Bill & Ted
Two slackers time-travel to save their future.
Bill & Ted is a science fiction comedy franchise from the United States, the brainchild of Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon. The story centers on William "Bill" S. Preston Esq. and Ted "Theodore" Logan, played by Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves. These two metalhead slackers are best friends who journey through time and beyond, all while working toward their destiny: using their music to create a utopian society across the universe.
The franchise includes three films: *Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure* (1989), *Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey* (1991), and *Bill & Ted Face the Music* (2020). Scott Kroopf has been the main producer. Beyond the movies, there have been various spin-offs: an animated TV series (with Winter and Reeves voicing their roles), video games, and comic books. The first film came out through Orion Pictures, with production by Nelson Entertainment and Interscope Communications. Ownership later shifted to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer through MGM's acquisition of Orion Pictures' library, and MGM has handled licensing and distribution since. The series has earned $85 million at the box office and has generally gotten positive reviews from critics.
The story follows Bill and Ted, two teenagers living in San Dimas, California, in 1988. They dream of making their rock band Wyld Stallyns a success, but their lazy attitudes and lack of focus put them at risk of failing high school, which would break up the band for good. Unknown to them, their music will one day form the foundation of a perfect society. To ensure this future, the leaders of that society send Rufus (George Carlin) to help Bill and Ted pass their classes, giving them a time machine disguised as a phone booth. Later films focus on enemies trying to stop Bill and Ted so their music never leads to utopia.
In *Excellent Adventure*, Bill and Ted need to write a history report. Rufus arrives from the year 2688 with the time machine, letting them travel to the past and meet historical figures to learn key events. If they fail, their teacher will flunk them, and Ted's father will send him to a military high school in Alaska. That would mean Wyld Stallyns never forms, destroying the utopian future built on their music.
- Field
- Science fiction comedy franchise
- Nationality
- American
- Known for
- Time-traveling slacker duo whose music creates a utopian future
- Created by
- Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon
- Portrayed by
- Alex Winter (Bill), Keanu Reeves (Ted)
Lore & Background
The series follows the pair of William "Bill" S. Preston Esq. (Alex Winter) and Ted "Theodore" Logan (Keanu Reeves), initially two teenagers living in San Dimas, California in 1988. They want to make their rock band "Wyld Stallyns" successful, but their ambitions and lackadaisical attitudes leave them close to flunking out of high school and threatening to split the band up forever. Unbeknownst to them, their music will form the basis of a utopian society in the future. The leaders of this society send Rufus (George Carlin) to help Bill & Ted pass school and assure the future with the aid of a time machine, which appears as a phone booth. Later films focus on attempts by others to break up Bill & Ted so that their music will never lead to a utopian future.
The film trilogy includes Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989), Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991), and Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020). In the first film, Rufus provides the time machine to help them write a history report. In Bogus Journey, robot doubles kill Bill and Ted, who then face the Grim Reaper. In Face the Music, middle-aged Bill and Ted must create the great song or reality will collapse. Their teenage daughters, Billie and Thea, help by forming a band from the past.
Reader's Guide
The Bill & Ted franchise has grossed $85 million and received generally positive reviews from critics. Originally released by Orion Pictures and produced by Nelson Entertainment and Interscope Communications, ownership moved to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer following the purchase of PolyGram Filmed Entertainment's pre-April 1996 library in October 1998, and MGM has been the main licensee and distributor since. The series has spawned numerous spin-offs, including an animated television series (with Winter and Reeves reprising their roles), a live-action television series in 1992, video games, and comic books. The franchise's significance lies in its enduring popularity as a comedic time-travel story about friendship and destiny, with the characters becoming cultural icons of slacker optimism. The legacy includes ongoing comic miniseries from Boom! Comics and Dark Horse Comics, as well as a planned musical, Bill & Ted's Most Excellent Rock Opera, developed by screenwriter Chris Matheson with plans for premiering in 2027.
Did You Know?
- The time machine in the series appears as a phone booth.
- Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989) was the first film in the trilogy.
- An animated television series featured Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves reprising their roles.
- A cereal based on the animated series was made by Ralston Purina.
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