Big Trouble in Little China

PG-13

Released May 30, 1986

1 hr. 38 min.

Action

Fantasy

List

74%

66 Reviews

Tomatometer

82%

100,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Kurt Russell plays hard-boiled truck driver Jack Burton, who gets caught in a bizarre conflict within, and underneath, San Francisco's Chinatown. An ancient Chinese prince and Chinatown crime lord has kidnapped a beautiful green-eyed woman, who is the fiancee to Jack's best friend. Jack must help his friend rescue the girl before the evil Lo Pan uses her to break the ancient curse that keeps him a fleshless and immortal spirit.

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Critics Consensus

Brimming with energy and packed with humor, Big Trouble in Little China distills kung fu B-movies as affectionately as it subverts them.

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Ted M

Three guys named Goldman, Weinstein and Richter wrote the most cringey cliché ridden "oriental fantasy" possible. Yech!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

04/19/24

Full Review

Alec C

Be prepared for a battle involving monsters, demons and magic; all under the streets of Little China! Truck driver Jack Burton is drawn into a mystical conflict involving his friend Wang as they attempt to save the life of Wang's bride from an evil sorcerer who wants to take over the world. Epic but not entirely serious, this action comedy brings Kurt Russell to the front lines of a battle where he is completely out of his league!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/07/24

Full Review

Taylor S

"Big Trouble in Little China" is unquestionably a classic that effortlessly blends action, comedy, and fantasy in a way that only director John Carpenter can. As I watched the scene cuts and paced through the film, I found myself compelled to do additional research. Even though it was released almost a decade after Halloween, there were still many similarities blended with the truly fun 80s graphics. Speaking of the graphics, while undoubtedly a product of the 1980s, they hold up surprisingly well and add to the movie's nostalgic appeal. The practical effects and martial arts choreography showcase a creative approach that was ahead of its time. The film's fantastical elements, including ancient Chinese mysticism and supernatural forces, come to life with a delightful combination of practical effects and early visual effects, creating a visually engaging experience. One standout feature of the movie is the impeccable cast chemistry. Kurt Russell delivers an almost clueless performance, which balances the film's plot, making it more digestible and allowing other characters to shine. His on-screen chemistry with Dennis Dun adds depth to their bromance, making their dynamic a joy to watch. The supporting cast, including James Hong and Victor Wong, further enhances the ensemble with their unique characters, each contributing to the film's overall charm. Kim Cattrall, however, stole the show for me; this was my first time seeing her in a role before Sex and the City, and I loved it! The plot of "Big Trouble in Little China" is a rollercoaster ride of absurdity and excitement. The story follows Jack Burton as he unintentionally becomes embroiled in a centuries-old battle between good and evil, with mystical forces at play. The film's plot doesn't take itself too seriously, embracing its campy nature and delivering a refreshing and entertaining experience. The fast-paced narrative, coupled with witty dialogue and unexpected twists, keeps viewers engaged from start to finish. In conclusion, you might want to ease into martial arts films starting with this one before diving into something like Raid. "Big Trouble in Little China" was an enjoyable watch, and since it's the most expensive film I've rented so far, it deserved a little review. Thanks for reading.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/24

Full Review

Ari V

Undeniably fun mish mash.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/18/23

