Chloe Adams
Sixteen Candles is a 1984 American coming-of-age comedy film written and directed by John Hughes in his directorial debut. It stars Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling, and Anthony Michael Hall. The film follows the story of a 16-year-old girl, Samantha Baker (Ringwald), who deals with a crush on a high school senior while also being pursued by a freshman. Sixteen Candles was the first in a string of films by Hughes that centered on teenage life, including The Breakfast Club, released in 1985, and Pretty in Pink, released in 1986.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Release Date | Sixteen Candles: 1984; The Breakfast Club: 1985 |
| Director | John Hughes |
| Writer | John Hughes |
| Budget | Sixteen Candles: $6.5 million |
| Box Office Collection | Sixteen Candles: $23,686,027 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Rating | Sixteen Candles: 81% |
| Metacritic Score | Sixteen Candles: 61 |
| Cast | Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling, Anthony Michael Hall, Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson |
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What You'll Learn
Release dates
The John Hughes-directed film Sixteen Candles was released in 1984, starring Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling, and Anthony Michael Hall. It was Hughes's directorial debut, and the first in a string of films he would direct, focusing on teenage life. The film Sixteen Candles was released on May 4, 1984, in the United States.
The Breakfast Club, another film by Hughes, was released after Sixteen Candles, in 1985. The film centres on five clichéd characters, showing what they have in common and what makes them tick. It stars Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, and Judd Nelson, and is considered a classic.
Sixteen Candles follows the story of newly 16-year-old Samantha Baker (Ringwald), who deals with a crush on high school senior Jake Ryan (Schoeffling) while also being pursued by freshman Ted "The Geek" Farmer (Hall). The film blends screwball imagination with domestic comedy and intimate character interplay. It received positive reviews, with critics praising Ringwald's performance and the film's compassionate portrayal of its characters.
Hughes began developing Sixteen Candles in 1982 and signed a three-picture deal with Universal Pictures, allowing him to choose the cast and begin filming in July 1983. The film grossed $23,686,027 against a budget of $6.5 million and received positive reviews from critics, with an 81% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 61 on Metacritic, indicating "generally favourable reviews".
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Plot
Sixteen Candles is a 1984 American coming-of-age teen comedy film written and directed by John Hughes in his directorial debut. It stars Molly Ringwald as Samantha Baker, a 16-year-old girl who deals with a seemingly unrequited crush on high school senior Jake Ryan (Michael Schoeffling) while also being pursued by freshman Ted “The Geek” Farmer (Anthony Michael Hall).
The film follows Samantha as she navigates the complexities of teenage life, including crushes, social dynamics, and the challenges of growing up. It explores the theme of wish fulfillment, the female gaze, and the celebration and humiliation of what it means to be a teenage girl in 1980s America. The film is noted for its comedic elements, with funnier jokes and more heartfelt moments compared to other films of its time. It also received praise for its supporting cast, which included Michael Schoeffling and Anthony Michael Hall.
Sixteen Candles was well-received by critics, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting an 81% positive rating based on 43 reviews. The film was praised for its compassionate portrayal of its characters and their hang-ups, with Ringwald's performance particularly acclaimed for being "engaging and credible" and providing "a perfect centre for the story". However, the film has also been criticised for its problematic elements, including sexism and racism, which reflect the societal norms of the time.
Following the success of Sixteen Candles, Hughes went on to direct The Breakfast Club in 1985, continuing his exploration of teenage life and the issues facing young adults. The Breakfast Club takes a more dramatic approach, humanizing the teenage experience and featuring a stellar cast, including Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, and Judd Nelson. The film follows five high school students from different cliques who spend a Saturday together in detention and explores their commonalities and individual struggles.
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Critical reception
Sixteen Candles, written and directed by John Hughes, was released in 1984. It was followed by The Breakfast Club in 1985. The former received generally positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 81% based on 43 reviews, with an average rating of 7.1/10. Metacritic gave the film a score of 61 based on 11 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune gave the film three and a half stars out of four, calling it "the best teenage comedy since last year's Risky Business". He added that the film would "offer comfort to young girls and boys who feel awkward". Pauline Kael wrote in The New Yorker that Hughes had "a knack for making you like the high-school age characters better each time you hear them talk".
Ringwald's performance was especially praised. Variety called her "engaging and credible", while Roger Ebert wrote that she "provides a perfect centre for the story" in "a sweet and funny movie". Gary Arnold of The Washington Post wrote that Ringwald "delightfully embodied" the character of Samantha, adding that the film blends "an idiosyncratic screwball imagination with a flair for updated domestic comedy".
However, some critics pointed out the film's problematic elements. A 1984 review in The New York Times criticised the character of Long Duk Dong for being "unfunny" and a "potentially offensive stereotype" of Asian people. Alison MacAdam of NPR wrote in 2008 that the character "represents one of the most offensive Asian stereotypes Hollywood ever gave America".
Retrospectively, Sixteen Candles is considered one of Hughes' best films. However, some critics argue that it is overshadowed by The Breakfast Club, which is considered a classic. Despite this, others argue that Sixteen Candles is a more accurate portrayal of teenage life and that it holds up better over time.
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Themes
The 1984 film Sixteen Candles explores the theme of the teenage experience, with a focus on female wish fulfillment, the female gaze, and the celebration and humiliation of what it means to be a teenage girl in 1980s America. The film's protagonist, Samantha Baker (played by Molly Ringwald), deals with a crush on a high school senior while also being pursued by a freshman. The film blends screwball imagination with a flair for updated domestic comedy and scenes of intimate, quirky, and affectionate character interplay.
Sixteen Candles has been praised for its portrayal of the female experience, with Ringwald's performance particularly acclaimed. The film has been called "the best teenage comedy" and "a sweet and funny movie". However, it has also been criticized for its portrayal of Long Duk Dong, an Asian character, as a "potentially offensive stereotype".
The Breakfast Club, released in 1985, also explores the theme of the teenage experience, but with a more dramatic tone. The film humanizes the challenges of growing up, having a crush, and navigating the social structure of high school. It starts with five cliché characters and then reveals their commonalities and differences. The film has been called a classic but also "incredibly flawed", with criticism aimed at its portrayal of adults and parents, and its treatment of female characters.
Like Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club has been praised for its portrayal of the female experience, with Ringwald's performance again receiving acclaim. However, the film has also been criticized for its problematic elements, including sexism and the "you have to change to get the guy" narrative.
Both films are part of John Hughes' high school trilogy, which also includes Weird Science. These films have become classics, with Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club particularly well-loved for their portrayal of the teenage experience and their impact on popular culture.
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Cast
The 1984 film Sixteen Candles stars Molly Ringwald as 16-year-old Samantha Baker, alongside Michael Schoeffling as high school senior Jake Ryan, and Anthony Michael Hall as freshman Ted “The Geek” Farmer. The film also features performances by Paul Dooley, Gedde Watanabe, and John and Joan Cusack.
Michael Schoeffling was chosen for the male lead role of Jake Ryan, beating out Viggo Mortensen. Schoeffling's character is portrayed as a "great guy", but one review notes that he passes his girlfriend off to Anthony Michael Hall's character like he was "loaning him a cassette".
Molly Ringwald's performance as Samantha Baker was especially praised. Variety called her "engaging and credible", Roger Ebert wrote that she "provides a perfect centre for the story", and Gary Arnold of The Washington Post said she "delightfully embodied" the role of the "engaging teenage heroine".
Ringwald's performance in Sixteen Candles was so impressive that director John Hughes cast her in his next film, The Breakfast Club. In fact, Ringwald's headshot inspired Hughes to write The Breakfast Club in a single weekend, with her in mind for the lead role.
The Breakfast Club, which came out a year after Sixteen Candles, starred Ringwald alongside Emilio Estevez and Judd Nelson, who played her love interest, Bender. Ally Sheedy, who had auditioned for the role of Sam in Sixteen Candles, was cast in The Breakfast Club as well.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Sixteen Candles came out in 1984, and The Breakfast Club was released in 1985.
John Hughes directed Sixteen Candles.
Sixteen Candles stars Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling, and Anthony Michael Hall.
Sixteen Candles follows newly 16-year-old Samantha Baker (Ringwald), who deals with a crush on high school senior Jake Ryan (Schoeffling) while also being pursued by freshman Ted “The Geek” Farmer (Hall).
Yes, Sixteen Candles received positive reviews from critics. Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune gave it three and a half stars out of four, praising its ability to draw laughs and offer comfort to young audiences.
