National Lampoon's Animal House

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National Lampoon's Animal House

R

Released Jun 1, 1978

1h 49m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

54 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

When they arrive at college, socially inept freshmen Larry (Thomas Hulce) and Kent (Stephen Furst) attempt to pledge the snooty Omega Theta Pi House, but are summarily rejected. Lowering their standards, they try at the notoriously rowdy Delta Tau Chi House, and get in. The trouble is, the college dean (John Vernon) has it in for the Deltas. He has put them on "Double Secret Probation" and secretly assigned Omega's president (James Daughton) the task of having their charter revoked.

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Critics Consensus

The talents of director John Landis and Saturday Night Live's irrepressible John Belushi conspired to create a rambunctious, subversive college comedy that continues to resonate.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

In its own half-flubbed way, it has a style. And you don’t go to a film like Animal House for cinema, you go for roughhousing disreputability; it makes you laugh by restoring you to the slobby infant in yourself.

Sep 18, 2023

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Nigel Andrews

Financial Times

The film has swept through the American box office like a whirlwind, precipitating a rash of incipient college romps. One waits with trepidation: but at least the trailblazer has vitality and charm.

Feb 7, 2020

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Gary Arnold

Washington Post

You may not care to take up permanent spiritual residence at Animal House, but it's funny place to visit.

Jul 31, 2015

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

It's endlessly quotable (“Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son”), packed with excellent performances and unique characters, and blessed with a great score that mixes Elmer Bernstein’s orchestral maneuvers with catchy oldies.

Rated: 4/4

Nov 8, 2023

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

By the hilariously rampageous finale – despite individual moments routinely outshining the production as a whole – this picture clearly demonstrates its inspirational and influential qualities.

Rated: 6/10

Sep 22, 2022

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Sarah Brinks

Battleship Pretension

There are some classic performances like Jim Belushi's Blutarsky and Tim Matheson's Eric Stratton.

Apr 1, 2021

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Dave S

Back in the summer of ’78, Animal House was all the rage, inspiring cafeteria food fights when school resumed in September and toga party after toga party throughout the fall. Rewatching it almost 50 years later, you’ve really got to wonder what all of the fuss was about. There are a couple of laughs and a soundtrack that’s kind of fun but, otherwise, it pretty much falls flat thanks to a plot that is nonexistent and humour that hasn’t aged well. John Belushi does his best to mug his way through scene after scene and it’s nice to see young versions of Kevin Bacon and Tom Hulce but, beyond that, there’s not much worth seeing here.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/05/25

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Audience Member

Truly one of the best movies ever made. Top 10 all time for me

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/24/25

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Kyle C

Animal House is pure, chaotic fun. It’s the kind of movie that keeps you grinning from start to finish, even when it veers into dumb territory. It taps into a strange nostalgia for a college experience most people never had—a carefree blur of parties, pranks, and camaraderie that makes academic failure and romantic disasters feel like minor setbacks compared to the joy of sticking with your friends and a steady supply of booze. John Belushi is the standout, with his physical comedy and total commitment to absurdity carrying some of the film’s funniest moments. The whole thing is ridiculous, and while a handful of jokes haven’t aged well and the plot is more an excuse for chaos than a coherent story, the energy is irresistible. Add in a killer soundtrack and you’ve got a comedy classic that’s hard not to love, flaws and all.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/12/25

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Cameron E.

Hilarious and brilliant for 1979

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/02/25

Full Review

Shane C

Animal house >>>>>>>>>> revenge of the nerds

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/25/25

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Stephen C

Funny in 1 hour and 49 minutes!!!!!!!!!! In memory of John Belushi (1949-1982)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/03/25

Full Review

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John Landis

Director

John Belushi

John "Bluto" Blutarsky

Kevin Bacon

Chip Diller

Donald Sutherland

Prof. Dave Jennings

Karen Allen

Katy

Tim Matheson

Eric "Otter" Stratton

Animal House: Official Clip - Flounder Gets Even

2:57

Animal House: Official Clip - Only We Can Do That to Our Pledges

2:59

Animal House: Official Clip - Finished at Faber

2:00

Animal House: Official Clip - New Pledges

2:19

Animal House: Official Clip - Bluto's a Zit

2:39

Animal House: Official Clip - Enter the Deathmobile

3:00

Animal House: Official Clip - Double Secret Probation

1:47

Animal House: Official Clip - Toga! Toga!

3:00

Animal House: Official Clip - Bluto's Big Speech

2:46

Animal House: Official Clip - Deltas on Trial

2:49

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Synopsis

When they arrive at college, socially inept freshmen Larry (Thomas Hulce) and Kent (Stephen Furst) attempt to pledge the snooty Omega Theta Pi House, but are summarily rejected. Lowering their standards, they try at the notoriously rowdy Delta Tau Chi House, and get in. The trouble is, the college dean (John Vernon) has it in for the Deltas. He has put them on "Double Secret Probation" and secretly assigned Omega's president (James Daughton) the task of having their charter revoked.

Director: John Landis
Producer: Ivan Reitman, Matty Simmons
Screenwriter: Harold Ramis, Douglas Kenney, Chris Miller
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 1, 1978, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 15, 2012
Runtime: 1h 49m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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