The Big Easy is a 1986 American neo-noir[3] romantic thriller film directed by Jim McBride and written by Daniel Petrie Jr.

The film stars Dennis Quaid, Ellen Barkin, John Goodman, and Ned Beatty.

When Remy is allegedly caught accepting a payoff in an Internal Affairs sting, a furious Anne has to prosecute him.

It is later revealed that Jack Kellom, Remy's boss, who is his mother's fiancé, and detectives De Soto and Dodge are behind the spate of murders to cover their involvement in heroin smuggling from a boat yard.

Remy shoots Dodge with a flare gun, starting a fire and with Anne barely escape before the boat explodes.

The producers used well-known locations such as Tipitina's, Antoine's, Blaine Kern's warehouse full of Mardi Gras parade floats, and a French Quarter strip joint, to flesh out the mood of the film.

"[5] Sheila Benson, writing for the Los Angeles Times, wrote, "Screenwriter Daniel Petrie Jr. sets up the conflict, and director Jim McBride fleshes it out with devastating, sexy assurance..."[6] Film critic Vincent Canby was a bit tougher on the film, and wrote, "Remy and Anne are made for each other, or would have been if The Big Easy were the sophisticated comedy it could have been...[the film] was directed by Jim McBride who one day is going to come up with a commercial movie that works all the way through, and not just in patches.

The critics consensus reads, "Loaded with atmosphere and drenched in the sizzling chemistry between Dennis Quaid and Ellen Barkin, The Big Easy remains one of the strongest—and steamiest—thrillers of the 1980s.

The film's director, Jim McBride, was highly involved in the selection of music, ensuring it was authentic to Cajun culture.

An uncredited contributor to the soundtrack was musician David Byrne, who helped McBride locate some of the local artists.

The album contains twelve tracks including "Tipitina", played by New Orleans pianist Professor Longhair (1974 re-recording from his album Rock 'n' Roll Gumbo in the substantially remixed version produced for its 1985 CD reissue),[22] the New Orleans anthem "Iko Iko," by The Dixie Cups, and a ballad, "Closer to You," written and performed by actor Dennis Quaid who also performs the song in the film.