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Animal House poster

Animal House

year 1978decade 70sdirector John Landisgenre Comedy

109 minutes

IMDb
Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

John Belushi John Blutarsky ("Bluto")
Tim Matheson Eric Stratton ("Otter")
Thomas Hulce Lawrence "Larry" Kroger ("Pinto")
Peter Riegert Donald Schoenstein ("Boon"), Otter's best friend
Stephen Furst Kent Dorfman ("Flounder"), Pinto's best friend and fellow freshman whose older brother Fred was a member of the Delta fraternity
Bruce McGill Daniel Simpson Day ("D-Day")
Karen Allen Katy, Boon's girlfriend
James Widdoes Robert Hoover ("Hoov")
Douglas Kenney Dwayne Storkman ("Stork")
Christian Miller Curtis Wayne Fuller ("Hardbar")
James Daughton Gregory Marmalard
Mark Metcalf Douglas C. Neidermeyer
Kevin Bacon Chip Diller
Mary Louise Weller Mandy Pepperidge, Marmalard's original girlfriend and Bluto's love interest
Martha Smith Barbara Sue "Babs" Jansen, Mandy's fellow Pi house member who also likes Marmalard
John Vernon Dean Vernon Wormer
Verna Bloom Mrs. Marion Wormer
Donald Sutherland Dave Jennings
Cesare Danova Carmine DePasto
Sarah Holcomb Clorette DePasto
Lisa Baur Shelly Dubinsky, Otter's date from Emily Dickinson college and Fawn's roommate
DeWayne Jessie Otis Day

Animal House | The Rewatchables

host Bill Simmonshost Chris Ryanproducer Craig Horlbeckproducer Chia Hao Tatproducer Eduardo Ocampoproducer Matt Pevic
Explore episodeClose episode

Most Rewatchable Scene

The toga-party “Shout” performance is the shared favorite among a long slate of scenes

In the discussion (13)
Approx. transcript time · 00:28:48Read transcript
  • The opening entrances for Bluto, Otter, and D Day are praised
  • The pledge-recruit sequence and its nicknames are nominated
  • Flounder killing the horse and the following dean meeting are nominated
  • Belushi’s cafeteria-line routine, the zit gag, and the food fight are leading choices
  • The ladder sequence is called funny while its voyeurism is acknowledged as dated
  • The grocery-store catching routine and flirting are nominated
  • The toga party is praised for its visual gags and “Shout” performance
  • The Dexter’s road trip and Otis Day sequence is nominated
  • Dean Wormer reading the grades and imposing double-secret probation is nominated
  • Bluto’s rally speech is identified as the movie’s most famous scene
  • The parade is enjoyed but described as an oversized closing set piece
  • The closing character-title cards are praised as influential
  • The toga-party “Shout” performance is selected and agreed to as most fun to watch

The most "year the movie came out" thing

The 13-year-old reveal is treated as the clearest 1978 artifact, with National Lampoon prominence and clandestine marijuana use also cited

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:34:51Read transcript
  • National Lampoon’s prominence as a comedy brand is nominated
  • Smoking marijuana secretly in a dark room and fearing schizophrenia is nominated
  • The reveal that Pinto’s date is 13 is called shocking even by 1978 standards

When I Would Have Died

Hearing the date reveal that she was 13 is selected as the fatal moment

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:35:51Read transcript
  • The speaker says he would have died after learning the girl was 13

What’s Aged the Best?

The music, Bluto’s sports-arena rally speech, several performances, and many durable comic bits are praised

In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 00:37:19Read transcript
  • “Louie Louie” and “Shout” are praised as enduring party and wedding songs
  • Donald Sutherland enabling the production and his brief performance are appreciated
  • Bluto’s rally speech is praised for becoming a home-arena staple
  • The women’s-college visit and kiln-explosion story are praised as sharply observed
  • Belushi smashing the acoustic guitar is described as an enduring party fantasy
  • Tim Matheson’s Otter performance is praised as charming, funny, and star-worthy
  • The ROTC students, golf scene, and opening fraternity-door gag are praised
  • The film’s jokes and music are described as still effective despite dated material

The Great Shot Gordo Award for Most Cinematic Shot

The horse-heart-attack freeze frame and Belushi’s cafeteria face are leading images

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:50:08Read transcript
  • The freeze frame after the horse’s heart attack is nominated
  • The cafeteria “Amazit” image is selected as the strongest image

The Dennis Peck Relationship Test

Otter pursuing Flounder’s girlfriend is selected

The panel proposes a new category here.

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:51:03Read transcript
  • Otter’s behavior toward Flounder’s girlfriend is compared to Dennis Peck

Steven Seagal shitting on himself award for most unbelievable anecdote from the actual film shoot

The cast’s fight with Oregon students and Belushi’s attempted retaliation is selected

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:52:25Read transcript
  • Delta actors reportedly fought hostile students at a fraternity party
  • Belushi reportedly had to be restrained from seeking out the football players afterward
  • A participant reportedly obtained early dental treatment through a woman whose father was a dentist

Did This Movie Need a Random Sports Scene?

An intramural football or campus-track sequence is proposed, potentially replacing a hand-job scene

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:53:18Read transcript
  • An intramural football scene is proposed in place of one of the two hand-job scenes
  • Track at Oregon’s Hayward Field is offered as an alternative
  • A sports contest deciding whether the fraternity stays in school is developed as the premise

What’s Aged the Worst?

