Ferris Bueller’s Car Theft Attempt Is Thwarted in This New LiftMaster Spot

In a new ad for LiftMaster starring Alan Ruck, who played the role of Cameron Frye in the 1986 cult classic film, the brand reimagines the car theft scene. This time, LiftMaster’s Secure View Opener, a garage door with built-in surveillance camera that works as an extension of smart home technology, prevents those pesky teenagers from borrowing the car in the first place.

Ruck, playing the role of the car owner in this rendition, is able to see through his smart phone what’s happening before the Bueller-like character even sits down in the driver’s seat. Using the “talk” function, he tells the teens, “Don’t even think about it.”

Then the perspective shifts to Ruck in his office, where he tells the camera, “Been there, done that.”

“When I stepped into the Frye Family garage that they recreated from the movie, I definitely had flashbacks!” said Ruck. “LiftMaster picked the perfect iconic garage scene to demonstrate how Secure View can provide peace-of-mind for homeowners. It was fun to be a part of that.”

The built-in camera and two-way communication allows homeowners to do more than just thwart would-be car thieves, though. Users can also open the garage for deliveries or visitors while away from home, as the technology links to other myQ smart home components and Key by Amazon In-Garage Delivery.

As a Chicago-based company, “the movie’s origins hit a sweet spot for us,” said Pam McMeen, CMO of LiftMaster’s parent company Chamberlain Group. In referencing the classic film—which was released 34 years ago—gave the brand an opportunity to “show the evolution of the smart garage,” she added.

Liftmaster worked with Chicago-based independent creative agency Schafer Condon Carter on the spot.