Better Off Dead

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Better Off Dead

PG

1985

1h 38m

Comedy

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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 of 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.

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Critics Consensus

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

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Paul Attanasio

Washington Post

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

Jan 4, 2018

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Janet Maslin

New York Times

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

Rated: 3/5

May 20, 2003

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Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

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.

Mar 10, 2003

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

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.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 13, 2025

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Jeff Beck

The Blu Spot

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.

Rated: 2.5/5

Sep 2, 2025

Full Review

Jas Keimig

The Stranger (Seattle, WA)

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.

Jan 28, 2022

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Lionel H

this movie is soooo 80s offensive. and poking fun of suicide is NOT funny. there are really more things wrong with this movie than good its really not worth watching.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/24/25

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Robert T

I've rarely met anyone who didn't secretly love it passionately.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/19/25

Full Review

CodyZamboni Z

Movie is watchable, Mostly for the likeable John Cusack, As he overcomes his heartbreak of losing a rotten ex, he then meets French girl who restores his self esteem, Movie is loaded with gags and slapstick, And some fantasy animated sequences , No big laughs, Most of the gags are barely amusing, And some just suck,

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/14/25

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stephen b

The Christmas Story like breaks from reality add nuance to what would otherwise be a normal kid having the nigh school blues type movie.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/26/25

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M R

The movie has its moments. Some of the nostalgia is fun. The ski bully is great and classic 80's, but the story is a little bland as is John Cusack's lead, though Cusack himself did great with the role.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/24/25

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Kai K

not the best cusack but still pretty funny, wish the movie overall was more like the second half

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/29/25

Full Review

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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

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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 of 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

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