Movies like Up the Academy (1980)
The best movies like Up the Academy (1980) are Crash Course (1988), The Whoopee Boys (1986) and Up the Creek (1984). If Up the Academy hooked you with its comedy, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedThree O'Clock High (1987)6.8/10 from 322 votes
- NewestSpa Weekend (2026)Released 2026
Crash Course (1988)
A group of teens come of age, find love and friendship all while taking Drivers Ed. over the summer.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
The Whoopee Boys (1986)
Two obnoxious and dim-witted misfits attempt to save a school for needy children by attempting to sneak into the wealthy high society of Palm Beach to get the money needed for their cause.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
Up the Creek (1984)
Bob McGraw is in his 12th year of college, goofing his way through life. Bob, Irwing, Gonzer and Max are the four losers forced and bribed to represent their university in an intercollegiate raft race. Forced and bribed into this role, they make some friends, the lovely Heather Merriweather, but mostly enemies, among others a whole team of marines, and preppy IVY-leaguers determined to win.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
SnoozefestMovies like thisRevenge of the Nerds (1984)
At Adams College, the jocks rule from their house on high, the Alpha Beta fraternity. So when a group of socially-challenged misfits try to go Greek, they're instantly rejected by every house on campus. Deciding to start their own frat to protect their outcast brothers, the nerds soon find themselves in a battle royale as the Alpha Betas try to crush their new rivals.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Chaos Class Is Waking Up (1976)
A sincere and hardworking student joins the Chaos Class, but acceptance seems unlikely when he becomes the target of their pranks.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
Worth the HypeMovies like thisRevenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise (1987)
The members of Lambda Lambda Lambda travel to Fort Lauderdale for a fraternity conference. They'll have to fend off the attacks of their rival frat, the Alphas, if they want to maintain their self-respect — and, of course, if they want to get anywhere with the pretty girls!
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
SnoozefestMovies like thisPorky's (1981)
In 1954 Florida, a group of high school boys head to a strip club in the Everglades in an attempt to lose their collective virginity. When the club's owner and his sheriff brother swindle them out of their money and embarrass them, the boys plan revenge.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Chaos Class Is Fretting Over (1979)
Lazy, uneducated students mostly coming from money, share a very close band. They live together in the dormitory of this private highschool, where they daily plan their latest pranks on teachers or the other classes. When one of the students get his girlfriend pregnant, the whole class acts together to help him. The mother has to leave the baby for a while with the father, and this leads to a series of funny events.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThree O'Clock High (1987)
Nerdy high schooler Jerry Mitchell is assigned to write an article for the school paper about the infamous new delinquent transfer student, Buddy Revell. When Jerry accidentally invades Buddy's personal space and touches him, Buddy challenges Jerry to an afterschool fight in the parking lot, which Jerry tries to avoid at all costs.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisLosin' It (1983)
In 1965, four Los Angeles school friends -- Woody, Dave, Spider and Wendell -- go on a series of misadventures when they head to Tijuana, Mexico, for a night of cruisin', causing trouble, and to lose their virginity.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
SnoozefestMovies like thisFraternity Vacation (1985)
A nerd gains the friendship of two of his frat brothers when his dad offers them his condo for the week in Palm Springs, and also offers the fraternity a hot tub and jacuzzi if they can help his son find a girl. They meet two guys from a rival fraternity, and make a bet on who can nail the Designated Babe first.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
SnoozefestMovies like thisBack to School (1986)
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.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisNational Lampoon's Senior Trip (1995)
While on detention, a group of misfits and slackers have to write a letter to the President explaining what is wrong with the education system. There is only one problem, the President loves it! Hence, the group must travel to Washington to meet the Main Man.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
SnoozefestMovies like thisThe Party Animal (1984)
The Party Animal is a documentary-style comedy about a sex-starved man, Pondo Sinatra, a 26-year-old college student whom everyone agrees is doomed to die a virgin. Desperate to break what seems to be a cosmic curse, he tries ever more bizarre schemes to seduce one the sexy, scantily-clad women who seem to be everywhere, taunting him and enjoying his misery. Despite his best efforts, however, he is rejected everywhere, even at the local cathouse. When Pondo threatens to kill himself, Studley, his ladykilling best friend, tries to help him in his quest to "get him a little", as does Studley's mentor, a wise old janitor named Elbow.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
Making the Grade (1984)
Lazy preppie Palmer Woodrow hires street-smart Eddie Keaton to go to school for him while he lives it up in Europe. Eddie falls in love with preppie gal Tracey, upsetting Biff, the Hoover Academy bully. When his bookie from the old neighborhood, Dice, comes to collect on Eddie's gambling debts and Palmer returns early from Europe, the scheme slowly starts to unravel. Soon, Eddie can't even tell whose side he's really on.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
Still Smokin (1983)
Cheech & Chong are invited to a celebrity party in Amsterdam. When they get there, however, it turns out that the guy who invited them has taken off with all the money. They are actually expecting Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton, so our heroes get to be Mr. Burt and Mr. Dolly.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
SnoozefestMovies like thisHardbodies (1984)
Three middle-aged daddies visit California to have a marvelous time at the beach. When they learn that a nice apartment and an expensive cabriolet isn't enough for them to score with the chicks, they employ a student to help them. At first he's as disgusted of them and his job as his girlfriend, but soon they find out how to use the situation to everyone's benefit.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
SnoozefestMovies like thisZapped! (1982)
Peyton and Barney are fun loving high school students working on a science project with white mice. When one of the mice begins to move food toward itself with out touching it, Barney finds he has accidently discovered a formula for telekinetic powers. Now, how much trouble can a high school boy who can move things with just his mind get into?
