John Hughes Was The Voice of a Generation
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1980s filmmaking and John Hughes are synonymous with each other. Whether as a writer, producer, or director, the late Hughes had his fingerprints all over the coming-of-age genre — specifically when it came to films featuring high school life. While his entire body of work is spectacular in its own right, this article will aim to rank his very best projects. The author aimed to narrow it down to five, though a sixth had to be added out of respect for how good that film is.
6. Uncle Buck
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Uncle Buck is a John Candy masterclass. Hughes wrote, produced, and directed this film where Candy gets to showcase why millions found the late actor captivating and immensely endearing. Taking place in Hughes’ preferred location of Chicago, this traditionally irresponsible black sheep is forced to look after his nieces and nephew in the suburbs after a family crisis necessitates his help (reluctantly much to the chagrin of his sister-in-law). Despite the film being more than 30 years old, the humor still holds up quite well. The children in the film (Gaby Hoffmann, Macaulay Culkin) went on to have fantastic careers of their own.
5. Sixteen Candles
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We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the film which brought us Molly Ringwald. As has been mentioned in various articles centering around Hughes, Ringwald was essentially his muse. She featured in several of his films and ultimately became an 80s star based on his eagerness to cast her constantly. This is a quintessential film focused on a teenager looking to find herself. Aside from the emergence of Ringwald, we also got an early glimpse at another Hughes favorite in Anthony Michael Hall. You may lament about a couple of things that did not age well, though Sixteen Candles remains one of Hughes’s most recognizable works to this day.
4. Home Alone
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Putting Home Alone fourth on this list speaks to how good Hughes was at the apex of his career. He wrote and produced this movie, which made Culkin a massive star. Is it the best Christmas movie of all time? There’s a strong case to be made that it is. After seeing Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern star in dramatic, more serious roles, it was fantastic watching both get to tap into their comedic sides. The constant paying of homage to The Three Stooges with physical gag after gag made this movie utterly perfect. It seems over the top on the surface, though it all blends incredibly well with the story.
3. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
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The ultimate hooky movie for those dreaming of skipping out on school and hanging out with friends. Matthew Broderick lives out the fantasy by orchestrating the perfect day with his cool girlfriend and neurotic best friend. They romp around Chicago — eating at a fancy restaurant, seeing a Cubs game, dancing in a parade, and taking an expensive car for a joy ride — all while his bizarre principal is trying to catch him. The soundtrack, vibes, and action in this film are impeccable. The Charlie Sheen cameo is even better upon watching the film a few times over.
2. The Breakfast Club
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The Breakfast Club should be put in a time capsule and opened up 100 years from now to show the most stereotypical representation of the 80s possible. Many believe this is the best film Hughes made. In writing and directing this film, he utilized a library for 90 percent of the scenes. The dialogue-heavy script delved into the personalities of different types of high school students. While all different stylistically, inherently the group was able to find common ground. Judd Nelson was excellent in this film, as was the late principal Paul Gleason.
1. Planes, Trains, & Automobiles
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Pitting Candy against Steve Martin was a stroke of genius. Candy’s “aw shucks” Midwest persona was pitted against the rigid, irritated Martin. This dichotomy of personalities reached a boiling point when they shared a motel room. This film more so than anything illuminated the immense acting talents of both men. Candy’s monologue in the room remains a triumph in cinema from this era. Martin’s realization that Candy was homeless while sitting on the metro was equally as powerful. Lastly, the final scene where both walk down the street towards Martin’s home on Thanksgiving is a lasting image anyone will think about when conjuring up memories of Planes, Trains, & Automobiles.
