Police Academy Movies: Release Order
The Police Academy franchise is a famous comedy series that follows the adventures of an unlikely group of police recruits who graduate from an academy with relaxed admission standards. The films are built around recurring characters with distinct personality quirks, physical comedy, and running gags.
This complete watch order spans a decade of filmmaking, showcasing the characters' journey from bumbling cadets to seasoned officers tackling various assignments. While the series maintains its comedic formula throughout, the films offer enough episodic variety to keep the concept reasonably fresh across seven entries, though the later films don't live up to the first entries.
There is 1 other watch order available – see the link up above.
Linear Timeline: Release Order = Story Order
Police Academy
When new rules allow anyone to join the police force regardless of physical or mental requirements, a misfit group of recruits enters the Police Academy. Among them is Mahoney, who must choose between police training or jail time, leading to hilarious clashes with his strict instructors.
Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment
Fresh graduates from the Police Academy hit the streets for their first assignment, facing off against a group of graffiti-tagging troublemakers in this comedy sequel.
Police Academy 3: Back in Training
When budget cuts threaten to close one of two police academies, the institutions must compete against each other to determine which one survives. The familiar cast of misfit cadets faces off in a series of challenges to save their beloved academy.
Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol
The fourth installment of the Police Academy series follows a group of civilian volunteers who join Commandant Lassard's Citizens on Patrol program, while the skeptical Captain Harris schemes to sabotage the community policing initiative.
Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach
The bumbling Police Academy graduates head to Miami Beach where Commandant Lassard is set to receive a lifetime achievement award, but their vacation turns chaotic when he accidentally becomes involved with stolen diamonds from a jewelry heist.
Police Academy 6: City Under Siege
The bumbling but well-meaning police officers from the Academy are called upon to stop a crime wave involving bank and jewelry store robberies. Using their unconventional methods and surprising luck, they take on the criminal gang in typical Police Academy fashion.
Police Academy: Mission to Moscow
The bumbling Police Academy graduates travel to Moscow to help Russian authorities take down a criminal mastermind who has used a popular computer game as part of his illegal scheme.
Other Film Series
Bad Boys
An action-comedy franchise following Miami narcotics detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett as they take on high-stakes cases while navigating their evolving partnership.
Bruce Dern
A prolific character actor known for intense villain roles and complex antiheroes across six decades of cinema.
Fantômas
A comedic French crime trilogy following the adventures of master criminal Fantômas and his pursuit by the bumbling Commissioner Juve.
Home Alone
A series of holiday comedy films about kids left to defend their homes against bumbling criminals, beginning with Kevin McCallister's iconic adventures.
In the Line of Duty
A landmark Hong Kong action franchise featuring female police officers in intense martial arts and stunt-heavy adventures.
No Retreat, No Surrender
A trilogy of standalone martial arts action films connected only by title and shared themes of underdog fighters facing overwhelming odds.