Johnny Be Good

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Johnny Be Good

R

Released Mar 25, 1988

1h 24m

Comedy

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18 Reviews

30%

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5,000+ Ratings

High-school quarterback Johnny Walker (Anthony Michael Hall) is being courted by elite colleges nationwide. To get the sports star to enroll, an army of recruiters entices him with everything a young, hormonal teenager could want. While his best friend, Leo Wiggins (Robert Downey Jr.), advises him to wait for the most lucrative offer, Johnny's girlfriend, Georgia Elkans (Uma Thurman), wants him to attend their state college -- with her. The trouble is the state school has offered him nothing.

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Michael Wilmington

Los Angeles Times

"Johnny Be Good," a would-be satire on the excesses of big-time college football recruiting, is so bad that the NCAA might consider using it as punishment for coaches who violate regulations.

Aug 14, 2019

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Tribune

Buried somewhere in the screenplay are some Robert Altman-esque satirical intentions, in which the wildly corrupt college football recruitment process is offered as a panoramic image of frenzied American venality.

Rated: 1/4

Aug 14, 2019

Full Review

Caryn James

New York Times

Two of the screenwriters, Steve Zacharias and Jeff Buhai, also wrote Revenge of the Nerds, so it's not surprising that they're more interested in tame teen-age fantasies than in social satire.

Rated: 2/5

May 20, 2003

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

“Johnny Be Good” is still a bad movie, and its faults stand out even more today.

Rated: 1.5/5

Aug 22, 2022

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

The worst football flick ever made.

Rated: 1/4

Feb 12, 2022

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Guillermo Altares

El Pais (Spain)

An insufferable comedy. [Full Review in Spanish]

Aug 14, 2019

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Audience Member

I loved this movie as a kid Hall Downie and Gleason were great

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/24/25

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Eric E

So many great one liners. Coach Hissler's pre-game speech is the stuff of legends.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/23/24

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alan g

Anthony Michael Hall as a high school quarterback is really pushing it. Still a fun coming of age movie.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

04/04/24

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Fourpsyte

This movie is honestly great. You get unhinged RDJ and girls that are new in town and they need a hand

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/12/23

Full Review

Ola G

Johnny Walker (Anthony Michael Hall), a student at Ashcroft High School, is the top high school quarterback prospect in the nation, and is being heavily recruited by many schools. His best friend, Leo Wiggins (Robert Downey Jr.), thinks he should hold out for the best offer while his girlfriend, Georgia Elkans (Uma Thurman), wants him to go to State University with her and get a solid education. The various colleges offer him everything he could possibly want — hot girls, cars, cash, free room and board, etc. One school even buys Leo a car, while another offers to provide him with male companions if he isn't interested in women. His coach, Wayne Hisler (Paul Gleason), whom Johnny hates, even tries to sell him out by striking a deal with one of the interested colleges to become their next head coach, if Johnny signs their scholarship offer... The film was a box office bomb. It also received negative reviews. "Johnny Be Good" is a sort of classic 80s high school comedy with undertones exposing the ugly backside of college football. However, the film is very uneven and the storyline wobbles with many scenes wobbling as well. The direction is not on spot and both Anthony Michael Hall and Robert Downey Jr. hardly brings out the A game. But, I still have some fond memories of the film when it came out in 1988 and I have loved the soundtrack since that day. Trivia: Former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon and sportscaster Howard Cosell make cameo appearances. Despite starring famous actors and comedians, the film was both a critical and financial failure, grossing $18 million. Hall's performance as a jock was panned by critics.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/05/23

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steve d

Really bad despite its great cast.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Bud S. Smith

Director

Anthony Michael Hall

Johnny Walker

Robert Downey Jr.

Leo Wiggins

Paul Gleason

Wayne Hisler

Uma Thurman

Georgia Elkans

Steve James

Coach Sanders

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Synopsis

High-school quarterback Johnny Walker (Anthony Michael Hall) is being courted by elite colleges nationwide. To get the sports star to enroll, an army of recruiters entices him with everything a young, hormonal teenager could want. While his best friend, Leo Wiggins (Robert Downey Jr.), advises him to wait for the most lucrative offer, Johnny's girlfriend, Georgia Elkans (Uma Thurman), wants him to attend their state college -- with her. The trouble is the state school has offered him nothing.

Director: Bud S. Smith
Producer: Adam Fields
Screenwriter: Steve Zacharias, Jeff Buhai, David Obst
Production Co: Orion Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 25, 1988, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $15.5M
Runtime: 1h 24m
Sound Mix: Surround

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