Big Top Pee-wee
Directed by Randal Kleiser
Paul Reubens stars as Pee-wee Herman in his second full-length film about a farmer who joins the circus after a storm drops a big tent in his front yard. Pee-wee, along with an outlandish cast of animals and circus performers, puts on the best show ever.
Where to Watch Big Top Pee-wee
- Ecto-1AApril 3, 2026🎪 Step right up… and lower your expectations. 🐘 After the success of Big Adventure, Big Top Pee-wee had a towering expectation to meet. Even with the return of composer Danny Elfman and Pee-wee himself, Paul Reubens, strong writing was the one thing that could have held it all together… and that’s exactly where it falters. Even as a kid, I found the sequel underwhelming and unappealing. I grew up on Pee-wee, but my attachment was always stronger with the first film and the Saturday morning series. Like many kids’ movies, there’s usually a layer of humor meant to keep adults engaged, whether they’re in the theater or watching from the couch. Here, though, the script leans more into awkward sexualization than the clever, offbeat comedy that defined Pee-wee’s charm. Most of the characters are likable, with the glaring exception of the townsfolk, who feel so exaggeratedly unpleasant they border on caricature. It’s hard to imagine anyone warming to them. Overall, the writing comes across as lazy and, at times, sloppy. What made the original film and show memorable was their eccentricity and whimsical spirit; this sequel trades that magic for something far less inspired. The whole production feels hastily assembled, confined largely to a single setting and lacking the creative spark that once made Pee-wee’s world so vibrant. It had all the ingredients for something special, which makes its shortcomings all the more disappointing.
Big Top Pee-wee Trivia
Big Top Pee-wee was released on July 22, 1988.
Big Top Pee-wee was directed by Randal Kleiser.
Big Top Pee-wee has a runtime of 86m.
Big Top Pee-wee was produced by Paul Reubens, Debra Hill.
Paul Reubens stars as Pee-wee Herman in his second full-length film about a farmer who joins the circus after a storm drops a big tent in his front yard. Pee-wee, along with an outlandish cast of animals and circus performers, puts on the best show ever.
The key characters in Big Top Pee-wee are Pee-wee Herman (Paul Reubens), Winnie (Penelope Ann Miller), Mace Montana (Kris Kristofferson).
Big Top Pee-wee is rated PG.
Big Top Pee-wee is a Comedy, Family, Romance film.
Big Top Pee-wee has an audience rating of 3.1 out of 10.
Big Top Pee-wee had a budget of $20M.
Big Top Pee-wee has made $15.1M at the box office.