If you’re a fan of the quirky, sci-fi adventure genre, then The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension is likely a favorite of yours. This cult classic combines science fiction, action, and comedy in a way that’s truly unique. If you’re looking for more movies that capture a similar spirit, here are 12 recommendations that you might enjoy.

1. The Fifth Element

The Fifth Element is a vibrant sci-fi adventure starring Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, and Gary Oldman. Set in a futuristic world, the movie follows a cab driver who becomes an unlikely hero tasked with saving the Earth from a cosmic threat.

2. Big Trouble in Little China

Starring Kurt Russell, Big Trouble in Little China is a fantastical action-comedy directed by John Carpenter. The film centers on a truck driver who gets caught up in a supernatural battle in San Francisco’s Chinatown.

3. Flash Gordon

Flash Gordon is a campy, colorful sci-fi film from the 1980s, featuring Sam J. Jones and Max von Sydow. The movie tells the story of a football player who is transported to another planet and must save Earth from the evil Emperor Ming.

4. Galaxy Quest

Galaxy Quest is a hilarious sci-fi comedy starring Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, and Alan Rickman. The film follows the cast of a canceled space TV show who are mistaken for real heroes by an alien race and end up in a real intergalactic conflict.

5. The Last Starfighter

In The Last Starfighter, a young video game enthusiast, played by Lance Guest, is recruited by aliens to help defend their world. This 1984 film blends adventure and sci-fi with a touch of 80s nostalgia.

6. Howard the Duck

Howard the Duck is a quirky sci-fi comedy based on the Marvel comic character, starring Lea Thompson and Jeffrey Jones. The film follows an anthropomorphic duck who is accidentally brought to Earth and must thwart an alien invasion.

7. Time Bandits

Directed by Terry Gilliam, Time Bandits features a young boy who joins a group of time-traveling dwarfs on a journey through history. This film stars John Cleese, Sean Connery, and Shelley Duvall, blending fantasy, comedy, and adventure.

8. Repo Man

Repo Man is a cult classic sci-fi film starring Emilio Estevez and Harry Dean Stanton. The plot follows a young punk who becomes a repo man and gets involved in a bizarre chase for a car with otherworldly secrets.

9. Brazil

Another Terry Gilliam film, Brazil is a dystopian sci-fi satire starring Jonathan Pryce and Robert De Niro. The movie explores a bureaucratic, totalitarian state through the eyes of a low-level worker who becomes entangled in a web of intrigue.

10. Dark Star

Dark Star is a low-budget sci-fi comedy directed by John Carpenter and co-written by Dan O’Bannon. The story follows the crew of a deteriorating spaceship on a mission to destroy unstable planets, blending humor with existential themes.

11. The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

Directed by Terry Gilliam, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen stars John Neville, Sarah Polley, and Robin Williams. This fantastical film tells the story of an eccentric nobleman who recounts his larger-than-life adventures.

12. Escape from New York

Starring Kurt Russell, Escape from New York is a sci-fi action film directed by John Carpenter. Set in a dystopian future, the movie follows an ex-soldier turned criminal who is tasked with rescuing the President from a maximum-security prison city.

These films capture the same blend of adventure, humor, and sci-fi that makes Buckaroo Banzai such a beloved classic. Happy watching!