History Film / PoliceAcademy

** Sweetchuck references ''Film/SuddenImpact'' in the third movie with the "Go ahead, make my day line" when holding up a {{Mook}}. He's evidently a fan of ''Film/DirtyHarry'', as he also uses a cardboard cutout of Harry as part of his security setup in the second film.

* SingingInTheShower: Both Mause and Harris are known to sing in the shower. Mahoney exploits it by switcing shampoo with epoxy resin in Mauser's case and deodorant for pepper spray in Harris' case while both are distracted.

** Sweetchuck references ''Film/SuddenImpact'' in the third movie with the "Go ahead, make my day line" when holding up a {{Mook}}. He's evidently a fan of ''Film/DirtyHarry'', as he also uses as cardboard cutout of Harry as part of his security setup in the second film.

** Subdued example: Callahan in the first film is tough on the recruits and seems just as hard on them as Harris. However while Harris is ''trying'' to make them fail or quit, Callahan is giving her best effort to train them. She's genuinely pleased when they begin to show competence, and in one scene scowls in disgust when Harris openly dismisses their progress. Notably, during Hightower's TranquilFury moment, while Harris is desperately screaming at him to stop, Callahan makes no effort at all to stop him, and even slightly moves out of his way to let him go to town with the jerk that threw slurs at Hooks. It kind of makes sense why she ends up fraternizing with these cadets later on as if she was one of them to begin with.

** Pete Lassars accuses Chief Hurst of this.

* KickedUpstairs: In ''Mission to Moscow'', Kyle Connors initially flunks out of the academy due his vertigo resulting in him being unable to pass physical fitness and was even on his way to Lassard's office for his signature to confirm he's flunked out, only to be brought along on the mission due to him replacing the name of another officer on the list of those assigned to the mission with his own and presumably becoming an officer once returning to the states due to his part in bringing down Konali. Him not even hesitating to jump onto a moving car being used a getaway vehicle after Callahan is kidnapped likely did him some favours as well.

* ImThinkingItOver: In the first movie, the cops see that Lt. Harris is taken hostage by a rioter that open fires on them. When asked if they should shoot back, Lassard hesitates, clearly tempted to say yes even though that would endanger Harris.

* CarSkiing: In the beginning of the first movie, Mahoney uses car skiing to park a belligerent businessman's car in an otherwise full parking lot. A deleted scene from the fourth movie had Mahoney do this again as a CallBack.

** In the beginning of the third film, ''Hightower'' disguises himself as a woman to bait and arrest possible purse snatchers.

* ''Police Academy: Mission to Moscow'' (1994). An attempt to revive the series. Russian Commandant Alexandrei Nikolaivich Rakov (Creator/ChristopherLee) needs help against the local mafia. He decides to ask for assistance from the United States police. Lassard and his crew get the assignment. Meanwhile, mob boss Konstantine Konali (Creator/RonPerlman) plans to bring down any computer security system in the world.

* SelfAbuse: Used for the basis of a terrific zinger in part 2, after Mauser's shampoo is replaced with epoxy, leaving his hands covered in his own cut-off hair:

* ADateWithRosiePalms: Used for the basis of a terrific zinger in part 2, after Mauser's shampoo is replaced with epoxy, leaving his hands covered in his own cut-off hair:
-->'''Mauser:''' Can anyone explain to me how ''this'' happened?\\
'''Mahoney:''' I can, sir... and if you don't stop doing that, you could go blind.

** The first four films are the only ones to feature the Blue Oyster club.

-->'''Proctor:''' ''(washing the windows)'' Undercover work is sure exciting!\\

** In ''Citizens on Patrol'', Sweetchuck accidentally walks in the path of Lassard's back swing, taking a putter in the crotch. Captain Harris, while giving a condescending speech to the new recruits, Hightower's dog walks up and bites him in the crotch. In the shooting range scene, Mrs. Feldman asks Tackleberry if she could try shooting with his HandCannon. He allows her, but then she gets blown backward from the strong recoil as the shot hit at the target's crotch area.

* PercussiveMaintenance: In ''City Under Siege'' Hightower banging on a computer allows it to ''access password-protected files''.

* GagBoobs: Callahan's large breasts are frequently used for sight gags.
* GayBarReveal: The Blue Oyster.

* FairCop: Every single movie. Thompson in the original movie, Kirkland in ''Their First Assignment'', Adams in ''Back in Training'', Stratton in ''Assignment Miami Beach'', Katrina in ''Mission to Moscow' ', and Callahan throughout majority of the films.

Among these characters include [[TheBigGuy Moses Hightower]], a muscular GentleGiant and former florist, [[TheLancer Dr Monsignor Larvell Jones]], master of both martial arts and vocal effects (played by veteran performer Creator/MichaelWinslow), [[TheChick Karen Thompson]] (Cattrall), Mahoney's LoveInterest and the main reason he doesn't bail out of the academy completely, [[MoreDakka Eugene Tackleberry]], gun enthusiast and [[CrazyIsCool off his rocker in that regard]], and [[BewareTheQuietOnes Laverne Hooks]], a shy, mousy woman who is also accident prone.

* CityWithNoName: No name was ever given for the city the movie took place in (since the first four films were produced in UsefulNotes/{{Toronto}}). The presence of a Toronto Dominion bank in ''Back in Training'' confirms a Canadian setting.

* ReformationAcknowledgment: In the third movie, Sweetchuck is horrified that his roommate at the academy is Zed, the BigBad of the previous film and his former tormenter. Lt. Callaghan informs him that Zed has since reformed, and is in training to become an officer just like Sweetchuck.

* ShesGotLegs: Mahoney's first attempt to get kicked out of the academy involves trying to get Thompson to show off her thighs to him. She later teases him with a description of them as being tanned, toned, and luxuriant to the touch. When Harris has Mahoney in his office, she finally shows them off to Mahoney in a pair of tight gym shorts.

* FamilyFriendlyFirearms: Occasionally, Tackleberry would make use of AbnormalAmmo that would be less lethal, such as tear gas or tracking device rounds, or use a crossbow to shoot someone's cigar. Hilariously, his WeaponOfChoice in the animated adaptation was a [[{{BFG}} bazooka]], which he uses with [[RecklessGunUsage almost reckless abandon]] on walls and the like, while a standard firearm is used exactly once.

* GoodPeopleHaveGoodSex: Implied for Tackleberry with his love scene with Kirkland in the second film.
-->''[[[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything gunshot after the lights go out]]]''\\
'''Kirkland:''' Oh, Eugene!

* DarkReprise: In several moments, the main theme is played in a different key.

--->Tony: ''holding up the bag of diamonds'' Your merchandise, sir!
--->Mr. Dempsey: You're a good man, Tony! Finish your business first [ie, kill the hostages] and bring the daimonds over, let's get out of here.
--->Tony: Ah, Mr. Dempsey, uh... the dork [Harris], I don't mind but, uh... the old man [Lassard].
--->Mr. Dempsey: No witnesses! Don't disappoint me again.

* {{Expy}}: Multiple times characters left, but were replaced by other characters with identical personalities and characteristics. For example, Nick Lassard, who joins the cast in ''Assignment Miami Beach'', is identical in character to Carey Mahoney, who left after ''Citizens on Patrol''. Kyle Connors, who shows up in ''Mission to Moscow'', is also near-identical to Mahoney and Nick. The characters Thaddeus Harris and Mauser are also almost identical, with Mauser's YesMan Proctor shifting to kiss ass for Harris between movies without explanation, and it works perfectly.

* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: