967 Cadillac Sedan DeVille in The Blues Brothers 1967 Cadillac Sedan DeVille Important role
  • 1974 Chevrolet Bel Air in The Blues Brothers 1974 Chevrolet Bel Air Important role
Details

The Blues Brothers Also Known As

28 alternative titles, including “蓝调兄弟” and “Los Hermanos Caradura”.

Also known as
  • 蓝调兄弟
  • Los Hermanos Caradura
  • The Blues Brothers: Granujas a todo ritmo
  • Os Irmãos Cara de Pau
  • ブルース・ブラザース
  • The Blues Brothers - A blues testvérek
  • O Dueto da Corda
  • Les Blues Brothers
  • The Blues Brothers - I fratelli Blues
  • Granujas a todo ritmo (The Blues Brothers)
  • Братья Блюз
  • Блус Брадърс
+16 more
  • 福禄双霸天
  • Cazcı Kardeşler
  • Bratři Bluesovi
  • Οι Ατσίδες με τα Μπλε
  • האחים בלוז
  • 블루스 브라더스
  • Les Frères Blues
  • Брати Блюз
  • Els Blues Brothers
  • Tình Anh Em
  • 福祿雙霸天
  • Frații Blues
  • Broliai Bliuzai
  • Braća Blues
  • Brata Blues
  • 2 กวนผู้ยิ่งใหญ่

Seen The Blues Brothers?

FAQ

The Blues Brothers FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of The Blues Brothers, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Blues Brothers?

The Blues Brothers runs 2 hours 13 minutes (133 minutes).

When was The Blues Brothers released?

The Blues Brothers was released on June 16, 1980.

Who is in the cast of The Blues Brothers?

The Blues Brothers stars John Belushi as 'Joliet' Jake Blues, Dan Aykroyd as Elwood Blues and Kathleen Freeman as Sister Mary Stigmata, among 68 credited actors.

How much did The Blues Brothers make at the box office?

The Blues Brothers grossed $115.2 million worldwide ($57.2 million domestic, $58 million international).

Does The Blues Brothers have a post-credit scene?

No. The Blues Brothers has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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