The film was originally made at MGM, but the studio ultimately chose not to release it. "Buckaroo Banzai" was picked up by 20th Century Fox as part of a package deal (which also included the film "Mr. Mom"). But the studio had little faith in its success - and cursed it with a weak advertising campaign and limited distribution.

When it opened, reviews were mixed, at best. Leonard Maltin called it "incoherent, like coming in at the second chapter of a Saturday Matinee serial." Critics who "got it" described it as "a silly movie for smart people." Gary Franklin of KCBS News in Los Angeles said "Weirdo that I am - I liked the movie!"

Despite its obstacles, the film slowly developed a large cult following. Letters from fans poured into Fox, and a small group of people that I later joined began to answer them. An informal fan club was created. Working out of the studio's publicity offices, we dutifully responded to as much of the mail as possible, distributing publicity materials left over from the film's advance publicity campaign.

"Buckaroo Banzai" fans frequently ask me if I have anything from the movie in my archives that no one has seen before. I have recently found several pictures taken during the film's production ... many of which have not been previously published. I hope you enjoy seeing them.