Weekend at Bernie's is an American motion picture comedy released in 1989. Directed by Ted Kotcheff, it stars Andrew McCarthy and Jonathan Silverman as a couple of young executives who must create the illusion that their murdered boss, Bernie Lomax, is alive in order to avoid being questioned about it and ending a beach party. The film was profitable and spawned a sequel in 1993, Weekend at Bernie's II. There are also reports that a sequel/remake is in the works entitled, Next Weekend at Bernie's".

Taglines:
Bernie may be dead, but he's still the life of the party!
Bernie Lomax would be the perfect host, except for one small thing... He's dead.
The drop dead comedy of the year!
Two morons. One corpse. And the plot thickens...

The title and some elements of The Simpsons episode "Weekend at Burnsie's" parody this film

This is the favorite film of the character Rachel in the television program Friends, although she claims that it is actually Dangerous Liaisons.

Film was referenced by Kevin in an episode of "The Office".

This movie was also spoofed on Mad TV, as two guys get Tupac's house for the weekend, but the only way they can get chicks is to get Tupac, who is now dead. The skit is called "Weekend at Tupac's."

Weekend at Bernie's 3 was planned to go into production in Las Vegas in 2003 but has since been put in development hell. The script focused on Larry, Richard’s younger brother and Bernie's twin brother, Ernie, a Vegas casino owner who is assassinated after getting in too deep with the local mob. Production is now being considered for a sequel/remake entitled, "Next Weekend at Bernie's."

The plot bears an uncanny resemblance to the 1983 Bollywood movie Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron

The main plot and major gags in this film have recently been replicated in the 2006 German comedy "Erkan und Stefan - der Tod kommt krass", the major exception being that the majority of the film takes place on a luxury liner.

Bald Head Island, NC where much of the movie was filmed is located near Wilmington, North Carolina and most of the island is actually wildlife reserve. The only transportation to the island are passenger ferries and golf carts are really the only form of transportation on the island.

Radio talk show host Neal Boortz was quoted as saying on his show on January 2, 2007 that if South Dakota senator Tim Johnson is unable to serve his term (he had a stroke), then in order for the Democrats to keep their one-seat majority in the United States Senate, they would have to pull off a Senatorial version of "Weekend at Bernie's".

The song (Island Girl) that played on the beach scene was sung by Antiguan Soca band Burning Flames.

In the first episode of "Lil' Bush" the White House shows a free screening of "Weekend At Bernies" giving the nation 'A Reason to dream again'

During an episode of Beavis and Butthead The duo are watching TV and a commercial comes on advertising "Weekend at Bernie's VI" followed by the tag line "Bernie's still dead, and he's stiffer than ever" causing the laughing between the two. This clip is revisited in the final episode.

The party scene includes a young Skeet Ulrich as one of the uncredited extras.

The movie was referenced in The Office episode Grief Counseling along with the movies Million Dollar Baby, and The Lion King

Australian Rugby Union player Stephen Larkham is nicknamed "Bernie" due to having a quiet personality which suggests he is as dead as the Bernie from the movie.

A play on this film became the foundation for Joe Diffie's 1993 "Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox (If I Die)". The video released that year was a take off of the film.

Senator John McCain, in a Republican presidential nomination campaign speech suggested that he would bring together economic experts, including former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, to discuss tax policy. Joking about Greenspan's age, McCain suggested propping up Greenspan like in "Weekend at Bernie's" if he had already died by that time.