Police Academy (franchise)

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For police training schools, see Police academy. For the 1984 film, see Police Academy (film).
Police Academy
Police Academy DVD boxset
Original workPolice Academy
OwnerWarner Bros.
Years1984–present
Films and television
Film(s)
Television seriesPolice Academy: The Series (1997–1998)
Animated seriesPolice Academy (1988–1989)
Miscellaneous
Theme park attraction(s)Police Academy Stunt Show (1994)
Character(s)List of characters

Police Academy is a series of American comedy films, the first six of which were made in the 1980s and the seventh in 1994. The series opened with Police Academy (1984), which started with the premise that a new mayor had announced a policy requiring the police department to accept all willing recruits. The film followed a group of misfit recruits in their attempts to prove themselves capable of being police officers, and succeeding both in spite of and because of their eccentricities. The main character in the first four films, Carey Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg), is a repeat offender forced to join the police academy as punishment. The seventh and to date last installment, Mission to Moscow, was released in 1994. In September 2018, Guttenberg announced that a new Police Academy film was in development.[1]

In general, the franchise depends on simple slap-stick humor, usually based on simple characterizations and physical comedy. As with many similar films, the theme is a group of underdogs struggling to prove themselves, while various authority figures try to suppress them. The sequels have not been well received by critics, although they were very successful commercially. The first film grossed $149.8 million worldwide and made a profit of $35 million.[2] The sequels grossed $387 million in total.[2] Parallels have been drawn between Police Academy and the British Carry On series,[3] for their common reliance on a largely constant ensemble cast throughout the various films, the two series' frequent use of low-brow humor, sexual innuendo, and physical comedy. George Gaynes, Michael Winslow, and David Graf were the only actors appearing in all seven films of the series.

Films[edit]

Film U.S. release date Director(s) Screenwriter(s) Producer(s)
Police Academy March 23, 1984 (1984-03-23) Hugh Wilson Neal Israel, Pat Proft & Hugh Wilson Paul Maslansky
Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment March 29, 1985 (1985-03-29) Jerry Paris Barry W. Blaustein & David Sheffield
Police Academy 3: Back in Training March 21, 1986 (1986-03-21) Gene Quintano
Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol April 3, 1987 (1987-04-03) Jim Drake
Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach March 18, 1988 (1988-03-18) Alan Myerson Stephen Curwick
Police Academy 6: City Under Siege March 10, 1989 (1989-03-10) Peter Bonerz
Police Academy: Mission to Moscow August 26, 1994 (1994-08-26) Alan Metter Randolph Davis & Michele S. Chodos

Police Academy (1984)[edit]

Main article: Police Academy (film)

Police Academy was released in 1984 and directed by Hugh Wilson. The film has a newly elected female mayor announcing a policy requiring the police department to accept all willing recruits. The movie followed a group of misfit recruits in their attempts to prove themselves capable of being police officers and their adventures at the police academy.

Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985)[edit]

Main article: Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment

In Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment, the newly graduated cadets are sent to one of the worst precincts in the city to improve the conditions. Lt. Mauser undermines their attempts so he can get Capt. Lassard fired and get the position in charge.

Police Academy 3: Back in Training (1986)[edit]

Main article: Police Academy 3: Back in Training

Police Academy 3: Back in Training was released in 1986, and like its predecessor, was directed by Jerry Paris. When the governor of the state announces that budget cuts necessitate the closure of the worst of the two police academies, the officers of the Metropolitan Police Academy, led by Commandant Lassard, work on ensuring it is not theirs. This is hindered by their unusual gang of new cadets.

Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987)[edit]

Main article: Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol

Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol, released in 1987, involves new recruits being brought in when the officers work with a newly formed Citizens on Patrol group. Harris and Proctor are in charge, though, and plan to dismantle the program. Citizens on Patrol was the final film starring Guttenberg.

Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach (1988)[edit]

Main article: Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach

Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach, released in 1988, was directed by Alan Myerson. The plot involves the officers attending a police convention in Florida to honor Commandant Eric Lassard as police officer of the decade, wherein he inadvertently switches his sports bag with that of a group of jewel thieves. The thieves try to get it back.

