Questions
Who made Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and when did it come out?
John Hughes wrote and directed it, and it was released on June 11, 1986. It went on to become the 10th highest-grossing film of 1986.
How long did it take John Hughes to write the script?
Reportedly Hughes wrote the screenplay in less than a week after pitching it to Paramount on February 26, 1985. He said he had specific actors in mind from the start.
Who starred in the movie?
Matthew Broderick played Ferris, Alan Ruck played Cameron Frye, Mia Sara played Sloane Peterson, and Jeffrey Jones played Dean Rooney. Jennifer Grey played Ferris’s sister Jeanie.
Which other actors were considered for Ferris?
Anthony Michael Hall turned down the part, and other actors considered included Jim Carrey, Johnny Depp, and Tom Cruise. Hughes reportedly insisted on Broderick for his charm.
How old were the actors playing the teenagers?
Alan Ruck was 29 while playing 17-year-old Cameron, and Mia Sara was 18 playing 17-year-old Sloane. Hughes was reportedly surprised by how young Sara actually was.
Was the Ferrari real?
For most scenes, no. Hughes commissioned three replica cars from Modena Design and Development to stand in for the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder.
How much is that Ferrari worth now?
An original 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder sold at auction in 2015 for $16.83 million. The real car used during filming was valued around $350,000 at the time.
Is the famous Bueller economics teacher scene scripted?
No. Ben Stein’s monotone lecture was not originally scripted, and when student extras laughed at his off-camera talk, Hughes had him perform on camera and improvise. The lines Bueller? Bueller? and Anyone? Anyone? became iconic.
Did Matthew Broderick get hurt during filming?
Reportedly he badly injured his knee during the backyard running scenes, which kept him from doing choreographer Kenny Ortega’s full dance moves in the parade sequence.
How was the big parade scene filmed?
It was shot on two Saturdays, and the second day reportedly drew about 10,000 people after radio stations announced a John Hughes movie was filming. Broderick recalled putting his hands up at the end and hearing a huge roar.
Where was the movie filmed?
Mostly in and around Chicago, including downtown, Winnetka, and Northbrook. Cameron’s modernist glass house was the Ben Rose House in Highland Park, Illinois, while the exterior of Ferris’s house was filmed in Long Beach, California.
What does Ferris’s license plate say?
The vanity plate reads NRVOUS, and other plates in the film referenced Hughes’s earlier movies.
Did the Twist and Shout parade scene affect the song?
Yes. The Beatles’ Twist and Shout re-charted 22 years after its 1963 release, peaking at No. 23 on September 27, 1986. Paul McCartney reportedly disliked the overdubbed brass added to the track.
Is the film considered a classic today?
Yes. It was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2014 as culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant, and holds an 85% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Did John Hughes appear in the film?
Hughes made an uncredited cameo, which was his final on-screen appearance. Broderick has said fans still greet him with Hey Ferris, is this your day off?
