Neighbors

Name: Neighbors
Genre: Comedy
Released: 1981-12-18
Duration: 1 h 34 min
Rating: 5.6
Cast: John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Kathryn Walker

19811981
RR
1h 34m

A quiet man's peaceful suburban lifestyle is threatened by the new, obnoxious couple that moves in next door.A quiet man's peaceful suburban lifestyle is threatened by the new, obnoxious couple that moves in next door.A quiet man's peaceful suburban lifestyle is threatened by the new, obnoxious couple that moves in next door.

5.6/10

7.9K

Director
- John G. Avildsen
Writers
- Thomas Berger(novel)
- Larry Gelbart(screenplay)
Stars

Top credits

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 nominations

Videos1

Trailer 2:35

Neighbors

John Belushi and Cathy Moriarty in Neighbors (1981)

John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Cathy Moriarty, Lauren-Marie Taylor, and Kathryn Walker in Neighbors (1981)

Director
- John G. Avildsen
Writers
- Thomas Berger(novel)
- Larry Gelbart(screenplay)
All cast & crew
See more cast details at IMDbPro

One man's quiet suburban life takes a sickening lurch for the worse when a young couple move into the deserted house next door. From the word go it is obvious these are not the quiet professional types who *should* be living in such a nice street. As more and more unbelievable events unfold, our hero starts to question his own sanity... and those of his family. —Brad Jackson

cooking spaghetti suburban nightmare suburbia house on fire annoying neighbor 95 more

Taglines
- In a not-too-distant suburb, on a very quiet street . . . Earl Keese, a man who leads a routine suburban life, sits calmly waiting for his dinner. Little does he know - This may be his last home-cooked meal . . . For somewhere in time and space exists a world, a comic nightmare world, where anything can happen. A world that this reserved, hardworking homeowner is about to enter. In the next 24 hours he will experience things that he has never experienced before and leave behind things he will never experience again and somehow his life will never be the same. For Earl Keese is about to meet . . . The Neighbors.
Genre
- Comedy
Certificate
- R
Parents guide

Trivia
John Belushi was originally cast in the role of Vic and Dan Aykroyd in the role of Earl. The two decided to switch roles just prior to filming the movie. As such, Belushi and Aykroyd starred in this movie acting against type, loud-mouthed Belushi played a quiet character whilst the meeker Aykroyd played an over-the-top character.

Goofs
After Vic's dog Baby is heard barking in Enid and Earl's bedroom, we never hear or see the dog again, even after Vic, Ramona and Earl leave Bird Street.

Quotes
Vic: We're waiting, or do I have to pound it out of you?
Earl Keese: Don't ever speak to me like that in my own house!
Vic: Why would I?
Earl Keese: You just did.
Vic: I didn't mean anything - it's just something a guy says.
Earl Keese: I never say it.
Vic: I don't blame you.

Crazy credits
A gunshot can be heard after the end credits.

Alternate versions
The movie's original cut had a very dark ending with Earl getting killed, but the studio re-edited the film with a happy ending with Earl leaving home and joining Vic and Ramona on their adventures.

Connections
Featured in 100 Years of Comedy (1997)

Soundtracks
Hello, I Love You
Written by Jim Morrison (uncredited), Robby Krieger (uncredited), Ray Manzarek (uncredited) and John Densmore (uncredited)
Performed by The Doors
Courtesy of Elektra Records

Top review

Despite the bad critical reception, a gem of a film

A plot synopsis here would be something of a waste of time, as one or more already appear on this site, but I felt some comments might attract another viewer to this unique film. The movie was very poorly received upon its release, by critics and audience alike. Many fans of Belushi and Aykroyd did not take to their reversal of what was typically their typecasts: here Belushi plays the straight man against Aykroyd's lunatic, which is what I beleive makes the movie so incredibly funny.

On another note: when watching this film, give some attention to the soundtrack, brilliantly done by Bill Conti. The soundtrack, which would probably not work with any other movie, fits Neighbors perfectly. Using the Wagnerian technique of leitmotives, Conti assigns themes to each character: Earl is portrayed by some "shlub" music on bass trombone, Vic gets an eerie theremin melody, Ramona's appearances are always underscored by a sultry saxophone, and native american drums accompany Earl's wife Enid. The way the music underlines the drama is hard to describe without sounding like it cheaply "mickey-mouses" the actions onscreen, so I will forgo an in-depth analysis.

Suffice to say: great movie, brilliant soundtrack.

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