Can You Name These John Hughes Movies From a Screenshot?

Lauren Lubas

Image: A&M Films / Channel Productions

About This Quiz

Anyone who grew up in the 1980s knows the name John Hughes. He was a master writer and director. He may not have invented the teen movie genre, but he sure did perfect it. The man was a screenplay genius, and every word he wrote resonated in his fans. However, although he was best known for his stellar teen movies from the '80s, John Hughes actually wrote and directed dozens of movies that we all know and love from that decade as well as the 1990s.

To say that John Hughes understood scriptwriting and his characters is an understatement. He'd actually meet up with the actors and write roles specifically for them. Hughes rarely wrote a script and assumed a casting director would find people to fit into it. He learned from his actors and applied their personalities to the characters they'd later play. This is a rare writing process in Hollywood, and the difference is in the quality of the movies. While we all know that Hughes followed an obvious formula, he did add twists and turns along the way. 

If you consider yourself a John Hughes fan, see if you can name more than 30 of these films that he wrote and/or directed.

Which 1982 National Lampoon movie did Hughes write?

There is nothing like a class comedy movie that involves an escaped mental patient and a yacht salesman. This movie screamed National Lampoon and included some faces you might find familiar, like Miriam Flynn and Michael Lerner.

Can you name this movie that starred Michael Keaton?

When it came to finding odd situations, Hughes had the formula down. In "Mr. Mom" (1983) we see a young Michael Keaton get laid off and watch his wife go to work. He soon learns that stay-at-home parenting is no joke.

Which movie was said to be written specifically for Molly Ringwald?

The myth goes that Hughes met with Molly Ringwald and loved her energy so much that he went home and wrote "Sixteen Candles" in just a few short days. However, it doesn't matter if this is true or not, because we all loved the movie.

Do you remember this cult classic?

"Ferris Beuller's Day Off" (1986) was a handbook for helping kids skip school. However, it was also a warning. It showed us that there are some tight squeezes when we try to pull off so many lies at once.

Hughes writes a gender role reversal from his normal formula in which movie?

In 1987, Hughes created a tomboy character that we all grew to love. Watts didn't care what people thought of her, and even though she was in love with her best friend, she tried to help him get the girl of his dreams. Spoiler alert — it ends like the majority of Hughes films end.

Which 1987 comedy stars Steve Martin and John Candy?

John Hughes loved to think of "Odd Couple" characters and put them in horrible situations where they can't get away from each other. "Planes, Trains & Automobiles" (1987) was just that ... except it included two of the best comedians of the time.

This movie is about a family on a road trip. Do you know what it's called?

When a hardworking father finally gets to take his children on vacation, he packs them all in the car, and they hit the road. There are, however, several roadblocks along the way, and when they arrive, they find that their final destination is actually closed for repairs. It isn't pretty, but it sure is funny.

What is the name of this Christmas classic?

Every '80s and '90s kid knows "Home Alone" (1990), but few actually realize that John Hughes wrote it. This Christmas classic shows what happens when a child is left at home, and his family travels to Europe.

In which movie does Molly Ringwald make her own dress?

"Pretty in Pink" (1986) is like "Sixteen Candles" in an alternate universe. Molly Ringwald's character is in love with someone who is out of her social league (by '80s standards), and she ends up getting him.

Can you name this movie about marrying your high school sweetheart?

In 1988, it seems that Hughes tried to show us what happens when our high school happily-ever-afters progress into marriage. In "She's Having a Baby" (1988), we see that high school sweethearts don't necessarily have the best relationships when they start to grow up.

Do you remember this movie written by John Hughes?

Jim Belushi and Alisan Porter star in this odd movie about homeless people trying to swindle a rich woman by pretending one of them is hit by a car. Suddenly love happens, and things change. It's an interesting film that is a little outside Hughes's formula.

This movie stars Jennifer Connelly. Do you know what it's called?

Hughes adapted a simple formula over the years: two people who would never find each other, find each other and dislike each other ... until they realize just how much they have in common. "Career Opportunities" (1991) adheres to that formula in more ways than one.

Hughes worked on the screenplay for this Disney film that was released in 1996. Can you name it?

Few people realize that Hughes worked on several children's movies over the years. He even had a contract with Disney for a while. For "101 Dalmatians" (1996), Hughes adapted the Dodie Smith novel into a screenplay.

Which film did Hughes write under the name Edmond Dantes?

Who doesn't love a movie about a dog that is filled with drool, children who love him and a father figure that can't stand him? The answer is no one. This movie was fun for children (if you didn't get grossed out by slobber).

Can you name this film that few know Hughes actually wrote?

Though Seth Rogen and Kristofer Brown wrote the screenplay for "Drillbit Taylor" (2008), John Hughes (under the name Edmond Dantes) created the story with them. The film stars Owen Wilson.

Hughes created characters for this TV movie. Do you know what it's called?

Having written the characters for the original "Home Alone" movie, John Hughes has received a lot of credits for his writing, even if he didn't touch the movie. This credit is a nice way to show that he still inspires writers, directors and creators.

In which movie does John Candy try to take his family on vacation?

If you remember anything from "The Great Outdoors" (1988), you probably remember a bear getting shot in the butt. This movie was an excellent way to show that you can still love family, even if they attempt to swindle you.

Hughes created the story for this Jennifer Lopez movie. Can you name it?

