John Hughes flicks defined a generation

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Writer and director John Hughes died on Thursday at the age of 59, leaving behind an amazing catalogue of films. In the 80s, Hughes made a name for himself with coming-of-age flicks, before moving on to family films such as the “Beethoven” and “Home Alone” series through the 90s and early 00s. It was his early work with the Brat Pack though that made stars and helped countless American teenagers through their awkward years– and the message to be yourself in Hughes’s high school movies lives on today. Here, The Take Three counts down this Hollywood talent’s greatest achievements– from number ten, down to our very favorite John Hughes movie. 

10. Sixteen Candles (1984) (written and directed) Lusting after your very own Jake Ryan become okay with this classic– so long as you don’t forget about the lovable geeks along the way too.
9. Pretty in Pink (1986) (written) This movie may mark the very last time we liked Jon Cryer– and James Spader– and Molly Ringwald. But hey– it was 1986, the Mets were amazing and “Pretty in Pink” was worth the watch. 
8. Home Alone (1990) (written) It wasn’t the first time we saw Macaulay Culkin in a John Hughes movie, but it certainly is the most iconic movie of the actor’s career so far, and also a family favorite every Christmas. 

7. Christmas Vacation (1989) (written) Speaking of Christmas favorites, this third movie in Hughes’s famous chronicling of the Griswold family may have already been onto its third set of actors playing kids Audrey and Rusty, but was not yet short on laughs. (That doesn’t happen til 1997′s “Vegas Vacation”– and Hughes was out of it by then.)
6. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) (written and directed) Ah, the go-to film for all high school seniors looking to perfect the game of playing hooky. Not a bad advertisement for the supreme awesomeness of Ben Stine either– Clear Eyes spokesperson, presidential speechwriter and super-smart-guy-who-gives-away-his-own-cash extraordinaire.  
5. Weird Science (1985) (written and directed) Kelly LeBrock as super dream woman Lisa. Need we say more?
4. The Breakfast Club (1985) (written and directed) Go ahead and pretend you hate “The Breakfast Club”– claim it’s a cliche if you’d like. But the truth is that with this detention classic, Hughes gave high schoolers– brains, athletes, basket cases, princesses and criminals alike– a place to fit in for generations to come. 
3. Uncle Buck (1989) (written and directed) John Candy is absolutely hilarious as the lovable uncle-slash-slob babysitter, and Macaulay Culkin is beyond adorable. Laughs abound. Netflix this one immediately if you’ve never seen it. 
2. Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987) (written and directed) Although it’s not your typical Hughes angsty/high school movie, Steve Martin and John Candy are pure comedic genius in this getting home for the holidays classic. Oh and it’s also got Kevin Bacon– in case you’re playing Six Degrees. 
1. European Vacation (1985) (written) Two years after Hughes sent the Griswold family to Walley World (based on his own disastrous family trip to Disneyland as a kid), Chevy Chase comes back to take everyone to England, France, Germany and Italy. We will never get tired of the “Hey look kids! There’s Big Ben!” line, and so despite being a sequel, this lands “European Vacation” on the top of our John Hughes favorites. 

Don’t like our rankings? Vote for your favorite John Hughes movie now and show us the light.