History Film / BillAndTed

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"EXCELLENT!"\\
''[guitar riff]'']]

->''"Be excellent to each other and... Party on, dudes!"''
-->-- Credo of Bill and Ted, quoted even by UsefulNotes/AbrahamLincoln!

''Bill & Ted'' is a series of comedy movies featuring Creator/KeanuReeves as Ted Logan and Creator/AlexWinter as Bill Preston, two dimwitted though good-natured rock fans who find themselves thrown into fantastic adventures.

The first two movies have their own pages:

* ''Film/BillAndTedsExcellentAdventure'' (1989)
* ''Film/BillAndTedsBogusJourney'' (1991)

!!Expanded Universe
The first film was followed by an AnimatedAdaptation by Creator/HannaBarbera, ''WesternAnimation/BillAndTedsExcellentAdventures,'' that was fairly faithful (and even had Alex Winter, Keanu Reeves, and George Carlin reprising their roles), while the second was followed by a forgettable live-action RecycledTheSeries that featured none of the original cast (this new cast voiced the characters when the animated edition moved from Creator/{{CBS}} to Creator/{{Fox}} and [[Creator/DiCEntertainment DiC]] took over production). There was also a surprisingly well-made ''Eisner-nominated'' ComicBookAdaptation, ''ComicBook/BillAndTedsExcellentComicBook,'' written and drawn by [[ComicBook/FunWithMilkAndCheese Evan Dorkin]] and published by Creator/MarvelComics; several video games; and even a little-known [[TheMusical stage musical]] which had a pretty short run but featured a couple of decent songs. There was also a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAM-MGJylmo cereal]] based on the [=TV=] show and a VideoGame for the UsefulNotes/AtariLynx loosely based on the first film.

Since 1992, the Ride/UniversalStudios theme parks in Orlando and Hollywood have used Bill and Ted in their annual ''Theatre/HalloweenHorrorNights'' event as ''Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure'', parodying that year's pop culture and entertainment. The 2009 event, for example, featured ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'', Creator/MeganFox (well, a male impersonator), ''Film/{{Watchmen}}'', ''Film/XMenOriginsWolverine'', ''Film/StarTrek2009'', and ''GIJoe'', among many others.

!!''Bill & Ted Face the Music'' (2020)
[[quoteright:264:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/everythingwillbealright_1061.PNG]]
->''Their most excellent adventure continues...'' (note, this is a fan-made poster)

In 2007, the series' creators and writers, Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon, approached Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves with an idea for a third movie in the series, and the pair eagerly signed on. News of the film got out in [[http://io9.com/5646614/ 2010]], but it seemed to be stuck in DevelopmentHell, though according to all involved that was simply because most films don't get announced this early in production. It was [[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/cannes-keanu-reeves-alex-winter-reteaming-bill-ted-3-1107419 officially announced]] the film was in pre-production on May 8, 2018, with Winter and Reeves confirmed to reprise their roles. [[https://consequenceofsound.net/2019/03/bill-ted-3-release-date/ On March 20, 2019]], Reeves and Winter announced that production had started and the film is scheduled to arrive in theaters on August 21, 2020.

The film will focus on Bill and Ted in their [=50s=], dealing with the fact that they still haven't lived up to Rufus' expectations and made the world a utopia, and how the stress starts affecting their relationships with their wives and children. Things only get worse when people from the future come back and tell the duo that they have to write the song that will change the world ''right now''. In order to find inspiration, the duo goes on another time adventure along with their daughters to meet with the greatest minds in musical history. Alex Winter has said that the goal of the movie is to evoke the spirit of the originals without succumbing to "retro cynicism".

----
!!The following most triumphant tropes appear in multiple ''Bill and Ted'' works:

* AdaptationNameChange: In the script for TheMusical, Princess Joanna is renamed "Princess Mary," possibly to avoid confusion with Joan of Arc. On the cast album, she's "Sarah."
%%* {{Adorkable}}: Bill and Ted.
* AirGuitar:
** '''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Dc6Pre77AY Every ten seconds]]''' whenever Bill and Ted think of something EXCELLENT!
** In the second film, the evil B&T develop a "stealth" version (twiddling their fingers as if strumming) after Chuck De Nomolos shoots them a DeathGlare for doing the real thing. They continue to use it throughout the movie.
* BaldOfEvil: Chuck De Nomolos is bald and the nemesis of the pair in the second movie.
* BareYourMidriff: Male version. Bill's customized sweatshirt.
* BookDumb: Perhaps the ultimate example as the duo are in danger of failing high school yet their teachings are destined to create a Utopia.
* BrilliantButLazy: Both Bill and Ted are BookDumb, but are far smarter than anyone gives them credit for (even themselves), but would rather slack off and play rock music (poorly). Part of their development is them growing out of it.
* BuffySpeak: Bill and Ted have a rather unique vocabulary and speaking style.
* {{Catchphrase}}:
** "Excellent!" often followed by an AirGuitar duet.
** The two will gasp "Bogus!" when something bad happens.
** Also, Bill's "Shut up, Ted!" whenever Ted makes a comment about Missy's attractiveness.
** "I am Bill S. Preston, Esq.!" "And I am Ted 'Theodore' Logan!" "Together, we are ''Wyld Stallyns''!!" This is to the point of being OnceAnEpisode in the cartoon series.
** They also have "Catch you later, (X)!" spoken in unison.
* [[ClusterFBomb Cluster S-Bomb]]: Napoleon after a gutter ball. In French, obviously.
* CoversAlwaysLie:
** In ''Bill & Ted's Most Triumphant Return,'' the final issue's cover promises a brawl between Bill and Ted in a HumongousMecha shaped like Station, against De Nomolos in his own, two headed robot. The story does feature giant robots, but not the ones depicted, nor do they fight.
** In-Universe example in ''Bogus Journey.'' The boys complain that Hell does not resemble their album covers.
* CrashingThroughTheHarem: In ''Film/BillAndTedsExcellentAdventure'', the duo get knocked through the wall of an Old West tavern... and into the back room, where the {{Soiled Dove}}s are making up their faces at a large vanity. Billy the Kid yanks them away while they're still enjoying the view.
* CreatorCameo: Writers Ed Solomon and Chris Matheson cameo in both movies. They play [[YouLookFamiliar a different duo]] in each, but the credits of both films specify that [[SelfDeprecation Solomon is the stupid one and Matheson is the ugly one]].
* DemotedToExtra:
** Despite having a number of lines in the first film, Bill's dad only has a single reaction, silent shot, looking forlornly at Missy.
** Ted's little brother Deacon had a substantial sideplot in the first film, but never shows up in the sequel. He's acknowledged only in Ted's personal Hell, when Ted steals an Easter basket with Deacon's name on it.
* DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment: Ted claims his full name is Ted "Theodore" Logan. Ted is the shortened name of the name Theodore.
* TheDividual:
** Bill and Ted are of the Twindividual variation; even if they're not actually related and look completely different, they have almost the exact same personality (Bill seems to be slightly more practical-minded and Ted slightly more carefree, but the differences are minimal) and in the plots they're important as a duo, not as individuals.
** Joanna and Elizabeth are even more of an example; they're never seen apart and don't seem to have separate personalities at all. Given that they are sisters and seem to be the same age, they may even be actual (non-identical) twins -- though this is never confirmed or denied.
** And then there's Station, who is literally one mind in two bodies, with the ability to merge back into one being when needed.
* DorkKnight: Bill and Ted use a lot of pop culture references in their chatter. They even dress up as knights and have a mock sword fight while quoting Star Wars.
* TheEighties: ''Excellent Adventure'' takes place in 1985 and the titular duo make plenty of use of trendy fashion and slang of the era and location.
* EitherOrTitle: The Hanna-Barbera animated episode "The Birth Of Rock And Roll, or: Too Hip For The Womb."
* {{Fandisservice}}: While Napoleon is at Waterloo, his swimsuit (really just his era underwear) becomes somewhat see-through.
* {{Fanservice}}: Most times we see Missy, she's in some fairly tight and/or revealing clothing.
* TheFool: Bill and Ted are flippant about their schoolwork and can't even take their music seriously in spite of their passion for it.
* FullNameBasis: Bill and Ted always introduce themselves as "Bill S. Preston, Esquire and 'Ted' Theodore Logan".
* GarageBand: Wyld Stallyns is just the two of them jamming on guitars in Bill's garage initially.
* {{Garfunkel}}: Alex Winter, though this is largely because he retired from acting in 1993 to begin a directing career.
* GeniusDitz:
** Despite being uncomplicated slackers, Bill and Ted have a natural instinct for mastering the [[RetroactivePreparation causal]] and [[TrickedOutTime paradoxical]] [[SanDimasTime effects]] of time travel. Also, while their use of the English language is most unconventional and egregiously unorthodox, their vocabulary does seem to be more well developed than most teenagers, or for that matter most ''anyone''. (Try reading that in their voices. IT FITS.)
** Bill not only knows what an Oedipal Complex is, he can recognize he has a minor case.
** Bill and Ted can communicate with and translate for people who speak French, Mongolian, and Ancient Greek.
* HeterosexualLifePartners: Bill and Ted do everything together. Including proposing to their girlfriends.
* HyperspaceIsAScaryPlace: A fairly mild example, but the energy tendril/claws that emerge and drag the booth into the time circuits don't exactly come across as benevolent.
* {{Idiot Hero}}es: While they have an intuitive understanding of SanDimasTime, their basic response to everything is almost always (a) tell a dumb joke, (b) make a rock music reference, (c) going along with what someone smarter suggests, or (d) some combination of the above.
