Big Trouble in Little China – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Big Trouble in Little China

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie1986

48%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Kurt Russell fights ancient Chinese sorcerers in this gonzo 80s cult classic that's aged like milk left in a truck cab.

7.2/10

73%

→

Big Trouble in Little China

movie

PG-13, 1986

48%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Kurt Russell fights ancient Chinese sorcerers in this gonzo 80s cult classic that's aged like milk left in a truck cab.

7.2

73%

Jump to

Also rated on

7.2/10

73%

View →

Where to Watch

Loading streaming options...

Where-to-watch data byJustWatch

Screenwise Verdict

Big Trouble in Little China is a cult classic for a reason—it's weird, it's fun, Kurt Russell is a delight, and the mythology is genuinely creative. But let's be real: this movie has aged poorly. The orientalist stereotypes are thick, the pacing drags, and the special effects look like someone's art school project. Modern kids raised on Marvel and fast-cut action will likely find it boring.

If you loved this as a kid and want to share it, go ahead—but prep for a conversation about how we used to depict other cultures in movies (yikes) and be ready for your teen to check their phone halfway through. It's more of a 'appreciate the weird history of action cinema' watch than a 'this still slaps' watch.

For families looking for actual quality martial arts fantasy, try Shang-Chi or even the animated Kung Fu Panda series. This one's for the nostalgia crowd and film students, not for kids seeking genuine entertainment.

Age Fit

Common Sense Media says 14+, and that tracks. Younger teens who like campy action or are curious about cult classics might enjoy it, but honestly, most modern kids will find this dated and hard to sit through. Best for nostalgic adults or film-nerd teens exploring 80s genre cinema.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Kurt Russell's Jack Burton is a lovable buffoon who thinks he's the hero but is actually the sidekick—there's a decent message about humility buried in there. The friendship between Jack and Wang Chi shows loyalty and cross-cultural cooperation. However, the movie traffics in 1980s Chinatown stereotypes and orientalist tropes that feel dated and uncomfortable now. The tone is campy action-comedy, not mean-spirited, but it's also not modeling much beyond 'punch the bad guys.' Pacing is chaotic in that classic John Carpenter way—fun if you're into it, exhausting if you're not.

Imaginative

This movie is genuinely weird and creative. Ancient Chinese sorcery, floating eyeball monsters, lightning-shooting demons, underground lairs beneath San Francisco—it's a gonzo mash-up of martial arts fantasy and trucker action that doesn't take itself seriously. The world-building is thin but the vibe is memorable: green-eyed ghost brides, the Three Storms, David Lo Pan's 2,000-year curse. It invites you into a strange supernatural Chinatown that exists nowhere but in Carpenter's imagination. Not deep, but distinctive.

Safe

PG-13 wasn't a thing yet, so this got away with more than it would today. There's monster violence, some blood (not gory but present), a few jump scares, and women in peril/kidnapping scenarios. One scene has a woman's dress torn. Language is mild but present. No nudity or sex scenes. The bigger safety concern is cultural: the movie leans hard into 1980s 'exotic Orient' clichés that can feel offensive or confusing to kids today. Common Sense Media pegs it at 14, which feels about right—it's not traumatizing, but younger kids might find the monsters scary and the stereotypes bewildering.

Enriching

Entertainment value is high if you're into campy 80s action, but enrichment is thin. The subversion of the white-savior trope (Jack thinks he's the hero but Wang Chi is actually driving the plot) is clever, though kids won't necessarily catch it. There's some exposure to Chinese mythology and folklore, but filtered through a very Western, very silly lens. No real skill-building, limited emotional depth, and the gender dynamics are dated (women exist to be rescued). It's a fun ride, not a learning experience.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Genuinely weird and creative supernatural world with memorable monsters and magic
Subverts the white-savior trope—Jack Burton thinks he's the hero but he's actually the comic relief sidekick
Kurt Russell is charismatic and funny in a role that doesn't take itself seriously
Introduces kids to Chinese mythology and martial arts cinema (through a very silly Western lens)
Cult classic status means it's a cultural touchstone for Gen X parents who want to share it

⚠

What to Watch For

1980s orientalist stereotypes and 'exotic Chinatown' clichés that feel cringey and outdated now—good opportunity to talk about how media representation has (slowly) improved
Monster violence, some blood, jump scares, and women-in-peril scenarios that might frighten younger kids
Pacing and special effects are very 1986—modern kids raised on MCU might find it slow and cheesy
One scene with a woman's dress being torn (not graphic but present)

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think Jack Burton thinks he's the hero when Wang Chi is actually doing most of the work?"
"How does this movie show Chinese culture? Does it feel respectful or more like a cartoon version?"
"The special effects are pretty old-school compared to what we see now—does that make it more fun or less fun to watch?"
"Lo Pan has been cursed for 2,000 years—what would you do if you had to wait that long for something?"

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic