Ferris Bueller’s Day Off(1986)

Paramount Pictures

PG-13
1h 43m
- Comedy

Release Date: Jun 11, 1986 | Wide

57%
58%
A-
7.8

A brash, cocky high school senior, tired of skipping school to spend a boring day at home, is determined to enjoy an epic day roaring around his favorite Chicago sites, enlisting his best friend and girlfriend to join him on the adventure.

Releases

Original Release | Jun 11, 1986

View Advanced Data

Box Office Results

Updated as of Mar 27, 2026 07:08 PM ET

Results

Opening Weekend US & Canada:
$6,275,647
Total US & Canada:
$70,136,369
Total International
$588,795
Total Worldwide:
$70,765,919

Current Showtimes

orround

Mon May 18
Tue May 19
Wed May 20
Thu May 21
Fri May 22
Sat May 23
Sun May 24

Director & Top Cast

John Hughes
Director

Matthew Broderick
Ferris Bueller

Alan Ruck
Cameron Frye

Mia Sara
Sloane Peterson

Jeffrey Jones
Ed Rooney

Jennifer Grey
Jeanie Bueller

Cindy Pickett

Katie Bueller

Lyman Ward

Tom Bueller

Edie McClurg

Grace

Charlie Sheen

Boy in Police Station

Ben Stein

Economics Teacher

Del Close

English Teacher

Virginia Capers

Florence Sparrow

Richard Edson

Garage Attendant

Larry Flash Jenkins

Attendant's Co-Pilot

Kristy Swanson

Simone Adamley

Lisa Bellard

Economics Student

Max Perlich

Anderson

Technical Specifications

Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo

Aspect Ratio: 2.39 : 1

Other Details

Country of Origin: United States

Language: English,German

Summaries

Plot Summary

High school senior Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) decides to skip school on a spring day by faking an illness for his parents (Lyman Ward and Cindy Pickett), then encourages his girlfriend, Sloane (Mia Sara), and his pessimistic best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) to spend the day in Chicago as one of their last flings before they graduate and head off to different colleges. He sets up an elaborate ruse in his bedroom with a mannequin, a trophy and his stereo in case anyone decides to check on him. Ferris persuades Cameron to let them use his father's restored 1961 Ferrari 250 GT "California" to pick up Sloane (as part of their cover) to travel into the city. He also has Cameron impersonate Sloane's stuffy-toned father to have Sloane excused for the day due to a faked death in the family. The rest of the school and many residents learn of Ferris' exaggerated illness and offer donations to help "Save Ferris". However, only two people are not convinced by Ferris' deception: his sister, Jeanie (Jennifer Grey), outraged at Ferris' ability to defy authority easily, and the school's Dean of Students, Edward Rooney (Jeffrey Jones), believing Ferris to be truant.Ferris and his friends arrive downtown and leave the Ferrari with two garage attendants (Richard Edson and Larry Jenkins), who drive off in it a short while later to take a joyride. Ferris, Sloane, and Cameron enjoy the sights, including taking in a Cubs game at Wrigley Field, visiting the Sears Tower, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, and taking part in the Von Steuben Day Parade, with Ferris lip-syncing to Wayne Newton's "Danke Schoen" and the Beatles' version of "Twist and Shout", dedicating the former to Cameron himself. Ferris also uses his ploys to pretend he is Abe Froeman, the Sausage King of Chicago, to dine at an upscale restaurant on Rush Street (while narrowly avoiding his own father who is dining out with some business associates).Meanwhile, Mr. Rooney has gone off-campus to try to find Ferris, first at a local hangout, then to Ferris' home, where Mr. Rooney attempts to gain entry, but ends up getting stuck in the mud and losing his shoe and wallet while being chased by the dog. Jeanie comes home to look for Ferris, instead discovering Mr. Rooney, whom she mistakes for a burglar, kicking him several times in the face and retreating. She calls the police, forcing Mr. Rooney to flee the scene. When the police show up, they haul Jeanie in for prank calling, and at the police station, she talks to a drug dealer (Charlie Sheen), who tells her that she needs to stop obsessing about her brother and focus on herself. Jeanie's mother shows up to collect her, upset at having to do so, and finds Jeanie making out with the boy.At the end of the day, Ferris and his friends retrieve the Ferrari, but discover on the way home that hundreds of miles have been added to the odometer, sending Cameron into a panic fearing his abusive father's reaction. After calming Cameron down, Ferris comes up with a plan to run the car in reverse, in place, with its rear wheels jacked up, at Cameron's father's hillside garage, hoping to reverse the odometer. When they realize this is not working, Cameron unleashes his pent-up anger against his father, yelling about how his father loves the car more than his own son and damaging the front of the car, but comes to realize he is long due to stand up to his father, and vows to accept the consequences. Cameron calms down and rests himself against the car, but his previous actions have unbalanced it from the jack it was on, the car hits the ground, races in reverse, and crashes through a glass wall, landing in a ravine. Despite Ferris' offer to take the blame, Cameron still plans to admit his actions to his father and take the consequences.Ferris walks Sloane home, then quickly races through the backyards of his neighborhood. While running across a street, he's nearly hit by a car: it is his sister and mother driving home. His mother doesn't spot him but Jeanie does and she floors the gas pedal, trying to beat him home.Ferris continues his race home. When he gets there, he finds Mr. Rooney waiting for him. However, Jeanie, apparently having come to appreciate her brother's craftiness, has beaten him home despite her mother's demands and getting a ticket for speeding. She pretends to scold Ferris for trying to walk home from the hospital while he is so ill, and thanks Mr. Rooney for driving him home, making sure to show Mr. Rooney the wallet he left behind when he broke in earlier. Rooney is once again chased by the dog. Ferris races to his room and makes it into bed just as his parents check on him. After they leave, he breaks the fourth wall and imparts some wisdom to his audience: "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."As the credits roll, Mr. Rooney in his disheveled state is forced to catch a ride back to school on a school bus. In the tag at the very end of the credits, Ferris emerges from the bathroom, pleading to the audience directly, "You're still here? It's over! Go home! Go!" before he turns around and reenters the bathroom.

