Version 5.0

World Watch One August 2024 cover

The LATEST ISSUE of the World Watch One Newsletter (August 2024)

Buckaroo Banzai Against the World Crime League
New Buckaroo Banzai Against the World Crime League novel is available!
Order on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and at your local comic shop and bookstore.
The audio book of the Buckaroo Banzai Against the World Crime League novel is now available at Audiobookstore.com and Audible.com!

This FAQ was compiled to attempt to answer some of the most commonly asked questions about the film. If you have anything to add or find any information that is incorrect, please e-mail Sean Murphy at figment@figmentfly.com.

FAQ Compiled by Sean Murphy (figment@figmentfly.com) and Chris Wike (bbi_arclight@hotmail.com)

The Official Banzai Institute web site (Archived 1998-2016) is http://www.figmentfly.com/bb/banzai-institute/index.html.

The Banzai Institute Facebook Page is https://www.facebook.com/pages/Banzai-Institute/119214478147645.

The MonkeyBoyBoox Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/Monkeyboyboox.


Buckaroo Banzai Collector's Compendium

There is a brand new book called The Buckaroo Banzai Collectors' Compendium: A Marketing and Promotional Odyssey by DeWayne Todd and you can order from Amazon now!

Introduction to the Buckaroo Banzai FAQ

Why did we create the Buckaroo Banzai FAQ?

What is "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension"?

What's New on this Site?

(Updated August 10, 2025 - Added a previously missing issue of the World Watch One newsletter from Spring, 2007. Thanks to Steve Mattsson for getting us a copy. You can find the issue here: http://www.figmentfly.com/bb/newsletters/ww1-spring07.pdf and under the question Was there an official Buckaroo Banzai newsletter?


Updated July 20, 2025 - Added four issue of the League of Lectroids for Lizardo fanzine called Voltage (issues 3, 4, 5, and 7) as well as five flyers that were given out at conventions in the 1980s to The League of Lectroids for Lizardo (The newsletter was called VOLTAGE!). Special thanks to Rich Drees for saving and scanning these issues!


Updated July 6, 2025 - Dan Berger (editor of the World Watch One newsletter) and I (Sean Murphy, maintainer of the Buckaroo Banzai FAQ) are working on a Making of Buckaroo Banzai book!

The publication goal for the "Making of The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension" book is in 2029 which would be just in time for the 45th anniversary of the film.

Learn more in the newly added question What information is there about the Making of Buckaroo Banzai book?



Updated June 7, 2025 - The latest issue of World Watch One Newsletter (August 2024) is now available! The World Watch One PDX Edition is dated August 2024* and celebrates the 40th anniversary of The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai and the 20th anniversary of the current version of World Watch One.

The PDX Edition is edited by Steve “Rainbow Kitty” Mattsson with a design assist by Scott Dutton. It contains contributions by Tim “Tim Boo Ba” Munro, Jeffrey “Machine Rock” Morgan, Glen “West Jersey” Tickle, David “Dogberry” Jackson, Terry “Silver Fox” Erdmann, and the hard working WWO staff. It features interviews with W.D. Richter & Earl Mac Rauch, Pepe Serna, and Tom Southwell.

The highlights of this issue are the amazing full-color covers by superstar comic book artists Michael Wm. Kaluta and Matt Haley.

But wait, there’s more! This issue is only half of our epic double-anniversary celebration. Look for our sister publication World Watch One Chicago Bureau Edition coming when you least expect it.

*Actual publication date June 2025. Hopefully, it was worth the wait.

See all the newsletters in Was there an official Buckaroo Banzai newsletter?)



The Most Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is the Watermelon doing there?

Was Jamie Lee Curtis in the Buckaroo Banzai film?


Blu-Ray - DVD - Laserdisc - Video

Is there a Buckaroo Banzai Blu-Ray, DVD, Laser Disc and Video?

Reviews of the Buckaroo Banzai DVD

Buckaroo Banzai DVD Special Edition Files Overview


Alternate Versions

Is there a different film-to-video transfer of Buckaroo Banzai showing on cable?

What changes did the Sci-Fi Channel make when they aired Buckaroo Banzai?

Is there a Buckaroo Banzai bootleg video?


The Sequel

Where is the sequel "Buckaroo Banzai against the World Crime League"?

Was Big Trouble In Little China originally written as sequel for Buckaroo Banzai?

What information is there about the fan written sequel script by Ernie Cline?

What information is there about the fan written sequel script by Stuffer Kolodny?


The Music

Is there an official Buckaroo Banzai soundtrack CD?

What is the latest news on an official Buckaroo Banzai soundtrack release?