Full Review

Matthew D

Kurt Russell goes guns blazing through Chinatown. Director John Carpenter's action comedy Big Trouble in Little China (1986) is hilarious nonsense. Carpenter goes full on with the juice as everything is constantly exploding or getting shot. His sense of humor is clear with characters speaking in exaggerated manner and in endless narration mode. Carpenter's use of practical effects and cutting edge graphics makes Big Trouble in Little China a sheer pleasure to watch. I can easily imagine going back and revisiting this one for fun. Writers David Z. Weinstein and Gary Goldman just have characters constantly spouting silly exposition to Kurt Russell, explaining esoteric Chinese philosophies and mythologies like all magic is real. It's so funny and I liked the strange spiritual story from W.D. Richter. You care about each of these oddball heroes taking on Little China's underground. Casting director Joanna Merlin got great talent for this bizarre ensemble. Kurt Russell is a riot as big talking, muscle bound, and idiotic bystander trucker Jack Burton. He's basically told everything and gets knocked out while his friends fight all his battles. Russell's clear confusion is just too funny throughout Big Trouble in Little China. Kim Cattrall is gorgeous and funny as Gracie Law with her whimsical performance. Dennis Dun steals the film as Jack's best friend Wang Chi with his insane martial arts skills and amiable personality. He's bubbly and cool. I'd say he's the real action star here. Russell just shoots some guys, while Dun takes every guy on in hand to hand combat. Suzee Pai is cute and fun as Miao Yin. Chao-Li Chi is a blast as Wang's Uncle Chu. Kate Burton's Margo Litzenberger is funny with her constant reporting, writing, and complaining. Donald Li is great as her love interest Eddie Lee. James Hong is hysterical and cool as an ancient Chinese sorcerer named David Lo Pan. His magic powers are cool and Hong's hilarious voice and mannerisms are a scream. He steals every moment from the rest of the wonderful cast. Victor Wong is so delightful as the amusing sorcerer Egg Shen. I love this guy. Carter Wong's Thunder, Peter Kwong's Rain, and James Pax's Lightning are all amazing with their martial arts skills and humorous performances. Cinematographer Dean Cundey uses all these striking wide shots for environments and action. The close-ups are gorgeous and so is the atmospheric lighting. Production designer John J. Lloyd's Chinese stylized sets are lovely like Les Gobruegge's art direction. Set decorators George R. Nelson, Steven Schwartz, and Craig Edgar put so many antique looking Chinese furnishings and props everywhere. Richard Edlund's visual effects still look state of the art and are so playful. Composers John Carpenter and Alan Howarth's film score is electrifying. April Ferry's colorful costumes are divine like Ken Chase's imaginative makeup. In short, Big Trouble in Little China is endlessly creative and fun.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/07/23

Full Review

Nooway N

Highly underestimated! One of John Carpenters top-ten. Always fun to watch.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/25/23

Full Review

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John Carpenter

Director

Kurt Russell

Jack Burton

Kim Cattrall

Gracie Law

Dennis Dun

Wang Chi

James Hong

David Lo Pan

Victor Wong

Egg Shen

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James Berardinelli

ReelViews

It's sporadically amusing but not consistently funny. There's plenty of action but minimal tension. And the story never tries hard to be even a little convincing.

Rated: 2/4

Aug 16, 2021

Full Review

Paul Byrnes

Sydney Morning Herald

A rollicking, colourful comic strip of a movie with bells on.

Rated: 2/4

Jun 29, 2021

Full Review

Eleanor Ringel Cater

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Carpenter and his lively cast seem to be having such a good time that the easiest thing to do is relax and enjoy the ride. In a way, this is the movie "Escape from New York" was trying to be but never quite managed to pull off.

Jun 29, 2021

Full Review

Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

On many occasions I have the feeling that its recycling of genres with a B-series formula is hackneyed and terribly boring when Kurt Russell fights in a simple way in the bizarre alleys of Chinatown. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 4/10

Dec 21, 2022

Full Review

Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

...it is certainly great fun—as deliberately absurd a contraption...

Aug 19, 2022

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

...Big Trouble in Little China rises to meet our elevated expectations; fast, chaotic and inventive, its yet another Carpenter film that really deserved more than it got from audiences at the time...

Rated: 4/5

Mar 9, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

Kurt Russell plays hard-boiled truck driver Jack Burton, who gets caught in a bizarre conflict within, and underneath, San Francisco's Chinatown. An ancient Chinese prince and Chinatown crime lord has kidnapped a beautiful green-eyed woman, who is the fiancee to Jack's best friend. Jack must help his friend rescue the girl before the evil Lo Pan uses her to break the ancient curse that keeps him a fleshless and immortal spirit.

Director: John Carpenter
Executive Producer: Keith Barish, Paul Monash
Screenwriter: Gary Goldman, David Weinstein, W.D. Richter
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: TAFT Entertainment, SLM Production Group, Twentieth Century Fox
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 30, 1986, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $11.0M
Sound Mix: Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Mono, Surround, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio: 70mm, Scope (2.35:1)

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