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Robert Carradine, Anthony Edwards, Ted McGinley, Bernie Casey, Julia Montgomery ... see more see more... , Timothy Busfield , Andrew Cassese , Curtis Armstrong , Larry B. Scott , Brian Tochi , Donald Gibb , David Wohl , John Goodman , James Cromwell , Adam Frank , Alice Hirson , Henry Max Kendrick , Kres Mersky , Michelle Meyrink , Marianne Muellerleile , Susan Myers , F. William Parker , Matt Salinger , Kelly Reed , Lance Lombardo , Lisa Welch , Lisa Kolasa

Revenge of the Nerds is the juvenile sex comedy perhaps most synonymous with the 1980s, alternating gags and scantily clad women with a power to the underdogs mentality that prompted three sequels. Th... read more read more...e handsome jocks of Alpha Beta, led by Stan (Ted McGinley), run Adams College, which means that when they burn down their house after a stunt involving grain alcohol and an open flame, they kick a bunch of socially inept freshman out of their dorm and into the gymnasium. But sleeping on cots is only the beginning of their worries, as the so-called nerds soon become the target of pranks by Alpha Beta, assisted by Betty (Julie Montgomery) and the gorgeous gals of Pi Delta Pi. Instead of taking the abuse sitting down, the displaced freshman, led by Gilbert (Anthony Edwards) and Lewis (Robert Carradine), buy a ramshackle house, affiliate themselves with the only national chapter who will take them (the all-black Lambda Lambda Lambda), and use their superior intellect to launch a counterstrike. The bespectacled but loveable geeks set up surveillance cameras in the Pi bathroom and put liquid heat in the athletes' jock straps, then draft a sister sorority of misfits (Omega Mu) to strengthen their resources. The frats quickly become bitter rivals, and the goal is to win the annual fraternity decathlon, which involves such feats as a burping contest and a go-cart race, with bragging rights (and perhaps peace of mind) at stake. Look for John Goodman and future thirtysomething cast member Timothy Busfield in small roles, and expect a torrent of nasal laughter. ~ Derek Armstrong, Rovi

Flixster Users

68% liked it

54,151 ratings

Critics

77% liked it

26 critics

R, 1 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: Jeff Kanew

Release Date: July 20, 1984

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DVD Release Date: March 6, 2007

Stats: 2,327 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (2,327)

  • cosmo313
    August 28, 2011
    cosmo313
    As far as raunchy college sex comedies go, I think this one falls somehwere on the higher end of the scale, but just slightly above the average mark. It's a good movie, but it doesn't quite have the intelligence or amazingness to be at the level of true satirical brilliance like ... read moreAnimal House.

    It's a fun movie though, and deep down, I think we can all relate, maybe not to being full on nerds, but to definitely being picked on at some time or another. I myself fully admit to being a nerd, but I object to being compared to the nerds in this film. If anyrhing, these guys aren't really nerds, but super mega geeks and dweebs. Or they are nerds, but they are the stereptypical kind who give us "somewhat normal" nerds a bad name and reputation.

    This film tries to add a little depth but having some diatribes on being a minority that could have really been potent, but mostly come off as a litle cheesy and pedictable (but in a okay way). There are some parallels to stuff like Civil Rights, but it's played lightly and, being an 80s comedy, there are some jokes that don't really fly nowadays which kinda undercuts what parallels one might try to pull out of it.

    God, I'm rambling now, and making more out of this than I probably need to. Basically this is the classic stroy of a bunch of marginalized nerds who finally decide to get revenge on the people who make their lives miserable. There's a lot of good moments, most of them really silly, but some of the jokes are actually pretty smart.

    The cast is pretty good, and I really liked seeing Bernie Casey, John Goodman, and James Cromwell (credited as Jamie Cromwell lol) show up. All of the nerds are pretty likeable, but I think my favorite is probablyCurtis Armstrong's Booger- the rebellious bad ass of the group.

    As I said, I don't think this film is really terrific or anything, but it's funny and has a nice knd of charm to it.
  • blkbomb
    August 13, 2011
    blkbomb
    Booger: Step aside momma, I wanna see some of that muff! 
    Takashi: Oh Hair pie! Hair pie! 

    "It's time for the odd to get even!"

    Revenge of the Nerds is a fairly good raunchy 80's comedy. It does have some really great scenes, such as the music competition. For the most part it'... read mores nothing but an average comedy though. There's nothing really special about it. I did love a few of the characters like Booger, Oger and especially Takashi. Those are the bright spots for me and everything else is just the normal underdog story.

    Jocks pick on nerds. Nerds get upset and make jocks pay. I don't really understand a lot of the love for this movie, but, I'm not saying it's horrible by any means. I enjoyed it for the most part. I got out of it what I expected and I guess that's all I could really ask for. 

    It is better then watching a lot of the Late Night Comedies that come out now a days. At least Revenge of the Nerds had some intelligence to go along with their sex and drug filled humor. 
  • ajv2688
    January 17, 2011
    ajv2688
    A funny teen comedy about nerds, and they so get their revenge. I really liked it for the most part, but there were some scenes that really weren't very funny.
  • LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    August 2, 2010
    LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    "Jocks only think about sports, nerds only think about sex."

    At a big campus, a group of bullied outcasts and misfits resolve to fight back for their peace and self respect.

