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Bill Murray, Harvey Atkin, Kate Lynch, Russ Banham, Jack Blum ... see more see more... , Kristine de Bell , Sarah Torgov , Chris Makepeace , Keith Knight , Cindy Girling , Todd Hoffman , Margot Pinvidic , Matt Craven , Norma Dell'Agnese , Michael Kirby , Greg Swangon , Ron Barry , Paul Boyle , Vince Guerriero , James E. McLarty , Heather Preece , Alison Diver , Valerie Fersht , Allan Levson , Patrick Hynes , Hadley Kay , Billie Kishonti , Peter Hume , Ruth Rennie , Larry Solway

Set at a low-end summer camp and aimed squarely at a teen audience, Meatballs is a light screwball comedy that turned its low-budget Canadian roots into a very profitable box-office run. The biggest r... read more read more...eason for the film's success is Bill Murray who stars as Tripper, the head counselor who runs things at Camp Northstar with the help of his love interest Roxanne (Kate Lynch) and the camp's director Morty (Harvey Atkins), who is affectionately known as Mickey. Camp opens with Tripper and Morty preparing the misfit counselors-in-training -- Spaz, Fink, Crockett, A.L., Candace, Wendy, and Wheels among them -- for the arrival of their hyperactive little charges. After settling in, kids and counselors begin their activities with a soccer game in which depressed 11-year-old Rudy (Chris Makepeace) accidentally loses the game. Cast out by the other children, Rudy runs away only to come across Tripper, who befriends the boy and makes him his running partner. Romance, sexy fun, and comic hijinx -- usually with the heavy-sleeping Morty as their target -- lead up to an annual Olympiad in which Camp Northstar battles the wealthier and athletically superior residents of Camp Mohawk. The challenging events include cup stacking, potato-sack racing, and a nauseating hot dog-eating contest in which the portly Fink devours his way to victory. With the two-day event tied up, it comes down to the cross-country run, in which Tripper enters Rudy. Meatballs was the first major directorial effort by multi-talented filmmaker Ivan Reitman, whose name has since become synonymous with the comedy genre. ~ Patrick Legare, Rovi

Flixster Users

54% liked it

27,570 ratings

Critics

71% liked it

28 critics

PG, 1 hr. 32 min.

Directed by: Ivan Reitman

Release Date: January 1, 1979

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DVD Release Date: November 23, 1999

Stats: 795 reviews

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Chris Makepeace Bill Murray The Meatballs C.I.T.'s Chris Makepeace & Bill Murray Roxanne and Tripper Chris Makepeace Kate Lynch Meatballs jack playing the role of spaz in meatballs jack playing the role of spaz in meatballs
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Flixster Reviews (795)

  • aquateen2
    March 31, 2012
    aquateen2
    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img]

    Meatballs is by no means, an Ivan Reitman/Bill Murray classic. However, it has got quite a few funny moments and an energetic Murray leading the camp. The best thing about it though, was that I had a smi... read morele on my face that never faded away when I was watching it.
  • movieguru12
    June 6, 2011
    movieguru12
    An hilarious camp comedy starring Bill Murray, as Tripper, a camp counselor at Camp Northstar who acts like a kid himself and bonds with the other kids. Lots of memorable characters such as Rudy, the shy kid that no one wants to bother with but Tripper, Spaz, who is unlucky with ... read morethe ladies, Morty, the counselor that everyone tortures and also the crazy romances between Candace and Bobby aka Crockett, A.L. & Wheeler, Spaz and Jackie and who could forget Roxanne and Tripper, and with all the battling between Camp Northstar and Mohawk you'll definitely want that second serving of meatballs! :) :) :) :)
  • ajv2688
    January 6, 2011
    ajv2688
    One of the first of many summer camp movies for teens. It's pretty funny for the most part, especially because of Bill Murray, but other than that it's not that good.
  • thefog1331
    August 10, 2009
    thefog1331
    30 years since its release and I finally got around to seeing it. Painfully 70s but still a mostly funny, surprisingly sweet camp movie.
    I still prefer Stripes though.
  • cancercapricorn2002
    March 7, 2009
    cancercapricorn2002
    The plot is predictable. It has been done many times in other movies. You have competing summer camps in this one: the rich kids vs. the underachievers competing for "bragging" rights in the typical camp contests, while the kids and consolers pursue pranks, sex, and "a good time!... read more" "Are You Ready For The Summer?" Meatballs is the first (and best) summer camp movie for feel-good comedy. Sure it's no Citizen Kane, but this type of movie isn't meant to be. The film works because of the wonderful comic timing and classic one-liners of Bill Murray. His scenes with a camper where he tries to raise the kid's self-esteem are very good. Bill's one-liners throughout the film are very funny.

