Three Best Of - John Hughes

Few filmmakers have been as associated with a decade as John Hughes has with the 1980's. He has been a screenwriter (with almost forty films to his credit), a producer, a director, a soundtrack writer, and even an actor in three movies. His teenage comedy/dramas are among some of the most remembered movies of the time. Since Hughes only directed eight movies, I will take into account his writing/producing credits as well. On that note, without further adieu, the three best movies of John Hughes:

1 - The Breakfast Club (1985) "Breakfast Club", the nickname for Saturday morning detention, was Hughes' first movie as a producer. It was his second turn as a director, and his sixth screenwriting credit. The story of five teenagers at a suburban Chicago high school from five completely different cliques is still considered one of the best teen movies ever. There are lots of laughs for sure (mostly at the expense of Principal Vernon, played brilliantly by the late Paul Gleason), but there are also some very serious moments as well.

2 - Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987) Take two comic geniuses (Steve Martin and John Candy), place them in a never-ending series of disasters, and watch the sparks fly! When a stuffy businessman attempts to get from New York to Chicago in time for Thanksgiving dinner, he is aided and thwarted simultaneously by a boorish shower curtain ring salesman. The pair are forced to work together, despite a continuous string of misadventures. Martin's "f-bomb" tirade to the car rental clerk, and Candy's declaration of "We'd have more luck playing pick-up sticks with our butt cheeks" are just two of the hilarious moments.

3 - Ferris Buellar's Day Off (1986) While "Home Alone" is arguably Hughes' biggest-grossing movie (he produced and wrote the screenplay for it), "Ferris Buellar's Day Off" is the movie that most fans will always remember him for. The grand tale of a high school slacker taking a sick day with his best friend and girlfriend, all while making a right fool of Principal Ed Rooney, is a classic story. Matthew Broderick brings humor and insight to the wiser than his years Buellar, and breaks the fourth wall constantly throughout the picture. A who's-who supporting cast (which includes Kristy Swanson, Charlie Sheen, Jennifer Grey, Ben Stein, and Hughes regular Edie McClurg) only adds to the delight.

But that's just my opinion...

Honorable Mention - "Sixteen Candles", "Weird Science", the first three "National Lampoon Vacation" movies.