John Lithgow Talks Buckaroo Banzai

[@platinumspider7859]

Take me to the dimension where this movie got the credit it deserves and was a smash hit please.

[@zylaxis]

Take me to the dimension where all the sequels got made, especially "Buckaroo Banzai vs. The World Crime League."

[@MadHax-wt5tl]

That would be somewhere in the 8th dimension I believe.

[@craiganderson7986]

You would have to go back to the Times Square movie theaters of 1984, before multiplexes and surrounded by porn theaters, junkies, hookers and puddles of piss. Ah, golden memories😏

[@platinumspider7859]

@@craiganderson7986Surprisingly, not all theatres are in Times Square.

[@anthonybranch4712]

Totally agree! And I say the same for Stardust, John Carter, and now Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.

[@beevee4345]

Amazing performance by John Lithgow. I still can sit and watch this crazy movie. “Laugh while you can monkey boy!” And many other quotes. Love the whole cast.

[@guessundheit6494]

The cast, the characters, the dialogue, the memorable lines, the humour, that movie had it all. I never tire of watching it.

[@HenrySosenite]

The writer, director, and actors are all still alive. You must a sequel! WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME!

[@mF--H8]

Vincent Schiavelli died in 2005

[@HenrySosenite]

@mF--H8 doesn't he also die in the movie?

[@aaronchantrill7338]

I love this movie. So glad to hear John Lithgow has good memories of it

[@g.p.d.2220]

Lithgow acknowledging the tailor as a dialect coach is CLASS! 👍

[@richardyasushiii3848]

I love how Lithgow says it’s the movie he most enjoys watching because “it’s so out there”. It must have been so much fun to make something so wacky.

[@Phaota]

Definitely one of my all-time favorite classic sci-fi dramedies.

[@TheMichaelBeck]

Loved the movie. The best sidekick name ever, "Perfect Tommy".

[@otsoko66]

as one reviewer put it "the aptly named Perfect Tommy." (Because the dude WAS perfect.) #LewisSmith

[@Mymumsey1]

The fact that he still enjoys the movie so much just makes me like Mr. Lithgow even more.

[@AlanCanon2222]

This movie altered the trajectory of my life, at least boosted it. I was 14 when it hit theaters and then disappeared. I know I have watched at least a hundred times. It's just so creative and off the wall, it inspires one to not just be Buckaroo but do creative world building, with music, art, acting, anything.

[@johnharbaugh9471]

This role introduced me to John Lithgow. I have been a fan of his 35 years now.

[@RogerGoodeNH]

Lithgow’s performance in this movie was astonishing! Absolutely brilliant!

[@macofish1]

"He was this curious mixture of alien fascist dictator and exuberant Italian physicist." -J. Lithgow.

[@MariusRiley]

I went to go see that in the theater when it came out. The commercials looked crazy, and after seeing the first commercial on television, I had to see it. It was a moral imperative. When it came out on VHS I hid and pretended to lose the cassette I had rented from the local video store. Set my folks had to pay for it, which they were not happy about, but I had that video consent, which was all that mattered.

[@kelleymcbride4633]

This wonderful film is on my very very short list of all time favorites along with Big Trouble In Little China and Remo Williams

[@johnb3006]

Love Remo Williams

[@jaein7779]

I had to watch this movie twice, once as a teenager and then later as an adult. It finally made sense as an adult. I strangely found it more enjoyable as an adult because the story finally made sense when as an adult all the subtle nuances made the story clear.

[@hlcepeda]

A second viewing rewarded me with Lithgow's "Feet... do your stuff!" that I had somehow missed in the theater.

[@CaptApril123]

Buckaroo and 'Repo Man' are my two favorites from that era and still good today.

[@GHC3]

I just watched both Perer Weller and his video on the film and it was interesting to hear their persectives on this beautiful cult classic. They also attended a screening hosted by Kevin Smith, together. It's jice to know they cast stayed good friends with each other over multiple decades

[@kurtbilinski1723]

Mr. Lithgow, you have plenty of my money, after seeing this many times in the theater, and I own the DVD now. Thank you for all you do :)

[@leebishop6555]

One of the best films ever made, don't know how many times my wife and I have seen it, will undoubtedly watch it many more times. Pity they didn't make the sequel though.

[@homefrontforge]

They should make one now.

[@hazcat640]

@@homefrontforge With what actors? Unfortunately the originals are too old now and there isn't any one person today let alone a whole cast, with the talent.

[@matthewbittenbender9191]

Saw this as a kid. Loved it, but didn't really get his performance then. Now I see him for the master he is. Love pretty much everything he does.

[@spacecoyote6646]

I love this movie when it came out. And I still love it today.

