# Police Academy (franchise)

Police Academy is a comedy franchise of seven theatrical films and two spin-off television shows. The 1984 film Police Academy followed the premise of a new mayor requiring the local police department to accept all recruits. The film franchise relies heavily on slapstick humor and physical comedy, as the misfit recruits attempt to prove themselves capable of being police officers, succeeding despite their eccentricities. The first four films follow Carey Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg), a repeat offender forced to join the police academy as punishment. The 1994 film Mission to Moscow marked the seventh installment, with cast members George Gaynes, Michael Winslow, and David Graf appearing throughout the film series.
The first film grossed $149.8 million worldwide. While the subsequent films failed to impress critics, they sustained commercial success, grossing $391 million in total. Parallels have been drawn between Police Academy and the British Carry On series, for their common tropes of a returning ensemble cast, frequent use of lowbrow humor, and reliance on sexual innuendo.
Guttenberg announced in September 2018 that a new Police Academy movie was in the works after spending years in development hell.

## Films

Overview of Police Academy films :
| Film | U.S. release date | Director | Screenwriter(s) | Producer(s) |
| Police Academy | March 23, 1984 (1984-03-23) | Hugh Wilson | Neal Israel, Pat Proft & Hugh Wilson | Paul Maslansky |
| Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment | March 29, 1985 (1985-03-29) | Jerry Paris | Barry W. Blaustein & David Sheffield | Paul Maslansky |
| Police Academy 3: Back in Training | March 21, 1986 (1986-03-21) | Jerry Paris | Gene Quintano | Paul Maslansky |
| Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol | April 3, 1987 (1987-04-03) | Jim Drake | Gene Quintano | Paul Maslansky |
| Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach | March 18, 1988 (1988-03-18) | Alan Myerson | Stephen Curwick | Paul Maslansky |
| Police Academy 6: City Under Siege | March 10, 1989 (1989-03-10) | Peter Bonerz | Stephen Curwick | Paul Maslansky |
| Police Academy: Mission to Moscow | August 26, 1994 (1994-08-26) | Alan Metter | Randolph Davis & Michele S. Chodos | Paul Maslansky |

### Police Academy (1984)

Police Academy was released in 1984 and directed by Hugh Wilson. The film has a newly elected female mayor announcing a policy requiring the police department to accept all willing recruits. The movie followed a group of misfit recruits in their attempts to prove themselves capable of being police officers and their adventures at the police academy.

### Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985)

In Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment, the newly graduated cadets are sent to one of the worst precincts in the city to improve the conditions. Lt. Mauser undermines their attempts so he can get Capt. Lassard fired and get the position in charge.

### Police Academy 3: Back in Training (1986)

Police Academy 3: Back in Training was released in 1986, and like its predecessor, was directed by Jerry Paris. When the governor of the state announces that budget cuts necessitate the closure of the worst of the two police academies, the officers of the Metropolitan Police Academy, led by Commandant Lassard, work on ensuring it is not theirs. This is hindered by their unusual gang of new cadets.

### Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987)

Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol, released in 1987 and directed by Jim Drake, involves new recruits being brought in when the officers work with a newly formed Citizens on Patrol group. Harris and Proctor are in charge, though, and plan to dismantle the program. Citizens on Patrol was the final film starring Guttenberg.

### Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach (1988)

Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach, released in 1988, was directed by Alan Myerson. The plot involves the officers attending a police convention in Florida to honor Commandant Eric Lassard as police officer of the decade, wherein he inadvertently switches his sports bag with that of a group of jewel thieves. The thieves try to get it back.

### Police Academy 6: City Under Siege (1989)

The sixth installment, Police Academy 6: City Under Siege, directed by Peter Bonerz, was released in 1989. When the city suffers from a dangerous set of crimes by a gang of jewel thieves, the Metropolitan Police Academy graduates are brought in to do something about it.

### Police Academy: Mission to Moscow (1994)

Police Academy: Mission to Moscow, released in 1994 and directed by Alan Metter, involved the officers going to Russia to help catch an international crime figure.

