Pee Wee's Big Adventure

Pee-wee's Big Adventure
Theatrical release poster by John Alvin.
Directed by	Tim Burton
Produced by	Robert Shapiro Richard Gilbert Abramson
Written by	Phil Hartman Paul Reubens Michael Varhol
Starring	Pee-wee Herman Elizabeth Daily Mark Holton Diane Salinger Judd Omen
Music by	Danny Elfman
Cinematography	Victor J. Kemper
Edited by	Billy Weber
Production company	Aspen Film Society
Distributed by	Warner Bros.
Release date	August 9, 1985 (1985-08-09)
Running time	91 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$7 million
Box office	$40.9 million (domestic)

Pee-wee's Big Adventure is a 1985 adventure comedy film directed by Tim Burton in his full-length film directing debut and starring Paul Reubens as Pee-wee Herman with supporting roles provided by Elizabeth Daily, Mark Holton, Diane Salinger, and Judd Omen. Reubens also co-wrote the script with Phil Hartman and Michael Varhol. Based on the 1948 Italian classic The Bicycle Thief, it is the tale of Pee-wee Herman embarking on a nationwide adventure in search for his stolen bicycle.

After the success of The Pee-wee Herman Show, Reubens began writing the script to Pee-wee's Big Adventure when he was hired by Warner Bros. Pictures. The producers and Reubens hired Burton to direct when they were impressed with his work on Vincent and Frankenweenie. Filming took place in both California and Texas.

The film was released on August 9, 1985, grossing over $40 million in North America. It eventually developed into a cult film and has since accumulated positive feedback. The film was nominated for a Young Artist Award and spawned two sequels, Big Top Pee-wee (1988) and Pee-wee's Big Holiday (2016). Its financial success, followed by the equally successful Beetlejuice in 1988, prompted Warner Bros. to hire Burton as the director for the 1989 film Batman.