Ranking All 8 John Hughes Films from Least to Most Impressive

      As Ferris Bueller’s Day Off marks its 40th anniversary this month, here's a ranking of all 8 films by John Hughes.

      Viewing John Hughes films almost guarantees a sense of nostalgia, warmth, and clever humor.

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

      What Are John Hughes Movies?

      Credit: Paramount

      You might recognize Hughes, who passed away in 2009 at 59, from Home Alone, Pretty in Pink, or Disney’s ‘90s remakes of 101 Dalmatians and Flubber.

      Hughes is credited as a screenwriter for all those movies (and wrote Beethoven under a pseudonym), but he didn’t direct them.

      While one could easily rank his writing work, film is typically viewed as a director’s medium. Therefore, this list exclusively ranks the films he directed.

      Here are all eight movies directed by John Hughes, ordered 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 was the last movie he directed. Unfortunately, it also stands as the weakest entry in Hughes’ filmography.

      Some directors have a “worst” film that is still passable — think Paul Thomas Anderson, for instance. However, Curly Sue does not fit that category. It’s essentially "What if Paper Moon was poorly executed?" Jim Belushi portrays a con artist who takes care of a seven-year-old orphan, named Curly Sue.

      The film lacks energy and concludes with a clichéd happy ending. Nonetheless, Steve Carell made his film debut in it.

      7 — Sixteen Candles (1984)

      Credit: Universal

      Moving from Hughes’ last film to his debut, Sixteen Candles hasn’t aged particularly well, though that is not the sole issue. (We’ll leave Long Duk Dong aside.) You might argue, “But Duckie is a fantastic character! And Harry Dean Stanton is so charming as Molly Ringwald’s father!”

      Ah, but you are probably mixing this up with Pretty in Pink, a film written by Hughes but directed by Howard Deutch, which features Ringwald as a conflicted teenager.

      A common critique of John Hughes films is that he sometimes took liberties with teenage behavior. Characters rarely reflected the reality of real-life teenagers. For certain comedies, including some of Hughes’ works, that approach can be effective.

      However, when aiming for slice-of-life storytelling, this discrepancy can be more evident. At its worst, Sixteen Candles feels as though it was crafted by an outsider. While it launched his career, it now comes across as significantly lacking.

      6 — She’s Having a Baby (1988)

      Credit: Paramount

      Six out of Hughes’ eight directorial works have made a lasting cultural impact. This is why we are compiling this ranking, and despite some disagreements with films like Sixteen Candles, we cannot dispute their influence.

      Both Curly Sue and She’s Having a Baby have faded from the Hughes canon. While Curly Sue deserves that fate, She’s Having a Baby still provides an enjoyable experience.

      Departing from teen films, She’s Having a Baby is a light-hearted romantic comedy centered on adults. Uniquely, it starts with the couple already together, chronicling Jake and Kristy Briggs from their wedding through to the birth of their first child.

      The film explores the highs and lows of married life endearingly, aided by the performances of Elizabeth McGovern and Kevin Bacon.

      5 — Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

      Credit: Paramount

      Ferris Bueller is self-centered, arrogant, and smarmy, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off revolves around a guy who glides through life enjoying yet another perfect day where everything seems to cater to his whims.

      The film remains a great deal of fun. Matthew Broderick is so charming that he nearly makes up for Ferris’s obnoxiousness. It’s a breeze to watch, especially with Cameron and Sloane in the mix.

      If Ferris were a more relatable character, or if the film didn’t encourage viewers to like him, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off might rank higher — perhaps at the top. Instead, it achieves its success in spite of Ferris, rather than because of him.

      Much like other Hughes films, it asks audiences to root for occasionally unlikable characters, and it manages to do so effectively.

      If you’re a fan of Ferris Bueller, you might also enjoy the excellent new book Ferris Bueller… You’re My Hero by Jason Klamm, which includes insights into the making of the parade scene.

      4 — Weird Science (1985)

      Credit: Universal

      We’re not just here to critique older comedies! Weird Science follows two teenagers who create a dream woman via a computer. Lisa, played by