Back to School
“He enrolled in college for the pursuit of finer things...like co-eds, shapely professors, fun and rock and roll.”
Synopsis
Self-made millionaire Thornton Melon decides to get a better education and enrolls at his son Jason's college. While Jason tries to fit in with his fellow students, Thornton struggles to gain his son's respect, giving way to hilarious antics.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Official TrailerOfficial
Type: Teaser • Published 2021-06-12
Top Cast
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Rodney Dangerfield
Thornton Melon
Sally Kellerman
Diane
Burt Young
Lou
Keith Gordon
Jason Melon
Robert Downey Jr.
Derek
William Zabka
Chas
Paxton Whitehead
Phillip Barbay
Adrienne Barbeau
Vanessa
M. Emmet Walsh
Coach Turnbull
Terry Farrell
Valerie
Ned Beatty
Dean Martin
Severn Darden
Dr. Barazini
Sam Kinison
Professor Terguson
Robert Picardo
Giorgio
Kurt Vonnegut
Self
Edie McClurg
Marge
Sarah Abrell
Sorority Girl
Dana Allison
Young Woman
Release History & Theatrical Window
June 13, 1986
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$11M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$91.3M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
8.3x
+$80.3M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Alan Metter
- Screenplay & Story
- William Porter, Harold Ramis, PJ Torokvei, Steven Kampmann
- Original Score
- Danny Elfman
- Original Title
- Back to School
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 36m
- Production Budget
- $11M
- Worldwide Gross
- $91.3M
- Production Studios
- Orion Pictures, Paper Clip Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Alan Metter
William Porter, Harold Ramis, PJ Torokvei, Steven Kampmann, Rodney Dangerfield, Greg Fields, Dennis Snee
Danny Elfman
Frederick Moore, Thomas E. Ackerman
David Rawlins
Chuck Russell, Harold Ramis, Michael Endler, Estelle Endler
Department Leadership Roster
Alan Metter
Director
William Porter
Screenplay
Harold Ramis
Screenplay
PJ Torokvei
Screenplay
Chuck Russell
Producer
Danny Elfman
Original Music Composer
Durinda Wood
Costume Design
Thomas E. Ackerman
Director of Photography
David L. Snyder
Production Design
David Rawlins
Editor
Dick Ziker
Stunt Coordinator
Steven Kampmann
Screenplay
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG-13: Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
International Certification Matrix
Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Back to School.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Back to School.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Back to School
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Back to School about?
Self-made millionaire Thornton Melon decides to get a better education and enrolls at his son Jason's college. While Jason tries to fit in with his fellow students, Thornton struggles to gain his son's respect, giving way to hilarious antics.
Who directed Back to School?
Back to School was directed by Alan Metter.
Who stars in Back to School?
The principal cast of Back to School includes Rodney Dangerfield, Sally Kellerman, Burt Young, Keith Gordon, Robert Downey Jr..
When was Back to School released and how long is it?
Back to School was released in 1986 with a total runtime of 1h 36m.
What was the box office and production budget of Back to School?
Back to School had a reported production budget of $11M and grossed $91.3M at the worldwide box office (8.3 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for Back to School?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Back to School was composed by Danny Elfman.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Back to School?
Back to School holds official age classifications: US: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.).