While the 80’s were full of great artists, it’s hard to think of many people who shaped it quite as much as John Hughes.
Originally a writer for National Lampoon’s magazine, Hughes would go on to write and direct some of the most iconic films of the next fifteen years. From teen comedies like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off to family adventures like Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Hughes’ fingerprints will always be on 80’s culture.
His films are memorable for a plethora of reasons, but their most beloved aspect might be their characters. Most notably, Hughes always wrote kids, teenagers, and adults with the same respect.
Understanding the coming-of-age process, Hughes crafted characters that wrestled with themselves and the world around them. He even made sure to cast actual teenagers, something unheard of in Hollywood at the time.
As such, there’s no shortage of complete Hughes characters who have endeared since the 80’s. Still, I have narrowed them down to focus on the ten greatest characters Hughes wrote for film. I’ve excluded some of his great side characters so that I can really focus on complete archs (sorry Grace and the Wet Bandits).
I also allowed multiple characters per film because some of them are just that good. My picks might be controversial, but these characters are the most complete reflections that Hughes ever wrote, complete with laughs, tears, and inspiring growth.
10. Tia Russell- Uncle Buck
The eldest daughter of the Russell family and Uncle Buck’s (John Candy) main antagonist for the film, Tia Russell (Jean Louisa Kelly) is more than a handful. Like most teenagers, she’s rebellious, refuting just about everything her mom (Elaine Bromka) tells her to do.
She also has a knack for biting sarcasm, which she happily unleashes on Buck regularly. Combine all of this with the resentment towards her parents for moving their family, and Tia is a tough nut to crack.
However, Tia’s harshest moment must be her destruction of Buck’s relationship with Chanice (Amy Madigan). After Buck meddles in her life, she frames him for cheating and ruins the only steady thing Buck had made for himself.
In her eyes, she’s just getting even with Buck for embarrassing her. Yet, Tia doesn’t understand the difference between Buck’s relationship based on companionship and her own relationship, which is based on physical attraction and social rebellion.
In fact, much of Tia’s character is driven by her lack of understanding. She thinks she knows everything but can’t discern which people actually care about her and which just want to use her. Most of all, she doesn’t understand everything her mother has to deal with, like taking care of her ailing father.
But after a week with Buck, Tia realizes she hasn’t made anything easier for her mom. As her mom returns, she and Tia stare at each other before laughing and embracing. Few words are exchanged, but both parties are finally mending, completing Tia’s arch from resentful teenager to an actual daughter again.
9. Clark Griswold- Vacation Franchise
The character nearly every dad can relate to, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) embodies the optimism of the 80’s.
In his two most famous films, Clark barrels forth with the sole purpose of creating the most joy possible for his family, and each time he fails spectacularly. His fails include getting electrocuted and shot, killing several family members, destroying their new car, and committing small acts of terrorism.
Yet, he endures as a character for two major reasons. The first is that he’s immensely funny, which is a given since they cast a prime Chevy Chase. The second and far more compelling reason though is that Clark is just a flawed dad trying to create the perfect vacation.
As they embark in Vacation, it becomes apparent that everybody would prefer flying to the 2,000-mile drive to Wally World. But Clark stays the course because he wants to provide authentic memories, which he certainly does in one way or another over.
Of course, Clark’s not perfect, as he’s often too stubborn and gives in to his temptations way too easily (the latter is mostly played to comedic effect, but it’s true nonetheless).
However, you’d be hard pressed to find a more caring father than Clark, who traverses deserts, carefully searches for the perfect Christmas tree, and puts up with a plethora of repellent relatives all for his family. Despite going a tad too far too often, Clark Griswold embodies the optimistic dad that everyone needs in their life.
8. Richard Vernon- The Breakfast Club
While it’s unlikely that he was anyone’s favorite Breakfast Club character, Vice Principal Vernon (Paul Gleason) is deceptively one of its best.
An authoritarian instructor, Vernon has a clear disgust for the students present. He runs detention with a tight leash, allowing no studying or moderate enjoyment of any kind. Instead, he assigns a near pointless essay that has no real answer.
With such an iron fist, the students soon resent and disobey Vernon, leading to iconic moments like the hallway escapade and vent climbing.
The most insubordinate though is John Bender (Judd Nelson), the troublemaking criminal who locks horns with Vernon almost immediately. Their feud eventually climaxes when Vernon degrades Bender in a closet alone, telling him that he’s a worthless member of society and challenges him physically.
It’s here that Vernon is at his absolute lowest. While he was rigid earlier, he now disavows his pupil completely, which leaves Bender visibly shaken. He can’t even pretend that he’s enacting some tough lesson, as he’s only exercising his power after a day of being humiliated.
It’s not until the introspective talk with the janitor (John Kapelos) later that Vernon realizes that he’s the issue and has changed since he began working at the school. He doesn’t necessarily reform before our eyes, but as he reads the papers, he finally regains his respect for the students and will likely put effort into his job again.
