Better Off Dead
Directed by Savage Steve Holland
After his girlfriend dumps him for a boorish ski jock, a depressed high-school student begins to ineptly attempt suicide, which brings him nothing but embarrassment. A French exchange student starts to change his outlook on life.
Where to Watch Better Off Dead
- SabrinaFebruary 20, 2026Another one I somehow missed growing up, Better Off Dead does manage to give us maybe twenty minutes or so of that 80s magic about three quarters of the way into the movie, but the rest is pretty bad. The self harm plot as a joke did not age well, and the rest feels like it was written by a teenage boy. Even the humor is an insult to the low hanging fruit that is slapstick.
- Wes CandelaAugust 7, 2025To me this movie is a classic. It’s fun. It’s before John Cusack started taking himself too seriously And it’s filled with scenes that people like myself and from generation X recite constantly If you were born after 1985, you just may not get this movie I don’t know, though maybe you will I love it classic classic classic everybody wants some
- MerlinDecember 13, 2025Brilliantly bonkers set comedy pieces but despite being a fave of mine in the 80s, it doesn't flow well. Nevertheless, it is still funny. Diane Franklin (every boy's crush in the 80s) is her sparkling self, whilst Cusack's lost, wise cracking teen and one liners, hold it all together...just. Everybody wants some! 🍔🍔🫶🏼🤘🏼
Better Off Dead Trivia
Better Off Dead was released on October 11, 1985.
Better Off Dead was directed by Savage Steve Holland.
Better Off Dead has a runtime of 1h 37m.
Better Off Dead was produced by Michael Jaffe.
After his girlfriend dumps him for a boorish ski jock, a depressed high-school student begins to ineptly attempt suicide, which brings him nothing but embarrassment. A French exchange student starts to change his outlook on life.
The key characters in Better Off Dead are Lane Meyer (John Cusack), Beth Truss (Amanda Wyss), Monique Junot (Diane Franklin).
Better Off Dead is rated PG.
Better Off Dead is a Comedy, Romance film.
Better Off Dead has an audience rating of 8.7 out of 10.
Better Off Dead had a budget of $3.5M.
Better Off Dead has made $10.3M at the box office.