The 'Burbs

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The 'Burbs

PG,

1989,

1h 42m,

Comedy

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Watchlist

57%

46 Reviews

Tomatometer

71%

50,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

57%

Tomatometer

46 Reviews

71%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Settling in for some time off in his suburban home, Ray Peterson's vacation becomes a horror when the Klopeks, a suspiciously odd family, move in down the block. Enlisting the aid of his paranoid buddy, Art, and his militia-man neighbor, Rumsfield, Ray sends his son and wife away on a trip while he investigates the Klopeks. When a neighbor disappears, Ray and his cohorts risk their lives to save their cul-de-sac from the clutches of evil.

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Critics Consensus

The 'Burbs has an engaging premise, likable cast, and Joe Dante at the helm -- so the mixed-up genre exercise they produce can't help but feel like a disappointment.

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Kim Newman

Empire Magazine

Mar 26, 2019

4/5

It fumbles at the last moment... but this is still mainly a pleasantly nasty delight that was strangely overlooked in the cinema.

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Kevin Thomas

Los Angeles Times

Mar 26, 2019

It's inconceivable that "The 'burbs looked good on paper.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

Sep 12, 2017

B

Also starring Carrie Fisher, 'Burbs is a hilarious look at suburban mischief pre-Desperate Housewives. Check it out.

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Jack E. Wilkinson

United Press International

Jun 12, 2026

Problem is, it's not funny, a situation comedy that's all situation and little comedy.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Mar 19, 2026

3/5

‘…long-winded satire that intrigues but doesn’t quite satisfy…’

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Jim Emerson

Orange County Register

Mar 18, 2026

There's a playful, anything-goes quality to "The 'Burbs."

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Draco R

Apr 19, 2019

It's not fantastic. But it gives enough to make you want to finish the movie.

Abraham W

Mar 7, 2019

The Burbs is a comedy thriller directed by Joe Dante. Good acting especially from Tom Hanks as Ray Peterson. Very fun and quirky characters with very good chemistry. Good cinematography with some very cool shots. Very nice setting that keeps the characters close and confined. Very good set design and props with the buildings and the tools. Very stylist costume design for each character. Very good style with the colour scheme. Very good practical effects. Very good sound design. Good dialogue between the characters. Steady editing. Very good music that puts you in the mood with a creepy light hearted vibe. Good and strange story. Very good comedy most of the time. Light hearted but dark atmosphere. The film is also really enjoyable. Over all I give it a 7/10

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Ron P

Feb 17, 2019

This is one of my all time favorite comedies from the 80s. This is what happens when a man takes a staycation and spends too much time with his neighborhood buddies without female supervision.

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Dec 24, 2018

I just love this movie

Abraham M

Dec 6, 2018

It milks a lot of humor from some very specific social satire. Insofar as it works it's because of the broad and entertaining characters. Corey Feldman (of all people) is particularly funny as the neighbor kid who views the whole thing as a glorious piece of theater. Where it doesn't work is the buildup and mystery. It's an anarchic series of things happening rather than a building sense of horror. And the ending chickens out and tries to have it both ways.

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Draco S

Dec 2, 2018

Solid horror/comedy/thriller fun.

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Joe Dante

Director

Tom Hanks

Ray Peterson

Bruce Dern

Lt. Mark Rumsfield

Carrie Fisher

Carol Peterson

Rick Ducommun

Art Weingartner

Corey Feldman

Ricky Butler

The 'Burbs: Official Clip - Bees and Bad Karma

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The 'Burbs: Official Clip - The Femur

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The 'Burbs: Official Clip - Do Not Mess With Suburbanites

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The 'Burbs: Official Clip - Ambulance Encounter

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The 'Burbs: Official Clip - Ray's Nightmare

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The 'Burbs: Official Clip - We're the Lunatics!

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The 'Burbs: Official Clip - I'm Going Over the Fence

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The 'Burbs: Official Clip - Satan Is Our Pal

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Synopsis

Settling in for some time off in his suburban home, Ray Peterson's vacation becomes a horror when the Klopeks, a suspiciously odd family, move in down the block. Enlisting the aid of his paranoid buddy, Art, and his militia-man neighbor, Rumsfield, Ray sends his son and wife away on a trip while he investigates the Klopeks. When a neighbor disappears, Ray and his cohorts risk their lives to save their cul-de-sac from the clutches of evil.

Director: Joe Dante
Producer: Larry Brezner, Michael Finnell
Screenwriter: Dana Olsen
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Imagine Entertainment
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 17, 1989, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $34.1M
Runtime: 1h 42m
Sound Mix: Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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