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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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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chris h

Great cast,great time....everything you want and need with a comedy.jim blushi in top form.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/17/25

Full Review

Amanda P

It's a classic 🤣 thank you National Lampoon's

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/04/25

Full Review

Double A

If you don't love Animal House, you don't have a pulse.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/22/25

Full Review

thiago s

Filme bacaninha, o roteiro é mais ou menos, o filme tem cenas bacanas, como a cena Do Bluetooth espiando pela janelas das garotas e depois e espiou a cena de uma garota que estava se trocando e ele olha para a câmera e pisca o olho, e depois ele caiu da escada batendo as costas na grama, e no final alguns membros da fraternidade animal house destroem e acabam com o festival na rua, a história é mais ou menos, e o elenco quase não ajuda a melhorar o filme, com isso, eu meio que recomendo esse filme, o 1 filme de comédia a começar a franquia da national lampoon.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/23/25

Full Review

Kevin P

The raunchy comedy classic that every college movie since has tried to copy or rip off its success all while most fail to realize what made this so funny in the first place. This movie is so densely fast paced with hilarious jokes one right after another. It’s super quotable and the whole cast has great chemistry. There’s such an infectiously fun sense of chaotic friendship between the whole crew and it’s super entertaining the whole way through. The soundtrack is catchy with highlights from “Shout!” and the ending credits titular song. John Belushi deservedly steals the show as the fraternity wild card of the bunch. Admittedly, some parts are pretty dated, but luckily it doesn’t go nearly as far as its infamous imitators from the 80’s. The ending is a bit of a mess and kind of dumb, but to be fair it almost feels like a parody of the trope it created with its self-awareness of the kind of story they’re telling here as there’s technically no legit resolution to Delta House’s inditement or failing grades, yet they all still somehow end up as success stories. But regardless, it’s a hilarious college screwball comedy that mostly holds up and is both the first and best of its kind.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/25/25

Full Review

Noah G

Yep five stars if you ask me John belushi is mostly the main reason I watched this movie he’s next level he’s my favorite character in this movie

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/29/24

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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