7. Brian Johnson- The Breakfast Club
Few film characters fit the 80’s nerd archetype quite as well as Brian Johnson (Anthony Michael Hall), the “brain” of the Breakfast Club. He’s overtly concerned with his grades, loves the math and physics clubs, and is thoroughly dorky throughout the film. The image of him with two pencils up his nose exemplifies his character as a likeable but goofy outcast.
Yet, Brian proves to be far more complex than most comic relief characters. Unsurprisingly, he prioritizes getting good grades, but we soon realize how this has affected his mental health.
When the club confesses why each member is there, Brian explains that he failed a woodshop class he erroneously thought would be easy. But the constant pressure by his parents and himself to be academically perfect lead him to attempt suicide (albeit with a flare gun).
Although his reasoning is slightly comical, it attests to the insane pressure many students feel in high school. Yes, Brian is smarter than most of his peers, but he still has struggles and feelings.
That he’s a social outcast only increases the academic pressure, as he has little else besides his academics. As such, it’s a pleasure to see him finally make friends, which he serves well by finishing everyone’s assignment.
Brian perfectly ascertains that being a teenager doesn’t mean fitting into the stereotypes the world prescribes us. Although he’s still a brain by the movie’s end, it’s undeniable that his respect for himself and everyone else has changed, showing that even the smartest people can always learn something new.
6. Del Griffith- Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
One of many legendary collaborations between John Candy and Hughes, Del Griffith is about as likable as he is awful to travel with. Businessman Neal (Steve Martin) learns this firsthand, as Del’s goofy, obliviousness constantly clashes with Neal’s stern demeanor. This of course leads to a trip worthy of the Griswold family, complete with awkward sleeping arrangements, robbery, and near-death experiences.
On face level, Del seems like a simple guy whose talkative benevolence gets in the way of his cognitive decisions. He’s obviously generous, as he’s always trying to do things for Neal, but these gestures usually end up in figurative and literal flames.
Still, Del’s a nice guy, and does actually get Neal home for Thanksgiving.
However, we eventually realize that Del is much more fragile than he lets on. As Neal finally heads home, he thinks of all the awkward remarks Del made on their trip. Upon finally gestating them, Neal realizes that Del isn’t going home, as his wife has been dead for eight years.
Now, Del transforms from a lovable goofball into a broken man trying to reclaim some happiness through a new friendship. Del isn’t just being nice to Neal; he’s trying to form a companionship of some sort that he desperately misses. It’s a much sadder story overall, but luckily Hughes ends it happily, as Neal invites Del over for a Thanksgiving that will no doubt be as chaotic as the trip they just concluded.
5. Kevin McCallister- Home Alone franchise
While Hughes wrote teenagers incredibly well, he could also write one heck of a child character too.
For the holiday classic Home Alone, Hughes gave us Kevin McCallister (Macauley Culkin), one of cinema’s most recognizable kids. He’s the hilarious troublemaker everyone knows, whose innovative mind is a superpower of its own.
Yet, what’s most endearing about Kevin isn’t his traps, but how he encapsulates the overlooked experience of being a kid. Kevin already has four older siblings, but he’s at the bottom of ten once Uncle Frank (Gary Bamman) and his family come over.
As they’re packing for their trip, nobody pays much attention to Kevin unless it’s to humiliate or punish him. This of course happens when Kevin attacks his repulsive brother Buzz (Devin Ratray) and ruins their pizza dinner. Frustrated, Kevin wishes to be alone for the holidays and some high winds grant him his wish.
As Kevin is left home alone, his family realizes how neglectful they’ve been, and his mom (Catherine O’Hara) rushes home to save him. But Kevin also grows too, as he learns to take care of himself and the house. He even conquers his fears by befriending the scary old man (Roberts Blossom), who helps him realize that family is more important than petty squabbles.
Even though Kevin could’ve guilted his family forever, he chooses to reconcile with his mother and enjoy the rest of the holiday. Kevin shows us that sometimes we just need to be the bigger person, even if we’re only eight years old.
4. Uncle Buck- Uncle Buck
In some ways, Uncle Buck offers quite the reversal of a classic Hughes character. Instead of a teenager grappling with maturity, Uncle Buck is an adult who never really grew up. He has no income besides his gambling, which is reflected by his car and apartment. The only stability he has is his girlfriend Chanice (Amy Madigan), but he’s even reluctant to take things seriously with her.
As such, he’s quite underprepared for taking care of an entire household. His childlike nature makes him a big hit with the younger kids, Maizy (Gaby Hoffman) and Miles (Macauley Culkin), as they get to experience the typical Buck fun.
However, things go considerably less smoothly with Tia (Jean Louisa Kelly). Their generational difference causes numerous issues, as Buck takes unorthodox and comically scary precautions to prevent her from hanging out with her boyfriend.
At some points, it’s hard to discern if Buck, who’s never around, really cares for Tia. Yet, his intentions become clear when he must decide if he’s going to capitalize on a gambling tip or rescue Tia from a hectic house party. He even puts Maizy and Miles in his car so they can embark for the racetrack.
But when Buck sees their young eyes, the paternal instinct he’s neglected takes over, and he leaves them behind so he can rescue Tia. It’s a great visualization of Buck’s internal debate, and the ensuing heroics exemplify the heart he’s always had.