Is there a bootleg Buckaroo Banzai soundtrack CD?

What is the story behind the Buckaroo Banzai Bootleg?

What is the difference between the Buckaroo Banzai film score and the bootleg soundtrack?

What information is there on the soundtrack's composer Michael Boddicker?

What information is there about the song Rocket 88?

What information is there about the song Since I Don't Have You?


The Book(s)

Is there a Buckaroo Banzai movie novelization?

What sort of timeline do we have for the events that occurred in the film and book?

What are some other Buckaroo Banzai adventures mentioned in the novelization?

What information is there about the new series of Buckaroo Banzai novels?

Is there a Buckaroo Banzai Against the World Crime League novel?

What information is there about The Buckaroo Banzai Collectors' Compendium book?

What information is there about the Making of Buckaroo Banzai book?


The Scripts

What versions of the Buckaroo Banzai script are available?

What versions of the Buckaroo Banzai TV Scripts are there?

What versions of the Buckaroo Banzai Comic Book Script are there?

Where can I find a Buckaroo Banzai transcript?

What information is there on Scriptwriter Earl Mac Rauch?


The Comic Books

What information is there about the comic book that appeared in the Buckaroo Banzai film?

What information is there on the Marvel comic book adaption of Buckaroo Banzai (1984)?

What information is there about the Buckaroo Banzai comic book called Return of the Screw (2006)?

What information is there about the Buckaroo Banzai comic book story called A Christmas Corrall (2007)?

What information is there about the Buckaroo Banzai comic book called The Prequel - Of Hunan Bondage (2008)?

What information is there about the Buckaroo Banzai comic book called Origins - A Tomb with a View (2009)?

What information is there about the Buckaroo Banzai comic book called Big Size - Wild Asses of the Kush (2009)?

What information is there about the Buckaroo Banzai comic book story called The Love that Hath No Name (2010)?

What information is there about the Buckaroo Banzai comic book called Hardest of the Hard (2010)?

What information is there about the Buckaroo Banzai comic book called Tears of a Clone (2012)?

What information is there about the Buckaroo Banzai story called Buckaroo Banzai: Mysterium (2012)?

What information is there about the Buckaroo Banzai Hard Cover comic collections (2012)?


The TV Shows

Where is the TV show Heroes in Trouble?

What information is there on the Heroes in Trouble script?

Where is the TV show Buckaroo Banzai : Ancient Secrets and New Mysteries?

Buckaroo Banzai : Ancient Secrets & New Mysteries Script Review

Official Buckaroo Banzai : Ancient Secrets & New Mysteries Series Updates from Director W. D. Richter (1998-1999)

Aint-It-Cool-News reports about the Buckaroo Banzai : Ancient Secrets & New Mysteries Series (1998-1999)

What images did Doug Drexler create for the proposed TV show Buckaroo Banzai: Ancient Secrets and New Mysteries?

What information is there about the Banzai Institute TV Series?

What other proposed BB TV series concepts not involving the original creators were considered?

What information is there about the Buckaroo Banzai TV show helmed by Kevin Smith?

What information is there about Buckaroo Banzai rights dispute?


Movie and Production Information

What are the complete cast and production credits for the film?

What information is there on Director W.D. Richter?

Where (i.e. what locations) was Buckaroo Banzai shot?

What continuity errors are found in the film version of Buckaroo Banzai?

What are the Buckaroo Banzai Production Binders?


Movie Publicity

What are the contents of the Buckaroo Banzai Press Kit?

Is there a Buckaroo Banzai Electronic Press Kit?

What's the story behind the promotional presentations held at Sci-Fi conventions before the film was released?

What Buckaroo Banzai images are there on the FAQ and out on the web?

Was there an official Buckaroo Banzai newsletter?

Who was behind the official Buckaroo Banzai newsletter?

What articles have been published about Buckaroo Banzai?

Buckaroo Banzai : The Resurrection of an American Hero by Sean Murphy

Heroes in Trouble - The Story Behind the Other Attempt at Banzai TV By Scott Tate

BUCKAROO BANZAI - In the Beginning by Blake Mitchell and Jim Ferguson

World Watch One: The Early Years By Dan Berger

Moving Through Matter with Buckaroo Banzai by Dr. Cary I. Sneider


Interviews

W.D. "Rick" Richter

W.D. Richter Interview: Catching Up and Looking Forward (Spring, 2006)

A Chat with Rick, Mac and Joe (Spring, 2008)

25 Years of Zen: An Interview with W. D. Richter (June, 2010)


Earl Mac Rauch

An Interview with Earl Mac Rauch (Fall 2004)

A Chat with Rick, Mac and Joe (Spring, 2008)



The Merchandise

What Buckaroo Banzai merchandise was/is there?

