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Billy Madison

  • 1995
  • PG-13
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
162K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,832
390
Adam Sandler and Bridgette Wilson-Sampras in Billy Madison (1995)
Home Video Trailer from Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Play trailer2:54
1 Video
99+ Photos
SlapstickComedy

In order to inherit his fed-up father Brian's hotel empire, immature and lazy Billy Madison must repeat grades one through twelve all over again. The further Billy progresses, the harder his... Read allIn order to inherit his fed-up father Brian's hotel empire, immature and lazy Billy Madison must repeat grades one through twelve all over again. The further Billy progresses, the harder his hated rival Eric Gordon tries to stop him.In order to inherit his fed-up father Brian's hotel empire, immature and lazy Billy Madison must repeat grades one through twelve all over again. The further Billy progresses, the harder his hated rival Eric Gordon tries to stop him.

  • Director
    • Tamra Davis
  • Writers
    • Tim Herlihy
    • Adam Sandler
  • Stars
    • Adam Sandler
    • Darren McGavin
    • Bridgette Wilson-Sampras
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    162K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,832
    390
    • Director
      • Tamra Davis
    • Writers
      • Tim Herlihy
      • Adam Sandler
    • Stars
      • Adam Sandler
      • Darren McGavin
      • Bridgette Wilson-Sampras
    • 285User reviews
    • 30Critic reviews
    • 16Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Billy Madison
    Trailer 2:54
    Billy Madison

    Photos188

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    Top cast85

    Edit
    Adam Sandler
    Adam Sandler
    • Billy Madison
    Darren McGavin
    Darren McGavin
    • Brian Madison
    Bridgette Wilson-Sampras
    Bridgette Wilson-Sampras
    • Veronica Vaughn
    • (as Bridgette Wilson)
    Bradley Whitford
    Bradley Whitford
    • Eric Gordon
    Josh Mostel
    Josh Mostel
    • Principal Max Anderson
    Norm MacDonald
    Norm MacDonald
    • Frank
    Mark Beltzman
    Mark Beltzman
    • Jack
    Larry Hankin
    Larry Hankin
    • Carl Alphonse
    Theresa Merritt
    Theresa Merritt
    • Juanita
    Dina Platias
    • Miss Lippy
    Hrant Alianak
    Hrant Alianak
    • Pete
    Vincent Marino
    • Cook
    Jack Mather
    • Ted 'Old Man' Clemens
    Christopher Kelk
    Christopher Kelk
    • Rollo the Janitor
    Marc Donato
    Marc Donato
    • Nodding 1st Grader
    Keith Cole
    • Penguin
    Chris Mei
    • Penguin
    Conor Devitt
    • O'Doyle (Grade 1)
    • Director
      • Tamra Davis
    • Writers
      • Tim Herlihy
      • Adam Sandler
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews285

    6.4162.1K
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    Featured reviews

    7rams_lakers

    Not ashamed to say this was really funny

    Looking at some of the reviews here reinforces the fact that there are certain people that like different types of humor. If stupid humor makes you laugh, this is your comedy. If you like stale British cerebral humor, maybe you should stay far away from this. I'm sure we all have our favorite and unfavorite comedians. I happen to like Sandler because he is immaturely funny. I think Dave Chapelle's show is pretty damn funny too. I never thought Sam Kinison was funny (the screaming is annoying) nor do I care for Chris Tucker.

    I saw Billy Madison at the theater, a friend and myself and the 8 other guys randomly scattered around the seating area found this to be pretty damn hilarious. I laughed at about 8 different scenes and that is a lot for me for any one movie. I still laugh at a few of the scenes when I see repeats and yes I have it on video.

    Those of you who dislike this movie are more than likely too old and stuck on your Bob Hope type era comedians and refuse to admit any others. Sandler isn't the greatest comedian who ever lived but his shtick was fresh and original when this movie came out. I have a video of him back when he did stand up and the guy is brilliant.

    Again, people who get easily annoyed and upset with the stupid type humor steer clear of this movie and save yourself the aggravation that these sad negative reviewers subjected themselves to.
    6FrankBooth_DeLarge

    Such a funny movie, it never gets old

    If you want to see a movie that is fun, puts you in a good mood, and never gets old, then see Billy Madison. All of you Sandler haters will think this is stupid, but everyone who likes Adam Sandler, or doesn't mind humor that is kind of stupid will love Billy Madison.

    This is one of Adam Sandler's first movies, and it's one of his best also. This is a movie that I've seen so many times, but I still enjoy it every time. This is good to watch when you're in a bad mood, or if you're stressed out, because it will perk you up quicker than any coffee you can name. Other movies that put you in a good mood are Happy Gilmore, Beavis and Butthead Do America, South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut, and Tommy Boy.

