
Mark Harmon’s Only Box Office Hit: Summer School (1987)
Before Mark Harmon became a household name as Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS, he dabbled in feature films during the 1980s. While many of his movie endeavors didn’t achieve commercial success, there was one standout: Summer School(1987).
The Success of Summer School
Directed by Carl Reiner, Summer School is a comedy where Harmon plays Freddy Shoop, a high school gym teacher who ends up teaching a remedial English class over the summer. Despite mixed reviews, the film resonated with audiences, grossing $35.7 million in the U.S., making it the 32nd highest-grossing film of 1987.
Other Notable Films and Their Performances
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The Presidio (1988): A crime film starring Sean Connery and Mark Harmon, which grossed $51 million.
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Stealing Home (1988): A romantic drama that, while not a box office hit, has since gained a cult following.
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Worth Winning (1989): A romantic comedy that underperformed, grossing only $3.6 million.
Conclusion
While Mark Harmon’s film career had its ups and downs, Summer School remains his most commercially successful film.His transition to television, particularly with NCIS, solidified his status as a beloved actor.