Ben Carter
The 1984 coming-of-age comedy Sixteen Candles helped launch the careers of its young stars, including Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling, and Anthony Michael Hall. The John Hughes-directed film follows 16-year-old Samantha Sam Baker, who deals with her family forgetting her birthday and a crush on a high school senior. The film was a critical and commercial success and has become a retro classic. On the 40th anniversary of its release, let's take a look at where the cast of this beloved film are now.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of release | 1984 |
| Genre | Coming-of-age, teen comedy |
| Director | John Hughes |
| Writer | John Hughes |
| Main cast | Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling, Anthony Michael Hall |
| Plot | A 16-year-old girl's family forgets her birthday amidst the chaos of her sister's wedding |
| Filming locations | Evanston, Skokie, Highland Park, Illinois |
| Soundtrack | Initially a mini album with 5 songs, but the movie featured over 30 songs |
| Release format | Theatrical release, DVD, Blu-ray |
| Impact | Helped launch the careers of Ringwald, Schoeffling, and Hall |
| Fun fact | The Chicago home where Samantha Baker lived in the movie was on the market in 2016 for $1.499 million |
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What You'll Learn
The cast and their careers after the film
The cast of Sixteen Candles, the 1984 coming-of-age teen comedy film, have gone on to have varied careers since the film's debut. The film marked the directorial debut of John Hughes, who wrote the script with Molly Ringwald in mind after coming across her headshot. Ringwald, who played the protagonist, Sam, was just 15 years old at the time. She went on to work consistently in film, television, and theater for the next four decades, starring in iconic '80s films such as The Breakfast Club (1985) and Pretty in Pink (1986), also written and directed by Hughes. Ringwald has since taken on supporting roles that harkened back to her teen stardom, including in Not Another Teen Movie (2001) and The Kissing Booth (2018). She has also appeared in television series, including as Mary Andrews on The CW's Riverdale.
Anthony Michael Hall, who played "Farmer" Ted, a geek with a crush on Sam, was also only 15 during the filming of Sixteen Candles. He went on to star in several other '80s films, including Weird Science (1985), Edward Scissorhands (1990), and Six Degrees of Separation (1993). Hall has since appeared in smaller roles in films such as The Dark Knight and Foxcatcher, and television shows like Entourage, Community, and CSI: Miami. In 2021, he appeared in Halloween Kills, and his next film, Trigger Warning, is set to premiere on Netflix.
Michael Schoeffling, who played Jake Ryan, Sam's love interest, left Hollywood less than a decade after Sixteen Candles. Schoeffling had a handful of other roles in the 1980s, including Vision Quest and Longtime Companion, before retiring from acting after Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken in 1991. He moved to Pennsylvania and opened a woodworking shop.
Gary "Gedde" Watanabe, who played foreign exchange student Long Duk Dong, has reflected on the racially insensitive nature of his character. Watanabe continued to act throughout the 1980s, appearing in Vamp and UHF. He remains a prolific actor, with recent voice roles in Kung Fu Panda 4 and Blue Eye Samurai, and live-action roles in The Sex Lives of College Girls, Call Me Kat, and Magnum P.I.
Paul Dooley, Carlin Glynn, Haviland Morris, Blanche Baker, and John Cusack were also part of the Sixteen Candles cast, rounding out the ensemble of this beloved film.
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The plot and its critical reception
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 as Samantha Baker, a high school sophomore who is turning 16. The film follows Samantha as she navigates a crush on a senior named Jake Ryan (Michael Schoeffling), while also being pursued by a freshman, Ted "The Geek" Farmer (Anthony Michael Hall). The film also explores Samantha's family dynamics, including her sister's upcoming wedding, and her feelings of insecurity about her birthday being forgotten and her body image.
The film received generally positive reviews from critics and was a box office success, grossing $23.6 million against a $6.5 million budget. Ringwald's performance was particularly praised, with Variety calling her "engaging and credible" and Roger Ebert writing that she "provides a perfect centre for the story". Metacritic gave the film a score of 61 out of 100 based on 11 reviews, indicating "generally favourable reviews". Rotten Tomatoes reported that 81% of critics gave the film a positive rating, with an average score of 7.1/10.
However, in recent years, the film has also received criticism for its portrayal of certain characters and themes. Some reviewers have criticised the character of Long Duk Dong, a Chinese exchange student, as a "potentially offensive stereotype" of Asian people. There have also been discussions about the film's treatment of consent and its portrayal of drunken sex and sexual activity between teens. Additionally, the film has been called out for its treatment of gender and race stereotypes, with one reviewer calling it a "hair-raising tour of adolescence filled with casual, very problematic gender and race stereotypes".
