Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
Kernel Score: 80% · 3,266 ratings · Rated PG-13
Genres: Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Adventure
Released: 1986-05-30
Runtime: 100 minutes
Is Big Trouble in Little China worth watching?
Worth watching. John Carpenter's sorcerer-and-kung-fu action comedy is gloriously daft, with Kurt Russell as a blustering truck driver who isn't the hero he thinks he is. It's silly, quotable and full of invention, and a cult favourite for good reason.
Watch it if you
- like cult '80s action comedy
- enjoy Kurt Russell playing a goofball
- want fun and not seriousness
Skip it if you
- want a polished modern action film
- dislike dated effects and stereotypes
Best for: Fun movie night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Big Trouble in Little China
- Free with ads: Philo
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-22.
Overview
Truck driver Jack Burton gets embroiled in a supernatural battle when his best friend Wang Chi's green-eyed fiancée is kidnapped by henchmen of the sorcerer Lo Pan, who must marry a girl with green eyes in order to return to the human realm.
Big Trouble in Little China parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that this PG-13 fantasy-action-comedy includes martial arts violence, kidnapping, and supernatural peril but is largely lighthearted.
- Violence & scariness: Moderate — Frequent martial arts and fantasy action violence, including kidnapping and battles with a sorcerer's henchmen.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Big Trouble in Little China
If you liked Big Trouble in Little China, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- They Live (1988) — 81%: Another Carpenter cult favourite, this time with satire
- The Thing (1982) — 93%: Carpenter's best, a tense paranoid horror
- Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) — 82%: Lean, tough Carpenter thriller
- Iron Monkey (1993) — 84%: Classic martial arts film with great fights
- Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) — 89%: Wacky fantasy comedy that doesn't take itself seriously
- Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) — 87%: Swashbuckling fantasy adventure with a comic lead
Director
Cast
- Kurt Russell as Jack Burton
- Kim Cattrall as Gracie Law
- Dennis Dun as Wang Chi
- James Hong as David Lo Pan
- Victor Wong as Egg Shen
- Kate Burton as Margo
- Donald Li as Eddie Lee
- Carter Huang Chia-Ta as Thunder
- Peter Kwong as Rain
- James Pax as Lightning
Big Trouble in Little China FAQ
Is Big Trouble in Little China worth watching?
Worth watching. John Carpenter's sorcerer-and-kung-fu action comedy is gloriously daft, with Kurt Russell as a blustering truck driver who isn't the hero he thinks he is. It's silly, quotable and full of invention, and a cult favourite for good reason.
Where can I watch Big Trouble in Little China?
In the US you can watch it free with ads on Philo and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Big Trouble in Little China OK for kids?
Big Trouble in Little China is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that this PG-13 fantasy-action-comedy includes martial arts violence, kidnapping, and supernatural peril but is largely lighthearted.
What movies are like Big Trouble in Little China?
If you liked Big Trouble in Little China, try They Live, The Thing, Assault on Precinct 13 and Iron Monkey.