RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Found a Bug? Squash It! Report Bugs Here
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / Better Off Dead
Better Off Dead

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Better Off Dead (1985)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
81 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:21

Fresh:17

Rotten:4

Average Rating:7/10

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

Runtime: 1 hr 38 mins

Genre: Comedies

Synopsis: Lane Myer's (John Cusack) dreams are shattered when his girlfriend Beth (Amanda Wyss) decides she prefers the company of a sleazy ski jock over his own. This disheartening news leads Lane to... Lane Myer's (John Cusack) dreams are shattered when his girlfriend Beth (Amanda Wyss) decides she prefers the company of a sleazy ski jock over his own. This disheartening news leads Lane to attempt to take his own life in various ways--all of which never seem to work out. But if he can beat Beth's new boyfriend in a ski run down the treacherous K-12, he may be able to win her back. Along the way, Lane also encounters a beautiful French exchange student, a nasal spray-snorting neighbor, a rabid newspaper boy, and dancing hamburgers. "Savage" Steve Holland (ONE CRAZY SUMMER) directs this 1985 cult favorite. [More]

Starring: John Cusack, Curtis Armstrong, David Ogden Stiers, Amanda Wyss

Starring: John Cusack, Curtis Armstrong, David Ogden Stiers, Amanda Wyss, Kim Darby, Diane Franklin, Dan Schneider, Scooter Stevens, Elizabeth Daily

Director: Steve Holland

Director: Steve Holland
Screenwriter: Steve Holland

[See More Credits]

Reviews for Better Off Dead

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by comments; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

I love this movie, with its bizarre tangents and dream sequences.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment 1 Comment
07/13/02
Christopher Null
Christopher Null
Filmcritic.com

perhaps the greatest movie of all time

Full Review Source: sbs.is | comment 1 Comment
07/19/07
Stefan Birgir Stefansson
Stefan Birgir Stefansson
sbs.is

Unfortunately, only about half of the many jokes and gags in the film are actually funny.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
07/24/07
TV Guide's Movie Guide

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

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Brad Laidman
Brad Laidman
Film Threat

No review available.

comment Comment
09/12/02
Brent Simon
Brent Simon
Entertainment Today

Forget Citizen Kane. As a matter of history, this seminal film is unquestionably the finest work of cinema ever made. Required viewing for all students and fans of the art form.

comment Comment
08/12/03
Carlo Cavagna
Carlo Cavagna
AboutFilm.com

John Cusack can even turn a no-brainer into worthwhile entertainment

comment Comment
09/17/02
Clint Morris
Clint Morris
Moviehole

No review available.

comment Comment
11/13/02
Dan Jardine
Dan Jardine
Apollo Guide

No review available.

comment Comment
08/21/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

Classic '80s Cusack vehicle.

comment Comment
07/14/03
Fred Topel
Fred Topel
About.com

A unique, kooky gem.

Full Review Source: Q Network Film Desk | comment Comment
08/08/02
James Kendrick
James Kendrick
Q Network Film Desk

strives to be offbeat and sometimes works itself into a sweat doing so. The humor often hits the bullseye, however...

Full Review Source: Kalamazoo Gazette | comment Comment
07/31/03
James Sanford
James Sanford
Kalamazoo Gazette

Although the plot is sweet and simple, the laughs are what make this movie stand out.

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
08/08/02
Janet Branagan
Janet Branagan
Apollo Guide

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

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
05/20/03
Janet Maslin
Janet Maslin
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Hilarious and brilliantly deadpan.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
09/23/06
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

No review available.

comment Comment
08/30/02
Jeffrey Westhoff
Jeffrey Westhoff
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

No review available.

comment Comment
03/08/05
Jonathan R. Perry
Jonathan R. Perry
Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas)

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.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
03/10/03
Marjorie Baumgarten
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle

It's a sure bet you're gonna have fun.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
08/08/02
Oz
Oz
eFilmCritic.com

No review available.

comment Comment
05/15/06
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by comments; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
all

Latest News for Better Off Dead

February 21, 2006: Bob Clark Gets "Spring Broke" while Stern Readies "Porky's" Redo
Director Bob Clark ("Porky's," "A Christmas Story") has announced that he will go back to his teen-sex-comedy roots to direct "Spring Broke," which... More...

See All

More DVDs

Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
44% 44% Night at the Museum: B…
32% 32% Terminator Salvation
36% 36% Angels & Demons
95% 95% Star Trek
25% 25% Four Christmases

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
88% 88% Inglourious Basterds
78% 78% The Hangover
49% 49% Taking Woodstock
26% 26% The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard
47% 47% The Girl From Monaco

More New Releases…

What’s Hot On RT

Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Twilight Saga: Eclipse

5 facts straight from the cast.

Disney Animation

Disney Animation

We chart the studio's classics.

Avatar

Avatar

An exclusive look at the human hardware.

Eric Bana

Eric Bana

The Star Trek star talks cars with RT.

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Mila Kunis Talks Aronofsky's Black Swan Source: Collider.com
10
  • Visiting the Set of The Sorcerer's Apprentice Source: ComingSoon.net
4
  • Weekly Ketchup: James Cameron Plans a Fantastic Voyage
84
  • James Cameron Talks Avatar Sequels Source: Collider.com
8
  • Natalie Portman Will Battle Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Source: Variety
36
  • Marvel Begins Iron Man 2 Viral Campaign Source: Superhero Hype
12
  • Bryce Dallas Howard Talks Spider-Man 4, Terminator, and Twilight Source: ComingSoon.net
45
  • David Lynch Says He Turned Down Return of the Jedi Source: CinemaBlend.com
36
  • Thomas Dolby Starts a Star Wars Rumor Source: Ain't It Cool News
33
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
60
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Tomatometer Watch: Will Avatar Live Up To The Hype?
223
  • Total Recall: Keith David's Best Movies
81
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Girlpower Rules Again with Princess at #1
45
  • The Gimmicks That Changed Cinema: Part 1
36
  • Help Us Choose the Community Golden Tomato Award
32
  • The Effects of Where the Wild Things Are
29
  • Weekly Ketchup: James Cameron Plans a Fantastic Voyage
28
  • Critics Consensus: Princess, Invictus Are Certified Fresh
21
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
20
  • Awards Tour: D.C. Film Critics Name Up in the Air as Year's Best
18
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
20
  • Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland
2
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
12
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
23
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
23
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
9
  • Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film
28
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Better Off Dead at Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh Links

Featured
RT on YouTube
RT on YouTube External Link

Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.

RT on Twitter
RT on Twitter External Link

Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.