POLL: Favorite High School 80s Movie....Better Off Dead or Ferris Bueller's Day Off?

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

Better Off Dead (1985) vs. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) - it's remarkable how similar these movies are in some ways....which is your favorite and why (if you care to share)?

Better Off Dead

Protagonist - Lane Meyer (John Cusack)

Best Friend - Charles (Curtis Armstrong)

Girlfriend - Monique (Diane Franklin)

Nemesis - Paper Boy, Roy Stalin, Ree Brothers

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Protagonist - Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick)

Best Friend - Cameron (Alan Ruck)

Girlfriend - Sloane (Mia Sara)

Nemesis - Shermer High School, Ed Rooney, Jeanie Bueller

 

[psuro]

This is a seriously difficult decision.

 

[AWS1022]

I was not a Ferris Bueller fan.

 

[MJG-90]

I like Cusack more than Broderick. That was my tie breaker.

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

I'd add they both have some serious carhead porn too...

Better Off Dead's 1967 Camaro RS/SS

Ferris Bueller's Day Off's 1961 Ferrari 250GT California

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

This is a seriously difficult decision.

Agree! BOD is edgier for sure - and it's much easier to relate to being Lane Meyer than Ferris Bueller. But, I went with FBDO because I think there are more lines that I like and it's point of view is one I relate to more as an adult. Both are really, really funny. But, I think the funniest scene in either movie is Ed Rooney's assistant Grace pretending to be Rooney on the phone after he gets busted...

 

[Post_ShockTherapy_MackDaddy]

Better Off Dead (1985) vs. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) - it's remarkable how similar these movies are in some ways....which is your favorite and why (if you care to share)?

Better Off Dead

Protagonist - Lane Meyer (John Cusack)

Best Friend - Charles (Curtis Armstrong)

Girlfriend - Monique (Diane Franklin)

Nemesis - Paper Boy, Roy Stalin, Ree Brothers

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Protagonist - Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick)

Best Friend - Cameron (Alan Ruck)

Girlfriend - Sloane (Mia Sara)

Nemesis - Shermer High School, Ed Rooney, Jeanie Bueller

They're appear to be similar because they are.

https://www.autocrit.com/blog/7-stories-world/

 

[psuro]

Agree! BOD is edgier for sure - and it's much easier to relate to being Lane Meyer than Ferris Bueller. But, I went with FBDO because I think there are more lines that I like and it's point of view is one I relate to more as an adult. Both are really, really funny. But, I think the funniest scene in either movie is Ed Rooney's assistant Grace pretending to be Rooney on the phone after he gets busted...

View embedded media

I bet you know who the sausage king of Chicago is.

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

I like Cusack more than Broderick. That was my tie breaker.

Interesting how careers go - Broderick turned down Family Ties which eventually went to Michael J. Fox. Cusack lost the Bender role in Breakfast Club to Judd Nelson.

 

[psuro]

Interesting how careers go - Broderick turned down Family Ties which eventually went to Michael J. Fox. Cusack lost the Bender role in Breakfast Club to Judd Nelson.

And Broderick had a nice run on Broadway with Nathan Lane in the Producers.

 

[YYZ86]

Better Off Dead for me by a quite a large margin.

 

[lionroar88]

Better off Dead...

Lane do you know the street value of this mountain?

I WANT MY TWO DOLLARS!!!

There are many others, but I'm tired and mind is shutting down

Favorite scene in Ferris was Mia Sara in a wet camisole.

But you forgot...

One Crazy Summer

The scene where Bobcat gets stuck in the Godzilla costume and walks through the model of the community the investors want to build... PRICELESS!!!

 

[BoulderFish]

Better Off Dead (1985) vs. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) - it's remarkable how similar these movies are in some ways....which is your favorite and why (if you care to share)?

Better Off Dead

Protagonist - Lane Meyer (John Cusack)

Best Friend - Charles (Curtis Armstrong)

Girlfriend - Monique (Diane Franklin)

Nemesis - Paper Boy, Roy Stalin, Ree Brothers

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Protagonist - Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick)

Best Friend - Cameron (Alan Ruck)

Girlfriend - Sloane (Mia Sara)

Nemesis - Shermer High School, Ed Rooney, Jeanie Bueller

Damn! I keep thinking I've finally decided, then I think, "no no it's the other one." Still no vote.

 

[BoulderFish]

Better off Dead...

Lane do you know the street value of this mountain?

I WANT MY TWO DOLLARS!!!

There are many others, but I'm tired and mind is shutting down

Favorite scene in Ferris was Mia Sara in a wet camisole.

But you forgot...

One Crazy Summer

The scene where Bobcat gets stuck in the Godzilla costume and walks through the model of the community the investors want to build... PRICELESS!!!

One Crazy Summer! Loved that one too.

 

[Dunkindonuts]

Better Off Dead. I can't watch ferris without laughing at an actor who insists on remaining closeted after 3 decades of the world knowing he's gay.

 

[CVLion]

I had to vote for Ferris. I’m not sure I’d even heard of Better Off Dead, let alone seen it

 

[ericstratton-rushchairman]

This is a really really good poll question, very tough. I was at Penn State 1983-88 so these films are right in my wheelhouse. I have probably seen each movie 30+ times.

