Is April Fool's Day Worth Watching?
Answer: Yes, April Fool's Day is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Horror movies.
It features a runtime of 88 minutes and offers a standard storyline that appeals to mature audiences.
April Fool's Day Review
Last updated: January 9, 2026
The Premise
Released in 1986, April Fool's Day enters the Horror genre with a narrative focused on As soon as Muffy St. Under the direction of Fred Walton, the film attempts to weave detailed character arcs with visual storytelling.
Cast & Performance
The film is anchored by performances from Amy Steel, Ken Olandt, Deborah Foreman. While the cast delivers competent performances, the script occasionally limits their range.
Technical Aspects & Direction
From a technical standpoint, April Fool's Day offers a competent presentation. The cinematography aligns well with the tone, keeping the narrative moving at a brisk pace.
Where to Watch
As of January 2026, April Fool's Day is available in theaters worldwide. For streaming audiences in the US and UK, look for availability on major platforms roughly 45 days after the theatrical release. Check your local listings for specific showtimes.
Final Thoughts
With an audience rating of 6.1/10, the reception has been divisive. For fans of Horror, Mystery, it serves as a worthy addition to the watchlist.
April Fool's Day Box Office Collection
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $5,000,000 |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
April Fool's Day Budget
The estimated production budget for April Fool's Day is $5,000,000. 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.
Cast of April Fool's Day
- Amy Steel – Kit Graham
- Ken Olandt – Rob Ferris
- Deborah Foreman – Muffy / Buffy St. John
- Deborah Goodrich – Nikki Beshears
- Clayton Rohner – Chaz Vyshinski
Top Highlights
Amy SteelKit Graham
Ken OlandtRob Ferris
Deborah ForemanMuffy / Buffy St. John
Deborah GoodrichNikki Beshears
Clayton RohnerChaz Vyshinski
Thomas F. WilsonArch Cummings
Jay BakerHarvey 'Hal' Edison
Leah PinsentNan Youngblood
Griffin O'NealSkip St. John
Tom HeatonConstable Potter / Uncle Frank
Final Verdict
Analyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 6.1/10, and global collection metrics, April Fool's Day stands as a challenging project for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 1986 cinematic year.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions
Is April Fool's Day movie hit or flop?
April Fool's Day has received mixed reviews with a 6.1/10 rating, making it a moderate success with the audience.
Is April Fool's Day worth watching?
April Fool's Day is a mixed bag. It might be worth watching if you're a fan of Horror, Mystery movies, but read reviews first.
What genre is April Fool's Day?
April Fool's Day is a Horror, Mystery movie that As soon as Muffy St. John and her college friends arrive on her parents' secluded island, someone starts trimming the guest list... one murder at a ti...
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Critic Reviews
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-