Police Academy 6: City Under Siege (1989)[edit]

Main article: Police Academy 6: City Under Siege

The sixth installment, Police Academy 6: City Under Siege, directed by Peter Bonerz, was released in 1989. When the city suffers from a dangerous set of crimes by a gang of jewel thieves, the Metropolitan Police Academy graduates are brought in to do something about it.

Police Academy: Mission to Moscow (1994)[edit]

Main article: Police Academy: Mission to Moscow

Police Academy: Mission to Moscow, released in 1994 and directed by Alan Metter, involved the officers going to Russia to help catch an international crime figure.

Future[edit]

An eighth installment or reboot has been in development hell since 2003.[1][4]

As of September 2003, an eighth Police Academy film was planned to be released in 2007 after more than 13 years of absence.[4] Says series creator Paul Maslansky: "I felt it was time to start again. I saw that Starsky & Hutch and a number of other revivals were doing really well. Police Academy has such a great history, so I thought, 'Why not?'"[5] Most of the main cast members were due to return,[6] except David Graf (Sgt. Eugene Tackleberry) and Billie Bird (Lois Feldman) who had died. Hugh Wilson was slated to direct.[7]

Leslie Easterbrook (Capt. Debbie Callahan) and Marion Ramsey (Sgt. Laverne Hooks) mentioned that filming for the next Police Academy film was due to start shooting in mid 2006 for a release in 2007.[8] The film was suspended in October 2006. Easterbrook mentioned that there was still hope for a direct-to-DVD sequel. She added that though Warner Bros. wanted to do one, they wanted a producer to get independent financing.[9][10]

In May 2008, Michael Winslow replied to a question about a possible new Police Academy film: "Anything's possible. You've got to hope for Paul Maslansky and those folks over there to put it together. It's up to them. It would be great to see everyone again."[11]

On November 26, 2008, Steve Guttenberg (Sgt. Carey Mahoney) confirmed that 8 was still in development and that he was working on the script with Warner Bros.[12][better source needed] Guttenberg is slated to direct the film,[13] and stated that all of the cast from the previous installments (except for the deceased David Graf, Billie Bird, and Tab Thacker) would return to reprise their roles.[13]

After seven films in its original 10-year run, New Line is planning on reviving the Police Academy series, which grossed $537 million worldwide and spawned a pair of TV spinoffs. The slapstick comedy will be helmed by original producer Paul Maslansky. "It's going to be very worthwhile to the people who remember it and to those who saw it on TV", Maslansky told the Hollywood Reporter. "It's going to be a new class. We hope to discover new talent and season it with great comedians. It'll be anything but another movie with a numeral next to it. And we'll most probably retain the wonderful musical theme."[14]

On March 17, 2010, Paul Maslansky stated that he plans to bring back some of the original cast to train the new recruits. When asked which characters he would bring back, Maslansky stated, "I haven't decided which ones. And I don't want to mention names and others will be disappointed, at this point. All I know is that I want to bring back some of the older characters to it, and maybe they'll have principal roles, some of them, and some of them might be just you know [a cameo]."[15]

While appearing as a guest on the July 12, 2010, edition of This Morning, Michael Winslow (Sgt. Larvell Jones) confirmed that Police Academy 8 is still in production. In August 2010, Steve Guttenberg revealed a script was being written by David Diamond and David Weissman.[16]

On August 9, 2010, actor Bobcat Goldthwait (Officer Zed) released a statement urging Hollywood to reboot the Police Academy series with a new group of actors instead of the original cast members. Goldthwait confirmed that Steve Guttenberg would return and that movie bosses were trying to get Kim Cattrall and Sharon Stone to return for an eighth film, though Goldthwait said he had no desire to return to the series.[17]

On January 9, 2012, New Line Cinema confirmed that Scott Zabielski (Tosh.0) will be the director of the upcoming film.[18] During a radio interview on March 21, 2012, Michael Winslow stated that production of the eighth film was due to begin in November, and that an offer had been made to Shaquille O'Neal to replace the late Bubba Smith as Hightower.[19] On June 5, 2012, Jeremy Garelick (The Break-Up) was hired by New Line Cinema to help rewrite the aforementioned script.[20][21]

