Sixteen Candles

Universal Pictures | Release Date: May 4, 1984

6.5	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 65 Ratings

USER RATING DISTRIBUTION

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Review this movie

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Please sign in or create an account before writing a review.

Check box if your review contains spoilers

0 characters (5000 max)

User Reviews

User score By date Most helpful

SpangleMay 21, 2016

As funny as all of John Hughes' other 1980s classics, Sixteen Candles is at times truly hysterical and is equally a great commentary on growing up and turning 16. That said, the film is held back by two major issues. One, it is deeply racistAs funny as all of John Hughes' other 1980s classics, Sixteen Candles is at times truly hysterical and is equally a great commentary on growing up and turning 16. That said, the film is held back by two major issues. One, it is deeply racist with numerous Asian stereotypes and making fun of its Asian character as much as possible. Additionally, it is mind numbingly sexist. Including trivialization of date rape and caricature female characters, Sixteen Candles feels more like an ode to the days when a man could have a woman whether she wanted him or not. This really odd sequence ruins the film at large and turns it into a cringeworthy and truly dated exercise that leaves one feeling disgusted by the characters in the film more so than entertained. Sixteen Candles may provide laughs, but is morally troublesome.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

All this user's reviews

lhoneApr 4, 2020

What could have been a perfectly mediocre 80s teen flick is marred by an absolutely horrendous date-rape subplot that is too often overlooked. Sure "tHe CuLtUrE wAs DiFfErEnT" back then or whatever but that should not excuse how a horrificWhat could have been a perfectly mediocre 80s teen flick is marred by an absolutely horrendous date-rape subplot that is too often overlooked. Sure "tHe CuLtUrE wAs DiFfErEnT" back then or whatever but that should not excuse how a horrific violation of one of the main characters occurs (admittedly off-screen) and that this is made to serve as a punchline repeatedly throughout the latter half of the movie or so. Absolutely despicable inclusion that should kill any fond memories anyone has of this film.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

filmtrashreviewSep 1, 2011

You can see that a lot of teen comedy tradition is created in this film. The nerdy hero, the young and misunderstood girl, the hunk thats going to steal her heart, even the cheesy and overused soundtrack; a lot has been taken from SixteenYou can see that a lot of teen comedy tradition is created in this film. The nerdy hero, the young and misunderstood girl, the hunk thats going to steal her heart, even the cheesy and overused soundtrack; a lot has been taken from Sixteen Candles. I cannot believe that saying **** and showing completely nude women was considered PG back in 84, the film simply deserves an R rating. With all this said its still just a basic plot and nothing really special to offer.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

All this user's reviews

Compi24Apr 1, 2018

Of what many consider the "God-tier" John Hughes films -- "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," "The Breakfast Club," "Sixteen Candles," "Planes, Trains, And Automobiles" -- this one is easily my second favorite (after "Planes, Trains, AndOf what many consider the "God-tier" John Hughes films -- "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," "The Breakfast Club," "Sixteen Candles," "Planes, Trains, And Automobiles" -- this one is easily my second favorite (after "Planes, Trains, And Automobiles," of course). It's one of the only ones with a clear, through-line of tension, irony, stakes, and world, capitalizing on well drawn out characters and some mostly effective humor. Like a lot of other Hughes films, however, this doesn't age very well in certain respects, particularly in scenes featuring Gedde Watanabe's infamous Long Duk Dong. But the heart of this film is relatively pure, and the whole of it is as entertaining, well-acted, and as memorable/quotable all hell.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

All this user's reviews

MasterRileySep 13, 2016

Sixteen Candles was really enjoyable for me. I know a lot of people have different opinions but I think its overall a good movie and personally really entertaining to me. I like the comedy style in it and the casting choices and performances.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

All this user's reviews

StannyCartvskiOct 29, 2016

This was one of the best movies that John Hughes has made. I lost it at the part when Jake's drunk "girl friend" gives Tim a birth control pill. I laughed at the parts with Long Duk Dong because he doesn't know that it's not cool to get drunkThis was one of the best movies that John Hughes has made. I lost it at the part when Jake's drunk "girl friend" gives Tim a birth control pill. I laughed at the parts with Long Duk Dong because he doesn't know that it's not cool to get drunk and he thinks Jake is a girl and grabs his privates.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

All this user's reviews

EpicLadySpongeJun 21, 2016

Sadly, this, the entire movie of what you're seeing here, will never happen to you. If so, then you should be crowned lucky. Still, I should be crowned lucky that I managed to live my life the way I wanted it to be and giving Sixteen CandlesSadly, this, the entire movie of what you're seeing here, will never happen to you. If so, then you should be crowned lucky. Still, I should be crowned lucky that I managed to live my life the way I wanted it to be and giving Sixteen Candles an okay rating would be an insult to 1980's fans, but in general, it's just plain cheesy. Back in the 1980's, movies were considered cheap and that's where Sixteen Candles become literally cheap. Not the best from John Hughes. Look for a different movie.… Expand

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

All this user's reviews

wesseldjSep 3, 2022

While this movie obviously didn't aged well to todays standards. This is one of the lesser movies of John Hughes.

First it was highly politically incorrect, border lining sexual harassments, promoting adultery, stereotypical racism andWhile this movie obviously didn't aged well to todays standards. This is one of the lesser movies of John Hughes.

First it was highly politically incorrect, border lining sexual harassments, promoting adultery, stereotypical racism and downright misogynism. If kids were watching this back in the days, no wonder decades later we get outpours of sexual harassment cases and a peak of #metoo movements, producing the harvey weinsteins and epsteins of our society. This was a recall and glimpse of the dark side of the 80s we didnt like, and rewatching it again, plants us in the face of the ugly reality. Especially the derogative scene where they depict racial jokes against a supposedly chinese, but play japanese music in the background and letting him speak japanese is not only discriminatory, but also shows us how ignorant people were with other culture back in the days and how racially biased Hollywood was to let asian act as stereoptypical dorks.

Other than that, the script was mostly irregular and cringe, and some scenes totally didn't make any sense at all. The jokes weren't funny and was downright lazy writing. The actors were casted wrong with apparent age gaps that in normal circumstance would never encounter each other in their respective school settings. The characters were not likeable, not relatable and sometimes downright rude.

Don't get me wrong, Molly Ringwald was incredible as ever, but the storytelling and script was embarrassingly cringe and forgettable.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews

MovieReviewer80Jan 16, 2023

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Not John Hughes's funniest comedy ever. Not nearly as good as "Weird Science", "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles", or "The Great Outdoors." This movie does have its moments, I will admit. It is some cutesy, funny movie about a sixteen-year-old girl, who wants to meet the boy she likes. This does make for some good content, but is too much of a rinse-and-repeat of other teen comedies, without some special plot devices other teen comedies use, like "Grease", "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", or "Back To The Future." There also are some rather harmful stereotypes, like the Asian guy that does not speak English, who is infatuated with one of the girls in this movie. Please, Asian viewers (or any viewer, for that matter), if you are offended by these stereotypes, steer clear of this movie. If you don't mind, this movie will be pretty good. Simultaneously, there is far too much drunk humor in this movie for this entire movie, like when this attractive blonde girl drinks so much, she gets wasted, and sleeps in the car for an entire day, to be really that funny. There also is the younger brother of the main character, who (pardon my language here) is one of the biggest movie **** I have ever seen. If I ever did what he did, I would be grounded for a month. On all ends, a watchable comedy, but not nearly as good as the John Hughes comedy that came out around the same time, "The Breakfast Club," or any other of John Hughes's works.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews