Movies about neighbors can be a real treat. Whether it’s a comedy, thriller, or drama, these movies center around our homes and the chaos that can ensue when we live next to someone else.
From National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation to The Burbs and Neighbors, each of these films showcases the strength of neighborly relationships – both good and bad!
In The Burbs, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) deals with an incoming family in his cul-de-sac who turns out to be members of a murderous cult.
Meanwhile, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation sees him embroiled in a pleasant competition between him and his neighbor to see who can win the title of ‘fancier decorations’.
In Neighbors, a couple with an infant baby moves next door to a university fraternity house and is met with chaos.
The best movies about neighbors often include themes of danger and horror due to theproximity between the two communities.
But they also display how two vastly different lives can intersect peacefully – or how one needs to fight for their peace within their home. Explore this list above to discover some great films that document neighborly relations!
Neighbors
Neighbors is a classic 1981 movie directed by John G. Avildsen, and it’s full of neighborly frenemies. The main character – Earl Keese- lives in a comfortable house with his wife, Enid and daughter, Elaine. But when the outlandish Vic (Dan Aykroyd) and his lustful spouse Ramona (Cathy Moriarty) move next door, all that orderliness quickly goes out the window!
Vic and Ramona bring chaos to the Keese house with their raucous dinner dates and near-death encounters in the front yard. All of this pandemonium leads Earl to take drastic measures to rid himself once and for all of Vic and Ramona… but he may have to risk everything just to be rid of these troublesome neighbors! Grab your popcorn, put your feet up, and enjoy Neighbors today!
Rear Window
Rear Window, released in 1954 and directed by Alfred Hitchcock, is a classic movie about neighbors. It stars James Stewart as a photographer who, while bed-ridden with a broken leg, spends his days observing his neighbors from his window.
Soon, he believes he has witnessed a murder and decides to take it upon himself to solve the crime. With some help from his nurse and wife, he must decipher the clues without getting himself killed in the process.
The suspenseful story features iconic scenes of peeping tom spy tactics which made this movie an instant classic that continues to be praised today. Rear Window has something special for everyone and is one of Hollywood’s best films about neighbors.
The Lovely Bones
The Lovely Bones is an amazing movie about neighbors and revenge directed by Peter Jackson in 2009.
It stars Saoirse Ronan as Susie Salmon, a 14-year-old girl who has been brutally murdered, but who watches over her grief-stricken family from heaven.
The cast also features Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz playing her parents, as well as Stanley Tucci, who plays the killer.
The Lovely Bones provides an emotional depiction of a family struggling to cope with the tragedy of losing their daughter, while Susie battles with whether or not to seek revenge against the killer. It’s an intense story told in a very unique way and it will certainly leave you thinking about your relationships with those around you.
Pacific Heights
Pacific Heights is one of the best movies about neighbors ever released. Directed by John Schlesinger and released in 1990, this film stars Melanie Griffith and Matthew Modine as unmarried yuppies who move into a high-end neighborhood in San Francisco.
While renovating their house, they decide to rent out part of it to Carter Hayes (Michael Keaton). Initially, things seem to be going well until it is revealed that he is a con artist who plans to swindle them out of their home.
The couple must take drastic measures to fight back against Carter’s machinations and reclaim their residence. Pacific Heights is an engrossing film that highlights the importance of being wary of strangers – especially when they become your neighbors!
Hot Fuzz
Hot Fuzz is a classic 2007 movie directed by Edgar Wright. It stars Simon Pegg as Nicholas Angel, a London constable who has been assigned to the sleepy British village of Sandford. He finds adapting to the monotony of small-town life difficult, but it gets even harder when he’s paired with an oafish (but well-meaning) partner, played by Nick Frost.
Things take a turn for the worse when mysterious accidents start occurring in Sandford–and Angel must investigate what’s going on behind the friendly facade of the village. Hot Fuzz is full of exciting action sequences, witty humor, and plenty of suspense that will keep you glued to your seat until the very end!
‘The ‘Burbs’
‘The ‘Burbs’, starring Tom Hanks, is one of the best films about neighbors. Set in a quiet suburban street, Ray Peterson (Tom Hanks) and his neighbors quickly become suspicious of the Klopeks – their new, eccentric family on the block – when their long-time neighbor seems to go missing.
Naturally curious, and with some help from his eccentric next-door neighbor Art, Ray decides to investigate the strange and secretive family to see if they can find out what’s happened to their missing neighbor.
With a mix of horror, comedy, and mystery elements throughout the movie, ‘The ‘Burbs’ provides thrilling entertainment that is sure to keep you hooked until the end. So if you’re looking for an interesting movie about neighbors, then ‘The ‘Burbs’ certainly should be at the top of your list!
Lakeview Terrace
Lakeview Terrace is an intense movie about neighbors that you won’t soon forget. It stars Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington as Chris and Lisa Mattson, who move into their first home only to find out their next-door neighbor Abel Turner (Samuel L. Jackson), a Black cop, doesn’t approve of their interracial marriage.
The tension thickens when Abel starts to do everything he can to make them feel unwelcome in his neighborhood. The film explores themes of racism and prejudice and follows Chris and Lisa’s heroic fight against the odds with their new neighbor.
Lake view Terrace is a must-watch for anyone looking to explore the complexity of neighborly relationships on an emotional level.
The Voyeurs
The Voyeurs is a thrilling movie about a young couple, Pippa and Thomas, who move in together and become fascinated with their neighbors.
It starts with some harmless curiosity but eventually becomes something more sinister. As Pippa gets more and more involved in her neighbors’ lives, she takes on an unhealthy obsession that leads them all down a dangerous path.
The Voyeurs offers viewers an exciting story with unexpected twists, as well as insightful commentary on voyeurism, privacy, and relationships among other topics. It’s sure to captivate and keep the audience’s attention throughout the film, making it one of the best movies about neighbors you’ll find!
No One Gets Out Alive
Ambar’s journey to America quickly turns into a nightmare. After taking up a room in a run-down boarding home for women, she soon realizes that no one gets out alive: the house is haunted and the owners are hiding something diabolical in the basement.
With her undocumented status, Ambar is left alone with no help from outside sources and must confront this threat on her own.
