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Billy Madison
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{{short description|1995 film by Tamra Davis}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox film | name = Billy Madison | image = billy madison poster.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = [[Tamra Davis]] | producer = [[Robert Simonds]] | writer = {{Plainlist| * [[Tim Herlihy]] * [[Adam Sandler]] }} | starring = {{Plainlist| * [[Adam Sandler]] * [[Bradley Whitford]] * [[Josh Mostel]] * [[Bridgette Wilson]] * [[Norm Macdonald]] * [[Darren McGavin]] }} | music = [[Randy Edelman]] | cinematography = Victor Hammer | editing = {{Plainlist| * [[John Gilroy (film editor)|John Gilroy]] * Jeffrey Wolf }} | studio = Robert Simonds Productions | distributor = [[Universal Pictures]] | released = {{Film date|1995|2|10}} | runtime = 89 minutes | country = United States | language = English | budget = $10 million<ref name="mojo" /> | gross = $26.4 million<ref name="mojo" /> }}'''''Billy Madison''''' is a 1995 American [[comedy film]] directed by [[Tamra Davis]], written by [[Adam Sandler]] and [[Tim Herlihy]], and produced by [[Robert Simonds]]. The film stars Sandler in the title role, alongside [[Bradley Whitford]], [[Bridgette Wilson]], [[Darren McGavin]], Mark Beltzman, [[Larry Hankin]], and [[Norm Macdonald]] in his feature film debut. It tells the story of a wealthy but immature man (Sandler) who must repeat grades 1 through 12 to prove himself worthy of inheriting his father’s (McGavin) company. ''Billy Madison'' debuted at #1 at the North American box office and grossed approximately $26.4 million worldwide.<ref name="mojo">{{cite web |title=Billy Madison |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=billymadison.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121117144400/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=billymadison.htm |archive-date=2012-11-17 |access-date=2012-12-06 |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref> Upon its release, the film received mixed reviews from critics. However, in subsequent years, ''Billy Madison'' has developed a [[cult following]] and is frequently cited as one of Sandler's most popular and defining works.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 February 2022 |title=The Best Adam Sandler Comedies, Ranked From 'Little Nicky' to 'The Wedding Singer' |url=https://collider.com/best-adam-sandler-comedies/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628230554/https://collider.com/best-adam-sandler-comedies/ |archive-date=28 June 2022 |access-date=June 28, 2022 |website=Collider}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 June 2022 |title=What Is the Best Adam Sandler Movie? |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/best-adam-sandler-movies-ranked.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210615023607/https://www.vulture.com/article/best-adam-sandler-movies-ranked.html |archive-date=15 June 2021 |access-date=June 28, 2022 |website=Vulture}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |title=The 10 best Adam Sandler movies |url=https://ew.com/movies/best-adam-sandler-movies/ |access-date=June 28, 2022 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref> ==Plot== Billy Madison is a dimwitted, immature, and spoiled 27-year-old heir to Madison Hotels, a [[Fortune 500]] company founded by his father, Brian Madison. Rather than preparing to take over the family business, Billy spends his days partying with friends and causing chaos on the estate. After embarrassing his father during an important dinner meeting, Brian decides to hand control of the company to his conniving vice president, Eric Gordon. When Billy pleads for another chance, Brian reveals that he bribed teachers to help Billy pass school. The two strike a deal: Billy must complete grades 1 through 12, spending two weeks on each grade, to prove he is capable of running the company. Billy returns to elementary school, where he gradually earns the respect of his classmates and teacher, Veronica Vaughn, especially after standing up for a fellow student. Billy’s rapid academic progress alarms Eric, who blackmails elementary school principal Max Anderson into falsely claiming that Billy bribed him as well. As a result, Brian cancels the agreement and reinstates Eric as his successor. Discouraged, Billy drops out, but Veronica and his former classmates inspire him to return. Max later confesses the truth, and Brian allows Billy to resume the challenge. When Eric objects, Billy proposes an academic [[decathlon]] to settle the matter. After a series of competitive events, Billy takes a narrow lead. In the final round—a ''[[Jeopardy!]]''