Rotten Tomatoes
Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

American Graffiti

Play trailer 2:49 Poster for American Graffiti PG 1973 1h 50m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
95% Tomatometer 62 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
From director George Lucas (Star Wars) and producer Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather), American Graffiti is a classic coming-of-age story set against the 1960s backdrop of hot rods, drive-ins and rock n’ roll. Starring Ron Howard, Richard Dreyfuss, Harrison Ford, Cindy Williams, Mackenzie Phillips and Suzanne Somers in their breakout roles, this nostalgic look back follows a group of teenagers as they cruise the streets on their last summer night before college. Nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, American Graffiti features the howling sounds of Wolfman Jack and an unforgettable soundtrack with songs by Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, The Beach Boys and Bill Haley & His Comets.
Watch on Fandango at Home Stream Now

Where to Watch

American Graffiti

American Graffiti

What to Know

Critics Consensus

One of the most influential of all teen films, American Graffiti is a funny, nostalgic, and bittersweet look at a group of recent high school grads' last days of innocence.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Jake Cole Slant Magazine 11/08/2023
The primary interest of American Graffiti is its setting and the nostalgia that it conjures. Go to Full Review Pauline Kael The New Yorker 09/19/2023
The movie has no resonance except from the jukebox sound and the eerie, nocturnal jukebox look. Go to Full Review Richard Roeper Chicago Sun-Times 08/26/2023
A surprise blockbuster hit with an enormous and lasting cultural footprint. Go to Full Review Jack Walters Loud and Clear Reviews 07/24/2024
4/5
American Graffiti uses catchy music, bright visuals, and strong characters to take audiences back to their childhood and observe it from a new perspective. Go to Full Review Jeff Beck The Blu Spot 11/06/2023
3.5/5
American Graffiti is a classic coming-of-age flick that holds up rather well after 50 years. It may not be too heavy on plot, but it more than makes up for it with its charming characters, brought to life by a tremendous cast, and its rockin' soundtrack. Go to Full Review David Elliott Chicago Daily News 10/03/2023
I'm not sure I would have enjoyed their way of life, but it's a great one to remember, even if you didn't live it yourself, and it makes American Graffiti the ultimate nostalgia movie -- certainly the best teen-myth movie since Rebel Without a Cause. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Lord W 09/03/2023 Classic! Amazing in theaters. See more Google 08/29/2022 Important film making an important statement about youth and American pop culture and coming of age in the 1960s. Fun movie, yet also serious. See more bobby 08/29/2022 More like this please See more Anthony P 08/29/2022 I ADORE THE ENTIRE MOVIE. See more Shawan L @ShawanLLibang Jan 22 American Graffiti bursts with youthful energy, capturing a night that still feels vibrant and alive. It mixes classic cars, an unforgettable soundtrack, and sincere coming‑of‑age beats into one nostalgic ride. The characters feel authentic, the atmosphere pulls you in, and the film perfectly preserves that brief window before adulthood takes over See more Merick H Nov 22 I loved this... some good laughs... some fun characters... it brings the time-period to life and explores that stage in life when we all have no real choice but to grow up... some things, and people, are left behind, but nothing stays the same. It is an end and a new beginning and that can be quite frightening... See more Read all reviews
American Graffiti

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

View All

George Lucas

Director

Richard Dreyfuss

Curt Henderson

Ron Howard

Steve Bolander

Paul Le Mat

John Milner

Charles Martin Smith

Terry "The Toad" Fields

Cindy Williams

Laurie Henderson

Movie Clips

View All

American Graffiti

American Graffiti: Official Clip - A Snowball Dance American Graffiti: Official Clip - A Snowball Dance 2:31 American Graffiti: Official Clip - Wolfman Jack American Graffiti: Official Clip - Wolfman Jack 2:59 American Graffiti: Official Clip - Toad Gets Lucky American Graffiti: Official Clip - Toad Gets Lucky 1:42 American Graffiti: Official Clip - This Is My Cousin, Carol American Graffiti: Official Clip - This Is My Cousin, Carol 2:02 American Graffiti: Official Clip - Must Be Your Mama's Car American Graffiti: Official Clip - Must Be Your Mama's Car 2:43 American Graffiti: Official Clip - The Most Perfect Dazzling Creature Ever American Graffiti: Official Clip - The Most Perfect Dazzling Creature Ever 1:31 American Graffiti: Official Clip - Wanna Go For A Ride? American Graffiti: Official Clip - Wanna Go For A Ride? 2:45 American Graffiti: Official Clip - Drag Race at Paradise Road American Graffiti: Official Clip - Drag Race at Paradise Road 2:55 American Graffiti: Official Clip - Pharaohs and the Cop Car American Graffiti: Official Clip - Pharaohs and the Cop Car 2:57 American Graffiti: Official Clip - Water Balloon Prank American Graffiti: Official Clip - Water Balloon Prank 1:46 View more videos

More Like This

View All
The Sugarland Express 87% 66% The Sugarland Express Watchlist TRAILER for The Sugarland Express Pete 'n' Tillie 67% 68% Pete 'n' Tillie Watchlist The Sting 93% 95% The Sting Watchlist More American Graffiti 20% 33% More American Graffiti Watchlist Minnie and Moskowitz 82% 85% Minnie and Moskowitz Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Related Movie News

View All
Now Streaming: The Americans, Dope, Justified, and More Five Favorite Films with Tavi Gevinson Five Favorite Films with Topher Grace
View All

American Graffiti

American Graffiti: Trailer 1 American Graffiti: Trailer 1 2:49 View more videos
View All

American Graffiti

A scene from American Graffiti. A scene from American Graffiti. A scene from American Graffiti. A scene from American Graffiti. A scene from American Graffiti. American Graffiti (1973) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis From director George Lucas (Star Wars) and producer Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather), American Graffiti is a classic coming-of-age story set against the 1960s backdrop of hot rods, drive-ins and rock n’ roll. Starring Ron Howard, Richard Dreyfuss, Harrison Ford, Cindy Williams, Mackenzie Phillips and Suzanne Somers in their breakout roles, this nostalgic look back follows a group of teenagers as they cruise the streets on their last summer night before college. Nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, American Graffiti features the howling sounds of Wolfman Jack and an unforgettable soundtrack with songs by Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, The Beach Boys and Bill Haley & His Comets.
Director
George Lucas
Producer
Francis Ford Coppola, Gary Kurtz
Screenwriter
George Lucas, Gloria Katz, Willard Huyck
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Lucasfilm Ltd., Universal Pictures, Coppola Company
Rating
PG
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 11, 1973, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Aug 27, 2023
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 13, 2015
Runtime
1h 50m
Sound Mix
Surround, Mono
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
Most Popular at Home Now