Critic Reviews
-
Gene Siskel, Chicago Tribune
A film that doesn't seem to know what it's about until the end.
-
Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine
Here is a dream as old as adolescence, and it is fun to be reminded of its ageless potency, especially in a movie as good-hearted as this one.
-
Variety Staff, Variety
Ferris Bueller exhibits John Hughes on an off day. Paucity of invention here lays bare the total absence of plot or involving situations.
-
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
The overriding impression is one of utter nihilism, of a world divided into bored, crassly materialistic teenagers and doltish, unfeeling adults.
-
, Time Out
Ferris is an admittedly entertaining, at times delightful fellow. How unfortunate that no one got to wring the little bastard's neck.
-
Nina Darnton, New York Times
In this film [Hughes] has created a character who is every teen-ager's fantasy, but in the process he has lost some of the authenticity of his other films.
-
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy
Proof, the best in the filmmaker's career, that a movie doesn't need to bend over backwards for Meaning to be absolutely great.
-
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
its willingness to break convention and throw us into the fantastical, but strangely believable world of its characters makes Ferris Bueller not only Hughes's best teen films, but one of the best teen films ever made
-
Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media
Hilarious comedy classic; language makes it PG-13.
-
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
Extras include a half dozen enjoyable little featurettes, which include both content filmed back in the 1980s and retrospective material from much more recently.
-
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
The quintessential teen comedy, this is a movie that could and should serve as a model for movies of this sort in the future.
-
Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine
The picture quality is a step up, but Paramount's production team clearly took the day off when it came time to bring Ferris Bueller to Blu-Ray.
-
Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine
One has to marvel at just how perfectly Hughes nails his frustratingly entitled mise-en-scène, which he unquestionably does in the film's mesmerizing detour inside an art museum.
-
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
Take a clue from Ferris: If you're going to cut, do it right. (25th Anniversary Blu-ray Edition)
-
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It's an airhead teen film that nevertheless caught the public's fancy and still remains a popular cult favorite.
-
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
There is a degree of rebellion in Ferris and a dash of teenage angst in Cameron, but basically Hughes is handing us a joyful bit of fluff.
-
Adam Smith, Empire Magazine
Sporadically hilarious, with roots that run far deeper than expected.
-
, Film4
There are some great comic set pieces with a seize-the-day vibe for teens. Broderick is amiably charismatic and high school dean Jones almost matches him in comic skill.
-
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Broderick brings some real charm and chutzpah to the part.
-
David Medsker, Bullz-Eye.com
A comedy classic.
Read all 21 critic reviews
Featured Audience Ratings
-
No doubt a fun movie. That being said it is not brilliant filmmaking, but it does make for a good few chuckles.
-
Don't we wish we could all be Ferris Bueller? It doesn't matter if we're adult or teen (though a lot of it works well for the latter demographic), whether at school or work, we all need a "day off" of some sorts. I put that phrase in quotation marks because… More
Don't we wish we could all be Ferris Bueller? It doesn't matter if we're adult or teen (though a lot of it works well for the latter demographic), whether at school or work, we all need a "day off" of some sorts. I put that phrase in quotation marks because when Ferris first employs it in the beginning of the film, the only way anyone could ever be able to know where he is about to take his day is by having seen this timeless film before. A bored Chicago teenager, Ferris (Matthew Broderick) fakes an illness, skips school, and hits the city with his equally fun-loving girlfriend Sloane Peterson (Mia Sara) and his worrisome best friend Cameron Frye (Alan Ruck). He even gets his own charity-"Save Ferris", one of the most prominent yet most unforgettable jokes the film has to offer-for credibility's sake. Unbeknownst to him, his irate principal Ed Rooney (Jeffrey Jones) is on the hunt for him, as he has missed nine days during the semester.
FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF is an absolute must for teenagers. It's an absolute must for adults, too. It's odd how this film is about getting away, yet it seems to promote getting away with itself. I've seen this film several times. I liked it quite a lot the first time, but it just seems to improve bit by bit every time I see it. Plus, there are a few scenes that guarantee laughs as if they're brand-new. FERRIS BUELLER isn't a feel-good film. It's a feel-like-you're-there film. I wish I could share the experience with Ferris, but after watching it, for whatever reason, I'm under the impression that I just did for an hour and forty-three minutes.
read the full writeup at themoviefreakblog.com
-
[img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img]
It's Matthew Broderick who makes Ferris Bueller a likable character, and helps the film as a whole stay together. It's not laugh out loud funny but sometimes it's insanely charming and mildly… More
[img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img]
It's Matthew Broderick who makes Ferris Bueller a likable character, and helps the film as a whole stay together. It's not laugh out loud funny but sometimes it's insanely charming and mildly amusing. Jeffrey Jones is perfect in his antagonistic supporting role and the Charlie Sheen cameo is also very hilarious. Surprisingly light hearted and in some ways deep considering it's formulaic nature.
-
Forever considered a classic in my mind, John Hughes's "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" is a brilliantly written and executed satire/slapstick comedy. The characters are well developed and easy to love, the acting is great, and who could forget such memorable scenes as… More
Forever considered a classic in my mind, John Hughes's "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" is a brilliantly written and executed satire/slapstick comedy. The characters are well developed and easy to love, the acting is great, and who could forget such memorable scenes as the random dance number in the middle of Chicago? Or Charlie Sheen when he made cool look effortless? Or Alan Ruck falling in the pool, bashing a Ferrari, or staring at a painting? As an adolescent myself, it all makes for a memorable movie experience, one that makes everyone want to be a 'Ferris Bueller'. I know I do.
-
Clever, sophisticated, yet inadvertently outrageously hilarious, it was made to entertain and it did just that, if I wasn't in stitches, I was immersed into the holy guide I have been given.
-
"Ferris Bueller's Day Off" is an out & out no-brainer (what could have pleased me more!!!). All it aims at, for most of the part, is making you laugh, no matter how idiotic, illogical and unrealistic the content might seem. More or less, it did work out for me. I… More
"Ferris Bueller's Day Off" is an out & out no-brainer (what could have pleased me more!!!). All it aims at, for most of the part, is making you laugh, no matter how idiotic, illogical and unrealistic the content might seem. More or less, it did work out for me. I wish that the principal's role was better written. Besides. I was expecting a better ending which I'd pictured in my mind before it's finally unveiled. Anyways, it's a good comedy and worth a shot if you're looking for a move that has moments that would make you burst into laughter..... but wherein you need to put a brake on your brain. Enjoy and have fun.
-
Ferris Bueller's Day Off is another one of those 80's movies that I should have seen a long time ago, and that I'm glad that I finally got to watch. Funny, heartwarming, and with a message or two that teenage kids can relate to,,,yep, that sounds like a John Hughes… More
Ferris Bueller's Day Off is another one of those 80's movies that I should have seen a long time ago, and that I'm glad that I finally got to watch. Funny, heartwarming, and with a message or two that teenage kids can relate to,,,yep, that sounds like a John Hughes movie.
My only real complaint was that it took the movie a while to get interesting, but before long I was totally into the memorable characters and what was happening. Good stuff.
-
Ferris Bueller is one of the funniest, coolest, and best comedies of all time, and is probably my favorite film by john Hughes and is one of the best cult classics of all time. The story is awesome, every kid wants to be Ferris Bueller, the cool, laid back, and fun guy who gets away… More
Ferris Bueller is one of the funniest, coolest, and best comedies of all time, and is probably my favorite film by john Hughes and is one of the best cult classics of all time. The story is awesome, every kid wants to be Ferris Bueller, the cool, laid back, and fun guy who gets away with everything, and who spends the best day of his life with is best friend and girlfriend. Mathew Broderick plays his most famous and life changing role to date, and I can remember his performance til the day I die. This movie is so fun and great that I cannot imgaine what the world will be like with Ferris Bueller without Ferrios Bueller taking his day off, and I love this movie.
