Pee-wee's Big Adventure

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Pee-wee's Big Adventure

PG

Released Jul 19, 1985

1h 30m

Kids & Family

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

88%

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52 Reviews

79%

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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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Paul Attanasio

Washington Post

"Pee-wee's Big Adventure" isn't a movie but a collection of found objects from the garbage heap of low culture...

Jan 2, 2018

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Reubens always lets us feel superior to his creation, and when his character slips, as it does more than once in this first feature outing, his own condescension shows through.

Feb 9, 2010

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TIME Magazine

Fair warning: this movie could induce terminal boredom in adults and rot the minds of the young.

Feb 9, 2010

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Pee-wee’s quest is quite the eccentric odyssey, as if audiences are taking a drug-addled trip through his playful nightmares.

Rated: 6/10

Nov 8, 2024

Full Review

Megan Fisher

Loud and Clear Reviews

With Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, Tim Burton arrives on the filmmaking scene fully formed, with a ghoulishly whimsical visual style and instinct for offbeat comedy.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 13, 2024

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Erica Peplin

Vague Visages

The gender play, sexual politics and physical comedy shine as brightly as the 100-watt headlight on its star’s beloved bike.

Dec 5, 2023

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Jimmy C

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.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/12/25

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Sarah F

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/09/25

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James R

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/28/23

Full Review

Bluesideup

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.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/09/23

Full Review

marlen m

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?

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/04/22

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John D

Classic scenes and lines from a talented cast.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/19/21

Full Review

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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

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28%

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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, Paul Reubens, Michael Varhol
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Warner Brothers, Aspen Film Society
Rating: PG
Genre: Kids & Family, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 19, 1985, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $40.9M
Runtime: 1h 30m
Sound Mix: Surround

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