Known for his ability to speak the minds of the people in the 1980s, writer and director John Hughes was an innovator. His films were honest, funny and always family friendly. He died August 6, 2009 of a heart attack at the age of 59. Although he is gone his films will live on forever, both those he wrote as well as the ones he directed. Many current filmmakers such as Wes Anderson credit him as an inspiration for their own careers because of his keen ability to create smart, comical dialogue that is honest and of the time. Here’s a look at his best work.
The Breakfast Club (1985)
The film that started the "brat pack" generation. John found the truth in what goes on in high school and how teenagers think when he wrote and directed this one. The cast was stellar and all went on to great things later but even before that this went down in film history as one of the, if the not the most influential teenage film ever made.
Home Alone (1990)
The classic kid’s movie that inspired many a day dream about what it would be like to be left home alone was written by Mr. John Hughes. His comedy writing and ironic situation laid the foundation for a mega-hit blockbuster. He also wrote the sequel but it wasn’t as good, the original is the classic for sure.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Written and directed by the late Hughes, this one made you want to get up and start dancing. A purely fun movie, there are a ton of lines and movements that are "totally Bueller." What can someone say, besides it’s just so much fun to watch!
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Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
As the writer and director of this Steve Martin and John Candy critical hit John broke out of his teenage niche and proved he could do more. Known to be amongst the best work of both these fine actors the movie was deeply touching and made a statement about coming together despite one’s differences.
Christmas Vacation (1989)
Hands down the best Christmas movie ever made was possible because John wrote the screenplay. Every witty line and wacky character (can we say Randy Quaid) is due to Hughes’ comedic genius. The man knew a thing or two about what was funny and how to make relatable characters and situations that everyone could watch and laugh at because they too had been there.
Sixteen Candles (1984)
The start of his career, Sixteen Candles, established his cool teen filmmaking persona and ability to relate to the youth generation. Written and directed by John, this film also propelled Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall into stardom. The movie brought together the romance, comedy and drama of high school and dealing with popularity. It quickly became a cult classic and one of the most famous high school movies ever made.
Kids films
John Hughes also wrote numerous kids films both under his name and a pen name of Edmond Dantes. These films include the entire sequence of Beethoven films, 101 Dalmations, and Dennis the Menace.
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