All John Hughes Films, Ranked

      Here is the ranking of all 8 John Hughes movies.

      Experiencing John Hughes films guarantees feelings of nostalgia, warmth, and clever humor.

      He is closely associated with ’80s high school comedies, but his contributions extend beyond that.

      What Exactly Are John Hughes Movies?

      Credit: Paramount

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

      He is credited as a screenwriter for all those films (and wrote Beethoven under a pseudonym), although he did not direct them.

      A ranking of Hughes’ writing could certainly be done, but since film is ultimately a director’s art form, this ranking will focus solely on the films he directed.

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

      8 — Curly Sue (1991)

      Credit: Warner Bros.

      Hughes was involved in writing and producing numerous films after Curly Sue, which turned out to be the final one he directed. That’s unfortunate, as it also stands as the weakest John Hughes film.

      Some directors may have a "worst" film that is still watchable — take Paul Thomas Anderson, for instance. However, Curly Sue does not fit that mold. It can be described as “What if Paper Moon was poorly made?” Jim Belushi portrays a con artist responsible for caring for a seven-year-old orphan, the titular Curly Sue.

      The film lacks energy and concludes with an absurdly upbeat ending. On a positive note, Steve Carell made his film debut here.

      7 — Sixteen Candles (1984)

      Credit: Universal

      From Hughes’ last film, we move to his first. It’s not merely that Sixteen Candles hasn’t aged well, which is indeed the case (the less said about Long Duk Dong, the better). You might think, “But Duckie is such a fun character! And Harry Dean Stanton portrays Molly Ringwald’s dad so sweetly!” However, you’re likely conflating this with Pretty in Pink, one of the films Hughes wrote but did not direct, which also features Ringwald as a troubled teen and is directed by Howard Deutch.

      A common critique of John Hughes films, which is occasionally valid, is that he took liberties with how real teenagers behaved. Characters in his films often did not resemble actual teenagers. This can work well for some comedies, including a few of Hughes’ films.

      Yet, when aiming for a slice-of-life portrayal, such differences can be more noticeable. At its low points, Sixteen Candles feels written and directed by someone completely alien to real experiences. Although it marked the start of his career, it now seems lacking in several ways.

      6 — She’s Having a Baby (1988)

      Credit: Paramount

      Six of Hughes’ eight directorial projects have cemented their place in cultural memory. This is precisely why we’re compiling this ranking, and even if we have issues with films like Sixteen Candles, we can’t deny their influence.

      Curly Sue and She’s Having a Baby are the two films that have slipped from the core of the Hughes collection. In the case of Curly Sue, that’s for the best. However, She’s Having a Baby is enjoyable.

      Departing from teenage themes, She’s Having a Baby offers a light-hearted romantic comedy about adults. It’s unique in that it starts with the couple already together, following Jake and Kristy Briggs from their wedding to the arrival of their first child.

      The narrative then explores the highs and lows of married life in a friendly manner, aided by strong performances from Elizabeth McGovern and Kevin Bacon as the Briggses.

      5 — Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

      Credit: Paramount

      Ferris Bueller is portrayed as selfish, arrogant, and smarmy, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off centers around a character who navigates life, seemingly having another fantastic day where everything goes his way.

      Despite this, the movie remains entertaining. Matthew Broderick is such a charm that he nearly compensates for Ferris’ obnoxiousness. It’s easy to watch. And let’s not forget Cameron and Sloane.

      Had Ferris been a more likable character, or if the film didn’t seem to encourage sympathy for him, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off might rank higher, perhaps even at the top. Instead, it excels in spite of Ferris, rather than because of him.

      Like many John Hughes films, it asks viewers to root for sometimes unlikable characters and manages to pull it off.

      4 — Weird Science (1985)

      Credit: Universal

      We are not simply here to criticize older comedies! Weird Science tells the story of two teenagers who create their ideal woman using a computer. Kelly LeBrock’s character