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Billy Madison

Billy Madison

Comedy · 1995

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.

Movie details

Billy Madison

“To inherit his family's fortune, Billy is going back to school... Way back.”

1995 Comedy 1h 30m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.2 / 10

Community rating

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.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Billy Madison?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Tamra Davis

Written by

Adam Sandler · Tim Herlihy

Adam Sandler

Adam Sandler

Billy Madison

Bradley Whitford

Bradley Whitford

Eric Gordon

Josh Mostel

Josh Mostel

Principal Max Anderson

Bridgette Wilson

Bridgette Wilson

Veronica Vaughn

Darren McGavin

Darren McGavin

Brian Madison

Norm Macdonald

Norm Macdonald

Frank

Mark Beltzman

Mark Beltzman

Jack

Court is in session

Put Billy Madison on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Popcorn Loyalist

“It owes the canon nothing.”

The movie pursues immediacy and audience pleasure without begging institutions to certify its worth.

The prosecution The Big-Idea Head

“Easy pleasure, short half-life.”

It moves efficiently through the moment but offers little reason to keep arguing once the credits end.