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Laurence Fishburne, Giancarlo Esposito, Tisha Campbell, Kyme, Joe Seneca ... see more see more... , Art Evans , Ellen Holly , Spike Lee , Ossie Davis , James Bond III , Gregg Burge , Stephanie Clark , Cylk Cozart , Erik Dellums , Julian Eaves , Tyra Ferrell , Jasmine Guy , Kadeem Hardison , Dominic Hoffman , Phyllis Hyman , Samuel L. Jackson , Toni Ann Johnson , Cinqué Lee , Joie Lee , Kasi Lemmons , Monique Mannen , Bill Nunn , Eric Payne , Alva Rogers , Roger Guenveur Smith , Kirk Taylor , Leonard Thomas , Jane Toussaint , Rusty Cundieff , Ivan Goff , Tim Hutchinson , Branford Marsalis , Consuela Lee Morehead , Kevin Rock , Guy Killum , Dennis Abrams , Angela Ali , Michelle Bailey , Darryl M. Bell , Jacquelyn Bird , Paula Birth , Harold L. Boyd III , Jhoe Breedlove , Edward G. Bridges , Paula M. Brown , Joe Chambers , Robert L. Cole Jr. , Albert Cooper , Cassandra Davis , Gregory "Sugar Bear" Elliot , Sharon Ferrol , Jenario "Foxy Brown" Foxx , Florante P. Galvez , Darryl "Tidy" Hayes , Edward "Junie" Henderson , Rod Hodge , William "Ju Ju" House , Dawn Jackson , Valentino "Tino" Jackson , John Keith , Derrek W. Jones , Tanya Lynne Lee , Angela Lewis , Tracey Lewis , Delphine T. Mantz , Greta Martin , Lester McCorn , Frances Morgan , Michelle Whitney Morrison , Karen Renee Owens , Eartha Robinson , Tracy Robinson , William N. Ross , Leslie Sykes , Reginald Tabor , "Go-Go" Mike Taylor , Anthony Thompkins , Traci Tracey , Harold Vick , Terri Lynette Whitlow , Laurnea Wilkerson , Kent Wood , Kelly Woolfolk , Keith E. Wright , Bill Lee , Adrienne-Joi Johnson

Fraternity and sorority members clash with the other students at a historically black university in this politically charged musical, which marked the sophomore feature from director Spike Lee. Dap (L... read more read more...aurence Fishburne) is a politically conscious brother who leads anti-apartheid demonstrations and eschews the social climbing of the Greek system. But Half-Pint (Lee), his craven young cousin, is willing to endure any humiliation to join the manly Gamma fraternity. As Half-Pint tries unsuccessfully to impress the Gammas with his inept womanizing, Dap engages in philosophical debates with Rachel (Kyme), his girlfriend. Meanwhile, the light-skinned, straight-haired sisters of the Gamma Ray sorority battle it out in a beauty parlor with their darker-skinned, Afro-headed fellow coeds. Eventually, Half-Pint gets the chance to join the frat, but only after a degrading episode with Jane (Tisha Campbell), the soon-to-be ex-girlfriend of his house president, causes Dap to lose all respect for him. Based in part on the director's experiences at Atlanta's Morehouse College, School Daze was also written and produced by Lee. Despite production numbers that included "Straight and Nappy," a dis-fest between the "wannabes" and "jigaboos" on campus, the biggest hit on the film's soundtrack was the go-go anthem "Da Butt," E.U.'s ode to shaking one's backside. Supporting players Kadeem Hardison and Jasmine Guy also co-starred on the TV comedy A Different World, another look at life on a primarily African-American campus. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

Flixster Users

78% liked it

8,502 ratings

Critics

58% liked it

19 critics

R, 2 hr.

Directed by: Spike Lee

Release Date: February 12, 1988

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DVD Release Date: January 30, 2001

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Stats: 651 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (651)

  • cosmo313
    November 5, 2011
    cosmo313
    This is producer/writer/director/co-star Spike Lee's sophmore effort: a musical dramedy set at a HBCU (historically black college or university) over the course of homecoming weekend.

    What I found so engaging about the film is that it never once shows the perspective of white p... read moreeople, and instead looks at various issues (primarily black on black discrimination) solely from various and well rounded African American povs. The film is somewhat dated with specific issues, but the overall messages are still powerful and relevant.

    I like musicals, but I don't know if that was really a good way to present this material. That, and only one of the numbers really grabbed me. I will say that the stomp competition sequence was well choreographed and executed though.

