Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > The 'burbs (1989)
The 'burbs
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The 'burbs (1989) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 12 | slideshow)

Overview

User Rating:
6.4/10   18,339 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 13% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Joe Dante
Writer (WGA):
Dana Olsen (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for The 'burbs on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
17 February 1989 (USA) more
Tagline:
A comedy about one nice guy who gets pushed too far. more
Plot:
An overstressed suburbanite and his paramilitaric neighbor struggle to prove their paranoid theory that the new family in town is a front for a cannibalistic cult. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
1 nomination more
User Comments:
Ducommun Delivers In One Of My All-Time Favorites more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Life in the Burbs (USA) (original script title)
more
Runtime:
101 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Ray Peterson's (Tom Hanks) final "It's not them. It's us!" rant is used in Portland, Oregon musician Eluvium (Matthew Cooper)'s song "A I Drift Off" on his 2006 album "When I Live by the Garden and the Sea". more
Goofs:
Continuity: Carol shows up at the end of the film with a shorter haircut, on which Ray comments. However, in her last scene of the film, her hair is back to its original length. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Carol Peterson: Ray. Ray, where are you going? Come back to bed.
more
Movie Connections:
References Die Hard (1988) more
Soundtrack:
QUESTA O QUELLA more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
29 out of 37 people found the following comment useful:-
Ducommun Delivers In One Of My All-Time Favorites, 6 March 2006
10/10
Author: ccthemovieman-1 from Lockport, NY, United States

Sometimes a bizarre comedy just hits the right notes with me and, despite none of my friends liking it, I love it. This is a premier example of such: one of my favorites in that category. The fact others don't share that opinion doesn't bother me, but I am glad to see reviewers on this site who appreciated this black, very underrated gem.

I always get a big kick out of this film, no matter how many times I see it.I credit a little-known actor for making this so entertaining to me: Rick Ducommun. I think he steals the show from well-known stars Tom Hanks, Bruce Dern, Carrie Fisher and Corey Feldman.

Actually, I think this film is panned a lot because they didn't expect Hanks to be in something this goofy. Too bad, but I bet he had a lot fun making it, along with the rest of the cast.

Ducommun and Dern are the hilarious wackos who try to help straight-laced Hanks find out about the really-strange neighbors he has next door. Are these people some demented killers or just the figment of these nosy neighbors' imagination? Fisher is Hanks' always-complaining wife and Feldman is the teen across the street who watches all the lunacy from his porch, getting his getting nightly entertainment from these crazy adults.

Director Joe Dante, of "Gremlins" fame, does a good job entertaining us in here, too, and providing some fun camera-work. Dante also used music to great advantage, mostly for humor.

This is one of those "not for all tastes" films, so chances are you won't like it and think it's stupid. For a number of reasons, I love it.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The 'burbs (1989)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
DELETED POST GAME... bryan-wake
'Spying on neighbours' - movies warstrikesback
where are you going pinochio :) sedayder
Pretzels and Sardines mycherryMOON
Dana Olsen megazoogal_9
What was the first movie Tom Hanks was watching??? thasaint-1
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Incredibles Toy Story Back to the Future Batman: Mask of the Phantasm Matilda
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Action section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.