The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
Seen it?1984 | 103 min | Science Fiction, Comedy, Adventure
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (67% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it's still drawing plenty of interest, though it had a lukewarm 6.0 out of 10 from audiences and a box office loss. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh, sci-fi fans and adventure fans. If you loved Independence Day, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Light and funny, mind-bending.
- The pace
- Breezy, at 1 hr 43 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG: peril. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Adventurer/surgeon/rock musician Buckaroo Banzai and his band of men, the Hong Kong Cavaliers, take on evil alien invaders from the 8th dimension.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
67% on Rotten Tomatoes, 70 on Metacritic
- AudiencesBelow par
6.0 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$6 million worldwide on a $17 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 232K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
Independence Day
Saturday SpecialAlso stars Jeff Goldblum, in another alien adventure, and a Saturday Special.
Stargate: Continuum
Weeknight WatchAnother time-travel adventure, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Sunday Safe BetAnother alien adventure, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Rim of the World
Monday Morning MaybeAnother alien sci-fi film. Fair warning: it's a Monday Morning Maybe.
The Adam Project Sunday Safe BetAnother time-travel adventure, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by W.D. Richter
- Peter WellerBuckaroo Banzai
- John LithgowLord John Whorfin
- Ellen BarkinPenny Priddy
- Jeff GoldblumNew Jersey
- Christopher LloydJohn Bigboote
- Lewis SmithPerfect Tommy
- Rosalind CashJohn Emdall
- Robert ItoProfessor Hikita
- Pepe SernaReno Nevada
- Ronald LaceyPresident Widmark