John Hughes was the central name behind classic teen movies in the 1980s. His outlook on what it means to be a teenager may not have always aged well, but his films and characters have survived the test of time by being recalled as classic teen movies. Films such as Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Pretty in Pink, and The Breakfast Club are just three films led by John Hughes that are remembered for their upbeat storylines and memorable characters. It is hard to forget a teenager like Ferris Bueller, who embodies every child’s dream of being willing to ignore school for a day to go on any adventures he likes, or John Bender, The Breakfast Club’s bad boy, who is responsible for closing out the film with an iconic fist pump.
These characters are remembered in everyday pop culture, in media that references the characters and storylines in it, or are seen through newer iterations of teen movies that lean into the 1980s aesthetic. While John Hughes did not direct every movie where he created iconic characters, such as Kevin McCallister from Home Alone, which was directed by Chris Columbus, that does not mean he did not craft the heart and soul of these characters that society will never forget.
10 Ferris Bueller – Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Perhaps one of the most iconic characters in film history, Ferris Bueller is certainly one of the most memorable creations that ever came from John Hughes. He was the leading protagonist of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, bringing joy and charisma to the certainty that he, Cameron, and Sloane could enjoy their day off from school without getting caught.
The Parade Scene Solidifies Him as Memorable
While Matthew Broderick’s wonderful fourth wall breaks and Ferris’ fun attitude toward every situation certainly give the character an upper hand, Ferris is also at the center of one of the movie’s most iconic scenes. Not one to allow Cameron and Sloane to claim that they have not seen anything great yet on their day off, Ferris joins a parade float and performs a cover of The Beatles’ hit song, “Twist and Shout.” Ferris’ sprint to his house as he tries to beat his principal and parents home is also widely remembered, as is his fake illness prepared in his room to trick his parents into believing he is really in bed when he is actually out exploring Chicago.
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9 Kevin McCallister – Home Alone (1990)
Kevin McCallister is the lead of Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost In New York and the face of the Home Alone franchise. When his family leaves him behind on their race to spend Christmas in France, Kevin is left behind, thinking he accidentally wished his large family out of existence and enjoys the benefits of having his large home all to himself. But, when burglars Harry and Marv target Kevin’s home, Kevin is the only one left to protect it.
A Young Kid With a Dangerously Smart Plan
Although Kevin’s scream in the bathroom has become the iconic poster of the movie, it is Kevin’s scheme to protect his house that has become one of the most memorable parts of the film and has deemed Kevin as the franchise’s most remembered character. Kevin’s family does not have a lot of faith in him to get anything done. But, when Kevin is left to his own devices, he somehow has the time and ability to put together various dangerous traps that could have killed Harry and Marv had Home Alone not been a child-friendly film.
Kevin’s use of ordinary toys mixed with dangerous weapons, heavy paint cans, and weights all culminated in the chaos, hilarity, and iconic traps shown in Home Alone. Even Kevin’s delivery of “Merry Christmas, you filthy animal” is a highlighted part of the film’s experience.
Home Alone
- Release Date
- November 16, 1990
- Runtime
- 103
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8 Duckie – Pretty in Pink (1986)
Duckie is one of the main characters in Pretty in Pink, portraying the leading character, Andie’s, best friend. Duckie is secretly in love with Andie, but, in the end, it is not to be, as Andie ends up with popular boy Blane, rather than her friend and fellow outcast.
Duckie’s Eccentric Look Keeps the Character Memorable
The unrequited love angle is an interesting take. However, Duckie’s hats, wardrobe, and hairstyle all encompass the making of a memorable supporting character. Duckie is even more memorable than Pretty in Pink’s main love interest, Blane. A lovable outcast, Duckie also was at the center of the film’s most remembered moment, a lip-synced performance of Otis Redding’s “Try a Little Tenderness.” As one of the more charismatic characters in the film, Duckie brings an upbeat heart and soul to a story where he is mostly recalled as being a supportive and loyal friend.
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7 Allison Reynolds – The Breakfast Club (1985)
Allison Reynolds was the “basket-case” of The Breakfast Club. She was the goth girl of the group, presumed to be odd and dark because she enjoyed wearing dark clothing. While such a concept may have been considered to be weird in the 1980s, the concept of the goth girl is fully embraced in the 2020s, and as such, Allison’s style and outlook is a particularly more enjoyable and relatable one than the school princess, Claire.
Allison Didn’t Even Have Detention
While Allison may be remembered for having a severely unnecessary makeover at the film’s conclusion as a way to match Andrew’s athletic and golden boy appearance, one of the things that makes her one of the most amusing and exciting characters in The Breakfast Club is that she is literally there out of pure boredom. Allison was never given Saturday Detention or did anything wrong. She simply was not in the mood to be at home that day and showed up just to have something to do.
Rather than allow herself to be put in the middle of her feuding and on the verge of divorcing parents, Allison finds a unique way to get out of the house. Allison’s decision to rather spend a Saturday at school than at home suggests how tired she must be of being around her constantly arguing parents, as well as offering a unique perspective of a character in detention.