On September 3, 2018, Steve Guttenberg announced that a new Police Academy film was in the works when he responded to a fan on Twitter saying "the next Police Academy is coming, no details yet, but it is in a gift bag being readied!"[22]

Television[edit]

Series Season Episodes First released Last released Showrunner(s) Network(s)
Police Academy 2 65 September 11, 1988 January 28, 1989 Paul Maslansky Broadcast syndication
Police Academy: The Series 1 26 September 12, 1997 May 25, 1998

Police Academy (1988–1989)[edit]

Main article: Police Academy (TV series)

An animated comedy titled Police Academy, also known as Police Academy: The Animated Series, was produced by Ruby-Spears Productions and Warner Bros. Television. It ran from September 1988 to September 1989, lasting two seasons with 65 episodes produced.

Police Academy: The Series (1997–1998)[edit]

Main article: Police Academy: The Series

Police Academy: The Series is a 1997 live-action show based on the films, comprising 26 episodes, each one hour. It was produced by Warner Bros. Television and Protocol Entertainment. Michael Winslow reprised his role from the films, and several others made occasional guest appearances.

Comic books[edit]

A six-issue series of Police Academy comic books was produced as a spin-off of the animated series beginning in August 1989. The series was published by Marvel Comics,[23] under a "Star Comics Presents" byline.

The series was written by Angelo DeCesare, pencilled by Howard Post, and inked by Jacqueline Roettcher.[23]

Cast and crew[edit]

Principal cast[edit]

Main articles: List of Police Academy characters and List of Police Academy cast members
Character Films Television
Police Academy Police Academy 2:
Their First Assignment 		Police Academy 3:
Back in Training 		Police Academy 4:
Citizens on Patrol 		Police Academy 5:
Assignment Miami Beach 		Police Academy 6:
City Under Siege 		Police Academy:
Mission to Moscow 		Police Academy Police Academy:
The Series
1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1994 1988–1989 1997–1998
Carey Mahoney Steve Guttenberg Ron Rubin
Moses Hightower Bubba Smith Greg Morton Bubba Smith (guest)
Larvell Jones Michael Winslow Greg Morton Michael Winslow
Eugene Tackleberry David Graf Dan Hennessey David Graf (guest)
Eric Lassard George Gaynes Tedd Dillon George Gaynes (guest)
Laverne Hooks Marion Ramsey Denise Pidgeon
Henry J. Hurst George R. Robertson George R. Robertson (guest)
Debbie Callahan Leslie Easterbrook Leslie Easterbrook Denise Pidgeon Leslie Easterbrook (guest)
Thaddeus Harris G. W. Bailey G. W. Bailey Len Carlson
Carl Proctor Lance Kinsey Don Francks
Douglas Fackler Bruce Mahler Bruce Mahler
Violet Fackler Debralee Scott Debralee Scott
Bud Kirkland Andrew Paris
Carl Sweetchuck Tim Kazurinsky Howard Morris
Zed McGlunk Bobcat Goldthwait Dan Hennessey
Chad Copeland Scott Thomson Scott Thomson
Kyle Blankes Brant Von Hoffman Brant Von Hoffman
Kathleen Kirkland Colleen Camp Colleen Camp
Ernie Mauser Art Metrano Rex Hagon Art Metrano (guest)
Tomoko Nogata Brian Tochi
Thomas Conklin Tab Thacker Don Francks
Nick Lassard Matt McCoy

Additional crew[edit]

