John Hughes, the patron saint of 80s teen melodrama, ruled the “greed decade” with witty banter, heartfelt characters, realistic storytelling, and essential pop classics. Used to the maximum effect throughout his filmography, the music plays a key role in expressing many of Hughes’ comedic and heartfelt moments. Each soundtrack is loaded with songs that remain popular in the cultural zeitgeist today.
1.National Lampoon's Vacation
Chevy Chase
Beverly D'Angelo
Anthony Michael Hall
Imogene Coca
Randy Quaid
Dana Barron
Eddie Bracken
Brian Doyle-Murray
Miriam Flynn
James Keach
Eugene Levy
Frank McRae
One of Hughes’ earliest mega-hits was a writing credit for the family road trip comedy featuring Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Randy Quaid, Dana Barron, Eugene Levy, Christie Brinkley, Jane Krakowski, John Candy, and frequent collaborator Anthony Michael Hall. Lindsey Buckingham’s upbeat and out-of-character driving song “Holiday Road” plays over the opening titles, and would go on to play a role in the Vacation franchise after the success of the first installment.
Find the full National Lampoon's Vacation Soundtrack here.
2. Sixteen Candles
Molly Ringwald
Michael Schoeffling
Haviland Morris
Gedde Watanabe
Anthony Michael Hall
Justin Henry
Paul Dooley
Carlin Glynn
Blanche Baker
Edward Andrews
Billie Bird
Carole Cook
John Hughes’ directorial debut is the story of every sixteen-year-old girl's worst birthday ever. Molly Ringwald, another frequent collaborator of the writer-director, plays the titular teen struggling to make it through the biggest day of her life without being embarrassed into oblivion. The soundtrack features a variety of 80s pop extravagance like Annie Golden’s new wave synth hit “Hang Up the Phone” and the Thompson Twins’s love ballad “If You Were Here.” Other songs by artists like Stevie Ray Vaughn, Spandau Ballet, Night Ranger, Altered Images, and AC/DC fill out the rest of the soundtrack.
Find the full Sixteen Candles Soundtrack here.
3. The Breakfast Club
Emilio Estevez
Judd Nelson
Molly Ringwald
Anthony Michael Hall
Ally Sheedy
Paul Gleason
John Kapelos
Perry Crawford
Mary Christian
Ron Dean
Tim Gamble
Fran Gargano
Considered by some as Hughes’s crown jewel, The Breakfast Club is a quick-witted and emotionally dense film about high school detention. Featuring most of the controversially labeled “Brat Pack,” actors Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy, and Judd Nelson play the infamous library-bound students. Their Saturday stuck at school is punctuated by very 80s montage moments featuring songs like Karla Devito’s “We Are Not Alone” and E.G. Daily’s “Waiting.” Simple Minds’ “Don’t You (Forget About Me),” which serves as the film’s main anthem, has a cultural impact that continues to keep both song and film relevant.
Find the full Breakfast Club Soundtrack here.
4.Weird Science
Anthony Michael Hall
Kelly LeBrock
Ilan Mitchell-Smith
Bill Paxton
Suzanne Snyder
Judie Aronson
Robert Rusler
Robert Downey Jr.
Steve James
Vernon Wells
Michael Berryman
Jill Whitlow
The quirky, offbeat nature of this mid-80s comedy is matched by the synthesizers and digital noise of the songs picked for the soundtrack. John Hughes's nerd fantasy features Anthony Michael Hall and Ilan Mitchell-Smith attempting to create the perfect female companion with a computer. Actors like Robert Downey Jr. and Bill Paxton fill out the cast as mishaps and miscues pile up until the boys learn their lesson. Oiongo Boingo’s theme song is the start of a stacked soundtrack featuring Roy Orbison, Kim Wilde, Ratt, Los Lobos, Taxxi, Killing Joke, and Wall of Voodoo.
Find the full Weird Science Soundtrack here.
5. Pretty in Pink
75%
56
6.7Molly Ringwald
Harry Dean Stanton
Jon Cryer
Annie Potts
James Spader
Andrew McCarthy
Jim Haynie
Alexa Kenin
Kate Vernon
Andrew Dice Clay
Emily Longstreth
Jamie Anders
Although Hughes didn’t direct this film it is one of his best screenplays and the soundtrack is highly influenced by his artistic direction. Led by the trio of Molly Ringwald, Jon Cryer, and Andrew McCarthy, the film features an array of fantastic performances including James Spader, Annie Potts, Harry Dean Stanton, Gina Gershon, Kate Vernon, and Andrew Diceclay. The soundtrack, highlighted by The Psychedelic Furs' theme song “Pretty in Pink” also includes artists like The Rave-Ups, Barry Manilow, New Order, and a standout, lip sync performance of Otis Redding’s “Try a Little Tenderness.”
