A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte
painted by Georges Seurat

The film follows high school senior Ferris Bueller from the North Shore, who, one spring day (after eight previous absences throughout the semester; nine total including this "day off"), decides to skip school again and spend the day in downtown Chicago with his girlfriend Sloane Peterson and his best friend Cameron Frye while creatively avoiding his school's dean of students Mr. Edward Rooney, his resentful sister Jeanie, and his parents. Bueller frequently breaks the fourth wall to explain to the audience his techniques and thoughts. In the opening scene, graphics appear onscreen illustrating his explanations.