Questions
When did Animal House come out and who made it?
National Lampoon’s Animal House was released on July 28, 1978, directed by John Landis for Universal Pictures. It was written by Harold Ramis, Douglas Kenney, and Chris Miller.
How much did it cost to make and how much did it earn?
The movie was made on a budget of about $3 million and grossed roughly $141.6 million, making it the highest-grossing comedy of its era.
Was the role of Bluto written for John Belushi?
Yes. Harold Ramis wrote Bluto Blutarsky specifically for Belushi after the two had worked together at The Second City in Chicago, even though Belushi was initially considered a supporting player.
How did Belushi film this while on Saturday Night Live?
He reportedly commuted weekly between Oregon and New York, juggling the demanding shoot with his SNL duties.
What was the story behind Donald Sutherland’s paycheck?
Sutherland reportedly chose a guaranteed $25,000 fee over 2 percent of the gross, a decision that ultimately cost him around $14 million. His involvement was crucial to getting the film greenlit.
Which stars got their film debut in Animal House?
Landis preferred casting unknowns, which gave both Kevin Bacon and Karen Allen their movie debuts.
Did any famous comedians turn the movie down?
Yes. Chevy Chase passed to do Foul Play and Bill Murray declined entirely, while Dan Aykroyd was offered the D-Day role but stayed with SNL, so Bruce McGill got the part instead.
Where was the movie filmed?
It was shot at the University of Oregon from October to December 1977, with the parade finale filmed in Cottage Grove, Oregon. The actual Delta House was the Dr. A.W. Patterson House near campus, which was demolished in 1986.
Why did the University of Oregon agree to host the shoot?
President William Beaty Boyd reportedly approved it after learning that Berkeley had turned away the location scout for The Graduate and regretted it.
How was Bluto’s character conceived?
Landis developed Bluto as a cross between Harpo Marx and Cookie Monster, which is why the character has minimal dialogue. Belushi reportedly said his non-verbal style came from his Albanian grandmother, who spoke little English.
Was the cafeteria food fight really one take?
It was filmed in one continuous shot, with the actors encouraged to fight authentically. Stephen Furst’s grocery-catching scene also reportedly required a single unbroken take.
Did the toga party start a real trend?
Yes. Universal spent about $4.5 million promoting toga parties on college campuses, and one University of Maryland event reportedly drew 2,000 attendees, helping make toga parties a mainstream college activity in 1978 and 1979.
Did anything wild happen off-camera during filming?
Cast members reportedly crashed a real fraternity party where James Widdoes threw beer at Oregon football players and set off a brawl. Bruce McGill got a black eye and Widdoes had teeth knocked out.
Has Animal House been officially recognized as a classic?
In 2001 the Library of Congress added it to the National Film Registry as culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant. The AFI ranked it number 36 on its list of 100 funniest films, and Bluto’s Toga! Toga! chant landed at number 82 on its movie quotes list.
Why was there never a sequel?
A planned 1967-set sequel following Pinto in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury never came together after More American Graffiti underperformed, and Belushi’s death in 1982 indefinitely shelved the projects.
