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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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

63 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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Michael Wilmington

Los Angeles Times

Burton has a real flair for comic horror and tension, an ability to dance right on that thin line between terror and hilarity.

Jul 29, 2025

Full Review

Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

The clumsy chase through the movie studio that ends the film is an act of utter desperation.

Rated: 0/4

Jul 29, 2025

Full Review

Jay Carr

Boston Globe

"Pee-wee's Big Adventure" is a shrewdly observed, deftly executed looney tune.

Jul 29, 2025

Full Review

Peter Stack

San Francisco Examiner

Crazy fun.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 29, 2025

Full Review

Jo Berry

Movies4Kids

It’s all completely bonkers in a way that kids will love, and a lot of the enjoyment depends on whether you love the man-child that is Pee-wee or find him squeakily irritating. Watch and decide for yourself…

Rated: 4/5

Jul 28, 2025

Full Review

IGN Staff

IGN Movies

There is no way I can overstate how amazing Danny Elfman's score for this movie is. It's fantastic.

Rated: 9/10

Jul 28, 2025

Full Review

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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

Full Review

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%

39%

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43%

63%

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36%

31%

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50%

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Richie Rich

27%

32%

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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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