    The performances are good, and you can see Lee's innovations and techniques getting better and better, but the film is a little weak structurally and leaves a few too many loose ends. However, it is entertaining, and makes some important contributions cinematically (but most culturally and socially), so I say give it a chance. It's not too bad.
  • ajv2688
    February 17, 2011
    ajv2688
    I think the main problem with this movie is that it doesn't have a wide enough audience. It's audience is pretty much just African Americans who went to college and were in a fraternity around the time the movie takes place. It's very specific and hard to relate to. The actors... read more were very good, but that's all I liked about this movie. The story goes nowhere, and the song and dance numbers annoy me. Overall, I wouldn't recommend it unless you can relate to it.
  • ythelastman89
    November 18, 2009
    ythelastman89
    It's a truly unique breed of film. It's not quite a comedy or a drama or a coming of age story, but a collaboration of the three. Spike Lee shows that not all college oriented films are dim witted and meaningless, but that they can have emotional backing and character development... read more. Laurence Fishburne gives one of his better performances and shows a quality that I've rarely seen before in his work, vulnerability. One of the things that I love about the movie is that it pokes fun at some other movies where there are 2 opposing groups that are of the same race such as Grease(there's a great little musical number in it that mocks the style of it).
  • purplemegan
    March 9, 2007
    purplemegan
    Good movie with an important message. The musical numbers were pretty funny. But the end was terribly hokey, like that would ever work in real life.
  • donnarenee2006
    March 30, 2010
    donnarenee2006
    Crazy movie! Spike Lee's movies always intrigued me, but this one...was a bit too cheesy, yet amusing on his insight of college life amongst the black students of Mission college. Musical numbers were entertaining as well as some bits of comedic attempts of the fraternity rush pe... read moreriod. I enjoyed it.
  • RemiLogan
    April 29, 2009
    RemiLogan
    I feel like this film is a part of the black film lexicon and therefore I NEEDED to see it. It was weird watching something I could relate to in so many ways, even before I went to college. I highly recommend!
  • The80sExpert
    August 20, 2010
    The80sExpert
    The great actors in the movie give the best performances they can, but the story lets the audience down, especially the ending. I think the major problem I had with this movie was that I was confused about what Lee was really trying to get across to me. Plus, I'm a college stud... read moreent and still I cannot relate to the experiences of any of the characters. I don't even know anyone in a sorority or fraternity. This is a good attempt at ( I think) exploring cultural identity, but I think Lee could have done a better job at it. Overall, an interesting movie if you were ever in a frat or sorority, and like the music in the film, but if that doesn't describe you, this movie will leave you hanging.
  • shawtyredman
    July 5, 2010
    shawtyredman
    If you've attended an HBCU, then there's a good chance you've seen this and can relate to a lot of aspects of it. If you haven't attended an HBCU, buy your a fan of Spike Lee's early work, you've probably seen this. Great movie.
  • sumthinklassy
    December 23, 2008
    sumthinklassy
    If you have not sen this movie STOP everything and go rernt it, buy it, do something you got to see it!
  • ladyj061370
    June 21, 2008
    ladyj061370
    Wanna Be's: You're just a jig-a-boo, tryin' to find somethin' to do!

    Jig-A-Boo's: Well, you're a wanna-be, wanna be better than me!

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Critic Reviews

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

For every tough-minded confrontation between the different student factions, School Daze is apt to offer a love scene less than vital to the plot, or an overlong musical scene whose effect is that of ... Full Review

Rita Kempley
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

School Daze, with its pompous patchwork plot, is an arrogant, humorless, sexist mess. Full Review

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

Although the film has big structural problems and leaves a lot of loose ends, there was never a moment when it didn't absorb me. Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Spike Lee had something in mind while he shot School Daze, his follow-up to the cult hit She's Gotta Have It. Unfortunately it's still lodged behind his cranium. Full Review

September 23, 2008
TV Guide's Movie Guide

A shapeless mess that falls far short of the high expectations created by Lee's first feature. Full Review

September 23, 2008
Film4

Some of the issues get lost in the mix, but strong performances by Lee and Fishburne make this a watchable and thought-provoking venture. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
November 29, 2006
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

The film's political issues are far more interesting than its artistic attributes--this messy picture feels as if Spike Lee is just incidentally interested in what makes musical movies work Full Review

Derek Adams
June 24, 2006
Derek Adams, Time Out

Lee has a small, intimate talent; here, he goes for the big podium and blows it. Full Review

Eric Henderson
February 13, 2005
Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine

The film's central argument is that black matriculation is undercut by internal divisions. Full Review

Rob Thomas
June 7, 2004
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)

An uneven but probably necessary stepping stone between "She's Gotta Have It" and "Do The Right Thing"

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School Daze Trivia

  • Name the actor that stars in the movies: Boyz N the Hood, School Daze, The Color Purple and Apocalype Now.  Answer »
  • Which movie depicts the life of African American sorrorities and fraternities in the late 80's?  Answer »
  • Who wrote and directed these movies? She's Gotta Have It. 4 Little Black Girls. Jungle Fever. School Daze. She Hates Me.  Answer »
  • Which movie screams WAKEEEEE UPPPP!!!!! At the End  Answer »
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