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Johnny Be Good
Johnny Be Good
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Johnny Be Good
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBud S. Smith
Written bySteve Zacharias
Jeff Buhai
David Obst
Produced byAdam Fields
Starring
CinematographyRobert D. Yeoman
Edited byScott Smith
Music byJay Ferguson
Judas Priest
Production
company
Distributed byOrion Pictures
Release date
  • March 25, 1988 (1988-03-25)
Running time
91 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$17.6 million

Johnny Be Good is a 1988 American comedy film directed by Bud S. Smith, starring Anthony Michael Hall as the main character, Johnny Walker. The film also features Robert Downey Jr. and Paul Gleason. Former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon and sportscaster Howard Cosell make cameo appearances. Despite starring famous actors and comedians, the film was both a critical and financial failure, grossing $18 million.

Judas Priest, Saga, Ted Nugent and Jon Astley among others, contributed to the soundtrack. The title track, "Johnny B. Goode", originally recorded by Chuck Berry, was re-recorded by Judas Priest for their album, Ram It Down.

Plot

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Johnny Walker, a student at Ashcroft High School, is the top high school quarterback prospect in the nation, and is being heavily recruited by many schools. His best friend, Leo Wiggins, thinks he should hold out for the best offer while his girlfriend, Georgia Elkans, wants him to go to State University with her and get a solid education.

The various colleges offer him everything he could possibly want—hot girls, cash, free room and board, etc. One school even buys Leo a car, while another offers to provide him with male companions if he isn't interested in women. His coach, Wayne Hisler (whom Johnny hates), even tries to sell him out by striking a deal with one of the interested colleges to become their next head coach, if Johnny signs their scholarship offer.

Although he has all the skills a coach would want in a quarterback, Johnny is unsure where he wants to go. Being tempted by the offers, praise, and attention, his ability to make good decisions is blurred. Johnny begins to get a "big head", which irritates his family. After he returns home dressed in a gaudy outfit, his mother reminds him not to forget about what's important. Johnny visits State University, and asks the head coach Ned Sanders what he can do for him in order to convince Johnny to sign with State. Sanders tells Johnny he will give him a scholarship, a good education, and a chance to earn the starting QB job, and that's all he'll give him. He tells Johnny that he is headed for a lot of trouble if he signs with the colleges that are giving him gifts and money, which is a violation of NCAA rules. Johnny dismisses him out-of-hand.

Later that night, Johnny and Leo end up in a motel room with three girls. Chief Elkans, the local sheriff (and Georgia's strict father, who has a grudge against Johnny), then turns up after the girls falsely accuse them of rape. Hisler visits the two in the local jail, and tells Johnny that either he can sign with Piermont University, the college that hired Hisler, so they can both prosper, or he can end up in prison on the fake charges for a long time, which would jeopardize Johnny's career. While sitting in jail, Johnny discovers that Leo has something to do with his predicament, and he is disappointed in him. Nevertheless, Johnny forgives Leo.

On signing day, the entire world watches Johnny's press conference with anticipation. Hisler then calls the other four top prospects from Johnny's high school team up onto the stage with him and Johnny, where he announces that they will all be at Piermont that next school year, with Hisler as head coach, and Johnny as quarterback. When Johnny has a chance to speak, he talks about the embarrassment and shame he has put on his family, friends and mostly himself. Johnny then decides that he would rather not play than to be treated special just for being able to throw a football, thus also choosing not to sign with Piermont or any schools. The Walker family and Georgia are pleased with Johnny's decision, but Hisler, refusing to accept this as fact, threatens him. When the other four players refuse to sign with Piermont as well, everyone begins to go crazy. Floyd Gondole, the NCAA recruitment investigator comes on stage, and announces that since day one he's been watching the recruitment of Johnny very closely. He then states several of the worst offending colleges will be under investigation for recruiting violations, including Ol' Tex & UCC (the first two colleges Johnny visited), and Piermont, the latter which framed Johnny and Leo for rape. Afterwards, many of the other schools think they still have a chance to sign him, and beg him to reconsider them. Sports agent Lou Landers causes a huge melee, but Johnny walks away with Leo and Georgia.

