10 Movies & Shows Like Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985)

Description: Like Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Time Bandits is a whimsical adventure film with a surreal and fantastical tone. Both films feature a protagonist who embarks on an unpredictable journey filled with eccentric characters and bizarre situations. The visual style of Time Bandits, with its imaginative set designs and playful tone, mirrors the quirky aesthetic of Pee-wee's world.

Fact: Directed by Terry Gilliam, a member of Monty Python, the film blends historical and fantasy elements. The movie features a young Sean Connery as King Agamemnon. The film's budget was relatively low, but it became a cult classic.

Description: The Dark Crystal shares Pee-wee's Big Adventure's commitment to practical effects and puppetry, creating a fully realized, immersive world. Both films have a handmade, tactile quality that gives them a unique charm. The Dark Crystal's darker tone contrasts with Pee-wee's playfulness, but both are deeply imaginative and visually stunning.

Fact: Directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz. All characters are puppets—no humans appear on screen. The film initially received mixed reviews but is now regarded as a classic.

Description: The NeverEnding Story captures the same sense of boundless imagination and adventure as Pee-wee's Big Adventure. Both films transport the viewer to fantastical worlds where the rules of reality don't apply, and both blend humor with moments of genuine emotion. The child protagonist's journey in each film is both physical and emotional.

Fact: Based on the German novel by Michael Ende. The Falkor puppet required multiple operators to bring to life. The film's theme song became a major hit in several countries.

Description: The Goonies, like Pee-wee's Big Adventure, is a fun, fast-paced adventure film centered around an unlikely hero (or group of heroes) on a quest. Both films blend humor, excitement, and a sense of nostalgia, appealing to both kids and adults. The camaraderie among the Goonies mirrors Pee-wee's interactions with the various characters he meets.

Fact: Produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by Richard Donner. The underground pirate ship set was one of the largest ever built at the time. The truffle shuffle was improvised by actor Jeff Cohen.

Description: Labyrinth shares Pee-wee's Big Adventure's sense of childlike wonder and adventure, combined with a slightly dark, surreal edge. Both films feature a protagonist navigating a strange, rule-bending world filled with oddball characters. The visual creativity and puppetry in Labyrinth echo the handmade, playful aesthetic of Pee-wee's universe.

Fact: Directed by Jim Henson and starring David Bowie as Jareth the Goblin King. The film initially underperformed at the box office but gained a massive cult following. The iconic dance ballroom scene was inspired by a M.C. Escher painting.

Description: The Princess Bride, like Pee-wee's Big Adventure, is a genre-blending adventure that doesn't take itself too seriously. Both films balance humor, action, and heart, appealing to audiences of all ages. The playful, self-aware tone of The Princess Bride mirrors Pee-wee's irreverent humor and fourth-wall-breaking moments.

Fact: Based on William Goldman's novel, who also wrote the screenplay. Andre the Giant's pain from his back condition affected his performance. The film's famous line 'Inconceivable!' was ad-libbed by Wallace Shawn.

Description: Beetlejuice shares Pee-wee's Big Adventure's offbeat humor and visually inventive style, both being products of Tim Burton's distinctive imagination. The films mix the macabre with the whimsical, creating a unique tone that balances darkness and playfulness. The exaggerated characters and surreal scenarios in both films are hallmarks of Burton's early work.

Fact: Won the Academy Award for Best Makeup. The original script was much darker, with Beetlejuice as a winged, reptilian demon. The iconic dinner table scene was inspired by a Harry Belafonte song.

Description: As a direct follow-up to Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Big Top Pee-wee retains the same quirky humor, surreal situations, and playful visual style. Both films star Paul Reubens as Pee-wee Herman and feature his unique brand of childlike enthusiasm and absurdity.

Fact: Directed by Randal Kleiser, known for Grease. Features early roles for actors like Valeria Golino and Kris Kristofferson. The film's circus setting amplifies the already whimsical tone of the Pee-wee universe.

Description: Honey, I Shrunk the Kids shares Pee-wee's Big Adventure's sense of wonder and adventure, with a focus on seeing the world from a new, exaggerated perspective. Both films use inventive visual effects to create their fantastical worlds, and both maintain a lighthearted, family-friendly tone throughout.

Fact: The backyard set was one of the largest ever built at Disney-MGM Studios. The film's special effects team won a Scientific and Engineering Academy Award. Rick Moranis took the role to spend more time with his family after his wife's passing.

Description: Edward Scissorhands, like Pee-wee's Big Adventure, explores themes of outsiderness and innocence in a stylized, exaggerated world. Both films use distinctive visual aesthetics to create their unique atmospheres—Pee-wee's bright, toy-like world contrasts with Edward's gothic suburbia, but both feel equally surreal and imaginative.

Fact: Johnny Depp's first collaboration with Tim Burton. The suburban sets were inspired by Burton's childhood in Burbank, California. The film's score by Danny Elfman is considered one of his best works.