Police Academy

Name: Police Academy
Genre: Comedy, Crime
Released: March 23, 1984
Duration: 96 min
Rating: 41
Cast: G.W. Bailey, Steve Guttenberg

1984

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 6 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 56 Ratings

See All

7.3

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7.3	Your Score
7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 56 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Police Academy

Now Playing: Police Academy

Movie Details & Credits

Warner Home Video | Release Date: March 23, 1984 | R

Starring: G.W. Bailey, Steve Guttenberg

Summary: A group of good-hearted but incompetent misfits enter the police academy, but the instructors are not going to put up with their pranks.

Director: Hugh Wilson

Genre(s): Comedy, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 96 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Rita Kempley

Attention all units: Slapstick in progress in the vicinity of Police Academy. Suspects wanted for mugging the camera and possession of night shtiks with intent to incite a laugh riot. Please respond to this blues burlesque, a uniformly funny hit sure to have a long run. Its target audience -- those who can take their T&A with a grain of assault. Its plot -- a combo of "Animal House" and "An Officer and a Gentleman." Its stars -- a rainbow coalition of hot newcomers and dependable, unexpendable pros. [23 Mar 1984, p.23]

Despite the quick succession of sight gags director Hugh Wilson engineers in the film, Police Academy has it weak moments, particularly with Steve Guttenberg and Kim Cattrall in the leads. [23 Mar 1984]

Staff [Not Credited]

Police Academy at its core is a harmless, innocent poke at authority that does find a fresh background in a police academy. Read full review

Bill Cosford

Gag delivery is by shotgun and, as happens when there is even a minimum of talent involved in such projects, some of the material is on target. And some of it is awful. [27 Mar 1984, p.B5]

Vincent Canby

The movie plows through one outrageous sequence to the next with the momentum of a freight train. Read full review

Roger Ebert

If there's anything worse than a punch line that doesn't work, it's a movie that doesn't even bother to put the punch lines in. Read full review

SEE ALL 6 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

GudKos

May 30, 2016

Police Academy is the best comedy film of the 80's for adult! I watched all 7 films. Characters are very fun because there are no situations when we can overlook and don't laugh!

21 Jump Street forget about it!

4 of 5 users found this helpful41

Kai82

May 6, 2021

One of the best and well received comedies of its time. It was a surprise hit that started a successful franchise that is sadly so dormant that it is forgotten at the time of writing. In my youth this was a movie you just had to watch (Nearly everyone in my age group had seen it, talked aOne of the best and well received comedies of its time. It was a surprise hit that started a successful franchise that is sadly so dormant that it is forgotten at the time of writing. In my youth this was a movie you just had to watch (Nearly everyone in my age group had seen it, talked a lot about it and most say it was excellent). The strengths are its charming cast of character, the humor and that the movie takes itself not that serious. I must give a nostalgia warning here as I think I am influenced by it and childhood memories. Story: Because of a shortage of adequate candidates for police officers it was decided to lower the requirements for the Police Academy (drastically). This lets a remarkable cast of new recruits enroll. Some have enjoyable quirks, special skills, are parodies of stereotypes or are just comical (Sometimes multiple of those at once). This is the start of an attack on your risible muscles. All jokes work and are well written. They took a lot of effort to avoid any misfire and this makes the movie so memorable. You have slapstick, pranks, wordplay and schemes that are enjoyable. The characters enhance the performance and they are a bunch of charming and likable people. Lets start with Steve Guttenberg as Carey Mahoney. He is a scoundrel with a silver tongue and a clever schemer who is forced into the Academy. Then we have Bubba Smith as Moses Hightower. He is the giant with the hearth of gold and seemingly superhuman strength. Now we get to Michael Winslow playing Larvell Jones. He can imitate all noises and use this to his advantage (and for humor). This is his acting and real life trademark and well used in the franchise. With David Graf as Eugene Tackleberry we get a gun nerd. He is such a good character and stereotype. I want also name the head of the Academy Eric Lassard. He often seems like a lame duck or a bit quirky but you should never underestimate him and his abilities. He is a master in many things. With Laverne Hooks played by Marion Ramsey we get a shy character who is truly awesome behind this. With Thaddeus Harris we got a fine antagonist. He is such a likable bad guy. I think a picture of him in the “Love to hate” category for villains is absolutely fitting. It is so satisfying when he is tricked or when the others make his plans backfire. There are a lot more characters but those lay the foundation. It is no wonder how the cast became so iconic. They were legendary in their time. The rest is history as the movie made an impact that started a franchise with 6 sequels and 2 TV series if I remember correctly. Overall this is one of my childhood favorites for comedies. I have re-watched it so many times in TV. The humor and characters are still great and it beats easily many if not all of the more modern spoof movies (Which is actually not much of a challenge). An easy recommendation for me with the standard nostalgia warning. Additional info: The franchise is dormant for a long time. I read that a reboot is in development hell since 2002 or 2003 and I have not heard anything about it in years.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ReidW

Aug 15, 2016

Hilarious, Classic, and Campy. So many people played roles in this movie that you will forever recognize. Especially Bobcat Goldtwit. I have fond memories of watching this from my childhood.

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

EpicLadySponge

Jan 3, 2017

For everything Police Academy has right, it's only that it doesn't starve for money unlike its successors before this film. Nonetheless, this film manages to be a missed shot from the crew that have bought you something that should've been a great comedy.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

clem666

Jul 12, 2021

'Police Academy' only shines by its very few funny lines and situations. The rest of the time the movie isn't even able to entertain us with its overly simple plot and its raw, vulgar, gross and mind-numbing lines. The acting is bad, dialogues are dull, music is nothing more than generic and'Police Academy' only shines by its very few funny lines and situations. The rest of the time the movie isn't even able to entertain us with its overly simple plot and its raw, vulgar, gross and mind-numbing lines. The acting is bad, dialogues are dull, music is nothing more than generic and unnoticeable. Still the worst part of the cake undoubtedly is the constant poor and scary diminishing room let to the women characters. Show their bodies, do the dishes, make them drive bad and worry for the men they know. It's how nuanced and varied it can sadly be.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 5 REVIEWS