School Daze

School Daze (1988)

  • 58% of critics liked it
    (19 reviews)

  • 78% of users liked it
    (8,641 ratings)

Fraternity and sorority members clash with the other students at a historically black university in this politically charged musical, which marked the sophomore feature from director Spike Lee. Dap (Laurence Fishburne) is a politically conscious brother who leads anti-apartheid demonstrations and… More

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R,
Directed By
Genres
Drama, Comedy
In Theaters
Feb 12, 1988 Wide
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

  • Derek Adams, Time Out

    Lee has a small, intimate talent; here, he goes for the big podium and blows it.

  • Janet Maslin, New York Times

    For every tough-minded confrontation between the different student factions, School Daze is apt to offer a love scene less than vital to the plot, or an overlong musical scene whose effect is that of treading water.

  • Rita Kempley, Washington Post

    School Daze, with its pompous patchwork plot, is an arrogant, humorless, sexist mess.

  • Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

    Although the film has big structural problems and leaves a lot of loose ends, there was never a moment when it didn't absorb me.

  • Desson Thomson, Washington Post

    Spike Lee had something in mind while he shot School Daze, his follow-up to the cult hit She's Gotta Have It. Unfortunately it's still lodged behind his cranium.

Read all 14 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Chris W


    This is producer/writer/director/co-star Spike Lee's sophmore effort: a musical dramedy set at a HBCU (historically black college or university) over the course of homecoming weekend. What I found so engaging about the film is that it never once shows the perspective of white… More

  • AJ V


    I think the main problem with this movie is that it doesn't have a wide enough audience. It's audience is pretty much just African Americans who went to college and were in a fraternity around the time the movie takes place. It's very specific and hard to relate to.… More

  • Conner R


    It's a truly unique breed of film. It's not quite a comedy or a drama or a coming of age story, but a collaboration of the three. Spike Lee shows that not all college oriented films are dim witted and meaningless, but that they can have emotional backing and character… More

  • Megan S


    Good movie with an important message. The musical numbers were pretty funny. But the end was terribly hokey, like that would ever work in real life.

  • Donna D


    Crazy movie! Spike Lee's movies always intrigued me, but this one...was a bit too cheesy, yet amusing on his insight of college life amongst the black students of Mission college. Musical numbers were entertaining as well as some bits of comedic attempts of the fraternity rush… More

Read all 6 featured audience ratings

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