The Films That Made us, Us
What comes to your head when you think of high school? Misery? Puberty? Homework? Did anyone think of Mr. John Hughes? John Hughes was one of the most influential coming of age filmmakers of his time. Whether your parents forced to make you watch his movies growing up or you became fascinated with that façade of growing up, Hughes is everywhere.
National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)
Hughes first big movie was National Lampoon’s Vacation that follows the Grisworld family’s cross-country road trip to the Walley World theme park. Sound familiar? It should! There have been several sequels such as National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and Vacation. The movie Vacation came out in 2015, six years after Hughes had passed. The movie is centered around the grown up Grisworld family travelling back to Walley World so Rusty Grisworld can show his sons what he did as a family growing up. Both films did pretty well in the box office as well as it continuously is referenced in pop culture.
Sixteen Candles (1984)
Pretty Pink starring the famous Molly Ringwald as Samantha follows her around on her sixteenth birthday as it turns from sweet to sour. This movie is iconic in the way that everyone knows who the stud Jake is that Samantha falls in love with and the iconic kiss scene over the birthday cake. This is also the first film that John Hughes cast both Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall who will go on to star in several more of Hughes films throughout the eighties’
The Breakfast Club (1985)
This is one of Hughes most popular movie. Many different tv shows and movies spoof this movie even today. Growing up watching Victorious on Nickelodeon they did a whole episode based around The Breakfast Club. The Breakfast Club again stars both Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall. The movie is centered around five very different high school students that meet in a Saturday school and discover they have a lot more in common then they thought. This movie shows five very different people and how they can come together despite their differences.
Pretty in Pink (1986)
Although this is one of my favorite films by Hughes it didn’t do as well as his earlier films. This movie of course starring Molly Ringwald as Andie and John Cryer as Duckie. This film centers around Andie, a poor girl, who must choose between dating her childhood best friend, Duckie, or a rich playboy, Jack. Ultimately the end of the movie was questionable which may add to why it isn’t as popular, though you can see lots of aesthetics and fashion from that movie being tossed around in 2021.
Home Alone (1990)
“Guys, I’m eating junk and watching rubbish! You better come out and stop me! Home Alone follows Kevin McCallister, played by Macaulay Culkin, as he must defend his home from robbers after his family accidently left him at home while travelling to Paris. This movie is still widely quoted and around Christmas time you can even find funny décor from the film in stores. This movie is a cult classic and even got two sequels and several video games after its release in the 90’s.
The man behind all of our favorite coming of age films Mr. John Hughes.
