Critic Reviews
Animal House (1978) Rank 5 Reviews
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based on (53) reviews
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Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
"What we need right now," Otter tells his fraternity brothers, "is a stupid, futile gesture on someone's part." And no fraternity on campus -- on any campus -- is better qualified to provide such a gesture than the Deltas. They have the title role in ...read the complete Animal House movie review at Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
DVD Verdict (Harold Gervais)
Cast and crew of Animal House are thanked for an American classic that never fails to bring lots of laughs to this judge. Universal is also released with the hope that if they revisit Animal House a third time they will include more extras and make this ...read the complete Animal House movie review at DVD Verdict (Harold Gervais)
Bullz-Eye.com
I've probably seen the legendary comedy "Animal House" at least two dozen times now, and I imagine I'll see it another two dozen times before I die. My college buddies and I used to watch it religiously in our dorm rooms and then later in our rundown ...read the complete Animal House movie review at Bullz-Eye.com
Crazy for Cinema (Lisa Skrzyniarz)
This is the ultimate "boys gone wild" film. The one that set the tone and standard for all frat boy flicks to follow. Though this film has its' raunchy moments, it's pretty tame compared to the gross out fests we've come to expect from young male bonding ...read the complete Animal House movie review at Crazy for Cinema (Lisa Skrzyniarz)
Justin Siegel
NATIONAL LAMPOON'S ANIMAL HOUSE, made in 1978 and set in 1962, remains one of the -- no, fuck that noise -- *the* funniest movie ever made. And this isn't just my opinion, either; everybody knows this, and that's why about a gazillion inferior rip-offs ...read the complete Animal House movie review at Justin Siegel
Cinescape
Though 1939 is considered by many to be the greatest year in American cinema, 1978 isn't too shabby either. That year brought us seminal films across many genres, including The Deer Hunter, one of the first films to deal with the Vietnam War; Grease, a ...read the complete Animal House movie review at Cinescape
Crazy for Cinema
This is the ultimate "boys gone wild" film. The one that set the tone and standard for all frat boy flicks to follow. Though this film has its' raunchy moments, it's pretty tame compared to the gross out fests we've come to expect from young male bonding ...read the complete Animal House movie review at Crazy for Cinema
eFilmCritic.com (Brian Mckay)
What's not to love about this movie? Its got frat parties, beer, good music, full frontal nudity, and John Belushi dressed like a pirate ...read the complete Animal House movie review at eFilmCritic.com (Brian Mckay)
filmsgraded.com (Brian Koller)
American Graffiti (1973) used the tagline "Where were you in '62?". If you were in high school then, apparently, you cruised the streets of your hometown hoping to pick up chicks. But if you happened to be in college at the time, Animal House provides an ...read the complete Animal House movie review at filmsgraded.com (Brian Koller)
Combustible Celluloid (Jeffrey M. Anderson)
The original Saturday Night Live crew accounted for some of the funniest movies of their day. National Lampoon's Animal House (1978, Universal, $19.98) is now available in a "Double Secret Probation Special Edition." John Belushi leads a great ensemble ...read the complete Animal House movie review at Combustible Celluloid (Jeffrey M. Anderson)
IndependentCritics.com (Richard Propes)
Admit it. You have a film that is a guilty pleasure. You have a film that you know damn well isn't perfect...may not even qualify as good. Yet, you can't resist it. You simply can't resist it. It may be a "feel good" flick or a comedy or a stupid ...read the complete Animal House movie review at IndependentCritics.com (Richard Propes)
PreViewed DVD
We've all seen this one, right? Is there seriously a person out there who will base his or her purchase of this DVD on my review of the movie itself? Ok, here's the review in a nutshell: If you have a houseful of guests for the weekend, and you have this ...read the complete Animal House movie review at PreViewed DVD
dvdfuture.com (Randy Spiros)
The boys of Delta House are back. "Animal House: Double Secret Probation Edition" is the twenty-fifth anniversary and third edition of this perennial favorite. This movie reaches to the little boy inside every man. This film celebrates debauchery, ...read the complete Animal House movie review at dvdfuture.com (Randy Spiros)
filmcritic.com pledges Animal House
Youthful indescretion knows no better friend in cinema than the movie that defines it, Animal House. Every frame of the film typifies how every American recalls his college years, whether or not they were filled with debauchery. Especially beloved is ...read the complete Animal House movie review at filmcritic.com pledges Animal House
MovieWeb (Evan "Mushy" Jacobs)
First saw an MxPx video when I went up to Malibu to hang out with my friend Darren Doane. I didn't think they were that great, but it's obvious that writing very catchy melodic-themed songs comes quite naturally to these guys. This doesn't mean however ...read the complete Animal House movie review at MovieWeb (Evan "Mushy" Jacobs)
DVDActive (Warwick Gaetjens)
As far as the remastering goes, this is definitely the best that Animal House will look and sound until the HD version hits the streets and is considerably better than the previous two releases. The only noticeable extra to savour here though is the ...read the complete Animal House movie review at DVDActive (Warwick Gaetjens)
