American Graffiti
Updated: 12/11/2025, 5:16:44 PM Wikipedia source
American Graffiti is a 1973 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by George Lucas, produced by Francis Ford Coppola, written by Lucas, Gloria Katz, and Willard Huyck, and starring Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Charles Martin Smith, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips, Cindy Williams, and Wolfman Jack. Harrison Ford and Bo Hopkins also appear. Set in Modesto, California, in 1962, the film is a study of the cruising and early rock and roll cultures popular among Lucas' age group at that time. Through a series of vignettes, it tells the story of a group of teenagers and their adventures throughout a single summer night. While Lucas was working on his first film, THX 1138, Coppola asked him to write a coming-of-age film. The genesis of American Graffiti took place in Modesto in the early 1960s, during Lucas's teenage years. He was unsuccessful in pitching the concept to financiers and distributors but found favor at Universal Pictures after every other major film studio turned him down. Filming began in San Rafael, California, but the production crew was denied permission to shoot beyond a second day. As a result, production was moved to Petaluma, California. It is the first film to be produced by his Lucasfilm production banner. American Graffiti premiered on August 2, 1973, at the Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland and was released in the United States on August 11, 1973. Despite low expectations from Universal Pictures, who initially planned to release it as a television film, the film was given a theatrical release after Francis Ford Coppola, fresh off the success of The Godfather, agreed to attach his name as an executive producer. Completed on a modest budget of $777,000 (equivalent to about $4.1 million in 2023), American Graffiti became one of the most profitable films of all time, earning over $200 million in box office and home video revenue. The film received widespread critical acclaim and was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It is widely credited with launching a wave of 1950s and early 1960s nostalgia in American pop culture, influencing the teen comedy genre and reviving interest in early rock and roll among the baby boomer generation. In 1995, it was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
Infobox
Directed by
George Lucas
Written by
mw- George Lucas Gloria Katz Willard Huyck
Produced by
Francis Ford Coppola
Starring
Richard Dreyfuss Ron Howard Paul Le Mat Charles Martin Smith Candy Clark Mackenzie Phillips Cindy Williams Wolfman Jack
Cinematography
Ron Eveslage Jan D'Alquen
Edited by
Verna Fields Marcia Lucas
Productioncompanies
Lucasfilm Ltd. The Coppola Company
Distributed by
Universal Pictures
Release dates
August 2, 1973 (1973-08-02) (Locarno) August 11, 1973 (1973-08-11) (United States)
Running time
112 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$777,000
Box office
$140 million
Tables
· Reception › Accolades
Academy Awards
Academy Awards
Award
Academy Awards
Category
Best Picture
Recipient(s)
Francis Ford Coppola and Gary Kurtz
Result
Nominated
Best Director
Best Director
Award
Best Director
Category
George Lucas
Recipient(s)
Nominated
Best Supporting Actress
Best Supporting Actress
Award
Best Supporting Actress
Category
Candy Clark
Recipient(s)
Nominated
Best Story and Screenplay Based on Factual Material or Material Not Previously Produced or Published
Best Story and Screenplay Based on Factual Material or Material Not Previously Produced or Published
Award
Best Story and Screenplay Based on Factual Material or Material Not Previously Produced or Published
Category
George Lucas, Gloria Katz, and Willard Huyck
Recipient(s)
Nominated
Best Film Editing
Best Film Editing
Award
Best Film Editing
Category
Verna Fields and Marcia Lucas
Recipient(s)
Nominated
British Academy Film Awards
British Academy Film Awards
Award
British Academy Film Awards
Category
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Recipient(s)
Cindy Williams
Result
Nominated
Directors Guild of America Awards
Directors Guild of America Awards
Award
Directors Guild of America Awards
Category
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
Recipient(s)
George Lucas
Result
Nominated
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
Award
Golden Globe Awards
Category
Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Recipient(s)
American Graffiti
Result
Won
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Award
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Category
Richard Dreyfuss
Recipient(s)
Nominated
Best Director – Motion Picture
Best Director – Motion Picture
Award
Best Director – Motion Picture
Category
George Lucas
Recipient(s)
Nominated
Most Promising Newcomer – Male
Most Promising Newcomer – Male
Award
Most Promising Newcomer – Male
Category
Paul Le Mat
Recipient(s)
Won
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards
Award
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards
Category
Best Film
Recipient(s)
American Graffiti
Result
Won
Locarno International Film Festival
Locarno International Film Festival
Award
Locarno International Film Festival
Category
Bronze Leopard
Recipient(s)
George Lucas
Result
Won
Nastro d'Argento
Nastro d'Argento
Award
Nastro d'Argento
Category
Best Foreign Director
Recipient(s)
Nominated
National Film Preservation Board
National Film Preservation Board
Award
National Film Preservation Board
Category
National Film Registry
Recipient(s)
American Graffiti
Result
Inducted
National Society of Film Critics Awards
National Society of Film Critics Awards
Award
National Society of Film Critics Awards
Category
Best Supporting Actress
Recipient(s)
Cindy Williams
Result
5th Place
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
Award
Best Screenplay
Category
George Lucas, Gloria Katz, and Willard Huyck
Recipient(s)
Won
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
Award
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
Category
Best Film
Recipient(s)
American Graffiti
Result
Runner-up
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
Award
Best Screenplay
Category
George Lucas, Gloria Katz, and Willard Huyck
Recipient(s)
Won
Online Film & Television Association Awards
Online Film & Television Association Awards
Award
Online Film & Television Association Awards
Category
Hall of Fame – Motion Picture
Recipient(s)
American Graffiti
Result
Honored
Writers Guild of America Awards[failed verification]
Writers Guild of America Awards[failed verification]
Award
Writers Guild of America Awards[failed verification]
Category
Best Comedy – Written Directly for the Screen
Recipient(s)
George Lucas, Gloria Katz, and Willard Huyck
Result
Nominated
| Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
| Academy Awards | Best Picture | Francis Ford Coppola and Gary Kurtz | Nominated |
| Best Director | George Lucas | Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Candy Clark | Nominated | |
| Best Story and Screenplay Based on Factual Material or Material Not Previously Produced or Published | George Lucas, Gloria Katz, and Willard Huyck | Nominated | |
| Best Film Editing | Verna Fields and Marcia Lucas | Nominated | |
| British Academy Film Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Cindy Williams | Nominated |
| Directors Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | George Lucas | Nominated |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | American Graffiti | Won |
| Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Richard Dreyfuss | Nominated | |
| Best Director – Motion Picture | George Lucas | Nominated | |
| Most Promising Newcomer – Male | Paul Le Mat | Won | |
| Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Film | American Graffiti | Won |
| Locarno International Film Festival | Bronze Leopard | George Lucas | Won |
| Nastro d'Argento | Best Foreign Director | Nominated | |
| National Film Preservation Board | National Film Registry | American Graffiti | Inducted |
| National Society of Film Critics Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Cindy Williams | 5th Place |
| Best Screenplay | George Lucas, Gloria Katz, and Willard Huyck | Won | |
| New York Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Film | American Graffiti | Runner-up |
| Best Screenplay | George Lucas, Gloria Katz, and Willard Huyck | Won | |
| Online Film & Television Association Awards | Hall of Fame – Motion Picture | American Graffiti | Honored |
| Writers Guild of America Awards[failed verification] | Best Comedy – Written Directly for the Screen | George Lucas, Gloria Katz, and Willard Huyck | Nominated |
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