American Graffiti

American Graffiti (1973) is George Lucas's coming-of-age comedy-drama, free to watch online on iFILM. It all unfolds over a single late-summer night in 1962, as a few small-town California teens cruise the main drag and stall the moment everything has to change.

Curt and Steve are supposed to fly east to college in the morning, and neither one is ready. Steve can't quite let go of his girlfriend Laurie. Curt keeps chasing a blonde stranger in a white Thunderbird who flashed him a smile at a red light. Meanwhile drag-racing king John ends up babysitting Carol, a too-young girl who won't get out of his hot rod. Over it all, radio DJ Wolfman Jack spins the records that score the night.

Watch for early turns from Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Cindy Williams and a very young Harrison Ford as a rival racer. Shot fast and cheap, the film made enough money and goodwill to let Lucas build Star Wars next, and it picked up five Academy Award nominations. Stream American Graffiti (1973) online on iFILM.