[@bobdinitto]

John Lithgow is the BEST MAD SCIENTIST EVER in this farcical science fiction adventure story. Definitely worth a watch.

[@msh6865]

I saw Buckaroo in the theater and it was wonderous!

[@michaeldowson6988]

I liked it, and a friend I made later did as well.

[@countryjoe3551]

BB is still in my top 5 list of favorite movies. The concept was intriguingly weird and quirky and the performances were stellar.

[@tingdzinkochu]

Cursed is your soul And doomed is your life Sealed with a kiss As sharp as a knife!

[@mistergone5156]

Bu... bu... buzz off.

[@michaelanderson2886]

Saw it in the theater when it was released in Lexington, Kentucky. I was 9 years old and liked it but really didn’t understand it but watched it later as a teen and now we watch it 3 or 4 times a year (at least) and my 22 year old son loves it.

[@nilo70]

I saw this crazy movie on the Big Screen, and it was an amazing experience 😊

[@mikemagura7064]

Buckaroo, Young Frankenstein, Blassing Saddles all you need with popcorn for a delightful afternoon!

[@chiefscheider]

I saw Blazing Saddles years ago. Is Blassing Saddles a sequel or prequel?

[@mikemagura7064]

My bad! You're spelling is correct only on classic@@chiefscheider

[@lawrencedoliveiro9104]

So many others: _Silent Movie_ _Airplane_ (1 & 2) _Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid_ _Hot Shots_ (1 & 2)

[@stvbrsn]

@@chiefscheider lol, yeah. I think Bill Blass designed the costume and wardrobe. Mel liked it so much he named the movie after him.

[@foodog3026]

He should’ve received an Oscar for this performance

[@organicgreenpeace6360]

Definitely on my list of "who would you invite to your dinner party" seems like such an intellectual and joy to work with. What a legend!

[@georgeo162]

This is one of the most underrated of all time!

[@JaimeWulf]

The best Cult movie I've ever seen! It is so out there that it makes sense...

[@ramonepedgio5964]

Sealed with a curse and sharp as a knife. Doomed is your soul and damned is your life.

[@gerarddelmonte8776]

One of the cult classics of all time with a great cast. Can't ever get tired of it.

[@agalgonzalez]

Lithgow's Mussolini impression was hilarious! I loved the insanity of it and have called enemies monkey boy to their faces on several occasions.

[@DannyOccoquan]

Always loved John Lithgow's performance in Buckaroo Bonzai. Over-the-top perfect!

[@kermitefrog64]

This is a fun movie. I have seen it a number of times and it is a mixture of many genres of film history.

[@rhama8751]

If you were an imaginative child in the mid 80's this was an magical film. Bizarre, sometimes scary, but mostly really funny.

[@MarquisDeSadie]

Yes, you are correct, certainly a genuine crazy experience, and we loved it.

[@ache22sp]

The end credits theme was so catchy that is scores certain memories from childhood. Whenever I hear those synths & pads I'm right back there sitting on crazy shag carpet, a foot or two away from the wood cabinet crt. Solid. *had some unfortunate misspellings in the original, apologies if anyone thought I was shitting on the carpet, I was not

[@ForceMaximus84]

Footloose, Buckaroo Banzai and 2010 all in the same year. John Lithgow had a fantastic 1984, to day the least.

[@mykal.7424]

Buckaroo Banzai is impossible not to like. I knew of Banzai through Starlog magazine and a late summer release in '84. I rented at the video store with my dad the following year taped a copy and loved it ever since . The weird and colorful characters were so much fun. It felt like a film for that time period of '84 . It was a great summer to be a kid ....Now as an adult with 2 sons who are also movie lovers , like and enjoy Banzai as i did growing up . Good times !

[@uwtartarus]

Absolutely love that movie. What a trip.

[@jacobwebb2623]

Mr. Lithgow, I want to personally thank you for doing this movie!

[@nokomarie1963]

Yeah, I saw it in the theater and bought the tape in Beta too.

[@johnbiggscr]

Love this movie, and I love the end credits scene with the BB theme playing.

[@jeffreydavidconner]

Was always waiting for a sequel..

[@jimdennis2451]

... I wonder what it would be called.

[@PeekaPeep]

@@jimdennis2451 Was supposed to be 'Buckaroo Banzai Against The World Crime League' (was hinted at near the end of the first film before the end credits scene comes up). Unfortunately, the first film didn't do well enough at the box office to green light the sequel and the script ended up morphing into 1986's 'Big Trouble In Little China' when John Carpenter got on board.

[@mickylawless1941]

I saw it in the theater when it came out. I absolutely loved it. Truly an epic adventure!

[@DuncanJimmy]

Cult classic for the ages. Theme song is one of the greatest earworms ever created, and not a painful one either.

