Risky Business

Joel Goodson, a 17-year-old from a well to do Chicago suburb, has lived by the book and earned his parents trust. When they leave town for a trip, the family Porsche sits in the driveway and his urge for a taste of freedom grows louder. A single decision to bend the rules leads to a reckless night and an unexpected financial scramble once the morning after hits. He befriends Lana, a charismatic woman who slides into his carefully ordered world, and their encounter pulls him deeper into a web of temptations and risky schemes. As Joel tries to juggle desire, responsibility, and the consequences, the lines between safety and risk blur.

Directed by Paul Brickman, Risky Business arrived in 1983 with an original script that helped launch Tom Cruise as a leading star. It signaled a shift toward more adult themes in mainstream cinema, mixing humor with danger and ambition.

With a budget of 6,200,000 dollars, the film grossed 63,541,777 worldwide, turning a modest project into a sizable earnings success. The result cemented Tom Cruise's status as a major star and demonstrated the market for audacious thrillers with heart.

An early Tom Cruise performance featured a now iconic bedroom dance to Bob Seger, a moment that defined 80s cinema fashion and pop culture. The film's blend of glib humor and risky desire left a lasting imprint on how suburban fantasy is portrayed. It continues to surface in parodies and film references reminding viewers of the era's push for sexual frankness in mainstream cinema.

Critics generally praised its sharp writing and Cruise's charisma, while noting a savvy satire of wealth and sexual awakening. The story probes desire and responsibility, showing how privilege can blur lines and how one reckless choice tests maturity and personal boundaries. Its tone mixes mischief with a tender look at growing up.