Francis Ford Coppola's The Outsiders Was Released Thirty-five Years Ago Today

Based on S.E. Hinton's novel of the same name, The Outsiders was released in theaters thirty-five years ago today on March 25, 1983.

Hinton was just seventeen years old when she began writing the novel and nineteen when it was published by Viking Press during her freshman year of college. The film, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, was written by Kathleen Rowell (Hear No Evil, Killing Mr. Griffin) as her first credited screenplay.

"Early 1960s. Tulsa, Oklahoma. The city is divided between teenagers who have grown up with wealth and privilege and the rough-edged "greasers" from the wrong side of the tracks. The greasers yearn for the life they see on the other side of town, but the rich kids want to keep them in their places. Then, one greaser dares cross the line to talk, and to dream of more, with a girl from across the tracks . . . an action that can only lead to conflict on a hot, steamy night."

According to Box Office Mojo, The Outsiders was the 28th highest grossing movie of 1983, earning $25,697,647 at the domestic box office.