Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam
“Hold on to your brain!”
Synopsis
Evil baddie Dr. Otto Von-Schnick-ick-ick tries to take over the planet by first destroying all of our financial systems, collapsing the world's economy and sending populations across the globe into mass panic! Only one goody-goody can stop him.. or can he? The oblivious Lance Sterling is on the case!
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam (1985) Theatrical Trailer [4K] [FTD-0916]
Type: Trailer • Published 2022-10-03
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Jim Varney
Dr. Otto VonSchnick / Rudd Hardtack / Laughin' Jack / Guy Dandy / Auntie Nelda / Ernest P. Worrell
Glenn Petach
Otto's Head-Hand
Myke R. Mueller
Lance Sterling
Jackie Welch
Doris Talbot
Daniel Butler
Slave Willie
Esther Huston
Tina Nelson
Tina Goetze
Rhonda Sue
Jennifer Wood
Monique
David Landon
Bank Pres. Rutherford
Mac Bennett
V.P. #1
Winslow Stillman
Lance's Dad
Mary Jane Harvill
Lance's Mom
Irv Kane
Herr Vonschnick
Leslie Potter
Mme. Vonschnick
Bill Middleton
Man at Autoteller
Nancy Alderson
Woman at Autoteller
Bonnie Keen
Checkout Girl
Shauree Crooks
Shopper
Release History & Theatrical Window
July 19, 1985
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$800K
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
Pending
Total global ticket sales
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- John Cherry
- Screenplay & Story
- Coke Sams, John Cherry
- Original Score
- Shane Keister
- Original Title
- Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 31m
- Production Budget
- $800K
- Production Studios
- Carden & Cherry, Studio Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
John Cherry
Coke Sams, John Cherry
Shane Keister
Jim May
Pamela Scott Arnold
Jerry Carden, John Cherry, Coke Sams
Department Leadership Roster
John Cherry
Director
Shane Keister
Original Music Composer
Coke Sams
Writer
Pamela Scott Arnold
Editor
Kathy Emily Cherry
Costume Design
Jim May
Director of Photography
John Cherry
Writer
Coke Sams
Producer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam.
Mid Hunting List
A list of mids found by Mid Hunters
Movies to watch
Drive-in
Movies Watched for the First Time in 2025
Gaps
Gaps fills in movies missing from collections
MovieLens[10K:20K]
Similar Titles to Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
8.0
7.5![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 2 3"%3E%3Crect width="2" height="3" fill="%23161922"/%3E%3C/svg%3E)
7.0Planet Alex
7.1
6.2
6.7
7.0
7.2
6.3
6.7
6.0
6.7
5.1
6.5
7.3
6.3
7.3
7.3
More Like Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam about?
Evil baddie Dr. Otto Von-Schnick-ick-ick tries to take over the planet by first destroying all of our financial systems, collapsing the world's economy and sending populations across the globe into mass panic! Only one goody-goody can stop him.. or can he? The oblivious Lance Sterling is on the case!
Who directed Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam?
Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam was directed by John Cherry.
Who stars in Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam?
The principal cast of Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam includes Jim Varney, Glenn Petach, Myke R. Mueller, Jackie Welch, Daniel Butler.
When was Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam released and how long is it?
Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam was released in 1985 with a total runtime of 1h 31m.
Who composed the musical score for Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam was composed by Shane Keister.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam?
Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam holds official age classifications: US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).