Johnny is then seen running down a hallway to Sanders' office at State University, who accepts Johnny, and officially offers him a scholarship, after he says that he just wants a good education and a chance to play football. After signing with State, he drives off with Georgia and Leo. Over the credits, Johnny plays the drums while watching the collateral damage for all of the people caught in the recruitment scandal (including Hisler, who is in jail).

Cast

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Production

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In part, filming took place in Texas including Georgetown, San Antonio and New Braunfels. The San Antonio school campuses of Thomas Jefferson High School, Alamo Heights High School and University of the Incarnate Word were used as the backdrop of the film.

Reception

[edit]

The film was a box office bomb earning $17.6 million & also received negative reviews. At review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, as of August 2022, Johnny Be Good had a 0% rating, based on 18 reviews, with an average score of 3/10.[1] On Metacritic the film has a weighted average score of 10 out of 100, based on 8 critics, indicating "overwhelming dislike".[2]

In a recent retrospective review, Box Review still credits Anthony Michael Hall for trying something different. "You can see flashes of charm and charisma, even if the role doesn't let him stretch as far as it could."[3]

Soundtrack

[edit]
Johnny Be Good - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Soundtrack album by
various artists
Released1988
GenreRock, Synth-pop
LabelAtlantic
Singles from Johnny Be Good - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
  1. "Johnny B. Goode"
    Released: 1988

Track listing

[edit]
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)PerformerLength
1."Johnny B. Goode"Chuck BerryJudas Priest4:36
2."Caviar"Myles GoodwynMyles Goodwyn4:34
3."Ring Around Rosie"
Kix4:43
4."If There's Any Justice"
  • Sam Lorber
  • Steven Diamond
Fiona3:43
5."Been There, Done That"Jon AstleyJon Astley4:25
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)PerformerLength
1."Perfect Stranger"Keith OlsenSaga4:29
2."Skintight"Ted NugentTed Nugent3:07
3."Rock Still Rolls Me"Arnold LanniFrozen Ghost and Friends3:07
4."No Place Like Home"Bernie ShanahanBernie Shanahan4:01
5."It's Not The Way You Rock"Dirty LooksDirty Looks3:49

Accolades

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Ted Nugent's contribution to the soundtrack, "Skintight", earned nomination for a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Original Song at the 9th Golden Raspberry Awards.[4]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Johnny Be Good is a American directed by Bud S. Smith in his feature directorial debut. The movie stars as Johnny Walker, a talented high school who becomes the target of aggressive and unethical efforts by major universities seeking to bolster their football programs. Produced by and released on March 25, , it satirizes the corruption in while following Johnny's struggle to balance fame, temptation, and personal integrity. The plot centers on , an All-American from a small town, who leads his team to a state championship victory, drawing attention from elite offering lavish incentives like cash, luxury gifts, and romantic enticements to sign with them. Accompanied by his best friend Leo Wiggins, a budding filmmaker, Johnny visits campuses where he encounters sleazy coaches and administrators willing to bend rules for talent. Despite the pressures, Johnny remains committed to his girlfriend Georgia Elkans and plans to attend a modest local , ultimately exposing the recruitment scandals to make an ethical choice. The film blends teen elements with a about the dark side of athletic stardom and institutional greed. The cast features a mix of rising stars and established actors, including Robert Downey Jr. as Johnny's quirky best friend Leo, in an early role as Georgia, as the sleazy Coach Hisler, and Steve James as Coach Sanders. Supporting roles include , , and . Principal photography took place from March 16 to mid-May 1987 in , , with gaining 22 pounds to portray the athletic Johnny. The screenplay was written by Steve Zacharias, Jeff Buhai, and David Obst, emphasizing humor derived from exaggerated recruitment antics. Upon release, Johnny Be Good received largely negative reviews from critics, who praised the talented cast but criticized the script for being uneven, dated, and failing to deliver sharp on its timely subject of . It holds a 0% approval rating on based on 18 reviews, with consensus noting its squandered potential despite the strong ensemble. Commercially, the film underperformed at the , grossing approximately $17.5 million domestically against an estimated $22 million budget, though it has since gained a for its 1980s teen comedy vibe and early appearances by future stars like Downey and Thurman.