* LethalChef: Missy can't even prepare grilled cheese sandwiches without torching them.
* LighterAndSofter: Both movies are this for Creator/GeorgeCarlin, definitely. He doesn't cuss even once in either movie.
* MayDecemberRomance: Missy definitely seems to have a thing for men who are old enough to be her father; first marrying Bill's dad, and later Ted's dad. [[spoiler:A newspaper headline suggests she later marries Chuck [=DeNomolos=].]]
* MissingMom: Neither of the boys' mothers are ever so much as mentioned, let alone explaining where they went. Possibly because digging into that would take the funny out of the running gag with Missy.
* MyspeldRokband[=/=]XtremeKoolLetterz: WYLD STALLYNS! ''[air guitar]''
* {{Nice Guy}}s: Stupid as Bill and Ted may both be, it's hard to deny that they are both sincere, decent and kind-hearted kids when push comes to shove.
* ParodySue: The founders of a Utopian future are ''these'' guys.
* RealityEnsues: Yes, Bill and Ted will eventually usher in a Utopia with their music. However, they are presently two dumb teenagers who are failing schoolwork, so their musical abilities at the time leaves for a lot to be desired.
-->'''Rufus:''' [[AsideGlance They do get better]].
* ReallyGetsAround: Missy, though she seems to stick solely to older men.
* RetroactivePreparation: As dumb as the pair can be, they have an intuitive understanding of this. In the first film, the two realize that since they have a time machine, they can do things like go back in time later to steal a key yesterday to get into a locked building now. This is practically elevated to a martial art in the second film, where the duo and the BigBad try to out-prepare each other [[spoiler:before pointing out that only the winner of the showdown can actually make use of it.]]
* RidiculouslySuccessfulFutureSelf: In the present, Bill and Ted are just two dopey fools, but they're destined to create a global utopia.
* RuleOfFunny: Much of the films runs on this, not the least of which in the first movie of a bunch of historical figures going along for the ride without much internal conflict.
* SanDimasTime: TropeNamer as time seems to pass in their "home" time at the same rate as their journey in the past does.
* SatelliteLoveInterest: Joanna and Elizabeth, the Royal Princess Babes. While this was somewhat justified in the first movie due to their brief screen time, they remain featureless in the second movie, even with their more prominent role in the heroes' lives.
* SavingTheWorldWithArt: The future is apparently built on the rock and roll of Wyld Stallyns. In this utopia, the air is clean, the water is clean, even the dirt is clean, bowling scores are way up, and mini golf scores are way down.
* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism: Both are ''far'' on the Idealistic End, even if 2 is DarkerAndEdgier, in its belief that love and friendship and make the world a nicer place. Now we can only wait and see if "3" makes good on its promise that it will stay idealistic ''without'' succumbing to "retro-cynicism."
* StacysMom: Bill (and later Ted's) stepmom, Missy. It helps that she's only three years older than Bill and Ted. Ted even asked her to the prom. It's lampshaded in the first movie, when Freud offers to psychoanalyze Bill during the history report, and he responds, "Nah, just got a minor Oedipal complex."
* SternTeacher: Mr. Ryan believes that Bill and Ted are capable of more, [[BrilliantButLazy but lack proper motivation.]]
* {{Surfer Dude}}s: Bill and Ted are from Southern California, so their speech includes a lot of So-Cal surfer slang even though they're not surfers and San Dimas is a fair distance inland.
* TakeThat: In the Hanna-Barbera cartoon, Bill and Ted run into Rufus at a record store, where a Take That to then-hot teenybopper group New Kids On The Block (who had a cartoon show then as well) is delivered:
-->'''Rufus:''' I was just checking out this new album by New Boys On The Corner.\\
'''Bill, Ted:''' And?\\
'''Rufus:''' They stink.
* TimeyWimeyBall: The "time game" is circular. 'After you win'', you'll grab what you need to win in the first place? It makes sense - relatively - that only the winners can play the game, but we're never told what Bill and Ted did to make them the winners, ie why Chuck De Nomolos couldn't say "no, I set up the key and the gag gun just to give you false hope before I vanquish you".
* TrophyWife: In ''Excellent Adventure'', Bill's dad has divorced his mother and gotten married to Missy, who is only three years older than his son. In ''Bogus Journey'', they have split up and now Ted's dad is the one married to Missy.
* {{Utopia}}: The duo use ThePowerOfRock to turn the world into one.
* WaxingLyrical:
** The duo says to Socrates "[[Music/{{Kansas}} All we are is dust... in the wind]], dude."
** In the sequel, they answer St. Peter's question of what is the meaning of life with the lyrics to [[Music/{{Poison}} "Every Rose Has Its Thorn"]].
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: In ''Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey'', Chuck [=DeNomolos=] has a band of rebels along with the evil robots Bill & Ted. [[spoiler:The evil robots are destroyed and Chuck goes back trying to kill Bill & Ted again. Chuck's human henchmen just simply vanished. It's expected they'd be arrested and maybe Chuck's entire army is redeemed. There are Bill & Ted comic books by Boom Comics that pick up from the movie to alternate timelines. There might and might not be or maybe both new henchmen to chuck as his soldiers. In Bill & Ted's Most Triumphant Return 6 parts there are Chuck's troops and his brother Richie joined his band. Richie and Chuck are both redeemed as are his troops seen in the comics. It's got to be his entire army redeemed as there's never a chance to kill Bill & Ted forever. In issue 5 Grim Reaper chops up the guns of six of Chuck's troops. One of them is a woman. He then clobbers them on the hand of his ax. Also with the other half of Station brainwashed there are 3 men and 1 woman in issue 6 with that other guy.]]

