John Hughes influenced the cinema landscape immensely largely during the 1980s. His most beloved movies include The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Sixteen Candles and Pretty in Pink. But he continues to influence writers and filmmakers to this day in the way he captures that most universal of experiences – teenage life. So we’ve put together 15 John Hughes quotes that are timeless in their ability to inspire writers and filmmakers.
John Hughes – Teen Idol
The many works of John Hughes were often inspired by his childhood and upbringing. Hughes’ childhood was filled with multiple relocations, meaning he was quick to adapt to new and unfamiliar situations. It was attending different high schools that developed the acute insight that make his films resonate.
John Hughes started his career as an advertising copywriter in the 1970s after dropping out of the University of Arizona. He then moved to New York to work as a regular writer for the National Lampoon Magazine. Here he was known as a hard worker and a quick writer.
Hughes’ feature screenwriting debut, National Lampoon’s Class Reunion (1982), followed by the second instalment, National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983) were both written during his run on the magazine. And the second film gained him international attention and success.
Alongside this success, his directorial debut, Sixteen Candles (1984), established his long-running relationship with young actors, Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall. Both also co-starred as leading actors in The Breakfast Club (1985).
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