Pee Wee's Big Adventure (1985)

Theatrical Performance
Domestic Box Office $40,940,662Details
Further financial details...

Metrics

Opening Weekend:$99,184 (0.2% of total gross)
Legs:9.01 (domestic box office/biggest weekend)
Domestic Share:100.0% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Production Budget:$7,000,000 (worldwide box office is 5.8 times production budget)
Theater counts:21 opening theaters/894 max. theaters, 12.6 weeks average run per theater
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $124,321,212

Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists

RecordRankAmount
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 2,201-2,300) 2,284 $40,940,662
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 3,501-3,600) 3,574 $40,940,662

See the Box Office tab (Domestic) and International tab (International and Worldwide) for more Cumulative Box Office Records.


Movie Details

Domestic Releases: July 26th, 1985 (Wide) by Warner Bros., released as Pee Wee's Big Adventure
International Releases: September 24th, 1987 (Wide), released as Pee Wee's Big Adventure (Australia)
September 29th, 2023 (Limited), released as Pee Wee's Big Adventure (Australia)
Video Release: February 17th, 1986 by Warner Home Video, released as Pee Wee's Big Adventure
MPAA Rating: PG
Running Time: 86 minutes
Franchise: Pee Wee
Comparisons: vs. Bacheha-Ye aseman
Create your own comparison chart…
Keywords: Family Adventure, Fake Psychics, Road Trip, Movie Business, Hitchhiker, Haunting
Source:Original Screenplay
Genre:Adventure
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Contemporary Fiction
Production/Financing Companies: Warner Bros.
Production Countries: United States
Languages: English

Ranking on other Records and Milestones

RecordRankAmountChart
Date		Days In
Release
Labor Day (All Movies, 3-Day, Inflation Adjusted) 144 $12,506,697 Aug 30, 1985 38

Compare this performance with other movies…

Domestic Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 2,201-2,300) 2,284 $40,940,662
All Time Domestic Inflation Adjusted Box Office (Rank 1,301-1,400) 1,331 $124,321,212
All Time Domestic Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 1,701-1,800) 1,774 $40,940,662
Top 1985 Movies at the Domestic Box Office 20 $40,940,662
All Time Domestic Box Office for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 1,001-1,100) 1,072 $40,940,662
All Time Domestic Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 1,901-2,000) 1,903 $40,940,662
All Time Domestic Box Office for Contemporary Fiction Movies (Rank 1,101-1,200) 1,105 $40,940,662
All Time Domestic Box Office for Adventure Movies (Rank 401-500) 456 $40,940,662
All Time Domestic Box Office for PG Movies (Rank 501-600) 553 $40,940,662
All Time Domestic Box Office for Warner Bros. Movies (Rank 301-400) 382 $40,940,662

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Jul 26, 1985 21 $99,184   21 $4,723   $99,184 1
Aug 2, 1985 24 $78,758 -21% 18 $4,375   $499,160 2
Aug 9, 1985 3 $4,545,847 +5,672% 829 $5,484   $5,110,805 3
Aug 16, 1985 3 $4,404,500 -3% 840 $5,243   $12,886,345 4
Aug 23, 1985 3 $4,004,890 -9% 892 $4,490   $19,764,662 5
Aug 30, 1985 3 $4,039,924 +1% 894 $4,519   $25,765,490 6
Sep 6, 1985 3 $2,190,447 -46% 888 $2,467   $28,627,393 7
Sep 13, 1985 3 $1,762,572 -20% 877 $2,010   $30,914,965 8
Sep 20, 1985 4 $1,653,437 -6% 882 $1,875   $33,049,152 9
Sep 27, 1985 5 $1,331,689 -19% 881 $1,512   $34,800,757 10
Oct 4, 1985 6 $1,204,856 -10% 842 $1,431   $36,335,997 11
Oct 11, 1985 12 $1,037,521 -14% 859 $1,208   $37,663,072 12
Oct 18, 1985 11 $791,566 -24% 771 $1,027   $38,651,130 13
Oct 25, 1985 14 $605,495 -24% 677 $894   $39,490,698 14
Nov 1, 1985 16 $575,313 -5% 581 $990   $40,246,236 15
Nov 8, 1985 17 $531,658 -8% 557 $955   $40,940,662 16

