Pee-wee’s Big Adventure

Screened as a tribute to the late, great Paul Reubens, Tim Burton’s feature debut about a boy and his bike bridles with joyful exuberance.

  • Director

    Tim Burton

  • With

    Paul Reubens, Elizabeth Daily, Mark Holton

  • USA 1985. 90min

  • Digital

  • Certificate

    U

When Pee-wee Herman’s idyllic world is destroyed by the theft of his fire-engine-red bicycle, the pre-pubescent adult sets out on a manic cross-country odyssey to recover his most valued possession. Screened as a tribute to the late, great Paul Reubens, Tim Burton’s feature debut bridles with joyful exuberance. Revelling in the absurd and the unexpected, there is also something Lynchian in the sense of nostalgia for simpler times.

See Pee Wee's Big Adventure with intro by BFI CEO Ben Roberts on Friday 12 January.

BFI Film Academy Recommends

BFI Film Academy Recommends highlights films and events for young people aged 16-25, picked by the BFI Film Academy Young Programmers.

Tim Burton’s debut feature is a wacky and wildly inventive comedy that will have you laughing out loud throughout. It’s almost impossible not to fall in love with Pee-Wee’s zest for life and the wonderful ensemble of characters who whole-heartedly embrace his eccentricity and friendship. The film offers young people potential life lessons in finding acceptance by simply being your authentically weird self and will remind anyone that change shouldn’t be avoided, because sometimes it’s necessary for an adventure.

Young Programmer, Rosie Bailey