Crew Films
Police Academy Police Academy 2:
Their First Assignment 		Police Academy 3:
Back in Training 		Police Academy 4:
Citizens on Patrol 		Police Academy 5:
Assignment Miami Beach 		Police Academy 6:
City Under Siege 		Police Academy:
Mission to Moscow
1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1994
Director Hugh Wilson Jerry Paris Jim Drake Alan Myerson Peter Bonerz Alan Metter
Writer(s) Screenplay by:
Neal Israel
Pat Proft
Hugh Wilson
Story by:
Neal Israel
Pat Proft 		Barry W. Blaustein
David Sheffield 		Gene Quintano Stephen Curwick Randolph Davis
Michele S. Chodos
Executive Producer(s) N/A John Goldwyn
Leonard C. Kroll 		Donald L. West Donald L. West
Suzanne Lore
Leonid Vereschtchaguine
Composer(s) Robert Folk
Cinematography Michael D. Margulies James Crabe Robert Saad James Pergola Charles Rosher Jr. Ian Jones
Editor(s) Robert Brown
Zach Staenberg 		Bob Wyman Bud Molin David Rawlins Hubert C. de La Bouillerie Dennis Hill
Suzanne Hines
Distributor Warner Bros. Pictures

Reception[edit]

Box office[edit]

Film Release date Domestic gross Worldwide gross Budget References
Police Academy March 23, 1984 (1984-03-23) $81,198,894 $149,840,000 $4,500,000 [24][2]
Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment March 29, 1985 (1985-03-29) $55,600,000 $114,993,000 $7,500,000 [25][2]
Police Academy 3: Back in Training March 21, 1986 (1986-03-21) $43,579,163 $107,639,000 $12,239,000 [26][2]
Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol April 3, 1987 (1987-04-03) $28,061,343 $76,819,000 $17,325,000 [27][2]
Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach March 18, 1988 (1988-03-18) $19,510,371 $54,499,000 $13,858,000 [28][2]
Police Academy 6: City Under Siege March 10, 1989 (1989-03-10) $11,567,217 $33,190,000 $14,515,000 [29][2]
Police Academy: Mission to Moscow August 26, 1994 (1994-08-26) $126,247 N/A $10,000,000 [30]
Total $239,643,235 $537,100,000 $79,937,000

Critical and public response[edit]

The films have received overall negative reviews, apart from the first film which had more mixed reviews.

Film Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic CinemaScore[31]
Police Academy 56% (32 reviews)[32] 41 (6 reviews)[33] —
Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment 28% (18 reviews)[34] 39 (8 reviews)[35] —
Police Academy 3: Back in Training 36% (11 reviews)[36] 33 (8 reviews)[37] B+
Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol 0% (20 reviews)[38] 26 (8 reviews)[39] B-
Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach 0% (9 reviews)[40] 18 (10 reviews)[41] B
Police Academy 6: City Under Siege 0% (8 reviews)[42] 16 (8 reviews)[43] B-
Police Academy: Mission to Moscow 0% (7 reviews)[44] 11 (4 reviews)[45] —

Music[edit]

Other media[edit]

Theme park attraction[edit]

Main article: Police Academy Stunt Show

Video games[edit]

