Animal House
Universal Pictures | Release Date: July 28, 1978
7.6
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 97 Ratings
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Positive:
76
Mixed:
17
Negative:
4
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
7
Compi24Nov 28, 2012
Directed by John Landis, "Animal House" was one of the first comedies to break all of the rules of film. Meaning it featured an immoral premise, a heap of foul language, and almost gratuitous nudity. However, "Animal House" was a riot for meDirected by John Landis, "Animal House" was one of the first comedies to break all of the rules of film. Meaning it featured an immoral premise, a heap of foul language, and almost gratuitous nudity. However, "Animal House" was a riot for me and it still maintains the title as one the comedies that defined a decade. John Belushi. . .that is all. Every scene involving John Belushi made me laugh hysterically, and other actors, including Tim Matheson, Stephen Furst, Tom Hulce, and Bruce McGill made this movie that much more enjoyable. This movie is an endless tornado of chaotic buffoonery - and it's awesome.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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7
TheMovieCriticAug 7, 2012
A funny movie this is. The acting is also pretty good, and a lot of the scenes are well directed, including the ones that aren't even funny. Though not as funny as I expected, it is still a good movie.
2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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8
GeniasisJul 17, 2012
John Landis and John Belushi at their best! Whenever you see a movie about the fun and glamor of college life, chances are this movie inspired it. This movie pioneered an entire sub-genre of comedy, but nobody has ever done it better. AnimalJohn Landis and John Belushi at their best! Whenever you see a movie about the fun and glamor of college life, chances are this movie inspired it. This movie pioneered an entire sub-genre of comedy, but nobody has ever done it better. Animal House is one of those movies that's still just as funny today.… Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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8
chwJun 14, 2015
Animal House is one of the funniest movies I've seen so far. I would rate the comedy a nine out of ten, but the movie as a whole was more of an eight out of ten, just because the movie wasn't perfect.
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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10
CharlieS.Feb 15, 2008
This is the funniest movie EVER, period.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
CritiqueGirlMar 4, 2011
I saw this when it first came out. FUNNY and now a classic. John Belushi at his very best. The entire cast was funny.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
bram29Oct 16, 2011
this movie is mad fun. it's also very self-aware. it doesn't want to be deep. it's a crazy spectacle and i wouldn't want it any other way.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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7
SpangleDec 20, 2016
Animal House is a classic 1970s college comedy that practically everyone has seen. Detailing the demise of the Delta house on the campus of Faber College through their constant antics, Animal House is a consistently funny, irreverent, andAnimal House is a classic 1970s college comedy that practically everyone has seen. Detailing the demise of the Delta house on the campus of Faber College through their constant antics, Animal House is a consistently funny, irreverent, and over-the-top comedy. Featuring an ensemble cast, the film relies upon the charisma of its cast, the ludicrous situations they find themselves in, and their propensity to throw impromptu parties at the drop of a hat. While hardly a major cinematic achievement, Animal House is simply easy, breezy fun.

A sexed up drunk film, Animal House's ensemble cast provides the film with serious charisma. In particular, John Belushi obviously steals the show as the stupid John Blutarsky. An alcoholic who only suggests the stupidest ideas, Blutarsky is the life of the party and Belushi provides this spark throughout the film. From the cafeteria to the frat house to the homecoming parade, Blutarsky has a lot of fun and is undoubtedly the dumbest person shown in this film. However, I have one question: How did those sorority girls not see him watching them from outside their window? He literally made eye contact with them all. As for the other characters, Boon (Peter Riegert), Otter (Tim Matheson), and Larry Kroger (Thomas Hulce), are all incredibly lovable and provide great moments of comedy throughout the film. The writing is also very good as they manage to craft memorable characters. They may all look similar and act similar, but the film manages to create distinctions between all of its players, which allows the audience to begin to sympathize with members of the fraternities and the unfortunate women who find themselves in these houses. All of the characters may be pretty one-dimensional, but that is a by-product and showing so many different people. Fortunately, each character has their own energy and contribution to the film with each of their side stories being largely well-developed enough to create empathy and intrigue along the way.

