The 'Burbs (1989) movie poster

The 'Burbs (1989)

"He's a man of peace in a savage land... Suburbia."
ThumbScore
๐Ÿ‘ 84%Google users liked it archived
Critics Score
๐ŸŽฌ 50% (RT: 56%, MC: 45) โ„น๏ธRT = Rotten Tomatoes (critic reviews). MC = Metacritic (weighted critic average). Critics Score is the average of both.
ComedyHorrorThriller

Where to Watch

Streaming
Prime Video
Rent / Buy
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See all watch options on JustWatch
Director
Runtime
1h 42m
Country
United States of America
Language
English
TMDB Rating
6.8/10 (1,345 votes)
Rotten Tomatoes
56%
Metacritic
45
Cast
Tom Hanks as Ray Peterson
Bruce Dern as Lt. Mark Rumsfield
Carrie Fisher as Carol Peterson
Rick Ducommun as Art Weingartner
Wendy Schaal as Bonnie Rumsfield
Corey Feldman as Ricky Butler
Courtney Gains as Hans Klopek
Henry Gibson as Dr. Werner Klopek
Most people think so. 84% of audiences gave it a thumbs up based on 1,345 votes. Critics scored it lower at 50%, but audiences disagreed.
Overview
When secretive new neighbors move in next door, suburbanite Ray Peterson and his friends let their paranoia get the best of them as they start to suspect the newcomers of evildoings and commence an investigation. But it's hardly how Ray, who much prefers drinking beer, reading his newspaper and watching a ball game on the tube expected to spend his vacation. Wikipedia โ†—
Fun Facts
  • Joe Dante cited several classic comedy films as the primary inspiration for the visual style.
  • It remains one of the highest-rated comedy films of 1989 among dedicated fans.
  • The iconic poster for The 'Burbs was designed at the very last minute before marketing began.
Audience Consensus

The 'Burbs is a 1989 comedy, horror, thriller film directed by Joe Dante. When secretive new neighbors move in next door, suburbanite Ray Peterson and his friends let their paranoia get the best of them as they start to suspect the newcomers of evildoings and commence an investigation. But it's hardly how Ray, who much prefers drinking beer, reading his newspaper and watching a ball game on the tube expected to spend his vacation.

The film has been rated by 1,345 audiences on ThumbScore, reflecting its reach and engagement with viewers. As a comedy film, The 'Burbs delivers on the expectations of its genre while bringing its own distinctive perspective to the storytelling. The production showcases the creative vision of its filmmaking team, bringing together performances, cinematography, and narrative elements that have resonated with audiences.

The 'Burbs (1989) continues to find viewers through theatrical releases, streaming platforms, and home media, maintaining its place in the contemporary entertainment landscape. The film represents the kind of cinematic experience that has attracted a dedicated audience, with viewers appreciating its approach to the story and characters it presents.

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What Reddit Thinks

r/movies
⬆ 13,071💬 902 comments
Joe Dante's 'The 'Burbs' remains as a comedy-horror classic
Top comment: "I was going to take issue with calling *The Burbs* "underrated" so I looked it up on Rotten..."
r/movies
⬆ 7,449💬 769 comments
When I was Eleven years old, I fell in love with a movie called "The 'Burbs". At 41 I think I figured out why it's still one of my favorite movies.
* Every character is introduced within the first five minutes. * Carol's look of frustration when he mentions his "stomach thing" sets the tone... Read on Reddit →
Top comment: "One of the most inspiring things about the movie is, storywise, it's very much another 80s movie..."
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