Billy Madison
PG-13
1995
Comedy · A brisk 90 minutes that never overstays its welcome.
Cult classic
6.4/10
IMDb
40%
Rotten
16
16/100
Metacritic
🎬
6.2/10
TMDB
The brief
Billy Madison is peak mid-90s Sandler stupidity, back when his man-child act felt fresh rather than tired. The premise is absurd enough to work, and Sandler commits fully to making a grown man's elementary school experience genuinely funny through sheer force of silly voices and pratfalls. It moves at a brisk clip and never takes itself seriously for even a second, which is exactly what this kind of comedy needs. Perfect for anyone who enjoys Happy Gilmore or The Waterboy, or anyone nostalgic for when SNL alumni comedies were actually funny.
man-child comedy
90s nostalgia
absurd premise
slapstick humor
juvenile antics
feel-good stupidity
The verdict
If you have a high tolerance for juvenile humor and appreciate Adam Sandler's committed man-child performance style, this is a genuinely funny throwback to when his schtick felt fresh and energetic. If you prefer sophisticated comedy or can't stand childish antics and silly voices, the critics' harsh ratings reflect exactly what you'll experience.
Watch with
- 👥 Friends who appreciate dumb comedy
- 👨👩👧👦 Family movie night (teens and up)
- ⚠️ Skip if you hate juvenile humor
Heads up
- Crude humor and sexual references (moderate)
- Mild bullying and school violence (brief)
- Adult language throughout (moderate)
Credits
- Director
- Tamra Davis
- Cast
- Adam Sandler, Bradley Whitford, Josh Mostel, Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, Darren McGavin, Norm Macdonald, Mark Beltzman
Official synopsis
Billy Madison is the 27 year-old son of Bryan Madison, a very rich man who has made his living in the hotel
