TMBTMB
TMBTMB

Track, discover and find where to watch TV shows and movies.

Discover

  • Movies
  • TV Shows
  • Browse
  • Topics

Account

  • Watchlist
  • Watched
  • Ratings

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Content Policy

© 2026 Movie Browser. All rights reserved.

Data provided by TMDB

Home
Browse
Watchlist
backdrop
backdrop
logo
Chevy Chase gets toxic waste powers and weaponizes petty breakup energy. Peak '80s chaos.
TMDB
54
Rotten Tomatoes
32
Audience Score
32
Watch(US)

Modern Problems (1981)

goofy sci-fibitter ex energycoked-up comedy

Overview

ComedyScience FictionRomance

Jealous, harried air traffic controller Max Fielder, recently dumped by his girlfriend, comes into contact with nuclear waste and is granted the power of telekinesis, which he uses to not only win her back, but to gain a little revenge.

Flag of USUS
Content warning

Standout Aspects

Practical Effects

Pre-CGI telekinesis effects that look charmingly janky now

Acting

Chevy at peak smug-meets-desperate, somehow both relatable and insufferable

Costume

The most aggressively 1981 outfits you'll see this decade

Best for:Friends: Group watch for ironic appreciation and 'how did this get made' energy·Background: Fold laundry while Chevy Chase throws tantrums with his mind·Rewatch: Cult curiosity—did we hallucinate this or was it real?
Heads up:Sexual Content: A deeply uncomfortable scene where mind powers get weird with consent
K

Director

Ken Shapiro

ReleasedDec 25, 1981
Runtime1h 29m
StatusReleased

Vibe

Pacefast
Intensitymedium
Tonelight
Feellight
Budget$8M·Revenue$26.2M
20th Century Fox

Top Cast

Chevy Chase

Chevy Chase

Max Fielder

Patti D'Arbanville

Patti D'Arbanville

Darcy

Dabney Coleman

Dabney Coleman

Mark Winslow

Mary Kay Place

Mary Kay Place

Lorraine

Nell Carter

Nell Carter

Dorita

Brian Doyle-Murray

Brian Doyle-Murray

Brian Stills

Mitch Kreindel

Mitch Kreindel

Barry

Sandy Helberg

Sandy Helberg

Pete

Henry Corden

Henry Corden

Dubrovnik

Pat Proft

Pat Proft

Maitre 'd

Ask about Modern Problems

Opens AI chat

Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Trivia

Chevy Chase broke his leg filming a stunt, causing production delays and visible limping in later scenes.

Cultural

This bombed so hard it barely dented pop culture, yet perfectly captures Reagan-era 'white guy tantrum as comedy' cinema. The nuclear waste-as-empowerment metaphor accidentally hits different post-Chernobyl.

YouTube

Modern Problems (1981) Trailer

Modern Problems (1981) Trailer

Gallery(13 images)

Reviews

No ratings yet

Start the discussionBe the first to post — spoiler-safe
Rate & reviewBe the first to weigh in

Recommended

Date with an Angel movie poster (1987)
6.8

Date with an Angel

Memoirs of an Invisible Man movie poster (1992)
5.9

Memoirs of an Invisible Man

Moonshot movie poster (2022)
6.6

Moonshot

D.E.B.S. movie poster (2005)
6.6

D.E.B.S.

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension movie poster (1984)
6.0

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension

Prince Charming movie poster (2001)
7.0

Prince Charming

Electric Dreams movie poster (1984)
6.3

Electric Dreams

Sleeper movie poster (1973)
6.9

Sleeper

Easy Virtue movie poster (2008)
6.5

Easy Virtue

Dark Star movie poster (1974)
6.0

Dark Star

Two of a Kind movie poster (1983)
5.9

Two of a Kind

Relationship Goals movie poster (2026)
6.1

Relationship Goals

Love Jacked movie poster (2018)
6.1

Love Jacked

Strange Brew movie poster (1983)
6.0

Strange Brew

Whisky Galore movie poster (2016)
5.9

Whisky Galore

Discussion

Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.

Discussion starters

View all comments →