While Buck may never be as responsible as his brother, the strides he makes throughout the film show that he’s more than capable of being a father figure.
3. John Bender- The Breakfast Club
Few characters have become quite as divisive as John Bender (Judd Nelson), the Breakfast Club’s boisterous criminal. He’s easily the most memorable, as his combative nature leads to funny situations and risky ventures the group would never have taken otherwise.
However, he’s also the group’s most deplorable, as he constantly challenges everyone around him, degrades those he dislikes, and assaults Claire (Molly Ringwald). Yet, it’s Bender’s ability to elicit both laughs and cringes that makes him such a tremendous character.
When we first meet him, he initially seems like a troublemaker whose only interest is disobeying. He makes some cracks about Vernon’s (Paul Gleason) wardrobe and he’s suddenly the class clown everyone loved in high school.
But once Vernon leaves, Bender starts to attack his fellow students, ones we can relate to, and thus he becomes increasingly more repulsive. His comedic barbs still work, but he’s at least annoying and at most vile.
Still, it’s not until later that we get a better sense of who John Bender really is. When the Club is talking about their parents, Bender tells the story of how his dad disciplined him, which involves a cigar burn.
At first, it seems like just a bad joke, but Bender’s intensity slowly builds until you realize something inside him is broken. His humor and attitude often mask it, but Bender struggles the most of the entire Club.
However, that only makes his ending with Claire and the rest of his friends even more satisfying. He will likely always be an outcast, but as he walks out with the princess he despised earlier, there's hope that he won't be a criminal forever.
2. Ferris Bueller- Ferris Bueller's Day Off
One of Hughes’ most recognizable characters, Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) might be cinema’s most undeniable figure. No matter the obstacles he faces, whether they be a bumbling principal, vengeful sister, or aggressively snooty maître d, nothing prevents him from having a great day.
It’s why everyone in school loves him and the entire city of Chicago ends up rooting for his recovery. It’s also why he still resonates with audiences to this day.
Yet, his abilities far surpass being able to do whatever he wants. His best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) perhaps puts it best: “Ferris Bueller, you’re my hero.”
What Ferris does most is change the lives of those around him. He might have a negative effect on some of his enemies, but to his friends, Ferris is nothing short of transformative.
In fact, Ferris has no real character arch in the film. Instead, he helps others open their eyes to what the world has to offer. The most obvious example is Cameron’s radical growth, but a more surprising change comes at the film’s end with Jeanie (Jennifer Grey), Ferris’ sister.
For the entire film, Jeanie tries to bust Ferris, as she’s fed up with him getting to do whatever he wants. She skips school and even ends up at the police station, but by the film’s end, she finally has the upper hand.
After a beautifully shot chase, Jeanie sees Ferris cornered outside by Principal Rooney (Jeffrey Jones). She can let him hang but shockingly doesn’t. Instead, she bails him out because it’s time to stop worrying about Ferris and live her own life.
And that’s the magic of Ferris: he reminds us not just that life is beautiful, but that we should focus on ourselves, and everything will fall into place. Ferris endures because of his amazing heroics and mesmerizing antics, but they’d be nothing if he didn't remind us that we can join the fun too if we stop worrying and live now.
1. Cameron Frye- Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Yet, Ferris’ unstoppable charisma is no match for his film’s best character, his hypochondriac best friend Cameron. While he’s not as adventurous or heroic as Ferris, Cameron’s neurotic yet listless personality makes him one of Hughes’ most relatable characters.
Like most teenagers, he doesn’t really know what he wants to do with his life. He enjoys spending time with Ferris and Sloane (Mia Sara) but lacks a true calling.
To make things worse, Cameron’s parents have failed to establish a nurturing relationship with him. He has a nice house, but his parents are more concerned with fighting than making it feel like a home. It’s no surprise that Cameron feels sick all the time, as he’s probably reaching out for the parental love he never receives.
But Cameron’s life eventually becomes too much for him, and he responds at two crucial moments, the first coming in the art museum.
While Ferris and Sloane enjoy each other’s company, Cameron becomes mesmerized by Seurat’s pointillist masterpiece “A Sunday on La Grande Jette.” As the camera simultaneously moves in towards Cameron and the dots before him, he experiences some profound realization. Now, we don’t really know what he’s feeling, but a later scene completes his arch.
When the trio realize they can’t take the miles off the Ferrari (i.e. hide the fact that they took the car out), Cameron knows he’s screwed. In the spur of the moment, he lashes out at the red beauty, as eighteen years of pent-up rage explodes into a pricy bevy of kicks. Of course, this causes the car to fall off the stand, rocket into the woods, and become totaled.
But as the audience is filled with shock, Cameron seizes the opportunity to finally stand up to his dad. Whatever Cameron felt in that art museum has motivated him to finally take control of his life. Cameron, this neurotic mess, has experienced art in a way that might save his life.
As Hughes’ best character, Cameron reflects our everyday worries and unfulfilled dreams. But the way he changes from a worrisome mess to an empowered teen in a single day reminds us that in only takes a few moments to change our lives forever.
