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Back to School

  • 1986
  • PG-13
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
38K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,344
411
Back to School (1986)
To help his discouraged son get through college, a funloving and obnoxious rich businessman decides to enter the school as a student himself.
Play trailer1:37
1 Video
94 Photos
Water SportComedyRomanceSport

To help his discouraged son get through college, a funloving and obnoxious rich businessman decides to enter the school as a student himself.To help his discouraged son get through college, a funloving and obnoxious rich businessman decides to enter the school as a student himself.To help his discouraged son get through college, a funloving and obnoxious rich businessman decides to enter the school as a student himself.

  • Director
    • Alan Metter
  • Writers
    • Steven Kampmann
    • William Porter
    • PJ Torokvei
  • Stars
    • Rodney Dangerfield
    • Sally Kellerman
    • Burt Young
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    38K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,344
    411
    • Director
      • Alan Metter
    • Writers
      • Steven Kampmann
      • William Porter
      • PJ Torokvei
    • Stars
      • Rodney Dangerfield
      • Sally Kellerman
      • Burt Young
    • 122User reviews
    • 41Critic reviews
    • 68Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:37
    Official Trailer

    Photos94

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    Top cast80

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    Rodney Dangerfield
    Rodney Dangerfield
    • Thornton Melon
    Sally Kellerman
    Sally Kellerman
    • Diane
    Burt Young
    Burt Young
    • Lou
    Keith Gordon
    Keith Gordon
    • Jason Melon
    Robert Downey Jr.
    Robert Downey Jr.
    • Derek
    Paxton Whitehead
    Paxton Whitehead
    • Philip Barbay
    Terry Farrell
    Terry Farrell
    • Valerie
    M. Emmet Walsh
    M. Emmet Walsh
    • Coach Turnbull
    Adrienne Barbeau
    Adrienne Barbeau
    • Vanessa
    William Zabka
    William Zabka
    • Chas
    Ned Beatty
    Ned Beatty
    • Dean Martin
    Severn Darden
    Severn Darden
    • Dr. Barazini
    Sam Kinison
    Sam Kinison
    • Professor Terguson
    Robert Picardo
    Robert Picardo
    • Giorgio
    Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
    Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
    • Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
    Edie McClurg
    Edie McClurg
    • Marge Sweetwater
    Sarah Abrell
    Sarah Abrell
    • Sorority Girl
    Dana Allison
    • Young Woman
    • Director
      • Alan Metter
    • Writers
      • Steven Kampmann
      • William Porter
      • PJ Torokvei
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews122

    6.738.3K
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    Featured reviews

    9daveisit

    Classic Dangerfield

    Rodney Dangerfield made this movie with his hilarious one liners. I still find myself quoting many of these lines which he delivers beautifully throughout the movie. The more you watch it the funnier it gets, and I'll be watching it for a few more decades yet.
    billybrown41

    good natured with a lot of laughs.

    I love Rodney Dangerfield. Always have. His one-liners, and all-around smartass attitude have made him a living legend and he never fails to crack me up. Back to School is a great example of what he can do and I never get tired of watching it. Keith Gordon is great as his son and Robert Downey Jr. is pretty hysterical as his best bud. The ever-reliable Burt Young is a lot of fun as Dangerfield's limo-driver/best friend and he does his duty at supplying the laughs.

    It's a shame that more people haven't seen this. I believe that it's one of Rodney's best. It's got a great premise, an outstanding cast, and the laughs are nonstop.
    7Captain_Couth

    Revenge of the 80's:The reinvention of Rodney Dangerfield continues..

    Back to School (1986) was a surprise hit for stand up comedian actor Rodeny Dangerfield. After making a big impression with audiences with his spot in the golf comedy Caddyshack and a lead role in Easy Money, his star was slowly rising. But it was this film that cemented his spot in American pop culture as a true icon of the 80's and a transition star.

    Rodney stars as Thorton Melon (nee Meloni) a successful entrepreneur who had to drop out of school when he was younger to take care of the family business. Years later his son is in college but feel dissatisfied with life in general. After a series of comical events, Mr. Melon decides to visit his son's exclusive university to see how he's really doing. Along the way he decides to give book learning a try.

