1 week Ago
A poster of the 1995 film “Major Payne.” Image: Courtesy of Wife ‘n Kids Productions and Universal Pictures It is a Sunday, I am feeling nostalgic, and this is the right time to pull this one out of the bag. I’m now highlighting “Major Payne” and reminding moviegoers of all ages to watch it if you haven’t in a long time or haven’t seen it in a while because it still holds up.
“Major Payne” is a cult comedy favorite from the ’90s and is worth recommending. “Major Payne” is one of my absolute favorite films from the ’90s. Simply saying that the decade does make one feel old, but it is true, and I feel fortunate enough to have been able to watch this film when it came out because the film overall has held up in many aspects.
I view “Major Payne” to be one solid family comedy film that caters to both the young and adults and even the young at heart, which is why I was pleasantly surprised that it has been approximately three decades since I first watched this in cinemas. Indeed, it is hard to believe that “Major Payne” made its way onto the big screen thirty years ago, bringing laughter with its unique combination of military discipline and slapstick comedy. Damon Wayans was in the 1995 Universal Pictures film.
Today, it remains a cult comedic favorite, thanks to its quotable lines, memorable characters, and Wayans’s unforgettable performance as the tough, slightly crazy, yet absurdly hilarious “Major Benson Winifred Payne,” the onscreen character who often states his entire name throughout the movie. Haha..
.. READ : ‘Tron: Ares’ will set the bar higher than ever before for the franchise Of all the onscreen characters that Damon Wayans has portrayed in his filmography, the “In Living Color” alum considers his portrayal as “Major Payne” to be one of his career highlights simply because of how it has continued to resonate with audiences to this day, and that is not at all surprising given that Damon Wayans is not only a comedic actor and stand-up comic, but he is also a respected character actor, and, without a doubt, “Major Payne” is a character to the fullest once you get to watch this movie in its entirety.
Watch the entire movie to understand why so many people from my generation remember “Major Payne” so fondly. Don’t just watch clips. Interestingly enough, at the time, I never realized that “Major Payne” is a loose remake of the 1955 war film The Private War of Major Benson, which Nick Castle directed.
After being honorably discharged, the story follows Major Payne. He is a seasoned, cynical, and war-battered Marine who accepts a new responsibility, which is to lead a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) unit at a private school in Virginia. “Major Payne” discovers a disorganized group of cadets who are severely lacking in discipline.
Wayans, who also co-wrote the movie, gives a strong performance as the straightforward major with a loud laugh and a penchant for extreme training methods. The lovely Karyn Parsons (“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”) plays “Emily Walburn,” one of his co-stars. Orlando Brown plays young “Tiger,” who develops a special son and fatherly type of bond with Payne, and Steven Martini plays the rebellious cadet “Alex Stone” in the movie.
All in all, I would consider the cast of “Major Payne” to be all wonderful; they all played their onscreen characters right, and they tended to complement each other well. It felt like a well-oiled machine in how all of them, especially the collective casting efforts, resulted in a genuine feeling dynamic between all of the Junior Reserve Officers and “Major Payne.” Despite a small budget, it made approximately $30 million at the box office, which, during the mid-90s, was an impressive accomplishment.
Naturally, “Major Payne” received mixed reviews upon release; however, its blend of military comedy, heartfelt moments, and Wayans’ natural comedic prowess has allowed it to endure as a fan favorite. The comedic nature of “Major Payne” enabled Damon Wayans to shine, particularly due to his experience in “In Living Color,” where he portrayed several original characters of his creation. A goofy military type of onscreen character like “Major Payne” is right up his alley, and this casting was spot-on for him because he got to excel in it.
I find “Major Payne,” both as a film and as the onscreen character portrayed by Damon Wayans of the same name, worthy of rewatching due to its endlessly quotable dialogue, which is one of its most memorable features. Payne’s brutal, in-your-face, yet comical one-liners—such as “You’re still a turd, and that’s Uncle Sam’s time!”—are particularly notable. Additionally, the phrases “Be advised, ladies: We are going to win the Virginia Military Games, or we are going to break our necks!” and “Well, let me tell you somethin’, ass-eyes.
” and “Let me tell you all somethin’. War has made me very paranoid!” That last dialogue quote of “Major Payne” is especially funny. Haha.
A scene from the 1995 film “Major Payne.” Image: Courtesy of Wife ‘n Kids Productions and Universal Pictures I particularly remember and enjoyed Payne’s exaggerated bedtime story retelling of “The Little Engine That Could,” which transforms the classic children’s tale into an unexpectedly fierce, gruesome, and hilarious motivational speech. Haha.
It’s one of the film’s many silly but strangely heartwarming moments. Then, when you add his hand-to-hand combat demonstrations, his occasional flashbacks to his active years as a marine, and his unrelenting attempts to transform the cadets into soldiers, frequently to hilarious effect, they are also worth highlighting because they all pay off in the end. This is what you call getting invested in the film, and it gives moviegoers a fun time while doing so in cinemas because the “Major Payne” onscreen character never had a dull moment with him.
“Major Payne” was like a cartoon character that came to life in this film. Haha..
.. Now, in 2025, it’s worth reiterating that it’s been exactly three decades since this came out in cinemas and was shown on various movie channels for years soon after.
“Major Payne” still resonates with audiences who appreciate its mix of humor, heart, and military absurdity. The film continues to attract new generations of fans due to Payne’s unwavering discipline and his eventual transformation into a leader with a softer side. “Major Payne” stands out as a classic in its own right at a time when comedy films from the 1990s are always in people’s minds, and this one continues to stand out among all of them.
Lastly, if the name Damon Wayans rings a bell, it is because he comes from the Wayans Family clan of comedians, which consists of his famous brothers Shawn and Marlon Wayans from “Scary Movie” fame, among other films. You could say being naturally funny is in his genes, and because of that, moviegoers got treated to it in “Major Payne.” Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address.
I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . Do yourself a favor: watch “Major Payne” because it is worth it..
