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Revenge of the Nerds

  • 1984
  • R
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
60K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,985
143
Anthony Edwards, Robert Carradine, Donald Gibb, Ted McGinley, Julia Montgomery, and Matt Salinger in Revenge of the Nerds (1984)
Watch Trailer
Play trailer1:32
2 Videos
99+ Photos
Raunchy ComedySlapstickTeen ComedyComedy

At Adams College, a group of bullied outcasts and misfits resolve to fight back for their peace and self-respect.At Adams College, a group of bullied outcasts and misfits resolve to fight back for their peace and self-respect.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
    • Miguel Tejada-Flores
    • Steve Zacharias
  • Stars
    • Robert Carradine
    • Anthony Edwards
    • Timothy Busfield
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    60K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,985
    143
    • Director
      • Jeff Kanew
    • Writers
      • Tim Metcalfe
      • Miguel Tejada-Flores
      • Steve Zacharias
    • Stars
      • Robert Carradine
      • Anthony Edwards
      • Timothy Busfield
    • 162User reviews
    • 70Critic reviews
    • 44Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos2

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:32
    Trailer
    The Evolution of Nerds
    Video 3:44
    The Evolution of Nerds
    The Evolution of Nerds
    Video 3:44
    The Evolution of Nerds

    Photos189

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    + 183
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    Top cast93

    Edit
    Robert Carradine
    Robert Carradine
    • Lewis
    Anthony Edwards
    Anthony Edwards
    • Gilbert
    Timothy Busfield
    Timothy Busfield
    • Poindexter
    Andrew Cassese
    • Wormser
    Curtis Armstrong
    Curtis Armstrong
    • 'Booger'
    Larry B. Scott
    Larry B. Scott
    • Lamar
    Brian Tochi
    Brian Tochi
    • Takashi
    Julia Montgomery
    Julia Montgomery
    • Betty Childs
    • (as Julie Montgomery)
    Michelle Meyrink
    Michelle Meyrink
    • Judy
    Ted McGinley
    Ted McGinley
    • Stan Gable
    Matt Salinger
    Matt Salinger
    • Burke
    Donald Gibb
    Donald Gibb
    • Ogre
    James Cromwell
    James Cromwell
    • Mr. Skolnick
    • (as Jamie Cromwell)
    David Wohl
    David Wohl
    • Dean Ulich
    John Goodman
    John Goodman
    • Coach Harris
    Bernie Casey
    Bernie Casey
    • U.N. Jefferson
    Alice Hirson
    Alice Hirson
    • Mrs. Lowe
    F. William Parker
    • Sergeant
    • Director
      • Jeff Kanew
    • Writers
      • Tim Metcalfe
      • Miguel Tejada-Flores
      • Steve Zacharias
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews162

    6.660.4K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    6sol-

    My brief review of the film

    Although it may be all a bit silly and quite clichéd, this is nevertheless a good film of its type, with main characters that are appealing and a great title song, scored by Thomas Newman, who would later compose the scores of movies such as 'American Beauty'. The film does not really go anywhere much at all, the jokes work only about half the time, and it is all a bit short on its content, but despite all of this, the film has a pleasant and rather enjoyable nature not common to the average college comedy, and this makes it a rather uniquely likable film overall. It may not be a great piece of cinema, but it is quite good entertainment.
    7Captain_Couth

    Revenge of the 80's: The franchise film series.

    Revenge of the Nerds (1984) was a surprise hit. The film follows the adventures of two "nerds" as they go to college and try to join a fraternity. Oh the trials and tribulations they go through. Robert Carradine and Anthony Edwards are the two "nerds"who do everything they can to try and fit in with the rest of the college crowd.

    This one is the first and best of the series. They should have left well enough alone. But since this was made during the 80's, a mandatory sequel was made. I recommend this movie. It's entertaining and worth watching. But like all 80's movies

    it has to have a message. That's my only real complaint about the movie. A funny film none the less. Just avoid the rest of the series.

    Worth a view.
    tfrizzell

    It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times

    Typical 1980s teen comedy that is near the top of its unspectacular genre. The title says it all as college freshmen led by Anthony Edwards and Robert Carradine learn that university life is even worse than high school life as they are bullied by a fraternity of football players led by Ted McGinley. Revenge does take place as a civil war of students ensues and is fueled by gross-out jokes, sexual situations, and all sorts of other crazed perversions. When all is said and done the film is a curious over-achiever in the end. The main reason is the cast is so likeable. Donald Gibbs steals the show as one of the crazed football players and established actors like James Cromwell, John Goodman, and David Wohl also leave lasting impressions. Former NFL star Bernie Casey is also great as the nerds' fraternal sponsor. Far from excellent, but still an enjoyable little film. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
    bob the moo

    The only worthy successor to Animal House – this is a oasis in a desert of rubbish frat movies

    When Louis and Gilbert head to college they think it'll all be different from high school. However they are branded nerds and, when the jocks burn their own dorm down, the nerds find themselves kicked out and forced to sleep in the gym. When the nerds form their own chapter of the Tri-Lam fraternity. When they are bullied continually they decide to take matters into their own hands and fight back with the Jock's own games.

