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Operation Varsity Blues

Original title: Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal
  • 2021
  • R
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
9.2K
YOUR RATING
Matthew Modine in Operation Varsity Blues (2021)
An examination that goes beyond the celebrity-driven headlines and dives into the methods used by Rick Singer, the man at the center of the shocking 2019 college admissions scandal, to persuade his wealthy clients to cheat an educational system already designed to benefit the privileged.
Play trailer2:31
1 Video
36 Photos
CrimeDocumentaryDrama

Reenactments drive this documentary investigating the mastermind behind a scam to sneak the kids of rich and famous families into top US universities.Reenactments drive this documentary investigating the mastermind behind a scam to sneak the kids of rich and famous families into top US universities.Reenactments drive this documentary investigating the mastermind behind a scam to sneak the kids of rich and famous families into top US universities.

  • Director
    • Chris Smith
  • Writer
    • Jon Karmen
  • Stars
    • Matthew Modine
    • Roger Rignack
    • Jillian Peterson
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    9.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Chris Smith
    • Writer
      • Jon Karmen
    • Stars
      • Matthew Modine
      • Roger Rignack
      • Jillian Peterson
    • 58User reviews
    • 31Critic reviews
    • 70Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:31
    Official Trailer

    Photos35

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    Top cast41

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    Matthew Modine
    Matthew Modine
    • Rick Singer
    Roger Rignack
    Roger Rignack
    • John B. Wilson
    Jillian Peterson
    Jillian Peterson
    • Lead FBI Agent
    Courtney Rackley
    • Jane Buckingham
    Wallace Langham
    Wallace Langham
    • Gordon Caplan
    Josh Stamberg
    Josh Stamberg
    • Bill McGlashan
    Jeff Rector
    Jeff Rector
    • Devin Sloane
    • (as Jeffrey Alan Rector)
    Wyatt Whitaker
    • Son
    • (as a different name)
    Randy Hernandez
    • Agustin Huneeus
    Cullen Arbaugh
    Cullen Arbaugh
    • Young Rick
    William Christopher Stephens
    William Christopher Stephens
    • Rudy Meredith
    David Lloyd Smith
    • Sailing Coach
    Leroy Edwards III
    Leroy Edwards III
    • Athletic Director
    • (as Leroy Edwards)
    David Starzyk
    David Starzyk
    • Bruce Isackson
    Kristen O'Meara
    Kristen O'Meara
    • Michelle Janavs
    Angela Nicholas
    Angela Nicholas
    • Donna Heinel
    Jeremy Sless
    Jeremy Sless
    • Guidance Counselor
    John Coluccio
    • Olivia's Dad
    • (as John J. Coluccio)
    • Director
      • Chris Smith
    • Writer
      • Jon Karmen
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews58

    6.99.1K
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    Featured reviews

    8saadgkhan

    In America, We Love the Wealthy and We Hate the Wealthy

    Operation Varsity Blues - A- (Almost Perfect)

    Operation Varsity Blues perfectly captures the menace Ivy Leagues collages have become in recent years. The reason, a person like Rick Singer can infiltrate the system is not because he is a genius but because the colleges have loopholes which allows it to be benefited with no questions asked.

    All culprits should have been heavily fined for the greater good, and utilised that money for underprivileged as rightly said in the documentary. Instead, they got minimal few weeks and months sentence and that's about it. You want to make an example out of it as there is nothing worst than wealthy loosing their money. Reputation, I bet most of them are famous for being famous so it doesn't matter to them. The famous say or did something which offended someone, they apologise and then move on to the next thing. Then they do something again, then another apology. It is a cycle, which has made these people completely desensitized to their wrong doings.

    Hundreds of young hopeful students must have lost their chance in these prestige colleges over multiple decades due to crooks like Rick but unfortunately it won't put a tend into their system. I honestly bet, that Rick will be watching this in his mansion and saying Oh, they got my gym shirt wrong; I don't wear that much Blue. America has truly become a land of opportunity for the evil.
    8bananasonata

    Confirming a general suspicion

    Sure, we all must have thought about how wealthier families get their children into university, especially those that are not so intellectual. This documentary just proves its point, that a set of different rules applies to the wealthier. And it is embarrassing that education has fallen to such state. The existence of side doors or back doors should not even be allowed in the first place. Although what Singer did was wrong, but the bigger picture here is the educational system. Singer is making a fortune from this 'loophole' and it was the system that is allowing the existence of the 'loophole'. It seems the take home message here is do your best and be rich, life is way easier when you are rich, money is the king. Real sad.
    9diana_m_j

    Very Well Done Documentary

    I just finished this documentary, and thought it was very well done. What is atrocious, however, is that the "back door" donations (parents donating multi-millions directly to colleges to get their kids in) is apparently a legal and accepted practice. This has to stop, as it's really no more ethical than the Operation Varsity Blues scandal. Colleges can make money from their sports teams, donors who are truly *donating* without expecting something in return, as well as any government grants. That's IT. Routine auditing needs to be conducted on the admissions process, and the bribe donations that are deemed legal need to be exposed and ended.

    Before watching this, I, of course, was familiar with the scandal and who the big players were, but I didn't know the intricacies of the scam. The ONE person I feel sorry for is the former Stanford sailing coach (who agreed to take part in this documentary). Sure, what he did was technically wrong, but he didn't do it to financially benefit HIMSELF, he did it to benefit Stanford's sailing team. I can see the difference, and am glad he has overcome this and appears to be doing well. As far as the others (with the exception of the kids who had no knowledge of the scam), I think they got off way too easily. However, their reputations (as well as their kids') have been permanently damaged, and that might negatively affect them more than any fine or prison sentence. They have huge egos, so that likely hits them where it hurts the most.

    I highly recommend this program to those who are interested in true crime and the exposure of injustice.
    8t-yanagimoto

    Speechless

    This story made me sad, frustrated, and furious all at once.
    10jasha89

    Aint it great being rich

    A story about a college fraud. There is a "back door" and a "side door" and who knows how many more doors available to get anything in life, not just education for your kids.

    If you have the money, your options are limitless, yet it is never enough. They have enough money for the rest of their life but they always want more. Can you imagine the audacity to push illegaly for your kids to get into schools knowing they dont deserve it? knowing they will kick out someone who actually deserves it, paying money and in the end get a joke, literally a joke of a sentense for doing so (few weeks to a few months in jail)....give me a break please. With that kind of punishment they will do the same thing tomorrow if the opportunity arrives.

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    Storyline

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    • Trivia
      On 4. January 2023 Rick Singer was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison and ordered to pay more than $19 million for the crimes detailed in this documentary
    • Connections
      Featured in Subject (2022)

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    FAQ16

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • March 17, 2021 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Netflix Site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal
    • Filming locations
      • Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada(Filming City)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1
      • 2.35 : 1

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