What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedBig Trouble in Little China
John Carpenter · Film · 1986
If you loved Big Trouble in Little China, start with Dragon Ball Z (1989) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Big Trouble in Little China across media.
You loved Big Trouble in Little China because it masterfully blends high-stakes supernatural chaos with a chaotic, irreverent sense of humor.
Books on the same thread
The Princess Bride
William Goldman · Book · 1999
Shares a thread with Big Trouble in Little China: Good vs Evil.
Like Big Trouble in Little China, this story balances a grand, mythological quest with a sharp, self-aware wit that keeps the adventure feeling fresh and highly entertaining.
The Black Cauldron
Lloyd Alexander · Book · 1980
Shares a thread with Big Trouble in Little China: Good vs Evil.
Those who enjoyed the heroic journey against ancient evil in Big Trouble in Little China will appreciate how this epic tale weaves dark fantasy with classic adventure.
The Big Sleep
Raymond Chandler · Book · 2017
Explores: Moral ambiguity, Urban cynicism, Femme fatale.
If the cynical, hard-boiled attitude of Jack Burton appealed to you in Big Trouble in Little China, you will recognize that same gritty, urban investigative spirit here.
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Ray Bradbury · Book · 1962
Shares a thread with Big Trouble in Little China: Good vs Evil.
Much like the supernatural underworld discovered in Big Trouble in Little China, this story captures the unsettling feeling of an ordinary life colliding with overwhelming, ancient, dark forces.
Series on the same thread
Dragon Ball Z
Series · 1989
Shares a thread with Big Trouble in Little China: Good vs Evil.
The over-the-top martial arts battles and escalating power levels found in Big Trouble in Little China are taken to their ultimate extreme in this high-energy anime series.
Ranma ½
Series · 1989
Shares a thread with Big Trouble in Little China: Fish Out of Water.
This show mirrors the fish-out-of-water comedy and mystical martial arts traditions seen in Big Trouble in Little China, adding a layer of chaotic transformation and physical humor.
Stranger Things
Ross Duffer · Series · 2016
Explores: Government Experiments, Telekinesis, Monsters.
If you enjoyed how Big Trouble in Little China thrusts ordinary people into a hidden world of monsters and government conspiracies, this series offers a similar supernatural thrill.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Series · 1987
Shares a thread with Big Trouble in Little China: Good vs Evil.
This series captures the same blend of martial arts action and bizarre, mythological encounters that made Big Trouble in Little China a cult favorite for fans of oddball adventures.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Adventure Zone
The McElroys · Podcast · 2026
Explores: improvised storytelling, group dynamics, high fantasy satire.
The comedic group dynamics and improvised feel of this campaign echo the chaotic friendship and unpredictable quest structure that defines the experience of Big Trouble in Little China.
The Big Picture
Podcast
Explores: Hollywood, Awards Season, Film Criticism.
This podcast provides the deep-dive analysis and appreciation for genre filmmaking that fans of Big Trouble in Little China crave when exploring the history of cult cinema.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Big Trouble in Little China centered on a supernatural conflict?
Yes, Big Trouble in Little China follows truck driver Jack Burton as he becomes involved in a supernatural battle. He assists his friend Wang Chi in rescuing a kidnapped fiancée from the sorcerer Lo Pan, who requires a green-eyed bride to return to the human realm.
What is the primary motivation for Lo Pan in Big Trouble in Little China?
In Big Trouble in Little China, the sorcerer Lo Pan seeks to return to the human realm. To achieve this goal, he kidnaps a woman with green eyes, as he must marry someone possessing that specific physical trait to break his current state.
Who is Jack Burton trying to help in Big Trouble in Little China?
Jack Burton is the protagonist of Big Trouble in Little China who gets embroiled in a supernatural battle to assist his best friend, Wang Chi. They work together to rescue Wang Chi's fiancée after she is kidnapped by the henchmen of the sorcerer Lo Pan.
What role do green eyes play in the plot of Big Trouble in Little China?
The plot of Big Trouble in Little China revolves around a woman with green eyes. The sorcerer Lo Pan kidnaps her because he must marry a girl with green eyes in order to successfully return to the human realm, triggering the supernatural conflict Jack Burton encounters.