Revenge of the Nerds (1984)

At Adams College, a group of bullied outcasts and misfits resolve to fight back for their peace and self-respect.

Director:

Jeff Kanew

Writers:

Tim Metcalfe (story), Miguel Tejada-Flores (story)

Stars:

Robert Carradine, Anthony Edwards, Timothy Busfield

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Carradine	...	Lewis
Anthony Edwards	...	Gilbert
Timothy Busfield	...	Poindexter
Andrew Cassese	...	Wormser
Curtis Armstrong	...	'Booger'
Larry B. Scott	...	Lamar
Brian Tochi	...	Takashi
Julia Montgomery	...	Betty Childs (as Julie Montgomery)
Michelle Meyrink	...	Judy
Ted McGinley	...	Stan Gable
Matt Salinger	...	Burke
Donald Gibb	...	Ogre
James Cromwell	...	Mr. Skolnick (as Jamie Cromwell)
David Wohl	...	Dean Ulich
John Goodman	...	Coach Harris

Storyline

When lovable nerds Gilbert and Lewis embark on their freshman year at Adams College, little do they realize the dangers that await them. They are beset by taunting from the jocks of Alpha Beta fraternity, which only worsens when the jocks accidentally burn down their house and toss the freshmen out of the freshmen dorm. To make matters more problematic, Lewis develops a crush on pretty Betty Childs, popular sorority sister and quarterback's girlfriend. Joined by the aptly named Booger and the violin-playing Poindexter, the nerds soon realize they must form their own fraternity in self-defense. Soon the tables are turned as the nerds employ high-tech warfare against the jocks.... but can they really succeed and make a difference?

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Plot Keywords:

rape by deception | female pubic hair | shower | female frontal nudity | bare midriff | 

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Taglines:

They've been laughed at, picked on and put down. But now it's time for the odd to get even! Their time has come!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 August 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Revenge of the Nerds

Filming Locations:

Scottish Rite Temple, 160 S Scott Ave, Tucson, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,513,090, 22 July 1984, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$40,900,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox, Interscope Communications, Zacharias-Buhai Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Contrary to the common anecdote, the belching sound was not the sound of two camels mating. Rather, it was the combination of a person's belch with that of a camel (added for resonance and longevity.) The man who donated his belch to the film was a studio craftsman by the name of Bill Livengood (uncredited).

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Goofs

When Gilbert begins making his "I'm a nerd" speech near the end the film, his jacket sleeve is stained with dirt from the Alpha Beta attack just moments ago. During the speech, the dirt appears and disappears between shots.

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Quotes

[rings door buzzer]
Mail Slot Man: [mail flap opens, revealing a pair of crazed eyes] Who's there?
Booger: [pauses] Ahhh, is...
Mail Slot Man: What do you want?
Booger: Is this the Stewart residence?
Mail Slot Man: Why are you here?
Booger: Ahh, I've come about the roo...
Mail Slot Man: WHAT DO YOU WANT?
Booger: I've come about the roo...
Mail Slot Man: Don't have, no way!
[...]

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Crazy Credits

The title appears on screen immediately following the 20th Century Fox logo, before the Fox Fanfare concludes.

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Alternate Versions

The Castilian Spanish version was titled "La Revancha de los Novatos", "The Revenge of the Freshmans". The word "Nerd" was changed to "Freshman", and that was kept for the next movies too.

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Connections

Referenced in Airheads (1994)

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Soundtracks

Are You Ready for the Sex Girls
Performed by Gleaming Spires

User Reviews

I'm PROUD to be a nerd

I first saw "Revenge of the Nerds" when I was ten (that's right, ten). Some people at school had been making fun of me, calling me a nerd. After I saw "ROTF", I was finally proud to call myself a nerd (albeit not one who wears glasses, has buck teeth, and has his pant legs halfway up his calves).

It's especially great that the nerds were such a diverse group of people (Booger may have been gross, but he clearly had a brain).

And there's also an interesting thing about the cast. Robert Carradine must be the only person who has co-starred with both Jane Fonda (he played the brother in "Coming Home") and with the guy who played Booger. And I never realized that Stan was played by the same guy who played Roger on "Happy Days".

So, if you're any kind of individual who has spent his/her life getting bullied, this is the movie for you!