What a question, huh? It’s a tough one. Although I was technically a ’90s teen and not an ’80s one, I find that the themes of John Hughes movies are pretty timeless. I just watched Pretty in Pink on Monday and it still hit me right in that bit in my chest that feels things. And his comedies are never not funny. I still watch Planes, Trains and Automobiles every November, and Home Alone every Christmas. His films make up such a part of my life (apparently in between Chasing Amy and Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob decide to head to Shermer, Illinois, where a lot of the John Hughes movies are set. They’re devastated when they find out it’s not real), and I fully intend to force them upon my own children one day.
I asked a friend if Pretty in Pink was her favourite John Hughes, and she said no, it was The Breakfast Club. It got me thinking – The Breakfast Club is also my favourite, but what order would they all be in if I had to rank them?
THIS IS WHAT I DO WITH MY TIME, PEOPLE. I put my favourite John Hughes movies in numerical order.
Feel free to tell me what’s your favourite – if you can choose! I’m going to stick to a top 10.
1. The Breakfast Club
2. Sixteen Candles
3. Home Alone
4. Uncle Buck
5. Pretty in Pink
6. Planes, Trains and Automobiles
7. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
8. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
9. Weird Science
10. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
What do you think – what would you shuffle?
Hugzilla says
August 21, 2014 at 7:13 amBack in the dark ages I wrote the best-selling (30 copies) zine called “I Wanna Be an 80’s Teen” and reviewed a whole bunch of my favourite 80’s movies, so this is a subject very close to my heart. I would just like to say that I am utterly aghast that Ferris Bueller’s Day Off not only ranks below Home Alone in this list, but that it also ranks below Home Alone 2. For shame. Random fact: I still massive crush on Jon Cryer in Pretty in Pink.
Veggie Mama says
August 21, 2014 at 10:19 amOk I knew this was going to happen! Ferris IS great. But Home Alone has lots more nostalgic memories for me – and Tim Curry was OUTSTANDING in HA2. I can’t get into Jon Cryer because I’m still cut Anthony Michael Hall didn’t do the Duckie Dale part for fear of being typecast, and nobody is better than Anthony Michael Hall. Ever.
Kirralee @ Escape With Kids says
August 21, 2014 at 10:58 amNooooo! Jon cryer in the record shop lip-synching in pretty in pink. How can anyone beat that? He is ADORABLE!!
What am I missing with Anthony Michael hall? Is weird science his movie? I don’t think I’ve seen it. Actually although I was an 80s teen I haven’t seen any of the home alone movies either. What is wrong with me?
Veggie Mama says
August 22, 2014 at 10:48 amUmmm not that adorable! AMH was in The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, and Weird Science. He was HILARIOUS.
Liz Poke says
August 21, 2014 at 8:00 amFerris Bueller would be at the top of my list! It’s been years since I’ve watched any of the other movies, might have to have a marathon one weekend to refresh and decide!
Veggie Mama says
August 21, 2014 at 10:18 amI fully endorse that decision!
Reannon @shewhorambles says
August 21, 2014 at 9:19 amFerris Beuller is my number 1with Uncle Buck a very close second ( as a teen I always said I’d call my daughter Thea). I loved Weird Science, the Breakfast Club & my primary school BFF’s sister used to watch Pretty in Pink all the time so I’ve seen that HEAPS! Tim loves all the Griswald movies so they’ve become faves too. My kids went through a stage of watching all the Home Alone movies but the first is the best in my opinion.
But let’s talk about Dogma! I looooooove that movie. Can you believe Jay & Silent Bob have a show on A&E? It’s weird seeing them be normal. Well semi normal.
Veggie Mama says
August 21, 2014 at 10:17 amYES. Let’s talk about all things View Askewniverse!
Do you know I still kick myself that I was in Jersey and I never went to the Quick Stop.
Reannon @shewhorambles says
August 21, 2014 at 11:14 amWhy didn’t you go!!!
Veggie Mama says
August 22, 2014 at 10:47 amBecause we were only there to get on a plane so I didn’t have much time to leave the airport and come back 🙁
Tasha Batsford says
August 21, 2014 at 10:17 amI hate you for making me choose.
Ferris Bueller or The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller or The Breakfast Club,
Ferris Bueller … no wait
Veggie Mama says
August 21, 2014 at 10:19 amit’s tough, right? It’s like comparing apples and oranges.
Tasha Batsford says
August 21, 2014 at 10:20 amNo, it’s like picking which of my children is my favourite 😉
Veggie Mama says
August 21, 2014 at 11:36 amhaha I feel ya. It’s hard.
Rachel @ Mother Far from Home says
August 21, 2014 at 10:47 amI’m just going to be childish and lame and true to myself and say it…. HOME ALONE
Veggie Mama says
August 21, 2014 at 10:47 am10 points from me!
