Like his creative partners, Abrahams has ventured into a solo career as a writer-director, making his directing debut with the slightly more restrained and traditional comedy, "Big Business" (1988) which presented Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin as a pair of identical twins. He served as executive producer to John Water's "Cry Baby" (1990), a sweet-natured musical comedy homage to 50s juvenile delinquent dramas and the mystique of the teen rebel. His next solo effort, "Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael" (1990), was a darker change-of-pace comedy featuring Winona Ryder as an outcast teen. Abrahams enjoyed his first solo hit with "Hot Shots!" (1991), an inspired spoof of "Top Gun" and other military flyboy movies. He expanded the parody to include "Rambo" and other commando rescue sagas in the sequel, "Hot Shots! Part Deux" (1992).
Abrahams helmed a well-received 1997 TV-movie, ". . . first do no harm" (ABC), which featured Meryl Streep. The telefilm's subject was close to the director's heart: focusing attention on a controversial dietary treatment for epilepsy. Abrahams' son Charlie suffers with the disease and responded well to the diet.