If you were to have asked me this back in 1987 I am certain I would have gone with Better off Dead. However, over the years FB has grown on me more and more and just has more stickiness.

Now, Sixteen Candles vs Breakfast Club would be a another really good/tough choice

 

[rudedude]

16 Candles & Fast Times At Ridgemont High

 

[PrtLng Lion]

FBDO, not even close.

so many memorable lines and scenes. And Ben Stein cameo.

Oh Ed, you sounded like Dirty Harry just then.
Bueller... Bueller.... Bueller....

 

[NittanyChris]

Better Off Dead was definitely funnier.
Also, I didn't really like the Ferris character. Too arrogant and smarmy.

 

[psuro]

I finally went with Ferris.....because after all these years, a number of great lines from that movie still stick with me....making it more memorable. But I would watch either movie if it was on TV.

 

[bkmtnittany1]

FB: "he's a righteous dude!"

 

[Chickenman Testa]

I was not a Ferris Bueller fan.

He was a manipulative dick

 

[Chickenman Testa]

I had to vote for Ferris. I’m not sure I’d even heard of Better Off Dead, let alone seen it

That’s a “you” problem, not a poll problem

 

[Chickenman Testa]

I finally went with Ferris.....because after all these years, a number of great lines from that movie still stick with me....making it more memorable. But I would watch either movie if it was on TV.

Better off Dead - “That’s a shame. Throwing away a perfectly good white boy”

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

He was a manipulative dick

It’s funny because Ferris has this legendary reputation where he’s beloved throughout the whole school - even Sheen’s character at the police station knows about him. But, if he had a car, does he even call Cameron?

 

[CVLion]

That’s a “you” problem, not a poll problem

Agreed, it sounds like I’m missing out... I was just explaining my own vote

 

[BBrown]

Interesting how careers go - Broderick turned down Family Ties which eventually went to Michael J. Fox. Cusack lost the Bender role in Breakfast Club to Judd Nelson.

That is interesting.

 

[BBrown]

Interesting how careers go - Broderick turned down Family Ties which eventually went to Michael J. Fox. Cusack lost the Bender role in Breakfast Club to Judd Nelson.

and sorry don't mean to hijack your thread but my favorite Cusack movie is Grosse Point Blank and it has a freaking awesome soundtrack.
Actually its not just one of my favorite Cusack movies its just a fun movie.

 

[ouirpsu]

FB: "he's a righteous dude!"

I said this in my head exactly as she said it in the movie.

 

[psuro]

Better off Dead - “That’s a shame. Throwing away a perfectly good white boy”

They stole that line from me.....bastiges...

 

[Lion84]

Ferris simply because it was partially filmed at my old High School, Glenbrook North in Northbrook, IL - when Ferris picks up Mia it's at GBN - John Hughes went to Glenbrook North.

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

This is a really really good poll question, very tough. I was at Penn State 1983-88 so these films are right in my wheelhouse. I have probably seen each movie 30+ times.

If you were to have asked me this back in 1987 I am certain I would have gone with Better off Dead. However, over the years FB has grown on me more and more and just has more stickiness.

Now, Sixteen Candles vs Breakfast Club would be a another really good/tough choice

I wanted to keep this a one v one poll since they're fairly similar. Others on the list could be:

- Fast Times at Ridgemont High
- Sixteen Candles
- Breakfast Club
- Pretty in Pink
- Say Anything

It's a bit depressing how viewed through the lens of today's society how many of these movies have not aged well (despite being what I would call fairly accurate portrayals of what it is like to be in high school); Sixteen Candles being the worst offender.

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

Ferris simply because it was partially filmed at my old High School, Glenbrook North in Northbrook, IL - when Ferris picks up Mia it's at GBN - John Hughes went to Glenbrook North.

It's all supposed to be 'Shermer High School' though right? Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and Weird Science - all supposedly take place at Shermer High.

 

[LongJakk]

Very tough choice. I went with BOD.

 

[BobPSU92]

It's all supposed to be 'Shermer High School' though right? Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and Weird Science - all supposedly take place at Shermer High.

Holy crap.

 

[sluggo72]

I've never seen or heard of Better off Dead. I have seen FBDO though.

 

[massimoManca II]

Better Off Dead. I can't watch ferris without laughing at an actor who insists on remaining closeted after 3 decades of the world knowing he's gay.

thanks for letting us know that you’re a doink*

 

[massimoManca II]

I like Cusack more than Broderick. That was my tie breaker.

I recall an interview with John Hughes where he mentions John Cusack being on the short-list of candidates for the Ferris Buehler role... funny, the actor who played the role of Cameron (Alan Ruck?) always reminded me of Cusack

 

[ericstratton-rushchairman]

I wanted to keep this a one v one poll since they're fairly similar. Others on the list could be:

- Fast Times at Ridgemont High
- Sixteen Candles
- Breakfast Club
- Pretty in Pink
- Say Anything

It's a bit depressing how viewed through the lens of today's society how many of these movies have not aged well (despite being what I would call fairly accurate portrayals of what it is like to be in high school); Sixteen Candles being the worst offender.

Agree with parts of 16 Candles... the whole date rape innuendo towards the end makes me very uncomfortable