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Sixteen Candles (1984)

tomatometer

88

Average Rating: 7.1/10
Reviews Counted: 33
Fresh: 29 | Rotten: 4

Significantly more mature than the teen raunch comedies that defined the era, Sixteen Candles is shot with compassion and clear respect for his characters and their hang-ups.

60

Average Rating: 6.2/10
Critic Reviews: 5
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 2

Significantly more mature than the teen raunch comedies that defined the era, Sixteen Candles is shot with compassion and clear respect for his characters and their hang-ups.

audience

84

liked it
Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 233,489

My Rating

Movie Info

On the eve of her sister's wedding, suburban teenager Samantha (Molly Ringwald) suffers silently as her family forgets her birthday. Even worse, some total dork (Anthony Michael Hall) keeps propositioning her with sophomoric innuendo when she really craves romantic attention from high-school hunk Jake (Michael Schoeffling). Moving from Samantha's family home as it's invaded by outre relatives to a high-school dance where nothing seems to go her way, this bittersweet teen comedy traces the hopes

PG, 1 hr. 33 min.

Comedy

John Hughes

Oct 10, 2000

MCA Universal Home Video

Cast

All Critics (33) | Top Critics (5) | Fresh (29) | Rotten (4) | DVD (9)

There's also a darkly handsome high school heartbreak kid (Michael Schoeffling), a merciful brisk pace, some quick humor (visual and verbal), and a solid music track.

July 18, 2007 Full Review Source: Variety | Comment
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

As the girl, Molly Ringwald is natural and appealing, but she's lost in a world of blunt, vicious caricatures.

July 18, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comments (4)
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A sweet and funny movie about two of the worst things that can happen to a girl on her sixteenth birthday.

October 23, 2004 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | Comment
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Most of the the movie is cheerful and light, showcasing Mr. Hughes's knack for remembering all those aspects of middle-class American adolescent behavior that anyone else might want to forget.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times | Comment
New York Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Some of the material works marvelously well, but the stuff that doesn't takes the movie down with it.

January 1, 1984 Full Review Source: ReelViews | Comment
ReelViews
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A high school film just smart enough to be special and bad enough that it could be improved upon.

September 25, 2011 Full Review Source: Antagony & Ecstasy | Comment
Antagony & Ecstasy

Racy, drunken, hilarious '80s high school comedy.

January 2, 2011 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Common Sense Media

Candles is a brazenly mischievous, consistently uproarious comedy that christens the devastating Hughes-fu with vivacious results.

September 8, 2008 Full Review Source: DVDTalk.com | Comment
DVDTalk.com

This funny, unpretentious film marked writer John Hughes's first time out as a director. The premise is ordinary, but the film is distinguished by funny gags and excellent performances.

July 18, 2007 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | Comment
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Sly humour and an appreciative ear for the demotic improv of teenage chat completes an attractive package.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment

The first effort by writer/director John Hughes on his way to becoming the William Shakespeare of teenage angst. One really has to be aware of the climate of the early '80s to truly understand the impact that this film had among teens.

December 6, 2005 Full Review Source: Film Threat | Comment
Film Threat

Broad, bubbly, and kind of adorable.

November 11, 2005 Full Review Source: DVD Clinic | Comment
DVD Clinic

a slightly over-sweet teen classic

September 19, 2004 Comment
Shadows on the Wall
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Sixteen Candles

John Hughes had the touch to create memorable Teen comedies. In fact, he is the only that was able to pull off some of the most memorable and smartest films of the genre. He understood teenagers and there frustrations. Using a whimsical comedy style, Hughes utilized common teenage issues in a funny, creative way, and

October 7, 2011
TheDudeLebowski65
Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski

Super Reviewer

A cut above the usual teen movie by way of a whip smart script, great editting and a fantastic performance by Anthony Michael Hall. Full review later.

August 2, 2009
TomBowler
Thomas Bowler

Super Reviewer

    1. Long Duk Dong: Oh, sexy girlfriend!
    – Submitted by Simon O (3 days ago)
    1. Samantha Baker: I can't believe this. They fucking forgot my birthday.
    – Submitted by Alyssa B (4 months ago)

Latest News for Sixteen Candles

November 24, 2005:
A Day to Give Thanks (for Good Thanksgiving Movies!)
The Newsday column gets to take a few days off during the big holidays, but I couldn't let today go...

June 7, 2005:
Molly Ringwald Apparently Wants Some More "Candles"
Yahoo! Movies reports that Molly Ringwald ("For Keeps") is ready to consider a sequel to...

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