The Experts (1989): Cast, Box Office & Plot
The Experts is a 1989 action comedy directed by Dave Thomas, starring John Travolta as Travis, Arye Gross and Charles Martin Smith. It runs 1 hour 34 minutes and earned $169,203 worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 34m (94 min)
- Director
- Dave Thomas
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Paramount Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Experts About?
The premise of The Experts without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Travis and Wendell, down‑on‑their‑luck New Yorkers, think they’re moving to a tiny Nebraskan town to open a nightclub. A KGB operative instead kidnaps them to a covert Soviet training village, where they must act as “experts” on American culture for trainee spies. As they teach U.S. trends, they realize they’re far from Nebraska and scramble to escape.
The Experts Themes & Keywords
· 39 tags- spy
- 1980s
- soviet union
- renovation
- american in russia
- defection
- farce
- airplane
- small town
- fish out of water
- nightclub
- new york city
+27 more Show fewer
- kgb
- condom
- drugged drink
- friendship
- jukebox
- priest
- taxi
- chase
- lust
- attempted murder
- shootout
- dancing
- deception
- bicycle
- bomb
- machine gun
- exploding car
- jail
- knocked unconscious
- pilot
- urination
- military
- job interview
- telephone booth
- cigarette smoking
- f word
- live action
The Experts Cast & Characters
John Travolta leads the cast as Travis, with Arye Gross as Wendell and Charles Martin Smith as Mr. Smith. Directed by Dave Thomas; 24 actors are credited in all.
- Director Dave Thomas
-
John Travolta as Travis -
Arye Gross as Wendell -
Charles Martin Smith as Mr. Smith - Mimi Maynard as Mrs. Smith
Also Starring in The Experts
· 20 more- Robyn Simons Kathy Smith
- Marc Reid Billy Smith
- Kelly Preston Bonnie
- Deborah Foreman Jill
- Brian Doyle-Murray Mr. Jones
- Rick Ducommun Sparks
- James Keach Yuri
- Frank C. Turner Sheriff
- Jan Rubeš Illyich
- John Boylan Old Timer
- Adrien Dorval Elmo
- Eve Brent Aunt Thelma
- Alex Bruhanski Taxi Driver
- Steve Levitt Gil
- Joseph Golland Old Timer
- Jack Ammon Doc Benson
Show all 24 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Imbert Orchard Old Timer
- Sandy Tucker Operator
- Tony Edwards Nathan
- Ron Chabidon Lawyer
More from Dave Thomas
More films directed by Dave Thomas: My Fatal Social Following, My Killer Reunion, Murder at the Country Club and Love’s Secret Ingredient.
The Experts Plot Summary
What happens in The Experts from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
On the eve of Perestroika, a Soviet town is staged to pass for Indian Springs, Nebraska, where groups of potential spies are trained by a system that makes them blend in as Americans. The operation is overseen by KGB agent Cameron Smith Charles Martin Smith, who grows increasingly frustrated that the town has stalled culturally, clinging to a 1950s vibe rather than evolving with the times. To shake things up and prove the tactic workable, Smith hires two New York City club-goers and aspiring nightclub owners, Travis John Travolta and Wendell Arye Gross, to teach modern sensibilities to the residents under the pretense of opening a nightclub.
Full summary
The whole story of The Experts, scene by scene
The Experts Box Office
The Experts grossed $169,203 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$169.2K
- US & Canada
- $169.2K
How Well Do You Know The Experts?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actor portrays the character Travis in the film?
Cars in The Experts
32 cars on screen, including the 1960 Buick Electra 225 and the 1959 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer.
-
1960 Buick Electra 225 Important role -
1959 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer Important role -
1974 Volkswagen Thing Typ 181 Important role -
Citroën 2CV Minor role
The Experts Also Known As
10 alternative titles, including “Die Experten” and “Los expertos”.
- Also known as
-
- Die Experten
- Los expertos
- Les Experts
- Zűrös páros
- Eksperci
- Os Espertinhos
- Эксперты
- Gli esperti americani
- Експерти
- 搅局专家
Seen The Experts?
Movies Like The Experts
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Experts, The Expert and Non-Stop Trouble With the Experts.
The Experts FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of The Experts, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Experts?
The Experts runs 1 hour 34 minutes (94 minutes).
When was The Experts released?
The Experts was released on January 13, 1989.
Who directed The Experts?
The Experts was directed by Dave Thomas.
More films by Dave Thomas Who is in the cast of The Experts?
The Experts stars John Travolta as Travis, Arye Gross as Wendell and Charles Martin Smith as Mr. Smith, among 24 credited actors.
How much did The Experts make at the box office?
The Experts grossed $169,203 worldwide.
Does The Experts have a post-credit scene?
No. The Experts has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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