If You Don’t Stop And Look Around Once In A While, You Could Miss It.
When you think of the 1980s, first thoughts are big hair, mixtapes, and awkward teenage moments. And no one captured that better than John Hughes.
Whether he was writing about the chaos of growing up in suburbia or directing iconic scenes of friends and families, Hughes helped give the ‘80s its voice: funny, heartfelt, sarcastic, and sometimes painfully real. Let us help you take a trip down memory lane: every John Hughes film from the 1980s , in the order they hit theaters, complete with quotes and fun facts.
Table of contents
National Lampoon's Vacation
Released in 1983
The Griswold family hits the road on an epic cross-country trip to Wally World, and everything that can go wrong absolutely does. Think: car trouble, cranky relatives, and a dog tied to the bumper. It’s the ultimate chaotic family vacation comedy.
John Hughes' Role:
Writer
Director:
Harold Ramis
Popular Quotes:
- "This is no longer a vacation. It's a quest. A quest for fun."
Fun Facts:
This movie is based on a short story Hughes wrote for the National Lampoon magazine titled "Vacation '58."
The movie launched the long-running Vacation franchise starring Chevy Chase.
Mr. Mom
Released in 1983
When Jack (Michael Keaton) loses his job, he swaps briefcases for diapers while mom heads to work—and he quickly learns the hard way that staying home isn’t exactly a walk in the park. This movie is a fun, light-hearted look at gender roles flipping in '80s suburbia.
John Hughes' Role:
Writer
Director:
Stan Dragoti
Popular Quotes:
- "Yeah, 220, 221... whatever it takes."
Fun Facts:
John Hughes originally intended to direct but stepped back and remained the screenwriter.
Helped Michael Keaton become a leading man in Hollywood.
Sixteen Candles
Released in 1984
Samantha’s sixteenth birthday is completely forgotten by her family, and to make things worse, she’s dealing with school drama, a geek with a crush, and a very dreamy senior she barely knows. The ultimate teen coming-of-age movie that’s awkward in all the right ways.
John Hughes' Role:
Writer & Director
Popular Quotes:
- "Can I borrow your underpants for ten minutes?"
Fun Facts:
Hughes wrote the script over a single weekend.
This was Molly Ringwald's breakout role, and the first in the so-called “Teen Trilogy.” (Sixteen Candles, Breakfast Club, and Pretty in Pink)
The Breakfast Club
Released in 1985
Five high school stereotypes walk into Saturday detention... and kind of walk out friends. It’s a one-room, one-day teen therapy session disguised as a movie. The Breakfast Club features so many iconic quotes and the emotional storylines of the characters still remains so relevant today.
John Hughes' Role:
Writer & Director
Popular Quotes:
- "Don't you forget about me."
- "We're all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it, that's all."
Fun Facts:
- Filmed almost entirely in a single room (a high school library).
- Judd Nelson stayed in character as Bender during the entire shoot—even off-camera.
National Lampoon's European Vacation
Released in 1985
The Griswolds win a European trip and take their signature brand of disaster international. Sightseeing, culture shock, and endless screw-ups make this sequel a chaotic tour through ‘80s Europe with plenty of slapstick comedy for all.
John Hughes' Role:
Writer
Director:
Amy Heckerling
Popular Quotes:
- "Look kids, Big Ben, Parliament!"
Fun Facts:
- Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo returned, but Anthony Michael Hall declined to reprise his role as Rusty.
Weird Science
Released in 1985
Two nerdy teens accidentally use their computer to create a living, breathing dream woman. She’s smart, confident, and totally into helping them with their social skills. A wild mix of teen fantasy, science fiction, and ‘80s absurdity.
John Hughes' Role:
Writer & Director
Popular Quotes:
- "If you want to be a party animal, you have to learn to live in the jungle."
Fun Facts:
- Loosely inspired by the EC Comics story "Made of the Future."