Daily Box Office Performance

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Jul 26, 1985 18 $420,402   21 $20,019   $420,402 1
Aug 2, 1985 23 $144,556 -66% 18 $8,031   $564,958 2
Aug 9, 1985 3 $7,916,887 +5,377% 829 $9,550   $8,481,845 3
Aug 16, 1985 2 $7,277,927 -8% 840 $8,664   $15,759,772 4
Aug 23, 1985 3 $5,965,794 -18% 892 $6,688   $21,725,566 5
Aug 30, 1985 3 $4,711,380 -21% 894 $5,270   $26,436,946 6
Sep 6, 1985 4 $2,715,447 -42% 888 $3,058   $29,152,393 7
Sep 13, 1985 3 $2,243,322 -17% 877 $2,558   $31,395,715 8
Sep 20, 1985 4 $2,073,353 -8% 882 $2,351   $33,469,068 9
Sep 27, 1985 5 $1,662,073 -20% 881 $1,887   $35,131,141 10
Oct 4, 1985 6 $1,494,410 -10% 842 $1,775   $36,625,551 11
Oct 11, 1985 12 $1,234,013 -17% 859 $1,437   $37,859,564 12
Oct 18, 1985 12 $1,025,639 -17% 771 $1,330   $38,885,203 13
Oct 25, 1985 14 $785,720 -23% 677 $1,161   $39,670,923 14
Nov 1, 1985 15 $738,081 -6% 581 $1,270   $40,409,004 15

Box Office Summary Per Territory

Territory Release
Date		 Opening
Weekend		 Opening
Weekend
Screens		 Maximum
Screens		 Theatrical
Engagements		 Total
Box Office		 Report
Date
Australia 9/24/1987 $0000$0
 
International Total$0

Worldwide Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 3,501-3,600) 3,574 $40,940,662
All Time Worldwide Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 2,901-3,000) 2,902 $40,940,662
Top 1985 Movies at the Worldwide Box Office 21 $40,940,662
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 1,701-1,800) 1,771 $40,940,662
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 3,001-3,100) 3,029 $40,940,662
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Contemporary Fiction Movies (Rank 1,701-1,800) 1,798 $40,940,662
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Adventure Movies (Rank 601-700) 622 $40,940,662
All Time Worldwide Box Office for PG Movies (Rank 601-700) 660 $40,940,662
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Warner Bros. Movies (Rank 401-500) 468 $40,940,662

DEG Watched At Home Top 20 Charts

DateRank
Aug 5, 202314

Leading Cast

Paul Reubens    Pee-Wee Herman

Supporting Cast

Elizabeth Daily    Dottie
Mark Holton    Francis
Diane Salinger    Simone
Judd Omen    Mickey
Irving Hellman    Neighbor
Monte Landis    Mario
Damon Martin    Chip
David Glasser    BMX Kid
Gregory Brown    BMX Racer
Mark Everett    BMX Kid
Daryl Roach    Chuck
Bill Cable    Policeman
Peter Looney    Policeman
Starletta DuPois    Sgt. Hunter
Toru Tanaka    Butler
Ed Herlihy    Mr. Buxton
Ralph Seymour    Francis' Accomplice
Lou Cutell    Amazing Larry
Raymond Martino    Gang Member
Erica Yohn    Madam Ruby
Bill Richmond    Highway Patrolman
Alice Nunn    Large Marge
Ed Griffith    Trucker
Simmy Bow    Man in Diner
Jon Harris    Andy
Carmen Filpi    Hobo Jack
Jan Hooks    Tina
John Moody    Bus Clerk
John O'Neill    Cowboy
Alex Sharp    Cowboy
Chester Grimes    Biker
Luis Contreras    Biker
Lonnie Parkinson    Biker
Howard Hirdler    Biker
Cassandra Peterson    Biker Mama
Jason Hervey    Kevin Morton
Bob McClurg    Studio Guard
John Paragon    Movie Lot Actor
Susan Barnes    Movie Lot Actress
Zachary Hoffman    Director
Lynne Marie Stewart    Mother Superior
George Sasaki    Japanese Director
Richard Brose    Tarzan
Drew Seward    Kid
Brett Fellman    Kid
Bob Drew    Fireman
John Gilgreen    Policeman at Pet Shop
Noreen Hennessy    Reporter
Phil Hartman    Reporter
Michael Varhol    Photographer
David Rothenberg    Hobo
Patrick Cranshaw    Hobo
Sunshine Parker    Hobo
Gilles Savard    Pierre
James Brolin    "P.W."
Morgan Fairchild    "Dottie"
Tony Bill    Terry Hawthorne
Dee Snider    Member of Twisted Sister
Eddie Ojeda    Member of Twisted Sister
Jay Jay French    Member of Twisted Sister

