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Better Off Dead...
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Better Off Dead... (1985) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.1/10   16,056 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 5% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Writer:
Contact:
View company contact information for Better Off Dead... on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
11 October 1985 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
You've blown up your neighbor's mom. Your seven-year-old brother has better luck with women than you do. Your girlfriend has a new boyfriend. Relax, you're never... more
Plot:
A teenager has to deal with his girlfriend dumping him among family crises, homicidal paper boys, and a rival skier. full summary | add synopsis
NewsDesk:
(15 articles)
Take a Soak in the Hot Tub Time Machine Trailer
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Hot Tub Time trailer
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User Reviews:
Classic 80's Movie Must See more (150 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

John Cusack ... Lane Meyer

David Ogden Stiers ... Al Meyer

Kim Darby ... Jenny Meyer

Demian Slade ... Johnny Gasparini
Scooter Stevens ... Badger Meyer

Diane Franklin ... Monique Junot
Laura Waterbury ... Mrs. Smith
Dan Schneider ... Ricky Smith (as Daniel Schneider)
Yuji Okumoto ... Yee Sook Ree
Brian Imada ... Chen Ree
Chuck Mitchell ... Rocko
Amanda Wyss ... Beth Truss

Curtis Armstrong ... Charles De Mar
Aaron Dozier ... Roy Stalin
Frank Burt Avalon ... Roy's Ski Buddy #1
J. Warren David ... Roy's Ski Buddy #2
Peter Ellenstein ... Roy's Ski Buddy #3

Vincent Schiavelli ... Mr. Kerber
Edward Mehler ... Buster
Thomas Rollerson ... Roller Skater
Toby Iland ... Nerd #1
Jonathan Charles Fox ... Nerd #2 (as Jonathon Charles Fox)
Darren Harris ... Nerd #3
Randy Stoklos ... Jock #1
Sam High ... Jock #2
David Vaughn ... Jock #3
Tina Littlewood ... Chris Cummins
Steven Williams ... Tree Trimmer
Stuart K. Robinson ... Tree Trimmer's Helper

Taylor Negron ... Mailman
Rima Delane ... Joanne Greenwald

Elizabeth Daily ... Herself
Ron Anello ... The Band
Dominick Certo ... The Band
Jude Cole ... The Band
Robert Gianette ... The Band
Angie Rubin ... Backup Singer
Yano Anaya ... Paperboy
Joey Tushnet ... Paperboy
Sebastian Dungan ... Paperboy
Rick Rosenthal ... Smitty

Rich Little ... Additional Voices (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:

Stevie Mack ... Student (uncredited)
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Directed by
Savage Steve Holland 
 
Writing credits
Savage Steve Holland (writer)

Produced by
Gil Friesen .... executive producer
Michael Jaffe .... producer
Andrew Meyer .... executive producer
William Strom .... associate producer
 
Original Music by
Rupert Hine 
 
Cinematography by
Isidore Mankofsky 
 
Production Design by
Herman F. Zimmerman 
 
Set Decoration by
Gary Moreno 
 
Costume Design by
Brad R. Loman  (as Brad Loman)
David Roester 
 
Makeup Department
James R. Scribner .... makeup artist (as Jim Scribner)
Georgina Williams .... hair stylist
 
Production Management
Jack Clements .... unit production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Yudi Bennett .... first assistant director
Jann Dutmer .... second assistant director
Fred Lerner .... second unit director
Scott Printz .... dga trainee
 
Art Department
Rich Cline .... swing gang (as Richard Cline)
Tom J. Furginson .... swing gang (as Thomas Furginson)
Art Lipschultz .... property master
Bill McLaughlin .... leadman (as Bill McLaughlin Jr.)
Bud Peifer Jr. .... assistant property master
 
Sound Department
Bud Alper .... sound mixer
Gene Ashbrook .... boom operator
Kevin Durst .... sound effects editor
William Hooper .... supervising sound editor (as Bill Hooper)
Don MacDougall .... sound re-recording mixer
John L. Mack .... sound re-recording mixer
Richard Tyler .... sound re-recording mixer
Dick Vandenberg .... sound effects editor
Earl Watson .... sound effects editor
Cary Weitz .... cable operator
Bill Young .... sound effects editor
Bill Henderson .... sound re-recording engineer (uncredited)
 
Special Effects by
Roy L. Downey .... special effects (as Roy Downey)
 
Visual Effects by
Hoyt Yeatman .... special optical effects: DQI (uncredited)
 
