Sounds like he took himself a little too seriously at the time.

I've always enjoyed this film too, there's nothing quite like it.
"I want my two dollars!"

@Phasmophobia said:

From Wikipedia:

According to Savage Steve Holland, Cusack did not like the film and walked out of a screening as both were making One Crazy Summer, later confronting Holland saying 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." Holland claimed that Cusack felt he had been made to look foolish and that his comments "made me not care about movies anymore".

However, in a 2013 Reddit "Ask Me Anything" chat, Cusack, when asked if he hated filming Better Off Dead, responded, "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."

It's nice to know that Cusack doesn't hate the movie anymore! It's one of my favorite '80s teen comedies.

Omg.....he hates this movie. I live in Vegas. He was at a casino few years back. As he was walking through casino my brother saw him and said. " hey Lane Myers.... where's my 2 dollar?" He threw him the dirtiest look and said " go f*ck yourself"🖕🖕🤣

@RCH2288 said:

Omg.....he hates this movie. I live in Vegas. He was at a casino few years back. As he was walking through casino my brother saw him and said. " hey Lane Myers.... where's my 2 dollar?" He threw him the dirtiest look and said " go f*ck yourself"🖕🖕🤣

Wow.... So I guess he does still hate it.

Wow, really? What a dickhead. I mean, what did he think he was making, Lawrence of Arabia ? It's a silly teen comedy and I personally think it has a wonderful charm to it. It certainly was edgier than the John Hughes films at the time that were so popular.

Better Off Dead (1985) - 7 outta 10 stars

In the end, who cares what Cusack thinks? He made the movie, played his part well, and many of us enjoy the resulting weirdness that is BOD. Unless an actor was abused or injured, I really don't care what they think of the final product.

@RCH2288 said:

@Phasmophobia said:

From Wikipedia:

According to Savage Steve Holland, Cusack did not like the film and walked out of a screening as both were making One Crazy Summer, later confronting Holland saying 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." Holland claimed that Cusack felt he had been made to look foolish and that his comments "made me not care about movies anymore".

However, in a 2013 Reddit "Ask Me Anything" chat, Cusack, when asked if he hated filming Better Off Dead, responded, "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."

It's nice to know that Cusack doesn't hate the movie anymore! It's one of my favorite '80s teen comedies.

Omg.....he hates this movie. I live in Vegas. He was at a casino few years back. As he was walking through casino my brother saw him and said. " hey Lane Myers.... where's my 2 dollar?" He threw him the dirtiest look and said " go f*ck yourself"🖕🖕🤣

Just to throw this out there, it's entirely possible that the guy walking through the casino was NOT John Cusack. If so, it's totally understandable that he would say go f yourself to some random stranger who called him Lane Myers and demanded 2 dollars (especially if he had never seen the movie lol).

I remember hearing the rumors that Cusack hated Better Off Dead, and I spent a night googling it. I couldn't find any conclusive evidence that John Hated it that bad. In the BOD director's commentary I think I remember Holland saying something about John Cusack thinking it was juvenile. But that could've easily gotten blown out of proportion over the years. I'd love to see an actual interview with him to set the record straight. I mean come on, even if he hated it at first, he's gotta acknowledge that this is a cult classic!

@AlienFanatic said:

In the end, who cares what Cusack thinks? He made the movie, played his part well, and many of us enjoy the resulting weirdness that is BOD. Unless an actor was abused or injured, I really don't care what they think of the final product.

Yeah, it doesn't change my opinion of the film. I mean, to be that young and thrown in the spotlight it's really easy to lose perspective on things. I just hope that now, in the present day, he can just appreciate the film for what it is and I am sure he can.

@rooprect said:

@RCH2288 said:

@Phasmophobia said:

From Wikipedia:

According to Savage Steve Holland, Cusack did not like the film and walked out of a screening as both were making One Crazy Summer, later confronting Holland saying 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." Holland claimed that Cusack felt he had been made to look foolish and that his comments "made me not care about movies anymore".

However, in a 2013 Reddit "Ask Me Anything" chat, Cusack, when asked if he hated filming Better Off Dead, responded, "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."

It's nice to know that Cusack doesn't hate the movie anymore! It's one of my favorite '80s teen comedies.

Omg.....he hates this movie. I live in Vegas. He was at a casino few years back. As he was walking through casino my brother saw him and said. " hey Lane Myers.... where's my 2 dollar?" He threw him the dirtiest look and said " go f*ck yourself"🖕🖕🤣

Just to throw this out there, it's entirely possible that the guy walking through the casino was NOT John Cusack. If so, it's totally understandable that he would say go f yourself to some random stranger who called him Lane Myers and demanded 2 dollars (especially if he had never seen the movie lol).

I remember hearing the rumors that Cusack hated Better Off Dead, and I spent a night googling it. I couldn't find any conclusive evidence that John Hated it that bad. In the BOD director's commentary I think I remember Holland saying something about John Cusack thinking it was juvenile. But that could've easily gotten blown out of proportion over the years. I'd love to see an actual interview with him to set the record straight. I mean come on, even if he hated it at first, he's gotta acknowledge that this is a cult classic!

Maybe. But he could have also just been sick and tired of hearing that line. It happens. I heard of stories of Jeff Bridges blowing up on people for shouting lines from The Big Lebowski at him and he has gone on record as to liking the film.

@movie_nazi said:

@rooprect said:

@RCH2288 said:

@Phasmophobia said:

From Wikipedia:

According to Savage Steve Holland, Cusack did not like the film and walked out of a screening as both were making One Crazy Summer, later confronting Holland saying 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." Holland claimed that Cusack felt he had been made to look foolish and that his comments "made me not care about movies anymore".

However, in a 2013 Reddit "Ask Me Anything" chat, Cusack, when asked if he hated filming Better Off Dead, responded, "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."

It's nice to know that Cusack doesn't hate the movie anymore! It's one of my favorite '80s teen comedies.

Omg.....he hates this movie. I live in Vegas. He was at a casino few years back. As he was walking through casino my brother saw him and said. " hey Lane Myers.... where's my 2 dollar?" He threw him the dirtiest look and said " go f*ck yourself"🖕🖕🤣

Just to throw this out there, it's entirely possible that the guy walking through the casino was NOT John Cusack. If so, it's totally understandable that he would say go f yourself to some random stranger who called him Lane Myers and demanded 2 dollars (especially if he had never seen the movie lol).

I remember hearing the rumors that Cusack hated Better Off Dead, and I spent a night googling it. I couldn't find any conclusive evidence that John Hated it that bad. In the BOD director's commentary I think I remember Holland saying something about John Cusack thinking it was juvenile. But that could've easily gotten blown out of proportion over the years. I'd love to see an actual interview with him to set the record straight. I mean come on, even if he hated it at first, he's gotta acknowledge that this is a cult classic!

Maybe. But he could have also just been sick and tired of hearing that line. It happens. I heard of stories of Jeff Bridges blowing up on people for shouting lines from The Big Lebowski at him and he has gone on record as to liking the film.

Yea, if I had to place a bet I'd say Cusack probably hates the film. Reportedly he's a private, reclusive kind of guy (according to cast interviews for his film Grand Piano), and reclusive people are often annoyed at fans. Total speculation of course.

But I agree with you guys, what an actor or director thinks of their film doesn't affect my opinion. It's a bummer, but it doesn't make me like the film any less.