For a description of the different acting role types we use to categorize acting perfomances, see our Glossary.

Production and Technical Credits

Tim Burton    Director
Robert Shapiro    Producer
Richard Gilbert Abramson    Producer
Phil Hartman    Screenwriter
Paul Reubens    Screenwriter
Michael Varhol    Screenwriter
William E. McEuen    Executive Producer
Victor J. Kemper    Director of Photography
Danny Elfman    Composer
Robert P. Cohen*    Assistant Director
David Silver    Unit Production Manager
David L Snyder    Production Designer
Thomas L. Roysden    Set Decorator
Aggie Guerard Rodgers    Costume Designer
Billy Weber    Editor
Petur Hliddal    Sound Mixer
Terry Porter    Re-recording Mixer
David J. Hudson    Re-recording Mixer
Neil Brody    Re-recording Mixer
Cecelia Hall    Supervising Sound Editor
David B. Cohn    Supervising Sound Editor
Denise Horta    Sound Editor
Joey Ippolito    Sound Editor
David Pettijohn    Sound Editor
Bob Badami    Music Editor
Wally Nicita    Casting Director
Paul Baxley    Stunt Coordinator

The bold credits above the line are the "above-the-line" credits, the other the "below-the-line" credits.


  1. Summary
  2. News
  3. Box Office
  4. International
  5. Video Sales
  6. Cast & Crew
  7. Trailer

Metrics

Opening Weekend:$99,184 (0.2% of total gross)
Legs:9.01 (domestic box office/biggest weekend)
Domestic Share:100.0% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Production Budget:$7,000,000 (worldwide box office is 5.8 times production budget)
Theater counts:21 opening theaters/894 max. theaters, 12.6 weeks average run per theater
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $124,321,212

Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists

RecordRankAmount
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 2,201-2,300) 2,284 $40,940,662
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 3,501-3,600) 3,574 $40,940,662

See the Box Office tab (Domestic) and International tab (International and Worldwide) for more Cumulative Box Office Records.


Movie Details

Domestic Releases: July 26th, 1985 (Wide) by Warner Bros., released as Pee Wee's Big Adventure
International Releases: September 24th, 1987 (Wide), released as Pee Wee's Big Adventure (Australia)
September 29th, 2023 (Limited), released as Pee Wee's Big Adventure (Australia)
Video Release: February 17th, 1986 by Warner Home Video, released as Pee Wee's Big Adventure
MPAA Rating: PG
Running Time: 86 minutes
Franchise: Pee Wee
Comparisons: vs. Bacheha-Ye aseman
Create your own comparison chart…
Keywords: Family Adventure, Fake Psychics, Road Trip, Movie Business, Hitchhiker, Haunting
Source:Original Screenplay
Genre:Adventure
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Contemporary Fiction
Production/Financing Companies: Warner Bros.
Production Countries: United States
Languages: English

Ranking on other Records and Milestones

RecordRankAmountChart
Date		Days In
Release
Labor Day (All Movies, 3-Day, Inflation Adjusted) 144 $12,506,697 Aug 30, 1985 38

