Pee-wee's Big Adventure

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Pee-wee's Big Adventure

PG

1985

1h 31m

Kids & Family

Comedy

Adventure

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

78%

Tomatometer

113 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Pee-wee Herman (Paul Reubens), an eccentric child-like man, loves his red bicycle and will not sell it to his envious neighbor, Francis (Mark Holton). While Pee-wee visits his friend Dottie (Elizabeth Daily), the bike is stolen. Thinking his bike is at the Alamo, Pee-wee sets off on a trip, where he meets many remarkable people, including waitress Simone (Diane Salinger) and a motorcycle gang. Eventually, Pee-wee discovers that his bike is being used in a movie and tries to recover it.

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Critics Consensus

Pee-wee's Big Adventure brings Paul Reubens' famous character to the big screen intact, along with enough inspired silliness to dazzle children of all ages.

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Liam Lacey

Globe and Mail

Oct 8

Pee-Wee's Big Adventure may be the freshest comedy since Spinal Tap.

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David Edelstein

Village Voice

Jul 30

Pee-wee's Big Adventure is spun out of childish delight and childish malice.

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Archer Winsten

New York Post

Jul 30

For me the film was like a nightmare that left an indelible impression of Pee-wee Herman himself, simpering, mincing, smiling his tight little smile, eternally hopeful. But the action itself remains a total blank.

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South Florida Sun-Sentinel Staff

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Aug 12

2.5/4

[A] tale of zany invention and fascinating images.

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Carolyn Clay

Boston Phoenix

Jul 30

The film is funniest at the beginning.

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Carlos

Sep 28

Great times seeing this on the Big Screen again!

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Jimmy C

Jun 12

Love the movie, it's a classic and Paul Rueben, the late Phil Hartman and Tim Burton created a piece of history with this film.

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Sarah F

Jun 9

Brought back great memories. And the audience participation was a bonus.

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James R

12/28/2023

I called it a classic and it said, “I know you are, but what am I?”

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Bluesideup

08/09/2023

Just a great story about a boy and his bike. And by the way, the cast is excellent, brilliant director and writers, the perfect score and lots of wonderful low budget effects.

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marlen m

07/04/2022

A true joy to see on the big screen. Non stop nostalgia and Pee Wee with his cooler than you devil may care attitude make it difficult to look away. All the quotes, so many by the time this is over you'll find yourself saying can we do this again?

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Tim Burton

Director

Paul Reubens

Pee-wee Herman

E.G. Daily

Dottie

Mark Holton

Francis

Diane Salinger

Simone

Tony Bill

Terry Hawthorne

Dennis the Menace

28%

39%

Dennis the Menace

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44%

63%

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TRAILER

for Space Jam

Big Top Pee-wee

35%

31%

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50%

63%

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Richie Rich

27%

32%

Richie Rich

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Synopsis

Pee-wee Herman (Paul Reubens), an eccentric child-like man, loves his red bicycle and will not sell it to his envious neighbor, Francis (Mark Holton). While Pee-wee visits his friend Dottie (Elizabeth Daily), the bike is stolen. Thinking his bike is at the Alamo, Pee-wee sets off on a trip, where he meets many remarkable people, including waitress Simone (Diane Salinger) and a motorcycle gang. Eventually, Pee-wee discovers that his bike is being used in a movie and tries to recover it.

Director: Tim Burton
Producer: Richard Abramson, Robert Shapiro, Paul Reubens
Screenwriter: Phil Hartman, Michael Varhol
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Warner Brothers, Aspen Film Society
Rating: PG
Genre: Kids & Family, Comedy, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 19, 1985, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $40.9M
Runtime: 1h 31m
Sound Mix: Surround

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