The Freshman

The Freshman (1990)

  • 94% of critics liked it
    (33 reviews)

  • 53% of users liked it
    (10,681 ratings)

In this farcical comedy, Matthew Broderick plays Clark Kellogg, an aspiring director who arrives in New York City to attend film school. However, moments after he arrives in the city, he's robbed by Victor Ray (Bruno Kirby), leaving him no money for the $700 in books required by his instructor,… More

Play Trailer

PG, 1 hr. 42 min.
Directed By
Andrew Bergman
Genres
Drama, Comedy
In Theaters
Jul 20, 1990 Wide
On DVD
Jun 30, 1998
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

  • Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine

    No film offering the spectacle of a Komodo dragon being transported across a state line for immoral purposes can be lightly dismissed.

  • Variety Staff, Variety

    Marlon Brando's sublime comedy performance elevates The Freshman from screwball comedy to a quirky niche in film history.

  • Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

    Sweet and warm as well as manic, this is full of loopy surprises.

  • Janet Maslin, New York Times

    A witty and enchanted comedy.

  • Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

    There have been a lot of movies where stars have repeated the triumphs of their parts - but has any star ever done it more triumphantly than Marlon Brando does in The Freshman?

Read all 16 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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

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

Featured Audience Ratings

  • moon r


    Brando spoofs his Godfather role ... that's the draw in this light fah-gettahboutit comedy that has a small town yoot (Broderick, serviceable) visit da Big Apple for the first time --- as a film student at NYU. And what film are they studying? Try ta guess, or y'sleep… More

  • AJ V


    This is a zany adventure comedy with movie legend Marlon Brando and 80s teen cutie Matthew Broderick. Being a fan of both of them, I really enjoyed this movie. It's nothing new, but it is entertaining.

  • danny d


    one of the truly brilliant comedies of the 1990's, and already a film being grossly overlooked. ive never been a big broderick fan, but this may be his best movie, and brando's ability to spoof his own creation is admirable. the humor is fresh and the story delightful. a… More

  • Cindy I


    I always try to give Matthew Broderick the benefit of the doubt since I liked him in Ferris Beuller so much, but he keeps disappointing me.

  • Conner R


    Aside from the above average performance from Marlon Brando, this a completely uninteresting and bland film. It is a lazy attempt at a coming of age story, that is extremely cheesy and predictable. Matthew Broderick was terrible and had zero personality.

Read all 15 featured audience ratings

Cast

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