Back to School (1986): cast, story & where to watch
1986 · Film · ★ 6.3
Released in 1986, Back to School is a comedy film directed by Alan Metter, running about 96 minutes. “Registration starts Friday, June 13, at theaters everywhere.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Self-made millionaire Thornton Melon decides to get a better education and enrolls at his son Jason's college. While Jason tries to fit in with his fellow students, Thornton struggles to gain his son's respect, giving way to hilarious antics.
Who’s in it. Back to School stars Rodney Dangerfield as Thornton Melon, Sally Kellerman as Diane, Keith Gordon as Jason Melon and William Zabka as Chas, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.3/10, Back to School has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $91.3M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Philo, AMC+ Amazon Channel and AMC+ Roku Premium Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Back to School page.
If you liked it. Fans of Back to School tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Back to School (1986)?
- In US, Back to School is available to stream on Philo, AMC+ Amazon Channel and AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Back to School worth watching?
- Back to School holds an audience score of 6.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Back to School?
- Back to School stars Rodney Dangerfield, Sally Kellerman, Keith Gordon, William Zabka and Burt Young.
- When was Back to School released?
- Back to School was released in 1986, with a runtime of about 96 minutes.