Neo-Pulp for the Ages: The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)

Try to say that title three times fast and not get tongue-tied! I watched this movie as a teen in 1984, two years before I started gaming, and I absolutely loved it. I’m not sure if I caught every nuance or joke back then. It felt like watching a movie in a long-running series where you had seen exactly none of the previous installments—and that was entirely on purpose. I’m not sure I grasped that at first, but I loved the action, the style, and the aesthetics. This was peak 80s adventure chic!

I remember reading the Marvel Comics adaptation around that time, but I can’t recall if I read it before or after seeing the film. The comic's art seemed so normal and subdued compared to the crazy on-screen visuals, but I recall understanding the plot better with the comic’s help.

I rewatched it in my late 20s and found the movie to be a mess. I was a little disappointed that it didn't live up to my childhood memories. But to be fair, I was serious, artsy, and a bit pretentious back then!

I rewatched it again recently to write this column, and 50-year-old me loved it. It really is all a matter of perspective.

Buckaroo Banzai (let’s use the titular hero’s name as shorthand for that incredibly long title) is the quintessential post-modern pulp hero—an 80s Doc Savage. I knew of pulp heroes like The Phantom, but 11-year-old me didn't really know the genre, understand the references, or know much about Doc Savage. I eventually read the Doc Savage DC comics around 1988, but back in 1984, I couldn’t have described the movie the way I just did!

It is hard to summarize the movie. Buckaroo Banzai is a polymath who, along with his mentor, creates a device that allows travel to another dimension. This involves him and his allies in an interdimensional war that threatens nuclear war on Earth. It sounds wild, but it is even more convoluted. The Wikipedia entry for the film has a great plot summary, along with other interesting details about its production, reception, and legacy.

Check out the trailer to get an idea of the movie:

Banzai and his Hong Kong Cavaliers inspired me when playing modern and superhero games. As quirky larger-than-life heroes, they inspired NPCs and were a very cool reference for what an adventuring party could be—particularly if you run games for large groups of 7 to 11 players, as I did. The movie reinforced the idea that a tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) adventure could be fun and sometimes silly yet still have real stakes.

Adamant Entertainment announced a TTRPG based on the movie (you can see the announcement reproduced here), but from what I've read online, licensing issues derailed the project. That’s a pity, because this is a great setting for a game. Still, many existing TTRPGs can handle the tone well. Fate is a great option; the old D20 Modern could also work, albeit a bit more rules-heavy, with Ultramodern5 or Everyday Heroes as options for a D&D 5-related rule set. I’d do it with Savage Worlds, but that’s me, because I’m such a big fan of the system.

I am currently working on the next campaign for our weekly game, and I’ll be running a pulp-super campaign. This has been great inspiration for that. However, Buckaroo Banzai makes me want to run an 80s-themed pulp game!

Two last things. While writing, I discovered the French poster for the movie. My friends in Europe or hardcore fans might have known about it, but I was amazed. See it for yourselves.

And, before I wrap this one up, allow me to share the iconic end-credits sequence. You’re welcome.