Billy Madison
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+Billy Madison is the 27 year-old son of Bryan Madison, a very rich man who has made his living in the hotel industry. Billy stands to inherit his father's empire, but only if he can make it through all 12 grades, 2 weeks per grade, to prove that he has what it takes to run the family business.
What critics thought
DivisiveCritics were nearly unanimous in their contempt on release, finding Sandler's manchild shtick grating rather than charming and the plot too thin to carry even its modest runtime — yet a small contingent argued that once you accept the intentional obnoxiousness as the point, the film delivers genuine laughs. The gap between that critical drubbing and its enduring audience affection remains the most interesting thing about it.
“Not an attractive screen presence. He might have a career as a villain or as a fall guy or the butt of a joke, but as the protagonist his problem is that he recreates the fingernails on the blackboard syndrome.”
Roger Ebert·At the Movies
“By the end, you feel like a drill sergeant — you want to wipe that stupid grin off Sandler's face”
Owen Gleiberman·Entertainment Weekly
“There are a few bursts of sheer, irresistible idiocy — along the lines of 'Wayne's World' or even 'Pee-wee's Big Adventure' — but not enough to sustain the more arid stretches.”
Brian Lowry·Variety
“When you get that Sandler's comedic persona is meant to be annoying, like Beavis and Butt-Head or Cartman, the laughs come thick and fast”
Billy Mowbray·Film4
Genres
Comedy
Cast & Crew
Tamra DavisDirector
Adam SandlerBilly Madison
Bradley WhitfordEric Gordon
Josh MostelPrincipal Max Anderson
Bridgette WilsonVeronica Vaughn
Darren McGavinBrian Madison
Norm MacdonaldFrank
Mark BeltzmanJack
Larry HankinCarl Alphonse
Theresa MerrittJuanita
Dina PlatiasMiss Lippy
Hrant AlianakPete
Randy EdelmanComposerAdam SandlerWriter
Tim HerlihyWriterBilly Madison
Billy Madison is the 27 year-old son of Bryan Madison, a very rich man who has made his living in the hotel industry. Billy stands to inherit his father's empire, but only if he can make it through all 12 grades, 2 weeks per grade, to prove that he has what it takes to run the family business.
What critics thought
DivisiveCritics were nearly unanimous in their contempt on release, finding Sandler's manchild shtick grating rather than charming and the plot too thin to carry even its modest runtime — yet a small contingent argued that once you accept the intentional obnoxiousness as the point, the film delivers genuine laughs. The gap between that critical drubbing and its enduring audience affection remains the most interesting thing about it.
“Not an attractive screen presence. He might have a career as a villain or as a fall guy or the butt of a joke, but as the protagonist his problem is that he recreates the fingernails on the blackboard syndrome.”
Roger Ebert·At the Movies
“By the end, you feel like a drill sergeant — you want to wipe that stupid grin off Sandler's face”
Owen Gleiberman·Entertainment Weekly
“There are a few bursts of sheer, irresistible idiocy — along the lines of 'Wayne's World' or even 'Pee-wee's Big Adventure' — but not enough to sustain the more arid stretches.”
Brian Lowry·Variety
“When you get that Sandler's comedic persona is meant to be annoying, like Beavis and Butt-Head or Cartman, the laughs come thick and fast”
Billy Mowbray·Film4
Genres
Comedy
Cast & Crew
Tamra DavisDirectorAdam SandlerBilly MadisonBradley WhitfordEric GordonJosh MostelPrincipal Max AndersonBridgette WilsonVeronica VaughnDarren McGavinBrian MadisonNorm MacdonaldFrankMark BeltzmanJackLarry HankinCarl AlphonseTheresa MerrittJuanitaDina PlatiasMiss LippyHrant AlianakPeteRandy EdelmanComposerAdam SandlerWriterTim HerlihyWriterRent & Buy
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