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
SnoozefestMovies like thisHamburger: The Motion Picture (1986)
Russell has been expelled from several schools for lewd, crude and nude conduct. Busterburger University is his last chance at education and satisfying his disappointed parents.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
Hot Moves (1984)
Four friends, annoyed at how almost everyone else they know is having sex but them, agree to do what they can to help each other lose their virginity before the end of the summer. Most of their opportunities are foiled by their inexperience and bad planning. Michael, the most sensible boy of the foursome, really just wants to stay with his long-time girlfriend and take their relationship to an intimate level, but after putting him off for six months he grows impatient and splits up with her to seek his fortune elsewhere.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
The Pom Pom Girls (1976)
A football player at Rosedale High School is amorous of one of the cheerleaders, who is going with another guy. Another player can't decide which of two cheerleaders he wants to be with. Meanwhile, the Big Game with Hardin High School is approaching, and a prank war is in full swing.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
SnoozefestMovies like thisPCU (1994)
Nervous high school senior Tom Lawrence visits Port Chester University, where he gets a taste of politically correct college life when he's guided by fraternity wild man Droz and his housemates at The Pit. But Droz and his pals have rivals in nasty preppy Rand McPherson and the school's steely president. With their house threatened with expulsion, Droz and company decide to throw a raging party where the various factions will collide.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisCaddyshack (1980)
At an exclusive country club, an ambitious young caddy, Danny Noonan, eagerly pursues a caddy scholarship in hopes of attending college and, in turn, avoiding a job at the lumber yard. In order to succeed, he must first win the favour of the elitist Judge Smails, and then the caddy golf tournament which Smails sponsors.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisLoose Screws (1985)
What happens when four high school screw-ups are forced to attend an academy summer school to graduate? They turn their scholastic sentence into a wacky game of trying to improve their scores... with the women. The ultimate conquest for the 100-point prize is the sexy new French teacher, but she proves to be a bigger challenge than their failing grades. The unforgiving principal foils every scheme, and their sidesplitting last chance is the academy's anniversary celebration.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
SnoozefestMovies like thisHot Pursuit (1987)
High school student Dan Bartlett misses the plane he was supposed to be on with his rich girlfriend and her family on the way to a Caribbean vacation during a school break. He flies there alone, and runs into a series of characters and misadventures as he tries to catch up.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both comedy
SnoozefestMovies like thisWet Hot American Summer (2001)
It's the last day of Camp Firewood's season, but there's still time for the big talent show, a little romance… and for everyone to be wiped out by the piece of NASA's Skylab that's hurtling toward Earth.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisPolice Academy (1984)
New rules enforced by the Lady Mayoress mean that sex, weight, height and intelligence need no longer be a factor for joining the Police Force. This opens the floodgates for all and sundry to enter the Police Academy, much to the chagrin of the instructors. Not everyone is there through choice, though. Social misfit Mahoney has been forced to sign up as the only alternative to a jail sentence and it doesn't take long before he falls foul of the boorish Lieutenant Harris. But before long, Mahoney realises that he is enjoying being a police cadet and decides he wants to stay... while Harris decides he wants Mahoney out!
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisAnuvahood (2011)
Kenneth (who likes to call himself Kay) begins to realise he's just another wannabe bad boy... even less than a loser in fact. After quitting his job at Laimsbury's, Kay vows to become a respected gangster... or cry trying. A pulls-no-punches, coming-of-age story, centering on one directionless hopeless "shotter", who finds his true worth in the face of urban adversity.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisSpa Weekend (2026)
Four lifelong friends realize that somewhere between careers, relationships, families, and everyday responsibilities, they’ve forgotten how to take care of themselves and each other. Burned out and overdue for a break, the women escape to a luxury spa retreat for an unforgettable weekend dedicated to fun, laughter, and a lot of really bad decisions.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe F**k-It List (2020)
After a prank blows up a studious high school senior's life, he shares a list of certain things he wishes he'd done differently — and maybe still can.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both comedy
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Up the Academy?
The closest matches to Up the Academy are Crash Course (1988), The Whoopee Boys (1986) and Up the Creek (1984). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Up the Academy?
People who watched Up the Academy most often go on to Crash Course (1988), The Whoopee Boys (1986) and Up the Creek (1984).
What is the highest-rated movie like Up the Academy?
Three O'Clock High (1987), rated 6.8/10 by 322 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Up the Academy?
Spa Weekend (2026) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like Up the Academy?
Yes: Crash Course (1988), The Whoopee Boys (1986) and Up the Creek (1984).
How are movies similar to Up the Academy chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Up the Academy, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.