April Fool's Day
Performance & Direction: April Fool's Day Review
Last updated: January 26, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is April Fool's Day (1986) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 6.1/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Horror.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Horror is often anchored by its ensemble, and April Fool's Day features a noteworthy lineup led by Amy Steel . Supported by the likes of Ken Olandt and Deborah Foreman , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
In summary, our editorial assessment of April Fool's Day (1986) is mixed. With an audience rating of 6.1/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
Story & Plot Summary: April Fool's Day
Quick Plot Summary: April Fool's Day is a Horror, Mystery film that crafts an atmosphere of dread and suspense, using psychological terror and visual scares. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Ending Explained: April Fool's Day
Ending Breakdown: April Fool's Day concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to horror resolution.
The final reveal recontextualizes earlier scenes, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the horror themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of April Fool's Day reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch April Fool's Day?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Horror films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of the cast or director
- Want a few scares and creepy atmosphere
Box Office Collection: April Fool's Day
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $5.0M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
April Fool's Day Budget
The estimated production budget for April Fool's Day is $5.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: April Fool's Day
All Cast & Crew →
Where to Watch April Fool's Day Online?
Streaming Hub🎟️ Rent on
Amazon VideoApril Fool's Day Parents Guide & Age Rating
1986 AdvisoryWondering about April Fool's Day age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of April Fool's Day is 88 minutes (1h 28m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.1/10, and global performance metrics, April Fool's Day is classified as a ABOVE AVERAGE. It remains an essential part of the 1986 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is April Fool's Day worth watching?
April Fool's Day is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Horror movies. It has a verified rating of 6.1/10 and stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find April Fool's Day parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for April Fool's Day identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of April Fool's Day?
The total duration of April Fool's Day is 88 minutes, which is approximately 1h 28m long.
Best Movies to Watch if you liked April Fool's Day
How April Fool's Day Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for April Fool's Day
Muffy the ham-pie slayer! A group of college buddies convene at a friends isolated abode and get killed off one by one… Great fun, Fred Walton, Frank Mancuso Jr. and Danilo Bach tap cheekily into the 1980s obsession with slasher films, and produce a self aware horror movie of mighty dark comedy proportions. Quite often when film makers try to laugh as they bite the hand that feeds them they fall flat on their faces, not so here. Ok! It’s hardly genius film making but the makers instil their picture with interesting killings, twists and turns, and even an audacious narrative that would only be appreciated some years later. Horror movie conventions are adhered to with tongue stuck in bloody cheek, none more so than with an ending that will infuriate some, but conversely will bring on the chortles in others. 7/10
Fun horror movie that is on the predictable side but I still found it pretty entertaining. The ensemble cast was alright with the most well known face, at now, is of course Thomas F. Wilson (Biff). Not sure how high up this is amongst the holiday horror movies, but I liked it. **3.75/5**
_**April Fools slasher**_ Ten youths about to graduate college celebrate at a remote island mansion in the Great Northwest, soon to be inherited by one them (Deborah Foreman). Unfortunately, they start getting hacked one-by-one. Who’s the killer? "April Fool’s Day" (1986) is a slasher/horror in the cabin-in-the-woods mold; it’s just that the ‘cabin’ in this case is a magnificent mansion. The presence of Amy Steel, who played Ginny in “Friday the 13th Part II” (1981), brings to mind that series but, besides Amy, the female cast isn’t as notable, although it’s okay. You might remember Deborah Foreman from “Valley Girl” (1983) and “Real Genius” (1985). On the other side of the gender spectrum, Ken Olandt is a Kevin Bacon lookalike while Clayton Rohner is reminiscent of Val Kilmer. Regrettably, the pacing is off and so not enough suspense is worked up. Any “Friday the 13th” flick is all-around more entertaining, not to mention “Slumber Party Massacre II” (1987), which has similarities. But “April Fool’s Day” gets points for the outstanding location and something revolutionary that happens, which I can’t give away. The film runs 1 hour, 29 minutes, and was shot at St John estate, Victoria, British Columbia, with additional studio stuff done in Los Angeles. It was rebooted or reimagined (not remade) in 2008. GRADE: B-
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
