The Film: Back in action (plus a large dollop of comedy) with Russell for a madcap adventure through magic and mystery.

Russell is all-American trucker Jack Burton, unwittingly dragged into a battle between kung fu warriors and evil spirits over the fate of two women. Can his sheer idiot arrogance help him survive?

The movie itself nearly didn't survive studio interference, and went largely unnoticed on release. It's since become a cult favourite.

Carpenter Chats: The experience of Big Trouble was the reason I stopped making movies for the Hollywood studios. I won’t work for them again," Carpenter said at the time.

"I think Big Trouble is a wonderful film, and I’m very proud of it. But the reception it received, and the reasons for that reception, were too much for me to deal with. I’m too old for that sort of bulls**t."

Remade? Not yet, although a video game was released in 1987 and a comic book series based on the film is on the way.