The Graduate
Updated: 12/10/2025, 4:17:10 PM Wikipedia source
The Graduate is a 1967 American independent romantic comedy-drama film directed by Mike Nichols and written by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham, based on the 1963 novella by Charles Webb. It stars Dustin Hoffman as Benjamin Braddock, a recent college graduate who is seduced by an older married woman, Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft), but falls for her daughter, Elaine (Katharine Ross). The soundtrack was recorded by Simon & Garfunkel, and featured the hit single "Mrs. Robinson". The Graduate was released December 21, 1967. It grossed $104.9 million in the United States and Canada, making it the highest-grossing film of 1967 in North America. Adjusted for inflation (as of 2021), its gross is $857 million, making it the 22nd-highest-grossing film in the United States and Canada. It received seven nominations at the 40th Academy Awards, and won for Best Director. In 1996, The Graduate was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". The following year, the American Film Institute ranked it the 7th-greatest American film and the 17th-greatest in 2007. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential films ever made.
Infobox
Directed by
Mike Nichols
Screenplay by
mw- Calder Willingham Buck Henry
Based on
The Graduateby Charles Webb
Produced by
Lawrence Turman
Starring
Anne Bancroft Dustin Hoffman Katharine Ross
Cinematography
Robert Surtees
Edited by
Sam O'Steen
Music by
Paul Simon (songs) Dave Grusin (score)
Color process
Technicolor
Productioncompany
Lawrence Turman Productions
Distributed by
Embassy Pictures (United States) United Artists (International)
Release dates
December 20, 1967 (1967-12-20) (premiere) December 21, 1967 (1967-12-21) (United States)
Running time
106 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$3 million
Box office
$104.9 million (North America)
Tables
· Reception and legacy › Accolades
Academy Awards
Academy Awards
Award
Academy Awards
Category
Best Picture
Nominee(s)
Lawrence Turman
Result
Nominated
Best Director
Best Director
Award
Best Director
Category
Mike Nichols
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Actor
Best Actor
Award
Best Actor
Category
Dustin Hoffman
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Actress
Best Actress
Award
Best Actress
Category
Anne Bancroft
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Supporting Actress
Best Supporting Actress
Award
Best Supporting Actress
Category
Katharine Ross
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Screenplay – Based on Material from Another Medium
Best Screenplay – Based on Material from Another Medium
Award
Best Screenplay – Based on Material from Another Medium
Category
Buck Henry and Calder Willingham
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Cinematography
Best Cinematography
Award
Best Cinematography
Category
Robert L. Surtees
Nominee(s)
Nominated
British Academy Film Awards
British Academy Film Awards
Award
British Academy Film Awards
Category
Best Film
Nominee(s)
Mike Nichols
Result
Won
Best Direction
Best Direction
Award
Best Direction
Category
Won
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Award
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Category
Anne Bancroft
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
Award
Best Screenplay
Category
Buck Henry and Calder Willingham
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Editing
Best Editing
Award
Best Editing
Category
Sam O'Steen
Nominee(s)
Won
Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles
Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles
Award
Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles
Category
Dustin Hoffman
Nominee(s)
Won
Katharine Ross
Katharine Ross
Award
Katharine Ross
Category
Nominated
Directors Guild of America Awards
Directors Guild of America Awards
Award
Directors Guild of America Awards
Category
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
Nominee(s)
Mike Nichols
Result
Won
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
Award
Golden Globe Awards
Category
Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Nominee(s)
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
Dustin Hoffman
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Award
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Category
Anne Bancroft
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Director – Motion Picture
Best Director – Motion Picture
Award
Best Director – Motion Picture
Category
Mike Nichols
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Award
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Category
Buck Henry and Calder Willingham
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Most Promising Newcomer – Male
Most Promising Newcomer – Male
Award
Most Promising Newcomer – Male
Category
Dustin Hoffman
Nominee(s)
Won
Most Promising Newcomer – Female
Most Promising Newcomer – Female
Award
Most Promising Newcomer – Female
Category
Katharine Ross
Nominee(s)
Won
Grammy Awards
Grammy Awards