----
''Catch ya later, troper dudes!''

''Bill & Ted'' is a series of comedy movies featuring Creator/KeanuReeves as Ted Logan and Alex Winter as Bill Preston, two dimwitted though good-natured rock fans who find themselves thrown into fantastic adventures.

%%* ShoutOut: The poster for the upcoming sequel seems to finally {{lampshade|Hanging}} the unintentional similarities with [[Series/DoctorWho the TARDIS.]]
%%** That's actually a fan-made poster, but still.

* TimeyWimeyBall: There's no consistency in how time travel works in the Bill And Ted universe. They have a limited time to prepare for their history report in ''Excellent Adventure'' despite having a ''time machine'' (out of universe, this explains why they don't screw around with the infinite possibilities of time travel; in-universe, no good explanation is given), yet in ''Bogus Journey'', they are able to undertake 16 months of intense guitar training in an unspecified time period and arrive back at the concert moments after they left.
** Actually, that one is pretty easy to explain. In the first movie, Rufus points out that they were off by one number when they meet themselves. This means that they can reach any allotment of time by dialing that number, and since time moves forward at a constant pace, all they had to do was wait until they could dial up the exact time they had taken off, which keeps the San Dimas Time rule solid.
** The "time game" is circular. 'After you win'', you'll grab what you need to win in the first place? It makes sense - relatively - that only the winners can play the game, but we're never told what Bill and Ted did to make them the winners, ie why Chuck De Nomolos couldn't say "no, I set up the key and the gag gun just to give you false hope before I vanquish you".

* RetroactivePreparation: As dumb as the pair can be, they have an intuitive understanding of this. In the first film, the two realize that since they have a time machine, they can do things like steal a key later to get into a locked building now. This is practically elevated to a martial art in the second film, where the duo and the BigBad try to out-prepare each other [[spoiler:before pointing out that only the winner of the showdown can actually make use of it.]]

The first film was followed by an AnimatedAdaptation by Creator/HannaBarbera, ''WesternAnimation/BillAndTedsExcellentAdventures,'' that was fairly faithful (and even had Alex Winter, Keanu Reeves, and George Carlin reprising their roles), while the second was followed by a forgettable live-action RecycledTheSeries that featured none of the original cast (this new cast voiced the characters when the animated edition moved from Creator/{{CBS}} to Creator/{{Fox}} and [[Creator/DiCEntertainment DiC]] took over production). There was also a surprisingly well-made ''Eisner-nominated'' ComicBookAdaptation, ''ComicBook/BillAndTedsExcellentComicBook,'' written and drawn by [[ComicBook/FunWithMilkAndCheese Evan Dorkin]] and published by Creator/MarvelComics; several video games; and even a little-known [[TheMusical stage musical]] which had a pretty short run but featured a couple of decent songs. There was also a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAM-MGJylmo cereal]] based on the [=TV=] show.