Jo says
August 21, 2014 at 11:06 amSixteen Candles is my ultimate! It was playing as me and my bridesmaids got ready. Just by chance “here comes the bride” played as I left for the ceremony! Ha! Love every JH movie, got me thru my teen angst years. My 2 yr old does a good Home Alone faceslap/scream
Veggie Mama says
August 21, 2014 at 11:09 amI love that movie so much. For some reason I call my kids “hey sexy girrrlfriend” like Long Duc Dong does when he’s drunk haha
Jo says
August 21, 2014 at 3:33 pmK-9 colone!! Haha! Me and my girlfriends say “I can name 20 guys, that would kill to love me”
Rosierockets says
August 21, 2014 at 12:01 pmDamn you Stacey! This is the hardest decision I’ll ever have to make on this Thursday (aside from what’s for dinner!) I just watch The Breakfast Club last night and I still love it so much even though at times it doesn’t make sense! Here’s my list – I could only do 5 before my brain exploded:
1. The Breakfast Club
2. Pretty in Pink (even though that dress she makes for the prom is the UGLIEST thing EVER!)
3. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
4. Weird Science
5. NL European Vacation
Veggie Mama says
August 22, 2014 at 10:47 amHaha no Sixteen Candles? I love that shit.
Renee at Mummy, Wife, Me says
August 21, 2014 at 12:16 pmOooh that is a seriously tough question. I’m going to have to go ahead and say:
1. Ferris Bueller
2. The Breakfast Club
3. Pretty in Pink
4. Home Alone
5. Uncle Buck. (Aw man, I want to watch that right now) ….
Veggie Mama says
August 25, 2014 at 11:53 amFerris is winning!
MotherDownUnder says
August 21, 2014 at 7:12 pm1. The Breakfast Club.
I can recite nearly all of it…why valuable brain space is filled up with movie dialogue I don’t know!
2. Ferris Bueller’s
Hilarious to me now that the actors are supposed to look like they are in high school…and yet when I first saw it I was convinced I was going to look like that in high school.
3. Christmas Vacation
A classic! Nearly my favourite Christmas movie…nothing tops A Christmas Story.
Veggie Mama says
August 25, 2014 at 11:53 amI think we were all convinced we were going to look like that! Then most of us forgot we weren’t American.
Lilybett and Boy says
August 21, 2014 at 9:54 pmI always loved that Kevin Smith’s favourite John Hughes flick was ‘She’s Having My Baby’. Did you see the 25 year celebration with Smith and the Breakfast Club folks, remembering John Hughes?
Oh my god. I think I’m geeking out on several levels here. Help me.
Mine would be:
1. Breakfast Club
2. Sixteen Candles (the undie trading in this makes me snort)
3. Ferris Bueller
4. Uncle Buck
5. Planes, Trains and Automobiles
6. Pretty in Pink
7. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
8. Some Kind of Wonderful
9. She’s Having a Baby
10. The Great Outdoors.
I think some of this list is my teen preference and others are shaded by memories of my Dad’s laughter as he pissed himself watching John Candy do just about anything.
Veggie Mama says
August 25, 2014 at 11:53 amAmen, John Candy can do no wrong! What a legend.
sammie@theannoyedthyroid.com says
August 23, 2014 at 3:13 pmWell, I’ve always loved Pretty in Pink, especially because it has one of my all time favourite soundtracks. But I’m also a sucker for Ferris. I watched a documentary about how Hughes made the movie. It was amazing. We’re going to Chicago in a couple of weeks, so naturally we’re going to totally follow in Ferris’ footsteps and re-enact his day off on our week off!
Veggie Mama says
August 25, 2014 at 11:52 amOh make sure you take lots of pictures! and say hi to the Sausage King of Chicago for me 😉
Desiree Fawn says
August 24, 2014 at 1:38 amOh gosh, too many goodies! Now I want to plan a movie marathon 😉
Veggie Mama says
August 25, 2014 at 11:52 amIt’s hard, huh!
sara says
October 25, 2014 at 2:19 amOk seriously..i just found your blog this morning..and first of all, the fact that you reference your children as “biggie” and “smalls”, is truly amazing and makes me believe we were friends in a past life.. also “The Breakfast Club” is hands down number one! I even ditched school and purposely got caught back in ’97 thinking Saturday school would be SO awesome..well, it fricken’ sucked!, never the less, best movie of the 80’s for me. Looking forward to your posts!!
jeanette jansons says
September 4, 2015 at 10:26 pm#1 Ferris Bueller (and MY teenage kids insisted we buy it, and we watched it together, and yes it’s as great as I remembered) Breakfast Club, Sixteen candles. And to my shame the only other of your list I have watched is Pretty in pink. (and I remember nothing of it) I have some remedial John Hughes watching to do in the school holidays perhaps. Wonder if any of them are on Netflix?
Veggie Mama says
September 7, 2015 at 12:01 pmThey’re not in Australia, but they totally should be! I watched Pretty in Pink again not long ago and it’s still so awesome. I think it’s definitely time for a Sixteen Candles re-watch. Anthony Michael Hall at his best!