American Graffiti

1973
PG
1h 50m

IMDb RATING

7.4/10

101K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Play trailer2:47

Coming-of-Age Teen Comedy Teen Drama Comedy Drama

A group of teenagers in California's central valley spend one final night after their 1962 high school graduation cruising the strip with their buddies before they pursue their varying goals... Read allA group of teenagers in California's central valley spend one final night after their 1962 high school graduation cruising the strip with their buddies before they pursue their varying goals.A group of teenagers in California's central valley spend one final night after their 1962 high school graduation cruising the strip with their buddies before they pursue their varying goals.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.4/10

101K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

1,712

157

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 5 Oscars
- 9 wins & 13 nominations total

Steve Bolander
(as Ronny Howard)

Paul Le Mat

John Milner

Charles Martin Smith

Terry Fields
(as Charlie Martin Smith)

Cindy Williams

Laurie Henderson

Candy Clark

Debbie

Mackenzie Phillips

Carol

Wolfman Jack

Disc Jockey

Bo Hopkins

Manuel Padilla Jr.

Carlos

Beau Gentry

Ants

Harrison Ford

Bob Falfa

Jim Bohan

Holstein

Jana Bellan

Budda

Deby Celiz

Wendy

Lynne Marie Stewart

Bobbie

Terence McGovern

Mr. Wolfe
(as Terry McGovern)

Kathleen Quinlan

Peg
(as Kathy Quinlan)

Director
- George Lucas
Writers
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

The Life and Times of Harrison Ford

Take a look back at Harrison Ford's movie career in photos.

See more Harrison

Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

Photos

More like this

8.0

The Last Picture Show

5.4

More American Graffiti

7.4

National Lampoon's Animal House

7.2

Easy Rider

6.6

THX 1138

7.6

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

7.4

M*A*S*H

7.7

The French Connection

7.3

Raising Arizona

8.1

Paper Moon

7.9

Harold and Maude

7.6

Rebel Without a Cause

Storyline

Edit

Did you know

Edit

Trivia
Due to the low budget, George Lucas was unable to pay all of the crew members. He offered to give many of them a screen credit in lieu of payment, and they accepted. Traditionally, only department heads received screen credit. Giving screen credit to so many crew members has now become a tradition, which is why closing credits last so long now.

Goofs
The movie is set in 1962, but a cinema marquee advertises Dementia 13 (1963) (released in 1963). This was done on purpose by George Lucas, because Dementia 13 was Producer Francis Ford Coppola's first movie.

Quotes
Curt Henderson: You're the most beautiful, exciting thing I've ever seen in my life and I don't know anything about you.

Crazy credits
Worded epilogues prior to the credits shows what happen to the characters following the movie. While this has since become commonplace in films, it was considered innovative at the time.

Alternate versions
Originally released at 110 minutes; re-edited and re-released in a slightly longer version (112 minutes) in 1978 when many of its then-unknown stars became famous.

Connections
Featured in Airport 1975 (1974)

Soundtracks
At The Hop
Written by John Madara, Artie Singer and Dave White (uncredited)
Performed by Flash Cadillac (as Flash Cadillac and The Continental Kids)
Produced by Kim Fowley
Courtesy of Roulette Records:

User reviews381

Review

Featured review

The Best Teen Film Ever Made.

"I just love it when guys peel out." -Debbie Dunham

American Graffiti is the best film about teenagers. It actually has a point, unlike the other teenage films where all that they do is get drunk and party. American Graffiti is about different types of teenagers doing different things on the last night that they all have together in 1962 after graduating. They all actually learn about themselves and what they want to do with their lives. One of the older

teenagers, Curt, is planning on leaving the next day. Steve is trying to work out his relationship with Curt's sister, while John and Terry have their own dates for the night. American Graffiti is a wonderful film on many levels. It is both funny and serious. A great direction by George Lucas and a fine cast with Ron

Howard, Richard Dreyfuss, Cindy Williams, Paul LeMat, Charles Martin Smith,

Candy Clark (Oscar-nominated), MacKenzie Phillips, Harrison Ford. One of the

best films of the 70's and the only teen film in my memory that has had the

pleasure of being nominated for Oscar- Best Picture. 10/10 stars.