The movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off opens on a spring day in a Chicago suburb where high school senior Ferris Bueller fakes illness to stay home from school, two months before graduation. He breaks the fourth wall to share his feelings of senioritis. While his parents, Katie and Tom, believe him, his sister, Jeanie, is suspicious. The school's dean, Edward Rooney, and his secretary, Grace, are determined to catch Ferris, who has already been absent nine times. Ferris cleverly hacks into the school's computer system to make his attendance record appear perfect.
Ferris then convinces his hypochondriac best friend Cameron Frye to help him get his girlfriend Sloane Peterson out of school by pretending Sloane's grandmother has died. Cameron makes the call, impersonating Sloane's father, which raises Rooney's suspicions as he knows Sloane is dating Ferris. During Cameron's call, Ferris also calls the school to confirm his own absence, further fooling Rooney. To complete the charade of Sloane's father picking her up, Ferris borrows Cameron's father's prized 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder, much to Cameron's initial dismay, as Ferris promises to return it with the original odometer reading.
The trio drives to Chicago and leaves the Ferrari with two parking attendants who take it for an extended joyride. Ferris, Cameron, and Sloane have lunch at a fancy restaurant, visit the Art Institute of Chicago, attend a Chicago Cubs baseball game, and join the Von Steuben Day Parade where Ferris jumps on a float and lip-syncs to "Danke Schoen" and "Twist and Shout," becoming a local sensation.
Meanwhile, Rooney is at the Bueller house, trying to catch Ferris, but he falls victim to several slapstick accidents. Jeanie skips class and returns home, finding Rooney instead. Mistaking him for a burglar, she knocks him unconscious and calls the police. Rooney wakes up and leaves, while the police arrive and arrest Jeanie for the prank call. At the police station, she meets a fellow delinquent, played by Robert Downey Jr., who advises her to focus on her own life.
After retrieving the Ferrari, Ferris and Cameron discover the mileage has significantly increased. Cameron has a near-catatonic shock and later almost drowns in a pool, but Ferris saves him. At Cameron's house, Ferris tries to rewind the odometer by jacking up the car and driving it in reverse, but the attempt fails. In a fit of anger towards his demanding father, Cameron destroys the car. Ferris offers to take the blame, but Cameron decides to face his father. After walking Sloane home, Ferris rushes back to his own house as his parents are due to return. He narrowly avoids being hit by Jeanie's car, who sees him even though their mother doesn't.
Ferris gets home just before his parents, but Rooney confronts him. Jeanie, witnessing this, has a change of heart and lets Ferris in, claiming he was at the hospital. She also shows Rooney his wallet, which he had dropped earlier, throws it in a puddle, and lets the family Rottweiler out, who chases Rooney away. Ferris gets into bed, and his parents believe he's been home all day. During the end credits, a humiliated Rooney reluctantly takes a ride on a school bus where the students mock him.
Finally, in a post-credit scene, Ferris reminds the audience that the movie is over and they should go home.
Alex Hayes' portrayal of Ferris Bueller was met with enthusiastic reactions at the premiere. His performance perfectly captured the character's boyish charm, a quality Alex exuded naturally both on and off-screen. From the moment Ferris launched into his schemes with a mischievous glint in his eye and that signature wry smile, the audience was completely won over. Alex brought an infectious energy to the role, making Ferris' rebellious nature feel more playful and aspirational than genuinely disruptive. His confident breaking of the fourth wall felt less like a theatrical device and more like a personal invitation into Ferris' world, delivered with an easygoing charisma that made the audience feel like his co-conspirators.
The chemistry between Alex and Mia Sara as Ferris and Sloane was palpable. Their on-screen dynamic felt natural and sweet, reflecting the easy affection of young love. Mia's grounded portrayal of Sloane provided the perfect counterpoint to Ferris' boundless energy, and their scenes together made them a believable and endearing couple.
The enthusiastic applause and the palpable buzz of excitement as the premiere attendees exited the theater were like a soothing balm to Michael Eisner's tightly wound nerves. He watched the beaming faces, the lively chatter about favorite scenes and lines, and felt a wave of relief wash over him. This was the kind of response he had desperately hoped for. Seeing John Hughes, Alex Hayes, Mia Sara, and Alan Ruck surrounded by well-wishers, their faces flushed with pride and joy, Eisner knew this was a moment of triumph for everyone involved. He made his way over to the group, offering heartfelt congratulations. "John, Alex, Mia, Alan," he began, his voice genuinely warm, "that was absolutely wonderful! The audience loved it. You should all be incredibly proud." He shook each of their hands, offering extra praise for their individual performances and John Hughes' masterful storytelling. A collective sense of accomplishment and pride filled the group.
*****
February 19th arrived, and Michael Eisner settled into his office with a stack of newspapers. The reviews for Ferris Bueller's Day Off were in, and the news was overwhelmingly positive. He scanned through them, a broad smile spreading across his face.
Here are some of the reviews that caught his eye:
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: ""Ferris Bueller's Day Off" is a joyous, lighthearted romp, a celebration of the sheer pleasure of cutting loose and having a good time. Alex Hayes is his usual charming self as Ferris, exuding a boyish charm and a confident swagger that is utterly infectious. He makes you root for Ferris even as he's bending the rules. John Hughes has crafted another classic, a film that perfectly captures the spirit of youth. Mia Sara is lovely as Sloane, bringing a sweet vulnerability to the role, and Alan Ruck is wonderfully understated as the anxiety-ridden Cameron."
Gene Siskel, Chicago Tribune: "John Hughes has done it again! "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" is a delightful and often hilarious film. Alex Hayes proves why he is one of the top stars working today in Hollywood; he's a genuine talent with impeccable comedic timing. His Ferris is charismatic and irresistible. The film's success also hinges on the excellent performances of Mia Sara, who provides a perfect romantic foil, and Alan Ruck, who steals several scenes with his portrayal of Cameron's neurotic anxieties."
Janet Maslin, The New York Times: "With "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", John Hughes delivers a charming and breezy comedy that is sure to resonate with audiences. Alex Hayes shines in the lead role, displaying a natural comedic flair and a winning screen presence. He embodies the carefree spirit of Ferris with ease. The supporting cast is equally strong, with Mia Sara and Alan Ruck providing memorable performances as Ferris' cohorts in crime."
While critical reception was overwhelmingly positive, with over 85 percent of reviews being favorable, audience enthusiasm was even higher. Exit polls indicated a 95 percent positive rating, with the film receiving an A grade from moviegoers.
The box office numbers from the opening weekend were equally impressive. Including the premiere shows, Ferris Bueller's Day Off grossed a remarkable $8.11 million on its first day.
It was the best single-day box office collection for a movie in 1985.
Michael Eisner leaned back in his chair, a satisfied grin on his face. Trusting Alex Hayes, despite the initial gamble on a teen comedy, had clearly been the right move.
Saturday saw a slight increase to $8.32 million, and Sunday brought in $7.73 million. The total first weekend box office collection stood at a fantastic $24.16 million.
While this placed Ferris Bueller's Day Off as the second-best weekend collection of 1985, behind Rambo: First Blood Part II's $25 million, it was important to note that Rambo had benefited from a 4-day Memorial Day weekend. Considering Ferris Bueller's impressive 3-day opening, it was arguably the number one film of the weekend based on a standard three-day frame.
The young actor's star power and the film's undeniable appeal were already translating into significant box office success, and this was just the beginning of what promised to be a long and prosperous run.