Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily Entertainment GuideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsCannes Film FestivalStar WarsAsian Pacific American Heritage MonthSummer Watch GuideSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Van Wilder

Original title: National Lampoon's Van Wilder
  • 2002
  • R
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
118K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,042
864
Tara Reid and Ryan Reynolds in Van Wilder (2002)
Home Video Trailer from Artisan
Play trailer2:31
3 Videos
99+ Photos
Raunchy ComedyTeen ComedyComedyRomance

The most popular kid on campus meets a beautiful journalist who makes him realize that maybe he's afraid to graduate.The most popular kid on campus meets a beautiful journalist who makes him realize that maybe he's afraid to graduate.The most popular kid on campus meets a beautiful journalist who makes him realize that maybe he's afraid to graduate.

  • Director
    • Walt Becker
  • Writers
    • Brent Goldberg
    • David Wagner
  • Stars
    • Ryan Reynolds
    • Tara Reid
    • Tim Matheson
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    118K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,042
    864
    • Director
      • Walt Becker
    • Writers
      • Brent Goldberg
      • David Wagner
    • Stars
      • Ryan Reynolds
      • Tara Reid
      • Tim Matheson
    • 287User reviews
    • 69Critic reviews
    • 26Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations total

    Videos3

    National Lampoon's Van Wilder
    Trailer 2:31
    National Lampoon's Van Wilder
    National Lampoon's Van Wilder
    Trailer 0:32
    National Lampoon's Van Wilder
    National Lampoon's Van Wilder
    Trailer 0:32
    National Lampoon's Van Wilder
    Which Roles Has Ryan Reynolds Been Considered For?
    Clip 3:44
    Which Roles Has Ryan Reynolds Been Considered For?

    Photos226

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 220
    View Poster

    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Ryan Reynolds
    Ryan Reynolds
    • Van Wilder
    Tara Reid
    Tara Reid
    • Gwen Pearson
    Tim Matheson
    Tim Matheson
    • Vance Wilder Sr.
    Kal Penn
    Kal Penn
    • Taj Mahal Badalandabad
    Teck Holmes
    Teck Holmes
    • Hutch
    Daniel Cosgrove
    Daniel Cosgrove
    • Richard Bagg
    Deon Richmond
    Deon Richmond
    • Mini Cochran
    Alex Burns
    • Gordon
    Emily Rutherfurd
    Emily Rutherfurd
    • Jeannie
    Paul Gleason
    Paul Gleason
    • Professor McDoogle
    Erik Estrada
    Erik Estrada
    • Erik Estrada
    Curtis Armstrong
    Curtis Armstrong
    • Campus Cop
    Jason Winer
    Jason Winer
    • Panos Patakos
    Chris Owen
    Chris Owen
    • Suicidal Freshman
    Simon Helberg
    Simon Helberg
    • Vernon
    Aaron Paul
    Aaron Paul
    • Wasted Guy
    Ivana Firestone
    Ivana Firestone
    • Naomi
    • (as Ivana Bozilovic)
    Kim Smith
    Kim Smith
    • Casey
    • Director
      • Walt Becker
    • Writers
      • Brent Goldberg
      • David Wagner
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews287

    6.4118.4K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    6MovieAddict2016

    Fun and entertaining - just remember to disengage your brain

    I generally hate these teen sex comedies and I approached "Van Wilder" with hesitation, but I actually found it to be quite entertaining and humorous (if you're in the right mood, I suppose).

    Ryan Reynolds (doing a great Chevy Chase impersonation) is a guy in his late 20s who has been at college for eight years and still doesn't have a graduation in sight. His father, a rich politician (played by Tim Matheson), finally decides to cut off his son's money and as a result, Van has to think of a way to come up with enough cash to stay in school.

    Pretty soon Van becomes a party planner and uses his knowledge on partying to throw great ones for nerds. He makes money off of it and his business soon becomes quite lucrative.

    If you like National Lampoon humor, you may like this. If you don't, you probably won't. I gave up on National Lampoon a long time ago but this is one of their better efforts in recent years. Don't get me wrong, it's not a great movie; but I found Reynolds (who seems to pick up a lot of flak) to be quite funny and Matheson and other ex-Lampoon star cameos were amusing.

    Recommended for those who can enjoy stupid humor. If you liked "Dumb and Dumber," you'll probably enjoy this.
    7LetsReviewThat26

    hilarious antics

    This was a very fun movie that had some laugh out loud moments but also some real heart. Ryan renyolds was a great choice to play van and I always enjoy the way he acts in films. Kal penn and tara reid were equally as great. It had me laughing all the way through and if you love national lampoon and ryan renoylds your sure to love this movie. There are a few gross pieces there and there and adult comedy that ties everything together. Overall just a great comedy movie.
    7JanetDenise

    A definite good time!