    A very enjoyable film. Rodney Dangerfield made the transaction from a stand-up act to an actor. The director wisely let him improvise his dialog and work in some of his material into the movie. The cast features Sally Kellerman, Robert Downey Jr., Keith Gordon, Burt Young, Terry Farrell and guest star slots for Adrienne Barbeau and Ned Beatty.

    Not a masterpiece by any means but an enjoyable film none the less. Recommended, especially on a slow Sunday afternoon.
    drednm

    Rodney Dangerfield is Terrific

    Rodney Dangerfield's best film and finest hour (or 2)... He plays a crass self-made millionaire whose son is away at college. After divorcing the second wife--a shrew (Adrienne Barbeau)--he drops in on the kid (Keith Gordon) to discover the kid is not if a fraternity or on the diving team. The kid wants to drop out so Rodney decides to go BACK TO SCHOOL to encourage the kid. Great premise.

    Of course Rodney becomes a free-spending, beer-swilling college frosh to the delight of the student body and school administration. Rodney spews and almost unending barrage of jokes and one-liners and is hysterically funny. But beyond the crass character, this is one time when Dangerfield also shows some acting chops and some sweetness to his character. And it works! Top supporting cast helps out a lot too. Sally Kellerman is the English prof. Paxton Whitehead is the snotty business teacher. Robert Downey is the bizarro roomie. Ned Beatty plays Dean Martin. William Zabka is the obnoxious rival. Terry Farrell is the too-tall girl friend. Burt Young plays Lou the bodyguard. Edie McClurg is the secretary. Sam Kinison is the shell-shocked history prof. Severn Darden is the lab guy. M. Emmett Walsh is the diving coach. Jason Hervey is Dangerfield as a kid. And Danny Elfman appears as his Oingo Boingo self and scored the film.

    The diving finale is hysterically funny and the perfect ending for this sweet and funny movie.
    Shapster11

    How great would it be to have Rodney Dangerfield in your class!

    A funny post-Animal House college film with a pretty distinguished cast. In addition to Dangerfield, who is terrific as usual, we also get to see Sally Kellerman, Burt Young, Ned Beatty, and an introduction to the brilliance of Robert Downey Jr. who is unforgettable as Derek Lutz. Although the movie is silly, lacking any convincing realism or plot, it is nontheless wonderful fun...especially if you are a Dangerfield fan. His rendition of "Twist and Shout" is a classic. And the scene at registration where his chauffeur Lou, played by the redoubtable Young, is priceless when he holds up a sign by the limo with Bruce Springstein's name on it and all the students rush out to mob the car while Dangerfield, his son, his son's love interest, and Lutz have the pick of classes.

    Generally good viewing when you want a brainless, fun night.

    More like this

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    6.2
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    7.2
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Like his character, in his youth, Rodney Dangerfield was an acrobatic high diver in real life.
    • Goofs
      During the final dive sequence, Chas already has made one dive, but when he is about to make his second dive and gets cramps, his hair is perfectly dry and combed.
    • Quotes

      Thornton Melon: Bring us a pitcher of beer every seven minutes until somebody passes out. And then bring one every ten minutes.

    • Crazy credits
      The end credits begin with the message: "For Estelle. Thanks so much." This is a dedication to Estelle Endler, Rodney Dangerfield's manager and one of the executive producers of the film, who died during production.
    • Alternate versions
      Three scenes are cut from the Comedy Central airing - the "twist and shout" scene in the bar, the "phone conversation with Kurt Vonnegut after getting an F grade" scene, and one of the dives in the final competition.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Ferris Bueller's Day Off/Back to School/The Manhattan Project (1986)
    • Soundtracks
      Back to School
      Written by Richard Wolf and Mark Leonard

      Produced by Gary Skardina and Linda Goldner Perry

      Performed by Jude Cole

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 13, 1986 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • MGM Studios (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • De vuelta al colegio
    • Filming locations
      • University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
    • Production companies
      • Orion Pictures
      • Paper Clip Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $11,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $91,258,000
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $8,881,035
      • Jun 15, 1986
    • Gross worldwide
      • $91,258,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 36m(96 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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