Common Sense Media Review
Silly time-travel buddy movie with comic violence, sexism.
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Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 25 parent reviews
Parents say the movie is a funny and entertaining adventure that can be enjoyed by children, but some scenes and language may raise concerns for parents. While there are moments of suggestive humor and brief innuendos, many reviewers find it ultimately harmless and a positive, lighthearted experience for older kids and tweens.
- funny and entertaining
- suggestive humor
- minor language issues
- lighthearted experience
- suitable for older kids
Summarized with AI
Based on 60 kid reviews
Kids say that this movie is a hilarious and fun family adventure, although it contains crude humor and frequent swearing that may not be suitable for younger children. While many appreciate its goofy charm and 80s nostalgia as a lighthearted introduction to history, some critics find its reliance on crude jokes and an overall silly plot off-putting.
- fun family adventure
- crude humor
- 80s nostalgia
- lighthearted
- silly plot
- inappropriate for kids
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In BILL & TED'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE, slacker teens Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) are more intent on landing Eddie Van Halen for their band Wyld Stallions than making it through high school. But if the boys don't get an A+ on their history report, they'll flunk out of school, and Ted will be on his way to military school in Alaska. Knowing only that Napoleon is "a short, dead dude" and guessing that Joan of Arc is "Noah's wife," the boys seem to be lost—until a visitor from the future, Rufus (the perfectly cool George Carlin), appears in a magical phone booth to allow them to experience history firsthand. They hatch a plan: Bring the historical figures back to the present and let them experience San Dimas, California—and then take them to school for a most triumphant history presentation.
Is It Any Good?
Some movies are irresistible junk food for the brain—short, sweet, and so entertaining you want to watch them over and over again; this is one of those. Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure is a bonbon of a film, full of good-looking, sweet scenes that make you feel giddy. It's perfectly paced and perfectly acted. Say what you will about Reeves' wooden deliveries—it takes a certain level of brilliance to come up with a character who's both maddeningly obtuse and completely lovable. And there are other great scenes. Released in a modern mall, the historical characters act out. Joan of Arc rallies the troops at an aerobics class. Billy the Kid turns out to be a bad flirt. And with one tilt of his corndog, Sigmund Freud is proven to be a perv. It's all delightfully silly and eminently watchable.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the "slackers" in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. What does that term mean to you? Do you consider Bill and Ted to be slackers? Or are they role models?
The "dudes" shred on guitar, and the "babes" are treated like prizes. Are those stereotypes? If so, what message does that send to viewers?
If you had a time machine, what eras would you visit? Who would you want to meet, and why? What collection of historical figures would you bring back to the present day?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 17, 1989
- On DVD or streaming : December 4, 2001
- Cast : Keanu Reeves , Alex Winter , George Carlin
- Director : Stephen Herek
- Studio : MGM/UA
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Adventures , Friendship , School ( High School ) , History , Fantasy ( Time Travel )
- Run time : 90 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2026
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