Where can I find the Buckaroo Banzai LaserDisc / Videotape / Bootleg Workprint Videotape/ CD-Tape / Book / Script / Newsletters / Original Props / Tee-Shirts / Comic Books / Overthruster / Press Kit / Video Game / Audio Video Presskit / Fonts / Trading Cards / Poster / Headband / Jacket?

What information is there about the Buckaroo Banzai Role Playing Game?


Video Games

Was there a Buckaroo Banzai Text/Graphic Adventure Game?

Is there a hint file for the Buckaroo Banzai Text/Graphic Adventure game?

Is there a walkthrough for the Buckaroo Banzai Text/Graphic Adventure game?

How can I play the Buckaroo Banzai Text/Graphic Adventure Game today?

What information is there on the Buckaroo Banzai arcade game used in the movie?


The Fans

What is the World Watch One Mailing list?

Where can you find a Banzai Institute ID and "reserved" character names?

What fan produced Buckaroo Banzai fanzines are/were there?

The World Watch Wire

The Penny Paradox

The Cavalier

The League of Lectroids for Lizardo (The newsletter was called VOLTAGE!)

The 8th Dimension

Banzine

Samurai Errant

Out Of The Blue

Club Banzai

The Banzai Bulletin

Blue Blaze Bulletin

Where can you find Buckaroo Banzai fan fiction?

"Stormy Weather, and Other Songs of the Banzai Institute" by Apache

A Perfect Ending by Ratbag

Are there other Buckaroo Banzai web sites?

What was the Smoviola showing of Buckaroo Banzai with Kevin Smith?


The Podcasts


What is the Five Minutes of Banzai Podcast?
What is the Deep Cuts Podcast episode about Buckaroo Banzai, with a script by Earl Mac Rauch and read by Pepe Serna (Reno) and Billy Vera (Pinky Carruthers)?
What podcasts episodes are available that dedicate an episode to Buckaroo Banzai?
What podcasts did Director W. D. "Rick" Richter and Writer Earl Mac Rauch appear on?


Pop Culture

What are some of the more popular quotes from the Buckaroo Banzai movie and book?

Where have you seen and heard Buckaroo Banzai quotes or references in films, books, TV shows and videogames?

Where have you seen the Oscillation Overthruster?

Where have you seen or heard the quote "No matter where you go, there you are"?

What do Buckaroo Banzai and Thomas Pynchon's novel THE CRYING OF LOT 49 have in common?

What do the Japanese/Chinese symbols on Buckaroo's headband and at the end of the film stand for?

What type of machine was holding the watermelon?

Where do the coordinates for the Jet Car test actually place you on the Earth?


Information about Buckaroo Banzai's World


Buckaroo Banzai and his Team

Who is Buckaroo Banzai and what do we know about him?

Who are The Hong Kong Cavaliers and what do we know about them?

Who is Peggy Banzai?


The Banzai Institute

What is the Buckaroo Banzai Institute?

Who are The Blue Blaze Irregulars and what do we know about them?

What kind of equipment does Team Banzai use?

What do we know about the Jet Car?

How does the Oscillation Overthruster work?

What is the Eighth Dimension?

The Bad Guys

Who is Hanoi Xan?

Who are the Lectroids and what do we know about them?

Who are all the Lectroids named John?

The Buckaroo Banzai News Group, alt.fan.buckaroo-banzai, can be viewed through http://groups.google.com.

World Watch OnLine : The UnOfficial Buckaroo Banzai Mailing List Web Page is located at http://www.worldwatchonline.com. Join the Buckaroo Banzai Mailing list! Send an e-mail to bbi_arclight@hotmail.com and tell them about your first experiences with Buckaroo Banzai! There is also a World Watch OnLine group on Facebook and you can find it here - https://www.facebook.com/groups/worldwatchonline/

World Watch Two: The OTHER UnOfficial Buckaroo Banzai Mailing List is a mailing list maintained by Arclight (bbi_arclight@hotmail.com) in a more traditional (at least for the internet) form located here - https://groups.io/g/BuckarooBanzai. Once you subscribe, any messages sent go directly to all other members and it's an all ages List, so keep that in mind. Also, NO attachments.

This FAQ and its contents are Copyright (c) 1996 through 2025, Chris Wike and Sean Murphy. All Rights Reserved.

This document was last updated on August 10, 2025.
Maintained by Sean Murphy [figment@figmentfly.com]