-style quiz—he fumbles his answer but selects "[[business ethics]]" for Eric. Unable to respond, Eric suffers a breakdown, pulls a gun on Billy, and is stopped by Max. Eric then attempts to harm Veronica but is shot by Danny McGrath, a former classmate Billy once bullied and later apologized to. At graduation, Billy announces that he will not take over Madison Hotels, instead entrusting the company to loyal operations manager Carl Alphonse. Billy expresses his desire to pursue a teaching career, while a defeated and injured Eric watches in frustration. ==Cast== * [[Adam Sandler]] as Billy Madison * [[Bradley Whitford]] as Eric Gordon * [[Josh Mostel]] as Principal Max Anderson * [[Bridgette Wilson]] as Veronica Vaughn * [[Norm Macdonald]] as Frank * [[Darren McGavin]] as Brian Madison * Mark Beltzman as Jack * [[Larry Hankin]] as Carl Alphonse * [[Theresa Merritt]] as Juanita * Dina Platias as Ms. Lippy * [[Jim Downey (comedian)|Jim Downey]] as Principal/Judge of the decathlon * [[Hrant Alianak]] as Pete * [[Robert Smigel]] as Mr. Oblaski * Amos Crawley as Rod * [[Steve Buscemi]] as Danny McGrath (uncredited) * [[Chris Farley]] as Bus Driver (uncredited) * Greg Valcov as The Penguin (uncredited) ==Production== [[File:Parkwood Estate National Historic Site of Canada 2007.jpg|thumb|left|[[Parkwood Estate]] in [[Oshawa]], [[Ontario]], served as the exterior location for Billy's mansion in the film.]]Principal photography for ''Billy Madison'' took place from June 26 to August 29, 1994, in and around [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]]. Adam Sandler initially convinced Universal Pictures to hire Stephen Kessler as director; however, after three days of filming, Universal expressed dissatisfaction with the footage and replaced him with Tamra Davis,<ref>{{Cite web |title=BILLY MADISON: A Love Letter {{!}} The Lowbrow Reader |url=http://lowbrowreader.com/sandler/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820014136/http://lowbrowreader.com/sandler/ |archive-date=2022-08-20 |access-date=2022-05-02 |language=en-US}}</ref> who had originally been the studio’s top choice for the role.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Twenty years ago, I directed 'Billy Madison.' It's still the most relevant work of my career. - the Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/02/12/twenty-years-ago-i-directed-billy-madison-its-still-the-most-relevant-work-of-my-career/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203173943/https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/02/12/twenty-years-ago-i-directed-billy-madison-its-still-the-most-relevant-work-of-my-career/ |archive-date=2019-02-03 |access-date=2023-05-31 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> Several notable locations in Ontario were used for filming. The exterior and grounds of Madison’s mansion were shot at the [[Parkwood Estate]] in [[Oshawa]], while interior scenes were filmed at [[Casa Loma]] in [[Toronto]]. The mansion’s entrance was filmed at the [[Marylake Augustinian Monastery]] in [[King City, Ontario|King City]].<ref>{{cite web |date=May 29, 2018 |title=Hollywood North: Star-studded movies filmed in York region |url=https://www.toronto.com/whatson-story/8628066-hollywood-north-star-studded-movies-filmed-in-york-region/ |publisher=toronto.com}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> During an appearance on [[Norm Macdonald Live|''Norm Macdonald Live'']], Sandler revealed that the role of Jack was originally intended for [[Allen Covert]]. Sandler also lobbied for [[Bob Odenkirk]], a former ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' colleague, to play the antagonist Eric Gordon, but the studio declined, as Odenkirk was not yet considered a serious actor. Sandler then suggested [[Philip Seymour Hoffman]], who auditioned but ultimately turned down the role. The part was eventually given to Bradley Whitford.<ref>{{cite web |date=24 June 2022 |title=Adam Sandler Says Philip Seymour Hoffman Turned Down Role as the Villain in 'Billy Madison' |url=https://theplaylist.net/adam-sandler-says-philip-seymour-hoffman-turned-down-the-villain-role-in-billy-madison-20220624/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220041611/https://theplaylist.net/adam-sandler-says-philip-seymour-hoffman-turned-down-the-villain-role-in-billy-madison-20220624/ |archive-date=2022-12-20 |access-date=2022-12-20}}</ref> For his role as the overworked and erratic bus driver, Chris Farley reportedly drank six shots of [[espresso]] before filming his scene.