Better Off Dead

Play trailer

Better Off Dead

PG

1985

1h 38m

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

75%

Tomatometer

28 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Lane Meyer (John Cusack) is a teen with a peculiar family and a bizarre fixation with his girlfriend, Beth (Amanda Wyss). When Beth dumps Lane, he decides to kill himself, making bumbling attempts at suicide. Outside his morbid endeavors, Lane spends time with his oddball buddy, Charles (Curtis Armstrong), and befriends Monique (Diane Franklin), a visiting French student. Eventually, Lane resolves to race Beth's obnoxious new beau on the ski slopes, with unexpected results.

Critics Consensus

Better Off Dead is an anarchic mix of black humor and surreal comedy, anchored by John Cusack's winsome, charming performance.

Read Critics Reviews

Paul Attanasio

Washington Post

01/04/2018

Mired in this is Cusack ("The Sure Thing"), an unusually adept verbal comedian not so adept (to his credit) at this kind of slapstick.

Go to Full Review

Janet Maslin

New York Times

05/20/2003

3/5

The film doesn't seem to have much of a focus. But it doesn't seem to want one, either.

Go to Full Review

Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

03/10/2003

John Cusack launched his career as a lovable loser at love with this teen comedy about a guy who gets dumped when his girlfriend decides to trade up.

Go to Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Sep 13

3/4

If this movie has any sort of claim to fame, it’s because of that determined newspaper boy (“Two dollars!”), but there are many inspired set-pieces as well as a startling number of choice lines and exchanges.

Go to Full Review

Jeff Beck

The Blu Spot

Sep 2

2.5/5

Better Off Dead is a rather unfortunate mess, one that wants to tell the tale of a young man trying to win back his girlfriend, but which sadly gets drowned out in a series of unfunny running gags that seem to take over the majority of the film.

Go to Full Review

Jas Keimig

The Stranger (Seattle, WA)

01/28/2022

The story features enough weirdo side characters, hot French exchange students, absurd gags, CLAYMATION, and zany heart to elevate it beyond teen movie cliche. It's essential viewing.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Matthew

Apr 14

One of thr best films of the 80's! Highly original with great performances and music.

See more

Todd

Apr 14

Classic! Must see once in your lifetime, if you are nostalgic for the 80's.

See more

Melissa M

@Lisey 2d

Savage Steve Holland. Definitely underrated as a director. He made so many cartoonish cult classics. Highly imaginative. Which is something Hollywood desperately needs these days. There's so many memorable lines in this movie like I want my $2. It's funny how Lane Myers literally keeps driving into the owner of pig Burger's truck. Then eventually he winds up working for him driving him crazy. Lane is like a modern day Walter Mitty. Lane ❤️ Beth. Ricky ❤️ Monique. Monique would ❤️ to see Dodger Stadium. Elizabeth Daily sings most of the songs in the movie which definitely makes the soundtrack awesome. After Lan & Beth break up everyone wants to go out with her from the school teacher to Barney Rubble. This movie has everything from booging burgers to ski pole fighting.

See more

thiago S

@Thiagostone May 4

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

See more

Lisa Cintron

Apr 2

Love this movie every single I was a teenager From dancing burgers-Eddie Vanburger 😆 To French fries...to rebuilding class car, multiple broken garage door glasses To the classic one liner "I want my $2"

See more

Melissa L

@Agent99 Dec 11

I love '80s movies, and I can't believe I missed this one! I definitely am glad I checked it out!

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Savage Steve Holland

Director

John Cusack

Lane Meyer

Diane Franklin

Monique Junot

David Ogden Stiers

Al Meyer

Kim Darby

Jenny Meyer

Demian Slade

Johnny Gasparini

The Man With One Red Shoe

47%

39%

The Man With One Red Shoe

Watchlist

Sixteen Candles

81%

85%

Sixteen Candles

Watchlist

Rhinestone

19%

35%

Rhinestone

Watchlist

Unfaithfully Yours

33%

45%

Unfaithfully Yours

Watchlist

Crackers

0%

33%

Crackers

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Jessica Biel Joins Nicolas Cage’s "Next" Project

Bob Clark Gets "Spring Broke" while Stern Readies "Porky’s" Redo

View more photos

Synopsis

Lane Meyer (John Cusack) is a teen with a peculiar family and a bizarre fixation with his girlfriend, Beth (Amanda Wyss). When Beth dumps Lane, he decides to kill himself, making bumbling attempts at suicide. Outside his morbid endeavors, Lane spends time with his oddball buddy, Charles (Curtis Armstrong), and befriends Monique (Diane Franklin), a visiting French student. Eventually, Lane resolves to race Beth's obnoxious new beau on the ski slopes, with unexpected results.

Director: Savage Steve Holland
Producer: Michael Jaffe
Screenwriter: Savage Steve Holland
Production Co: A&M Films, CBS Entertainment Productions
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (DVD): Jul 16, 2002
Box Office (Gross USA): $10.3M
Runtime: 1h 38m