Dragan Antulov
Some may think that ANIMAL HOUSE represents sorts of autobiography for its writer Chris Miller, who based the plot on his own experiences as Darthmouth College student in 1962. Others may argue that Landis in this film, by portraying the rivalry between ...read the complete Animal House movie review at Dragan Antulov
DVDAnswers.com - region 2 review (Warwick Gaetjens)
Having spent my youngest years as a child of the 70s pretty much meant that I wasn't privy to most of the things that adults enjoyed in that era, hence my relative unfamiliarity with Animal House. And considering that this movie has a lot more T&A in it ...read the complete Animal House movie review at DVDAnswers.com - region 2 review (Warwick Gaetjens)
Swimming to Casablanca - sprint reviews
Boy, does this film hit home. In fact, right before I saw it for the first time, someone ran up in front of the theatre and mooned the audience. It was hilarious. I'm sure almost anyone who was in a fraternity house in college in the '60's can relate to ...read the complete Animal House movie review at Swimming to Casablanca - sprint reviews
UTK Daily Beacon (Zachary Pryor England)
CinemaScreen (James Salter)
DVD MovieGuide
What were fraternity parties like before Animal House came out in 1978? I attended college in the mid to late 1980's, and inevitably these parties incorporated many aspects of the shindigs featured in the film: songs like "Shout," togas, etc. A decade ...read the complete Animal House movie review at DVD MovieGuide
DVD-Dweeb.Com (Oliver Korioth)
This raunchy, screwball comedy directed with madcap zest by John Landis offers a relentless spoof of 1960s college life by following the hilarious adventures of the Delta fraternity. There's nothing this motley collection of students won't do to get the ...read the complete Animal House movie review at DVD-Dweeb.Com (Oliver Korioth)
Light Views, Reviews & Previews (John Larsen)
I was in college when "Animal House" opened, and I remember laughing so hard that it hurt. It doesn't take a lot to make me laugh, yet "Animal House" spoke a language I knew all too well. It struck a chord with America, becoming one of the biggest ...read the complete Animal House movie review at Light Views, Reviews & Previews (John Larsen)
FilmHead.com - Video Pick
This week, I'll be reviewing the selections from the newly-released DVD boxed set: The John Belushi Collection. While it may not be as impressive as the Stanley Kubrick Collection, it still provides a look at the peak of a great comedian's career. After ...read the complete Animal House movie review at FilmHead.com - Video Pick
Bob Bloom
National Lampoon's Animal House (Universal Home Entertainment): This "Double Secret Probation Edition" of the milestone 1978 comedy is as irreverent as its film. ...read the complete Animal House movie review at Bob Bloom
Film Freak Central (Walter Chaw)
Gonzo made manifest, aided by massive amounts of alcohol and an astringent stupidity too calculated to be stupid. ...read the complete Animal House movie review at Film Freak Central (Walter Chaw)
Moovees.com (Jay Tierney)
Like many moviegoers last winter, I just never got around to seeing Peter Jackson's King Kong. I'm not saying the film was a flop at the box office, but everyone seemed to agree that it didn't do nearly as well as expected. With the film now on DVD here ...read the complete Animal House movie review at Moovees.com (Jay Tierney)
Reel Movie Critic
This is one of those movies that works for all the wrong reasons--disgusting, lowbrow, base humor that we are all far too sophisticated to find amusing. So, just don't tell anyone you still think it's a riot to watch John Belushi as the brutish Bluto ...read the complete Animal House movie review at Reel Movie Critic
MCA DiscoVision Library
Animal House was one of three extended play titles listed in the Silver Catalog; House Calls and Destry Rides Again are the other two titles. MCA released this extended play version in 1978 with the original launch of DiscoVision. Copies of Animal House ...read the complete Animal House movie review at MCA DiscoVision Library
Doug Pratt's Laserdisc Review
MCA updates Animal House from time to time. The most recent transfer has a picture that is in fairly good condition, through no real sprucing up is apparent. The darker scenes are grainy and the sound is noisy. A splice is still present in one of the ...read the complete Animal House movie review at Doug Pratt's Laserdisc Review
BBC Films (Almar Haflidason)
A legend in US college comedy movies, this is the granddaddy of them all with its infectious blend of slapstick humour and wicked one-liners delivered by characters that have been often imitated, but never bettered. Finally Dean Wormer and his gross-out ...read the complete Animal House movie review at BBC Films (Almar Haflidason)
Teen Movie Critic (Vivian Rose)
A couple of obvious losers are trying to get into a fraternity - but the only one that will pledge them is Delta. This fraternity is known for pulling more pranks and creating more problems than any other house on campus. ...read the complete Animal House movie review at Teen Movie Critic (Vivian Rose)
Movie Review Index - Reviews from Top Critics
DVD Town (Tim Raynor)
There are many of us who try to give their interpretation of what a "classic film" is. Many of us find unique metaphors for describing a perfect recipe that best fits the category of "classic film." The one thing we might all agree on, and I think it's ...read the complete Animal House movie review at DVD Town (Tim Raynor)
Movie House Commentary
The DVD includes "Animated Facts" which pop up during the film, but I didn't get a chance to explore those. They have a new "where are they now" feature expanding on the ending of the film, and a lengthy "making of" featurette, which is mostly what I ...read the complete Animal House movie review at Movie House Commentary