[@danielgurzynski7633]

Yes, it should NEVER be "rebooted". Now if they decided to do "The World Crime League!"

[@Xoze514]

This movie found me during a difficult transitional time in my life. Such a wonderful, quirky piece of art 💚

[@vo1non]

I saw it in the theater… twice! I love this film!

[@oleeb]

Lithgow’s character is one of my favorite film villains ever!

[@desiregonzales6246]

I saw this in the theater. There was a trailer released and they aired it during the Olympics. I was like, "wait, what?." Yes on number one. No on number two? Which was destroy Russia? I have 2 of the bandanas they released to advertise the movie. Bought one right off a guy's head for 10 bucks? at a convention. Another was given to me right off another head, no money required. I have the director's cut version with Jamie Lee Curtis. The sound track.... I briefly considered assault and robber when I ran into a crew member who was wearing hid Buckaroo Banza crew jacket.... Sigh. I still love this movie.

[@jelm9304]

This is one of my favorite movies of all time!!!

[@mcastaneda]

watched this dozens of times as a kid. John Bigabootee

[@markcollins2666]

"BigbooTAY!"

[@mylocus1013]

​@@markcollins2666you beat me too it! 😂

[@rgrinnel]

"May I pass along my congratulations for your great interdimensional breakthrough. I am sure, in the miserable annals of the Earth, you will be duly enshrined." Loved the delivery of that line.

[@jasonbernal8593]

It’s is not a big movie but a cult classic now no one could have pulled it off better

[@hingedelephant]

Among my favorite films. A masterpiece.

[@douglassun8456]

What still amazes me about Buckaroo Banzai is that Christopher Lloyd's John Bigbootay is such a perfect straight man/foil to Lithgow's John Whorfin. From Taxi and Back to the Future, you always expect him to dominate the scene.

[@robertmcgovern8850]

"That's BigbooTAY!"

[@steprockmedia]

The most bonkers movie you'll ever watch. If you get it, you'll love it. And even then, you won't be able to explain it.

[@douglassun8456]

Still one of my all-time favorite movies. I have to admit, though, that if you watched the first 10 minutes and couldn't sync your brain with its sense of humor, you probably weren't ever going to get it.

[@stvbrsn]

@@douglassun8456 I feel a swell of sympathy for those people. I’ll bet there’s lots of other things they’ll never get either.

[@cameronrashaudunlimited]

One of my favorite movies of all time.

[@reesebn38]

Another brilliant Lithgow performance!

[@luminyam6145]

One of my favourite movies. I cannot count the number of times I have watched it. My husband called me Big Boot for years after and of course I would have to correct him, Big Bootay!

[@chiefscheider]

I wouldn't wanna be called Big Boot either 🙃

[@luminyam6145]

@@chiefscheider Oh yeah hubby knew exactly what he was doing.🤣🤣🤣

[@SrdjanBudjevac]

Great actor❤

[@vailpcs4040]

You can almost see the straight line from this role to 3rd Rock...

[@michaelminch5490]

Oh, heck yeah. I recognized touches of Dr Lizardo in Dick right away.

[@dpixvid]

😆😆😆

[@olddoggeleventy2718]

I wonder if John's portrayal here inspired Peter MacNicol in his character of Dr. Janosz Poha in Ghostbusters II. Very similar speech and look.IDK

[@damrat]

Exactly! I immediately thought the same thing.

[@baneblackguard584]

I didn't see it till it was on VHS, didn't know the movie existed till I saw it for rent at 7-11

[@steveleslie2170]

This is my favorite John Lithgow character.

[@howardkerr8174]

Watch The World According to Garp, his character in that movie was somewhat repeated in an episode of Third Rock From the Sun when he foolishly attends an all female woman's empowerment meeting.

[@rustyclaymore1105]

One of my favorite actors in one of my favorite movies!

[@kdkittehmama9490]

John Lithgow is AMAZING in this film!

[@bridgecross]

I lump my friends into two foremost categories; whether or not they understand this movie.

[@michaelminch5490]

But....nobody understands this movie.....

[@caronstout354]

I've heard that this movie is a touchstone for prospective dates: if they "get it", they're a keeper!

[@longshot7601]

When I came out of the theater my immediate reaction was "That was fun" then a couple of minutes later was "What the hell was that". Lithgow's John Worfin made the film. It was good to see facets of that character pop up in his character in 3rd Rock.

[@maxducoudray]

@@michaelminch5490I understand it perfectly. 😤

[@roxannecoyne2744]

Pretty sure I saw this four times (in a movie theater) before I finally deciphered the plot. Then I saw it dozen more times because I loved it so much! One of my all time favorites.