Storyline

High school student Ferris Bueller wants a day off from school and he's developed an incredibly sophisticated plan to pull it off. He talks his friend Cameron and his girlfriend Sloane into heading to Chicago for the day. While they are taking in what the city has to offer, Dean of Students Ed Rooney is convinced that Ferris is, not for the first time, playing hooky for the day and is hell-bent to catch him out. Ferris has anticipated that, much to Rooney's chagrin. — garykmcd Having devised an ingenious plan to skip school, popular high school senior Ferris Bueller can't wait to put it in motion. And as his lovely girlfriend Sloane and neurotic best friend Cameron tag along, an exciting, no-holds-barred adventure through Chicago begins. However, there are so many ways to go wrong--reckless Bueller now plays with fire. For instance, Ferris' vindictive sister Jeanie knows her little brother is up to no good. As if that weren't enough, Ferris' ridiculed Dean of Students Ed Rooney already smells a rat, and he is determined to make the chronic truant remember his name for the rest of his life. But first, Rooney has to catch Ferris in the act. Do they have what it takes to ruin Ferris Bueller's day off? — Nick Riganas Ferris Bueller has decided to take a day off school. In an elaborate hoax, he convinces his parents that he's sick. Now, home alone, he gets together with his best friend Cameron and his girlfriend Sloane and sets out to Chicago for a day of sights and fun. However, his sister is onto his scheme and is determined to expose it. So is the school's Dean of Students. — grantss Ferris is a street-wise kid who knows all the tricks. Today he has decided to take the day off school. When Ferris takes the day off, so must his best friends, Cameron and Sloane. Suspicious dean of students Ed Rooney knows all about Ferris, but can never catch him. Ferris' sister Jeanie is also frustrated. Furthermore, Ferris is an 'angel' in his parents' eyes. It's Ferris' day off, he's out to enjoy himself, and he does. — Rob Hartill 1 more See all

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