-
This movie is great, you'll die laughing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Matthew Broderick is so funny! (:
-
Ferris Bueller's Day Off is one of those essential Teen comedies that really anyone can relate to. That's the beauty about John Hughes. His films have no specific demographic and they're films that anyone, of any age of either Sex can relate to. I never watched Ferries… More
Ferris Bueller's Day Off is one of those essential Teen comedies that really anyone can relate to. That's the beauty about John Hughes. His films have no specific demographic and they're films that anyone, of any age of either Sex can relate to. I never watched Ferries Bueller before, and I had heard some good things about it, and I finally decided to give this one a shot. Now, I never really was a fan of Matthew Broderick, and I was apprehensive about watching this, but all that went out the door once I started the film. This was made back when Broderick was talented, and had a great career. This was back before the dreadful Inspector Gadget film and boring Godzilla remake. Ferris Bueller is simply a fun film that has plenty of memorable moments, that I won't reveal in this review, so as not to spoil this film experience for you. The cast do a fine job, and Broderick is terrific in his role, along with the chemistry hew has with co stars Alan Ruck and Mia Sara, the performances between these three actors are what keeps the film moving along, always entertaining, and above all, always fun. The film has some very funny moments, and John Hughes delivers a solid comedy film that anyone can relate to. A terrific film that has become a classic of teen comedies. Ferris Bueller's Day Off is one of the all time great teen comedies, and the fact that John Hughes shows respect for teens, just goes to show that he understood the hardships of growing up, and this film provides that escape that every teen wishes could happen to them. Hughes was a terrific filmmaker and this film along with The Breakfast Club is easily some of the best Teen oriented films that have graced the genre. Anyone can relate to this film no matter your age. That was the genius of John Hughes, making films anyone can enjoy.
-
This movie does not stereotypically fall into my radar of rhetoric but it was an old fave of my parents so I was subjected to it on many occasions. I want to stab Mia Sara almost every time she appears on the screen, but Ferris and Cameron make likely and original characters that… More
This movie does not stereotypically fall into my radar of rhetoric but it was an old fave of my parents so I was subjected to it on many occasions. I want to stab Mia Sara almost every time she appears on the screen, but Ferris and Cameron make likely and original characters that offer something slightly more entertaining than most teenage duos in movies of this sort. One major flaw - bunking from school is nowhere NEAR as hard as these kids make it look.
-
-
-
"Anyone? anyone? Bueller?" has been so ingrained into the public jargon it's become a cliche, but that doesn't minimize the absolute delight this movie is. This is escapism and teen bias to the max, but as long as we are aware of bias this movie will never be… More
"Anyone? anyone? Bueller?" has been so ingrained into the public jargon it's become a cliche, but that doesn't minimize the absolute delight this movie is. This is escapism and teen bias to the max, but as long as we are aware of bias this movie will never be considered antiauthoritarian. It's just FUN. Plus, Matthew Broderick used to be so sexy. What happened? I blame Sarah Jessica Parker. Mia Sara as Sloane is gorgeous, why couldn't they have ended up together in real life?
-
one of the best films from the 80's It was all around good
-
I love this movie so much! I know all the lines and everything! This is an hilarious, fun, fantastic movie with an awesome cast and great story. Ferris is literally the coolest guy of the 80s. If you haven't seen this movie, please go rent it!
-
an absolute 80's classic, but at the same time easily one of the most overrated films ever. dont get me wrong, its very good. but i am always dumbfounded at the amount of people i meet that say this is one of their 10 favorite films ever. its just a really good 80's… More
an absolute 80's classic, but at the same time easily one of the most overrated films ever. dont get me wrong, its very good. but i am always dumbfounded at the amount of people i meet that say this is one of their 10 favorite films ever. its just a really good 80's portrayal of the cool high school kid that everyone wants to be, but its no masterpiece.
-
The first time I ever saw this movie, I rented it, then watched it four times in a row.
-
The comedy classic from the 80?s, an enjoyable rewatch of one of my chilfdhood favourites and still entertaining..
The well planned ?all angles covered? day off school, was something every school kid admired and would love to have gotten away with.
-
It leads you up to one sequence that leaves a big huge gigantic smile on your face, however, so does the rest of the movie. This movie should be cherished by ever teen for many years more to come! Anyone who doesn't like this movie should take a second look!
Read all 20 featured audience ratings
Also available on
UltraViolet Retailers
Other Retailers
Subscription Services