Common Sense Media Review
Coming-of-age classic has smoking, gender stereotypes.
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American Graffiti
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 8 parent reviews
Based on 14 kid reviews
Kids say the movie presents a nostalgic view of a group of friends navigating their last night of high school, filled with joy rides, underage partying, and a touch of rebellion, though many find it slow and occasionally inappropriate for younger viewers. While some praise its humor and charm, others criticize it as boring and lacking engagement, particularly for those unfamiliar with the cultural context of the 1960s.
- nostalgia
- mixed reviews
- slow pacing
- some inappropriate content
- humor and charm
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
AMERICAN GRAFFITI is a coming-of-age dramedy set in Modesto, California, in 1962. Steven (Ron Howard) and Curt (Richard Dreyfuss) are leaving for college. Over the course of a long last night, Steven and Laurie (Cindy Williams) resolve to date others, while Curt chases a mysterious blond woman (Suzanne Sommers) in a T-bird. Meanwhile, Steven's friend Toad (Charles Martin Smith) takes Steven's car and romances a girl named Debbie (Candy Clark). Another friend, John Milner (Paul Le Mat), wants to drag-race hotshot Bob (Harrison Ford). Unfortunately, Milner gets saddled with babysitting 13-year-old Carol for the evening (Mackenzie Phillips). Teens tangle with a gang, destroy a cop car, get into a car crash, and consult with DJ Wolfman Jack (playing himself). With varying degrees of anticipation and fear, the teens leave high school behind.
Is It Any Good?
Four years before he would make Star Wars, a then-unknown George Lucas set the standard for teen movies with this exceptional film. The cast is uniformly strong. Most of the young actors are famous now: Howard, Ford, Dreyfus, Sommers, and Phillips have all had long careers. And the soundtrack, virtually a greatest-hits collection from the early 1960s, includes recordings from such early rock legends as Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, and Fats Domino. The songs are beautifully woven into the movie's restless teenage world. Like the characters themselves, America in 1962 was on the brink of enormous changes, and Lucas captures that momentous feeling, tinged with uneasiness, in the exceptional American Graffiti.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the teens in American Graffiti have just closed a chapter of their lives and whether they can relate. Teens: What phases of life have you completed? Elementary, middle, or high school? What do you think about the idea of moving away from everything you know?
How does American Graffiti compare with contemporary movies about high school kids? How is it different? The same?
Which characters do you most identify with? Which ones feel more remote? What are the similarities or differences that make you feel this way?
The teens in American Graffiti spend several hours aimlessly driving around. Do you experience a modern-day equivalent of this type of freedom? Or does this lifestyle feel rooted in the past? What are the pros and cons of growing up without any digital connectivity?
What do you think about the way characters flirt and date in this film? Are they relatable, or do teens pursue romance differently today? Are the aggressive tactics used by male teens in this movie acceptable? Why, or why not?
Movie Details
- In theaters : April 11, 1973
- On DVD or streaming : March 1, 1992
- Cast : Richard Dreyfuss , Ron Howard , Charles Martin Smith , Paul Le Mat , Cindy Williams , Harrison Ford
- Director : George Lucas
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Universal Pictures
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Transportation ( Cars & Trucks ) , Friendship , School ( High School )
- Run time : 110 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : mature themes and sexuality
- Award : Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Winner
- Last updated : November 24, 2025
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