I love this movie, but language gets in the way!
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Hilarious comedy classic; language makes it PG-13.
Themes in this movie include: dating/crushes, friendship, materialism
updated 11.23.09
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 14 and Up
What to watch out for
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Role models:
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Ferris Bueller's Day Off was written by Charles Cassady Jr.
Parents need to know that this movie has surprising amounts of "bad" (listing toward inappropriate) language and thus isn't for younger kids. Also, it's about skipping school. So you might want to get a word in about not trying this at home. Ferris lies, shows off, and steals a car. It's a little disconcerting that he never faces any consequences -- even Bart Simpson usually has to take responsibility. Mostly, the movie glorifies defiance of authority. Sure, it's a little edgy, but teens can handle it.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about how people defy authority. Do your kids understand the difference between Ferris's fantasy presentation and what would really happen if they did what he did?
- The filmmakers justify the hero's attitude as a healthy response to self-centered, dumb, and materialistic adults. Do you agree?
- A good question would be whether the carefree Ferris is going to be any better when he grows up. If he grows up.
Have you seen it? Review It!
More on Ferris Bueller's Day Off
What’s the Story?
Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) wants a break from classroom drudgery to have fun in Chicago. Faking illness, Bueller's parents allow him to stay in bed to "recover." Once they're gone he ropes his friends, Cameron (Alan Ruck) and Sloane (Mia Sara), into joining him. The trio, driving Cameron's dad's treasured 1961 Ferrari convertible, hit the town. Meanwhile. a grim school faculty member (Jeffrey Jones) pursues, eager to catch Bueller. And Ferris' kid sister (Jennifer Grey) resents her older brother getting away with such antics constantly, and tries to rat him out. Despite a few close scrapes, Ferris triumphs.
Is It Any Good?
It's both a key to FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF's popularity, and a little disquieting, that Ferris never faces any consequences. Even Bart Simpson usually has to take responsibility -- and as for Alfie, there's no indication the filmmakers approve his lifestyle. But Hughes justifies Ferris as a healthy response to self-centered and materialistic adults like Cameron's father. In the end it's poor Cameron who's going to take a fall for the gang, but even he looks forward to the opportunity to defy his (unseen) old man, accused of valuing the Ferrari more than the son. A good question, though, would be whether carefree Ferris will be any better when he grows up. If he grows up.
Back when this premiered in 1986, the clever Bueller was a refreshing change from a too-common movie image of teenage boys as sex- and drug-crazed dolts on the run from mad slashers. John Hughes made his reputation creating quirky young characters with rich inner lives and realistic personal concerns. The flip side of that is that his scripts leaned heavily to what film critics Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel rightly diagnosed as the smart kids/dumb parents syndrome. You don't have to be as bright as Ferris Bueller to see how young viewers would patronize movies that show them as savvy and resourceful, outsmarting uncool authorities, moms, and dads at every turn. Exuberant and stacked hopelessly in favor of its chatty title character, Ferris Bueller's Day Off is both the most enjoyable and the smarmiest of the trend.
Movie Details
Studio: Paramount Pictures, Director: John Hughes
Run time: 103 minutes
Theatrical release: 6/11/1986, DVD release: 10/19/2000
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for language
Run time: 103 minutes
Theatrical release: 6/11/1986, DVD release: 10/19/2000
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for language
Our Members Say
See 45 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
I suggest you getting a TV Guardian before you even THINK about watching this movie!
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Kids ages: 3, 6, 10
I rate this title on for age 14 and give it- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
Cute, but fowl
I regret allowing our children to watch this movie, because of the language. They counted 60+ bad words. This was a trend back in the 80's in kid movies (e.g. Goonies, etc). Beyond that, there are funny moments, and you'll find yourself cheering for (or against) Ferris.
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
This movie is hilarious. The only reason the movie is PG-13 is because they swear in every every 30 seconds. The whole idea of the movie is about him escaping from school so you might i think that it is a bad role model but it is just a movie. There is no violence except a bloody nose. This movie will make anyone laugh!
