Porky’s, released in theaters on Nov. 13, 1981, is a landmark comedy that, despite its often raunchy and juvenile tone, is historically significant for pioneering the high-grossing R-rated teen sex comedy genre of the 1980s. Set in 1954 in the fictional Angel Beach, Florida, the film captures the hormonal chaos and relentless camaraderie of a group of high school boys obsessed with losing their virginity.
The plot centers on a core group of friends, including the perpetually embarrassed Pee Wee (Dan Monahan), Billy (Mark Herrier), Tommy (Wyatt Knight), Mickey (Roger Wilson), Anthony “Meat” Tuperello (Tony Ganios) and Brian (Scott Colomby).
Driven by their adolescent desires, they venture out of their quiet suburban environment and into the swamps of the Everglades to visit a legendary, notorious roadhouse called Porky’s, a place rumored to provide illicit services.
Their visit turns into a humiliating, wallet-lightening debacle orchestrated by the roadhouse’s cruel owner, Porky (Chuck Mitchell), and his complicit brother, the local Sheriff Wallace (Alex Karras).
Driven by outrage and the need for retribution after being thoroughly fleeced and disgraced, the boys spend the rest of the film devising increasingly elaborate and disastrous schemes to seek revenge on the villainous duo.
Kim Cattrall, Kaki Hunter, Art Hindle, Nancy Parsons and Susan Clark round out the cast.
Bob Clark (A Christmas Story, Rhinestone, From the Hip, Loose Cannons) wrote and directed the film.
Dan Monahan, Mark Herrier, Tony Ganios and Wyatt Knight in Porky’s (Photo/20th Century Fox)
Reception for Porky’s
Porky’s grossed $7.6 million on its opening weekend, finishing No. 1 at the box office.
The film would remain atop the box office for its first eight weeks and in the top 10 for 14 weeks en route to grossing $105.5 million in its theatrical run.
Porky’s was followed by Porky’s II: The Next Day in 1983 and Porky’s Revenge! in 1985.
Legacy
Porky’s‘ legacy is immense; it was a massive box office hit and set the commercial template for a generation of comedies focused on high school mischief and sexual awakening.
While it is often criticized for its coarse humor, its popularity was undeniable, capturing a specific, often nostalgic, time in American youth culture.
Porky’s remains a controversial but undeniable touchstone in the history of coming-of-age cinema.
