Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Up the Academy

Play trailer Poster for Up the Academy R 1980 1h 29m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
0% Tomatometer 5 Reviews 43% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
The war-obsessed commandant of Weinberg Military Academy is no match for the troublesome brats enrolled there.
Watch on Fandango at Home Stream Now

Where to Watch

Up the Academy

Critics Reviews

View More
Michael Blowen Boston Globe 04/28/2018
I can't remember anticipating the end of a film with such exuberance. Go to Full Review
Vincent Canby New York Times 05/30/2007
2.5/5
Cheerfully and rudely haphazard. Go to Full Review
Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid 05/30/2007
2/4
In an attempt to follow National Lampoon, it was the first and only film produced by MAD Magazine. One viewing reveals why. Go to Full Review
TV Guide 05/30/2007
1/4
Notable only because its star, Ron Liebman, sued the studio to have his name removed from the credits and advertising. Go to Full Review
Scott Weinberg DVDTalk.com 02/13/2006
1.5/5
I can plainly understand why several involved parties lobbied to get their names removed from this film. Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Sean H Jun 7 Notable for only two reasons 1) Ralph Macchio's (terrible) film debut, and 2) Absolutely everyone associated with the movie quickly distanced themselves from having any involvement with it, even Mad Magazine itself. If you've read this far, that is all you need to know about this misfits-in-uniform-meets-frat-party clunker. There is not a single entertaining minute in this dogsh*t movie. Do NOT watch it. I tried to warn you. See more Steve D 03/13/2023 Not funny for a single moment. See more Devon B 02/20/2023 This movie was all-out enjoyable for the most part. This is Ralph Macchio's film debut and probably one that he sadly forgot about. I've seen the bad reviews of this movie and I have to say I don't understand the amount of hate that it gets. Although there are some parts that people would probably find offensive other than that the movie conveys such a humorous and raunchy take on military schools. The General in this movie plays out similarly to a mean headroom teacher at a boarding school. I also love the soundtrack. It's full of some incredible punk rock, new wave, and power pop from tons of different bands. The music itself sort of blends in with the movie with how it plays out they do something where they'd play half of a song and then another half later. But if had to critique it a little I'd probably have to say we don't see much of Ralph Macchio's character he doesn't get many stand-out scenes compared to the other cast mates but my only problem other than that Up The Academy is a Humorous and somewhat a before it's time film that deserves a second chance I give this movie 4 in a half stars. See more 04/25/2018 I went into Up the Academy expecting one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen. I had heard the history that this movie was originally created under the banner of Mad Magazine but they were so embarrassed by it they paid to have their name taken off. And the star of the movie also petitioned to get his name out of the credits. That’s a lot of bad signs all rolled into one movie. I assumed it was going to be horrid, so I was surprised that it wasn’t all that bad. Don’t get me wrong, Up the Academy is terrible. It indulges in some awful racism, includes disturbing implied pedophilia, and most of the jokes are ineffective. But it’s not a worst-of-all-time contender. And what surprised me was how much it felt like a Mad Magazine product. These are the dorky jokes which are crass but not too vulgar that you will find in every issue. I would never suggest someone else watch Up the Academy, but at least it’s not painfully bad. See more 08/25/2017 I gave this a spin on a cheapo DVD and thought it was fairly amusing for what it was, but I was surprised to see that the Mad Magazine people had later distanced themselves from the finished project. I mean, the movie doesn't exactly re-invent the wheel with its comedy, but it's not THAT BAD, y'know? Worth a rental at the very least. if you dig some prep school/military academy type of hijinx. See more 08/06/2016 Could have been so much better, Even MAD Magazine sued to get their name off it! See more Read all reviews
Up the Academy

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW
First Family 20% 10% First Family Watchlist Blume in Love 70% 53% Blume in Love Watchlist I Love You, Alice B. Toklas 14% 54% I Love You, Alice B. Toklas Watchlist Stripes 88% 79% Stripes Watchlist TRAILER for Stripes Caddyshack 73% 87% Caddyshack Watchlist TRAILER for Caddyshack Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis The war-obsessed commandant of Weinberg Military Academy is no match for the troublesome brats enrolled there.
Director
Robert Downey Sr.
Producer
Marvin Worth, Danton Rissner
Screenwriter
Tom Patchett, Jay Tarses
Distributor
Warner Bros.
Production Co
Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 6, 1980, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2008
Runtime
1h 29m
Sound Mix
Surround
Most Popular at Home Now