Ranking All John Hughes Films

      Here are all 8 John Hughes films ranked.

      Viewing John Hughes movies often guarantees a dose of nostalgia, warmth, and clever humor.

      He’s known for ’80s high school comedies — but his contributions extend far beyond that.

      What Are John Hughes Movies?

      Credit: Paramount Pictures

      You might recall Hughes, who passed away in 2009 at the age of 59, from Home Alone, or Pretty in Pink, or Disney’s ’90s adaptations of 101 Dalmatians and Flubber.

      Hughes is a credited screenwriter for all these films (and even penned Beethoven under a different name), yet he didn’t direct them.

      While one could create an effective ranking of Hughes’ writing, it’s often said that film is primarily a director’s medium. Therefore, this ranking of John Hughes films will focus only on those he directed.

      Here are all eight movies directed by John Hughes, ranked from least to most favorable.

      8 — Curly Sue (1991)

      Credit: Warner Bros.

      Hughes wrote, co-wrote, and produced several films after Curly Sue, but it marked his final directorial effort. Unfortunately, it also stands as his weakest film.

      Some directors may have a “worst” film that is still fairly decent — like Paul Thomas Anderson, for example. However, Curly Sue does not fall into that category. It’s essentially “What if Paper Moon was bad?” Jim Belushi portrays a con artist caring for a seven-year-old orphan, the eponymous Curly Sue.

      The film is lifeless and concludes with an absurdly happy ending. However, Steve Carell makes his film debut in it.

      7 — Sixteen Candles (1984)

      Credit: Universal

      Moving from Hughes’ last film to his first. It's not just that Sixteen Candles hasn't stood the test of time, although that is indeed the case. (Best to avoid discussing Long Duk Dong.) You might be thinking, “But Duckie is such a fun character! And Harry Dean Stanton is so sweet as Molly Ringwald’s dad!” Ah, you're confusing it with Pretty in Pink, another Hughes film he wrote but didn’t direct — which also features Ringwald as a troubled teenager, directed by Howard Deutch.

      One common critique aimed at John Hughes’s films, which can sometimes hold weight, is that he took liberties with the portrayal of real teenagers. Characters in his films often behave unlike real-life individuals. This works better in some comedies, including certain Hughes films.

      However, when aiming for a slice-of-life style, this can be more jarring. At its weakest, Sixteen Candles feels like it was created by someone unfamiliar with youth culture. While it launched his career, it seems rather lacking in hindsight.

      6 — She’s Having a Baby (1988)

      Credit: Paramount

      Six of Hughes’ eight directorial projects have firmly established themselves in the cultural landscape. There’s a reason for this ranking; even if there are concerns about films like Sixteen Candles, we can't dismiss their cultural significance.

      Curly Sue and She’s Having a Baby are the two that have somewhat fallen out of the Hughes repertoire. While that’s for the better regarding Curly Sue, She’s Having a Baby remains an enjoyable film.

      Shifting from teen-centric stories, She’s Having a Baby is a lighthearted romantic comedy aimed at adults. Uniquely, it starts with the couple already together, following Jake and Kristy Briggs from their wedding to the birth of their first child.

      The film tracks the highs and lows of married life amiably, aided by the performances of Elizabeth McGovern and Kevin Bacon as the Briggses.

      5 — Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

      Credit: Paramount

      Ferris Bueller is self-centered, smug, and charming, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off centers on a guy who glides through life enjoying yet another amazing day in which everything seems to work in his favor.

      The movie is still quite entertaining. Matthew Broderick brings such joy that he nearly (we emphasize nearly) compensates for how annoying Ferris can be. It’s easy to watch. And we especially like Cameron and Sloane.

      If Ferris were more likable, or if the movie didn't encourage viewers to cheer for him, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off would rank much higher, possibly at the very top. Instead, it succeeds despite Ferris, not because of him.

      Like many John Hughes films, it asks us to root for sometimes unlikable characters, and it manages that well.

      4 — Weird Science (1985)

      Credit: Universal

      We're not here just to criticize older comedies! Weird Science features two teenagers who create their dream woman through a computer