The 'Burbs (1989)

An overstressed suburbanite and his fellow neighbors are convinced that the new family on the block are part of a murderous Satanic cult.

Director:

Joe Dante

Writer:

Dana Olsen

Stars:

Tom Hanks, Bruce Dern, Carrie Fisher

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Hanks	...	Ray Peterson
Bruce Dern	...	Mark Rumsfield
Carrie Fisher	...	Carol Peterson
Rick Ducommun	...	Art Weingartner
Corey Feldman	...	Ricky Butler
Wendy Schaal	...	Bonnie Rumsfield
Henry Gibson	...	Dr. Werner Klopek
Brother Theodore	...	Reuben Klopek
Courtney Gains	...	Hans Klopek
Gale Gordon	...	Walter Seznick
Dick Miller	...	Garbageman
Robert Picardo	...	Garbageman
Cory Danziger	...	Dave Peterson
Franklyn Ajaye	...	Detective
Rance Howard	...	Detective

Storyline

This story takes place in a typical American neighborhood, when some new neighbors come to live in the house next to Ray Peterson. These new people are really strange; nobody has ever seen them, their house is a real mess, and during the night you can hear weird noises from their basement. The only thing they know is their name: Klopeks. One day Walter (an old man of the neighborhood) suddenly disappears and everyone starts to suspect the Klopeks...

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Plot Keywords:

neighborhood | watching tv | neighbor | new neighbor | basement | 

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Taglines:

He's a man of peace in a savage land... Suburbia.

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Genres:

Comedy | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 February 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Life in the Burbs

Filming Locations:

Colonial Street, Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$36,602,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$49,102,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Imagine Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

There's a shadow of a noose on the wall over Uncle Reuben's right shoulder when the neighbors first visit the Klopek's house.

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Goofs

In the breakfast scene Art re-calls his conversation with "the real estate broad that sold them the place". Later the Dr. Klopek describes killing the Nap's and taking the house from them. If this were true the house would not have been put on the market and there would not have been a real estate agent to speak with.

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Quotes

Ricky: Ya know, did you ever see the movie "The Sentinel," Mr Peterson? It's about the old guy who owns the apartment which is kinda like the, uh, gateway to hell.
Ray Peterson: No, I, I didn't see that.
Ricky: Well, I was doin' some thinkin' and you know, being that their last house burned down and all, it's like maybe, somebody left the gate open.

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Crazy Credits

At the end of the Universal Studios logo, the camera zooms into Earth and to where the film takes place. At the end of the film, the effect is played in reverse.

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Connections

Featured in Scene by Scene: Tom Hanks (2001)

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Soundtracks

LOCKED IN A CAGE
Written by Mickey Finn, Fernie Rod, Billy Rowe & Sami Yaffa
Performed by Jetboy
Courtesy of MCA Records

User Reviews

This is a movie about an ordinary guy living in an ordinary neighborhood, but with not so ordinary neighbors.

I thought this movie was hilarious! I laughed several times. All the people that have seen it said that they loved it, too! Tom Hanks, Corey Feldman, Courtney Gains, Bruce Dern, Carrie Fisher, Brother Theodore, Henry Gibson and Rick Ducommun did a great job! I am glad that they were in this movie! It was a very good movie with a surprising twist at the end. There is a lot of irony in it, and that adds to the suspense! The whole idea of these "eccentric" and "psycho" neighbors living next door to the protagonist, Ray Peterson, is very amusing! There is so much comedy and excitement in this film, and that is what makes you like it so much! You love the relationship between Ray Peterson, Mark Rumsfiled, and Art Weingartner. Each of them make witty comments about these strange Klopeks'. The Burbs' is one of my favorite movies! It's so 80's! You have to see it!