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Footloose (1984)

PG | | Drama, Music, Romance | 17 February 1984 (USA)
Footloose Poster
Trailer
1:35 | Trailer
A city teenager moves to a small town where rock music and dancing have been banned, and his rebellious spirit shakes up the populace.

Director:

Herbert Ross

Writer:

Dean Pitchford

Stars:

Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer, John Lithgow | See full cast & crew »
42
Reviews
Popularity
664 ( 37)
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 4 nominations. See more awards »

Videos

See all 16 videos  »

Photos

See all 278 photos »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kevin Bacon ... Ren
Lori Singer ... Ariel
John Lithgow ... Rev. Shaw Moore
Dianne Wiest ... Vi Moore
Chris Penn ... Willard (as Christopher Penn)
Sarah Jessica Parker ... Rusty
John Laughlin ... Woody
Elizabeth Gorcey Elizabeth Gorcey ... Wendy Jo
Frances Lee McCain ... Ethel McCormack
Jim Youngs ... Chuck Cranston
Douglas Dirkson ... Burlington Cranston
Lynne Marta ... Lulu Warnicker
Arthur Rosenberg Arthur Rosenberg ... Wes Warnicker
Timothy Scott ... Andy Beamis
Alan Haufrect Alan Haufrect ... Coach Roger Dunbar
See full cast »
Learn more

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Storyline

Classic tale of teenage rebellion and repression features a delightful combination of dance choreography and realistic and touching performances. When teenager Ren McCormack and his family move from big-city Chicago to a small Midwestern town, he's in for a real case of culture shock. Though he tries hard to fit in, the streetwise Ren can't quite believe he's living in a place where rock music and dancing are illegal. However, there is one small pleasure: Ariel Moore, a troubled but lovely blonde with a jealous boyfriend. And a Bible-thumping minister, who is responsible for keeping the town dance-free. Ren and his classmates want to do away with this ordinance, especially since the senior prom is around the corner, but only Ren has the courage to initiate a battle to abolish the outmoded ban and revitalize the spirit of the repressed townspeople. Fast-paced drama is filled with such now-famous hit songs as the title track and "Let's Hear It for the Boy". Written by Anonymous

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

teenage rebellion | small town | high school dance | church | sweating | See All (120) »

Taglines:

One kid. One town. One chance. See more »

Genres:

Drama | Music | Romance

Certificate:

PG | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Tom Cruise and Rob Lowe were both slated to play the lead. The casting directors were impressed with Cruise because of the famous underwear dance sequence in Risky Business (1983), but he was unavailable for the part because he was filming All the Right Moves (1983). Lowe auditioned three times and had dancing ability and the "neutral teen" look that director Herbert Ross wanted, but he pulled his knee, and the injury prevented him from taking the part. After watching Diner (1982), Ross had to convince the producers to go with Kevin Bacon. See more »

Goofs

When the youths are all dancing to the tape in the portable radio, the aerial is up. When Rev. Shaw Moore approaches the radio and stops the tape, the aerial is now down. See more »

Quotes

Vi Moore: None of this is going to undue one stupid accident.
Reverend Shaw Moore: I'm responsible for the spiritual life of this community.
Vi Moore: Shaw, you can't be a father to everybody. You can't do that.
Reverend Shaw Moore: I thought that at least *you* believed in me.
Vi Moore: [whispering] I never stopped.
See more »

Alternate Versions

U.S. release was originally rated "R", but edited down to earn a "PG" rating instead. It was shorn of the male frontal nudity, and the phrase "go fuck yourself" was altered to "go flack yourself". See more »

Connections

Referenced in Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th (2013) See more »

Soundtracks

Holding Out for a Hero
Performed by Bonnie Tyler
Written by Jim Steinman and Dean Pitchford
Produced by Jim Steinman
See more »

User Reviews

 
Pure 80's Teenage Fun
11 February 2019 | by LilyWai – See all my reviews

I loved it when I first saw it as a teen in 1984 amd felt the same watching it now as an adult all these years later. Great simple story that showcases new kid in town, the rebellion of youth, lust and how gooooood dancing makes you feel and what you'll do to get that feeling.
7 of 8 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
Review this title | See all 144 user reviews »

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are the stage versions based on the movie, or is the movie based on a play?
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 February 1984 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Footloose See more »

Filming Locations:

American Fork Community Presbyterian Church - 75 North 100 East, American Fork, Utah, USA See more »
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Box Office

Budget:

$8,200,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,556,935, 20 February 1984

Gross USA:

$80,035,402

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$80,035,402
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Phoenix Pictures, IndieProd Company Productions See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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