National Lampoon's Animal House

Play trailer

National Lampoon's Animal House

R

1978

1h 49m

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

51 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

When they arrive at college, socially inept freshmen Larry (Thomas Hulce) and Kent (Stephen Furst) attempt to pledge the snooty Omega Theta Pi House, but are summarily rejected. Lowering their standards, they try at the notoriously rowdy Delta Tau Chi House, and get in. The trouble is, the college dean (John Vernon) has it in for the Deltas. He has put them on "Double Secret Probation" and secretly assigned Omega's president (James Daughton) the task of having their charter revoked.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

The talents of director John Landis and Saturday Night Live's irrepressible John Belushi conspired to create a rambunctious, subversive college comedy that continues to resonate.

Read Critics Reviews

Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

Sep 18, 2023

In its own half-flubbed way, it has a style. And you don’t go to a film like Animal House for cinema, you go for roughhousing disreputability; it makes you laugh by restoring you to the slobby infant in yourself.

Go to Full Review

Nigel Andrews

Financial Times

Feb 7, 2020

The film has swept through the American box office like a whirlwind, precipitating a rash of incipient college romps. One waits with trepidation: but at least the trailblazer has vitality and charm.

Go to Full Review

Gary Arnold

Washington Post

Jul 31, 2015

You may not care to take up permanent spiritual residence at Animal House, but it's funny place to visit.

Go to Full Review

Joshua Tyler

Giant Freakin Robot

Jun 23, 2026

Animal House goes to immoral and illegal extremes to prove that by taking on college debt, you can literally get away with anything.

Go to Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Mar 18, 2026

3/4

a rude, misogynist film that offered the bare-breasted slapstick that audiences craved in 1978, but now seems dated in assumptions rather than nostalgic.

Go to Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Nov 8, 2023

4/4

It's endlessly quotable (“Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son”), packed with excellent performances and unique characters, and blessed with a great score that mixes Elmer Bernstein’s orchestral maneuvers with catchy oldies.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

lolblog T

@RT47829063 Oct 22, 2026

0 out of 10, comedy movies are so hard to watch, to be honest almost none of them, make me laugh.... well maybe the only scene of this movie that made me giggle was the "thank god" cut. but nothing else.

See more

Jonathan O

@RT41230270 Sep 23, 2026

I laugh so much is so ridiculous and brilliantly timing on the writing, and is the best adult and college teen party films and the house of delta is still there at Universal Studios Hollywood.

See more

Robert P

@Superbad Sep 6, 2026

This Movie is a 4.5 star movie...

See more

S A

@Moviepopcornjoy Aug 27, 2026

I watched this ( unbeknownst to my parents) as a teen. It obviously has mature themes, and is very funny. Another classic. “ Toga, Toga, Toga”…

See more

Christopher B

@CBoehne22 Aug 20, 2026

Best college movie EVER MADE! Comedy gold to the level of Ft. Knox. This movie is what everyone dreams their college years could be like.

See more

David N

@Nolan305 Jul 26, 2026

A classic that many zany comedies have tried and failed to replicate.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

John Landis

Director

John Belushi

John "Bluto" Blutarsky

Kevin Bacon

Chip Diller

Donald Sutherland

Prof. Dave Jennings

Karen Allen

Katy

Tim Matheson

Eric "Otter" Stratton

Animal House: Official Clip - Flounder Gets Even

2:57

Now Playing

Animal House: Official Clip - Only We Can Do That to Our Pledges

2:59

Now Playing

Animal House: Official Clip - Finished at Faber

2:00

Now Playing

Animal House: Official Clip - New Pledges

2:19

Now Playing

Animal House: Official Clip - Bluto's a Zit

2:39

Now Playing

Animal House: Official Clip - Enter the Deathmobile

3:00

Now Playing

Animal House: Official Clip - Double Secret Probation

1:47

Now Playing

Animal House: Official Clip - Toga! Toga!

3:00

Now Playing

Animal House: Official Clip - Bluto's Big Speech

2:46

Now Playing

Animal House: Official Clip - Deltas on Trial

2:49

Now Playing

View more videos

Fast Times at Ridgemont High

79%

80%

Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Which Way Is Up?

20%

82%

Which Way Is Up?

Watchlist

D.C. Cab

18%

52%

D.C. Cab

Watchlist

The Lonely Guy

52%

47%

The Lonely Guy

Watchlist

Mad Dog and Glory

80%

45%

Mad Dog and Glory

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Jimmy Fallon’s Five Favorite Comedy Films

The Jungle Book, The Lobster, and More Certified Fresh Picks on Netflix and Amazon Prime

Best-Reviewed Summer Blockbusters by Year Since 1975

View more photos

Synopsis

When they arrive at college, socially inept freshmen Larry (Thomas Hulce) and Kent (Stephen Furst) attempt to pledge the snooty Omega Theta Pi House, but are summarily rejected. Lowering their standards, they try at the notoriously rowdy Delta Tau Chi House, and get in. The trouble is, the college dean (John Vernon) has it in for the Deltas. He has put them on "Double Secret Probation" and secretly assigned Omega's president (James Daughton) the task of having their charter revoked.

Director: John Landis
Producer: Ivan Reitman, Matty Simmons
Screenwriter: Harold Ramis, Douglas Kenney, Chris Miller
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 1, 1978, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 15, 2012
Runtime: 1h 49m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings