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Big Trouble in Little China

  • 19861986
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
137K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
925
330
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Kim Cattrall, Kurt Russell, and James Hong in Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
Home Video Trailer from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Play trailer2:47
3 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Comedy

A rough-and-tumble trucker and his side kick face off with an ancient sorcerer in a supernatural battle beneath Chinatown.A rough-and-tumble trucker and his side kick face off with an ancient sorcerer in a supernatural battle beneath Chinatown.A rough-and-tumble trucker and his side kick face off with an ancient sorcerer in a supernatural battle beneath Chinatown.

IMDb RATING
7.2/10
137K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
925
330
  • Director
    • John Carpenter
  • Writers
    • Gary Goldman
    • David Z. Weinstein
    • W.D. Richter(adaptation)
  • Stars
    • Kurt Russell
    • Kim Cattrall
    • Dennis Dun
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Carpenter
  • Writers
    • Gary Goldman
    • David Z. Weinstein
    • W.D. Richter(adaptation)
  • Stars
    • Kurt Russell
    • Kim Cattrall
    • Dennis Dun
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 443User reviews
    • 233Critic reviews
    • 53Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination

    Videos3

    Big Trouble In Little China
    Trailer 2:47
    Big Trouble In Little China
    Ghost Hunters: Season 2
    Trailer 1:01
    Ghost Hunters: Season 2
    Through the Lens: Defining Carpenteresque and Why It Belongs in the Dictionary
    Clip 4:54
    Through the Lens: Defining Carpenteresque and Why It Belongs in the Dictionary

    Photos164

    Peter Kwong, James Pax, and Carter Wong in Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
    Kurt Russell in Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
    Kim Cattrall, Kurt Russell, Dennis Dun, and Suzee Pai in Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
    L-R Sitting, Kurt Russell, three extras, Standing, Paul J.Q. Lee, Sitting,
    Kim Cattrall, Kurt Russell, Dennis Dun, Peter Kwong, Suzee Pai, James Pax, and Carter Wong in Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
    Kim Cattrall, Kurt Russell, James Hong, and Suzee Pai in Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
    Kim Cattrall, Kurt Russell, James Hong, and Suzee Pai in Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
    Kurt Russell, James Hong, Peter Kwong, Suzee Pai, James Pax, Carter Wong, and Victor Wong in Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
    Kim Cattrall, Kurt Russell, James Hong, and Suzee Pai in Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
    Kim Cattrall and Kurt Russell in Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
    Kim Cattrall and Kurt Russell in Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
    Kim Cattrall and Kurt Russell in Big Trouble in Little China (1986)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kurt Russell
    Kurt Russell
    • Jack Burtonas Jack Burton
    Kim Cattrall
    Kim Cattrall
    • Gracie Lawas Gracie Law
    Dennis Dun
    Dennis Dun
    • Wang Chias Wang Chi
    James Hong
    James Hong
    • David Lo Panas David Lo Pan
    Victor Wong
    Victor Wong
    • Egg Shenas Egg Shen
    Kate Burton
    Kate Burton
    • Margoas Margo
    Donald Li
    Donald Li
    • Eddie Leeas Eddie Lee
    Carter Wong
    Carter Wong
    • Thunderas Thunder
    Peter Kwong
    Peter Kwong
    • Rainas Rain
    James Pax
    James Pax
    • Lightningas Lightning
    Suzee Pai
    Suzee Pai
    • Miao Yinas Miao Yin
    Chao Li Chi
    Chao Li Chi
    • Uncle Chuas Uncle Chu
    Jeff Imada
    Jeff Imada
    • Needlesas Needles
    Rummel Mor
    Rummel Mor
    • Joe Luckyas Joe Lucky
    Craig Ng
    Craig Ng
    • One Earas One Ear
    June Kyoto Lu
    June Kyoto Lu
    • White Tigeras White Tiger
    • (as June Kim)
    Noel Toy
    • Mrs. O'Tooleas Mrs. O'Toole
    Jade Go
    • Chinese Girl in White Tigeras Chinese Girl in White Tiger
    • Director
      • John Carpenter
    • Writers
      • Gary Goldman
      • David Z. Weinstein
      • W.D. Richter(adaptation)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Truck driver Jack Burton arrives in Chinatown, San Francisco, and goes to the airport with his Chinese friend Wang Chi to welcome his green-eyed fiancée Miao Yin who is arriving from China. However she is kidnapped on the arrival by a Chinese street gang and Jack and Wang chase the group. Soon they learn that the powerful evil sorcerer called David Lo Pan, who has been cursed more than two thousand years ago to exist without physical body, needs to marry a woman with green eyes to retrieve his physical body and Miao is the chosen one. Jack and Wang team-up with the lawyer Gracie Law, the bus driver and sorcerer apprentice Egg Shen and their friends and embark in a great adventure in the underground of Chinatown, where they face a world of magicians and magic, monsters and martial arts fighters. —Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
    • truck driver
    • green eyes
    • chinatown
    • 1980s
    • chinese
    • 194 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Adventure doesn't come any bigger!
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Adventure
      • Comedy
      • Fantasy
    • Certificate
      • PG-13
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Kurt Russell confessed on the DVD commentary that he was afraid of starring in the movie because he had made a string of movies that flopped at the box office. When he asked John Carpenter about it, he told Kurt that it didn't matter to him - he just wanted to make the movie with him.
    • Goofs
      In the first fight scene in the alleyway that Jack and Wang witness, the same stuntman can be seen charging, fighting, and indeed being KO'd alternately dressed as a Chang Sing, or Wing Kong.
    • Quotes