    Van Wilder is hilarious! It has it's predictable moments, for example the part where the protagonist questions his being and the ending, but it's also unpredictable...and pretty disgusting. My laughter carried on from one scene to the next and it continued to the end of the film.

    Ryan Renolds is great as Van. He has good timing as a comedian but also has a "sensitive and caring" side. He truly carries this entire film singlehandedly. (Personally, I thought Tara Reid lacked.) I hope I'll see more of him in films to come, he's an enjoyable actor.

    Not a blockbuster movie, but very worth your time.
    BuffySoprano

    I will never eat a creamstick again!

    I am not a fan of gross out humor, but there was something about this movie that cracked me up. I absolutely LOVE Ryan Reynolds. I think he is a gifted comedian, and this was a great forum for him to get himself "out there."

    I thought the dog jokes were extremely gross, especially the eclair scene, and I will NEVER be able to eat another one again! (Also, custard now makes me gag. :))

    I enjoyed Taj, and thought the actor did a great job with that role. I imagine it was difficult to do with a straight face.

    The one thing I did not like about the movie was TARA REID. How in God's green earth did this girl EVER get into movies. The ONLY thing I have ever liked her in was "Scrubs", and I think it's because she seems truer to that character.

    The outtakes at the end are good, so don't turn it off too soon.
    8RIK-22

    Ok, nothing new, but sill light and funny

    Now that I am into my thirties I find most movies cliché and uninteresting, especially the action genre, SWAT, Face Off, Swordfish, XXX, Shaft, do I need to continue. Yet people for some reason actually pay money to see these films. I've started to enter my pompous intellectual phase, yet I still have a big weakness for teen movies.

    Animal house, Ferris, Weird Science, Bachelor Party and more recently a resurgence with American Pie, Road Trip, Have the Cow and Van Wilder.

    All of these films are great, IMO. Sure they are predictable, a bit cliché, sometimes gross and certainly a bit childish, but they are bloody funny. The only rule for a comedy is to be funny. I guess that if we are honest that period of our lives should be best. At least you have the innocence and optimism to know your life is all in front of you and getting laid and having fun, is pretty much the only thing on your mind (that hasn't changed if we are honest).

    I am disappointed that so many people criticise a film that clearly wasn't meant to be taken too seriously and is genuinely funny. Great stuff please may it continue.

    More like this

    Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj
    4.8
    Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj
    Road Trip
    6.5
    Road Trip
    Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
    7.0
    Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
    Waiting...
    6.7
    Waiting...
    Van Wilder: Freshman Year
    5.1
    Van Wilder: Freshman Year
    Just Friends
    6.2
    Just Friends
    American Wedding
    6.3
    American Wedding
    American Pie 2
    6.4
    American Pie 2
    EuroTrip
    6.6
    EuroTrip
    Old School
    7.0
    Old School
    American Pie
    7.0
    American Pie
    American Reunion
    6.7
    American Reunion

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Many of the story elements in "Van Wilder" came from a Rolling Stone article called "The Undergraduate," about the college career of comedian Bert Kreischer which was optioned by director and producer Oliver Stone.
    • Goofs
      When the nerds are playing Ms. Pac Man, we hear the sound of Pac-Man dying when Ms. Pac Man dies.
    • Quotes

      Van Wilder: Worrying is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere.

    • Crazy credits
      A couple of deleted scenes play on during the end credits including makeout scene outtakes and others.
    • Alternate versions
      Region 1 "unrated version" contains additional footage not shown in theaters. The scene added back into the film is the gay students who audition to be Van's assistant at the beginning.
    • Connections
      Featured in Starz Inside: In the Gutter (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      Authority Song
      Written by Jim Adkins, Tom Linton, Rick Burch and Zach Lind

      Performed by Jimmy Eat World

      Courtesy of DreamWorks Records

      Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ20

    • How long is Van Wilder?Powered by Alexa
    • What are the differences between the R-Rated theatrical version and the Unrated version of the movie?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 5, 2002 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Germany
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Una fiesta salvaje
    • Filming locations
      • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Myriad Pictures
      • In-Motion AG Movie & TV Productions
      • World Media Fonds V (WMF V)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $5,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $21,305,259
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $7,302,913
      • Apr 7, 2002
    • Gross worldwide
      • $38,275,483
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 32 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • Dolby Atmos
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Tara Reid and Ryan Reynolds in Van Wilder (2002)
    Top Gap
    What is the Japanese language plot outline for Van Wilder (2002)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.