Skip to content
Ode to Billy Joe poster
6.2 / 10(37 votes)IMDbPG19761h 45m$27M Worldwide GrossUnited States of America

Ode to Billy Joe

“What the song didn't tell you, the movie will.”

Synopsis

Set in sultry 1950s Mississippi, two teenagers grapple with surging hormones and the enticing promise of love, unknowing of the tragedy that looms ahead.

Play Movie

Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes

Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.

Trailer

Type: Trailer • Published 2021-01-08

Release History & Theatrical Window

Theatrical Premiere

June 4, 1976

Wide Cinema Exhibition

Financials & Box Office Performance

ReleasedBlockbuster Success (24.55x ROI)

Production Budget

$1.1M

Filming & production cost

Worldwide Gross

$27M

Total global ticket sales

Box Office Return

24.55x

+$25.9M net gain

Theatrical Status

Mega Hit

Box office tier

Budget: $1.1MWorldwide: $27M

Key Information & Fast Facts

Director
Max Baer Jr.
Screenplay & Story
Herman Raucher
Original Score
Michel Legrand
Original Title
Ode to Billy Joe
Country of Origin
United States of America
Spoken Languages
English
Runtime
1h 45m
Production Budget
$1.1M
Worldwide Gross
$27M
Production Studios
Warner Bros. Pictures

Creative Leadership & Key Crew

Director

Max Baer Jr.

Screenplay & Story

Herman Raucher

Original Score & Music

Michel Legrand

Director of Photography

Michel Hugo

Film Editing

Frank Morriss

Producers

Roger Camras, Mark Sussman, Max Baer Jr.

Department Leadership Roster

Herman Raucher

Writer

Max Baer Jr.

Max Baer Jr.

Director

Roger Camras

Producer

Mark Sussman

Mark Sussman

Producer

Max Baer Jr.

Max Baer Jr.

Producer

Michel Legrand

Michel Legrand

Original Music Composer

Michel Hugo

Director of Photography

Frank Morriss

Editor

Age Classification & Content Advisories

Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.

Primary: PG

PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.

International Certification Matrix

United States (MPAA)PG

Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.

Official cinematic photography and background stills for Ode to Billy Joe.

Featured In Curated Collections

Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Ode to Billy Joe.

LGBTQ+

Auto-filled from Letterboxd lists

4717 titles

Movies I've seen

6448 titles

Complete Cult Classics - Reddit Collection

A comprehensive collection of 247 cult classic films compiled from Reddit discussions. Includes everything from midnight movie staples to 'so bad it's good' gems, arthouse favorites, and films that gained devoted followings over time. Organized by category with source attribution.

334 titles

schedule

114 titles

3/1/24

625 titles

Watched

1165 titles

Similar Titles to Ode to Billy Joe

Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling

  • 7.7
  • 6.3
  • 6.0
  • 7.8
  • 6.9
  • 7.8
  • 8.0
    Anime
  • 3.0
  • 1.0
    Anime
  • 6.8
  • 5.8
  • 6.6
  • 7.3
  • 4.5
  • 7.0
  • 6.8
  • 6.2

More Like Ode to Billy Joe

Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.

7.6
7.6
6.6
7.0
7.2
7.0
6.7
8.2
6.3
8.2
7.3
7.4

Frequently Asked Questions About Ode to Billy Joe

Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.

What is Ode to Billy Joe about?

Set in sultry 1950s Mississippi, two teenagers grapple with surging hormones and the enticing promise of love, unknowing of the tragedy that looms ahead.

Who directed Ode to Billy Joe?

Ode to Billy Joe was directed by Max Baer Jr..

Who stars in Ode to Billy Joe?

The principal cast of Ode to Billy Joe includes Robby Benson, Glynnis O'Connor, Joan Hotchkis, Terence Goodman, Sandy McPeak.

When was Ode to Billy Joe released and how long is it?

Ode to Billy Joe was released in 1976 with a total runtime of 1h 45m.

What was the box office and production budget of Ode to Billy Joe?

Ode to Billy Joe had a reported production budget of $1.1M and grossed $27M at the worldwide box office (24.55 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).

Who composed the musical score for Ode to Billy Joe?

The original motion picture soundtrack for Ode to Billy Joe was composed by Michel Legrand.

What is the age rating and content advisory for Ode to Billy Joe?

Ode to Billy Joe holds official age classifications: US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).