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Sixteen Candles

  • 1984
  • PG
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
132K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,041
423
Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, and Michael Schoeffling in Sixteen Candles (1984)
A girl's sweet sixteenth birthday becomes anything but special as she suffers from every embarrassment possible.
Play trailer2:49
1 Video
99+ Photos
FarceTeen ComedyTeen RomanceComedyRomance

A girl's "sweet" sixteenth birthday is anything but special: her family forgets about it, and she suffers from every embarrassment possible.A girl's "sweet" sixteenth birthday is anything but special: her family forgets about it, and she suffers from every embarrassment possible.A girl's "sweet" sixteenth birthday is anything but special: her family forgets about it, and she suffers from every embarrassment possible.

  • Director
    • John Hughes
  • Writer
    • John Hughes
  • Stars
    • Molly Ringwald
    • Anthony Michael Hall
    • Justin Henry
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    132K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,041
    423
    • Director
      • John Hughes
    • Writer
      • John Hughes
    • Stars
      • Molly Ringwald
      • Anthony Michael Hall
      • Justin Henry
    • 269User reviews
    • 106Critic reviews
    • 61Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Theatrical Trailer
    Trailer 2:49
    Theatrical Trailer

    Photos176

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    + 170
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    Top cast51

    Edit
    Molly Ringwald
    Molly Ringwald
    • Samantha
    Anthony Michael Hall
    Anthony Michael Hall
    • Geek
    Justin Henry
    Justin Henry
    • Mike Baker
    Michael Schoeffling
    Michael Schoeffling
    • Jake
    Haviland Morris
    Haviland Morris
    • Caroline
    Gedde Watanabe
    Gedde Watanabe
    • Long Duk Dong
    Paul Dooley
    Paul Dooley
    • Jim Baker
    Carlin Glynn
    Carlin Glynn
    • Brenda Baker
    Blanche Baker
    Blanche Baker
    • Ginny
    Edward Andrews
    Edward Andrews
    • Howard
    Billie Bird
    Billie Bird
    • Dorothy
    Carole Cook
    Carole Cook
    • Helen
    Max Showalter
    Max Showalter
    • Fred
    Liane Curtis
    Liane Curtis
    • Randy
    John Cusack
    John Cusack
    • Bryce
    Darren Harris
    • Cliff
    Debbie Pollack
    Debbie Pollack
    • Lumberjack
    • (as Deborah Pollack)
    Ross Berkson
    • Ray Gun Geek #1
    • Director
      • John Hughes
    • Writer
      • John Hughes
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Anthony Michael Hall and Molly Ringwald initially disliked each other, so John Hughes took them to a record store and they bonded after they found out they like the same music. One of the groups they liked was The Rave-Ups which Molly scribbled on Samantha's notebook.
    • Goofs
      When the family is leaving for the wedding, the grandparents all pile into the car, but it was not large enough to accommodate the group. Grandma Baker squats near the passenger door to create the impression that she is sitting in the car. However, when the car is backing out of the driveway, you briefly see her curved back remain stationary while the car moves away from her.
    • Quotes

      The Geek: [to Samantha] Can I borrow your underpants for 10 minutes?

    • Alternate versions
      VHS releases, cable TV broadcasts, and the initial DVD release change the majority of the soundtrack. The 2003 DVD and Blu-ray release restore the original theatrical soundtrack.
    • Connections
      Edited into Weird Science (1985)
    • Soundtracks
      Snowballed
      Written by Angus Young (uncredited), Malcolm Young (uncredited) and Brian Johnson (uncredited)
      Performed by AC/DC
      Courtesy of Leidseplein Presse B.V. / J. Albert Ltd.
      By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

    User reviews269

    Featured review
    8/10

    30 years ago...

    I am shocked to realise this hilarious film is now 30 years old! Films from 1964 seen in 1988 looked a zillion years apart.....how can a 1980s film like this one still be so new and play so fresh in 2014? ...Apart from it being funnier and truly inspired I really now appreciate more the legacy of John Hughes in his series of films that were released in that 5 year span 1984-89. Anthony Michael Hall is rightly celebrated and gorgeous Molly Ringwald deserves her fame in the teen hall of Stardom. Whatever happened to Michael Schoeffling (Jake)....anyone know? It seems incongruous that so many future stars got their start in this film yet he seemed to go nowhere. I am also very surprised it got a PG rating.......given the swearing and the nudity..but I guess in the spirit of it all it was a perfect pic for anyone 12 - 112. Very clever and very funny.
    • ptb-8
    • Mar 27, 2004
    • Permalink

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    FAQ21

    • How long is Sixteen Candles?Powered by Alexa
    • What was the paper "sex quiz" that Sam was filling out in her study hall?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 4, 1984 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Se busca novio
    • Filming locations
      • 1407 Waverly Road, Highland Park, Illinois, USA(Jake's house)
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Channel Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $6,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $23,686,027
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,461,520
      • May 6, 1984
    • Gross worldwide
      • $23,686,027
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 33 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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