Tim Burton Gets First Criterion Collection Movie With PEE-WEE’S BIG ADVENTURE

Tim Burton’s feature film directorial debut was the 1985 classic Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. The film, which starred the late Paul Reubens as his iconic kid’s show host character, traumatized generations of kids who will forever be afraid of Large Marge, even though they will always love that scene. The movie also established Burton as a director, as the kitschy, fun action-comedy showed the visual style and off-kilter tone that would become his calling cards.

While fans (like us) have seen Pee-wee’s Big Adventure more times than they can count, the Criterion Collection’s release will also offer new ways to appreciate the movie. It boasts a new 4K digital restoration supervised and approved by Burton himself and multiple surround sound audio tracks. Notable extras include:

• Audio commentary by Burton and actor-cowriter Paul Reubens
• Audio commentary by composer Danny Elfman (over a music-only soundtrack to the film)
• New interview with Burton and actor-filmmaker Richard Ayoade
• New interviews with cowriter Michael Varhol, editor Billy Weber, production designer David L. Snyder, and producer Richard Abramson, conducted by critic Mark Olsen
• Interview from 2005 with Reubens
• Excerpts from the fortieth anniversary screening of the film presented by Nostalgic Nebula and hosted by comedian Dana Gould
• Deleted scenes
• Trailer
• English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing

The film also comes with an essay by radio and podcast host Jesse Thorn. You can currently pre-order a Blu-ray edition for $32 or a 4K + Blu-ray copy for $35. It will arrive on December 16, 2025, just in time to make a Tim Burton fan very happy this holiday season.

When they ask why you never got them a Tim Burton Criterion Collection film before send them this story. It’s the only way they’ll believe you this is his first.