Movie

Major Payne

1995 · 95 min

A loud, silly drill-sergeant comedy that wins you over with broad gags and a surprisingly soft heart.

Directed by: Nick Castle
Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Family
Starring: Damon Wayans, Karyn Parsons, Steven Martini

Tagline: He's looking for a few good men... or a few guys old enough to shave.
Overview: Major Benson Winifred Payne is being discharged from the Marines. Payne is a killin' machine, but the wars of the world are no longer fought on the battlefield. A career Marine, he has no idea what to do as a civilian, so his commander finds him a job - commanding officer of a local school's JROTC program, a bunch of ragtag losers with no hope.

Your rating is saved. See your suggestions, or find titles like this one below.

Rate it, and Mesmero finds titles that feel like it. You do not need an account.

Search YouTube for a trailer

Add to a list: Major Payne

In the USNot loaded yet.

Directed by: Nick Castle
Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Family
Starring: Damon Wayans, Karyn Parsons, Steven Martini

In your watch list

How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Tone: lightstrength 3 of 3
absurdstrength 2 of 3
warmstrength 2 of 3
campystrength 2 of 3
Pacing: brisk, 3 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention: easy-watch, 2 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes: found family
coming-of-age
redemption
loyalty
family
Places: school
military
Era: contemporary
Audience: family
Form: ensemble
Content intensity: Gore none
Language mild
Violence mild
Sex mild

All scales, 0 to 10

Scales, 0 to 10
Scale	Value	0 to 10
Action	4
Horror	0
Humour	8
Realism	5
Romance	3
Tension	3
Darkness	2
Complexity	2
Emotional weight	4

Titles like Major Payne

TV series

Big Shot

2021–2022

An easy, heartfelt watch where a gruff coach learns from his team, blending light comedy with genuine emotional beats.

Same creator: Dean Lorey · Warm · about found family and coming-of-age

Also: Same creator: Dean Lorey
Via: warm
found family
coming-of-age
Pacing: measured
Attention: easy-watch
Seasons: 2

Details

Big ShotHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Stripes

1981

A loose, goofy hangout comedy where the jokes and the camaraderie carry you along more than any plot.

Light, absurd, brisk · about loyalty · ensemble

Via: light
absurd
loyalty
ensemble
Pacing: brisk
Attention: easy-watch
Runtime: 106 min

Details

StripesHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Cadet Kelly

2002

A bright, bouncy fish-out-of-water comedy where silly pranks and strict drills give way to earnest teamwork and family warmth.

Light, warm, brisk · about coming-of-age and loyalty

Via: light
warm
coming-of-age
loyalty
Pacing: brisk
Attention: easy-watch
Runtime: 100 min

Details

Cadet KellyHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Sky High

2005

A bright, goofy superhero romp that feels like a teen comedy with superpowers and a warm family heart.

Light, warm, brisk · about coming-of-age and loyalty · ensemble

Via: light
warm
coming-of-age
loyalty
ensemble
Pacing: brisk
Attention: easy-watch
Runtime: 100 min

Details

Sky HighHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Suck Me Shakespeer

2013

A raucous, feel-good comedy where a criminal's crude methods hilariously clash with school life, warming into an unexpectedly sweet redemption tale.

Light, absurd, brisk · about found family and redemption

Via: light
absurd
found family
redemption
Pacing: brisk
Attention: easy-watch
Runtime: 117 min

Details

Suck Me ShakespeerHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

School of Rock

2003

A buoyant, good-natured comedy that coasts on infectious enthusiasm, letting you grin through a story about misfit kids finding their voice.

Warm, brisk · about found family and coming-of-age · ensemble

Via: warm
found family
coming-of-age
ensemble
Pacing: brisk
Attention: easy-watch
Runtime: 110 min

Details

School of RockHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Heartbreak Ridge

1986

A gruff, old-school military drama that mixes tough training, gentle comedy, and a soft romantic streak, ending on a rousing, feel-good note.

Warm · about found family and redemption · ensemble

Via: warm
found family
redemption
ensemble
Pacing: measured
Attention: easy-watch
Runtime: 130 min

Details

Heartbreak RidgeHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Dennis the Menace

1993

A light, mischievous comedy where harmless chaos and grumpy neighbourly friction keep things playful and easy to watch.

Same director: Nick Castle · Light, campy, brisk · about coming-of-age and loyalty

Also: Same director: Nick Castle
Via: light
campy
coming-of-age
loyalty
Pacing: brisk
Attention: easy-watch
Runtime: 96 min

Details

Dennis the MenaceHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

The Waterboy

1998

A silly, good-natured sports comedy full of broad characters and slapstick, easy to watch and cheer along with.

Light, absurd, brisk · about redemption and family · ensemble

Via: light
absurd
redemption
family
ensemble
Pacing: brisk
Attention: easy-watch
Runtime: 90 min

Details

The WaterboyHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Home Team

2022

A breezy, good-natured underdog sports comedy that coasts on easy laughs and a soft father-son warmth.

Light, warm, brisk · about found family and redemption · ensemble

Via: light
warm
found family
redemption
ensemble
Pacing: brisk
Attention: easy-watch
Runtime: 95 min

Details

Home TeamHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

Police Academy 3: Back in Training

1986

Silly, good-natured slapstick where a gang of lovable misfits bumble through training and outwit stuffy rivals; a breezy, low-stakes comfort watch.

Light, absurd, brisk · about found family and loyalty · ensemble

Via: light
absurd
found family
loyalty
ensemble
Pacing: brisk
Attention: easy-watch
Runtime: 84 min

Details

Police Academy 3: Back in TrainingHidden from your suggestions.

Movie

American Pie

1999

A raunchy, silly comedy that feels like a nostalgic, easygoing hangout with friends, full of embarrassing moments and sweet sincerity.

Light, absurd, brisk · about coming-of-age and family · ensemble

Via: light
absurd
coming-of-age
family
ensemble
Pacing: brisk
Attention: easy-watch
Runtime: 95 min

Details

American PieHidden from your suggestions.

Where to watch in the US

Change country

We have not loaded where to watch in the US for this title yet. Check again in a day or two.

Streaming data from JustWatch.TMDB

Details

Genres: adventure, comedy, family
Directed by: Nick Castle
Written by: Damon Wayans, Dean Lorey, Gary Rosen
Starring: Damon Wayans, Karyn Parsons, Steven Martini, Orlando Brown, William Hickey, Michael Ironside, Albert Hall, Chris Owen
Music: Craig Safan
Cinematography: Richard Bowen
Runtime: 95 min
Country: United States of America
Languages: English, Spanish

TMDB IMDb Letterboxd Wikipedia Wikidata

Something wrong on this page? Tell us.

Major Payne

How it feels

More like this

Titles like Major Payne

Cast

Where to watch in the US

Details