The Experts
“Two abducted Americans are going to tell the Russians everything they know. Poor Russia.”
Synopsis
Travis and Wendell are two down-on-their-luck New Yorkers who think they're relocating to a small town in Nebraska to open a nightclub. What they don't know is they've actually been abducted by a KGB operative and flown to the Soviet Union, where they'll unwittingly serve as "experts" on all things cool in America. The town, created expressly for KGB spies-in-training, is meant to serve as a training ground for Soviet agents. What can these two hapless Americans possibly teach the Soviet spies, and will they ever learn they are not actually in Nebraska?
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Experts (1989) Original Trailer [FHD]
Type: Trailer • Published 2023-08-26
Top Cast
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John Travolta
Travis
Arye Gross
Wendell
Kelly Preston
Bonnie
Deborah Foreman
Jill
James Keach
Yuri
Jan Rubeš
Illyich
Brian Doyle-Murray
Mr. Jones
Charles Martin Smith
Mr. Smith
Mimi Maynard
Mrs. Smith
Eve Brent
Aunt Thelma
Rick Ducommun
Sparks
Steve Levitt
Gil
Tony Edwards
Nathan
Jack Ammon
Doc Benson
Marc Reid
Billy Smith
Robyn Simons
Kathy Smith
Joseph Golland
Old Timer
Imbert Orchard
Old Timer
Release History & Theatrical Window
January 13, 1989
Wide Cinema Exhibition
October 1, 1989
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$13M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$169K
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.01x
-$12.8M deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Dave Thomas
- Screenplay & Story
- Nick Thiel, Eric Alter, Steven Greene
- Original Score
- Marvin Hamlisch
- Original Title
- The Experts
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 34m
- Production Budget
- $13M
- Worldwide Gross
- $169K
- Production Studios
- Paramount Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Dave Thomas
Nick Thiel, Eric Alter, Steven Greene
Marvin Hamlisch
Ronnie Taylor
Bud Molin
Jonathan D. Krane, Jack Grossberg, James Keach
Department Leadership Roster
Dave Thomas
Director
Nick Thiel
Screenplay
Eric Alter
Screenplay
Marvin Hamlisch
Original Music Composer
Ronnie Taylor
Director of Photography
Steven Greene
Screenplay
David Fischer
Production Design
Bud Molin
Editor
Rosanna Norton
Costume Design
James Keach
Producer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG-13: Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Experts.
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1989
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Experts
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Experts about?
Travis and Wendell are two down-on-their-luck New Yorkers who think they're relocating to a small town in Nebraska to open a nightclub. What they don't know is they've actually been abducted by a KGB operative and flown to the Soviet Union, where they'll unwittingly serve as "experts" on all things cool in America. The town, created expressly for KGB spies-in-training, is meant to serve as a training ground for Soviet agents. What can these two hapless Americans possibly teach the Soviet spies, and will they ever learn they are not actually in Nebraska?
Who directed The Experts?
The Experts was directed by Dave Thomas.
Who stars in The Experts?
The principal cast of The Experts includes John Travolta, Arye Gross, Kelly Preston, Deborah Foreman, James Keach.
When was The Experts released and how long is it?
The Experts was released in 1989 with a total runtime of 1h 34m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Experts?
The Experts had a reported production budget of $13M and grossed $169K at the worldwide box office (0.01 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for The Experts?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Experts was composed by Marvin Hamlisch.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Experts?
The Experts holds official age classifications: DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); US: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.).