The Golden Child

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The Golden Child

PG-13

1986

1h 31m

Comedy

Adventure

Fantasy

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

21%

Tomatometer

28 Reviews

47%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

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

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Michael Healy

Denver Post

May 11, 2026

Eddie Murphy upstaged by a soft-shoeing soft drink. There is something desperately wrong here.

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David Stratton

Sydney Morning Herald

May 27, 2021

A generally over-produced, over-cooked movie.

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Paul Attanasio

Washington Post

Jan 1, 2000

A half-baked comedy without a heart.

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Justin Brown

Medium Popcorn

Feb 12, 2025

3/5

This movie is absolutely madness and the CGI doesn't hold up, but I still find this enjoyable. The 80's were a wild time.

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Brandon Collins

Medium Popcorn

Feb 12, 2025

2/5

There some very intense, oddly gothic moments in this movie that don't match the comedic tone that Eddie Murphy was going for. Lots of things were apparently changed from the initial idea and this is evident in the final product.

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Casey Chong

Casey's Movie Mania

Jul 4, 2024

2.5/5

[Eddie] Murphy’s role as a wisecracking detective specialising in finding missing children may have been right up his alley. But his usual charismatic turn isn’t enough to offset the slapdash and clunky plot.

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Worm W

@Wormwood Aug 13, 2026

Nearly 40 years since I watched this in the cinema and it brings back those warm Eddie feelings. Saturday night popcorn movie, grab a pizza and have some entertainment. Worth a watch if nothing else on your radar

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Dan O

@RT13408409 Jun 24, 2026

Very rage baited, was promised a lot of Chucky poo but movie did not deliver. Bro just kind of creeps up on a child the whole time, not very interesting.

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Jeffrey P

@vanillavoodoo1 Jun 15, 2026

Follows the trope of 80s fantasy films and tosses one of Americas favorite R-rated comedians into the lead. I never looked at oatmeal the same after this.

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Ben W

@Username618 Jun 2, 2026

Remember enjoying. ... Am aware, of... elderly Chinese person in movies must talk like fortune cookie trope. Am aware of, don't condone.

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Melissa M

@Lisey May 13, 2026

Chandler is the finder of Lost children. Kee at first has the hardest time convincing Chandler to help. But after he has experiences that are beyond explanation. He decides to help find The Golden child. Chandler is Tested in ways he never imagined. Kee had some mad fighting skills. She looks fragile. But she is tougher than nails. Sardo is a wickedly supernatural demon. A real rat bastard that could actually turn himself into a rabbid rat. Don't want to give away too much of the movie no spoiler alerts here. After making the Beverly hills cop movies, the 48-hour films - The Golden child Eddie Murphy has definitely earned the right to be called an action star. This movie is a supernatural, Syfy, action , comedy. if you give this movie a chance you definitely won't be disappointed. However some of the special effects are a little cheesy & campy. But the movie is highly imaginative. And worth watching

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Mike L.

@ArbiterXII Feb 20, 2026

Not quite a review I cannot think of details Only a haiku

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Michael Ritchie

Director

Eddie Murphy

Chandler Jarrell

Charles Dance

Sardo Numspa

Charlotte Lewis

Kee Nang

Victor Wong

The Old Man

Randall "Tex" Cobb

Til

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Synopsis

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

Director: Michael Ritchie
Producer: Dennis Feldman, Edward S. Feldman, Robert D. Wachs
Screenwriter: Dennis Feldman
Production Co: Paramount, Eddie Murphy Productions, Industrial Light & Magic
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 6, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $78.1M
Runtime: 1h 31m
Sound Mix: Surround

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