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Risky Business

Play trailer 1:21 Poster for Risky Business R 1983 1h 36m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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93% Tomatometer 54 Reviews 73% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Ecstatic when his parents leave on vacation for a few days, high school senior Joel Goodsen (Tom Cruise) cuts loose with his best friend Miles. After an attempt at securing the services of a prostitute goes slightly awry, Joel hires gorgeous Lana (Rebecca De Mornay) for a night of delight. Stunned by the amount of Lana's "bill" the next morning, Joel grows frantic after he crashes his father's Porsche. In an effort to raise lots of money fast, a desperate Joel turns the house into a brothel.
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Risky Business

Risky Business

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Critics Consensus

Featuring one of Tom Cruise's best early performances, Risky Business is a sharp, funny examination of teen angst that doesn't stop short of exploring dark themes.

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Critics Reviews

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Chuck Bowen Slant Magazine 07/22/2024
Is the film a satire of consumerism or an example of it? It’s both and the better for it. Go to Full Review
David Denby New York Magazine/Vulture 12/31/2019
Risky Business, a movie about a nice boy losing his virginity, is a first-time director's clear failure that I normally wouldn't get belligerent about, but the picture is so confused, so strange, and so openly corrupt that I can't resist. Go to Full Review
Dave Kehr Chicago Reader 08/06/2007
One of the finest film explorations of the end of innocence. Go to Full Review
Katie Hogan She Likes Movies 11/13/2024
Risky Business is entertaining and though would never have worked outside its release era, there’s still many laughs to be had. Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 09/02/2024
B
What the f---! Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 08/01/2024
3.5/4
From Screwballs to Hardbodies, the eighties were jam-packed with inane teen sex comedies -- rest assured, Risky Business is not one of them. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Gustavo R Nov 29 ..................... See more Jack F @MovieFan111 Nov 17 So much fun seeing Cruise get his start. Best season to watch is on a cold winters night. Dirty dirty concept though... See more Jess S Aug 27 The underscore to this film is so emotive and perfectly chosen. The characters played by Cruise and De Mornay are so tangible and so well played. Perfectly nostalgic of the 80s and the feeling of being young and free. Would recommend it to anyone who wants a meaningful film that's original with charm. The plot line can feel slightly rushed and clunky briefly but overall is a fabulous evening watch to feel good and reminisce. See more M P. @MovieLoverPassion Jul 3 Rewatched after many years and this film still holds up 42 years later. Iconic. Just delicious. It’s smart, whitty, funny and filmed beautifully. A star is truly born in Tom’s performance. His character development of Joel from innocent teen to… well watch the film is extraordinary. Oh & Tom’s charisma and killer smile 😋. See more Zach W. @zwreviews Jun 26 Written and directed by Paul Brickman, Risky Business chronicles the continuously chaotic and escalating problems of a teenager home alone while his parents are out of town. It is interesting to see Tom Cruise in a role so drastically different than his most recent roles. Cruise captivates with his subtle transformation from youthful innocence to provocativeness and adulthood. Risky Business features a story that builds conflict around the relatable feelings of attraction, sexuality, and intimacy. Though the tone is awkward and slightly uncomfortable at times, the dynamic between Tom Cruise and Rebecca De Mornay is compelling enough to remain intriguing. The strength of Risky Business derives from its script. Though the story is a simple one, the exploration of desperation is profound in its ability to capture one of the many complexities of growing up. It’s clear from 1983 that Tom Cruise had something special in the industry. His line deliveries and overall persona is charming, but it’s his emotional range that stands out in this role as Joel. While Risky Business is a fun balance of chaos, humor, and emotion, the story does feel repetitive and underwhelming by its conclusion. Overall, Risky Business is a special blend of immature shenanigans and insatiable curiosity. Tom Cruise is electric and Paul Brickman crafts a compelling story despite its simplicity and anticlimactic final act. See more David C Jun 22 La historia está muy bien desarrollada y mantiene el interés en todo momento. Tom Cruise ofrece una actuación sólida que aporta fuerza y carisma al personaje. See more Read all reviews
Risky Business

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Movie Info

Synopsis Ecstatic when his parents leave on vacation for a few days, high school senior Joel Goodsen (Tom Cruise) cuts loose with his best friend Miles. After an attempt at securing the services of a prostitute goes slightly awry, Joel hires gorgeous Lana (Rebecca De Mornay) for a night of delight. Stunned by the amount of Lana's "bill" the next morning, Joel grows frantic after he crashes his father's Porsche. In an effort to raise lots of money fast, a desperate Joel turns the house into a brothel.
Director
Paul Brickman
Producer
Jon Avnet, Steve Tisch
Screenwriter
Paul Brickman
Distributor
Warner Home Vídeo, Warner Bros.
Production Co
Geffen Pictures
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 5, 1983, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 1, 2008
Runtime
1h 36m
Sound Mix
Dolby, Surround
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