Despite these criticisms, Sixteen Candles is retrospectively considered one of Hughes' best films and has left a lasting impact on popular culture. It helped launch the careers of its lead actors and has been referenced and celebrated in various forms since its release.
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The filming locations
The unnamed high school that features prominently in the film is Niles East High School, located at 7701 North Lincoln Avenue in Skokie, Illinois. Both exterior and interior school shots were filmed at this location, including the auto shop scene. However, the school has since been torn down and replaced by Oaktown Community College. Some scenes were also reportedly filmed at one of its sister schools, Niles North High School, also in Skokie. This includes the famous dance scene in the gym.
Other filming locations include Glencoe Union Church on 263 Park Avenue in Glencoe, Illinois, and New Trier High School on 385 Winnetka Avenue in Winnetka, Illinois. The latter was used for exterior school shots in the opening scenes of the movie. The scenes of Anthony Michael Hall driving the Rolls with Jake's girlfriend near the end of the film were shot on Oakton St., in front of Skokie's Village Hall, and further east near Kilbourn.
The film also features locations in Highland Park and Northbrook, Illinois. The address 1407 Waverly Road in Highland Park was used for Jake's house, while 1411 Sycamore Lane in Northbrook was used for Bryce and Cliff's house and Donger's tree.
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The impact of the film
The 1984 film Sixteen Candles, written and directed by John Hughes, has had a significant impact on popular culture and the film industry. It is considered a classic ''80s teen comedy that helped redefine the genre, treating its teenage characters with a new level of poignancy and authenticity. The film's success also launched the careers of several actors, including Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling, and Anthony Michael Hall.
Sixteen Candles was Hughes's directorial debut and the first in a series of films he made about teenage life. The film's honest portrayal of teenage culture in the '80s, including its mix of playful comedy and relatable social dynamics, resonated with audiences and critics alike. It grossed $4,461,520 in its opening weekend in the United States and Canada, ranking second in 1,240 theatres. The film has since developed a major following among Millennials and Gen Z audiences as a seminal teen text.
In addition to its commercial and critical success, Sixteen Candles is notable for its impact on the careers of its cast members. For Ringwald, who played the film's protagonist, Samantha "Sam" Baker, it was her first leading role. Schoeffling, who played Sam's love interest, Jake Ryan, went on to appear in several other films before leaving the industry in 1991. Hall, who played the ""Geek"" Ted Farmer, became known for playing nerdy characters in several other '80s films.
The film also featured early appearances by actors such as John Cusack, Joan Cusack, Jami Gertz, and Gedde Watanabe. Watanabe's portrayal of the Chinese exchange student Long Duk Dong, however, has been criticised as a racist and offensive stereotype. Despite this, the film continues to be celebrated for its impact on pop culture and the teen comedy genre.
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The soundtrack
The 1984 coming-of-age comedy "Sixteen Candles" directed by John Hughes, featured an extensive selection of over 30 songs. The original soundtrack, however, was released as a mini album containing only 5 songs. Pre-2003 releases of the film featured a re-scored soundtrack due to rights issues. The film was then released on DVD in 2003 with the original theatrical soundtrack, albeit remixed in 5.1.
Some of the songs featured in the film include "Happy Birthday" by Altered Images, which plays when Jake and Carolyn are leaving the dance, and "When It Started To Begin" by Nick Heyward, which plays when Joan Cusack's character is trying to drink from the water fountain.
The film's soundtrack has had a lasting impact, with fans still discussing and trying to identify the songs featured in the movie years after its release.
In 2008, a "Flashback Edition" of the film was released on DVD, highlighting the nostalgic value of the film and its soundtrack for many fans.
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Frequently asked questions
The film follows newly 16-year-old Samantha "Sam" Baker, who deals with a seemingly unrequited crush on high school senior Jake Ryan while also being pursued by freshman Ted "The Geek" Farmer. Sam is shocked when her family forgets her birthday because her older sister Ginny is getting married the next day.
The film stars Molly Ringwald as Sam, Michael Schoeffling as Jake Ryan, and Anthony Michael Hall as Ted Farmer.
Molly Ringwald went on to star in The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, and Not Another Teen Movie. Michael Schoeffling quit acting in the early '90s, but first appeared in Mermaids and Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken. Anthony Michael Hall appeared in Weird Science, Edward Scissorhands, and The Dark Knight.
John Hughes wrote and directed the film, which was his directorial debut.
The film was primarily filmed in and around the Chicago North Shore suburban communities of Evanston, Skokie, and Highland Park, Illinois.
