The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)
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A polymath hero must save the world from inter-dimensional aliens while navigating a complex web of parallel dimensions and personal history.
The story
Dr. Buckaroo Banzai, a multi-talented polymath, perfects an 'oscillation overthruster' with his mentor, Dr. Tohichi Hikita, allowing objects to pass through solid matter. During a test, Banzai travels to another dimension and returns with a mysterious alien organism. Meanwhile, the incarcerated Dr. Emilio Lizardo, who became trapped between dimensions in 1938, escapes and plots to steal the overthruster. When Banzai is kidnapped by humanoid aliens, he discovers a looming threat: the hostile Red Lectroids from Planet 10 intend to trigger a nuclear World War III unless the overthruster is stopped.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Dr. Buckaroo Banzai and his mentor Dr. Tohichi Hikita perfect the 'oscillation overthruster,' a device that allows objects to pass through solid matter. After Banzai successfully tests it by driving his Jet Car through a mountain, he returns with an alien organism. This alerts the incarcerated Dr. Emilio Lizardo, who was trapped between dimensions in 1938 and became violent, to Banzai's success. Lizardo escapes and plots to steal the overthruster. Banzai, a rock star and physicist, also discovers his late wife's long-lost twin sister, Penny Priddy. During a press conference, Banzai is shocked by humanoid aliens who kidnap Hikita. Banzai rescues him and learns from the peaceful Black Lectroids of Planet 10 that the hostile Red Lectroids, led by Lord John Whorfin, are attempting to use the overthruster to escape the 8th dimension. If they succeed, the Black Lectroids will launch a preemptive nuclear strike on Russia. Banzai and his band, the Hong Kong Cavaliers, track the Red Lectroids to Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems in New Jersey. They find the Red Lectroids have kidnapped Penny and the overthruster. Banzai infiltrates the facility, rescues Penny, and fights the aliens. Whorfin attempts to use an imperfect overthruster to escape, but his ship crashes into the Yoyodyne wall. Banzai and a messenger from the Black Lectroids hijack a pod, destroy Whorfin and the Red Lectroids, and avert the war. Banzai finds Penny, who appears dead, but she is revived by a final burst of electricity from the Black Lectroid leader.
- First release year
- 1984
- Runtime (minutes)
- 102
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- W. D. Richter
- Writers
- Earl Mac Rauch · writer
- Cast and characters
- Peter Weller · Dr. Buckaroo Banzai; John Lithgow · Dr. Emilio Lizardo / Lord John Whorfin; Ellen Barkin · Penny Priddy / Peggy Banzai; Jeff Goldblum · Dr. Sidney Zweibel / "New Jersey"; Christopher Lloyd · John Bigbooté; Lewis Smith · "Perfect Tommy"; Rosalind Cash · John Emdall; Robert Ito · Professor Tohichi Hikita
- Genres
- adventure; science fiction; comedy; romance
- Themes
- multiverse; heroism; science vs. madness
- Tone and mood
- campy; wacky; deadpan; nutty
- Premise and plot tags
- interdimensional travel; alien invasion; mad scientist; multiverse
- Source material / true-story basis
- Original screenplay by Earl Mac Rauch
- Franchise connections
- Buckaroo Banzai
- Reception
- The film was a commercial failure, grossing less than half of its production costs, but it has since developed a loyal cult following and received positive reviews from many critics for its unique style and devotion to its own lunacy.
- Production trivia
- The spaceship models were built using seashells as guides.; The film's ending was originally intended to be different, but a new scene was shot in the style of a music video because the planned song was not ready in time.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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