Revenge of the Nerds

If you are after a comedy that actually makes you laugh out loud, Revenge of the Nerds is available on streaming right now. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Robert Carradine is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. Put it on tonight and see for yourself.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Revenge of the Nerds is worth clearing space for. Revenge of the Nerds does what great comedies rarely manage — it is actually funny, consistently, across the whole run. At Adams College, the jocks rule from their house on high, the Alpha Beta fraternity. So when a group of socially-challenged misfits try to go Greek, they're instantly rejected by every house on campus. Deciding to start their own frat to protect their outcast brothers, the nerds soon find themselves in a battle royale as the Alpha Betas try to crush their new rivals. Robert Carradine and Anthony Edwards lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1984. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and Revenge of the Nerds holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Comedy fans looking for a reliably funny watch will find it in Revenge of the Nerds. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Robert Carradine anchors an ensemble with real chemistry. Genuinely funny, consistently, across the whole run.