Leading Cast

Paul Reubens    Pee-Wee Herman

Supporting Cast

Elizabeth Daily    Dottie
Mark Holton    Francis
Diane Salinger    Simone
Judd Omen    Mickey
Irving Hellman    Neighbor
Monte Landis    Mario
Damon Martin    Chip
David Glasser    BMX Kid
Gregory Brown    BMX Racer
Mark Everett    BMX Kid
Daryl Roach    Chuck
Bill Cable    Policeman
Peter Looney    Policeman
Starletta DuPois    Sgt. Hunter
Toru Tanaka    Butler
Ed Herlihy    Mr. Buxton
Ralph Seymour    Francis' Accomplice
Lou Cutell    Amazing Larry
Raymond Martino    Gang Member
Erica Yohn    Madam Ruby
Bill Richmond    Highway Patrolman
Alice Nunn    Large Marge
Ed Griffith    Trucker
Simmy Bow    Man in Diner
Jon Harris    Andy
Carmen Filpi    Hobo Jack
Jan Hooks    Tina
John Moody    Bus Clerk
John O'Neill    Cowboy
Alex Sharp    Cowboy
Chester Grimes    Biker
Luis Contreras    Biker
Lonnie Parkinson    Biker
Howard Hirdler    Biker
Cassandra Peterson    Biker Mama
Jason Hervey    Kevin Morton
Bob McClurg    Studio Guard
John Paragon    Movie Lot Actor
Susan Barnes    Movie Lot Actress
Zachary Hoffman    Director
Lynne Marie Stewart    Mother Superior
George Sasaki    Japanese Director
Richard Brose    Tarzan
Drew Seward    Kid
Brett Fellman    Kid
Bob Drew    Fireman
John Gilgreen    Policeman at Pet Shop
Noreen Hennessy    Reporter
Phil Hartman    Reporter
Michael Varhol    Photographer
David Rothenberg    Hobo
Patrick Cranshaw    Hobo
Sunshine Parker    Hobo
Gilles Savard    Pierre
James Brolin    "P.W."
Morgan Fairchild    "Dottie"
Tony Bill    Terry Hawthorne
Dee Snider    Member of Twisted Sister
Eddie Ojeda    Member of Twisted Sister
Jay Jay French    Member of Twisted Sister

For a description of the different acting role types we use to categorize acting perfomances, see our Glossary.

Production and Technical Credits

Tim Burton    Director
Robert Shapiro    Producer
Richard Gilbert Abramson    Producer
Phil Hartman    Screenwriter
Paul Reubens    Screenwriter
Michael Varhol    Screenwriter
William E. McEuen    Executive Producer
Victor J. Kemper    Director of Photography
Danny Elfman    Composer
Robert P. Cohen*    Assistant Director
David Silver    Unit Production Manager
David L Snyder    Production Designer
Thomas L. Roysden    Set Decorator
Aggie Guerard Rodgers    Costume Designer
Billy Weber    Editor
Petur Hliddal    Sound Mixer
Terry Porter    Re-recording Mixer
David J. Hudson    Re-recording Mixer
Neil Brody    Re-recording Mixer
Cecelia Hall    Supervising Sound Editor
David B. Cohn    Supervising Sound Editor
Denise Horta    Sound Editor
Joey Ippolito    Sound Editor
David Pettijohn    Sound Editor
Bob Badami    Music Editor
Wally Nicita    Casting Director
Paul Baxley    Stunt Coordinator

The bold credits above the line are the "above-the-line" credits, the other the "below-the-line" credits.

Compare this performance with other movies…

Domestic Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 2,201-2,300) 2,284 $40,940,662
All Time Domestic Inflation Adjusted Box Office (Rank 1,301-1,400) 1,331 $124,321,212
All Time Domestic Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 1,701-1,800) 1,774 $40,940,662
Top 1985 Movies at the Domestic Box Office 20 $40,940,662
All Time Domestic Box Office for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 1,001-1,100) 1,072 $40,940,662
All Time Domestic Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 1,901-2,000) 1,903 $40,940,662
All Time Domestic Box Office for Contemporary Fiction Movies (Rank 1,101-1,200) 1,105 $40,940,662
All Time Domestic Box Office for Adventure Movies (Rank 401-500) 456 $40,940,662
All Time Domestic Box Office for PG Movies (Rank 501-600) 553 $40,940,662
All Time Domestic Box Office for Warner Bros. Movies (Rank 301-400) 382 $40,940,662

