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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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V M.

@IndianWarrior Nov 7

Light hearted coming of age comedy 😀👌🏼

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Julian B

@Spursy153 Oct 23

Saw this film when it came out in 1985 found it hilarious & still do 40Yrs later. I recommend u watch it

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Lionel H

@Lionel.H Aug 24

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.

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Robert T

Aug 19

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

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CodyZamboni Z

@CodyZamboni Aug 14

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,

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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

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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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