Weekend at Bernie's (1989)

Two losers try to pretend that their murdered employer is really alive, leading the hitman to attempt to track him down to finish him off.

Director:

Ted Kotcheff

Writer:

Robert Klane

Stars:

Andrew McCarthy, Jonathan Silverman, Catherine Mary Stewart

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Andrew McCarthy	...	Larry Wilson
Jonathan Silverman	...	Richard Parker
Catherine Mary Stewart	...	Gwen Saunders
Terry Kiser	...	Bernie Lomax
Don Calfa	...	Paulie, Vito's Hit Man
Catherine Parks	...	Tina, Vito's Girl
Eloise DeJoria	...	Tawny (as Eloise Broady)
Greg Salata	...	Marty, Vito's Assistant (as Gregory Salata)
Louis Giambalvo	...	Vito
Ted Kotcheff	...	Jack Parker, Richard's Dad
Margaret Hall	...	Lomax's Secretary
Tim Perez	...	Central Park Mugger (as Timothy Perez)
Mark Kenneth Smaltz	...	Harris, Security Oficer
Anthony Mannino	...	Superintendant
Polly Segal	...	Woman in Elevator

Storyline

Two young men are trying to make their way in a corporation. One on charm, the other on hard work. When they go to the president (Bernie) with a serious financial error on a printout, he pretends to be thrilled and invites them to his beach house for the weekend. He actually plans on having them killed. Bernie is also fooling around with the girlfriend of his mafia partner. When the partner has Bernie killed, the boys end up having to pretend Bernie is still alive as the frustrated hit man tries time and time again to complete the job.

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Plot Keywords:

character name in title | pantyhose | pantyhose legs | black pantyhose | brunette woman | 

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Taglines:

Bernie may be dead, but he's still the life of the party!

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Crime

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Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

Despite the film's title implying an entire weekend at Bernie's, the movie depicts the characters arriving on the island (home of Bernie's beach house) at 6:30 p.m. on a Friday, and the movie ends around late afternoon/early evening Saturday.

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Goofs

Richard is shown wearing a wedding ring during the movie. He isn't married as he is trying to date Gwen. However, he may have once been married but then his wife died or he got divorced, and he kept the ring.

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Quotes

Richard Parker: Bernie is waiting for us!
Larry Wilson: Look, Bernie isn't going anywhere!

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Alternate Versions

Much of the explicit language was toned down for the UK DVD released 2001. Overdubs from the original actors were used to make the movie more "family friendly".

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Connections

Referenced in The Cinema Snob: Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (2016)

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Soundtracks

Night on Bald Mountain
by Modest Mussorgsky
Arranged by Randy Waldman

User Reviews

A movie for a hot day

This movie is best viewed in the summer when it's in the high 90s and the air conditioner is on full blast-all the water,sand and surf you need is right here. It's a carefree,breezy film,completely absorbed in its one intention-to make you laugh.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 July 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Weekend at Bernie's

Filming Locations:

Figure Eight Island, Harnett, North Carolina, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,506,086, 9 July 1989

Gross USA:

$30,218,387

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$30,218,387

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gladden Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1