Under the name Edmond Dantes, Hughes wrote a story about a young hotel maid who is mistaken for a New York socialite. Obviously, there are some interesting scenes in the film, but it's not necessarily realistic in any way.

Do you remember this 1997 movie starring Robing Williams?

John Hughes worked with Bill Walsh on the screenplay for "Flubber" (1997). It's a film about a scientist who discovers a substance that can change the world ... or destroy it. Robin Williams is perfect for the role.

What is the name of this sequel Hughes wrote?

Not only did Hughes create the characters for this film, but he also developed the screenplay. It's difficult to develop a good sequel, especially if the original movie was such a success. However, "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" appealed to children everywhere.

This is one of his earlier films. Do you know what it's called?

"Savage Islands" (1983) stars Tommy Lee Jones and Michael O'Keefe. While the original story was written by Lloyd Phillips, John Hughes and David Odell adapted it and created an interesting screenplay.

Do you remember the name of this movie about five strangers?

The first movie that pops into most people's heads when they think of John Hughes is "The Breakfast Club" (1985). This movie brings in every high school stereotype and shows us that we really can all get along.

What is the name of this movie about the Griswolds?

Several movies include the Griswold family, and you can usually tell them apart by who plays Rusty (in "European Vacation" Jason Lively has the role). However, it's Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo everyone is really looking at in these movies.

Can you name this movie about two teens who build their dream girl?

We aren't sure if the bras on the heads were necessary, but in the dawn of home computers and computer geeks, Hughes created a screenplay that showed things could get a little weird ... especially if you know what you're doing.

John Candy starred in which Hughes film about babysitting?

Macaulay Culkin and John Candy are the perfect comedic duo in this interesting movie about a last-resort babysitter. While many people don't really like Buck, he is actually not too bad of a guy, and he cares about his family more than anything.

Do you remember this movie that starred Ed O'Neil?

When your girlfriend's son goes to a prep school, the first thing you should do is volunteer to pick him up. It will show that you care about her family and that you want to get to know her son. However, in "Dutch" (1991), we learn that opposites don't always attract.

Hughes wrote this movie based off a comic strip. Can you identify it?

Though Mr. Wilson always yells at Dennis, for some reason the Wilsons babysit the little menace while his parents are out of town. As you can imagine, chaos ensues. This movie is such a nice treat for the kids.

Which sequel included a whole bunch of dogs?

John Hughes didn't write the screenplay for this movie. However, his characters from the original "Beethoven" movie are used, and he is credited on this film. The screenplay was actually written by Len Blum.

Can you identify this film about a small adventure?

This movie is a little far-fetched, but that is pretty much what we love about films that John Hughes has written. In this film, we see kidnappers lose track of a baby that they've stolen, and some crazy things happen.

Hughes worked on the screenplay for which remake of a Christmas classic?

The mid-1990s were filled with remakes and resurrections. "Miracle on 34th Street" (1994) was no different. George Seaton wrote the original screenplay (1947), and Hughes created the remake.

Do you know which "Home Alone" movie this is?

Though John Hughes didn't write a lot of sequels, he did go for the third "Home Alone" movie that came out in 1997. Although we don't even see a glimpse of the previous characters, it does have Alex Linz, who was a hot ticket at the time.

What is the name of this 1998 dramatic comedy that Hughes wrote?

When a young man's friend dies in a tragic drowning accident, he is basically shunned from his town. However, he returns and starts breaking stuff. While this isn't necessarily in the Hughes formula, it is an interesting movie.

This film involves time travel. Can you name it?

Not all John Hughes films are formulaic. As a matter of fact, this film is about a count who wants to save his princess by going back in time, but ends up reaching Chicago in the year 2000.

Hughes didn't write this film, but he produced it. What is it?

Written and directed by Chris Columbus, "Only the Lonely" (1991) is about what happens when your mother gets in your business, and you just want to live your life ... oh, and you're an adult.

What is the name of this movie that John Hughes produced?

"New Port South" was written by James Hughes, who is the son of the man we're highlighting in this quiz. It is no wonder John Hughes produced this movie. It wasn't an awful movie, but it was the only one that James wrote.

Characters that Hughes created can be seen in this movie. Do you know what it's called?

When the Griswolds finally get to ditch the kids and have a vacation with just the grown-ups, even more chaos ensues than it normally does on their crazy vacations. This movie focuses on Clark and Ellen heading to see Rusty's family.

Which TV movie is Hughes not credited for, even though he created the original characters?

Though none of the original characters show up in this installation of the "Home Alone" series, we do see some of the same traits throughout the writing. A young boy has to protect his house (and here's a twist, his sister as well) from robbers.

Can you name this movie that Hughes co-wrote?

There are not many people who know that Nikola Tesla was the first person to harness electricity, and even fewer people realize that he found a way to deliver it to people for free. Well, that just couldn't happen.

Which movie that went straight to video is Hughes credited for as Edmond Dantes?

Hughes's credit for "Beethoven's 5th" was for the characters that he created when he wrote the first and second films. It was clear he didn't have a hand in writing the screenplay of this film, as it went straight to video.

Hughes actually played a few characters in his own films. In which movie does he play a disappointed father (uncredited)?

In "The Breakfast Club" (1985) we can actually see John Hughes picking up Brian from detention. He doesn't have any lines, but we do get to see that he is very disappointed. This is one of only three appearances that John Hughes makes in his films.

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