Poster © Universal Pictures. Shown at reduced size for review and commentary.
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GenreComedy
RatedR
Runtime1 hr 35 mins
ReleasedJuly 9, 1999
StreamingSee Where to Watch
DirectorPaul Weitz
StarringJason Biggs, Chris Klein, Natasha Lyonne
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American Pie (1999)
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| iIMDb Profile | %Rotten Tomatoes |
| WWikipedia | LLetterboxd |
| TTMDB | +Add to Top 8 |
| American Pie's Details | |
| Genre | Comedy |
| Rated | R |
| Released | 07/09/1999 |
| Streaming | See Where to Watch on this page. |
| Running Time | 1 hr 35 mins |
| Budget | $11M (reported) |
| Box Office | Updated daily from Box Office Mojo. See the numbers below. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| American Pie's Interests | |
| General | Band camp, prom night, Stifler's house parties, lacrosse, show choir, a very famous dessert. |
| Music | David Lawrence. Blink-182 even shows up on screen, peak 1999 pop punk. |
| Movies | Superbad (2007). Same mission, different decade. |
| Television | Freaks and Geeks. Same high school panic, a lot more heart. |
| Heroes | Jim's dad, the most supportive and least smooth father in movie history. |
| American Pie's Crew | |
| Director | Paul Weitz |
| Writers | Adam Herz |
| Producers | Warren Zide, Craig Perry, Chris Moore, Chris Weitz |
| Cinematography | Richard Crudo |
| Music | David Lawrence |
| Edited By | Priscilla Nedd-Friendly |
| Production | Zide/Perry Productions, Universal Pictures |
| Distributed By | Universal Pictures |
Naming your movie after its most embarrassing scene is either genius or a cry for help. Four guys make a pact to grow up by prom night, and the movie spends 95 minutes proving none of them will. Half the jokes are pure humiliation, and one webcam bit plays a lot worse now. Jason Biggs commits to being mortified like it’s an Olympic event. Stifler is every loud party you left early. Finch sipping mochas like a tiny French philosopher is a top tier bit. But the real MVP is Eugene Levy as Jim’s dad, a man trying so hard to be supportive you can watch his soul leave his body. It grossed $235.5 million worldwide on a reported $11M, hence all the sequels. Critics gave it a 58 on Metacritic. Fair, but it’s funnier than it has any right to be. A 6.2 because Eugene Levy carries it and the rest is a time capsule with cracks. $257 says you hear Eugene Levy’s voice the next time anyone says we need to talk.
What works: Eugene Levy as Jim’s dad, Finch’s mocha energy, and a cast that fully commits to being mortified.
What doesn’t: A lot of it is cheap humiliation comedy, and one webcam bit has aged badly.
Who it’s for: Grown-ups who remember 1999 fondly and want a loud, dumb, nostalgic laugh with old friends.
Spoilers
Prom night goes sideways for all four guys, and the pact mostly ends in awkward, unexpected places. Finch gets the surprise of his life with Stifler’s mom, which is the twist everybody remembers.
Senior year at East Great Falls High is almost over, and Jim Levenstein (Jason Biggs) and his buddies feel hopelessly behind on romance. Jim is a walking awkward moment. Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas) wants things with his girlfriend Vicky (Tara Reid) to get serious. Oz (Chris Klein) is a lacrosse jock with zero game, and Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas) is too busy sipping mochas. After one of Stifler's (Seann William Scott) parties, the four make a very ambitious pact about prom night. Meanwhile Jim's dad (Eugene Levy) keeps trying to have helpful talks. Paul Weitz directs. Ninety-five minutes, extremely awkward ones.
Anyone who survived senior year with their dignity intact. Teach us your ways.
| Jason Biggs | Jim Levenstein |
| Chris Klein | Chris "Oz" Ostreicher |
| Thomas Ian Nicholas | Kevin Myers |
| Seann William Scott | Steve Stifler |
| Eddie Kaye Thomas | Paul Finch |
| Alyson Hannigan | Michelle Flaherty |
| Chris Owen | Chuck Sherman |
| Tara Reid | Vicky Lathum |
| Natasha Lyonne | Jessica |
| Mena Suvari | Heather Gardner |
| Eugene Levy | Jim's Dad |
| Shannon Elizabeth | Nadia |
| Jennifer Coolidge | Stifler's Mom |
- (cur | prev) 14:30, 18 October 2026 DataBot +40 Numbers refreshed: IMDb users 7.0 / 10 (474,053 votes) → 7.0 / 10 (474,071 votes).
- (cur | prev) 14:30, 17 October 2026 DataBot +480 Numbers refreshed: Worldwide box office $235.5M; Domestic box office $102.6M; Opening weekend $18.7M; Profit / loss (est.) +$101.2M; Rotten Tomatoes 62%; CinemaScore A−; box office chart updated; Rotten Tomatoes critics 62% (130 reviews); Metacritic 58 / 100; CinemaScore A−; IMDb users 7.0 / 10 (474,053 votes); movie.guru score 5.9.
- (cur | prev) 12:00, 17 October 2026 DataBot +2,000 Profile created from Wikipedia and Box Office Mojo: cast, crew, release dates, budget, official trailer.