Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- None
- whimsical
- goofy
- sincere
- family movie night
- nostalgic comedy night
What critics said
Critics generally found the film less inspired and less cohesive than its predecessor, despite Paul Reubens's committed comic performance and its family-friendly whimsy.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Pee-wee's eccentric behavior as a small-town farmer drives the film's physical gags and social disruption.
Pee-wee has a fiancée but falls for traveling trapeze artist Gina when the circus arrives.
The traveling circus comes to Pee-wee's small town and reshapes its social and visual environment.
The plot and cast prominently feature Vance the Pig and Duke the Dog-Faced Boy alongside the animal-loving protagonist.
Films like Big Top Pee-wee, and why
Pee-wee's Big Adventure
whimsical family comedy centered on Pee-wee Herman's eccentric physical humor and childlike imagination
Pee-wee's Big Holiday
surreal small-town comedy with eccentric characters, playful romance, and broad visual gags
The Greatest Showman
family-friendly comedy built around a traveling circus, animal characters, and exuberant spectacle
Movie Details
- Director
- Randal Kleiser
- Release Date
- 1988-07-22
- Runtime
- 86 min
- Rating
- 5.0 / 10 (155)
Cast
- Paul Reubens
- Penelope Ann Miller
- Kris Kristofferson
- Valeria Golino
- Benicio del Toro
- Wayne White
- Susan Tyrrell
- Albert Henderson
- Jack Murdock
- David Byrd
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Big Top Pee-wee about?
- A whimsical small-town farmer risks his engagement when a traveling circus awakens his romantic and comic appetite for adventure.
- What is Big Top Pee-wee like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Big Top Pee-wee as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Big Top Pee-wee violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Big Top Pee-wee.
- What did critics think of Big Top Pee-wee?
- Critics generally found the film less inspired and less cohesive than its predecessor, despite Paul Reubens's committed comic performance and its family-friendly whimsy.
- Which films are like Big Top Pee-wee?
- Films with a similar feel include Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Pee-wee's Big Holiday, and The Greatest Showman.
- How long is Big Top Pee-wee?
- Big Top Pee-wee runs 86 minutes.
- Where can I watch Big Top Pee-wee?
- In United States, Big Top Pee-wee is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand.
