Dead Man on Campus (1998)

15% of critics liked it
(34 reviews)
50% of users liked it
(45,022 ratings)

Before the box-office success of Varsity Blues (1999) and the critical acclaim of Election (1999), the MTV cable channel created this raunchy campus comedy, the debut feature from MTV Films, the network's motion-picture production banner. Josh Miller (Tom Everett Scott) is a studious and responsible… More Before the box-office success of Varsity Blues (1999) and the critical acclaim of Election (1999), the MTV cable channel created this raunchy campus comedy, the debut feature from MTV Films, the network's motion-picture production banner. Josh Miller (Tom Everett Scott) is a studious and responsible pre-med student entering college as a freshman. His wild, hard-partying roommate, Cooper Frederickson (Mark-Paul Gosselaar), on the other hand, is a spoiled rich kid who never studies and spends his time getting drunk and ogling coeds. Before long, Cooper's fun-filled lifestyle has corrupted Josh, and both are on the verge of flunking out of school. That's when they discover a little-used codicil in the college's charter stating that any student whose roommate commits suicide will automatically receive straight A's. Since their third roommate has moved in with his girlfriend, Josh and Cooper set about recruiting the most depressed, suicidal classmate they can find. The prime candidate: Cliff (Lochlyn Munro), a mentally unbalanced wild man. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 33 min.
Directed By: Alan Cohn
Written By: Michael Traeger, Mike White
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 21, 1998 Wide
On DVD: Mar 9, 1999
Studio: Paramount Pictures

Critic Reviews

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
As a satire of new-style collegiate types, this MTV production actually evinces a few germs of rancid wit. If only the laborious high-concept plot had been deep-sixed -- and, along with it, the cynically blah heroes.
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post
It is a movie whose appeal will diminish in direct proportion to the number of years it has been since you were a sexually-frustrated, pimply-faced undergrad.
Lisa Alspector, Chicago Reader
This limp 1998 comedy tries hard to be both irreverent and ethical by suggesting that deceit motivated by self-interest is OK as long as no one gets hurt.
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
If you have a roommate you really want to see suffer, here's a suggestion: Buy him or her a ticket to Dead Man on Campus.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
The trouble is that it's not remotely funny enough not to seem merely strained, silly and even disgusting in its ultimate endorsement of conning your way into academic survival.
Anita Gates, New York Times
All three would-be suicides are over the top and fun to watch. Too bad the film they're in seems to have been at least partly written and directed by Beavis and Butt-head.
Sandra Contreras, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Surpise, surprise! This college comedy is better than you'd expect.
Phil Villarreal, Arizona Daily Star
An education in cheap, easy laughs.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
One of the best comedies of the 90's! Once is never enough!
John R. McEwen, Film Quips Online
Dead Man will remind any college grad of the fun and freedom of freshman year, and the wide variety of personalities met there.
Margaret A. McGurk, Cincinnati Enquirer
Some of the endless drug-sex-rock-'n'-roll gags are cute, but most are so paper-thin they disintegrate on contact with fresh air.
Karina Montgomery, Cinerina
Maybe it was my low expectations, but I actually think that people will not appreciate how much suckage was avoided in the making of this film.

Read all 12 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jeff "

Somewhat decent, but very forgettable comedy, Dead Man on Campus is a fun comedy that though flawed manages to be entertaining. The story isn't anything great, but for the most part it brings on a few laughs. This is a film that is mindless fun. I enjoyed the film for what it… More
Somewhat decent, but very forgettable comedy, Dead Man on Campus is a fun comedy that though flawed manages to be entertaining. The story isn't anything great, but for the most part it brings on a few laughs. This is a film that is mindless fun. I enjoyed the film for what it was, a mindless entertaining romp that brought decent laughs. The film is not meant to be a great comedy,. I enjoyed the shear silliness of this film, and thought it was fun. The cast do a fairly decent job. Dead Man on Campus is one of those comedies that is perfect to watch with friends and have a good time. The jokes are good, never anything great; but most of the time it makes you laugh. Dead Man on Campus is underrated and though far from the worst comedy, it's not the best either The film is a decent film to watch and like I said, the film had its moments. The cast are fun to watch and obviously the key performance here is Lochlyn Munro as Cliff. He made the film better. Although Munro isn't a great actor, he manages to bring something worthwhile to the screen. This film is meant as a mindless comedy that shouldn't be taken seriously whatsoever. The film is no Hangover, but it manages to deliver good entertainment for what it is. I enjoyed the film, and I found it quite amusing despite its imperfections. Dead Man on Campus is a mindless comedy worth watching if you're in the mood for something a little dumb. Once in a while it's worth watching something stupid. Not the best comedy, but far better than films like Freddy Got Fingered and Biodome.
Ross C

One of the better American college movies due to a great and simple premise "If your roommate dies, you get an A", which makes for a great comedy.
Taylor B

Several hilarious moments that induced such intense laughter that I cried.
danny d

decent with funny scenes
Ginny

One of my very top favorite movies from highschool! Its so hard to find a DVD of this. Movie Quotes: "You can't sing show tunes and be depressed!" Zeke: This is my brother's Ritalin. Ritalin's good for studying math… More
One of my very top favorite movies from highschool! Its so hard to find a DVD of this. Movie Quotes: "You can't sing show tunes and be depressed!" Zeke: This is my brother's Ritalin. Ritalin's good for studying math or science, just don't try to write English papers on it or it won't make any sense. Enjoy that!
jay n

dumb and borderline offensive but if you're in the mood for mindless entertainment it's okay
Dean M

Great hilarious with the college roommates facing failure who turn to an old school code that awards a 4.0 GPA to the surviving roommates of a suicide victim. Lochlyn Munro's party animal character makes me laugh.
Emily A

The best university life movie I've seen. Coop and Josh's plan to drive soemone over the edge is funny enough, but the people they target are even better. See this movie if you haven't already.
Jim W

The actors are fun together even if the plot is pretty stupid.
Ashton R

I never would have seen this movie under normal circumstances, but that's the beauty of cable I suppose. Once I started watching I couldn't stop, and it ended up being a fairly funny film, despite the typical "college" set up. Very surprising, considering I usually… More
I never would have seen this movie under normal circumstances, but that's the beauty of cable I suppose. Once I started watching I couldn't stop, and it ended up being a fairly funny film, despite the typical "college" set up. Very surprising, considering I usually despise flicks like these.
Leo L

Very funny!