Risky Business

Risky Business

Year: 1983

Runtime: 98 min

Language: English

Director: Paul Brickman

DramaComedy

While his parents are away on vacation, high school student Joel Goodsen and his friend Miles begin a night of rebellion. A chance encounter with a prostitute leads Joel to a complicated and unexpected relationship with the alluring Lana. However, the morning brings a large bill and a car accident, forcing Joel to take a risky gamble. To cover his debts and avoid trouble, he turns his house into an unconventional business, leading to increasingly chaotic and humorous situations.

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Risky Business (1983) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

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In the affluent Chicago suburb of Glencoe, teenage life is measured by expectations as much as by the quiet hum of well‑kept neighborhoods. _Joel Goodsen_ is a bright, ambitious high‑school senior whose future is already mapped out: a legacy admission to Princeton and a place in his father’s elite Future Enterprisers program. When his parents head out of town, the house transforms from a symbol of privilege into a playground of possibility, and the usual rules seem suddenly negotiable.

Joining him is his charismatic best friend, _Miles_—the kind of companion who sees a locked door and instantly imagines a night of harmless rebellion. Their weekend of lifted spirits and stolen freedom quickly leads _Joel_ into an unexpected encounter with the alluring _Lana_, a striking woman whose presence hints at a world far removed from his meticulously planned future. The chemistry between them is immediate, and the night becomes a delicate dance of curiosity, attraction, and the thrill of stepping outside familiar boundaries.

As dawn arrives, the consequences of their escapade begin to surface: a surprising bill and a mishap involving Joel’s prized family car force him to confront the gap between his carefully curated life and the chaotic reality he’s stumbled into. Faced with a choice that could define his future, _Joel_ hatches an audacious plan—transforming his parents’ pristine home into an unconventional, one‑night venture. The premise promises a blend of humor and tension, as youthful daring collides with the pressures of expectation, setting the stage for a series of increasingly wild and comedic situations that test the limits of friendship, responsibility, and the allure of taking a risk.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 14:10

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Risky Business

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