- Kelly LeBrock’s character became a geek fantasy icon of the decade.
Pretty in Pink
Released in 1986
A working class girl, Andy, is asked out by a more popular, rich guy at school, while her best friend pines in the background. While Andy begins to have real feelings for Blane she struggles with the difficulties of dating someone from a different social group. Also: Duckie. Enough said.
John Hughes' Role:
Writer
Director:
Howard Deutch
Popular Quotes:
- "You know what an older woman’s going to do for me?
She's going to ruin my reputation."
Fun Facts:
Original ending had Andie (Molly Ringwald) ending up with Duckie, but test audiences hated it.
The title came from a song by The Psychedelic Furs, who re-recorded it for the film.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Released in 1986
Ferris fakes sick and pulls off the greatest skip day in teen movie history, dragging his best friend and girlfriend through a whirlwind day of museums, parades, and near-death encounters with the school principal. This movie is charmingly rebellious with so many unforgettable moments.
John Hughes' Role:
Writer & Director
Popular Quotes:
- "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
Fun Facts:
- Hughes wrote the script in just six days.
- Ferris's bedroom was filled with Hughes’s personal items to make it feel real.
Some Kind of Wonderful
Released in 1987
A blue-collar teen, Keith, tries to win over the popular girl, Amanda, totally missing the fact that his tomboy best friend, Watts, is clearly in love with him. It’s so sweet, so angsty, and basically Pretty in Pink with the genders swapped (and a better ending).
John Hughes' Role:
Writer
Director:
Howard Deutch
Popular Quotes:
-
"You look good wearing my future."
Fun Facts:
- Howard Deutch and Lea Thompson fell in loves while filming and have been married since 1889. They are also the parents of of actresses Madelyn Deutch and Zoey Deutch.
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
Released in 1987
A stressed-out businessman and a chatty shower curtain ring salesman get stuck traveling together during Thanksgiving. Everything goes hilariously wrong—and somewhere in between the bickering and broken-down cars, they form an unexpected friendship.
John Hughes' Role:
Writer & Director
Popular Quotes:
- "Those aren't pillows!"
Fun Facts:
- The film was originally over 3 hours long! The final version ended up being about 90 minutes.
- One of Hughes’s few films focusing on adults, starring Steve Martin and John Candy.
She's Having a Baby
Released in 1988
Jake, a newly married guy starts spiraling as real life kicks in - mortgages, jobs, babies - and wonders if he’s really cut out for all that adulthood entails. It’s a more grown-up Hughes film, but still full of heart, confusion, and one iconic childbirth fantasy sequence.
John Hughes' Role:
Writer & Director
Popular Quotes:
- "I don't know what I'm doing. I just want it to be good."
Fun Facts:
Loosely based on Hughes’s own experiences with marriage and fatherhood.
Includes a charming montage of celebrities suggesting baby names at the end credits.
The Great Outdoors
Released in 1988
A peaceful family getaway in the woods turns into complete chaos when loudmouth relatives crash the party. Cue bear attacks, exploding grills, and one giant steak. Essentially John Candy vs. nature (and Dan Aykroyd).
John Hughes' Role:
Writer
Director:
Howard Deutch
Popular Quotes:
- "Big bear... chase... me!"
Fun Facts:
One of many John Candy collaborations with Hughes.
Dan Aykroyd and Candy’s comedic chemistry drives the film.
Uncle Buck
Released in 1989
When the parents are called away, in comes Uncle Buck—a cigar-chomping, pancake-flipping wildcard with a big heart and zero filters. He’s not exactly great with kids… but somehow, it works. John Candy at his lovable best.
John Hughes' Role:
Writer & Director
Popular Quotes:
- "Here's a quarter. Go downtown and have a rat gnaw that thing off your face!"
Fun Facts:
The movie inspired the casting of Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone (also written by Hughes).
John Candy’s performance made Uncle Buck a fan favorite.