Big Top Pee-wee

PG

Released Jul 22, 1988

1 hr. 26 min.

Kids & Family

Comedy

List

38%

21 Reviews

Tomatometer

30%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Playful Pee-wee Herman (Paul Reubens) operates a fantastical farm with talking animals and hot-dog trees. One day, after a giant tornado hits, Pee-wee finds a circus has landed in his yard. He befriends the manager, Mace Montana (Kris Kristofferson), and develops a crush on a trapeze performer (Valeria Golino), even though he already has a fiancée (Penelope Ann Miller). Pee-wee tries to excite the town about the new circus, but most of the residents want it gone and harass Pee-wee because of it.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Premiered Apr 17

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Paramount+

Apple TV

Watch Big Top Pee-wee with a subscription on Paramount+, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

Critics Consensus

Its endearingly oddball lead character gives it his all, but Big Top Pee-Wee simply lacks the whimsical magic of its predecessor.

Read Critics Reviews

Jeff M

I think PEE-WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE is one of the great cinematic pleasures of the 1980s - a coloring book come to life. This film is everything that its predecessor is not. Such a disappointment! I'm not going to over-analyze a Pee-Wee Herman movie, but let me give you two major complaints. 1) There are no interesting supporting characters here, whereas BIG ADVENTURE had a tapestry of unforgettable personalities, some of which were onscreen for only moments but left a lasting impression. 2) Forgive me for being blunt, but I don't want to see a horny Pee-Wee Herman. One of the joys of this character is his innocence and childlike naïveté. To see him jumping on not one but two characters is disheartening. I must also credit Tim Burton for making the first Pee-Wee Herman movie such a marvelous concoction of whimsy and bliss. This feels like nothing more than a pale Xerox!

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/11/24

Full Review

Retro C

The sequel to Pee-wee's Big Adventure, which was directed by Tim Burton, Big Top Pee-wee stars Paul Reubens in what is a brand new Pee-wee Herman adventure mostly divorced from the original film. With Randal Kleiser taking over directing duties, Pee-wee now finds himself living on the farm. His iconic home from the first film is nowhere to be seen, Speck the dog is absent, the colorful world we came to know in Pee-wee's Big Adventure is no more. This feeling is matched in the story itself as Pee-wee copes with the fact that his life has changed so much. Pee-wee is in a relationship with Winnie (Penelope Ann Miller) but all they do is have sandwiches together, so there's some frustration there. And then, after a tornado, the circus crashes into Pee-wee's yard... Following Tim Burton's iconic first movie was always going to be tough but this sequel makes a fine attempt. The new setting and general vibe are jarring, at first, but the film invites you into this Big Top story so skillfully that you'll be in for the ride pretty quickly. Danny Elfman is back on scoring duties, though he introduces a brand new theme here, which is surprising also. Paul Reubens continues to be a riot as the bizarre man-child Pee-wee, while Kris Kristofferson brings some good old-fashioned earnestness to the film giving it a timeless old Hollywood feel. The love triangle between Pee-wee, Winnie and trapeze artist Gina (Valeria Golino) should mostly entertain less young viewers because of the edgier humor and innuendos. Big Top Pee-wee feels very different but it also makes sense as a sequel. Dropping Pee-wee in a fresh environment keeps things new but the tone isn't a departure from the one set by Tim Burton, it just works in its own unique way. It lacks the energy and visual punch of the original, true, but it's funny, clever and it has a good amount of charm. This one deserved better.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/12/23

Full Review

Jeffrey M

Big Top Pee Wee was an amazing movie. I watched it this morning so it is fresh in my mind. Big Top Pee Wee was a funny movie, and guess what? I LOVE comedy. Big Top Pee Wee was also a very bizarre movie. What a good movie. I give it a 71%.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/17/24

Full Review

Ethan G

No longer charmingly random, just random and boring.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

09/09/23

Full Review

StephenPaul C

LOL, the funniest 01 hour: and 26 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/05/23

Full Review

Angie Y

One of Paul Reubens' biggest theatrical embarrassments. It lacks the charm of Playhouse, and doesn't have ANY of its characters (no Miss Yvonne, Reba, no one). No wonder if got a $15 million box off ice return. Taking a bizarre and inexplicable turn, this travesty has no connection to either the first film or the television series. I don't find circus humor funny at all. Not too mention the love interest is a one-dimensional joke; she's no Dottie OR Miss Yvonne.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Randal Kleiser

Director

Paul Reubens

Pee-wee Herman

Kris Kristofferson

Mace Montana

Valeria Golino

Gina Piccolapupula

Penelope Ann Miller

Winnie

Susan Tyrrell

Midge Montana

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Big Top Pee-wee: Official Clip - Pee-Wee Gets His Way

1:12

Big Top Pee-wee: Official Clip - Big Top Big Finale

1:46

Big Top Pee-wee: Official Clip - Gina Takes Pee Wee's Breath Away

1:35

Big Top Pee-wee: Official Clip - Picnic With Winnie

1:15

Big Top Pee-wee: Official Clip - A Long Kiss

1:59

Big Top Pee-wee: Official Clip - Agriculture 101

1:23

Big Top Pee-wee: Official Clip - Pee-Wee's Introduction

1:21

View more videos

97%

80%

The Bad News Bears

TRAILER

for The Bad News Bears

58%

39%

Popeye

88%

79%

Pee-wee's Big Adventure

38%

54%

Short Circuit 2

25%

51%

Ernest Scared Stupid

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

New on Prime Video and Freevee in September 2022

View more photos

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Big Top Pee-wee is as guileless and cheerful as Pee-wee's first movie, Pee-wee's Big Adventure, but it's not as magical.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Elizabeth Pincus

Gay Community News (Boston)

A wildly perverse movie, filled with gender jokes, dry wit and downright weird interactions.

Aug 24, 2022

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Big Top Pee-wee benefits substantially from Reubens' winning work as the always-appealing Pee-wee Herman...

Rated: 2.5/4

Jan 21, 2021

Full Review

Scott G. Mignola

Common Sense Media

Uneven, loopy cult favorite.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 2, 2011

Full Review

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

A yeowling comedy. Look out for those sight gags.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 5, 2005

Full Review

Kevin Carr

Fat Guys at the Movies

Lacking the energy and the off-kilter consistency of the first film, this sequel does manage to have a few fun moments.

Rated: 2/4

Nov 6, 2005

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

Playful Pee-wee Herman (Paul Reubens) operates a fantastical farm with talking animals and hot-dog trees. One day, after a giant tornado hits, Pee-wee finds a circus has landed in his yard. He befriends the manager, Mace Montana (Kris Kristofferson), and develops a crush on a trapeze performer (Valeria Golino), even though he already has a fiancée (Penelope Ann Miller). Pee-wee tries to excite the town about the new circus, but most of the residents want it gone and harass Pee-wee because of it.

Director: Randal Kleiser
Screenwriter: Paul Reubens, George McGrath
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Kids & Family, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 22, 1988, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $14.9M
Sound Mix: Surround

Most Popular at Home Now