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American Graffiti

  • 1973
  • PG
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
98K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,910
70
Ron Howard, Richard Dreyfuss, Charles Martin Smith, Candy Clark, Paul Le Mat, Mackenzie Phillips, and Cindy Williams in American Graffiti (1973)
A couple of high school grads spend one final night cruising the strip with their buddies before they go off to college.
Play trailer2:47
5 Videos
99+ Photos
ComedyDrama

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.

  • Director
    • George Lucas
  • Writers
    • George Lucas
    • Gloria Katz
    • Willard Huyck
  • Stars
    • Richard Dreyfuss
    • Ron Howard
    • Paul Le Mat
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    98K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,910
    70
    • Director
      • George Lucas
    • Writers
      • George Lucas
      • Gloria Katz
      • Willard Huyck
    • Stars
      • Richard Dreyfuss
      • Ron Howard
      • Paul Le Mat
    • 367User reviews
    • 137Critic reviews
    • 97Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 5 Oscars
      • 9 wins & 13 nominations total

    Videos5

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:47
    Watch Official Trailer
    American Graffiti
    Clip 2:24
    Watch American Graffiti
    What Roles Has Harrison Ford Turned Down?
    Video 4:33
    Watch What Roles Has Harrison Ford Turned Down?
    American Graffiti | Anniversary Mashup
    Video 1:48
    Watch American Graffiti | Anniversary Mashup
    Ron Howard Talks 'American Graffiti' and Meeting George Lucas and Harrison Ford
    Video 1:10
    Watch Ron Howard Talks 'American Graffiti' and Meeting George Lucas and Harrison Ford

    Photos162

    Ron Howard, Charles Martin Smith, and Candy Clark in American Graffiti (1973)
    Harrison Ford in American Graffiti (1973)
    Charles Martin Smith and Candy Clark in American Graffiti (1973)
    "American Graffiti" Cindy Williams, Ron Howard 1973 Universal
    "American Graffiti" Candy Clark, Charles Martin Smith, Ron Howard 1973 Universal
    "American Graffiti" Richard Dreyfuss 1973 Universal
    "American Graffiti" Ron Howard, Cindy Williams 1973 Universal
    "American Graffiti" Harrison Ford, Paul Le Mat © 1973 Universal
    "American Graffiti" © 1973 Universal
    "American Graffiti" Charlie Martin Smith (center) © 1973 Universal
    "American Graffiti" Paul Le Mat © 1973 Universal
    "American Graffiti" Ron Howard, Cindy Williams © 1973 Universal

    Top cast

    Edit
    Richard Dreyfuss
    Richard Dreyfuss
    • Curt
    Ron Howard
    Ron Howard
    • Steve
    • (as Ronny Howard)
    Paul Le Mat
    Paul Le Mat
    • John
    Charles Martin Smith
    Charles Martin Smith
    • Terry
    • (as Charlie Martin Smith)
    Cindy Williams
    Cindy Williams
    • Laurie
    Candy Clark
    Candy Clark
    • Debbie
    Mackenzie Phillips
    Mackenzie Phillips
    • Carol
    Wolfman Jack
    Wolfman Jack
    • Disc Jockey
    Bo Hopkins
    Bo Hopkins
    • Joe
    Manuel Padilla Jr.
    Manuel Padilla Jr.
    • Carlos
    Beau Gentry
    • Ants
    Harrison Ford
    Harrison Ford
    • Bob Falfa
    Jim Bohan
    • Holstein
    Jana Bellan
    Jana Bellan
    • Budda
    Deby Celiz
    • Wendy
    Lynne Marie Stewart
    Lynne Marie Stewart
    • Bobbie
    Terence McGovern
    Terence McGovern
    • Mr. Wolfe
    • (as Terry McGovern)
    Kathleen Quinlan
    Kathleen Quinlan
    • Peg
    • (as Kathy Quinlan)
    • Director
      • George Lucas
    • Writers
      • George Lucas
      • Gloria Katz
      • Willard Huyck
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    The Life and Times of Harrison Ford

    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

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    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 reviews367

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    As it should have been and sometimes was
    While born three years after the events in the film, I could still relate to the plight of being a teenager on the threshold to adult life. I think it takes a pretty insensitive person not to be captivated by this excellent movie (boring? - because just one car blew up, or what?!). This was the 3rd or 4th time I saw it, and it is just getting better. It is unusual to see filmmaking of this caliber coming from Hollywood (not least when considering Lucas' latest offering - blech!), but like movies like "The Year My Voice Broke" and "My Life as a Dog", "American Graffiti" tells us something about where we came from, without being dull or preachy. ***½ out of ****
    helpful•15
    3
    • Björn-5
    • Sep 23, 2000

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    FAQ1

    • If the action takes place on the last night of Summer Break, how come the school is holding a Freshman Dance? Surely the first dance in the school calendar would be Homecoming a few weeks after the start of semester?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 11, 1973 (Canada)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Graffiti américains
    • Filming locations
      • Mel's Drive-in - 140 South Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, California, USA(demolished)
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Lucasfilm
      • The Coppola Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $750,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $115,000,000
    • Gross worldwide
      • $115,000,889
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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