10 genre-bending cult comedies like Big Trouble in Little China

Big Trouble in Little China is exactly what you need when you’ve watched too many mind-bending, intellectual movies. This 1986 film is a fun action-comedy that follows the heroic adventure of Jack Burton. In this world of fantasy, Jack works as a truck driver. He gets caught up in something that otherwise stayed hidden in the streets of San Francisco's Chinatown: a world of ancient Chinese magic.

It all starts when Jack's friend Wang Chi’s fiancée gets abducted by a Chinese gang named the Lords of Death. While Jack feels confident in his heroic rescue attempt, he goes on to create quite a big mess. Whenever he tries to be smart, his plans backfire on him. While the movie will tickle your funny bone, it also offers you a blend of martial arts, monsters, and ghosts.

Big Trouble in Little China initially faced some criticism, but eventually its bizarre appeal became its unique mark. It blended and bent genres with a dash of funny one-liners and slapstick humor. It is not a typical action movie—and that’s what makes it stand out.

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10 genre-bending cult comedies like Big Trouble in Little China

1. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)

This 1984 movie bends genres, and it does so unapologetically. It throws Cold War paranoia, a bizarre sci-fi plot, and pulp heroics into a pot and simmers it well until you get a film that challenges traditional structure in every sip.

It all starts with Dr. Buckaroo Banzai—a neurosurgeon, rock star, and physicist—as he comes across alien beings from the 8th Dimension. Like Big Trouble in Little China, this film throws physics and logic straight out the window while embracing pure chaos.

If you loved the mayhem of Big Trouble in Little China, you can rent this on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.

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2. Kung Fu Hustle (2004)

Stephen Chow’s genre-smashing cult film from 2004 mixes Looney Tunes–style slapstick with dramatic humor and kung fu theatrics. Like Big Trouble in Little China, this movie also takes you through a Chinese setting and tells the tale of a gangster who finds himself in the middle of a war. The nature of this war is highly comic: between superpowered assassins and kung fu masters.

Both films use martial arts mythos as a base to draw out the humor. They also add chunks of surreal violence and weirdly exaggerated special effects.

If you need another dose of weird action and fantasy, you can find Kung Fu Hustle on Netflix and Hulu.

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3. Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2010)

This 2010 horror-comedy takes the trope of the slasher and distorts it just enough to make a bizarre tale. Two kindhearted hillbillies are mistaken for serial killers by a group of panicked college kids. What spirals out of this misunderstanding is absolute chaos and bone-tickling humor.

Like Big Trouble in Little China, this movie also plays with genre subversion and cultural stereotypes, with a dash of gore and comedy.

If you’re in search of another bizarre narrative, you can stream Tucker and Dale vs. Evil on Amazon Prime Video and Tubi.

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4. They Live (1988)

Another John Carpenter cult gem from 1988, this movie blends the genres of science fiction and satire. The story revolves around a time when Earth is secretly ruled by aliens using subliminal messaging. With cheesy action, wild conspiracy paranoia, and absurd plots, it is a rollercoaster ride.

Like Big Trouble in Little China, this movie offers both action and an unfazed critique of consumerist society.

If you want to see this movie, you can find it on Peacock or rent it from Amazon Prime Video.

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5. The Man with Two Brains (1983)

This movie earns a spot on this list due to its weird plot. The story revolves around an eccentric neurosurgeon who is oddly fascinated with the disembodied brain of a woman. This film is a complete package that offers you absurdism, romance, and a heavy dose of goofy humor. Like Big Trouble in Little China, this film also refuses to stay in one lane and crash-lands onto your taste.

You can watch this movie on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.

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6. The FP (2011)

This movie from 2011 offers you a genre-bending dystopian satire where turf wars are settled not through military weapons, but through something called “Beat Beat Revelation” (a DDR-style dance game). This film may remind you of 80s video games, with a dash of fast footwork and irony.

Like Big Trouble in Little China, the movie offers you style, a ridiculous premise, and a deadpan, zero-logic mess.

You can access this movie on Plex or rent it on Vudu.

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7. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)

This 2010 movie did something unique with its content. It turned romance into a multimedia/game-style fight fest. The story recounts how Scott must fight against his girlfriend’s seven evil exes. The film offers plenty of stylized graphics, fast cuts, and self-conscious wit, making it a genre salad that perfectly fits your plate.

Both films deal with fantasy tropes against real-world settings and give you a cartoonish feel with hyper-stylized treatment.

You can stream this on Netflix or rent it from Apple TV.

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8. Repo Man (1984)

When speaking of genre-bending chaos, Repo Man rightly earns a mention. This movie blends punk themes with sci-fi and satire. The story follows a young repo agent who finds a car that exhibits extraterrestrial phenomena. Further, a government conspiracy also unfolds. It’s weird, chaotic, and boldly anti-mainstream.

Both movies promise you a rebellious spirit, messy plotlines, and a knack for keeping you guessing. Both films are steered by characters who are bizarre—and yet, somehow, you just keep watching!

You can find this movie on Criterion Channel or rent it from Amazon Prime Video.

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9. Attack the Block (2011)

Unlike Big Trouble in Little China, this movie unfolds in a South London housing estate. This 2011 horror-comedy places a group of teens against alien invaders. The tale is intense yet comic, giving you the same feel as Big Trouble in Little China. The coming-of-age drama is set sharply against the chaos that unfolds.

You get a blend of smash culture, urban realism, and supernatural chaos in both movies.

If you’re looking for something that caters to your hunger for bizarre narratives, try watching Attack the Block on Amazon Prime Video and Starz.

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10. Manborg (2011)

This 2011 movie offers you just what the name suggests. It all starts when a soldier gets killed during war, but is later turned into a Manborg—a man turned cyborg. This Canadian sci-fi takes you through a post-apocalyptic future where something called Hell’s Army exists and gives you just the oddly comic plot you found in Big Trouble in Little China. With VHS effects, stop-motion monsters, and old-school aesthetics, this movie deserves a spot on your watchlist.

You can find this on Tubi and Pluto TV.

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