Recess: School's Out

G

Released Feb 16, 2001

1h 22m

Kids & Family

Comedy

Animation

List

60%

Tomatometer

70 Reviews

56%

Audience Score

5,000+ Ratings

The school year is finally over, and T.J. Detweiler is looking forward to a fun-filled summer. Boredom quickly sets in until T.J. uncovers a scheme to do away with summer vacation! Former principal Dr. Benedict, who once tried to eliminate recess from the school day, now plans to use a laser beam to alter the weather and create permanent winter. It sure would be tough to go to school year-round, so T.J. calls in all his friends for help.

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Critics Consensus

Though basically a TV cartoon stretched out to movie-length, Recess has enough successful jokes and smart writing to make it a worthwhile view.

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Malcolm Ritter

Associated Press

The kids will like this animated romp about summer vacation, and so will the adults sitting next to them.

Jan 18, 2018

Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Simply a TV episode blown up for the big screen.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 28, 2010

Full Review

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

Its well characterised comedy of playground manners and teasing social awareness rings confidently through.

Jun 24, 2006

Full Review

Chris Gore

Film Threat

It has my favorite characters and it's kind of like a mystery.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 6, 2005

Full Review

John R. McEwen

Film Quips Online

If you have to take the kids to a low-rent cartoon, this experience at least is enjoyably trippy.

Rated: 3.5/5

Feb 8, 2003

Full Review

Dwayne E. Leslie

Boxoffice Magazine

This is a smart story and well paced.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jun 5, 2002

Full Review

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Lucas A

This movie was the perfect ending to the Recess story (though I know they made more). You saw a greater depth behind the characters that you hadn’t seen before, namely Principal Prickly. I found myself laughing even 24 years later at a few of the scenes. This is a great movie, it’s an every summer watch for me as an adult. My only gripe is the somewhat out-of-place usage of the computer animation at times. The ending shot of this film always makes me tear up some, especially after Dabney Coleman’s recent death. Long live recess!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/18/24

Full Review

Noe G

Recess schools out it's one of my favorite Disney films from 2001 I give this film a 10/10

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/06/24

Full Review

Brooklynn T

Loved The TV Show and The Movie Is Best Film To Have Ever Made Based on a TV Show from the 90s. A Must See For All Ages!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/27/23

Full Review

Omar F

I love this movie! So much nostalgia. Also beautiful animation.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/18/23

Full Review

Jacob B

An entertaining little adventure that should entertain Recess fans but isn't particularly welcoming to newcomers, Recess: School's Out has decent animation (it's not quite on the same level as Atlantis: The Lost Empire or even, to make comparisons to other animated films based off of then-popular cartoons, The Rugrats Movie from 3 years prior but it certainly has a much more cinematic presentation than Doug's 1st Movie which was given a last-minute theatrical release), likable characters, some funny moments and James Woods delivering yet another great performance as the villain (cue the "weird that it happened twice" meme when you remember he also voiced Hades in Disney's interpretation of Hercules). It can't quite shake off that "extended episode with a budget" feel but it does its job admirably well of keeping its target audience entertained. There are still superior animated movies based off of popular cartoons out there, though.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

Rosana B

Não conhecia essa turminha da Hora do Recreio, bonitinho, mas só isso, nada altamente atrativo ou cativante, apenas mais um desenho animado sobre a Hora do Recreio das crianças, e pasmem, eu conheço uma escola pública que não tem hora do recreio, triste e abominável...

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/10/22

Full Review

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Chuck Sheetz

Director

Andrew Lawrence

T.J. Detweiler

Rickey D'Shon Collins

Vince Lasalle

Pamela Adlon

Ashley Spinelli

Jason Davis

Mikey Blumberg

Ashley Johnson

Gretchen Grundler

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Synopsis

The school year is finally over, and T.J. Detweiler is looking forward to a fun-filled summer. Boredom quickly sets in until T.J. uncovers a scheme to do away with summer vacation! Former principal Dr. Benedict, who once tried to eliminate recess from the school day, now plans to use a laser beam to alter the weather and create permanent winter. It sure would be tough to go to school year-round, so T.J. calls in all his friends for help.

Director: Chuck Sheetz
Creator: Paul Germain, Joe Ansolabehere
Producer: Paul Germain, Joe Ansolabehere, Stephen Swofford
Screenwriter: Joe Ansolabehere, Paul Germain, Jonathan Greenberg, Jonathan Greenberg
Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures
Production Co: Walt Disney Television Animation
Rating: G
Genre: Kids & Family, Comedy, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 16, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $36.7M
Runtime: 1h 22m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby A, SDDS, DTS, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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