Development

Conception and writing

The screenplay for Johnny Be Good was written by Steve Zacharias, Jeff Buhai, and David Obst, focusing on the chaotic world of stardom and the pressures of . The script satirized the rampant corruption in American during the . These motifs were central to the drafts, emphasizing the moral dilemmas faced by a talented navigating offers from desperate coaches and institutions, a theme that highlighted the exploitative underbelly of football culture well before similar explorations in later films like The Program. Development of the project began in the mid-1980s under producer Adam Fields, with Bud S. Smith attached as director following his experience as an established editor and second-unit director. Smith's vision shaped key creative decisions, prioritizing a comedic tone to critique the excesses of recruitment while ensuring authentic depictions of high school environments to ground the in relatable settings. Principal commenced in March 1987, marking Smith's feature directorial debut. The initial budget was set at an estimated $22 million, with allocations emphasizing realistic portrayals of Midwestern high school life and football dynamics to enhance the film's satirical edge without veering into caricature. was cast as the lead, Johnny Walker, to bring a youthful, quality to the role of the tempted .

Casting

was selected for the lead role of Johnny Walker following an introduction by and Jr., building on Hall's prior collaboration with Downey Jr. in Weird Science (1985). Hall, who rose to prominence with his geeky teen persona in (1984), underwent physical preparation for the athletic role, gaining 22 pounds under trainer Thomas Anthony Patti to embody the high school . commenced on 16 March 1987 in , , marking Hall's return to feature films after a two-year hiatus following his tenure on (1985–1986), during which he navigated scheduling conflicts and personal challenges that briefly stalled his momentum. Robert Downey Jr. was cast as Johnny's best friend Leo Wiggins, leveraging his established comedic timing from roles like the eccentric in Weird Science (1985), which marked his second on-screen pairing with Hall. Downey's improvisational style influenced several scenes, as noted in contemporary reviews where his ad-libbed lines were described as a distinctive, if erratic, contribution to the film's dialogue. Uma Thurman secured the role of Georgia Elkans, Johnny's girlfriend, in what was her first major theatrical release after the independent thriller (1987), positioning the film as an early breakout opportunity in her career. The supporting cast included as the scheming high school coach Wayne Hisler, a role that reinforced Gleason's typecasting as antagonistic authority figures following his portrayal of Principal Vernon in (1985). portrayed Wallace Gibson, Johnny's opportunistic uncle who pressures him toward college recruitment, adding a layer of familial satire to the ensemble. For the high school extras, particularly in football sequences, director Bud Smith utilized untrained local players from San Antonio-area to capture authentic teen energy, though this led to production challenges including a stunt-related lawsuit from stunt performer Jackie Resch, who broke her neck during filming and sued in November 1990. Auditions for additional background roles were managed through casting calls to source performers evoking Midwestern authenticity, aligning with the film's satirical take on small-town recruiting pressures.

