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Damon Wayans, Karyn Parsons, William Hickey, Michael Ironside, Albert Hall ... see more see more... , Steven Martini , Scott 'Bam Bam' Bigelow , Al Cerullo , John Louis Fischer , Michael Gabel , Leonard Thomas , Hechter Ubarry , Carolyn Walker , Dean Lorey , Andrew Harrison Leeds , Chris Owen , Ross Bickell , Joda Blaire

Hawk-like Marine Corps officer Benson Payne (Damon Wayans) attempts to whip into shape the usual assortment of misfit JROTC kids in this minor remake of The Private War of Major Benson. Of course, bot... read more read more...h the major and his pint-sized recruits have something to teach one another. Payne teaches them the value of self-discipline and instills self-confidence in them, and the recruits teach him to stop and smell the roses (not to mention the fact that kids sometimes need coddling rather than screaming). And, of course, there is the annual JROTC statewide competition, which the kids are obligated to win before the movie can end. While there are some funny moments (the major's exhibition in full-dress whites at a school dance, for example), the script seems too color-by-numbers to be interesting to anyone other than undiscriminating younger viewers. ~ Jeremy Beday, Rovi

Flixster Users

69% liked it

147,406 ratings

Critics

27% liked it

11 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 37 min.

Directed by: Nick Castle Jr.

Release Date: June 1, 1994

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DVD Release Date: January 5, 1999

Stats: 4,547 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (4,547)

  • TheDudeLebowski65
    November 24, 2010
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Major Payne is a good comedy film about a trained Marine and one bad assed killing machine who's been discharged from the Military because his services are no longer needed. After trying to adjust to Civilian (unsuccessfully) he gets thrown back in the Military, only now as the h... read moreead of a school's JROTC program. Damon Wayans delivers one funny performance as Major Benson Winnifred Payne. Wayan's performance is hysterical and he provides many laugh out loud moments. The film will never win any awards, but you can watch it with the feeling that you'll see something very funny and with Wayans brand of humour, you'll likely have a few laughs even if you don't like the film all that much.Major Payne is the type of film that you can watch with friends or family to have a good time. Damon Wayans performance is unique. Major Payne, the character is the stereotypical type of trained killer who lives only by the military norm. He's good at one thing and one thing only: killing on the battlefield, and when he trains the boys of the local school, he just tries to train them like normal military recruits, and it's funny how the character doesn't seem to understand that they're kids. He does, but he doesn't give them no pity (live normal military recruits). The kids training under Payne do everything to get him to quit, but to no avail. Every plan that they form backfires with hilarious results. I view this film as a misunderstood film, many viewers tend to not like it for all the wrong reasons. Major Payne is a good little comedy with plenty of laughs. The thing that it's got going for it too is that except for one kid in the film, all the kids playing the recruits under Payne, weren't annoying. If you want to watch something funny with Damon Wayans, then this is the film to watch.
  • bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1
    July 23, 2010
    bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1
    C+
  • Chiefilms
    April 15, 2010
    Chiefilms
    Damon Wayans isn't a movie actor, but he puts in a good performance here. I keep watching these 90's kid comedies, but I really only want to find and watch Heavyweights.
  • ScoopOnline
    December 19, 2009
    ScoopOnline
    He was looking for a few good men... or a few guys old enough to shave their Heads. lol
  • stormyweather980
    August 15, 2009
    stormyweather980
    I'm not that big of a Damon Wayans fan, but he does a great job in this movie. He starts a program at a local school for kids who want to be in JROTC. His ultimate goal is to prepare them to win the competition for best cadets in the county JROTC competition that will be held lat... read moreer on. He is real strict on all the kids, so they all want to get rid of him. He has to find a way to get along with the kids while also giving them some discipline.
    "Major Payne" is a hilarious movie. While you watch the movie, you'll be laughing a lot, but you'll also see that it's a good movie. I recommend anybody to get "Major Payne." NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2000...hilarious movie!
  • FireStormStudios
    March 7, 2009
    FireStormStudios
    Ha ha. I laugh just remembering this one. Unfortunately I don't remember it being any good.
  • cosmo313
    December 10, 2007
    cosmo313
    An uninspired, unfunny, steaming pile of shit.
  • puffchunk
    September 24, 2007
    puffchunk
    fun
  • djdemersseman
    September 4, 2007
    djdemersseman
    The movie is confused about what it wants to be in a Bad News Bears kind of way. Profanities and shocking humor abound, but cliched moral dilemnas abound as well. Damon Wayans provides some laugh-oud-loud humor, but the soundtrack is utterly appauling. Only one song on the soundt... read morerack was good, but I forgot its name, and "Respect" and "Bad to the Bone" aren't bad songs, but they don't really add to the movie either.
  • YosemiteSamFan
    July 1, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    Damon Wayans plays the role of "Major Payne" at a military camp for bad boys. It's hilarious fun. He might seem cruel at first, but he really cares for the little guys. Damon Wayans fits the role perfectly, with his weasely commanding voice. The kids were not too annoyingly bad. ... read moreThey get down to some serious wargames later in the movie, making it a broader story.

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Critic Reviews

Frank Ochieng
June 7, 2003
Frank Ochieng, TheWorldJournal.com

A relentlessly misguided military mishap starring Wayans as a uniformed motormouth with an edgy attitude. Maybe Wayans schtick is a major pain to endure after all?

Jeffrey Westhoff
August 16, 2002
Jeffrey Westhoff, Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

Wayans' performance is priceless.

Scott Weinberg
July 26, 2002
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

Let's hear it for truth in advertising!

Lisa Schwarzbaum
September 7, 2011
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

Leonard Klady
March 26, 2009
Leonard Klady, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Caryn James
May 20, 2003
Caryn James, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Mick LaSalle
June 18, 2002
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Click to read the article Full Review

April 12, 2002
Globe and Mail

Click to read the article Full Review

Kevin Thomas
February 13, 2001
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Major Payne Trivia

  • This is a plotline from which film- "A Marine officer becomes commander of an ROTC program at a boarding school, and he and the kids don't like it one bit"?  Answer »
  • In which movie did Damon Wayans star as a major who got sent to Madison Academy Junior ROTC and was known as "Major Benson Winiferd Payne"?  Answer »
  • What is Damon Wayans character's name in the movie "Major Payne"?  Answer »
  • In major payne, what was the major's full name  Answer »
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