History Film / TheAdventuresOfBuckarooBanzaiAcrossThe8thDimension

** The makers of some of the later ''Franchise/StarTrek'' series liked making references to this film. The fact that a good chunk of the art department from ''[[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration Next Generation]]'' on through ''[[Series/StarTrekEnterprise Enterprise'''' previously worked on ''Buckaroo Banzai'' may have something to do with this.

In this adventure, one of many ShroudedInMyth, Buckaroo goes from surgery to the test of the dimension-hopping Jet Car, to a performance at New Brunswick NJ night spot Artie's Artery. As Buckaroo turns the mood mellow with a solo piano performance of "Since I Don't Have You", a gunshot fires. Penny Priddy was trying to commit suicide, but because Buckaroo has many enemies, a misunderstanding results in her being arrested for attempting to kill him. Meanwhile, the Black Lectroids have sent an agent to Earth to warn Buckaroo that their historic enemies the Red Lectroids will try to steal his invention the Oscillation Overthruster (which the Jet Car used to enter the 8th Dimension) and use it to release their comrades from interdimensional exile. To stop them from causing trouble back on Planet Ten, the Black Lectroids will then fire a particle beam from U.S. airspace to the USSR, which will start WorldWarThree, which will hopefully result in vaporizing the bad guys. This, needless to say, does not bode well for Earth. The U.S. Government also wants the Jet Car for military applications. Buckaroo has a lot on his plate, but will he manage to save the world, get the girl, and keep the Jet Car from being misused?

* TheAce

** The makers of some of the later ''Franchise/StarTrek'' series liked making references to this film. The fact that a good chunk of the art department from ''Next Generation'' on through ''Enterprise'' previously worked on ''Buckaroo Banzai'' may have something to do with this.

** The mysterious Dr. B Banzai and his Banzai Institute are rather important minor characters in TabletopGame/BattleTech.

* MythologyGag: [[ParodiedTrope Parodied.]] The movie constantly references past characters and events in passing that would no doubt make sense within the context of an established long-running franchise... but the movie isn't attatched to any greater franchise, so the "references" are all intentionally nonsense with no context.

* Creator/ChristopherLloyd as John [[InsistentTerminology/LiveActionFilms Bigbooté]]

** [[DitzyGenius New Jersey]], as Reno comments in the novelization, is easily confused and often prepares less than appropriately for new occasions (as shown by him wearing a cowboy outfit to his first day on the job and getting the roles and names of the other members of Team Banzai confused). In spite of his CloudCuckooLander tendencies, he's the first one perceptive enough to connect the Lectroids to the ''War of the Worlds'' hoax.

-> John Bigbootè! You are the most cowardly individual ''I have EVER KNOWN!''

* FantasyConflictCounterpart: John Whorfin's past is explicitly compared to Hitler's role in World War II. The later tensions between the Black and Red Lectroids in their fight over Earth are parallel to the ColdWar and its numerous proxy wars.

* SpaceColdWar: The plot of the film involves the Earth becoming a bargaining chip in one. Ironically, with the real ColdWar powers as proxies.

* ColdWar: The Lectroids plan to manipulate it to their own ends to resolve a conflict between their two factions.

* FunnyForeigner: It's briefly discussed that Buckaroo's international team supposedly includes a lot of these. However, the only identifiably foreign character on the team is Hikita, who aside from a strong accent isn't particularly stereotypical or exaggerated in his cultural differences.

* MissionControl: Banzai is granted his own mission control team by the president in the event of a crisis - because he's just that competent. Unfortunately, his mission control team aren't, but the plot is resolved before they can get carried away doing too much damage.

Brilliant scientist Buckaroo Banzai is [[TheAce a neurosurgeon, physicist, music star, spiritual guru, adventurer, and geopolitical consultant who fights hostile aliens, performs rock and roll (on multiple instruments, yet!), test drives interdimensional experimental vehicles, advises world leaders on how to prevent nuclear war, and studies the unknown]]. Surrounded by his faithful team of genius rockers, the Hong Kong Cavaliers, he travels the world pleasing the fans with music, and facing off against evil wherever he may find it.

Brilliant scientist Buckaroo Banzai is [[TheAce a neurosurgeon who fights hostile aliens, performs rock and roll (on multiple instruments, yet!), test drives interdimensional experimental vehicles, advises world leaders on how to prevent nuclear war, and studies the unknown]]. Surrounded by his faithful team of genius rockers, the Hong Kong Cavaliers, he travels the world pleasing the fans with music, and facing off against evil wherever he may find it.

* TheMainCharactersDoEverything: Quite literally. Throughout the film the main cast play a live show in a multi-instrument, multi-genre band, expose a conspiracy involving a shady aerospace corporation, negotiate with alien diplomats and raid an enemy compound to stop a plot to destroy Earth, travel through the solid matter, prevent a nuclear catastrophe, and discover the eighth dimension. And much of that is just Buckaroo Banzai himself.

* PowerWalk: Averted in the end credits, though it can be thought of as an embryonic version.

* TheColdWar: The Lectroids plan to manipulate it to their own ends to resolve a conflict between their two factions.