Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure Is The First Tim Burton Movie To Get A Criterion Collection Release
Every filmmaker has that one movie that puts them on the map, and for Tim Burton, it was his very first film, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. Pee-wee’s Big Adventure premiered in 1985, and sees the quirky Pee-wee Herman (Paul Reubens) set off on an adventure to reclaim his stolen bike–but while it’s a quaint little story, it had a massive impact on both Burton and Reubens’ careers. Soon, the family-friendly classic is getting a brand new Criterion Collection–making it the very first Tim Burton movie to get a Criterion Collection release. It will be available in 4K and standard Blu-ray versions, both of which will launch on December 16 and are now available for preorder. You can secure your copy of Pee-wee’s Big Adventure Criterion Collection 4K Blu-ray version for $50, or $40 for the regular Blu-ray release at Amazon.
$50 | Releases December 16
Pee-wee’s Big Adventure Criterion Collection 4K Blu-ray features a full 4K digital restoration of the film supervised and approved by Burton. It supports Dolby Vision HDR, as well as 2.0 and 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio.
Both the 4K and standard Blu-ray versions of the film feature a new cover art illustration. They also pack a selection of bonus features, which we’ve listed below. You can preorder the 4K Blu-ray for $50 or the standard Blu-ray for $40.
Pee-wee’s Big Adventure Special Features
Criterion has added several new interviews conducted by film critic Mark Olsen to his release, featuring Burton, actor Richard Ayoade, film co-writer Michael Varhol, editor Billy Weber, production designer David L. Snyder, and producer Richard Abramson. This joins a selection of archival content like deleted scenes, a 2005 interview with Reubens, and audio commentary tracks.
- Commentary track with Tim Burton and actor/co-writer Paul Reubens
- Music-focused commentary featuring composer Danny Elfman
- Newly recorded conversation between Burton and actor/filmmaker Richard Ayoade
- Brand-new discussions with co-writer Michael Varhol, editor Billy Weber, production designer David L. Snyder, and producer Richard Abramson, moderated by critic Mark Olsen
- A 2005 interview session with Paul Reubens
- Highlights from the film’s 40th-anniversary screening, organized by Nostalgic Nebula and introduced by comedian Dana Gould
- Collection of deleted scenes
- Theatrical trailer
- Printed essay by radio and podcast personality Jesse Thorn
The directorial feature debut of Burton, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure is downright weird. The core plot revolves around Pee-wee setting off on a road trip to recover his beloved stolen bicycle, but things get stranger from there thanks to terrifying clowns, the horror of Large Marge, and a run-in with the rowdy biker gang called Satan’s Helpers. Tequila! Nothing like Pee-wee’s Big Adventure had ever been seen on the big screen before, and it has remained a wonderfully weird film that has never been imitated since it was first released in theaters in 1985.
Pee-wee’s Big Adventure put Burton on the Hollywood map, and in 1988, he directed the ghoulish comedy Beetlejuice. From there, Burton would go on to direct Batman, Batman Returns, and many more movies, and almost all of them have received new 4K releases over the years.
One of the big recent releases from his career is the stop-motion animation movie Corpse Bride, a spiritual successor to his work on The Nightmare Before Christmas. You can preorder the Corpse Bride Limited Edition Steelbook for $30 (was $35) at Amazon and Walmart, and you might want to move fast as this re-release of it has already sold out once. In case you miss out on it, the standard 4K Blu-ray edition is available for $23.79 through Amazon and Walmart.
You can also check out the list below for even more Tim Burton movies on 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray to help fill your collection.
Tim Burton Blu-rays
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