<ref>{{cite web |date=10 February 2020 |title='Billy Madison' at 25: Director Tamra Davis saw 'Uncut Gems' potential in Adam Sandler, recalls X-rated story involving Chris Farley, Gwyneth Paltrow |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/billy-madison-adam-sandler-uncut-gems-chris-farley-dead-game-gwyneth-paltrow-235546250.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129071331/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/billy-madison-adam-sandler-uncut-gems-chris-farley-dead-game-gwyneth-paltrow-235546250.html |archive-date=29 January 2023 |access-date=29 January 2023}}</ref> ==Reception== ===Critical response=== {{Anchor|Critics}} On the film review aggregation site [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film holds an approval rating of 41% based on 49 reviews, with an average rating of 4.8/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Audiences who enjoy Adam Sandler's belligerent comic energy may find him in joyously obnoxious form as ''Billy Madison'', but this thinly-plotted starring vehicle surrounds its star with an aggressively pedestrian movie."<ref name="rottentomatoes">{{cite web |title=Billy Madison (1995) |publisher=[[Fandango Media]] |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/billy_madison/ |access-date=2009-05-06 |archive-date=2009-04-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403000648/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/billy_madison/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film received a weighted average score of 16 out of 100, based on 13 critics, indicating "overwhelming dislike".<ref name="metacritic">{{cite web |title=Billy Madison Reviews |url=https://metacritic.com/movie/billy-madison |publisher=[[Paramount Streaming|CBS Interactive]] |work=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=28 May 2014 |archive-date=28 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150228213103/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/billy-madison |url-status=live }}</ref> Richard Schickel panned the film, calling it "one of the most execrable movies ever made".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Schickel |first=Richard |date=March 1995 |title=Billy Madison Review |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref> Peter Rainer of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' commented; "Sandler has a bad habit of thinking he is funnier than we are".<ref>{{cite news |title=MOVIE REVIEW: No New Lessons When 'Billy' Goes Back to Public School |first=Peter |last=Rainer |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=February 11, 1995 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-02-11-ca-30717-story.html |access-date=2012-06-07 |archive-date=2013-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006235852/http://articles.latimes.com/1995-02-11/entertainment/ca-30717_1_billy-madison |url-status=live }}</ref> On ''[[At the Movies (1986 TV program)|At the Movies]]'', [[Gene Siskel]] and [[Roger Ebert]] both gave the film thumbs down, and Roger Ebert said of Sandler, "... Not an attractive screen presence. He might have a career as a villain or as a [[fall guy]] or the butt of a joke, but as the protagonist his problem is that he recreates the fingernails on the blackboard syndrome." Gene Siskel added "... you don't have a good motivation for the character's behavior".<ref>{{cite web |title=The Brady Bunch Movie, Just Cause, Billy Madison, Mr. Payback, 1995 |url=https://siskelebert.org/?p=5504 |website=Siskel and Ebert Movie Reviews |access-date=28 July 2019 |archive-date=28 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728140505/https://siskelebert.org/%3Fp%3D5504/ |url-status=live }} Event occurs at 4:40-6:55.</ref> Owen Gleiberman also panned the film, saying "By the end, you feel like a drill sergeant — you want to wipe that stupid grin off Sandler's face".<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Gleiberman |first1=Owen |title=Billy Madison |date=February 24, 1995 |url=http://www.ew.com/article/1995/02/24/billy-madison |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=5 June 2014}}</ref> Rita Kempley of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' said the film was trying to be "A more kid-friendly version of {{'}}''[[Dumb and Dumber]]''.' And there's even a moral: 'Yahoo for education,' though the movie doesn't really put any muscle behind it."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kempley |first1=Rita |title=Billy Madison |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/billymadisonpg13kempley_c00c80.htm |date=February 11, 1995 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=5 June 2014 |archive-date=31 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031035018/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/billymadisonpg13kempley_c00c80.