A summer night in the lives of a group of small-town Californian teenagers following their graduation from high school in 1962 is brilliantly captured by director George Lucas in this classic coming-of-age saga based on his own youthful exploits. This movie virtually invented juke-box nostalgia and the wall-to-wall golden-oldies soundtrack is a perfect complement to the sharp and tender comedy, engagingly played out by the likes of Richard Dreyfuss and Ronny (Ron) Howard, two of a number of future stars in the cast. Wonderfully evoking the feel and spirit of the era, this is one of those rare movies you live through rather than watch.

Alan Jones, Radio Times Film Guide