Classic teen comedy has language, lack of consequences.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Language
a lot
Fairly frequent profanity includes "ass," "s--t," "s--thead," "bulls--t," "bitch," "bastard." One use of "f--k." "Piss," "goddammit," "hell," "damn," "crap," "slut," "whore," "d--khead," "dips--t," "Christ's sake," "blow yourself," and use of the middle finger.
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Occasional kissing/making out, references to seeing a girl change before she goes swimming (nothing shown), a woman dressed as a nurse delivers a racy "candygram." Ferris looks at an illustration of a nude woman on a computer and appears to enlarge her breast size. Passing mention of herpes.
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Scuffles; an adult is attacked by both a snarling dog and a teen, during which he's kicked in the face and passes out. A car falls from a height and is smashed. A dog is poisoned with flowers and appears dead. Passing mention of suicidal thoughts, bleeding from the eyes, a kidney transplant, and a grandmother's death. A character pretends to lose consciousness underwater; an incident of dangerous driving.
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Ferrari brand is referred to and shown on-screen frequently as desirable and aspirational.
Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
very little
Background drinking/smoking during a restaurant scene. Prescription pill bottles lying around a teen's bedroom. A character in a police station appears under the influence of drugs.
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Friendship and believing in yourself are strong themes, and there are positive aspects to the idea of living life to the fullest. Frequent rule-breaking is celebrated and played for laughs, with main character never facing the consequences of his actions. Questioning authority is mostly used as an excuse to have fun, but also helps a character develop the confidence to stand up to an oppressive parent.
Positive Role Models
very little
Main teen characters lie, cheat, steal, and cut class with abandon, and the movie largely excuses their behavior as standing up to unfeeling adults. Ferris can be rude and manipulative, even toward his friends, but he also shows love and loyalty. He's clever and creative, though he mostly uses those attributes for personal gain. Both Mr. Rooney and Ferris' sister are driven by a desire to expose his behavior, but their vengeance doesn't pay. Others around Ferris learn and grow, yet he doesn't change.
Diverse Representations
Flagged for concern
Characters are primarily White and middle- to upper-class, with Black characters shown only briefly in stereotypical ways, including as part of a dance troupe. A character asks an auto repair man whether he speaks English, making presumptions about his origin based on his job and perceived social standing. A character uses negative language surrounding mental health, including "psychotic" and "out of your goddamn mind." Sexist behavior includes a man saying a teen girl wears too much makeup and that people think his sister is a "whore" for doing the same. An additional incident sees a character tell another to "be a man."
Parents need to know that Ferris Bueller's Day Off is a beloved teen comedy from director John Hughes (The Breakfast Club). While it's about skipping school -- with almost no negative consequences (something families may want to discuss) -- it's also charming and clever. Expect frequent profanity (including "s--t" and a use of "f--k") and manipulative and rule-breaking behavior from the main character (who lies, shows off, and steals a car), as well as some kissing/making out, a teen looking at an illustration of a nude woman on a computer, scuffles between characters, and background smoking and drinking. Mostly, the movie glorifies defying authority, though Ferris (Matthew Broderick) and his friends also show curiosity and moments of teamwork. The majority of the cast are White, with Black characters stereotyped in supporting roles, and sexist behavior is normalized. While it's a little edgy, older tweens and up will likely enjoy the energetic, carefree quality and understand that similar behavior in real life would have less positive outcomes. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
I have only the fondest memories of this film from growing up in the 80's and watching it in cinemas with my friends.
It has not held up well.
Primary issues:
* Ferris is an almost perfect embodiment of privilege. In the current social context, his belief that the rules don't apply to him and he can get away with anything due to his privilege just don't age well into the 2020's
* He's kind of a d*ck. If any friend of yours treated you this way, you'd likely tell him to get lost. He's genuinely unpleasant to Cameron, a character deserving of deep empathy
* Zero consequences - A richer movie would have explored the consequences of actions. (Spoiler alert) Ferris tips Cameron over the edge and he snaps, wrecking the car (which was 100% Ferris's fault due to cavalierly running the mileage up.) Nothing is explored here.
At least the music was good and the Charlie Sheen cameo is as good as I remember, as is the post-credit scene.
Anyway, leave this one in the nostalgia locker where it can remain as inspirational as it was in the late-80's.
Spare us the woke reviews and diversity warnings! (I’m going to check and see what they say about What’s Happening, a show I also loved but that did not have a diverse cast.) Good Lord. It’s a classic for a reason. 13 and up given language and sexual content.
What's the Story?
In FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF, high school student Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) wants a break from classroom drudgery. Faking illness, Bueller ropes in his friends, Cameron (Alan Ruck) and Sloane (Mia Sara), and the trio hit Chicago in Cameron's dad's treasured Ferrari. Meanwhile, the vengeful principal (Jeffrey Jones) and Ferris' resentful sister (Jennifer Grey) pursue Ferris, eager to catch him in the act.
Exuberant and stacked hopelessly in favor of its chatty title character, this movie is both enjoyable and the king of the "smart kid/oblivious parent" trend. You don't have to be as bright as the hero in Ferris Bueller's Day Off to see how young viewers would enjoy movies that show them as savvy and resourceful, outsmarting uncool authorities at every turn. But back when this premiered in 1986, the clever Bueller was a refreshing change from a too common movie image of teens at the mercy of drugs, their libidos, or the occasional serial slasher. Director John Hughes made his reputation by creating quirky young characters like Ferris who have rich inner lives and realistic personal concerns.
It's both a key to this movie's popularity and a little disquieting that Ferris never faces any consequences for his behavior. Even Bart Simpson usually has to take responsibility. But Hughes justifies Ferris' choices as a healthy response to self-centered and materialistic adults like Cameron's father. In the end, it's poor Cameron who takes the fall for the gang, but even he looks forward to the opportunity to defy his (unseen) "old man," who is accused of valuing the Ferrari more than his son. A good question, though, would be whether carefree Ferris will be any better when (if?) he grows up.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Ferris defies authority in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. What might some of the consequences of his actions be in real life?
Discuss Ferris' friendship with Cameron. What's Ferris' role in Cameron gaining the confidence to stand up to his father? Would you consider any of Ferris' behavior to be manipulative or even bullying?
The film portrays school as boring, with students falling asleep. Can you think of movies that show school in different ways? Are there any that portray school as more fun, and how do they compare to Ferris Bueller's Day Off?
How do the characters in Ferris Bueller's Day Off demonstrate curiosity and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?
The film generally lacks diversity. How are Black characters portrayed? And can you see any other groups that are stereotyped in the film?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Charles Cassady Jr.
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
