The 'Burbs

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The 'Burbs

PG

1989

1h 42m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

56%

Tomatometer

43 Reviews

71%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Settling in for some time off in his suburban home, Ray Peterson's (Tom Hanks) vacation becomes a horror when the Klopeks, a suspiciously odd family, move in down the block. Enlisting the aid of his paranoid buddy, Art (Rick Ducommun), and his militia-man neighbor, Rumsfield (Bruce Dern), Ray sends his son and wife (Carrie Fisher) away on a trip while he investigates the Klopeks. When a neighbor disappears, Ray and his cohorts risk their lives to save their cul-de-sac from the clutches of evil.

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Critics Consensus

The 'Burbs has an engaging premise, likable cast, and Joe Dante at the helm -- so the mixed-up genre exercise they produce can't help but feel like a disappointment.

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Kim Newman

Empire Magazine

03/26/2019

4/5

It fumbles at the last moment... but this is still mainly a pleasantly nasty delight that was strangely overlooked in the cinema.

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Kevin Thomas

Los Angeles Times

03/26/2019

It's inconceivable that "The 'burbs looked good on paper.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

09/12/2017

B

Also starring Carrie Fisher, 'Burbs is a hilarious look at suburban mischief pre-Desperate Housewives. Check it out.

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David Day

Horror Movie Talk

Sep 23

9/10

Dope AF

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Joshua Mooney

Movieline

Sep 16

Tom Hanks, masterful comic actor that he is, is capable of appearing in some pretty mediocre films as he shows us yet again with "The 'Burbs."

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Mitchell Beaupre

Paste Magazine

02/17/2024

8.5/10

That sense of frivolity helps you tuck yourselves into bed at night in your safe home, trusting in the knowledge that Tom Hanks saved the neighborhood. But The ‘Burbs also contains the lingering reminder of Ray’s words: “It’s not them, it’s us!”

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James A

@Droz27 5d

Hackneyed characters that are annoying and not funny try to figure out a mystery that ends up just being some weird hillbillies living next door. Forgettable.

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Michael A

@Tomato547 Jan 5

Absolutely PERFECT! It's wacky humor lines up with its hilarious one-liners like about a 9' on the tension scale Rube. From the hilarious Rumsfield. It also has fantastic cast, it has Carrie fisher, Tom Hanks, and the garbage man was also in the Gremlins which I was also a big fan of! I don't know why on this website critics don't like it. This totally has the 80's touch to it. And forgot to mention Corey Feldman's in it!

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Zach B

@ZachBasham67 Dec 7

Laugh out loud funny

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Farah R.

@Farah Dec 5

I wish I’d grown up with this movie because its flaws would’ve been endearing rather than annoying. The’Burbs is a fun dark comedy with enough good moments to keep you watching but not enough to return for a rewatch.

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Creek

@Mister_BigBlock Nov 25

This movie is iconic.

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Liam D

@Mediawatcher2003 Oct 21

Possibly Joe Dante’s most underrated film. This is a pretty fun dark comedy that does go off the deep end by the end but it has an terrific ensemble cast including Tom Hanks at his most wackiest and craziest

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Joe Dante

Director

Tom Hanks

Ray Peterson

Bruce Dern

Lt. Mark Rumsfield

Carrie Fisher

Carol Peterson

Rick Ducommun

Art Weingartner

Corey Feldman

Ricky Butler

The 'Burbs: Official Clip - Bees and Bad Karma

2:59

The 'Burbs: Official Clip - The Femur

2:30

The 'Burbs: Official Clip - Do Not Mess With Suburbanites

2:26

The 'Burbs: Official Clip - Ambulance Encounter

2:07

The 'Burbs: Official Clip - Ray's Nightmare

3:19

The 'Burbs: Official Clip - We're the Lunatics!

2:26

The 'Burbs: Official Clip - I'm Going Over the Fence

2:52

The 'Burbs: Official Clip - Satan Is Our Pal

2:18

The 'Burbs: Official Clip - What Is It?

2:01

The 'Burbs: Official Clip - Neighbor Take Warning

1:54

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Synopsis

Settling in for some time off in his suburban home, Ray Peterson's (Tom Hanks) vacation becomes a horror when the Klopeks, a suspiciously odd family, move in down the block. Enlisting the aid of his paranoid buddy, Art (Rick Ducommun), and his militia-man neighbor, Rumsfield (Bruce Dern), Ray sends his son and wife (Carrie Fisher) away on a trip while he investigates the Klopeks. When a neighbor disappears, Ray and his cohorts risk their lives to save their cul-de-sac from the clutches of evil.

Director: Joe Dante
Producer: Larry Brezner, Michael Finnell
Screenwriter: Dana Olsen
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Imagine Entertainment
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 17, 1989, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $34.1M
Runtime: 1h 42m
Sound Mix: Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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