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Big Top Pee-Wee (1988)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 4.7/10
Reviews Counted: 20
Fresh: 7 | Rotten: 13

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 1
Fresh: 0 | Rotten: 1

audience

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Average Rating: 2.5/5
User Ratings: 29,145

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Movie Info

Paul Reubens's followup to the box-office hit Pee-Wee's Big Adventure is just as outrageous and cartoonish, though not as good. This time, child-man Pee-Wee runs a colorful farm, chock full of talking animals and outsized produce. On the morning after a tornado of Wizard of Oz dimensions, Pee-Wee awakens to discover that a travelling circus has been deposited in his back yard. Befriended by circus owner Kris Kristofferson, Pee-Wee takes an acrobatic job, hoping to impress lovely trapeze artist

PG, 1 hr. 26 min.

Comedy

Directed By: Randal Kleiser

Written By: Paul Reubens, George McGrath

In Theaters: Jul 22, 1988 Wide

On DVD: Jul 6, 2004

Paramount Home Video

Big Top Pee-Wee Trailer & Photos

Cast

Paul Reubens
Pee Wee Herman
Kris Kristofferson
Mace Montana
Valeria Golino
Gina Piccolapupula
Penelope Ann Miller
Winnie
Susan Tyrrell
Midge Montana
Albert Henderson
Mr. Ryan
Terrence Mann
Snowball the Clown
Jack Murdock
Otis
David Byrd
Deke
Mary Jackson
Mrs. Dill
Frances Bay
Mrs. Haynes
Mihaly "Michu" Meszaros
Andy
Joey Arias
Shim the Half Man/Half ...
Franco Columbu
Otto The Strongman
Vance Colvig
Clownie
Benicio Del Toro
Duke the Dog-Faced Boy
Leo Gordon
Joe The Blacksmith
Kevin Peter Hall
Big John
Stephanie Hodge
Matthias Hues
Oscar The Lion Tamer
Jay Robinson
Cock
Anne Seymour
Pearl
Eve Smith
Bunny
Lynne Marie Stewart
Zelda Bearded Lady
Bunny Summers
Costume Woman
Kenneth Tobey
Sheriff
Randy Wayne White
Vance the Pig
John Sherrod
Del The Human Cannonbal...
Dustin Diamond
Child - Deke
Carol Infield Siff
Dot Siamese Twin
Helen Siff
Ruth Siamese Twin

Critic Reviews for Big Top Pee-Wee

All Critics (26) | Top Critics (5) | Fresh (7) | Rotten (15) | DVD (7)

Uneven, loopy cult favorite.

January 2, 2011 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

Scott G. Mignola

Common Sense Media

A yeowling comedy. Look out for those sight gags.

December 5, 2005 Comment (1)

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

It's too bad that Tim Burton went on to bigger and better things.

November 6, 2005 Comment

Kevin Carr

7M Pictures

Even the animals want to run away with another circus.

December 31, 2004 Full Review Source: StaciWilson.com

| Comment

Staci Layne Wilson

StaciWilson.com

If there's a lower form of comedy than circus humor I've yet to encounter it.

July 1, 2004 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com

| Comment (1)

Christopher Null

Filmcritic.com

What a waste.

August 11, 2003 Comment

Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Pee-wee's always funny, but Randal Kleiser doesn't know what to do with him.

January 9, 2003 Comment

Luke Y. Thompson

New Times

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Big Top Pee-Wee

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Not my favorite Pee-Wee, that's for sure. Even though Valeria is a babe, watching Pee-Wee make out with her is creepy. I miss him being my a-sexual friend. The story is a good one, who doesn't want to join the circus?!

April 4, 2011

Alexis Nomm

Super Reviewer

This movie was a horrible follow up to the awesome original Pee-wee movie. If only they could have got Burton back to direct it... of course he was busy making other great movies like Beetlejuice. This one has a ridiculous story and doesn't feel in touch with what you've gotten to know of Pee-Wee's world. I hated it.

September 6, 2010

AJ Verser

Super Reviewer

Big Top Pee-Wee Quotes

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