The '22 Jump Street' guys went back to high school in 2012. Now they're going back to college. They're not alone. Check out these other movie characters who, long after they should have graduated, opted to reenroll instead.
'Back to School' (1986)
Where else could we start? Rodney Dangerfield plays a rich, recently divorced fiftysomething who joins his son at college in order to keep the boy's spirits up. He becomes the life of the party, but professors give him...no respect.
'Billy Madison' (1995)
In order to inherit his dad's hotel empire, Adam Sandler has to properly succeed at school – repeating every grade from 1 to 12. This was the movie that, for better or worse, cemented Sandler's status as a box office champ.
'Larry Crowne' (2011)
A Navy veteran (Tom Hanks) can't land a decent job because of his lack of a degree, so it's off to community college he goes. There he takes an interest in his speech teacher (Julia Roberts) – and in scooters. Plus: George Takei!
'Never Been Kissed' (1999)
Drew Barrymore goes undercover, '21 Jump Street' style, as a journalist who sneaks into high school to report on teen issues, and winds up hot for teacher (Michael Vartan).
'Don Jon' (2013)
Sex-crazed Jon (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a bartender in his late twenties, agrees to take night classes at the local college. It's here where he befriends a fellow student, middle-aged Esther (Julianne Moore), who changes his life.
'Old School' (2003)
Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn and Luke Wilson aren't interested in the scholarly aspects of college – they just miss the parties. So these thirtysomethings set up a frat house where anyone is welcome and streaking is encouraged.
'The House Bunny' (2008)
Playboy bunny Shelley (Anna Faris) doesn't officially enroll in college, but she becomes house mother at the nerdy Zeta Alpha Zeta sorority, where she gives Emma Stone lessons in how to be attractive. Mission accomplished.
'High Time' (1960)
The "grown-up going back to school" comedy is no recent phenomenon: Bing Crosby did it over half a century ago. 'High Time' recounts all four years in his character's midlife return to college.
'Hiding Out' (1987)
Jon Cryer plays a Wall Street broker on the run from the mob who masquerades as a student at his nephew's high school – and ends up sporting one of the most remarkable hairstyles of the 1980s.
'Necessary Roughness' (1991)
Scott Bakula stars as a 34-year-old quarterback who, despite not having played football for 16 years, is drafted into the flailing Texas State Armadillos – along with a rather motley crew. Can you say "underdog sports movie"?
'Strangers with Candy' (2005)
Amy Sedaris brings her cult TV character Jerri Blank to the big screen. The 46-year-old ex-junkie – Blank, not Sedaris – tries to start her life over by enrolling in high school. Considerable oddness ensues.
'Educating Rita' (1983)
Long before she was Mrs. Weasley in the Harry Potter films, Julie Walters made a splash as a working-class lady trying to better herself through the UK's Open University, a study-at-home program. Her tutor? One Michael Caine.
'Horse Feathers' (1932)
Talk about old school: in this Marx Brothers romp, Groucho is a college president who recruits bootlegger Chico and dog catcher Harpo for his college's football team, and even the elusive Zeppo Marx appears – as Groucho's son!
Buy 1 ticket to Black Phone 2, get 1 ticket free (equal or lesser price, up to $15 total ticket price and fees) with code DGABP2.
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Get the Premium Pick Pack and receive a Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere movie ticket and an exclusive Guitar Pick Pack!
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Buy 3+ tickets to each of Roofman, Regretting You, and The Running Man, get 3x FanRewards points.
Limited time offer. Log in to your account on Fandango.com or the Fandango app between 6am PT on September 22, 2025, and 11:59pm PT on November 30, 2025, buy a minimum of 3 tickets to each of Roofman, Regretting You, and The Running Man (the purchases do not have to be in the same transaction), and for each ticket you buy, you will receive triple FanRewards Points (375 per ticket, instead of the usual 125) in your Fandango account -- 125 FanRewards Points per ticket will be posted to your Fandango account after your purchase, and 250 FanRewards Points per ticket will be posted to your Fandango account between December 1, 2025 and December 13, 2025 if you qualify for this offer, up to a maximum of 4,500 FanRewards Points for this offer. You must be logged in to your Fandango account to receive and spend FanRewards Points. You must be logged in to the same Fandango account when you purchase your tickets to each of the three movies to qualify for this offer. Fandango is free to join; you must be 18 years of age or older to create a Fandango account. When you receive 500 FanRewards Points, you will receive a $5.00 Discount Reward which you will need to convert into a Discount Promo Code for use on a qualifying purchase on http://www.fandango.com (which can be used on http://www.movietickets.com) or http://www.fandangoathome.com. Discount Promo Code expires 21 days after the $5.00 Discount Reward is posted to your Fandango account. Discount Promo Code cannot be combined with any other offer, promo code, or discount, and Discount Promo Codes cannot be combined with each other in a single transaction. You may be required to pay taxes additionally. Discount Promo Codes cannot be used to purchase a gift card. After applying your Discount Promo Code, any unused balance will automatically expire. Void where prohibited. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. This offer is subject to the FanRewards terms at https://www.fandango.com/policies/fanrewards-terms and Fandango’s Terms and Policies and Privacy Policy at http://www.fandango.com/Terms-and-Policies.
Buy a ticket to Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie for a chance to win a Meow-Tech Interactive Set including a Gabby's Dollhouse, Ears, and Pandy Plush, and a digital game code for the Gabby's Dollhouse: Ready to Party game on PlayStation, Xbox, or PC.
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