Sixteen Candles (1984)

A girl's "sweet" sixteenth birthday becomes anything but special, as she suffers from every embarrassment possible.

Director:

John Hughes

Writer:

John Hughes

Stars:

Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Justin Henry

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Molly Ringwald	...	Samantha
Justin Henry	...	Mike Baker
Michael Schoeffling	...	Jake
Haviland Morris	...	Caroline
Gedde Watanabe	...	Long Duk Dong
Anthony Michael Hall	...	Geek
Paul Dooley	...	Jim Baker
Carlin Glynn	...	Brenda Baker
Blanche Baker	...	Ginny
Edward Andrews	...	Howard
Billie Bird	...	Dorothy
Carole Cook	...	Helen
Max Showalter	...	Fred
Liane Curtis	...	Randy
John Cusack	...	Bryce

Storyline

Samantha's life is going downhill fast. The sixteen-year-old has a crush on the most popular boy in school, and the geekiest boy in school has a crush on her. Her sister's getting married, and with all the excitement the rest of her family forgets her birthday! Add all this to a pair of horrendously embarrassing grandparents, a foreign exchange student named Long Duk Dong, and we have the makings of a hilarious journey into young womanhood.

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Plot Keywords:

high school | exchange student | dental braces | shower | high school dance | 

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Taglines:

This is Samantha Baker and today is her 16th birthday. The problem is, nobody remembers.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Hughes cast Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall and John Kapelos in The Breakfast Club (1985).

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Goofs

When Caroline steps out of the Rolls-Royce, you can tell that she stepped onto a box or platform before walking off.

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Quotes

Randy: Let's go make ourselves available.

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Alternate Versions

The television version includes a lunchroom scene where Samantha and her friend see the guy Samantha likes and she declares that she can't eat.

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Connections

Referenced in Blood Bound (2007)

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Soundtracks

Lenny
Written by Stevie Ray Vaughan (uncredited)
Performed by Stevie Ray Vaughan
Courtesy of Epic Records

User Reviews

One of the best 80's movies ever!!

This movie has to be one of the best 80's movies ever...it is so well-written. Director John Hughes has made another coming of age classic!! Sixteen Candles tells the story of a girl, Samantha Baker, whose family has forgotten her sweet 16 due to her sister's upcoming wedding. The movie is awesome, and I love how Sam is totally NOT a Mary-Sue and she gets the hot jock!! It's so sweet...Jock Jake is sick of his party girl girlfriend, Caroline, who is absolutely beautiful, and he's just looking for true love. Sam has a hopeless crush on him...throughout the whole movie he's trying to get to her, and finally at the end he reaches her after everyone has left for her sister's reception after the wedding mass. Seriously, this movie is so cute!!! It's my favorite out of Molly Ringwald's movies. She's perfect for this part, and Anthony Michael Hall is SO FUNNY. He's hysterical...Farmer Ted. I love how this movie shows that the blondes who are busty and popular don't always get the guys...it's uplifting...it's a movie for anyone whoever thought their love was out of their reach...it's inspiring. SO GOOD!!!!

:) <3 GREAT GREAT MOVIE GO BUY IT NOW!!! YOU'LL FALL IN LOVE WITH IT!!!!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 May 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sixteen Candles

Filming Locations:

1423 Sycamore Lane, Northbrook, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,461,520, 6 May 1984

Gross USA:

$23,686,027

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$23,686,027

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Channel Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono Dolby Digital (5.1) DTS (5.1)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1