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I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
- Negative role models
Hilarious
This movie was absolutely hilarious. i was surprised at how funny it is. I would rate it PG-13 for language and a brief sexual reference.
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I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
Surprising amount of language for PG-13, s--t and g-ddamn is used often
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I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
Best. Movie. Ever
The Best movie ever!!!!! If you ever get the chance to see this movie, watch it! It's the best movie I've ever seen and the best movie i probably will ever see! hilarious movie!!!!!
This review...
Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind -
I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
Best. Movie. Ever
The Best movie ever!!!!! If you ever get the chance to see this movie, watch it! It's the best movie I've ever seen and the best movie i probably will ever see! hilarious movie!!!!!
This review...
Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind -
I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
Best. Movie. Ever
The Best movie ever!!!!! If you ever get the chance to see this movie, watch it! It's the best movie I've ever seen and the best movie i probably will ever see! hilarious movie!!!!!
This review...
Helped me decide (1) | Had useful details (1) | Read my mind -
I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
Best. Movie. Ever
The Best movie ever!!!!! If you ever get the chance to see this movie, watch it! It's the best movie I've ever seen and the best movie i probably will ever see! hilarious movie!!!!!
This review...
Helped me decide (1) | Had useful details | Read my mind -
I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
Best. Movie. Ever
The Best movie ever!!!!! If you ever get the chance to see this movie, watch it! It's the best movie I've ever seen and the best movie i probably will ever see! hilarious movie!!!!!
This review...
Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind -
I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
- Negative role models
this is my new favorite movie. It's official. (course, I say that every week with every new film i see). rolemodels are terrible (well duh, but that;s what makes it so hilarious!). Frrequent cursing. But very funny!
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I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
i love this movie!! i found it in out closet and my friend and i watched it last night and loved it!! if only Cameron was my age!! lol
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
- Negative role models
Fine for 11+, great classic 80's movie!
This is my favourite movie, it is a fun teen comedy from the 80s and the teen actors are very good, I highly reccomend this film to 11+ However, there is some quite bad language, including several uses of sh*t and ass, and 2 uses of f*ck, one used sexually. Characters say "Blow yourself" and "Stick your thumb up your ass" etc, but most kids will understand the language and will have heard it before, So yer, 11 and up, because the language is salty, but its a great movie and I love it to bits, a feel good comedy that will live 4eva!! long live Ferris!
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
- Negative role models
Fine for 11+, great classic 80's movie!
This is my favourite movie, it is a fun teen comedy from the 80s and the teen actors are very good, I highly reccomend this film to 11+ However, there is some quite bad language, including several uses of sh*t and ass, and 2 uses of f*ck, one used sexually. Characters say "Blow yourself" and "Stick your thumb up your ass" etc, but most kids will understand the language and will have heard it before, So yer, 11 and up, because the language is salty, but its a great movie and I love it to bits, a feel good comedy that will live 4eva!! long live Ferris!
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I rate this title off for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
hiiiiiiiilarious!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is the best movie i have ever seen. There is about 40 swears in it. So parents with kids under 9, WATCH OUT.
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I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
- Negative role models
Best high school comedy ever. The beginning part was soo funny.
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I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
Great comdey, I was really laughing out loud. Language is the main concern, this movie isn't for little kids. The characters aren't great role models, but whoever heard of role models in comedy?
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I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
perfect for 12+ but has some strong language
I love it, im 13 and I really like it, it does have some use of the words s**t and ass but thats about it
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I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
Great movie
Very funny movie; not graphic at all for a PG-13 movie. The characters aren't necessarily good role models, but there's little sexual stuff and language. My friend and I thought it hilarious.
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Negative role models
It's suitable for teenagers, just a little risky for tweens.
I think that this movie is hilarious and very well done, but it does have some inappropriate scenes. Like how Ferris and his girl-friend spread the love quite a bit, and using some bad language. The characters aren't the best role-models since they skipped school to have some fun in the city and how they get into some trouble along the way.
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