Accepted

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Accepted

PG-13

2006

1h 33m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

38%

Tomatometer

115 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

After receiving his latest college rejection letter, senior Bartleby Gaines devises a novel way to fool everyone into thinking he is college-bound: Open his own university. Bartleby and his similarly stymied friends take over an abandoned building, create a fake Web site, hire a friend's uncle to pose as the dean, and -- presto -- a school is born. However, they do their jobs too well, and soon many other rejects try to gain admittance to the nonexistent South Harmon Institute of Technology.

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Critics Consensus

Like its characters who aren't able to meet their potential, Accepted's inconsistent and ridiculous plot gets annoying, despite a few laughs.

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

Listen, while I wish the writers would have been able to keep their momentum up and avoid a few dry spells, there is more than enough going on to the positive these flaws end up becoming fairly moot.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 22, 2006

Full Review

Richard Roeper

Ebert & Roeper

Even the characters in the movie are saying at the beginning, 'This is crazy. This will never work.' And I'm like, you know what? You're right. It never will. Not for one second. Even in a whacky comedy like this.

Aug 21, 2006

Full Review

Peter Howell

Toronto Star

Here's the final mystery about Accepted: Why title a movie that so readily invites the headline Rejected as a critical riposte?

Rated: 1.5/4

Aug 19, 2006

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Offers a smattering of decent chuckles amidst all the predictable piling on of pilfered plotlines.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jan 24, 2021

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Though the plot is outrageous, with no grounding in reality, the film does an admirable job of making everything seem sensible - at least in the context of a comedic scenario.

Rated: 6/10

Nov 15, 2020

Full Review

Micheal Compton

Bowling Green Daily News

A surprisingly sharp comedy that manages to pay homage to classic comedies like Animal House while delivering a lot of laughs.

Rated: B

Nov 20, 2019

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Garrett D

One of my favorite movies of all time. I think the concept of creating a fictional college is hilarious and the characters are great

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/24/25

Full Review

Tanner A.

One of the best movies ever

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/05/25

Full Review

Theo E

A Haiku Review: An uninspired Parade of tropes, not tame and Not quite acerbic

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

08/30/25

Full Review

Carter P

The first time I watched this movie was just after my senior year of high school as I was anxiously awaiting the beginning of my freshman year of college. I've always been a big movie lover who tends to go all over the place when it comes to cinema. I eventually stumbled upon this gem, the description was too intriguing to pass up. I'm now a week away from my junior year of college and it still hits the same every time I've watched it. I strongly urge people to give this movie a shot. I've watched it at least 10-15 times which I don't normally do. Easy 5 star.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/22/25

Full Review

Owen K

A perfect 2000s movie, that presents a strong question along with some very funny moments.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/10/25

Full Review

Oaklee D

Your typical early 2000's comedy, I found Justin Long to be really annoying but a young Jonah Hill made me chuckle a few times.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/04/25

Full Review

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Steve Pink

Director

Justin Long

Bartleby Gaines

Jonah Hill

Sherman

Blake Lively

Monica

Maria Thayer

Rory

Lewis Black

Uncle Ben

Accepted: Official Clip - Bartleby's Speech

2:43

Accepted: Official Clip - Ask Me About My Wiener

1:09

Accepted: Official Clip - Breeding Pimps and Whores

1:57

Accepted: Official Clip - Bartleby Mocks Hoyt

2:56

Accepted: Official Clip - An Invitation from Monica

1:26

Accepted: Official Clip - We Gotta Find a Dean

2:09

Accepted: Official Clip - Welcome to S.H.I.T.

2:12

Accepted: Official Clip - The Birthplace of Crack

2:25

Accepted: Official Clip - What Do You Want to Learn?

1:40

Accepted: Official Clip - Pocahontas Never Went to College

2:08

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Synopsis

After receiving his latest college rejection letter, senior Bartleby Gaines devises a novel way to fool everyone into thinking he is college-bound: Open his own university. Bartleby and his similarly stymied friends take over an abandoned building, create a fake Web site, hire a friend's uncle to pose as the dean, and -- presto -- a school is born. However, they do their jobs too well, and soon many other rejects try to gain admittance to the nonexistent South Harmon Institute of Technology.

Director: Steve Pink
Producer: Tom Shadyac, Michael Bostick
Screenwriter: Mark Perez, Adam Cooper, Bill Collage
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures, Shady Acres Entertainment
Rating: PG-13 (Language|Drug Content|Sexual Material)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 18, 2006, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 13, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $36.3M
Runtime: 1h 33m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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