Comedically, Animal House is certainly quite dated. Many of the jokes still land with no problem, however, with the film often overflowing with hilariously over-the-top gags. It may take it too far in the homecoming sequence, but otherwise, its simple, stupid, and irreverent humor works and is incredibly effective in eliciting laughs. Now, of course, a lot of jokes do not land and this is largely a result of the film being 38 years old. What was funny then may not be exactly funny now and, plus, a lot of the plotting is pretty well covered nowadays. Yet, it is quite cliche for back then even with the stereotypically evil and out-of-touch dean who - gasp - does not want dead horses in his office. While that scene is quite funny, it is not hard to imagine why Delta is the thorn in the dean's side, even if you ignore the fact that Otter sleeps with the dean's wife. A classic comedy, Animal House is still incredibly funny and a great time, even if quite dated by now. Without a large ensemble cast that make the antics seem almost wholesome, Animal House never offends, as all of its jokes are simply too dumb to be taken truly seriously. That said, its portrayal of college is still certainly very true, as frats just never change. The film is a bit over-the-top in its portrayal, but at its core - depicting the frat guys as nothing but alcoholic sex addicts - still rings true and I imagine it will forever be the case.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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10
cameronmorewoodNov 8, 2012
The cafeteria scene is perhaps the funniest sequence to ever be caught on film.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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9
SkyrimGuy935Sep 25, 2014
Toga, toga, toga! One of the funniest, enthusiastically silly movies I've ever seen. Everything from the stupid, yet still likable main characters to the self-consciously juvenile humor, this is the definition of a comedy classic and willToga, toga, toga! One of the funniest, enthusiastically silly movies I've ever seen. Everything from the stupid, yet still likable main characters to the self-consciously juvenile humor, this is the definition of a comedy classic and will have you on the floor laughing almost throughout the movie. In addition, this movie is endlessly quotable. "Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?! Hell no!" And one of my favorites, "Seven years of college down the drain..." Oh, and the ending is particularly hilarious.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
laurelei87Dec 19, 2016
The treatment of the female characters is painfully dated, but as a whole it's still a funny movie. Lots of silly gags and college debauchery with an anti-authoritarian theme.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
amheretojudgeMay 15, 2019
Beluschi drives the whole house in a burning jungle and he is the only one that comes out alive.

Animal House Landis is just looking for the right angle that would somehow make it all tenable and sane to look at. And for the most part ofBeluschi drives the whole house in a burning jungle and he is the only one that comes out alive.

Animal House

Landis is just looking for the right angle that would somehow make it all tenable and sane to look at. And for the most part of it, he succeeds. What's debilitating is the script that dries up on its own sunny rides. Gags after gags, scoot over there is another gag on the house, with so many laughs- and yes there are- the rhythm of the film is uncanny. And maybe we are to blame the director John Landis, whose failed attempts of parallel narration doesn't capture the film in one frame.

There is a lot of editing, in the sense that it moves back and forth a lot, just for the sake of the joke and maybe I'd chug it all up if the joke was any better to take a detour of this long and stressful build up. Donald Sutherland as an eccentric teacher that obviously no one respects has some of the best moments. Personally, I loved all the scenarios regarding the classroom, from the fake court trial to a poorly ordered instructions. Then, there is obviously a party sequence, like all these teenage movie does, something that no one actually gets it right and end up just shooting jokes in the dark and drunk.

The jokes are not politically correct, they may not be accepted well with the time, but the quality, the lunacy is very much energetic. And among each characteristic handed over to various people, John Belushi triumphs over all the insane ingredients sprinkled in this overstuffed and overcooked dish. From grabbing lunch blindingly to heckling in the class, there is no one as confident as him while performing a physical comedy. He mocks and body shames himself, for the laughs, that very notion has a poetic sense in his enactment of animal like instincts residing in an Animal House.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
Gamzguy17Aug 21, 2021
A smart, rowdy, over-the-top comedy that has helped pave the way for "school shenanigans" films thanks to the directing chops of John Landis and the comedic timing/goofball antics of John Belushi.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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1
aconcreteSep 13, 2021
This movie is sexist, racist, and homophobic. It is very outdated and also misogynistic.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
SuperbaDMIkeJun 15, 2022
Animal House is that one National Lampoon movie that is the best yet an sex and funny movie along with John Belushi.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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