Stunts
Frank Beddor .... stunts
Sandy Berumen .... stunts
Cheré Bryson .... stunts
Hank Calia .... stunts
Jean Coulter .... stunts (as Jeannie Coulter)
Greg Wayne Elam .... stunts
George Fisher .... stunts
Bill Hart .... stunts
Keith Harvey .... stunts
Kent Hays .... stunts
Johnny Hock .... stunts (as John Hock)
Jeff Jensen .... stunts
Wayne King .... stunts
A. Michael Lerner .... stunts (as Allen Michael Lerner)
Fred Lerner .... stunt coordinator
Bill McIntosh .... stunts
Faith Minton .... stunts
Tom Morga .... stunts
Harvey Parry .... stunts
Wally Rose .... stunts
Debby Lynn Ross .... stunts
Tanya Russell .... stunts
Sharon Schaffer .... stunts
Rick Seaman .... stunts
Peter Stader .... stunts
Neil Summers .... stunts
Dick Warlock .... stunts
Mark Yerkes .... stunts
Jim Dunn .... ski double: John Cusack (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Malcolm Brown .... first assistant camera (as Malcom Brown)
Jim Dunford .... dolly grip
Albert Fitch .... electrician
Jan Gould .... grip
Frederick Hamm .... second assistant camera
Frank M. Holgate .... photographer: second unit (as Frank Holgate)
David Jarrell .... best boy
Jake Jarrell .... gaffer
Tom Kessenich .... key grip
Greg Langham .... electrician
Rick Neff .... camera operator
Fred Sabine .... still photographer
Mark Stanley .... second key grip
Russell Wooley .... best boy
 
Animation Department
Bill Kopp .... animator: cartoon animation
Jimmy Picker .... animator: "Burger & Fries" animation
 
Casting Department
Robert Lansing Parker .... extras casting: Los Angeles (as Lansing Parker)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marcy Lavender .... costume supervisor
David Roesler .... costumer
 
Editorial Department
William Fletcher .... apprentice editor
Nancy Forner .... associate editor
Susanne Gervay .... negative cutter (as Susanne Garvay)
Patrick Magee .... assistant editor (as Patrick W. Magee)
 
Music Department
David Anderle .... music supervisor
Rupert Hine .... music producer
Ted Roberts .... music editor
Stan Jones .... assistant music editor (uncredited)
 
Transportation Department
Robert Elsey .... transportation captain
Donald Haflich .... transportation captain
David Jernigan .... transportation coordinator
 
Other crew
Kristin Bundesen .... production assistant
Kristin Burleson .... production assistant
John Byl .... craft service
Maria Cady .... script supervisor
Stan Cohen .... caterer (as Stanley Cohen)
Curtis Collins .... production assistant (as Curt Collins)
Huw Davies .... location manager
Merle L. Jackson .... production coordinator (as Merle Jackson)
Audrey Kennedy .... assistant to producer
Shelley Kirkwood .... unit publicist
Mike Marvin .... producer: skiing sequences
Dona Williams .... production accountant
Isabell Yale .... first aid
David E. Van Houten .... publicity designer (uncredited)
 
Crew believed to be complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsSpecial EffectsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Better Off Dead (USA) (alternative title)
One Way Love (USA) (working title)
more
Runtime:
97 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Company:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
During the Christmas presents scene at Lane's house we see a large toy robot. It is Twiki from the TV show "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" (1979). more
Goofs:
Continuity: Size of the slime meal. more
Quotes:
Jenny Myer: Hello Lane. How was your day?
Lane Myer: Beth broke up with me.
Jenny Myer: Oh, heh, that's nice.
more
Movie Connections:
Spoofed in Totally Awesome (2006) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
She's Gone more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
25 out of 27 people found the following review useful.
Classic 80's Movie Must See, 4 June 2004
10/10
Author: Kristal Gurks from Tampa

This is a must have in your DVD collection. Some love it, some say OK, some don't laugh at all. I say, you must have the uncanny ability to laugh at things ordinary people wouldn't understand the humor in. I've owned this movie on VHS and now DVD and have a steady belt of laughter each countless time I watch it. This is one of those movies where you are with your friends twenty years later and go, "I WANT MY TWO DOLLARS" and the room jocularly erupts and instigates discussion. If you find yourself easily amused, can see the humor in the way life hands you a sour glass of milk to wash down lifes trials in love, then you MUST see this Classic Movie that made me a Cusack fan!

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Better Off Dead... (1985)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
visual humor...no quotes...just scenes that kick arce! jiffy6969
1980s Comedies: Is the Genre Gone Forever? Prof_Plum
basketball team Gomenos
Paperboy Ski Bike Tjcat
who else thought Beth was a bit** JLetofan
I was Lane Meyer for Halloween! LOL! PuckeredAsshole
more

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