Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

Little Buddha

PG Released May 25, 1994 2h 3m Adventure List
65% Tomatometer 26 Reviews 53% Audience Score 5,000+ Ratings A Buddhist monk, Lama Norbu (Ying Ruocheng), believes that a 10-year-old American boy, Jesse (Alex Wiesendanger), is the reincarnation of his spiritual teacher, Lama Dorje. Jesse's father, Dean (Chris Isaak), and mother, Lisa (Bridget Fonda), are dubious, but following his business partner's suicide, a transformed Dean relents and allows his son to travel to Bhutan. However, there are two other children who the monk thinks may also be the reincarnation of Lama Dorje. Read More Read Less
Little Buddha

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Little Buddha's storytelling may be too childlike to best service its audacious plot, but Bernardo Bertolucci's direction and Vittorio Storaro's cinematography conspire to deliver a visually strong epic.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (26) Critics Reviews
Sheila Johnston Independent (UK) It is refreshing to find a heavy-hitting European auteur telling his story with such directness, and delightful to see a serious, artistically exacting film for children, even if you suspect it will soar over that audience. Nov 13, 2017 Full Review Gene Siskel Chicago Tribune In a quiet way, this gorgeous movies accomplishes many things. Rated: 3.5/4 Aug 16, 2017 Full Review Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader Bertolucci's celebrated burnt-orange-and-burnished-lemon look remains handsome, and the story itself still commands some interest as a pivot into daunting material. Dec 7, 2007 Full Review Jas Keimig The Stranger (Seattle, WA) This Bernardo Bertolucci film feels like two films stuck together, one more compelling than the other. Jan 11, 2022 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com An intimate, spiritual film from Bertolucc, which trying to combine elements of mysticism and Western culture. Rated: B- Jul 16, 2012 Full Review John A. Nesbit Old School Reviews Excellent introduction to Buddhism--strongest portions are mythical excerpts of Buddha's life. Rated: B- Apr 4, 2008 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (343) audience reviews
Audience Member I really wanted to like this movie, but it is just trying to do too much and left me wanting more closure on the main story. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review Audience Member This is one of my all time favorites. It may, however, be somewhat confusing to someone who has no familiarity with the teachings of the Buddha. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member Brilliant Film. Quite Possibly the Most Underrated Modern Creative Storytelling of Siddhartha and Valuable Insight into Tibetan Buddhism Concepts and Traditional Values... A Must See for anyone Buddhist or Exploring the Concept of Reincarnation ~~ #PurposefulSources #ProperPerspective #ProductiveEngagement #DivineBirthright #DivineFriendship | 777ADVENTURES Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Excellent movie. As a kid grew up in Dominican Republic, from a the middle class (maybe poor in other place of the planet) I only can dream with the Asian countries through the dictionary or some magazines. We dont have cable, but during the 90' Bertolucci was famous for The Last Emperor (The Last Tango was banned and as a 90's child I cannot get any information) That make me imaging China, and try to figured it how to speak chinese. At the same time I have the opportunity to met taiwanese people and for the first time I have the opportunity to listen about Siddharta story then when I was ten finally they broadcast the film in the public television of my country. Now I am in Taiwan and my wife is taiwanese. So althougt Bertolucci have the Last Tango he demonstrated with the others film, he shows his capacity to be a good director. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review dan u This movie started good, but then, it got quite boring and pretty unrealistic!! But I have to say I really liked the character of Lama Norbu! Thats someone I would like to meet in my real life! Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Little Buddha reminded me of 'The Princess' Bride' but that it tells it's story in a more down-to-earth, realistic & emotional kind of fashion. Keanu Reeves is always a delight to watch as well. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Little Buddha

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

More Like This

View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
Iron Will 67% 66% Iron Will Sheena 11% 33% Sheena Where the River Runs Black 60% 92% Where the River Runs Black Tarzan and the Lost City 6% 23% Tarzan and the Lost City White Water Summer 25% 54% White Water Summer Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Photos

View All Little Buddha photos

Little Buddha

Little Buddha (1993) Little Buddha (1993) Little Buddha (1993) Little Buddha (1993) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A Buddhist monk, Lama Norbu (Ying Ruocheng), believes that a 10-year-old American boy, Jesse (Alex Wiesendanger), is the reincarnation of his spiritual teacher, Lama Dorje. Jesse's father, Dean (Chris Isaak), and mother, Lisa (Bridget Fonda), are dubious, but following his business partner's suicide, a transformed Dean relents and allows his son to travel to Bhutan. However, there are two other children who the monk thinks may also be the reincarnation of Lama Dorje.
Director
Bernardo Bertolucci
Producer
Jeremy Thomas
Screenwriter
Bernardo Bertolucci, Rudy Wurlitzer, Mark Peploe
Distributor
Laurenfilm S.A., Miramax Films
Production Co
Recorded Pictures Company, CiBy 2000
Rating
PG
Genre
Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 25, 1994, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 12, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$2.3M
Runtime
2h 3m
Sound Mix
Surround, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Dolby Digital, Stereo
Aspect Ratio
70mm