Production

Filming

Principal photography for Johnny Be Good commenced on March 16, 1987, in the , area and wrapped in mid-May 1987, spanning approximately nine weeks. The production chose locations to stand in for the film's Midwestern high school environment, leveraging the state's diverse urban and suburban landscapes for efficiency and visual variety. Filming primarily occurred in , where school scenes were shot at High School and to evoke the everyday bustle of a competitive football program. Residential and neighborhood sequences utilized homes and streets in Georgetown and New Braunfels, providing a relatable suburban backdrop for the protagonist's personal dilemmas. The climactic football game was staged at in Irving, the home of the at the time, to heighten the spectacle of the recruiting frenzy. Cinematographer Robert D. Yeoman captured the film on 35mm, employing dynamic camera work including handheld techniques to convey the chaotic energy of recruitment temptations and on-field action. Director Bud Smith, in his debut after years as an editor and second-unit director, focused on naturalistic shots to ground the in authentic teen experiences. Production involved coordinating with local non-professional extras for crowd scenes, particularly during the sequences, to simulate the intensity of high school athletics.

Post-production

The post-production of Johnny Be Good was led by editor M. Scott Smith, unrelated to director S. , who assembled the film with a focus on its comedic elements. The final runtime was established at 91 minutes. were minimal, primarily involving basic for crowd scenes in football sequences, coordinated by special effects supervisor Jon G. Belyeu, with title design by Pablo Ferro. Sound design included standard foley work to enhance impacts in the sports scenes, while the score by Jay Ferguson was integrated during this phase. Post-production also encompassed and post-synchronization to improve dialogue clarity. In March 1988, it secured an MPAA PG-13 rating due to and related to college pressures.

Narrative

Plot

Walker, a star high school in a small town, leads his team to a state victory, drawing aggressive from major colleges eager to secure his talent through underhanded tactics like bribes and extravagant perks. Indifferent to the hype, initially plans to attend the local state college alongside his girlfriend, Georgia Elkans, prioritizing his relationship and education over fame. However, his high school coach, Wayne Hisler, secretly negotiates with Piermont University, which has hired him, to lure with promises of glory and personal gain. As recruitment intensifies, 's best friend, Leo Wiggins, urges him to embrace the temptations, pushing for the deal that offers the most excitement and rewards, including parties, money, and women. 's romance with Georgia adds emotional strain, as she advocates for the local school to keep their lives together. Key events highlight the : during a recruiting trip with Olde Tex University, Johnny attends a lavish party where coaches attempt to bribe him with cash and introduce seductive temptations, including an advance from a coach's wife that Leo helps him escape. Later, after a wild escapade involving Georgia's cheerleader friends, Hisler orchestrates a false accusation against Johnny and Leo, leading them to end up in jail, where Hisler bails them out in exchange for a commitment to Piermont. The rising pressures culminate during the final big game, where Johnny confronts the shady deals head-on. Rejecting the bribes and his coach's manipulation, he chooses integrity over a top-tier , publicly exposing the recruitment scandals at a chaotic that descends into a brawl among the recruiters. In a rousing speech to his teammates and community, Johnny affirms his decision to attend the local state college, securing a spot there with Leo by his side and reaffirming his bond with Georgia, opting for a grounded future built on personal values rather than corruption.

Characters

Johnny Walker serves as the film's , portrayed as a talented yet naive high school whose exceptional skills on the field draw aggressive from prestigious universities offering illicit incentives like cash, cars, and women. Initially indifferent to the allure of fame, Johnny's arc begins with temptation during a wild at Olde Tex University, where he indulges in alcohol and advances from female students, but evolves into one of moral growth as he rejects the corruption, publicly exposes illegal practices at a press conference, and opts for a modest state college. This development positions him as a symbol of purity and ethical resolve amid the sleazy underbelly of recruitment. Leo Wiggins functions as Johnny's and loyal best friend, injecting humor through his over-the-top antics and schemes that amplify the chaos of the recruitment process, such as pushing Johnny to demand the highest bidder among colleges. Embodying unchecked ambition, Leo advises holding out for maximum personal gain and gets entangled in the fallout, including being framed alongside Johnny for a fabricated charge by their coach, yet his redemption remains limited—he ultimately aids Johnny in securing a spot at the state college without undergoing profound or change. Georgia Elkans appears as Johnny's love interest, an ambitious and intelligent young woman whose grounded perspective contrasts the film's excesses, advocating for him to prioritize at a small state college where she plans to attend. Her arc underscores themes of and , as she navigates the strains of Johnny's exposure to seductive temptations from recruiters, ultimately reinforcing their bond by supporting his principled decision and highlighting gender dynamics typical of teen comedies, where female characters often serve as moral anchors amid male-driven folly. Among supporting figures, Coach Wayne Hisler emerges as the key , a manipulative high school coach who deploys sleazy tactics—including obsessively singing show tunes and orchestrating a false accusation against Johnny and Leo—to steer his star player toward a lucrative assistant coaching job at Piermont University.