Award
Grammy Awards
Category
Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special
Nominee(s)
Dave Grusin and Paul Simon
Result
Won
Laurel Awards
Laurel Awards
Award
Laurel Awards
Category
Top Comedy
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Top Male Comedy Performance
Top Male Comedy Performance
Award
Top Male Comedy Performance
Category
Dustin Hoffman
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Top Female Dramatic Performance
Top Female Dramatic Performance
Award
Top Female Dramatic Performance
Category
Anne Bancroft
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Top Female Supporting Performance
Top Female Supporting Performance
Award
Top Female Supporting Performance
Category
Katharine Ross
Nominee(s)
Won
National Board of Review Awards
National Board of Review Awards
Award
National Board of Review Awards
Category
Top Ten Films
Nominee(s)
8th Place
National Film Preservation Board
National Film Preservation Board
Award
National Film Preservation Board
Category
National Film Registry
Nominee(s)
Inducted
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
Award
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
Category
Best Film
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Director
Best Director
Award
Best Director
Category
Mike Nichols
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
Award
Best Screenplay
Category
Buck Henry and Calder Willingham
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Online Film & Television Association Awards
Online Film & Television Association Awards
Award
Online Film & Television Association Awards
Category
Hall of Fame – Motion Picture
Nominee(s)
Honored
Producers Guild of America Awards
Producers Guild of America Awards
Award
Producers Guild of America Awards
Category
PGA Hall of Fame – Motion Pictures
Nominee(s)
Lawrence Turman – The Graduate
Result
Won
Satellite Awards
Satellite Awards
Award
Satellite Awards
Category
Best Classic DVD
Nominee(s)
The Graduate: 40th Anniversary Edition
Result
Won
Best DVD Extras
Best DVD Extras
Award
Best DVD Extras
Category
Nominated
Writers Guild of America Awards
Writers Guild of America Awards
Award
Writers Guild of America Awards
Category
Best Written American Comedy
Nominee(s)
Buck Henry and Calder Willingham
Result
Won
| Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
| Academy Awards | Best Picture | Lawrence Turman | Nominated | |
| Best Director | Mike Nichols | Won | ||
| Best Actor | Dustin Hoffman | Nominated | ||
| Best Actress | Anne Bancroft | Nominated | ||
| Best Supporting Actress | Katharine Ross | Nominated | ||
| Best Screenplay – Based on Material from Another Medium | Buck Henry and Calder Willingham | Nominated | ||
| Best Cinematography | Robert L. Surtees | Nominated | ||
| British Academy Film Awards | Best Film | Mike Nichols | Won | |
| Best Direction | Won | |||
| Best Actress in a Leading Role | Anne Bancroft | Nominated | ||
| Best Screenplay | Buck Henry and Calder Willingham | Won | ||
| Best Editing | Sam O'Steen | Won | ||
| Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles | Dustin Hoffman | Won | ||
| Katharine Ross | Nominated | |||
| Directors Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | Mike Nichols | Won | |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Won | ||
| Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Dustin Hoffman | Nominated | ||
| Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Anne Bancroft | Won | ||
| Best Director – Motion Picture | Mike Nichols | Won | ||
| Best Screenplay – Motion Picture | Buck Henry and Calder Willingham | Nominated | ||
| Most Promising Newcomer – Male | Dustin Hoffman | Won | ||
| Most Promising Newcomer – Female | Katharine Ross | Won | ||
| Grammy Awards | Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special | Dave Grusin and Paul Simon | Won | |
| Laurel Awards | Top Comedy | Nominated | ||
| Top Male Comedy Performance | Dustin Hoffman | Nominated | ||
| Top Female Dramatic Performance | Anne Bancroft | Nominated | ||
| Top Female Supporting Performance | Katharine Ross | Won | ||
| National Board of Review Awards | Top Ten Films | 8th Place | ||
| National Film Preservation Board | National Film Registry | Inducted | ||
| New York Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Film | Nominated | ||
| Best Director | Mike Nichols | Won | ||
| Best Screenplay | Buck Henry and Calder Willingham | Nominated | ||
| Online Film & Television Association Awards | Hall of Fame – Motion Picture | Honored | ||
| Producers Guild of America Awards | PGA Hall of Fame – Motion Pictures | Lawrence Turman – The Graduate | Won | |
| Satellite Awards | Best Classic DVD | The Graduate: 40th Anniversary Edition | Won | |
| Best DVD Extras | Nominated | |||
| Writers Guild of America Awards | Best Written American Comedy | Buck Henry and Calder Willingham | Won | |
References
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- Australian Classification Boardhttps://www.classification.gov.au/titles/graduate-2
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