American Graffiti

Right now you can watch American Graffiti in the US on Netflix — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Watch it for Richard Dreyfuss — stay for everyone else around them. Start it on Netflix whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

There is a reason American Graffiti keeps coming up in conversation. The jokes in American Graffiti land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. A couple of high school graduates spend one final night cruising the strip with their buddies before they go off to college. Richard Dreyfuss and Ron Howard lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1973. American Graffiti earns its laughs from character rather than situation, which is why it does not wear thin the way pure farce tends to. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

If you need a comedy that actually makes you laugh, American Graffiti is a strong candidate. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Richard Dreyfuss's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.