Soundtrack

Composition

The original score for Johnny Be Good was composed by Jay Ferguson, a musician known for his work with Spirit and subsequent scoring . Ferguson's contribution featured a synth-driven aesthetic typical of his style, incorporating rock-infused elements to heighten tension in key sequences such as the efforts central to the plot. The score was developed during the film's post-production phase in late 1987 and early 1988, aligning with the movie's comedic tone while emphasizing dramatic underscores for character conflicts. Licensed tracks formed a significant part of the , curated by music supervisor Dick Rudolph to mix classic rock influences with contemporary 1980s pop and hard rock for satirical effect. A pivotal inclusion was Chuck Berry's "," which inspired the film's title and appeared in the end credits; the soundtrack version was a cover by , licensed through Berry's publisher Arc Music Corp. and Isalee Music Co. Other licensed songs, such as Myles Goodwyn's "" and Kix's "Ring Around Rosie," were selected for montage scenes depicting high school antics and recruitment pressures, blending upbeat rock energy with the film's humorous critique of corruption. Sync licensing for these tracks, including negotiations for Berry's composition, was finalized during to ensure seamless integration.

Track listing

The official soundtrack album for Johnny Be Good, titled Johnny Be Good (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), was released by Atlantic Records in 1988 and features ten tracks primarily consisting of rock and pop songs by established artists, curated to evoke the energy of high school life and athletic ambition.
No.TitlePerformer(s)Writer(s)Duration
1"Johnny B. Goode"Judas PriestChuck Berry4:36
2"Caviar"Myles GoodwynMyles Goodwyn4:34
3"No Ring Around Rosie"KixDonnie Purnell, Taylor Rhodes4:43
4"If There's Any Justice"FionaFiona Flanagan3:45
5"Been There, Done That"Jon AstleyJon Astley3:40
6"Perfect Stranger"SagaJimmy Crichton, John Bettis, Michael Sadler (lyrics); Jimmy Crichton (music)5:20
7"Skintight"Ted NugentTed Nugent3:50
8"Mack the Knife"Bobby DarinKurt Weill, Bertolt Brecht (English lyrics: Marc Blitzstein)3:05
9"Look at That, Look at That"The Fabulous ThunderbirdsKim Wilson3:42
10"Centerfield"John FogertyJohn Fogerty3:52
The track listing above reflects the standard U.S. vinyl and editions, with production credits varying by track (e.g., Tom Allom for Judas Priest's cover, Lance Jane for ). Several songs from the album appear in the film, including Fogerty's "Centerfield" during the as a playful nod to amid the football narrative, and Judas Priest's rendition of "" in key sequences. However, the film's end credits utilize the original 1958 recording of "" by .

Release

Distribution and box office

Johnny Be Good was theatrically released on March 25, 1988, by Orion Pictures in 1,168 theaters across the United States. The marketing campaign featured trailers emphasizing the film's comedic premise of high school football recruiting and the on-screen chemistry between leads Anthony Michael Hall and Robert Downey Jr., portraying the chaotic pursuit of a star quarterback by corrupt college scouts. Promotional posters highlighted the stars alongside taglines nodding to the story's satirical take on sports scandals, while Orion secured rights to Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" for title inspiration and soundtrack integration to boost appeal. The film opened in second place at the box office, earning $5,249,388 over its debut weekend behind newcomer Biloxi Blues. It ultimately grossed $17,500,399 domestically against an estimated production budget of $22 million, reflecting modest financial returns for the distributor. International earnings were negligible, with no significant overseas rollout reported. Distribution faced challenges from stiff competition in the comedy genre, including Mike Nichols' Biloxi Blues and the holdover Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach, which dominated the March 25-27 weekend chart. ' emerging financial strains further complicated promotional efforts following delayed test screenings.