    I also like that this movie isn't dirty or explicit like so many other "teens at camp" movies today. There is some mild sexual innuendo and maybe one or two cuss words in the entire film. But Meatballs is the type of teen movie that is actually appropriate for the younger crowd. It's rated PG.

    This is a movie that you have to see a few times to get all of the jokes! When Bill Murray is on the screen or making one of his classic "PA Announcements" you are drawn to the film. Bill seems to carry the movie all by himself. But he does it so well, that when you see Meatballs, you will realize that this is the film that made him a star! A side note to this review is to avoid all of the Meatballs movie sequels. They are horribly bad.
  • puffchunk
    October 25, 2007
    puffchunk
    So bad I didn't want it, even for free.
  • YosemiteSamFan
    July 26, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    A classic!
    It's like a Friday the 13th film without anybody getting killed, and the comedy upped to a quality level. Funny stuff.
  • mjgildea
    November 28, 2006
    mjgildea
    Classic Bill Murray. "IT JUST DOESN'T MATTER!! IT JUST DOESN'T MATTER!"
  • oakman67
    January 4, 2011
    oakman67
    Murray's first leading role as a aged camp counselor who is as childish as the campers he cares for but Murray makes Tripper likeable and gives him some heart. Chris Makepeace is very good as the young camper Murray takes under his wing. A little dated now but still a nice little... read more comedy.
  • Lemure
    September 19, 2010
    Lemure
    There are those who will call this a movie. They are lying. It is nothing more than an excuse for Bill Murray to bring his womanising, prankster, slacker act to a new setting - and that's never a bad thing.
    All together now, "It just doesn't matter! It just doesn't matter!"

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Critic Reviews

Frank Rich
October 5, 2008
Frank Rich, TIME Magazine

Through it all, Murray smiles and forges ahead, but his big riffs have been edited down to frantic bursts of mugging. Full Review

Variety Staff
July 24, 2007
Variety Staff, Variety

It's difficult to come up with a more cliche situation for a summer pic than a summer camp, where all the characters and plot turns are readily imaginable. That makes director Ivan Reitman's accomplis... Full Review

Dave Kehr
July 28, 2002
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

A cheerful, if not particularly deft, summer-camp comedy. Full Review

Clint Morris
April 19, 2008
Clint Morris, Moviehole

It doesn't get any funnier than Meatballs!

Dennis Schwartz
July 29, 2007
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

As easy to handle as drinking lemonade under a shady tree. Full Review

July 24, 2007
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Bill Murray is the only reason to see this film. His high energy and sensitive acting abilities take this cliche film out of the ordinary and give it the style that did not appear in the script or the... Full Review

David Nusair
June 23, 2007
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

...ultimately just not able to live up to its inexplicable reputation as a minor cult classic. Full Review

Brian Orndorf
June 4, 2007
Brian Orndorf, DVDTalk.com

Murray has been funnier and far more authoritative during his career, but he was never this joyfully floppy again. Meatballs is the crowning of his doofus glory and a great testament to his once impro... Full Review

Pete Croatto
May 14, 2007
Pete Croatto, Filmcritic.com

you don't mind the lack of structure, especially since it's delivered by a good-natured and good-humored young cast Full Review

Derek Adams
June 24, 2006
Derek Adams, Time Out

Camp counsellor Tripper (Murray) is a John Belushi clone whose 'charisma' dominates the film's standard wackiness and sentimental story (of a kid who doesn't fit). Full Review

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Meatballs Trivia

  • This comedy features a character named Spaz and a scene with Bill Murray saying, "It just doesn't matter!"  Answer »
  • In the movie The Wedding Singer Robbie gives singing lessons to Rosie. How does she pay him?  Answer »
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