The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai (1984) Cast Then vs Now: From Box Office Flop to Sci-Fi Cult Classic
Dive into the gloriously weird 80s sci-fi Buckaroo Banzai! A box office bomb turned cult classic about a neurosurgeon-rockstar battling aliens. See where stars Weller, Lithgow & Goldblum are 40 years later in our Then vs Now feature.
Alright, folks! I've been dying to tackle this one for ages. If you've been following our Then vs Now series, you know I have a soft spot for those gloriously weird 80s sci-fi flicks that bombed spectacularly at the box office only to find their audience years later. And trust me, they don't get much weirder—or more wonderful—than "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension."
This 1984 gem confounded audiences, frustrated studio execs, and absolutely tanked commercially. But oh boy, has it found its tribe in the decades since! Entertainment Weekly even ranked it #43 in their Top 50 Cult Films list. Not too shabby for a movie about a neurosurgeon-physicist-rock star who battles interdimensional aliens, right?
Let's dive into the chaotic masterpiece that is Buckaroo Banzai and track down where its incredible cast ended up 40(!) years after this magnificent disaster hit theaters.
Where To Watch?
The Film That Defied... Well, Everything
First, a quick primer for the uninitiated. "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension" follows the titular hero—a renaissance man who's simultaneously a world-famous neurosurgeon, physicist, rock star, and samurai—as he and his band of adventurers (the Hong Kong Cavaliers) battle aliens from the 8th dimension called Red Lectroids.
Yeah... it's A LOT.
Released on August 10, 1984, the film was a financial disaster, earning back a tiny fraction of its $12 million budget. Critics were baffled. Audiences stayed away. The studio quickly pulled it from theaters.
But sometimes the most brilliant ideas are just too far ahead of their time. And this film was WAYYYYYY ahead of its time.
The Leading Man: Peter Weller (Buckaroo Banzai)
THEN: At 37, Peter Weller was still climbing the Hollywood ladder when he took on the role of the deadpan, multi-talented Buckaroo Banzai. He'd appeared in films like "Shoot the Moon" (1982) and had a memorable role in the 1980 horror movie "Of Unknown Origin," but wasn't yet a household name. His cool, detached performance as Buckaroo perfectly captured the character's impossible brilliance.
NOW: Just two years after Buckaroo, Weller would land his career-defining role as the title character in "RoboCop" (1987). But Peter's journey since has been... unexpected? He's continued acting—popping up in "Naked Lunch," "24," "Star Trek Into Darkness," and most recently in "Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett."
But get this—Weller also went FULL academic! He earned a Master's degree from Syracuse University and a PhD in Italian Renaissance Art History from UCLA in 2014. At 77, Dr. Weller (yes, DOCTOR) splits his time between acting, teaching art history, and directing television. From fighting interdimensional aliens to analyzing Renaissance sculptures—talk about range!
The Villain: John Lithgow (Dr. Emilio Lizardo/Lord John Whorfin)
THEN: John Lithgow was already an established actor with two Oscar nominations under his belt (for "The World According to Garp" and "Terms of Endearment") when he took on the absolutely BONKERS role of Dr. Emilio Lizardo—an Italian physicist possessed by an alien warlord from the 8th dimension. His over-the-top performance, complete with wild-eyed stares and an outrageous accent, stole every scene he was in.
NOW: Where do I even START with Lithgow's incredible career since then? From his Emmy-winning turn as the hilariously clueless alien Dick Solomon in "3rd Rock from the Sun" to his bone-chilling portrayal of the Trinity Killer in "Dexter" to his recent stint as Winston Churchill in "The Crown," Lithgow has proven himself one of the most versatile actors of his generation.
At 78, he's still going strong with recent appearances in "Killers of the Flower Moon" and "The Old Man." He's also written children's books and released albums of children's songs. Man. Some people just get ALL the talent!
The Love Interest: Ellen Barkin (Penny Priddy)
THEN: Ellen Barkin was just starting to break out in Hollywood when she played the mysteriously familiar Penny Priddy, Buckaroo's love interest who bears an uncanny resemblance to his late wife. At 30, Barkin brought vulnerability and toughness to a role that could have been a simple damsel in distress.
NOW: After Buckaroo, Barkin's career EXPLODED with iconic roles in films like "The Big Easy" (1986), "Sea of Love" (1989), and "Switch" (1991). Her tough-talking, no-nonsense persona made her stand out in the 80s and 90s Hollywood landscape.
Ellen also appeared in the cult rock music film, Eddie and The Cruisers!
Richard Wells
More recently, she's reinvented herself on television, most notably as the manipulative matriarch Janine "Smurf" Cody in "Animal Kingdom" from 2016 to 2019. At 70, Barkin remains a force to be reckoned with, bringing that same intensity to every role. She's also become known for her, um, let's say "unfiltered" presence on Twitter. My kinda woman!
The Scene-Stealer: Jeff Goldblum (Dr. Sidney Zweibel/New Jersey)
THEN: Jeff Goldblum was the perfect embodiment of neurosurgeon Sidney "New Jersey" Zweibel, the newest member of the Hong Kong Cavaliers. At 32, Goldblum had already demonstrated his quirky charm in films like "The Big Chill" (1983), but his trademark stammering, eyebrow-raising persona was still developing. His scene where he performs brain surgery in a bright red cowboy outfit? ICONIC.