Home media

The film was first released on in September 1988 by Orion Home Video, shortly following its theatrical debut. Johnny Be Good received its DVD debut on August 5, 2003, distributed by in a bare-bones edition without special features or commentary; the release was noted for presenting an edited PG-13 version that removed and from the original R-rated cut. A subsequent DVD reissue appeared on June 23, 2015, also from , maintaining the simplified packaging and lack of extras. The movie's Blu-ray premiere came on June 23, 2015, via Olive Films, featuring a high-definition transfer with enhanced color saturation and clarity from the original elements, though it retained the PG-13 edit and offered no supplemental materials. As of 2025, Johnny Be Good is available for streaming on multiple platforms, including free ad-supported services like , , and , as well as subscription options such as MGM+, , , and .

Reception and legacy

Critical response

Upon its release in 1988, Johnny Be Good received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics, who often highlighted its failure to capitalize on its satirical premise about recruiting. awarded the film two out of four stars, describing the screenplay as feeling like an unpolished first draft lacking depth, complex characters, and comic imagination, while noting missed opportunities for effective in scenes involving figures like and . Aggregate scores underscore the poor reception, with the film holding a 0% approval rating on based on 18 reviews and a Metascore of 10 out of 100 on derived from 8 critic reviews, all of which were negative. Critics commonly praised Robert Downey Jr.'s energetic performance as the loyal sidekick and the film's occasional satirical jabs at recruiting excesses, but lambasted the predictable plot, underdeveloped female characters like Uma Thurman's girlfriend role, and reliance on dated teen comedy tropes such as broad and clichéd dialogue. In retrospective assessments during the 2010s and 2020s, some reviewers have pointed to the early appearances of Uma Thurman and Robert Downey Jr. as points of interest, with a 2015 analysis calling it a "funny, rompy 80s comedy" despite flaws in its execution. A 2024 Collider retrospective ranked it among the worst sports movies for its dopey humor and lack of substance, though niche outlets have occasionally reframed it as underrated cult fodder for 1980s nostalgia.

Cultural impact and awards

Johnny Be Good received one notable award nomination: the soundtrack's song "Skintight" by Ted Nugent was nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Original Song at the 1989 Razzies, though it did not win. The film marked early career milestones for several of its young leads. For Robert Downey Jr., it was one of his mid-1980s teen-oriented roles, following appearances in films like Weird Science (1985) and preceding his breakthrough in Less Than Zero (1987). Uma Thurman, then 18, played the protagonist's girlfriend in what she later described as one of her initial "forgettable" Hollywood roles after modeling and minor parts like Kiss Daddy Goodnight (1987). For Anthony Michael Hall, the lead as high school quarterback Johnny Walker, the movie represented a continuation of his post-Brat Pack work in 1980s comedies, shifting from John Hughes ensemble films like The Breakfast Club (1985) to sports-themed stories amid his established teen idol status. These roles foreshadowed the actors' later prominence, with Downey Jr. and Thurman achieving major stardom in the 1990s through projects like Chaplin (1992) and Pulp Fiction (1994), respectively, while Hall sustained a varied career in film and television. Culturally, Johnny Be Good has endured as a minor example of 1980s teen sports , poking fun at the excesses of recruiting practices, a theme that resonated with contemporary critiques of amateur athletics. Though not a hit or critical darling upon release, the film's and lighthearted take on high school-to-college transitions have contributed to its nostalgic appeal among fans of era-specific comedies, often highlighted in retrospectives of 1980s youth cinema.

References

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