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American Graffiti

Play trailer 2:49 Poster for American Graffiti PG 1973 1h 50m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
95% Tomatometer 64 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.
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American Graffiti

American Graffiti

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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.

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Critics Reviews

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Jake Cole Slant Magazine Nov 8, 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 Sep 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 Aug 26, 2023
A surprise blockbuster hit with an enormous and lasting cultural footprint. Go to Full Review Charlotte Simmons The Treatment (Substack) Apr 9, 2026
And so what George Lucas ends up getting at, ultimately, is the question of not only whether America is mature enough to make choices, but also if we can get hints of an answer by looking at the kinds of choices America creates for itself. Go to Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Mar 18, 2026
3.5/4
...a slightly overlong yet mostly rewarding endeavor that grows more and more absorbing as it unfolds... Go to Full Review Jack Walters Loud and Clear Reviews Jul 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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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LD Aug 28, 2026 Love the nostalgia of this movie! See more Joanne Kiefer Mar 25, 2026 What a great period piece. It was so much fun going back in time in a teenage drama. See more Lord W Sep 3, 2023 Classic! Amazing in theaters. See more Google Aug 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 Aug 29, 2022 More like this please See more Anthony P Aug 29, 2022 I ADORE THE ENTIRE MOVIE. See more Read all reviews
American Graffiti

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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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

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American Graffiti

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

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American Graffiti

American Graffiti: Trailer 1 American Graffiti: Trailer 1 2:49 Now Playing View more videos
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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)
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