The underage storyline, racial material, flat direction, and some missing consequences are criticized

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 00:55:42Read transcript
  • The Belushi voyeur sequence and the 13-year-old storyline are identified as badly dated
  • The primitive cultures remark followed by a cut to Otis is identified as racism
  • John Landis’s direction is criticized as visually flat compared with possible Reitman or Ramis versions
  • Niedermeyer’s spit is singled out as an unpleasant detail

Hans Gruber Scale Villain Ranking

Dean Wormer beats Niedermeyer because he expels the Deltas and alerts their draft boards

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:59:39Read transcript
  • Niedermeyer and Dean Wormer are the finalists
  • Dean Wormer wins for expelling the Deltas and notifying draft boards that they were eligible

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Belushi playing Flounder and the film’s harmful copycat influence are competing takes

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:01:07Read transcript
  • The possibility that Belushi’s career changes if he plays Flounder instead of Bluto is debated
  • The film is blamed for inspiring two generations of destructive college imitation

Casting What-Ifs

The original SNL-heavy casting wish list and alternate directors are discussed

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:03:23Read transcript
  • The reported initial wish list included Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Brian Doyle-Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and John Belushi
  • Harold Ramis reportedly wrote Boone for himself but was judged too old
  • Jack Webb and Kim Novak were reportedly sought as the Wormers

Half-Assed Internet Research

Production research covers Oregon locations, cast bonding, music, sequel plans, and the contested Dexter’s scene

In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 01:09:16Read transcript
  • The University of Oregon reportedly rented its campus while asking not to be named
  • Black extras reportedly had to be brought from Portland
  • The Delta cast reportedly arrived early to bond while being separated from the Omega cast
  • Belushi’s exposure to Curtis Salgado is connected to the Blues Brothers
  • A Summer of Love sequel around Otter’s wedding was abandoned after More American Graffiti failed and Belushi died
  • DeWayne Jessie reportedly bought the Otis Day name and toured with it
  • Stephen Bishop’s relationship with Karen Allen reportedly inspired “Separate Lives”
  • Richard Pryor’s approval is described as preserving the Dexter’s bar sequence

Apex Mountain

Animal House is judged an apex for Belushi, Tim Matheson, cafeteria scenes, college movies, toga parties, and Stephen Furst

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:12:50Read transcript
  • John Belushi is an immediate yes
  • Tim Matheson is judged at his career apex after this film
  • The cafeteria scene is judged an apex for food fights
  • Trading Places is preferred as John Landis’s apex
  • The actor playing Flounder is judged at his apex
  • The actor playing Boone is judged to have a later apex in The Sopranos
  • The film is judged an apex for college movies and toga parties

Picking Nits

The fraternity’s expulsion process, implausible logistics, and omitted comic payoffs draw numerous objections

In the discussion (11)
Approx. transcript time · 01:15:13Read transcript
  • Dean Wormer should not need constitutional research to expel students with zero grades
  • Several actors look too old for college, though that may aid the joke
  • Mandy should hear or see Bluto moving the ladder
  • Moving a twelve-foot ladder while standing on it is questioned
  • Flounder’s brother should understand the risks of lending his car to the fraternity
  • Boone’s neglect of Katie for the road trip is questioned
  • Mrs. Wormer attending the Delta party is called implausible
  • More explanation is requested for Fawn’s kiln-explosion death
  • Not showing Flounder vomit on Dean Wormer is called a missed payoff
  • A store having ten thousand marbles is questioned
  • The completely covered Eat Me float car appears impossible to see out of

Is This Movie Better With…?

Zane Lowe and Dr. Charles Nichols impressions are proposed for added dialogue

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:18:26Read transcript
  • Zane Lo is proposed to confront Boone about his all-time low
  • Dr. Charles Nichols is proposed for a line about Blutarsky being unwell

Probably Unanswerable Questions

The origin of double-secret probation, the film’s genre influence, student majors, and Greg’s repression are debated

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:19:18Read transcript
  • Whether the film coined “double secret probation” is questioned
  • Whether the film invented both modern sex comedy and college comedy is questioned
  • The students’ majors and whether communications existed as a 1962 major are questioned
  • The Omega fraternity is jokingly compared to the Illuminati
  • Greg’s sexuality and repression are debated from his relationships and fixation on the Deltas

The Coach Finstock Award for Best Life Lesson

“Don’t get mad, get even” and “You’re only young once” are proposed

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:20:56Read transcript
  • “Don’t get mad, get even” is proposed
  • “You’re only young once” is offered as an alternative

More from the conversation

The film is described as foundational to raunchy comedy, college comedy, and later ensemble hang movies.
Approx. transcript time · 00:01:06Read transcript
The speakers connect the film’s 1962 setting to pre-assassination American innocence filtered through late-1970s comedy.
Approx. transcript time · 00:05:45Read transcript
Belushi’s simultaneous SNL, film, and Blues Brothers success is discussed alongside the personal cost of rapid fame.
Approx. transcript time · 00:15:52Read transcript
A household party modeled after Project X is recounted as growing from 125 invitees to roughly 400 and drawing police.
Approx. transcript time · 01:21:37Read transcript
The closing assessment praises the film as an ensemble hang, its friendships and acting, its broad social commentary, and the useful limits imposed by the studio.
Approx. transcript time · 01:23:04Read transcript