Two aborted attempts at video game adaptations of the franchise were planned, one by Hasbro for the aborted Control-Vision console, developed by Mark Turmell, and the other was an unlicensed NES game by Tengen.[46][47][48]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Jenna Anderson (September 4, 2018). "Steve Guttenberg says another 'Police Academy' film is in the works". ComicBook.com. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Block, Alex Ben; Wilson, Lucy Autrey, eds. (2010). George Lucas's Blockbusting: A Decade-by-Decade Survey of Timeless Movies Including Untold Secrets of Their Financial and Cultural Success. HarperCollins. p. 631. ISBN 9780061778896.
  3. ^ Allon, Arum (2002). Contemporary North American Film Directors: A Wallflower Critical Guide. Wallflower Press. p. 571. ISBN 9781903364529.
  4. ^ a b "Police Academy 8 is in the works". Ain't it Cool. September 11, 2003. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  5. ^ Ethan Aames (July 8, 2004). "New "Police Academy" movie in the works". Cinecon. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
  6. ^ Morris, Clint (August 9, 2005). "What's happening with Police Academy 8". Moviehole. Archived from the original on October 31, 2005. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
  7. ^ Lone, Rob (September 8, 2004). "Police Academy 8". Insomniac Mania. Archived from the original on September 20, 2004. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
  8. ^ Clint Morris (December 21, 2006). "Police Academy shuts down". Moviehole. Archived from the original on January 29, 2008. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
  9. ^ "Police Academy (2007)". Stargater. Archived from the original on May 5, 2009. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
  10. ^ Brunton, Richard (December 21, 2006). "Police Academy dead?". Film Stalker. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
  11. ^ "The Den Of Geek Interview: Michael Winslow – Den of Geek". Den of Geek. May 8, 2008. Retrieved March 7, 2009.
  12. ^ "BBC Radio Five Live". BBC. Archived from the original on August 15, 2000. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
  13. ^ a b Morris, Clint (November 26, 2008). "Guttenberg returns to Police Academy". Moviehole. Archived from the original on January 29, 2009. Retrieved November 27, 2008.
  14. ^ "Police Academy Returning to Big Screen". The Daily Beast. March 5, 2010. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
  15. ^ "Maslansky considering bringing back original characters for Police Academy 8". MTV Movies Blog. March 17, 2010. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  16. ^ Gencarelli, Mike (August 1, 2010). "Interview with Steve Guttenberg". Movie Mikes. Archived from the original on August 11, 2010. Retrieved August 7, 2010.
  17. ^ "Yahoo News UK".[dead link]
  18. ^ Fleming, Mike (January 9, 2012). "New Line taps Scott Zabielski to helm 'Police Academy' remake". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  19. ^ "Michael Winslow: the new Police Academy film, Shaquille O'Neal as Hightower?". Den of Geek. 20 February 2020.
  20. ^ Fleming, Mike (June 5, 2012). "Jeremy Garelick enlists in 'Police Academy' rewrite". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  21. ^ Brew, Simon (June 6, 2012). "Writer hired for new 'Police Academy' movie". Denofgeek.com. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  22. ^ Anderson, Jenna (June 6, 2012). "New 'Police Academy' Movie in the Works According to Steve Guttenberg". comicbook.com. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  23. ^ a b Chris Lalor, "'Police Academy' ... The Comic", New York Newsday (August 19, 1989), p. 53.
  24. ^ "Police Academy (1984)". Box Office Mojo.
  25. ^ "Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985)". Box Office Mojo.
  26. ^ "Police Academy 3: Back in Training (1986)". Box Office Mojo.
  27. ^ "Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987)". Box Office Mojo.
  28. ^ "Police Academy 5: Assignment: Miami Beach (1988)". Box Office Mojo.
  29. ^ "Police Academy 6: City Under Siege (1989)". Box Office Mojo.
  30. ^ "Police Academy 7: Mission to Moscow (1994)". Box Office Mojo.
  31. ^ "CinemaScore". CinemaScore. Archived from the original on April 13, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  32. ^ "Police Academy". Rotten Tomatoes.
  33. ^ "Police Academy". Metacritic.
  34. ^ "Police Academy 2". Rotten Tomatoes.
  35. ^ "Police Academy 2". Metacritic.
  36. ^ "Police Academy 3". Rotten Tomatoes.
  37. ^ "Police Academy 3". Metacritic.
  38. ^ "Police Academy 4". Rotten Tomatoes.
  39. ^ "Police Academy 4". Metacritic.
  40. ^ "Police Academy 5". Rotten Tomatoes.
  41. ^ "Police Academy 5". Metacritic.
  42. ^ "Police Academy 6". Rotten Tomatoes.
  43. ^ "Police Academy 6". Metacritic.
  44. ^ "Police Academy 7". Rotten Tomatoes.
  45. ^ "Police Academy 7". Metacritic.
  46. ^ Parish, Jeremy (2018-10-31). "The story of NEMO, Hasbro's console that never was". Polygon. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  47. ^ Stillgaming (2010-02-14). "19... oops, 15 Ways to Start the 90s with a Bang!". Gaming After 40. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  48. ^ "NES WORLD Forum - Police Academy for NES?". www.nesworld.com. Retrieved 2023-10-02.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Police Academy films.
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