Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life

"Rules aren't for everyone."

2016 1h 32m EN

👍

6.9

SOLID

★6.9TMDB · 470

FamilyComedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A quiet teenage artist Rafe Katchadorian has a wild imagination and is sick of middle school and the rules that have been put before him. Rafe and his best friend Leo have come up with a plan: break every rule in the school hand book and as you expect trouble follows.

“Rules aren't for everyone.”

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Cast

Griffin Gluck
Rafe Khatchadorian
Lauren Graham
Jules Khatchadorian
Alexa Nisenson
Georgia Khatchadorian
Andy Daly
Principal Dwight
Thomas Barbusca
Leo Khatchadorian
Rob Riggle
Bear
Isabela Merced
Jeanne Galletta
Retta
Ida Stricker

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Steve Carr
Writers: Ryan Falkner, David Colman, Kara Holden
Languages: English, Portuguese
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 10 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Portuguese.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

CAST

Did you know

317+ people credited in cast and crew — a small city's worth of labour.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Steve Carr, shot by Julio Macat. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Jeff Cardoni. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Wendy Greene Bricmont shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Griffin Gluck and Lauren Graham and Alexa Nisenson carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Rules aren't for everyone.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Steve Carr directs. Julio Macat behind the camera. Jeff Cardoni scores. Wendy Greene Bricmont cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Profitable at the box office. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English, Portuguese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 10 years ago.
2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Portuguese.
3317+ people credited in cast and crew — a small city's worth of labour.
4Directed by Steve Carr, shot by Julio Macat. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Jeff Cardoni. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Wendy Greene Bricmont shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Griffin Gluck and Lauren Graham and Alexa Nisenson carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "Rules aren't for everyone.".
9IMDB entry: tt4981636 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Julio Macat
Original score: Jeff Cardoni
Editing: Wendy Greene Bricmont
Production design: Perry Andelin Blake
Costume design: Olivia Miles
Makeup / hair: Judy Ponder-Patton
Sound: Karen Vassar Triest
Stunt coordinator: Mickey Giacomazzi
Runtime: 92 min · 1h 32m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $8,500,000
Box office: $23,316,139
Return: 274% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG
IMDB: Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life (2016)

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Steve Carr

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Reno2017-02-24
★ 6/10
New school, new beginning and a new set of rules to adapt. What bad could happen. Not good as I expected, either not bad as what the majority those who saw it says. The film was based on the book of the same name and the first one of I think in the nine book series. It tells the story of a middle school boy who transferred to a new school. Having no friends, straight he falls prey to a bully. Beyond that, the principal turns his life in the campus even harder with all his strict rules. His real adventure begins when he starts to break every rule and bring chaos, as well as joys in his schoolmates. From this, how the remaining story shapes are told with a twist. There are similarities with this and many other films, particularly 'Wimpy Kid...'. Those interfering animations resemble that film. It's like a normal protocol in these days children film, so no complaint on that. But I'm very impressed with the quality. This film was too childish. I mean there's nothing wrong for the kids watching it, they will enjoy it. But for the adults, who had seen lots of middle school themed films of the 80s and the 90s, so it might look an average one. A good film for families with young kids. I particularly suggest to the such category audience. The twist was unexpected. It was easy, but I did not go deep to predict that. I think most of you all too fail to see it coming. Particularly in a film like this who would think of it. That was not enough for me to like the overall film. It is entertaining in parts, but an average film from the inside and outside. Even though I hope they would turn the remaining books as well into the films. All these words I wrote in this review because of I'm being a non- target-audience. So if you are a kid or kid's film fan, ignore my saying and watch the film. 6/10

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