Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Detention

Play trailer Poster for Detention R 2012 1h 29m Horror Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
44% Tomatometer 45 Reviews 46% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
A teenage outcast (Shanley Caswell), her friend (Josh Hutcherson), a nerd (Aaron David Johnson), and other students face terror from a serial killer who targets high-school students.
Watch on Fandango at Home Stream Now

Where to Watch

Detention

Detention

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Director Joseph Kahn's relentlessly kinetic style gives Detention a rebellious kick, but the overload of ideas keeps this genre mashup from ever cohering into a satisfying whole.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Peter Howell Toronto Star 04/26/2012
2/4
Neither good enough to impress as a meta mashup of horror and comedy, nor bad enough to hoot and throw popcorn at, it slides into a gray area of unfocused ideas and unrealized potential. Go to Full Review Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com 04/14/2012
2.5/4
It breaks the mold and burns the roadmap, fearlessly pushing boundaries and going into nonsensical corners most films and filmmakers wouldn't even dare of traipsing through. Go to Full Review Peter Hartlaub San Francisco Chronicle 04/13/2012
2/4
There will be young moviegoers who proclaim this genius, and more stodgy audience members who find it torturous. If you're not tweeting and texting a combined 50 times or more per day, you're probably in the latter camp. Go to Full Review Patrick Cavanaugh The Wolfman Cometh 09/22/2023
3/5
Somehow manages to be both obnoxious and abrasive, yet in an endearing way that feels like we're being introduced to an entirely new generation of filmmaker, thanks to its frenzied and frenetic execution. Go to Full Review Joe Lipsett Horror Queers Podcast 04/26/2022
4/5
Kahn exploits his music video expertise in this overwhelming, joke-a-minute genre explosion. Featuring cute as a button Josh Hutcherson, the editing alone guarantees this unconventional horror comedy won't be for everyone. If it is, though, it's A+ Go to Full Review Trace Thurman Horror Queers Podcast 04/13/2022
5/5
If a movie was able to do several lines of cocaine before you hit play, Joseph Kahn's Detention would be that movie. It's wild, kinetic and all over the place in the best possible way. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
vincent f Aug 27 Breakfast fast Club, no? See more Chocolate G @Lillyt_69 Aug 1 THE ONLY REASON IM GIVING IT MORE THAN 3 STARS IS CUS OF JOSH HUTCHERSON OKAY. If you have a huge crush on josh hutcherson and hes everything to you, then yes watch this cus hes fine asf in every single scene. The movie itself is silly, makes so many references i don't get, but it gives 90s vibes and its fun to watch while you're doing something. But Josh is just good in every movie and i love him and if he wasn't in this movie this movie would be so ahh so only watch if you wanna see josh hutch in his PRIMEEEE See more kate w 06/10/2024 this movie is so weird and i had no idea what was going on the whole time josh hutcherson so fine i love it solid 8/10 See more Melissa L @Agent99 04/26/2024 This was more comedy than horror, and starts out slow, but I really liked it once it got interesting. Great soundtrack, and great ending. I recommend! See more Raeesa R 03/05/2024 You people are boring this movie was funny and so unserious but in a good way. Perfect to watch if I wanna turn my brain off and have a laugh. It's only bad if you take it seriously. See more charlotte v 02/23/2024 **SPOILERS ALERT** (I recommend watching it though, it is very good!) Me and my friend loved this movie so much! It was stupid in a way that we like, and it's very very funny. There are so many funny and iconic scenes and we absolutely LOVED Josh Hutcherson in this. Clapton Davis is the best, he is so funny and goofy. Ione, or should I say SLOAN was also very funny and iconic. "Clapton! You're my Ralph Macchio! Do the crane thing!", "You're not hot enough to be stalked.", I love when the guy in detention talked about her extensions, she started to lift up a V hand gesture, me and my friend does NOT know what that means, but I guess it's some sort of insult? Clapton was so funny in that movie, he was so confused whether he won the fight or not. I loved Riley too, she is so relatable. Honestly, this movie is not that bad at all it's just weird and goofy and funny. It was so goofy that me and my friend had to have matching profile pictures of Clapton and Riley. It was so silly that me and my friend used the stuff in the movie as inside jokes and then our other friends would look at us weird. I honestly want those Josh Hutcherson converse shoes, it looks so cool. I would recommend this movie if you want some bit of sillyness in your life, but other than that, it's a pretty weird movie. Have a nice day watching the movie! WE ALSO LEARNT THE GOOFY MOVE THAT CLAPTON DAVIS DID AT THE BOWLING SCENE! IT WAS SO FUNNY LOL! See more Read all reviews
Detention

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

View All

Joseph Kahn

Director

Josh Hutcherson

Clapton Davis

Shanley Caswell

Riley Jones

Dane Cook

Principal Verge

Spencer Locke

Ione

Aaron David Johnson

Sander Sanderson

More Like This

View All
Suburban Gothic 70% 42% Suburban Gothic Watchlist Fright Night 72% 59% Fright Night Watchlist Jennifer's Body 47% 36% Jennifer's Body Watchlist TRAILER for Jennifer's Body Freaks of Nature 0% 44% Freaks of Nature Watchlist Life After Beth 46% 31% Life After Beth Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Related Movie News

View All
Critics Consensus: The Three Stooges Is Sometimes Funny, Sometimes Un-Soiten Critics Consensus: American Reunion Is A Decent Get-Together
View All

Detention

Dane Cook as Principal Verge in "Detention." A scene from "Detention." A scene from "Detention." Dane Cook as Principal Verge in "Detention." Shanley Caswell as Riley Jones in "Detention." Josh Hutcherson as Clapton Davis in "Detention." Spencer Locke as Ione in "Detention." Spencer Locke as Ione and Josh Hutcherson as Clapton Davis in "Detention." Dane Cook as Principal Verge in "Detention." A scene from "Detention." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A teenage outcast (Shanley Caswell), her friend (Josh Hutcherson), a nerd (Aaron David Johnson), and other students face terror from a serial killer who targets high-school students.
Director
Joseph Kahn
Producer
Mary Ann Tanedo, Richard Weager
Screenwriter
Joseph Kahn, Mark Palermo
Distributor
Samuel Goldwyn Company
Production Co
Detention Films
Rating
R (Crude and Sexual Content|Bloody Violence|Some Teen Drinking|Drug Use|Language|Nudity)
Genre
Horror, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 13, 2012, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 31, 2012
Runtime
1h 29m
Most Popular at Home Now