NOW: What can I say about Jeff Goldblum that hasn't already been said? After Buckaroo, he went on to star in some of the biggest blockbusters of all time, including "The Fly" (1986), "Jurassic Park" (1993), and "Independence Day" (1996). His unique delivery and mannerisms have made him not just a star but a full-blown cultural icon.
In recent years, he's experienced a Goldblum-aissance (yeah, I coined that term and I'm sticking with it), appearing in Marvel's Thor films, hosting "The World According to Jeff Goldblum" on Disney+, and even becoming a jazz musician with his band, The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra. At 72, he's as Goldblum-y as ever, and we wouldn't have it any other way.
The Doc: Christopher Lloyd (John Bigbooté)
THEN: Already famous as Reverend Jim from the TV show "Taxi," Christopher Lloyd was just months away from his career-defining role as Doc Brown in "Back to the Future" when he played the alien conspirator John Bigbooté (that's "Big-boo-tay!" as he angrily clarifies in the film).
NOW: Lloyd's portrayal of Doc Brown in the "Back to the Future" trilogy cemented his place in pop culture history, but his career has been so much more than that one role. From Judge Doom in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" to Uncle Fester in "The Addams Family" films, Lloyd has built an impressive resume of unforgettable characters.
Richard Wells
Now 86 (!!), Lloyd is STILL working steadily, appearing recently in "The Mandalorian" and the 2023 animated film "Lisa Frankenstein." He's one of those actors whose energy and commitment never seem to dim, no matter the project. Absolutely incredible.
The Rest of the Hong Kong Cavaliers
Lewis Smith (Perfect Tommy)
THEN: As the blonde, fashion-obsessed Perfect Tommy, Lewis Smith brought style and swagger to the Hong Kong Cavaliers.
Richard Wells
NOW: Smith continued acting throughout the 80s and 90s in films like "Southern Comfort" and TV shows including "Shadows and Fog" but has maintained a lower profile in recent decades.
Clancy Brown (Rawhide)
THEN: As Buckaroo's right-hand man Rawhide, Clancy Brown was just starting his film career.
NOW: Brown went on to become one of Hollywood's most prolific actors, appearing in everything from "The Shawshank Redemption" to voicing Mr. Krabs in "SpongeBob SquarePants." At 65, he remains incredibly active in both live-action and voice work.
Richard Wells
Pepe Serna (Reno)
THEN: Character actor Pepe Serna brought Latino representation to the Hong Kong Cavaliers as Reno.
NOW: Serna has continued his prolific career as a character actor with over 100 film and TV credits to his name. At 80, he's still acting and has become an advocate for greater Latino representation in Hollywood.
Red Lectroids and Other Notable Cast Members
Vincent Schiavelli (John O'Connor)
THEN: With his distinctive appearance, Schiavelli made an impression as one of the Red Lectroids.
NOW: Schiavelli continued a successful career as a character actor until his death in 2005, appearing in films like "Ghost" and "Man on the Moon."
Dan Hedaya (John Gomez)
THEN: Already known for roles in "Cheers" and "Blood Simple," Hedaya played another of the Red Lectroids.
NOW: Hedaya has enjoyed a long career as one of Hollywood's go-to character actors, appearing in everything from "Clueless" to "The Usual Suspects." At 84, he remains active in the industry.
Carl Lumbly (John Parker)
THEN: As the Black Lectroid John Parker, Lumbly brought gravitas to a smaller but crucial role.
NOW: Lumbly has had a successful career in television, appearing in shows like "Alias," "Supergirl," and most recently, "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier." At 72, he continues to take on challenging and diverse roles.
What Happened to the Promised Sequel?
Remember that text at the end of the film? "Buckaroo Banzai will return in Buckaroo Banzai Against the World Crime League"? Yeah, that never happened. The film's poor box office performance killed any chance of the sequel getting made, despite the script being written.
HOWEVER! The story did continue in novel form with creator Earl Mac Rauch writing "Buckaroo Banzai Against the World Crime League, et al.: A Compendium of Evils" in 2021. Better late than never, I say!
The Cult Legacy That Refuses to Die
There's something magical about films that found their audience years after release. Like "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" or "Blade Runner," "Buckaroo Banzai" has transcended its initial failure to become a beloved touchstone for generations of sci-fi fans.
The film's bizarre mashup of genres, deadpan humor, and unapologetic weirdness makes it feel more at home in today's pop culture landscape than it did in 1984. Kevin Smith, Jon Favreau, and many other filmmakers have cited it as an influence. Its quotable lines ("No matter where you go, there you are") have seeped into the cultural lexicon.
In an age of formulaic franchise films, Buckaroo's bizarre originality feels more precious than ever. And thanks to streaming services, new fans discover it every day.
Why This Film Matters Now
Look, I'm not saying "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension" is some misunderstood masterpiece that should have won Oscars. It's messy. It's confusing. It throws you into a fully realized world with minimal explanation.
But that's also what makes it special! It trusts its audience. It doesn't hold your hand. It's the cinematic equivalent of someone saying, "Try to keep up."
In an era of focus-grouped, algorithm-approved entertainment, there's something refreshing about a film that swings for the fences with such reckless abandon. It's a reminder that sometimes the most interesting art comes from taking big, weird risks.
So here's to Buckaroo Banzai, the Hong Kong Cavaliers, and the glorious weirdos who made this magnificent mess. Forty years later, we're still trying to keep up—and loving every minute of it.
Remember, no matter where you go... there you are.
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