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Eddie Murphy, Charles Dance, Charlotte Lewis, Victor Wong, J.L. Reate ... see more see more... , Randall "Tex" Cobb , James Hong , Shakti , Tau Logo , Tiger Chung Lee , Pons Maar , Peter Kwong , Kenneth "Fruity" Frith Jr. , Charles Levin , Bennett Ohta , Marilyn Schreffler , Wally Taylor , Bob Tzudiker , Eric Douglas , Frank Welker , Chantara Nop , Shakti Chen

Eddie Murphy followed up his Beverly Hills Cop success with this fantasy adventure that plops him right into the land of Ray Harryhausen and Indiana Jones. The plot revolves around a God-like youngste... read more read more...r (J.L. Reate) known as a "golden child," who has been sent to Tibet to bring the gift of compassion to humanity. But the devil isn't idle, sending his emissary, Sardo Numspa (Charles Dance) to kidnap the golden child. Sardo absconds with the child and takes off to Los Angeles. In L.A., a beautiful Tibetan priestess named Kee Nang (Charlotte Lewis) seeks out Chandler Jarrell (Eddie Murphy), a social worker and self-styled "finder of lost children." She tells Chandler he has been chosen to rescue the magical child from the devil and save the world from evil. Before Chandler can let go of his first riposte, he finds himself holding a magic dagger, following a sacred parakeet, and under-going several trials by fire. He also falls in love with Kee Nang, who at one point in the film has to be brought back from the dead. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Flixster Users

49% liked it

59,947 ratings

Critics

26% liked it

19 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 34 min.

Directed by: Michael Ritchie

Release Date: December 12, 1986

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DVD Release Date: March 9, 1999

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Stats: 1,660 reviews

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Charles Dance Kee Nang The Golden Child She's beyond this world of pain. Trouble at the house. Kee Nang alert.
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Flixster Reviews (1,660)

  • thmtsang
    March 5, 2012
    thmtsang
    Eddie is a private eye who has to find a kidnapped child.
  • 76Majikat
    October 15, 2011
    76Majikat
    [Re-watch]

    Movies may have moved on in terms of effects, but this is still an easy watching good prevails evil family film with comical input by Eddie Murphy.
  • fb1563632850
    August 12, 2011
    fb1563632850
    Brilliant!
  • sanjurosamurai
    January 15, 2011
    sanjurosamurai
    early eddie was one of the best comedic actors in history. maybe a notch below some of his other eighties flicks, mostly because the film doesnt hold up as well, but this movie is still funny and a lot of fun to watch.
  • SirPant
    September 24, 2009
    SirPant
    Childhood favourite. I always used to cry when the girl died! I had a crush on her.
  • dreamfaeries
    October 23, 2008
    dreamfaeries
    I thought this movie was really good.
  • rezpatriot
    February 25, 2008
    rezpatriot
    Entertaining, thrilling, good humoured, very funny and very 86 effects. Cool actors !
  • hoganshero
    August 31, 2007
    hoganshero
    Many will tell you this one isn't good. But it is..there are lame special effect and some silly villians..but Eddie is so funny in this. It's a must see!
  • Deano78
    July 10, 2007
    Deano78
    An enjoyable fantasy/action film with a good dose of humour.
  • YosemiteSamFan
    June 27, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    The Golden Child is an awesome fantasy action movie. Great opening scene of the child being kidnapped with some rockin' 80's music. Eddie Murphy's character I was totally with throughout. He let his trademark humour come through in a funny non-vulgar manner. I loved his gripings ... read morethrough each part of his mission. The villains are weird and wild eastern mythological characters. I loved the scene when the child amused the beast-man with a dancing cola-can. The fights and creatures were wonderful. I could get into this more than "Big Trouble in Little China", a similar film.

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Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

This film -- insignificant and lightweight and monumentally silly -- is entertaining from beginning to end. Full Review

Paul Attanasio
January 1, 2000
Paul Attanasio, Washington Post

A half-baked comedy without a heart. Full Review

Steve Crum
February 23, 2008
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

Mediocre Eddie Murphy comedy looks very dated now.

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
August 25, 2004
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

Not even Eddie Murphy's normal bag of tricks and tics can save this contrived and unconvincing film from self-destructing.

Victoria Alexander
February 13, 2004
Victoria Alexander, FilmsInReview.com

His posse told him he was god-like.

Ken Hanke
December 10, 2003
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Indefensible rubbish with occasional flashes of invention and Victor Wong.

Alex Sandell
May 30, 2003
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum

Eddie Murphy begins to dabble in "kiddy-land."

Frank Ochieng
May 27, 2003
Frank Ochieng, Movie Eye

An uneven and staid mystical bore that miscasts Murphy something fierce. There's nothing Golden about this neglected Child.

Widgett Walls
February 9, 2003
Widgett Walls, Needcoffee.com

An extremely amusing film from back when Murphy was still funny; it's been unfortunately mostly forgotten these days.

Blake Davis
January 29, 2003
Blake Davis, KFOR Channel 4 News

A mixed bag of occult mayhem that I remember liking as a kid.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Facts

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    • Chandler Jarrell: I know this is a dream, so I can say anything I want and get away with it. So I think I will say, from my heart, kiss my ass. Kiss my ass!
    • Chandler Jarrell: Only a man whose heart is pure can wield the knife, and only a man whose ass is narrow can get down these steps. And if mine's is such an ass, then I shall have it.
    • Chandler Jarrell: My dear, sweet brother Numsie!
    • Chandler Jarrell: How many people have survived this?
    • The Old Man: None!
    • Chandler Jarrell: None? None? I'm gonna break your ass in a minute!
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The Golden Child : Watch Free on TV

The Golden Child Trivia

  • Eddie Murphy as an LA investigator who is hired to find a Tibetan child that's been kidnaped by evil forces?  Answer »
  • In the Golden Child what were they trying to force the child to eat when he was captured?  Answer »
  • Eddie Murphy had $100 stolen from him in Tibet. Name the movie.  Answer »
  • What did the Tibetans call Eddie Murphy's character in the movie 'The Golden Child'?  Answer »
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