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Sixteen Candles

  • 1984
  • PG
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
132K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,041
423
Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, and Michael Schoeffling in Sixteen Candles (1984)
A girl's sweet sixteenth birthday becomes anything but special as she suffers from every embarrassment possible.
Play trailer2:49
1 Video
99+ Photos
FarceTeen ComedyTeen RomanceComedyRomance

A girl's "sweet" sixteenth birthday is anything but special: her family forgets about it, and she suffers from every embarrassment possible.A girl's "sweet" sixteenth birthday is anything but special: her family forgets about it, and she suffers from every embarrassment possible.A girl's "sweet" sixteenth birthday is anything but special: her family forgets about it, and she suffers from every embarrassment possible.

  • Director
    • John Hughes
  • Writer
    • John Hughes
  • Stars
    • Molly Ringwald
    • Anthony Michael Hall
    • Justin Henry
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    132K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,041
    423
    • Director
      • John Hughes
    • Writer
      • John Hughes
    • Stars
      • Molly Ringwald
      • Anthony Michael Hall
      • Justin Henry
    • 269User reviews
    • 106Critic reviews
    • 61Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Theatrical Trailer
    Trailer 2:49
    Theatrical Trailer

    Photos176

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    + 170
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    Top cast51

    Edit
    Molly Ringwald
    Molly Ringwald
    • Samantha
    Anthony Michael Hall
    Anthony Michael Hall
    • Geek
    Justin Henry
    Justin Henry
    • Mike Baker
    Michael Schoeffling
    Michael Schoeffling
    • Jake
    Haviland Morris
    Haviland Morris
    • Caroline
    Gedde Watanabe
    Gedde Watanabe
    • Long Duk Dong
    Paul Dooley
    Paul Dooley
    • Jim Baker
    Carlin Glynn
    Carlin Glynn
    • Brenda Baker
    Blanche Baker
    Blanche Baker
    • Ginny
    Edward Andrews
    Edward Andrews
    • Howard
    Billie Bird
    Billie Bird
    • Dorothy
    Carole Cook
    Carole Cook
    • Helen
    Max Showalter
    Max Showalter
    • Fred
    Liane Curtis
    Liane Curtis
    • Randy
    John Cusack
    John Cusack
    • Bryce
    Darren Harris
    • Cliff
    Debbie Pollack
    Debbie Pollack
    • Lumberjack
    • (as Deborah Pollack)
    Ross Berkson
    • Ray Gun Geek #1
    • Director
      • John Hughes
    • Writer
      • John Hughes
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews269

    7.0131.6K
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    Featured reviews

    7pc95

    Light and Goofy - Mixed to Good 80s Comedy

    My Aunt mentioned she loves "16 Candles", and it has been more than 12 years since I'd seen it, so we rewatched it. I've probably seen it half a dozen times earlier, but too young for it in the theater. For John Hughes earlier entry and his directorial debut - credit to him on picking and filming a very close to or actual 16 year-old Molly Ringwald for the title role. And while I really liked Michael Schoeffling for the tender main crush, he was obviously too old looking as a Senior (an easy 24 playing an 18 yro), a small quibble. His character suave, collected, and sensitive was a great counterbalance in tone to most of other characters. However the tone of the movie generally is a bit too goofy for its own good, and the humor with "Long Duk Dong" is tasteless, poor, and hasn't aged well. There are some well-written scenes to keep the movie together, particularly with Dooley and Ringwald, Hall and Ringwald, and the memorable finale scene that one doesn't forget with Schoeffling and Ringwald in the fantastic last 2 scenes. These are much needed scenes lifting the movie just out mediocrity, and the movie could've been much better focusing on the drama and cutting a good chunk of light humor. I give "16 candles" a high 6/10, round it up to a 7/10. Its in the top 5 or so of Hughes films - it has some flaws but also some touching moments.
    9Don-102

    "They F##king forgot my birthday!!!"...

    These are the immortal words spoken by SIXTEEN CANDLES heroine Samantha Baker (Molly Ringwald) in the ultimate 80's teen comedy. This movie has become a classic to those born in the 70's, like myself, and I now consider it a "guilty pleasure". Its a movie we all grew up with. Didn't we all know a person like 'Farmer Ted', or a hot queenie like the blonde he hilariously gets. It was every young freshman's fantasy. This funny flick is also a relic of the 80's that is not all that dated.

