Police Academy

Police Academy is currently streaming in Australia on HBO Max, and in the UK on Sky Go and Now TV Cinema, and it delivers exactly the kind of comedy that earns a loyal following. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. Its 7/10 TMDB score, built from 3,026 ratings, reflects a title that consistently delivers. Steve Guttenberg sets the tone, and the rest of the cast matches it scene for scene. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on HBO Max.

There is a reason Police Academy keeps coming up in conversation. The jokes in Police Academy land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. New rules enforced by the Lady Mayoress mean that sex, weight, height and intelligence need no longer be a factor for joining the Police Force. This opens the floodgates for all and sundry to enter the Police Academy, much to the chagrin of the instructors. Not everyone is there through choice, though. Steve Guttenberg and Kim Cattrall lead a cast that never overplays a joke. It was released in 1984. Police Academy earns its laughs from character rather than situation, which is why it does not wear thin the way pure farce tends to. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, Police Academy respects your intelligence. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Steve Guttenberg anchors an ensemble with real chemistry. Genuinely funny, consistently, across the whole run.