The Breakfast Club
- Release Date
- February 15, 1985
- Runtime
- 97 minutes
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6 Marv and Harry – Home Alone (1990)
The Wet Bandits were an iconic set of robbers in Home Alone. Their main job surrounded a desire to infiltrate Kevin’s house, as it had been the golden jewel of their eye since they found the block. However, discovering that young Kevin is alone in the house does not stop the criminal duo from trying to barge in. After all, how much trouble could it be to steal from one child?
An Iconic Robbing Duo That Always Fails
No matter if it is in Chicago or New York City, Kevin McCallister will always beat Harry and Marv’s attempts to rob houses and stores. While Marv and Harry never fail to be intimidating and hilarious, they certainly can never manage a proper caper when Kevin is on the case. Their abilities to successfully pull off a job are put in perspective as they can never outdo the dangerous wits of a child, and the actors always do a marvelous job of pulling off Marv and Harry’s constantly painful interactions with Kevin. In each iteration, Harry and Marv undergo significantly painful traps and usually end up having to face the law for their actions or attempted actions.
5 Andie Walsh – Pretty in Pink (1986)
The leading character of Pretty in Pink, Andie Walsh, is one of the three main characters that Molly Ringwald portrays in John Hughes films. In this coming-of-age love story, the outcast Andie and the popular Blane forge a connection where things go well until Blane is convinced by his friends to distance himself from Andie.
Andi Calls Out Blane’s Behavior
In a movie where Andie is not afraid to call out Blane for lying to her about the Prom, Andie does not just roll over in sadness when things go south with Blane or when she faces troubles with Duckie and her father, Jack. Instead, Andie tells off Blane for being embarrassed of her, argues with Duckie, and confronts her father for lying to her about him having a full-time job. Andie does not just sit down and take the trouble that the men in her life force upon her. Instead, she goes to the Prom alone, wanting to have a good time rather than aiming to conclude the movie with a love interest, even though she does reconcile with Duckie and gets back together with Blane upon his apology for his treatment of her.
4 Jeanie Bueller – Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Jeanie Bueller is the sibling who cannot get away with anything. While Ferris has everyone eating out of the palm of his hand, including his parents, who always believe him, Jeanie is left as the other sibling. Jeanie spends Ferris Bueller’s Day Off bitterly angry towards Ferris and wishing to bust him.
Jeanie Saves Ferris in the End
Even though Jeanie spends the entire movie angry with her brother, sibling solidarity still wins out in the end when Jeanie realizes that their school principal is trying to bust Ferris as well. For as frustrated as Jeanie may be with Ferris and everything he gets away with, that does not mean that she wants to see a school administrator cause problems for him, especially after Jeanie knocks him out after he has broken into her home. Ultimately, Jeanie letting Ferris into the house gives Ferris the upper hand in the situation, and no one else is ever the wiser of what really occurred.
3 Buck Russell – Uncle Buck (1989)
Buck is a fairly irresponsible man in Uncle Buck, relying on gambling on rigged horse races to be his main source of income and enjoying a sense of freedom that prevents him from a desire to commit to a marriage to his girlfriend. His sister-in-law, Cindy is less than thrilled when she and her husband, Bob must leave their three children with him when Cindy’s father suffers a heart attack.
The Kids Bring Out Buck’s Responsible Side
Sometimes, it takes being the adult in the room to bring out one’s responsible side. When Buck takes over watching the three children, it challenges him in a way he has never experienced before. Now, he has to look out for these kids, even the eldest, who welcomes the challenge in her strive to be rebellious. Buck’s time with the kids encourages another side of him to open up, one that is more willing to consider a stable job and relationship than the version of him that appeared happy to throw his life away without any meaningful relationships.
Uncle Buck
- Release Date
- August 16, 1989
- Runtime
- 100
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2 Samantha Baker – Sixteen Candles (1984)
Samantha Baker may be the only character to root for in Sixteen Candles. Left to her own devices when her entire family forgets her birthday as they prepare for her older sister’s wedding, Samantha undergoes a massive emotional upset. However, there is a chance that a romance could help lift her spirits.
Samantha Gets the Apologies She Deserves
While Sixteen Candles is certainly more of a romantic coming-of-age story than a family film, it was still important to see Samantha’s parents apologize for forgetting her birthday. Everything about Samantha’s birthday somehow goes wrong, from her family’s forgetfulness to the school dance going haywire. However, Sixteen Candles and Samantha Baker are also very much remembered for one of the most iconic scenes in the film, where Samantha and her new boyfriend Jake kiss on a table with a lit birthday cake between them.
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1 John Bender – The Breakfast Club (1985)
John Bender was the “bad boy” of The Breakfast Club. One who is quick to break the rules and not care, John Bender, is a bit of a problem for the rule followers of the group. However, his growing romance with Claire is also one of the most remembered love stories in a John Hughes movie, even if it may not be one that could actually survive beyond graduation.
An Iconic Fist Pump
For as much as John Bender’s personality may be the cause of what makes him so memorable, it is also worth noting that the film’s final ends with him and his iconic fist pump to the background music of Simple Minds’ “Don’t You (Forget About Me),” a song that perfectly wraps up the film. Such a moment has been re-enacted in various movies and television shows afterward, where it even has a significant emotional tether to Beca and Jesse’s growing romance in Pitch Perfect, where Beca covers the song and pumps her fist just as John Bender does after the duo had watched the conclusion of The Breakfast Club together.
