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Billy Madison (1995)

tomatometer

45

Average Rating: 4.9/10
Reviews Counted: 38
Fresh: 17 | Rotten: 21

Billy Madison is typical early immature fare from Adam Sandler, even if it finds moments of inspired lunacy.

20

Average Rating: 3.3/10
Critic Reviews: 5
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 4

Billy Madison is typical early immature fare from Adam Sandler, even if it finds moments of inspired lunacy.

audience

79

liked it
Average Rating: 3.5/5
User Ratings: 701,354

My Rating

Movie Info

Master of infantilism Adam Sandler stars as the title character, an overgrown rich kid who wiles away his days poolside, swilling kegs of beer and appreciating fine nudie magazines such as "Drunk Chicks" -- that is, until his father (Darren McGavin) decides to test his mettle as future head of the family business by posing a challenge: retake and pass grades K-12 in 24 weeks or watch control of the business pass to the requisite conniving underling (Bradley Whitford). Forced into action, Billy

PG-13, 1 hr. 30 min.

Comedy

Tim Herlihy, Adam Sandler, Rich Wilkes

Jan 2, 2002

MCA Universal Home Video

Cast

All Critics (38) | Top Critics (5) | Fresh (17) | Rotten (21) | DVD (15)

Those unfamiliar with Sandler's antics may...begin to find him annoying sometime between the appearance of the Universal logo and the end of the opening credits.

June 1, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety | Comment (1)
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

If you've ever had a yen to relive the third grade, this must be the next best thing.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times | Comment
New York Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Director Tamra Davis and screenwriters Sandler and Tim Herlihy scatter the bad jokes like fertilizer. Nothing sprouts.

February 13, 2001 Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | Comment
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

As one character tells Billy in the finale: "Everyone in this room is dumber for having listened to you."

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post | Comment
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

It's refreshing to revisit the jester in his screen infancy, when all he wanted was to boogie to a Culture Club hit, carry on conversations with hair care products, and sit on a sprinkler.

June 13, 2011 Full Review Source: BrianOrndorf.com | Comment
BrianOrndorf.com

Young teens will like brash, immature humor.

January 1, 2011 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Common Sense Media

The film should have featured more absurd and nonsensical elements.

June 1, 2008 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | Comment
TV Guide's Movie Guide

When you get that Sandler's comedic persona is meant to be annoying, like Beavis and Butthead or Cartman, the laughs come thick and fast.

June 1, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4 | Comment

Wipe that smug grin off your face and go home.

January 12, 2007 Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com | Comments (3)
TheMovieReport.com

A vintage specimen of a master at the apex of his talents.

May 13, 2005 Full Review Source: Arizona Daily Star | Comment
Arizona Daily Star

Duh-m Sandler, typical fare for him

October 23, 2004 Comments (4)

Sandler's best. Edgy, satirical, bizarre and surreal.

May 1, 2004 Comment
About.com

Typical Sandler

August 13, 2003 Comment
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Billy Madison

A lot of Adam Sandler's comedies seem to be given bad reviews, and I can see that for some of his newer stuff, especially his two newest films, JUST GO WITH IT and GROWN UPS. On the other hand, there is no reason to give such poor feedback to BILLY MADISON. I'm not saying that because it's one of his earlier films,

June 28, 2011
spielberg00
Alexander Diminiano

Super Reviewer

I was okay, not great, but preatty funny, Sandler was kind of annoying too.

March 16, 2011
DreamExtractor
Brad Wright

Super Reviewer

    1. Billy Madison: Stop looking at me Swan!
    – Submitted by Jason K (13 days ago)
    1. Billy Madison: I hate cursive and I hate all of you!
    – Submitted by Sarah K (2 months ago)
    1. Billy Madison: ha ha ha ha shut up!
    – Submitted by Matthew S (3 months ago)
    1. 3rd Grader: Hey, look everybody, Billy peed his pants!
    2. Billy Madison: Of course I peed my pants! Everybody my age pees their pants, it's the coolest!
    – Submitted by John P (5 months ago)

Movies Like Billy Madison

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