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Trailer

Back to School

1986Movie1 h 36 minPG-13

Comedy
71
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb6.7Letterboxd3.2/5Metacritic687.8Rotten Tomatoes81%68%

A hopeful, wholesome comedy movie about everyday modern life and family.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Where to watch

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Not for scares, brutality or tears.

Movies with

Story

He enrolled in college for the pursuit of finer things...like co-eds, shapely professors, fun and rock and roll.

Self-made millionaire Thornton Melon decides to get a better education and enrolls at his son Jason's college. While Jason tries to fit in with his fellow students, Thornton struggles to gain his son's respect, giving way to hilarious antics.

Feels like

  • 80s College Comedy
  • Fish-Out-of-Water
  • Coming-of-Age
  • Family Fun
  • Absurdist Humor
  • Nostalgic
  • Feel-Good
  • Lighthearted

Cast

24 of 35

Crew

Directed by
Alan Metter
Written by
Harold Ramis, Rodney Dangerfield, Greg Fields
Produced by
Chuck Russell
Music by
Danny Elfman

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

June 13, 1986 · 1 h 36 min · PG-13

Released
June 13, 1986
Runtime
1 h 36 min
Age rating
PG-13
Content
Strong Language
Genres
Comedy
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$11 million
Box office
$91 million
Available in
81 countries

Tropes

When All You Have Is a Hammer…, Villains Never Lie, A Minor Kidroduction +9

  • When All You Have Is a Hammer…
  • Villains Never Lie
  • A Minor Kidroduction
  • Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
  • The Dragon
  • Precision F-Strike
  • Actor Allusion
  • Pre-Asskicking One-Liner
  • Shout-Out
  • Say It
  • Product Placement
  • Naturalized Name

12 of 70 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream Back to School?"

Questions about Back to School

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Back to School?

fuboTVMGM+PhiloThe RokuKanopyHooplaYouTube TVTubi TV

In the United States, Back to School streams on fuboTV, MGM+, Philo, and YouTube TV, and it is free with ads on The Roku, Kanopy, Hoopla, and Tubi TV. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, and Spectrum On Demand. It also streams in 21 other countries.

Is Back to School worth watching?

71
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 71 (IMDb 6.7, Letterboxd 3.2 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 81%, and Metacritic 68).

Is Back to School okay for kids?

PG-13Strong language

Yes: it's rated PG-13 in the United States for strong language, and the viewing guide lists it for kids.

Will Back to School make me laugh?

Funny

Yes: the humor is mostly situational comedy (9 of 10) and slapstick (8 of 10).

Can I half-watch Back to School?

Easy watchDemanding

Yes: it's easy to follow, with complexity at only 5 of 10, and the viewing guide calls it good for background watching.

Was Back to School a box office hit?

Budget$11 million
Box office$91 million

Yes, a big one: it cost about $11 million to make and earned $91 million worldwide, 8.3 times its budget.

What tropes does Back to School use?

When All You Have Is a Hammer…Villains Never LieA Minor KidroductionRibbon-Cutting CeremonyThe DragonPrecision F-StrikeActor AllusionPre-Asskicking One-LinerShout-OutSay ItProduct PlacementNaturalized Nameand 58 more

TV Tropes lists 70 tropes for it, including When All You Have Is a Hammer…, Villains Never Lie, and A Minor Kidroduction.