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Janet Maslin of ''[[The New York Times]]'' gave the film a mixed review, saying "It succeeds as a reasonably smart no-brainer. If you've ever had a yearning to relive the third grade, this must be the next best thing."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Maslin |first1=Janet |title=FILM REVIEW; Repeating Grades 1-12: Do the Daiquiris Help? |work=The New York Times |date=February 11, 1995 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/11/movies/film-review-repeating-grades-1-12-do-the-daiquiris-help.html |access-date=16 February 2015 |archive-date=16 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216091739/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/11/movies/film-review-repeating-grades-1-12-do-the-daiquiris-help.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Brian Lowry of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' also gave the film a mixed review, saying "There are a few bursts of sheer, irresistible idiocy — along the lines of {{'}}''[[Wayne's World]]''{{'}} or even {{'}}''[[Pee-wee's Big Adventure]]''{{'}} — but not enough to sustain the more arid stretches."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lowry |first1=Brian |title=Review: 'Billy Madison' |url=https://variety.com/1995/film/reviews/billy-madison-1200440785/ |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=February 12, 1995 |access-date=5 June 2014 |archive-date=7 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607010213/http://variety.com/1995/film/reviews/billy-madison-1200440785/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Billy Mowbray of [[Film4]] gave the film a positive review, writing: "When you get that Sandler's comedic persona is meant to be annoying, like [[Beavis]] and [[Butt-Head]] or [[Eric Cartman|Cartman]], the laughs come thick and fast".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mowbray |first1=Billy |title=Billy Madison Review |url=http://www.channel4.com/film/reviews/film.jsp?id=101170 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031015020716/http://www.channel4.com/film/reviews/film.jsp?id=101170 |archive-date=October 15, 2003 |publisher=[[Channel 4]] |access-date=5 June 2014}}</ref> Kevin N. Laforest said, "Okay, the plot is inane, but it's the basis of a series of really funny scenes."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Laforest |first1=Kevin |title=Billy Madison |url=http://montrealfilmjournal.com/billy-madison/ |work=Montreal Film Journal |date=May 1, 2002 |access-date=5 June 2014 |archive-date=6 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606224104/http://montrealfilmjournal.com/billy-madison/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ===Award nominations=== At the [[1995 MTV Movie Awards]], [[Adam Sandler]] earned a nomination for [[MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance|Best Comedic Performance]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Speed' leads MTV Movie Awards noms - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1995/04/12/Speed-leads-MTV-Movie-Awards-noms/1778797659200/ |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref> ==Music== ; Songs featured in the film * "[[I'll Tumble 4 Ya]]" by [[Culture Club]] * "[[Ramones (album)|Beat on the Brat]]" by [[Ramones|The Ramones]] * "[[ABC (The Jackson 5 song)|ABC]]" by [[The Jackson 5]] * "[[I'm Not the One]]" by [[The Cars]] * "[[The Stroke]]" by [[Billy Squier]] * "[[Telephone Line (song)|Telephone Line]]" by [[Electric Light Orchestra]] * "[[Renegade (Styx song)|Renegade]]" by [[Styx (band)|Styx]] * "Old John Braddelum" by [[Sharon, Lois & Bram]] ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Wikiquote}} * {{IMDb title|0112508}} * {{TCMDb title|id=68771}} {{Adam Sandler}} {{Tamra Davis}} [[Category:1995 comedy films]] [[Category:1995 films]] [[Category:American coming-of-age comedy films]] [[Category:1990s English-language films]] [[Category:Films about father–son relationships]] [[Category:Films about the education system in the United States]] [[Category:Films directed by Tamra Davis]] [[Category:Films produced by Robert Simonds]] [[Category:Films set in 1994]] [[Category:Films shot in Toronto]] [[Category:Films shot in Ontario]] [[Category:Films with screenplays by Adam Sandler]] [[Category:Films with screenplays by Tim Herlihy]] [[Category:Universal Pictures films]] [[Category:Films scored by Randy Edelman]] [[Category:1990s American films]]
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