    The jokes still work (as long as you see it uncut) and it is neat seeing things of the not so distant past be on display. Floppy disks, headgears, leotards, etc... Time has not been so good to the featured stars. Ringwald and Anthony-Michael Hall, who was born to play this role, and this one only, have all but disappeared. The biggest stars now are blips on the screen here: Joan (in a headgear) and John (a geek) Cusack. The film is like a toy you can't put away.

    Some situations are beat, but at least Paul Dooley adds an extra dimension to the father. Too many of John Hughes' teen-angst comedies of the era feature tissue-thin parental figures. This was the first and best of the so-called "brat pack" movies, and will always hold a place in 1980's filmmaking history. Girls learned never to lend their underwear to a geek and we all learned that high school is just a phase, easily forgotten as time goes on.
    9lguerra-12529

    a very good movie

    I watched this movie for my film studies class, for a assignment. It is one of my moms favorites I have always heard about it but never had watched it. This movie was surprisingly really good. Not just because of the fact my mom liked it! I really enjoyed, watching it for the first time just not expecting it to be that great but a classic movie about high-school in the 80s like any other I have seen I definitely recommend if you enjoy comedy and a little bit of romance! I definitely will be watching this as a go to when I dont know what else to watch this movie seems to be one that just can't get old!
    LittleRascal-15

    an 80's classic!!!

    This John Hughes film is one of the best romantic teen comedies in history. Starring 2 of the Brat Packers, Molly Ringwald, playing the lovesick Samantha, and Anthony Michael Hall who plays "The Geek", he pratically stole the entire movie with his one-liners. His friends were the best, it's funny to see John Cusack as one of his geeky friends, and I just noticed Joan Cusack makes a small appearance in this as the girl with the neck brace on. That's funny. I recommend this classic to anyone who likes romantic teen comedies. Oh and whoever said that "Sixteen Candles" was perverted, all i have to say is WHAT? What is perverted about this movie, American Pie was perverted, this movie is a classic. There was ONE scene of nudity and it lasted about 3 seconds. I give "Sixteen Candles" 10 out of 10!!!!
    7Meredith-7

    The eighties were great weren't they

    Films like Sixteen Candles personify what the eighties was all about. And if you were a child of the 80s, you will probably identify with this film a lot more than the now younger generation. The story is simple enough, but it works so well. Molly Ringwald is particularly likeable in this, and she is almost irreplaceable in her part. There are heaps of familiar faces, including small parts from many of the present day 'movie stars' ie John Cusack, Joan Cusack and Jami Gertz. It's kind of daggy though, and when you tell people you watched it their response is usually "Oh My God. That is so OLD." But that's what I like about it. If you want to watch a film that reflects the eighties, forget the nostalgia trips of The Wedding Singer and Romy and Michelle. Hire a true eighties product, such as Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, St Elmo's Fire.... The list goes on and on.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Anthony Michael Hall and Molly Ringwald initially disliked each other, so John Hughes took them to a record store and they bonded after they found out they like the same music. One of the groups they liked was The Rave-Ups which Molly scribbled on Samantha's notebook.
    • Goofs
      When the family is leaving for the wedding, the grandparents all pile into the car, but it was not large enough to accommodate the group. Grandma Baker squats near the passenger door to create the impression that she is sitting in the car. However, when the car is backing out of the driveway, you briefly see her curved back remain stationary while the car moves away from her.
    • Quotes

      The Geek: [to Samantha] Can I borrow your underpants for 10 minutes?

    • Alternate versions
      VHS releases, cable TV broadcasts, and the initial DVD release change the majority of the soundtrack. The 2003 DVD and Blu-ray release restore the original theatrical soundtrack.
    • Connections
      Edited into Weird Science (1985)
    • Soundtracks
      Snowballed
      Written by Angus Young (uncredited), Malcolm Young (uncredited) and Brian Johnson (uncredited)

      Performed by AC/DC

      Courtesy of Leidseplein Presse B.V. / J. Albert Ltd.

      By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

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    FAQ21

    • How long is Sixteen Candles?Powered by Alexa
    • What was the paper "sex quiz" that Sam was filling out in her study hall?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 4, 1984 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Se busca novio
    • Filming locations
      • 1407 Waverly Road, Highland Park, Illinois, USA(Jake's house)
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Channel Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $6,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $23,686,027
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,461,520
      • May 6, 1984
    • Gross worldwide
      • $23,686,027
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 33 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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