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The Golden Child

The Golden Child

Action · Adventure · Comedy · 1986

After a Tibetan boy, the mystical Golden Child, is kidnapped by the evil Sardo Numspa, humankind's fate hangs in the balance. On the other side of the world in Los Angeles, the priestess Kee Nang seeks the Chosen One, who will save the boy from death. When Nang sees social worker Chandler Jarrell on television discussing his ability to find missing children, she solicits his expertise, despite his skepticism over being "chosen."

Movie details

The Golden Child

“Eddie Murphy is the chosen one.”

1986 Action · Adventure · Comedy 1h 34m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

5.9 / 10

Community rating

After a Tibetan boy, the mystical Golden Child, is kidnapped by the evil Sardo Numspa, humankind's fate hangs in the balance. On the other side of the world in Los Angeles, the priestess Kee Nang seeks the Chosen One, who will save the boy from death. When Nang sees social worker Chandler Jarrell on television discussing his ability to find missing children, she solicits his expertise, despite his skepticism over being "chosen."

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Golden Child?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Michael Ritchie

Written by

Dennis Feldman

Eddie Murphy

Eddie Murphy

Chandler Jarrell

Charles Dance

Charles Dance

Sardo Numspa

Charlotte Lewis

Charlotte Lewis

Kee Nang

J.L. Reate

J.L. Reate

The Golden Child

Victor Wong

Victor Wong

The Old Man

Randall 'Tex' Cobb

Randall 'Tex' Cobb

Til

James Hong

James Hong

Doctor Hong

Court is in session

Put The Golden Child on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Adrenaline Seeker

“Momentum is a formal choice.”

The velocity sharpens instinct and tension, making every beat land before self-importance can settle in.

The prosecution The Auteur Devotee

“Speed as an alibi.”

The film races past its weak spots and hopes acceleration will keep the audience from inspecting the evidence.