17 Again

"Who says you're only young once?"

2009 1h 42m EN

😐

6.3

MID

🥫

57%

ROTTEN

😬

METACRITIC

⭐

6.4

IMDB

★6.3TMDB · 5,552🥫57%Rotten Tomatoes●48Metacritic★6.4IMDB · 230,818

ComedyFantasy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

On the brink of a midlife crisis, 30-something Mike O'Donnell wishes he could have a "do-over." And that's exactly what he gets when he wakes up one morning to find he's 17 years old again. With his adult mind stuck inside the body of a teenager, Mike actually has the chance to reverse some decisions he wishes he'd never made. But maybe they weren't so bad after all.

“Who says you're only young once?”

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Cast

Zac Efron
Mike O'Donnell
Leslie Mann
Scarlett O'Donnell
Thomas Lennon
Ned Gold
Michelle Trachtenberg
Maggie O'Donnell
Sterling Knight
Alex O'Donnell
Matthew Perry
Mike O'Donnell (Adult)
Tyler Steelman
Ned Gold (Teen)
Allison Miller
Scarlett (Teen)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Burr Steers
Writers: Jason Filardi
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Made its money back 6.8× over at the box office.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 17 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Burr Steers, shot by Tim Suhrstedt. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Rolfe Kent. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Padraic McKinley shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Zac Efron and Leslie Mann and Thomas Lennon carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Who says you're only young once?".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0974661 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Burr Steers directs. Tim Suhrstedt behind the camera. Rolfe Kent scores. Padraic McKinley cuts. Made its budget back several times over at the box office. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Made its money back 6.8× over at the box office.
2Released 17 years ago.
3Directed by Burr Steers, shot by Tim Suhrstedt. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Rolfe Kent. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Padraic McKinley shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Zac Efron and Leslie Mann and Thomas Lennon carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "Who says you're only young once?".
8IMDB entry: tt0974661 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Classified under 9 themes, including "high school", "time travel", "fake identity", "bullying".

The technical file

Cinematography: Tim Suhrstedt
Original score: Rolfe Kent
Editing: Padraic McKinley
Production design: Garreth Stover
Costume design: Pamela Withers
Makeup / hair: Melissa Yonkey
VFX supervisor: David Jones
Sound: Michael Keller
Stunt coordinator: Webster Whinery
Runtime: 102 min · 1h 42m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $20,000,000
Box office: $136,300,000
Return: 682% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: 17 Again (2009)
Rotten Tomatoes: 57% 🥫 Rotten
Metacritic: 48/100
IMDB rating: 6.4/10 · 230,818 votes
MPAA: PG-13

Awards

3 wins & 5 nominations total

Also by

Burr Steers

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Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

John Chard2014-09-26
★ 7/10
It's a classic transformation story. Are you now or have you ever been a Norse God, Vampire, or Time Traveling Cyborg? Another in what is a long line of body swap comedies, 17 Again is fun, frothy and full of warmth; just like all the other ones really! There's nothing new here, it's the same old format as a grown up Mike O'Donnell (Matthew Perry) rues how his life has grown to miserable proportions but magically gets to be a high-schooler again and grasp that second chance. Back in his 17 year old bod (Zac Efron looking like a young Rob Lowe), Mike oversees the trials and tribulations of his two kids who attend the same school, whilst also forming a "special" bond with his future wife Scarlet (Leslie Mann) who is going to divorce him! Cue much high-school pranks, perils and near misses and a few worthy messages in the narrative. Tailored towards a certain demographic with the casting of Efron, who is very likable and a worthy lead here, the film thankfully doesn't lack for good performances elsewhere. Both Mann and Melora Hardin as the hot principal make their roles stand out, while Thomas Lennon as Mike's uber rich man child buddy steals the movie. It's rich in clichés of the formula and the predictability of outcome robs us of a surprise, but these are not actually irritants, for this is a very enjoyable movie. One where the teens hot for Zac can stare lovingly, and one where the adults can nod in knowing agreement at some plot dynamics. 7/10
Andre Gonzales2023-07-01
★ 6/10
Just watched it just so I can say I watched it. It turned out to be funny and liked the story similar to 13 going on 30.
Wuchak2023-10-11
★ 8/10
Entertaining high school dramedy/body swap flick with heart A dispirited 37 year-old man (Matthew Perry) is about to lose his wife and high school sweetheart (Leslie Mann) when he is miraculously able to become, you guessed it, 17 again. Can he possibly learn to be a good husband and father with the assistance of his geeky best friend (Thomas Lennon)? "17 Again" is magic from beginning to end, with few missteps. It's both a high school dramedy and a second chance fantasy. There are elements of films like "Back to the Future" and "Peggy Sue Got Married," but the uniqueness here is that the protagonist doesn't go back in time, but rather stays in the current day and appears to his family & friends as 17 years-old, even though he's really 37. With one exception, no one knows who he really is. Zac Efron, who was only 21 during filming, easily carries the movie while Mann is one of the most winsome women to walk the Earth. Lennon's amusing character is akin to Spence from The King of Queens. Michelle Trachtenberg is also on hand as the teenage daughter while Melora Hardin plays the attractive principal. Best of all, the film has heart, effectively conveying the triumphs and tragedies of the high school experience in all its glory and awkwardness. I know it's clichéd, but "you'll laugh, you'll cry." It runs 1h 42m and was shot in Jan 2008 in Santa Monica (Hayden High School), Van Nuys and Los Angeles, California. GRADE: A-