      Jack Burton: When some wild-eyed, eight-foot-tall maniac grabs your neck, taps the back of your favorite head up against the barroom wall, and he looks you crooked in the eye and he asks you if ya paid your dues, you just stare that big sucker right back in the eye, and you remember what ol' Jack Burton always says at a time like that: "Have ya paid your dues, Jack?" "Yessir, the check is in the mail."

    • Alternate versions
      There is an alternate version with an extended ending scene (seen on its Special Edition DVD/Blu-ray), where, after the story is finished, Kurt Russel, in his truck again, finds the 3 punks from the beginning sitting in their sports car by the docks. He then decidedly drives forward, smashing into their car and throwing it, with them inside, into the sea. It was removed from the official theatrical version, being donned as "Too vengeful." after test screenings.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Psycho III/About Last Night.../Ruthless People/Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
    • Soundtracks
      Big Trouble in Little China
      Written by John Carpenter

      Performed by The Coupe de Villes

    User reviews443

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    One of the Greatest Action and Popcorn Movies of the 80's
    The truck driver Jack Burton (Kurt Russel) arrives in Chinatown, San Francisco, and goes to the airport with his Chinese friend Wang Chi (Dennis Dun) to welcome his green-eyed fiancée Miao Yin (Suzee Pai) that is arriving from China. However she is kidnapped on the arrival by a Chinese street gang and Jack and Wang chase the group. Soon they learn that the powerful evil sorcerer called David Lo Pan (James Hong), who has been cursed more than two thousand years ago to exist without physical body, needs to marry a woman with green eyes to retrieve his physical body and Miao is the chosen one. Jack and Wang team-up with the lawyer Gracie Law (Kim Cattrall), the bus driver and sorcerer apprentice Egg Shen (Victor Wong) and their friends and embark in a great adventure in the underground of Chinatown, where they face a world of magicians and magic, monsters and martial arts fighters.

    "Big Trouble in Little China" is one of the best action movies of the 80's. The director John Carpenter deserves an Oscar for his filmography. It is amazing how many great movies John Carpenter has offered for us, lovers of action / sci-fi / horror movies. "Big Trouble in Little China" combines action, comedy and magic and in Brazil has been presented many times in the afternoon / popcorn session of TV. Kurt Russel is great in this type of movie, and Kim Cattral (the ex-Lieutenant Klingon of Star Trek and the nymphomaniac Samantha in "Sex and the City" ) is gorgeous as Gracie Law. "Big Trouble in Little China" is a great entertainment for the whole family. My vote is eight.

    Title (Brazil): "Os Aventureiros do Bairro Proibido" ("The Adventurers of the Forbidden Zone")

    Note: On 14 November 2014, I saw this movie again. Note: On 03 October 2020, I saw this movie again.
    helpful•28
    6
    • claudio_carvalho
    • Oct 12, 2003

    FAQ4

    • Who is Jack talking to on his CB radio at the beginning and end of the film?
    • What happened to Jack Burton at the movie's ending?
    • Why does Thunder explode?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 2, 1986 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Site
    • Languages
      • English
      • Cantonese
    • Also known as
      • John Carpenter's Big Trouble in Little China
    • Filming locations
      • San Francisco, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Twentieth Century Fox
      • TAFT Entertainment Pictures
      • SLM Production Group
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $25,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $11,100,000
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $2,723,211
      • Jul 6, 1986
    • Gross worldwide
      • $11,100,577
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 39 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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