[@mollynakamori]

"Making these little alien decisions." Sheer brilliance!

[@thomasdjonesn]

This one needs a rewatch, I rented it from the video store in 87 and kept coming back for it. I haven't seen it since 93, just kinda coming back to see what people said about it. This movie, Flash Gordon, Heavy Metal, Time Bandits, Labyrinth, The Neverending Story, Blade Runner, Terminator, Return to Oz, man. Hell of a time. There are new things, and new good things, and plenty of creative people, but, just, man! What a time to be a kid. Life sucked, it was Hell, but the worlds we could escape to were exactly what we needed to pull through that.

[@jamesowendesign]

“What’s that watermelon for?” “I’ll tell you later.”

[@chiefscheider]

It's actually "Why is there a watermelon there?"

[@CandC68]

When a character is so over the top, why not jump higher. Lizardo made the movie for me.

[@1Kent]

Lithgow's character makes this movie.

[@semperfi7372]

Such a classic movie thumbs up to John

[@williamhayes6210]

Needs to be a sequel. "THE REVENGE OF BIG BOOTY" !!!

[@Moondarq]

Big BooTAY! TAY!

[@xheralt]

It might be booby-trapped.

[@speedmastermarkiii]

I still regret not buying a Buckaroo Banzai hachimaki from the cinema concession stand in 1984 when I saw the film.

[@thomasdjonesn]

I so wanted one lmao

[@williambishop2384]

Publicist Terry Erdmann took them to SF conventions for a year before the film's release and gave them away!

[@speedmastermarkiii]

@ Not in Australia he didn't.

[@reedsawyer5704]

John LIthgow brought a glorious madness to BB. Home is where you wear your hat.

[@craigcorson3036]

I really enjoyed this film, and Lithgow's role in it.

[@tbone9912]

I love when he first gets infected by John Whorfin and runs away. The door opens and it's bright and sunny outside and he kind of recoils from it...then he scampers away with this weird run. Makes me laugh every time.

[@gking407]

First three times I was like 🤔?? Then I absolutely fell in love with this film. Maybe one of my top 5 sci fi favorites

[@johngumprecht]

totally epic movie as soon as I watched it i decided to give my dvd to my sister so she could enjoy it too

[@chuffa1130]

A 1984 masterpiece that no one really talks about! I think people realize as well as the ending credits they were supposed to be a sequel or continuation than never happened

[@tonypine3434]

It's not remotely a "masterpiece" it's an eccentric cult film. It has exactly the amount of fans and celebration it should have. You guys love overrating everything.

[@nunyabizness6595]

Both Lithgow and Weller where like uh....wot???😂😂😂

[@DanielWright-np3fq]

John Lithgow can rest any fears: he was balls perfect.

[@rasserfrasser]

This was Lithgow's best role ever IMHO (along with the bad guy in Ricochet). He set the bar for crazy scientist of the 1980's. I had BB on VHS at 8 years old. Can't possibly count how many times I watched it. It's an 80's Sci-fi B-Movie but Lithgow became legend from this performance. He carved a niche where there wasn't previously a corner.

[@fangugel3812]

One of my favorite movies and I’ve watched at least 6 times. So glad the people involved enjoyed making it. I guess that came through to the viewers too.

[@paulm749]

I've long thought Dick Solomon was sort of a kinder, gentler Lizardo. John Lithgow is such a freakin' treasure!

[@geo386]

This is my all time favorite movie. I actually have one of the very few Oscillation Overthrusters that are very rare. It is screen accurate.

[@peterzerfass4609]

Lithgow's oration in the factory is one of the greatest movie speeches of all time.

[@snyderd5]

Always has been one of my favorite movies

[@brianjones6500]

From start to finish this movie just makes your jaw either drop: smile: or smirk. The main character in the movie is the device that Buckaroo installs in the truck to make the movie happen. [fits in the palm of your hand technology] zoooooom

[@jaadams1973]

Yeah, that crazy "under-the-hood" scene 😵😳😲🤣 ! All that empty space under there. Just some tiny gizmo held with suspenders

[@somthingbrutal]

absolutely my favourite character of his, so much fun

[@jamessands9436]

The bastards tease a sequel that that never comes post credits.

[@craigcorson3036]

You want a sequel, go make a sequel.

[@maxducoudray]

The World Crime League!!

[@williamlloyd3769]

Drove out to Rabbit Dry Lake in the Lucerne Valley, California to see if I could find the film site. Think I got pretty close. An epic location just like Vasquez Rocks near Agua Dulce Springs in Los Angeles County where Captain Kirk fought the Gorn!

[@mistergone5156]

He was brilliant and hilarious in this!

[@onekoneb]

He was fantastic in that movie!