John Cusack Once Named the Film He Couldn’t Stand

Early in his career, John Cusack starred in the 1985 teen black comedy Better Off Dead, directed by Savage Steve Holland.

The film, which follows Cusack’s character Lane Meyer navigating a messy breakup and bizarre family situations, was meant to highlight his talent. However, Cusack has admitted he was deeply unhappy with how the movie turned out.

According to Holland, Cusack walked out of a screening of Better Off Dead during the filming of their next project, One Crazy Summer. Holland told The Sneeze, “About 20 minutes into it, he walked out, and he never came back.”

When Cusack returned to set, he reportedly told Holland, “Better Off Dead was the worst thing I have ever seen. I will never trust you as a director ever again, so don’t speak to me.” This confrontation created an awkward atmosphere, and the two did not work together again after One Crazy Summer.

Despite Cusack’s initial frustration, the film eventually gained a cult following for its quirky, surreal humor and 1980s charm. Critics initially gave mixed reviews, and the famous duo Siskel & Ebert gave it “two thumbs down.” Still, the movie has since been celebrated for its unconventional style, and on Rotten Tomatoes it holds a 75% approval rating.

Cusack himself later softened his stance, telling fans during a 2013 Reddit AMA, “No, I just thought it could have been better, but I think that about almost all my films. I have nothing against the film…. Glad people love it still.”

Better Off Dead is now remembered as a unique, offbeat teen comedy, and it helped establish Cusack as a distinctive presence in 1980s Hollywood.

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