### Future

A franchise reboot has been in various stages of development hell since 2003, when the eighth Police Academy film was announced with a tentative release scheduled for 2007. The studio acknowledged the franchise's return after more than thirteen years of absence, Paul Maslansky stated, "I felt it was time to start again. I saw that Starsky & Hutch and a number of other revivals were doing really well. Police Academy has such a great history, so I thought, 'Why not?'" with most of the main cast members set to return. Hugh Wilson was later slated to direct. Leslie Easterbrook (Capt. Debbie Callahan) and Marion Ramsey (Sgt. Laverne Hooks) mentioned that filming for the next Police Academy film was scheduled to commence principal photography mid-2006 to meet its 2007 release. The film was suspended in October 2006, at which point Easterbrook mentioned that the project may be repurposed as a direct-to-DVD sequel. She added that though Warner Bros. wanted to do a new film, they wanted a producer to get independent financing.
In May 2008, Michael Winslow replied to a question about a possible new Police Academy film: "Anything's possible. You've got to hope for Paul Maslansky and those folks over there to put it together. It's up to them. It would be great to see everyone again." In November of the same year, Steve Guttenberg (Sgt. Carey Mahoney) confirmed that 8 was still in development and that he was working on the script with Warner Bros. Guttenberg is slated to direct the film, and stated that all living cast members from the previous installments would return to reprise their roles.
In March 2010, New Line announced plans to revive the Police Academy franchise, with a new film in development with Paul Maslansky attached as filmmaker. Maslansky stated, "It's going to be very worthwhile to the people who remember it and to those who saw it on TV ... It's going to be a new class. We hope to discover new talent and season it with great comedians. It'll be anything but another movie with a numeral next to it. And we'll most probably retain the wonderful musical theme." Later that month, the filmmaker stated that he plans to bring back some of the original cast to train the new recruits. While appearing as a guest on the July 12, 2010, edition of This Morning, Michael Winslow (Sgt. Larvell Jones) confirmed that Police Academy 8 was in active development. In August 2010, Steve Guttenberg revealed a script was being written by David Diamond and David Weissman. In August 2010, actor Bobcat Goldthwait (Officer Zed) released a statement urging Hollywood to reboot the Police Academy series with a new group of actors instead of the original cast members. Goldthwait confirmed that Steve Guttenberg would return and that movie bosses were trying to get Kim Cattrall and Sharon Stone to return for an eighth film, though Goldthwait said he had no desire to return to the series.
By January 2012, New Line Cinema announced that Scott Zabielski would replace Maslansky as the director of the upcoming film. Later in March of the same year, Michael Winslow stated that production of the eighth film tentatively scheduled to commence that November, and that an offer had been made to Shaquille O'Neal to replace the late Bubba Smith as Hightower. In June 2012, Jeremy Garelick was hired to contribute to a rewrite the aforementioned script. After years of delays, Steve Guttenberg announced in September 2018, that the sequel was once again in active development; stating, "the next Police Academy is coming, no details yet, but it is in a gift bag being readied!"

## Television

Overview of Police Academy television series :
| Series | Season | Episodes | First released | Last released | Showrunner(s) | Network(s) |
| Police Academy: The Animated Series | 2 | 65 | September 11, 1988 | January 28, 1989 | Paul Maslansky | Broadcast syndication |
| Police Academy: The Series | 1 | 26 | September 12, 1997 | May 25, 1998 | Paul Maslansky | Broadcast syndication |

### Police Academy: The Animated Series (1988–1989)

An animated comedy titled Police Academy, also known as Police Academy: The Animated Series, was produced by Ruby-Spears Productions and Warner Bros. Television. It ran from September 1988 to September 1989, lasting two seasons with 65 episodes produced. The animated series relies heavily both on slapstick and surreal humor and physical comedy, and centers in the true fighting-crime for fun.

### Police Academy: The Series (1997–1998)

Police Academy: The Series is a 1997 live-action show based on the films, comprising 26 episodes, each one hour. It was produced by Warner Bros. Television and Protocol Entertainment. Michael Winslow reprised his role from the films, and several others made occasional guest appearances.

## Comic books

A six-issue series of Police Academy comic books was produced as a spin-off of the animated series beginning in August 1989. The series was published by Marvel Comics, under a "Star Comics Presents" byline.
The series was written by Angelo DeCesare, pencilled by Howard Post, and inked by Jacqueline Roettcher.

