On this day March 29 1985 Police Academy 2 Their First Assignment hit theaters as the second entry in the popular comedy franchise. Directed by Jerry Paris the film brought back much of the original cast including Steve Guttenberg Bubba Smith Michael Winslow and George Gaynes while introducing Bobcat Goldthwait as the unforgettable Zed.
The story followed the misfit graduates from the original film as they were assigned to a crime ridden precinct under the command of Captain Pete Lassard. Chaos naturally followed with sound effects slapstick and over the top criminals keeping things moving fast. Made on a $7.5 million budget the film pulled in a massive $115 million worldwide with $55 million coming from domestic ticket sales. It confirmed the franchise’s status as a box office powerhouse throughout the 80s.
80s insight: Bobcat Goldthwait’s role as Zed became so popular that he returned for the next two sequels and became one of the franchise’s most iconic characters.