Finally: Tim Burton’s Pee-wee’s Big Adventure Gets a Deluxe Criterion 4K Release
Criterion Collection has added Tim Burton’s directorial feature debut, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, to its catalogue as release #1293, with the set arriving on December 16. The announcement confirms a 4K restoration overseen by Burton and a multi-disc UHD/Blu-ray package with supplements and commentaries.
- What Criterion announced
- Background and how Burton came to the project
- Restoration and technical details
- Special features included
- Price and availability
What Criterion announced
Criterion Collection confirmed that Pee-wee’s Big Adventure will join the catalogue as release #1293. The set is scheduled to ship on December 16 and will be offered in a UHD package alongside a standard Blu-ray.
Background and how Burton came to the project
The film began as Paul Reubens’s Pee-wee Herman stage act, which he developed into a feature for Warner Bros. Pictures. After actor Shelley Duvall introduced Reubens to Burton at a party, they watched Burton’s short film Frankenweenie, and Reubens pushed for Burton to direct the live-action movie. Burton accepted and worked with Reubens on the film’s tone and look.
Composer Danny Elfman, then leader of Oingo Boingo, provided the film’s score, which became an early collaborator credit for Elfman and Burton.
Restoration and technical details
Criterion’s release features a 4K digital restoration supervised by Tim Burton. The UHD package includes a disc with Dolby Vision HDR, plus a Blu-ray that contains the movie and supplements.
Audio options listed for the set include both 2.0 surround and 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio.
Special features included
The package emphasizes the film’s creative history. Included materials are:
- Two audio commentaries — one with Tim Burton and Paul Reubens, and another with Danny Elfman over a music-only track.
- Deleted scenes and the original theatrical trailer.
- New interviews and footage from a 40th anniversary screening hosted by comedian Dana Gould.
Price and availability
Pre-orders were not open at the time of the announcement. Criterion lists retail prices of $49.95 for the 4K Blu-ray edition and $39.95 for the standard Blu-ray.
For context, Tim Burton’s name has been described as basically an adjective because of his recognizable visual style.
