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Better Off Dead

Play trailer Poster for 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.
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Better Off Dead

Better Off Dead

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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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Critics Reviews

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Paul Attanasio Washington Post Jan 4, 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 May 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 Mar 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, 2025
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, 2025
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) Jan 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

Audience Reviews

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Matthew Apr 14, 2026 One of thr best films of the 80's! Highly original with great performances and music. See more Todd Apr 14, 2026 Classic! Must see once in your lifetime, if you are nostalgic for the 80's. See more Robert P @Superbad Oct 3, 2026 Better Off Dead is a *4* star Movie! See more Sabra P @Sabra606 Aug 6, 2026 Better Off Dead is what happens when heartbreak, hormones, and homicidal levels of teenage misery collide, and somehow make one of the funniest movies ever made. The performances are gloriously committed, the writing is absurdly sharp, and the jokes come at you like they’ve been launched from a cannon. It’s weird, wildly quotable, surprisingly sweet, and packed with the kind of wonderfully deranged energy that makes you want to watch it again immediately. Depression has never been this much fun. See more Landon J @Minxsykitty Jul 25, 2026 Classic 80's teen stuff on full display. Some really good moments, Cusak is great in this. If you've seen Bueller's day off and Heathers, this has a super familiar feel. See more Les N @Vegas628 Jun 16, 2026 For someone that grew up on 80s movies this wasn't one of the best. See more Read all reviews
Better Off Dead

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Cast & Crew

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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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Better Off Dead

Better Off Dead (1985) Better Off Dead (1985) Better Off Dead (1985) View more photos

Movie Info

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
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