## Main cast and characters

Overview of Police Academy cast and characters :
| Character | Films | Films | Films | Films | Films | Films | Films | Television | Television |
| Character | Police Academy | Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment | Police Academy 3: Back in Training | Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol | Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach | Police Academy 6: City Under Siege | Police Academy: Mission to Moscow | Police Academy: The Animated Series | Police Academy: The Series |
| Character | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1994 | 1988–1989 | 1997–1998 |
| Carey Mahoney | Steve Guttenberg | Steve Guttenberg | Steve Guttenberg | Steve Guttenberg | | | | Ron Rubin | |
| Moses Hightower | Bubba Smith | Bubba Smith | Bubba Smith | Bubba Smith | Bubba Smith | Bubba Smith | | Greg Morton | Bubba Smith (guest) |
| Larvell Jones | Michael Winslow | Michael Winslow | Michael Winslow | Michael Winslow | Michael Winslow | Michael Winslow | Michael Winslow | Greg Morton | Michael Winslow |
| Eugene Tackleberry | David Graf | David Graf | David Graf | David Graf | David Graf | David Graf | David Graf | Dan Hennessey | David Graf (guest) |
| Eric Lassard | George Gaynes | George Gaynes | George Gaynes | George Gaynes | George Gaynes | George Gaynes | George Gaynes | Tedd Dillon | George Gaynes (guest) |
| Laverne Hooks | Marion Ramsey | Marion Ramsey | Marion Ramsey | Marion Ramsey | Marion Ramsey | Marion Ramsey | | Denise Pidgeon | |
| Henry J. Hurst | George R. Robertson | George R. Robertson | George R. Robertson | George R. Robertson | George R. Robertson | George R. Robertson | | | George R. Robertson (guest) |
| Debbie Callahan | Leslie Easterbrook | | Leslie Easterbrook | Leslie Easterbrook | Leslie Easterbrook | Leslie Easterbrook | Leslie Easterbrook | Denise Pidgeon | Leslie Easterbrook (guest) |
| Thaddeus Harris | G. W. Bailey | | | G. W. Bailey | G. W. Bailey | G. W. Bailey | G. W. Bailey | Len Carlson | |
| Carl Proctor | | Lance Kinsey | Lance Kinsey | Lance Kinsey | Lance Kinsey | Lance Kinsey | | Don Francks | |
| Douglas Fackler | Bruce Mahler | Bruce Mahler | Bruce Mahler | | | Bruce Mahler | | | |
| Violet Fackler | Debralee Scott | | Debralee Scott | | | | | | |
| Bud Kirkland | | Andrew Paris | Andrew Paris | Andrew Paris | | | | | |
| Carl Sweetchuck | | Tim Kazurinsky | Tim Kazurinsky | Tim Kazurinsky | | | | Howard Morris | |
| Zed McGlunk | | Bobcat Goldthwait | Bobcat Goldthwait | Bobcat Goldthwait | | | | Dan Hennessey | |
| Chad Copeland | Scott Thomson | | Scott Thomson | Scott Thomson | | | | | |
| Kyle Blankes | Brant Von Hoffman | | Brant Von Hoffman | | | | | | |
| Kathleen Kirkland | | Colleen Camp | | Colleen Camp | | | | | |
| Ernie Mauser | | Art Metrano | Art Metrano | | | | | Rex Hagon | Art Metrano (guest) |
| Tomoko Nogata | | | Brian Tochi | Brian Tochi | | | | | |
| Thomas Conklin | | | | Tab Thacker | Tab Thacker | | | Don Francks | |
| Nick Lassard | | | | | Matt McCoy | Matt McCoy | | | |