    If there's one genre in the world that I hate it's the American college jock/nerd comedy. Whether it be the Animal House or Porky's or more modern ones – I hate almost all of them! So when I watched this I watched it with a certain fear. However the plot makes redresses the balance by having us support the nerds! It's well plotted so that it isn't just them becoming just like the jocks but instead learning their own lessons. Of course it is rude at times and does fall into being just silly and slapstick, but it's mixed nicely with some good sentiment and more gentle laugh.

    The cast is great (in retrospect). Anthony Edwards is a real surprise in this post-ER time. Likewise Busfield is strange after 30-something and West Wing. Less so but Moonlighting's Curtis Armstrong is funny to see. And lets not forget James Cromwell (or Jamie as he was called then!), John Goodman and black 1970's star Bernie Casey! The nerds are all good – rising above their caricatures to start to bring out characters.

    Overall this is a spin on the frat-comedy so it is a little juvenile and silly but the fact that it is spun towards the nerds makes it that little bit refreshing to watch compared to so many where our `heroes' are arrogant, annoying jock-types who sponge off mummy and daddy just to get drunk at college. Not a great movie but much better than anything else post-Animal House - I'm with the nerds!
    9Platypuschow

    Revenge Of The Nerds: One of the best of it's kind

    I was late to the party, though I grew up on films like this I never got round to watching the Revenge Of The Nerds movies but I'm really glad I finally did.

    I expected Porkys (1981), I expected a semi-brainless raunchy 1980's comedy but what I found was SO much more.

    With an immensely talented varied cast ranging from those who became huge stars like John Goodman to underrated talents like Curtis Armstrong this near perfectly crafted comedy benefits from an outstanding cast who make the film that much more special.

    Side splittingly funny, well written, excellent 80's soundtrack, feel good vibe and without excess T&A the Revenge Of The Nerds ticks every box twice and entertained me in a way I never expected and haven't experienced from a comedy like this in recent memory.

    I personally cannot wait to get around to the sequels and find out what our Nerd friends get up to next.

    More like this

    Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise
    5.1
    Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise
    Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation
    3.9
    Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation
    Porky's
    6.2
    Porky's
    Weird Science
    6.6
    Weird Science
    Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love
    3.8
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    Teen Wolf
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    7.1
    Fast Times at Ridgemont High
    National Lampoon's Animal House
    7.4
    National Lampoon's Animal House
    Stripes
    6.8
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    4.2
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The other actors were protective of Andrew Cassese, who played Wormser, and along with director Jeff Kanew made sure that the young actor did not witness or play a main role in the many scenes that earned the film its R rating. Cassese, however, was allowed to see the film when he was still below 17 years old and was very surprised by what he'd missed in filming.
    • Goofs
      During the fraternity house party, the blond, curly-haired nerd with the black fedora dances behind Lewis and his date, while simultaneously standing behind Poindexter in the kitchen.
    • Quotes

      Stan Gable: [to Booger] What are you looking at, nerd?

      Booger: [to himself] I thought I was looking at my mother's old douche-bag, but that's in Ohio.

    • Crazy credits
      The title appears on screen immediately following the 20th Century Fox logo, before the Fox Fanfare concludes.
    • Alternate versions
      UK cinema and video versions were complete. The 2003 TCF DVD featured a re-edited print which was changed for legal reasons to remove a genuine telephone number on the "For Rent" sign.
    • Connections
      Edited into Revenge of the Nerds (1991)
    • Soundtracks
      Revenge of the Nerds
      Performed by The Rubinoos

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    FAQ19

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 10, 1984 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • La venganza de los nerds
    • Filming locations
      • Catalina Park Inn - 309 E. 1st Street, Tucson, Arizona, USA(Pi Delta Pi Sorority House)
    • Production companies
      • Twentieth Century Fox
      • Interscope Communications
      • Zacharias-Buhai Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $8,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $40,874,452
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,513,090
      • Jul 22, 1984
    • Gross worldwide
      • $40,874,452
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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