    REVIEW

    The ultimate... read more "Misfits Revenge" movie, Revenge of the Nerds became an instant classic in 1984, with some of the most memorable scenes and quotable dialogue since Young Frankenstein. This raunchy comedy follows a group of oddball college students who are thrown together by circumstance and exposed to constant humiliation and ridicule by the jock fraternity on campus and how they get their ultimate pay back. Yes, the film is predictable as they come as we've seen this formula a million times, but it's watchable thanks to some wonderful set pieces, outrageous dialogue and on target performances by Robert Carradine, Anthony Edwards, Curtis Armstrong (memorable as Booger), John Goodman, Ted McGinley (no that is not a misprint), Larry B. Scott, and Timothy Busfield. Standout scenes include the "Wonder Joint" Party and the Lambda's musical performance during the big Olympic competition. A hilarious comedy that demands repeated viewings.
  • movieguru12
    June 16, 2010
    movieguru12
    Nerds are nerds but everyone knows that they need to take revenge every once in a while. There's nothing like a raunchy yet funny 80s movie where the nerds are out to retalite against the jocks. A true 80s movie that shows you that there's nothing wrong with this kind of humor.... read more I really enjoyed this 80s classic :)
  • stormyweather980
    September 11, 2009
    stormyweather980
    actually not bad, didn't think i'd like this series much
  • sononothing
    January 31, 2009
    sononothing
    When I was a youngster I stumbled on Revenge of the Nerds on that bastion for 1980's entertainment cable television. I came away with three things about college: 1) Everyone is well defined into cliques. 2)No one actually goes to class. 3) Everyone chants all the time. I could ha... read moreve put in everyone's quest to have anonymous sex with multiple partners, but that was just as common outside of college.

    The film is about a group of freshmen who are social outcasts at Adams College. They're the butt of numerous jokes by the jock Alpha Betas who, as I stated before, chant "Nerds!" at them whenever they appear on screen together. After securing a house and national recognition from a fraternity (one that's been all black since its inception) the nerds go to war with the jokes in order to take over a fraternity council and redeem themselves as well.

    The basic story comes straight from the Meatballs playbook. A group of misfits earn their stripes and fight back. We've seen it before and we'll see it again (I'm sure a remake is down the line somewhere). It's the revenge from the title that peaks are interest. From X rated surveillence to burning jokes the nerds use their intelligence to extract their revenge. The script is average but is also helped by the amount of improv that the actors were allowed to do. It doesn't feel like the assembly line sex comedies of the 1980's. It gets a little bit of soul.

    The cast has some unknowns that you would know in a few years. Anthony Edwards, James Cromwell, John Goodman, and who could forget the immortal Ted McGinley. The acting is a little better than the typical genre piece which is once again helped with the open shooting style.

    Revenge of the Nerds has maintained a cult following since its release and frequently reappears at colleges and on-that's right-cable television. It's not a great movie, but it does leave you with laughs and a few grinning to yourself moments. Maybe it's because we're all nerds in our own way.
  • LitelBluHli
    March 23, 2008
    LitelBluHli
    CLASSIC!
  • Chiefilms
    March 6, 2008
    Chiefilms
    Not classic enough to make a franchise, funny but "nerdy" doesn't have long lasting appeal.
  • DragonEyeMorrison
    January 30, 2008
    DragonEyeMorrison
    NEEEEEEEERDDDSSSSS!!!!

    And like any other 80's flick worth it's salt, there's a break-dance number near the end. Also, the world needs more Curtis Armstrong.

View All Revenge of the Nerds Reviews

Critic Reviews

Ellen Dendy
January 1, 2011
Ellen Dendy, Common Sense Media

Racy college comedy has heart; OK for older teens. Full Review

Ryan Cracknell
August 13, 2007
Ryan Cracknell, Calgary Movies

Somewhere in all the fluff and garbage is just enough heart to make Revenge of the Nerds one of the forefathers of a generation of light-hearted comedies like American Pie, American Pie 2 and American... Full Review

Kevin Carr
May 10, 2007
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures

It's got everything for this kind of film %u2013 nudity, sex, swearing and dirty jokes. Full Review

Christopher Null
March 3, 2007
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

a questionable classic at best. Full Review

Stefan Birgir Stefansson
July 22, 2006
Stefan Birgir Stefansson, sbs.is

the best t&a teen comedy

Steve Crum
December 24, 2005
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

Pocket-protector fans, unite! Some funny moments.

James Sanford
October 13, 2005
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette

Compared to most of today's gross-out extravaganzas... this exceedingly upbeat saga seems almost wholesome. Full Review

Scott Weinberg
April 4, 2005
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

A teen-sex comedy with a brain!

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
August 21, 2004
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

A low-caloric comedy.

Alex Sandell
August 5, 2004
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum

It was an 80's thing.

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Facts

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    • Booger: [Lewis and Gilbert are discussing Gilbert's girlfriend, innocently] - Big deal! Did you get in her pants?
    • Gilbert: She's not that kind of girl, Booger.
    • Booger: Why? Does she have a penis?
    • Betty: Nerds saw me naked!
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Revenge of the Nerds Trivia

  • What movie had everyone cheering for the sorority Lambda Lambda Lambda?  Answer »
  • Which movie has this tagline : " It's time for the odd to get even. Their Time Has Come " ?  Answer »
  • The Count Of Monte Cristo,The War Of The Roses,Carrie,Kill Bill Vols 1 & 2, and Revenge of the Nerds are all about what?   Answer »
  • What actor links the movies "Risky Busimess", "Better Off Dead", "The Revenge of the Nerds", "Dodgeball" and "How I Got Into College"?  Answer »
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