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Jul 26, 1985 21 $99,184   21 $4,723   $99,184 1
Aug 2, 1985 24 $78,758 -21% 18 $4,375   $499,160 2
Aug 9, 1985 3 $4,545,847 +5,672% 829 $5,484   $5,110,805 3
Aug 16, 1985 3 $4,404,500 -3% 840 $5,243   $12,886,345 4
Aug 23, 1985 3 $4,004,890 -9% 892 $4,490   $19,764,662 5
Aug 30, 1985 3 $4,039,924 +1% 894 $4,519   $25,765,490 6
Sep 6, 1985 3 $2,190,447 -46% 888 $2,467   $28,627,393 7
Sep 13, 1985 3 $1,762,572 -20% 877 $2,010   $30,914,965 8
Sep 20, 1985 4 $1,653,437 -6% 882 $1,875   $33,049,152 9
Sep 27, 1985 5 $1,331,689 -19% 881 $1,512   $34,800,757 10
Oct 4, 1985 6 $1,204,856 -10% 842 $1,431   $36,335,997 11
Oct 11, 1985 12 $1,037,521 -14% 859 $1,208   $37,663,072 12
Oct 18, 1985 11 $791,566 -24% 771 $1,027   $38,651,130 13
Oct 25, 1985 14 $605,495 -24% 677 $894   $39,490,698 14
Nov 1, 1985 16 $575,313 -5% 581 $990   $40,246,236 15
Nov 8, 1985 17 $531,658 -8% 557 $955   $40,940,662 16

Daily Box Office Performance

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Jul 26, 1985 18 $420,402   21 $20,019   $420,402 1
Aug 2, 1985 23 $144,556 -66% 18 $8,031   $564,958 2
Aug 9, 1985 3 $7,916,887 +5,377% 829 $9,550   $8,481,845 3
Aug 16, 1985 2 $7,277,927 -8% 840 $8,664   $15,759,772 4
Aug 23, 1985 3 $5,965,794 -18% 892 $6,688   $21,725,566 5
Aug 30, 1985 3 $4,711,380 -21% 894 $5,270   $26,436,946 6
Sep 6, 1985 4 $2,715,447 -42% 888 $3,058   $29,152,393 7
Sep 13, 1985 3 $2,243,322 -17% 877 $2,558   $31,395,715 8
Sep 20, 1985 4 $2,073,353 -8% 882 $2,351   $33,469,068 9
Sep 27, 1985 5 $1,662,073 -20% 881 $1,887   $35,131,141 10
Oct 4, 1985 6 $1,494,410 -10% 842 $1,775   $36,625,551 11
Oct 11, 1985 12 $1,234,013 -17% 859 $1,437   $37,859,564 12
Oct 18, 1985 12 $1,025,639 -17% 771 $1,330   $38,885,203 13
Oct 25, 1985 14 $785,720 -23% 677 $1,161   $39,670,923 14
Nov 1, 1985 15 $738,081 -6% 581 $1,270   $40,409,004 15

Box Office Summary Per Territory

Territory Release
Date		 Opening
Weekend		 Opening
Weekend
Screens		 Maximum
Screens		 Theatrical
Engagements		 Total
Box Office		 Report
Date
Australia 9/24/1987 $0000$0
 
International Total$0

Worldwide Cumulative Box Office Records

RecordRankRevenue
All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 3,501-3,600) 3,574 $40,940,662
All Time Worldwide Non-Sequel Box Office (Rank 2,901-3,000) 2,902 $40,940,662
Top 1985 Movies at the Worldwide Box Office 21 $40,940,662
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 1,701-1,800) 1,771 $40,940,662
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Live Action Movies (Rank 3,001-3,100) 3,029 $40,940,662
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Contemporary Fiction Movies (Rank 1,701-1,800) 1,798 $40,940,662
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Adventure Movies (Rank 601-700) 622 $40,940,662
All Time Worldwide Box Office for PG Movies (Rank 601-700) 660 $40,940,662
All Time Worldwide Box Office for Warner Bros. Movies (Rank 401-500) 468 $40,940,662

DEG Watched At Home Top 20 Charts

DateRank
Aug 5, 202314