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Little Buddha

Play trailer 1:34 Poster for Little Buddha PG 1994 2h 3m Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
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63% Tomatometer 27 Reviews 53% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Drawing on Buddhist history to weave a metaphor about the tragedy of Tibetans in exile, Little Buddha is Bernardo Bertolucci's stunning follow-up to The Sheltering Sky. In this religious tour-de-fource, a Buddhist monk, Lama Norbu (Ying Ruocheng), believes that a 10-year-old American boy, Jesse (Alex Wiesendanger), is the reincarnation of his spiritual teacher, Lama Dorje. Jesse's father, Dean (Chris Isaak, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me), and mother, Lisa (Bridget Fonda, Jackie Brown), are skeptical, but following his business partner's suicide, a transformed Dean relents and allows his son to travel to Bhutan. However, there are two other children whom the monk thinks may also be the reincarnation of Lama Dorje.
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Little Buddha

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Critics Consensus

Little Buddha's storytelling may be too childlike to best service its audacious plot, but Bernardo Bertolucci's direction and Vittorio Storaro's cinematography conspire to deliver a visually strong epic.

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Critics Reviews

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Sheila Johnston Independent (UK) It is refreshing to find a heavy-hitting European auteur telling his story with such directness, and delightful to see a serious, artistically exacting film for children, even if you suspect it will soar over that audience. Nov 13, 2017 Full Review Gene Siskel Chicago Tribune In a quiet way, this gorgeous movies accomplishes many things. Rated: 3.5/4 Aug 16, 2017 Full Review Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader Bertolucci's celebrated burnt-orange-and-burnished-lemon look remains handsome, and the story itself still commands some interest as a pivot into daunting material. Dec 7, 2007 Full Review Armond White National Review Little Buddha is peak Bertolucci, which is to say, peak cinema, opulent and awesome, with camera movement that follows thought so that our reception of information provides the joy of learning. Aug 22, 2025 Full Review Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal Although it's a visually resplendent and respectable-on-paper swing for a child-friendly spiritual journey, "Little Buddha" is a gentle and gorgeous that's hopelessly misguided and fatally miscast (although not exactly for the role you may suspect). Rated: 2.5/5 Jul 28, 2025 Full Review Jas Keimig The Stranger (Seattle, WA) This Bernardo Bertolucci film feels like two films stuck together, one more compelling than the other. Jan 11, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Wendy B I really loved the first half of the movie and then it just got too complicated and boring. I had no idea what was happening. But I loved Keanu Reeves. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 12/09/24 Full Review Audience Member I really wanted to like this movie, but it is just trying to do too much and left me wanting more closure on the main story. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review Audience Member This is one of my all time favorites. It may, however, be somewhat confusing to someone who has no familiarity with the teachings of the Buddha. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member Brilliant Film. Quite Possibly the Most Underrated Modern Creative Storytelling of Siddhartha and Valuable Insight into Tibetan Buddhism Concepts and Traditional Values... A Must See for anyone Buddhist or Exploring the Concept of Reincarnation ~~ #PurposefulSources #ProperPerspective #ProductiveEngagement #DivineBirthright #DivineFriendship | 777ADVENTURES Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Excellent movie. As a kid grew up in Dominican Republic, from a the middle class (maybe poor in other place of the planet) I only can dream with the Asian countries through the dictionary or some magazines. We dont have cable, but during the 90' Bertolucci was famous for The Last Emperor (The Last Tango was banned and as a 90's child I cannot get any information) That make me imaging China, and try to figured it how to speak chinese. At the same time I have the opportunity to met taiwanese people and for the first time I have the opportunity to listen about Siddharta story then when I was ten finally they broadcast the film in the public television of my country. Now I am in Taiwan and my wife is taiwanese. So althougt Bertolucci have the Last Tango he demonstrated with the others film, he shows his capacity to be a good director. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Audience Member Little Buddha reminded me of 'The Princess' Bride' but that it tells it's story in a more down-to-earth, realistic & emotional kind of fashion. Keanu Reeves is always a delight to watch as well. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Little Buddha

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Cast & Crew

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Bernardo Bertolucci

Director

Keanu Reeves

Siddhartha

Chris Isaak

Dean Conrad

Bridget Fonda

Lisa Conrad

Alex Wiesendanger

Jesse Conrad

Ying Ruocheng

Lama Norbu

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Little Buddha

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Little Buddha

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Movie Info

Synopsis Drawing on Buddhist history to weave a metaphor about the tragedy of Tibetans in exile, Little Buddha is Bernardo Bertolucci's stunning follow-up to The Sheltering Sky. In this religious tour-de-fource, a Buddhist monk, Lama Norbu (Ying Ruocheng), believes that a 10-year-old American boy, Jesse (Alex Wiesendanger), is the reincarnation of his spiritual teacher, Lama Dorje. Jesse's father, Dean (Chris Isaak, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me), and mother, Lisa (Bridget Fonda, Jackie Brown), are skeptical, but following his business partner's suicide, a transformed Dean relents and allows his son to travel to Bhutan. However, there are two other children whom the monk thinks may also be the reincarnation of Lama Dorje.
Director
Bernardo Bertolucci
Producer
Jeremy Thomas
Screenwriter
Bernardo Bertolucci, Rudy Wurlitzer, Mark Peploe
Distributor
Miramax
Production Co
CiBy 2000, Recorded Pictures Company
Rating
PG
Genre
Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 25, 1994, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
May 9, 2025
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 12, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$2.3M
Runtime
2h 3m
Sound Mix
Surround, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Dolby Digital, Stereo
Aspect Ratio
70mm
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