Ferris Bueller's Day Off

1986

Action / Comedy / Romance

146
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 92% · 80 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 92% · 250K ratings
IMDb Rating 7.8/10 10 412240 412.2K

adventure chicago, illinois high school independence coming of age caper

Plot summary

After high school slacker Ferris Bueller successfully fakes an illness in order to skip school for the day, he goes on a series of adventures throughout Chicago with his girlfriend Sloane and best friend Cameron, all the while trying to outwit his wily school principal and fed-up sister.

Director

John Hughes Photo
John Hughes

Top cast

Jennifer Grey Photo
Jennifer Grey as Jeanie Bueller
Jeffrey Jones Photo
Jeffrey Jones as Ed Rooney
Lyman Ward Photo
Lyman Ward as Tom Bueller
Jerry Rees Photo
Jerry Rees as Imitator
720p.BluRay 1080p.BluRay 2160p.BluRay
600.97 MB
1280*720
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 43 min
Seeds 20
1.63 GB
1920*1080
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 43 min
Seeds 100
4.85 GB
3840*2160
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 43 min
Seeds 40

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by jpmelkus 9 / 10

Recaptures "Youngness"

I rewatched FBDO (sorry, had to) for the first time in many years. I was not even 10 when it came out, and it is not until now that I have appreciated it a level beyond the basic comedy. It has comedy for sure, of all kinds. Slapstick, absurdity, farce, comedy-of-errors, comedy-of-manners, puns, shock, swearing, satire, parody, and on and on.But is so much more than an outstanding comedy. It has real philosophy that is not sophomoric (they're seniors and juniors...haha). This comes in Ferris's asides, but also in what the characters say when they are not joking.It has some complete non-sequiturs and montages that really make you ponder the characters and that capture what it is like to be young in a way that you almost never see, e.g., them looking down from the Sears Tower, the scene at the art musuem, etc.Why? Well, real teenagers can almost never make enduring art, so they have a hard time capturing what its like to be young in any way beyond the surface. You have to know what it fleeting about youth to capture it and you only know that once you're not young any more. A 17 year old writing this movie couldn't capture youth because youth are just to callow and to inexperienced with life. But adults, even when they try to write about youth, often infuse that feeling with too much importance that isn't present when you're young. It gets too nostalgic, or treacly, or whatever.But with FBDO, John Hughes just takes your mind back to what it was like to be about to graduate high school.Yes, these are all privileged white kids. Yes, the whole move is extra white and extra privileged. Minorities are relegated to some really insulting stereotypical parts. So in that regard, it has not aged well at all.BUT! This movie still captures late adolescence perfectly. That feeling of knowing your childhood is about to disappear and missing it already, but being excited about your unknown future that seems to stretch out forever ahead of you. And scared at the same time.It just leaves you feeling warm and reminiscent and happy to be an adult, but really glad you were a kid.I also like that Ferris, for all his likability, is a flawed character. He is a narcissist. But he's 17 (maybe 18). He hurts Cameron's feelings over and over in a way that is close to bullying or gaslighting. But protagonists shouldn't be perfect. And Ferris's flaws illustrate those of the other characters in a way that is very illuminating.All these characters have a depth that is so lacking (except maybe the dad). Certainly Sloane and Cameron and Ferris are totally three dimensional. But even his sister, and mom are shown as real people too.But then you have totally INSANE absurd non-sequiturs thrown in. The principal is an absolute cartoon. So is his secretary. The BONKERS way everyone in town is pulling for Ferris. I mean, they paint a WATERTOWER in like an hour?!?! The parking lot joyride. Abe Froman!? The whole parade sequence?! It is just crazy how all that happens and the movie still feels "real."An absolute joy to watch. I haven't seen a comedy this deep in years. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, another John Hughes movie is probably similar in that regard. They do not make them like this much any more. Even 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up, for all their dealing with "big issues" seem to be inhabited by cardboard cutouts (the stoner, the hectoring girlfriend/wife) compared to this film.Watch it every couple years. You won't regret it.
Reviewed by richardtownsley-19550 8 / 10

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

I remember watching this movie, and while I loved the first 2 acts, both full of endless laughter, I couldn't help but think that Ferris Bueller was something of a narcissist. He does many seemingly selfish things; lying to his parents, humiliating his principal, and putting his 'best friend' in danger, all so he can have 7 carefree hours off of school. It is not until the 3rd act that he becomes a 3-dimensional character, and we begin to understand him and realize he is not the sociopath we might have assumed he is. While it seems he does all the things he does for his own pleasure, it becomes clear in the last 20 minutes he was really doing it for his friend. At the beginning of the movie, Cameron is timid, constantly worried, and unsure of himself. We learn his parents argue, and his dad neglects him, and would rather work on his Ferrari instead of spending time with his son. Throughout the movie, Ferris tries to boost his friend's self-esteem, and by the end, he has succeeded. His friend is a completely different person, and most of the major characters are, notably his sister. However, Ferris doesn't seem to change at all. He helps his friends become better people, but in doing so, he isn't changing at all.
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