This picture got made on the back of the critical and box office success of the Australian movie Malcolm (1986). Both films feature gadgets. 'Rikky and Pete' is also about another eccentric mechanical genius like Malcolm. Both productions were written, produced and directed by Nadia Tess and David Parker who are married filmmakers.
This Australian feature film debuted stateside first prior to its opening in Australia. It premiered theatrically in the USA in May 1988 then about three weeks later it was released in cinemas down under in June the same year.
This movie's closing credits declare that the production was: ''Shot on location in Melbourne, Broken Hill and Mt. Isa, Australia.''
This Australian picture was produced with the assistance of Film Victoria and made with the co-operation of Nissan Australia.
The American movie studio United Artists originally wanted lead cast approval and there was some pressure from UA to have one of the two leading actors, the lead female actress, to be cast with an American. But in the end, the key creative filmmakers of Nadia Tess and David Parker were able to achieve creative control and these casting decisions were made by them.