    Overall, Billy Madison has a somewhat stupid sense of humor, but it does make you laugh, and it's such an entertaining movie. If you haven't seen this yet, see it now and see what all the laughing is about.
    8mattymatt4ever

    Stop looking at me, Swan!

    What can I possibly say? This is no "Citizen Kane," but this is one of the movies that sticks out in my mind the most. It's a twisted, crude, tasteless comedy but never ceases to bring out extreme laughter, even after I've seen it approximately 200 times--give or take. I just cannot get tired of this movie! There are things in this movie that cannot be understood, like every Sandler flick. What the hell was the deal with the penguin? However, it's a memorable moment. There are so many memorable quotes from the film. It's one of those movies I can quote line per line off the top of my head.

    Here's a share of my favorite quotes:

    (singing) "Suntan lotion is good for me. You protect me. Tee-hee-hee."

    "O'Doyle rules!"

    "It's too damn hot for a penguin to be just walkin' around. I gotta send him back to the South Pole."

    "You're giving the company to Eric? He is a bad, bad man."

    Adam Sandler has that brand of comic genius in which you don't know what you're laughing at, but it's damn funny! You can't help it! I can't rant and rave about anything artistically brilliant about "Billy Madison." Yet it's one of my favorite movies of all time.

    It's funny, it's original, it's Sandler! Nuff said.

    My score: 8 (out of 10)
    MovieAddict2016

    Good Premise, Bad Movie...

    Adam Sandler plays Billy Madison, the son of a wealthy businessman, who is about to hand over the reigns of his company to a greedy businessman. So, in a last effort to have the company handed to himself, Billy enters a bet, that if he can make it all the way through school over again, the company is his. But he cannot flunk school this time around.

    We can expect what ensues.

    Basically, the film has a decent premise. It may be thrown together a bit sloppy at times, but overall it is good. The thing that is bad about this movie, is the characters, the dialogue, and the film's progress.

    There are some laughs in the beginning, but I didn't find the addition of Norm MacDonald very funny, nor did I think it great how the teacher who hates Billy is suddenly, for no reason whatsoever, willing to take off her clothes for him.

    There are some great cameos in this movie, especially the always-enjoyable Steve Buscemi. Unfortunately, his short appearance cannot make up for the bad flow, dialogue and character progression in Billy Madison.

    Sure, the film has its laugh-out-loud moments, but not enough, and when it all comes down to it, the film has a half-baked, sentimental ending thrown in to enthuse the easily-pleased, and never really focuses on all the laughs it could have achieved throughout its scenes. It seems to take the lowest amount of jokes considering, and look at them as "look how many jokes we have," instead of "look how many more jokes we could have had."

    In the end, what could have been an interesting and lively comedy resorts to typical Sandler fare, and nothing more.

    My summary: worth seeing, but not great.

    2.5/5 stars -

    John Ulmer
    7jonny-pears

    Some of you take life so seriously!

    So there are a lot of bad reviews for this movie and although we don't all have to agree with the same thing, I feel some reviews were made out of spite. Is it a stupid movie? Yes. Is it immature? Yes. Did some of the reviews take this too seriously? Yes. It's a movie about a man-child who goes back to school in the hope of getting grades so he can own and run his fathers business. There is a cast of children. Why did anyone try to take this seriously??? Look it's not the funniest movie ever and it's really silly in places but it's enjoyable and harmless enough. There are some random but funny acts and some strange scenes but all in all it's not that bad. I first watched this 26 years ago and I still giggle at some of the stupidity. Especially a random song.....

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      During the school bus scene, Chris Farley turning bright red in aggravation was improvised, according to Adam Sandler in I Am Chris Farley (2015). Chris, before filming that scene, downed six entire cups of espressos. He would do that in most of his other movies to maintain his trademark manic energy.
    • Goofs
      When Billy is dialing the phone to call the guy he picked on in high school, a phone can be heard ringing.

      This is part of the song being played.
    • Quotes

      Principal: Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

    • Alternate versions
      In some edited-for-tv versions of the film, during the Jeopardy game at the end of the film, the scene of the host reading the "burning dog poo and the human response" clue has been removed. However, the clue can still be seen on the board in distant shots.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Just Cause/Billy Madison/The Brady Bunch Movie/Mr. Payback (1995)
    • Soundtracks
      Telephone Line
      Written by Jeff Lynne

      Performed by Electric Light Orchestra

      Courtesy of Epic Records

      by arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

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    FAQ21

    • How long is Billy Madison?Powered by Alexa
    • Does Billy have learning disabilities?
    • What are the differences between the old British BBFC PG DVD and the Original Version?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 10, 1995 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Tonto pero no tanto
    • Filming locations
      • Parkwood Estate, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada(Billy's mansion: exterior, and grounds)
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Robert Simonds Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $10,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $25,588,734
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $6,639,080
      • Feb 12, 1995
    • Gross worldwide
      • $26,488,734
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 29 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • DTS-Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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