Exclaim! DVD (Noel Dix)
Before there was American Pie, there was Animal House. In fact, we probably have this classic film to thank for every single college-themed gross-out comedy that has surfaced in the past 25 years, because not even the writers or director knew this would ...read the complete Animal House movie review at Exclaim! DVD (Noel Dix)
DVD Net (Jules Faber)
Made in 1978 for an audience similar to the one the recent American Pie films are, Animal House contains a kind of sweet crudity that today is almost blasé. Our modern films tend to go a little bit to extremes to wring the laughs (or just plain ...read the complete Animal House movie review at DVD Net (Jules Faber)
DVD Net (Gavin Turner)
Poor John Landis. Twenty-odd years ago he was God; producing, in quick succession, the hugely popular cult classics The Blues Brothers and An American Werewolf in London. These days, well, the best he's managed in the last fifteen years has been Beverly ...read the complete Animal House movie review at DVD Net (Gavin Turner)
The DVD Report (Britt Gillette)
Arriving on the scene in 1978, Animal House is the blockbuster frat house comedy that rewrote all the rules and created a generation of filmmakers hoping to replicate its comic genius. Original Saturday Night Live cast member John Belushi turned in a ...read the complete Animal House movie review at The DVD Report (Britt Gillette)
Time Out
Beer barrels shatter windows, rock'n'roll blares out, havoc rules in this sharp, college-campus-of-'62 crack at American Graffiti. An unashamed sense of its own fantasy is coupled with classically mounted slapstick; nostalgia mixes with cynicism in ...read the complete Animal House movie review at Time Out
LowComDom Online Film Reviews
In the late 1970s, there were two films that caught fire and drove teenagers to the theaters, Star Wars and Animal House. One was a film of good and evil. Of hope against oppression. The other was a space opera. ...read the complete Animal House movie review at LowComDom Online Film Reviews
LeisureSuit.net
There are plenty of college movies out there . . . Love Story, School Daze . . . but these films don't resonate with me. I wasn't involved in a doomed love affair in college, or black. I was horny, and often drunk, and studying 18th Century French ...read the complete Animal House movie review at LeisureSuit.net
Doug Pratt's DVD Review
Fleshtones are overly pinkish or even purplish at times on the standard release, and the image is somewhat dark, losing details in mild shadows. The 1978 film is presented in full screen format. The picture is sharp and colors look solid, but the ...read the complete Animal House movie review at Doug Pratt's DVD Review
Films on Disc (Stuart J. Kobak)
Animal House is an outrageously entertaining DVD with John Belushi leading a pack of perfectly cast actors in an assault on the conventions of college decorum. The wild-eyed Belushi, with his amazing manic energy, eats hamburgers at a single push, is ...read the complete Animal House movie review at Films on Disc (Stuart J. Kobak)
Kamera.co.uk
It's not unusual to look back on your college days with a mixture of delight and sadness. Curiously, re-watching Animal House (1978) conjures up the same feelings. One of the highest-grossing of its time, it was a springboard for a host of careers. ...read the complete Animal House movie review at Kamera.co.uk
ChucksConnection Film Review
National Lampoons's Animal House takes you to Faber College in 1962, where you see the goings on in two fraternities: Omega house and Delta house. The Omegas lead the Greek scene on campus, and consist of students like Greg Marmalard (James Daughton), ...read the complete Animal House movie review at ChucksConnection Film Review
Film Frat
The movie that set the standard for future college flicks such as Revenge Of The Nerds and Road Trip, director John Landis' (Blues Brothers) 1978 classic Animal House follows the exploits of the Delta Tau Chi fraternity at the fictional Faber College in ...read the complete Animal House movie review at Film Frat
FromScript2Screen.com
Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
Here's another review that will most likely get me in trouble with the film's biggest fans, as Animal House is generally considered to be a comedy classic among many circles. I've seen it a few times now, trying to find the nonstop hilarity that many ...read the complete Animal House movie review at Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
Mutant Reviewers From Hell
There are scenes in this movie that are certainly innovative and fascinating, and even more that draw attention to sheer crudity and a spirit of gross-out. The point where I nearly lost my lunch came in a "morning after" scene, where a college co-ed and ...read the complete Animal House movie review at Mutant Reviewers From Hell
DVD Talk (Adam Tyner)
Even close to thirty years after it first roared into theaters, stroll down the halls of any college dorm in the country and you'll find at least one room on every floor with an Animal House poster taped to the wall. Well, maybe not at an all-girls' ...read the complete Animal House movie review at DVD Talk (Adam Tyner)
Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
Here's another review that will most likely get me in trouble with the film's biggest fans, as Animal House is generally considered to be a comedy classic among many circles. I've seen it a few times now, trying to find the nonstop hilarity that many ...read the complete Animal House movie review at Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
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