## Additional crew and production details

Production details of the Police Academy franchise :
| Title | Crew/Detail | Crew/Detail | Crew/Detail | Crew/Detail | Crew/Detail | Crew/Detail |
| Title | Composer(s) | Cinematographer | Editor(s) | Production companies | Distributing company | Running time |
| Police Academy | Robert Folk | Michael D. Margulies | Robert Brown & Zach Staenberg | Warner Bros.: a Warner Communications Company, Paul Maslansky Productions, The Ladd Company | Warner Bros. Pictures (United States), Columbia-EMI-Warner Distributors (United Kingdom) | 1 hr 36 mins |
| Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment | Robert Folk | James Crabe | Bob Wyman | Warner Bros.: a Warner Communications Company, Paul Maslansky Productions, The Ladd Company | Warner Bros. Pictures | 1 hr 27 mins |
| Police Academy 3: Back in Training | Robert Folk | Robert Saad | Bud Molin | Warner Bros.: a Warner Communications Company, Paul Maslansky Productions, Jerry Paris Films, Police Academy Productions | Warner Bros. Pictures | 1 hr 23 mins |
| Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol | Robert Folk | Robert Saad | David Rawlins | Warner Bros. Inc.: Warner Communications Inc., Paul Maslansky Productions | Warner Bros. Pictures | 1 hr 28 mins |
| Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach | Robert Folk | James Pergola | Hubert C. de la Bouillerie | Warner Bros. Inc.: Warner Communications Inc., Paul Maslansky Productions, Alan Myerson Films | Warner Bros. Pictures | 1 hr 30 mins |
| Police Academy 6: City Under Siege | Robert Folk | Charles Rosher Jr. | Hubert C. de la Bouillerie | Warner Bros. Inc.: a Warner Communications Company, Paul Maslansky Productions | Warner Bros. Pictures | 1 hr 24 mins |
| Police Academy: The Animated Series | Scott Thomas Canfield and John Debney | Director of Animation: Ric Gonzalez | Chip Yaras | Warner Bros. Television, Ruby-Spears Enterprises | Syndication | 21 hrs 40 mins (20 mins/episode) |
| Police Academy: Mission to Moscow | Robert Folk | Ian Jones | Dennis Hill & Suzanne Hines | Warner Bros., Paul Maslansky Productions | Warner Bros. Pictures | 1 hr 23 mins |
| Police Academy: The Series | Ken Harrison, Ken Williams, Karel Roessingh, Jim Guttridge, Daryl Bennett, Ari Wise, and Hal Beckett | Manfred Guthe | Daria Ellerman, Richard Schwadel, and Allyson Boyce | Warner Bros. International Television Productions, Paul Mansky Productions, Goodman/Rosen Productions, Protocol Entertainment | Syndication | 26 hrs (60 mins/episode) |

## Reception

Box office performance of Police Academy films :
| Film | Release date | Domestic gross | Worldwide gross | Budget |
| Police Academy | March 23, 1984 (1984-3-23) | $81,198,894 | $149,840,000 | $4,800,000 |
| Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment | March 29, 1985 (1985-3-29) | $55,600,000 | $114,993,000 | $7,500,000 |
| Police Academy 3: Back in Training | March 21, 1986 (1986-3-21) | $43,579,163 | $107,639,000 | $12,239,000 |
| Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol | April 3, 1987 (1987-4-3) | $28,061,343 | $76,819,000 | $17,325,000 |
| Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach | March 18, 1988 (1988-3-18) | $19,510,371 | $54,499,000 | $13,858,000 |
| Police Academy 6: City Under Siege | March 10, 1989 (1989-3-10) | $11,567,217 | $33,190,000 | $14,515,000 |
| Police Academy: Mission to Moscow | August 26, 1994 (1994-8-26) | $126,247 | $4,300,000 | $10,000,000 |
| Total | $239,643,235 | $541,280,000 | $79,937,000 | |
The films have received overall negative reviews, apart from the first film which had more mixed reviews.
Critical and public response of the Police Academy films :
| Film | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic | CinemaScore |
| Police Academy | 56% (32 reviews) | 41 (6 reviews) | — |
| Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment | 28% (18 reviews) | 39 (8 reviews) | — |
| Police Academy 3: Back in Training | 36% (11 reviews) | 33 (8 reviews) | B+ |
| Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol | 0% (20 reviews) | 26 (8 reviews) | B- |
| Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach | 0% (9 reviews) | 18 (10 reviews) | B |
| Police Academy 6: City Under Siege | 0% (9 reviews) | 16 (8 reviews) | B- |
| Police Academy: Mission to Moscow | 0% (8 reviews) | 11 (4 reviews) | — |

## Music

* Police Academy: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
* Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
* Police Academy 3: Back in Training (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
* Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
* Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
* Police Academy 6: City Under Siege (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
* Police Academy: Mission to Moscow (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

## Other media
### Video games

Two aborted attempts at video game adaptations of the franchise were planned, one by Hasbro for the aborted Control-Vision console, developed by Mark Turmell, and the other was an unlicensed NES game by Tengen.