** "I am Bill S. Preston, Esq.!" "And I am 'Ted' Theodore Logan!" "Together, we are ''Wyld Stallyns''!!" This is to the point of being OnceAnEpisode in the cartoon series.

In 2007, the series' creators and writers, Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon approached Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves with an idea for a third movie in the series, and the pair eagerly signed on. News of the film got out in [[http://io9.com/5646614/ 2010]], but at the moment it seems to be stuck in DevelopmentHell, though according to all involved it's simply because most films don't get announced this early in production. It was [[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/cannes-keanu-reeves-alex-winter-reteaming-bill-ted-3-1107419 officially announced]] the film was in pre-production on May 8, 2018, with Winter and Reeves confirmed to reprise their roles. [[https://consequenceofsound.net/2019/03/bill-ted-3-release-date/ On March 20, 2019]], Reeves and Winter announced that production had started and the film is scheduled to arrive in theaters on August 21, 2020.

!!''Bill & Ted Face the Music'' (20--)

In 2007, the series' creators and writers, Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon approached Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves with an idea for a third movie in the series, and the pair eagerly signed on. News of the film got out in [[http://io9.com/5646614/ 2010]], but at the moment it seems to be stuck in DevelopmentHell, though according to all involved it's simply because most films don't get announced this early in production. It was [[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/cannes-keanu-reeves-alex-winter-reteaming-bill-ted-3-1107419 officially announced]] the film was in pre-production on May 8, 2018, with Winter and Reeves confirmed to reprise their roles.

-->--Credo of Bill and Ted, quoted even by UsefulNotes/AbrahamLincoln!

Since 1992, the Ride/UniversalStudios theme parks in Orlando and Hollywood have used Bill and Ted in their annual ''Theatre/HalloweenHorrorNights'' event as ''Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure'', parodying that year's pop culture and entertainment. The 2009 event, for example, featured ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'', Creator/MeganFox (well, a male impersonator), ''Film/{{Watchmen}}'', ''Film/XMenOriginsWolverine'', ''Film/StarTrek'', and ''GIJoe'', among many others.

* guitar riff*]]

* {{Adorkable}}: Bill and Ted.
* AirGuitar: '''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Dc6Pre77AY Every ten seconds]]''' whenever Bill and Ted think of something EXCELLENT!

* BaldOfEvil: Chuck De Nomolos.

* {{Catchphrase}}: "Excellent!" often followed by an AirGuitar duet.

* CoversAlwaysLie: In ''Bill & Ted's Most Triumphant Return,'' the final issue's cover promises a brawl between Bill and Ted in a HumongousMecha shaped like Station, against De Nomolos in his own, two headed robot. The story does feature giant robots, but not the ones depicted, nor do they fight.

* CrashingThroughTheHarem: In ''Film/BillAndTedsExcellentAdventure'', the duo get knocked through the wall of an Old West tavern... and into the back room, where the {{Soiled Dove}}s are prancing around in their lingerie. Billy the Kid yanks them away while they're still enjoying the view.

* TheDividual: Bill and Ted are of the Twindividual variation; even if they're not actually related and look completely different, they have almost the exact same personality (Bill seems to be slightly more practical-minded and Ted slightly more carefree, but the differences are minimal) and in the plots they're important as a duo, not as individuals.

* DorkKnight: Bill and Ted again.
* TheEighties

* TheFool: Bill and Ted... totally.

* GarageBand: Wyld Stallyns.

* GranolaGirl: Missy.

* LighterAndSofter: Both movies are this for Creator/GeorgeCarlin, definitely. (He doesn't cuss even once in either movie.)

* MyspeldRokband[=/=]XtremeKoolLetterz: WYLD STALLYNS! ''*air guitar*''

-->'''Rufus''': [[AsideGlance They do get better]].

* RuleOfFunny: Much of the films.
* SanDimasTime: TropeNamer.

* ShoutOut: The poster for the upcoming sequel seems to finally {{lampshade|Hanging}} the unintentional similarities with [[Series/DoctorWho the TARDIS.]]
** That's actually a fan-made poster, but still.

-->'''Rufus:''' I was just checking out this new album by New Boys On The Corner.
-->'''Bill, Ted:''' And?
-->'''Rufus:''' They stink.

* WaxingLyrical: The duo says to Socrates "[[Music/{{Kansas}} All we are is dust... in the wind]], dude."

* {{Surfer Dude}}s: Bill and Ted are from Southern California, so their speech includes a lot of So-Cal surfer slang even though they're not surfers and San Dimas is a fair distance inland.