Not a horror film, but absolutely one of John Carpenter’s wildest, most beloved cult classics. Big Trouble in Little China is pure ‘80s movie magic — a genre-defying mash-up of martial arts fantasy, supernatural adventure, buddy comedy, and Carpenter’s signature irreverent spirit, all wrapped in neon lights and mystical mayhem.

Kurt Russell stars as Jack Burton, the loud-mouthed, clueless yet endlessly entertaining truck driver who thinks he’s the hero of the story — only to realize (much to our delight) that he’s actually hilariously out of his depth. When his friend Wang’s fiancée is kidnapped in San Francisco’s Chinatown, Jack gets dragged into an underground world of ancient sorcerers, kung fu warriors, and immortal villains.

Packed with epic fights, ridiculous one-liners, and a wildly imaginative East-meets-West vibe, Big Trouble in Little China is Carpenter having the time of his life. Russell plays Jack like a bumbling John Wayne, surrounded by fearless sidekicks who do all the actual hero work while he blusters through the chaos.

Decades later, this film still feels fresh — a riotous love letter to chop-socky cinema, comic books, and Carpenter’s own DIY genre flair. Its practical effects, mystical sets, and tongue-in-cheek humor make it endlessly rewatchable for old fans and new ones alike.

WATCH FULL MOVIE: Celebrate 39 years of wild magic, flying kung fu, and Kurt Russell’s iconic tank top by revisiting Big Trouble in Little China — a gleeful reminder that sometimes it’s good to be Jack Burton, even if you have no idea what’s going on.