Taglines: There’s a new name for dumb.
Billy Madison (Adam Sandler) is the 27-year-old heir to a Fortune 500 hotel company that his father, Brian, has created. He spends his days drinking with friends and creating disturbances across his father’s estate. One day, Billy ruins a dinner meeting between his father and his associates by acting obnoxiously.
Brian loses confidence in his son and chooses the conniving Eric Gordon as his successor. When Billy begs his father to reconsider his decision, Brian reveals that he secretly bribed Billy’s school teachers to give him passing grades. The two finally compromise: Billy must complete all 12 grades in two-week intervals to prove he is competent enough to manage the company.
Shortly after enrolling into school, Billy becomes attracted to a teacher named Veronica Vaughn, who initially ignores him. Nevertheless, Billy successfully progresses through his first two grades. He finds himself as one of Veronica’s students in the third grade and earns her respect by standing up for Ernie, his friend and classmate. Billy becomes popular among the third graders and misses them as he advances through school. Billy’s progress alarms Eric, who becomes increasingly agitated as Billy completes each grade. Eric blackmails Billy’s principal, Max Anderson, into claiming that Billy bribed him for passing grades.
Brian swiftly terminates his agreement with Billy and renames Eric as his successor. Billy grows distraught and reverts to his carefree lifestyle. Veronica motivates him to return to school, while his grade school classmates convince Max to retract his bribery accusations. Brian agrees to give Billy another chance but Eric cites that Billy failed the challenge by taking more than two weeks to complete a grade. He then threatens to sue Brian if he does not pass the company onto him. Billy intervenes and challenges Eric to an academic decathlon to finally settle their feud.
Billy Madison is a 1995 American comedy film directed by Tamra Davis. It stars Adam Sandler, Bradley Whitford, Bridgette Wilson, Norm Macdonald, and Darren McGavin. The film was written by Adam Sandler and Tim Herlihy, and produced by Robert Simonds. It made over $26.4 million worldwide and debuted at number one at the box office. The film received negative reviews from critics.
Billy Madison (1995)
Directed by: Tamra Davis
Starring: Adam Sandler, Bradley Whitford, Josh Mostel, Bridgette Wilson, Norm Macdonald, Darren McGavin, Theresa Merritt, Dina Platias, Hrant Alianak, Vincent Marino
Screenplay by: Adam Sandler, Tim Herlihy
Production Design by: Perry Andelin Blake
Cinematography by: Victor Hammer
Film Editing by: John Gilroy, Jeffrey Wolf
Costume Design by: Marie-Sylvie Deveau
Set Decoration by: Enrico Campana
Art Direction by: Gordon Barnes
Music by: Randy Edelman
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for language and crude humor.
Distributed by: Universal Pictures
Release Date: February 10, 1995
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