The Golden Child

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The Golden Child

PG-13

1986

1h 31m

Comedy

Adventure

Fantasy

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

22%

Tomatometer

27 Reviews

47%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

After a Tibetan boy, the mystical Golden Child (J.L. Reate), is kidnapped by the evil Sardo Numspa (Charles Dance), humankind's fate hangs in the balance. On the other side of the world in Los Angeles, the priestess Kee Nang (Charlotte Lewis) seeks the Chosen One, who will save the boy from death. When Nang sees social worker Chandler Jarrell (Eddie Murphy) on television discussing his ability to find missing children, she solicits his expertise, despite his skepticism over being "chosen."

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David Stratton

Sydney Morning Herald

A generally over-produced, over-cooked movie.

May 27, 2021

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

This film -- insignificant and lightweight and monumentally silly -- is entertaining from beginning to end.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 1, 2000

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Paul Attanasio

Washington Post

A half-baked comedy without a heart.

Jan 1, 2000

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Justin Brown

Medium Popcorn

This movie is absolutely madness and the CGI doesn't hold up, but I still find this enjoyable. The 80's were a wild time.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 12, 2025

Full Review

Brandon Collins

Medium Popcorn

There some very intense, oddly gothic moments in this movie that don't match the comedic tone that Eddie Murphy was going for. Lots of things were apparently changed from the initial idea and this is evident in the final product.

Rated: 2/5

Feb 12, 2025

Full Review

Casey Chong

Casey's Movie Mania

[Eddie] Murphy’s role as a wisecracking detective specialising in finding missing children may have been right up his alley. But his usual charismatic turn isn’t enough to offset the slapdash and clunky plot.

Rated: 2.5/5

Jul 4, 2024

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Nick B

The Golden Child is an underrated comedy classic that gets better every time I see it. This is peak Eddie Murphy—electric, hilarious, and completely in command. The story is genuinely unique, kind of in the Big Trouble in Little China lane but with its own flavor, blending supernatural adventure with Murphy’s signature comedic style. The tone pushes PG-13 to its absolute limit, and the action scenes are surprisingly solid. The supporting cast is excellent—Charles Dance chewing up the screen as the villain, Charlotte Lewis, Victor Wong, and J.L. Reate all delivering memorable performances. Add in Ken Ralston and ILM’s fantastic visual effects and Michael Colombier’s unforgettable score, and you’ve got a movie that truly stands out. I honestly don’t know why this wasn’t a massive hit when it came out, or why it took so long to get a proper Blu-ray release. It’s fast, fun, and laugh-out-loud hilarious from start to finish. The haters can kiss my ass. And Teddy too.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/01/25

Full Review

F J

Great old movie. Enjoyed it when I was a kid, and now that I'm 43. People who dog this movie are trying to compare it to a modern film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/22/25

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Erin M

Awesome movie!!! Eddie Murphy was great in this one and a very interesting and action packed movie with a great soundtrack! Classic 80’s goodness!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/12/25

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Sam B

Fantastic movie, 80s classic. If you love Eddie Murphy then you will love this film. The scene with the can and the golden child still makes me smile.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/06/25

Full Review

Heather G

I watched this long ago at the theater and really enjoyed it. I don't get all the bad reviews of this movie, certain parts were a bit cheesy, but I was entertained and I think that is all that matters when walking out of the theater. Eddie Murphy is underrated in most of his movies except for Beverly Hills Cops, which has been milked to the max. Don't listen to all the bad reviews by so called 'critics' -- watch it for yourself then form an opinion.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/04/25

Full Review

Jacob M

A perfect popcorn film to watch on a Saturday afternoon. The type of fun movies were made for.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/21/25

Full Review

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Michael Ritchie

Director

Eddie Murphy

Chandler Jarrell

Charles Dance

Sardo Numspa

Charlotte Lewis

Kee Nang

Victor Wong

The Old Man

Randall "Tex" Cobb

Til

The Golden Child: Official Clip - Chandler's Dream

2:13

The Golden Child: Official Clip - Dancing Pepsi Can

2:13

The Golden Child: Official Clip - Viva Nepal!

2:10

The Golden Child: Official Clip - There's No Ground Here

2:13

The Golden Child: Official Clip - Brother Numpsay!

2:12

The Golden Child: Official Clip - It's Your Destiny

2:13

The Golden Child: Official Clip - Let's Get Outta Here

2:12

The Golden Child: Official Clip - I Want the Knife

2:13

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Synopsis

After a Tibetan boy, the mystical Golden Child (J.L. Reate), is kidnapped by the evil Sardo Numspa (Charles Dance), humankind's fate hangs in the balance. On the other side of the world in Los Angeles, the priestess Kee Nang (Charlotte Lewis) seeks the Chosen One, who will save the boy from death. When Nang sees social worker Chandler Jarrell (Eddie Murphy) on television discussing his ability to find missing children, she solicits his expertise, despite his skepticism over being "chosen."

Director: Michael Ritchie
Producer: Dennis Feldman, Edward S. Feldman, Robert D. Wachs
Screenwriter: Dennis Feldman
Production Co: Paramount, Eddie Murphy Productions, Industrial Light & Magic
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 6, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $78.1M
Runtime: 1h 31m
Sound Mix: Surround

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