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John Hughes

John Hughes

Writer, producer and director, also actor · Died August 6, 2009, aged 59 · Lansing, Michigan, USA

John Wilden Hughes Jr. (February 18, 1950 – August 6, 2009) was an American filmmaker. He directed and scripted some of the most successful films of the 1980s and 90s, including National Lampoon's Vacation, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Weird Science, The Breakfast Club, Some Kind of Wonderful, Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink; Planes, Trains and Automobiles; Uncle Buck, Career Opportunities, 101 Dalmatians, Home Alone, and its sequels, Home Alone 2 and 3. Hughes' movies often combined slapstick comedy with heartfelt moments.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 18, 1950
Died
August 6, 2009 (aged 59)
From
Lansing, Michigan, USA
Works as
Writer, producer and director, also actor
Titles
46 on MovieCove · 51 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 29% in 30 days

What are John Hughes' films like?

Across their 44 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy28 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 28th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
54%
Self
20%
Society
11%
Power
6%
Morality
6%
Ideas
2%
Survival
2%
Family bonds27 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship10 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity9 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age7 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 44 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 42 · Serious 1 · Dark 1

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 28 · Stylized 13 · Heightened 3

Gentle: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their gentle movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 28 · Charged 13 · Intense 3

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 27 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 6

Funny: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their funny movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 1 · Some laughs 15 · Funny 28

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 16 · Even-paced 24 · Relentless 4

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 40 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 1

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 42 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 2

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
26
Warm
25
Absurd
17
Hopeful
11
Thrilling
10
Other
36

How their films linger

Feel-good39 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun25 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy35
  • Bittersweet7
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch John Hughes' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 25 of their 46 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Disney+ (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for John Hughes' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

51 credits, 46 with a MovieCove page; 11 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Home Sweet Home Alone(2021)

    Characters · Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Vacation(2015)

    Characters

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Beethoven's Treasure Tail(2014)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Home Alone: The Holiday Heist(2012)

    Characters

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Beethoven's Christmas Adventure(2011)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Drillbit Taylor(2008)

    Story

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Beethoven's 5th(2003)

    Characters

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Maid in Manhattan(2002)

    Story

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House(2002)

    Characters

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Beethoven's 4th(2001)

    Characters

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • New Port South(2001)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Just Visiting(2001)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Beethoven's 3rd(2000)

    Characters

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • American Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Characters

  • Reach the Rock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Producer · Writer

  • Home Alone 3(1997)

    Characters · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Flubber(1997)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • 101 Dalmatians(1996)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • E! True Hollywood Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Jack(1996)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Mallrats(1995)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Miracle on 34th Street(1994)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Baby's Day Out(1994)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Beethoven's 2nd(1993)

    Characters

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Dennis the Menace(1993)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Home Alone 2: Lost in New York(1992)

    Characters · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Beethoven(1992)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Curly Sue(1991)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Dutch(1991)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Only the Lonely(1991)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Career Opportunities(1991)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Home Alone(1990)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation(1989)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Uncle Buck(1989)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Great Outdoors(1988)

    Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • She's Having a Baby(1988)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Planes, Trains & Automobiles(1987)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Some Kind of Wonderful(1987)

    Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Ferris Bueller's Day Off(1986)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Guy Running Between Cabs (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Pretty in Pink(1986)

    Executive Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Weird Science(1985)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • National Lampoon's European Vacation(1985)

    Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Breakfast Club(1985)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Brian’s Father (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Sixteen Candles(1984)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Nate and Hayes(1983)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • National Lampoon's Vacation(1983)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Mom(1983)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Class Reunion(1982)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • The Secret Life of Nikola Tesla(1980)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Sam and Victor's Day Off (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Original Film Writer

  • The Corrs: Live At Lansdowne Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Executive Producer

Career shape

A full career of 48 titles, 46 of them dated from 1982 to 2021.

Biggest box office

Home Alone (1990)

$477M worldwide

Highest rated

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting3 of 48: 1 only acting, 2 with another roleDirecting8 of 48: 0 only directing, 8 with another role · typical Midcredits score79thWriting42 of 48: 19 only writing, 23 with another role · typical Midcredits score45thProducing25 of 48: 4 only producing, 21 with another role · typical Midcredits score63rdOther crew1 of 48: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

48 titles, 23 with more than one role — writing and producing overlap on 21 of them.

By decade

1980s16 · 2 acting · 16 crew1990s18 · 1 acting · 17 crew2000s9 · crew2010s2 · crew2020s1 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do John Hughes' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 45th percentile, the median of all 46; across their 44 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 48th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 44

Approval · how many liked their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 44

Reach · how many have seen their films

93rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 44

Midcredits score across 46 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th13
  • Below 25th13

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 46 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser15
  • Broadly Agreed8
  • Mixed16

Most divisive · writer

Beethoven's 5th (2003)

74th percentile spread · 53% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor, director, writer, producer

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)

Midcredits 97th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the dialogue 50/100 and the plot and story 37/100 in their films, across 42 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a writer.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is John Hughes' work okay for kids?

Across up to 32 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and frightening / intense run lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore28 titles22–51 · median 33 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity32 titles15–54 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity28 titles20–63 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs25 titles21–57 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense28 titles11–51 · median 25 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does John Hughes work with?

People who share at least 2 of John Hughes' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Amy Holden Jones shares the most, 7.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers