
Better Off Dead...
Seen it?1985 | 97 min | Comedy, Romance
Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It's still drawing plenty of interest, though it had soft box office. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for romantics and anyone who wants a laugh. If you loved Grumpy Old Men, start here.
- The mood
- Light and funny, romantic.
- The pace
- Breezy, at 1 hr 37 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
High school student Lane Meyer sinks into suicidal depression when his girlfriend dumps him for jock Roy Stalin, the high school ski racing champion. Meanwhile, he has to deal with his eccentric family, a tenacious paperboy and an obnoxious neighbor whose mother is hosting a beautiful French exchange student named Monique.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsSolid
77% on Rotten Tomatoes, 51 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.6 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$10 million worldwide on a $4 million budget
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 147K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
Grumpy Old MenSaturday SpecialAnother romantic comedy, and a Saturday Special.
The DUFFWeeknight WatchAnother romantic comedy, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
National Lampoon's VacationSaturday SpecialAnother comedy, and a Saturday Special.
Can't Buy Me LoveWeeknight WatchAnother romantic comedy, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
The Wrong ParisWeeknight WatchAnother romantic comedy, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by Savage Steve Holland
- John CusackLane Meyer
- Amanda WyssBeth Truss
- Diane FranklinMonique Junot
- Aaron DozierRoy Stalin
- Curtis ArmstrongCharles De Mar
- David Ogden StiersAl Meyer
- Kim DarbyJenny Meyer
- Demian SladeJohnny Gasparini
- Laura WaterburyMrs. Smith
- Dan SchneiderRicky Smith