Find the full Pretty in Pink Soundtrack here.
6.Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Matthew Broderick
Alan Ruck
Mia Sara
Jeffrey Jones
Jennifer Grey
Cindy Pickett
Lyman Ward
Edie McClurg
Charlie Sheen
Ben Stein
Del Close
Virginia Capers
The essential film on skipping class, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is the pinnacle of what it must be like to be the coolest kid in high school. Filled with laughs and nostalgia in every frame, the film survives beyond the decade it is set in because of universal themes and emotions. Anchored by stellar performances from the three leads Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, and Mia Sara, the movie also features great moments from Jeffrey Jones, Jennifer Grey, Edie McClurg, and Charlie Sheen. The soundtrack boasts all-time classic 80s synth-pop tracks like Yello’s “Oh Yeah” and “Love Missile F1-11” by Sigue Sigue Sputnik but the most famous music moment might be Ferris’s antics at a day parade, belting The Beatles' “Twist and Shout” to the entirety downtown Chicago.
Find the full Ferris Bueller's Day Off Soundtrack here.
7.Some Kind of Wonderful
Eric Stoltz
Mary Stuart Masterson
Lea Thompson
Chynna Phillips
Craig Sheffer
John Ashton
Elias Koteas
Maddie Corman
Molly Hagan
Bryan Scott
Ike Eisenmann
Candace Cameron Bure
John Hughes went back to his Pretty in Pink partner Howard Deutch to direct Some Kind of Wonderful, a romantic, coming-of-age drama starring Eric Stoltz, Mary Stuart Masterson, Lea Thompson, Elias Koteas, Craig Sheffer, and Candace Cameron Bure. The blend of musical genre and song style continues to be Hughes’ strong suit in curating a soundtrack to fit his narratives. Songs like “Miss Amanda Jones” performed by The March Violets and Lick the Tins' cover of “Can’t Help Falling In Love” elevate the movie, adding layers of emotional depth.
Find the full Some Kind of Wonderful Soundtrack here.
8.Planes, Trains and Automobiles
92%727.6
Steve Martin
John Candy
Laila Robins
Michael McKean
Dylan Baker
Kevin Bacon
Olivia Burnette
Carol Bruce
Diana Douglas
Martin Ferrero
Larry Hankin
Richard Herd
Leaning into more adult-themed drama and narrative, John Hughes R-rated Planes, Trains, and Automobiles stars Steve Martin and John Candy as a pair of unlucky travelers stuck together by circumstance as they try to make it to New York for Thanksgiving. Throughout the road trip comedy, the soundtrack pops with hit songs from artists like Emmylou Harris, Westworld, Blue Room, and Yello. Ray Charles's song “Mess Around” is featured during a frantic and hilarious night drive sequence.
Find the full Planes, Trains, and Automobiles Soundtrack here.
9.She's Having a Baby
Kevin Bacon
Elizabeth McGovern
Alec Baldwin
William Windom
Holland Taylor
Cathryn Damon
John Ashton
Larry Hankin
Paul Gleason
Dennis Dugan
James Ray
Reba McKinney
Known a little outside of the traditional John Hughes canon, She’s Having a Baby is a melodramatic, coming-of-age film about a young couple dealing with a new marriage and impending baby. Starring Kevin Bacon and Elizabeth McGovern as the main couple, the film also features Alec Baldwin, Holland Taylor, and William Windom as well as frequent Hughes collaborators Paul Gleason, John Ashton, Larry Hankin, and Edie McClurg. A stellar soundtrack features artists like XTC, Boston, Love and Rockets, Marvin Gaye, Everything But the Girl, and Bryan Ferry. With the recent resurgence of Kate Bush’s music, mostly thanks to Stranger Things, her song “This Woman’s Work” from the childbirth montage also saw chart bumps.
Find the full She's Having a Baby Soundtrack here.
10. Uncle Buck
John Candy
Jean Louisa Kelly
Gaby Hoffmann
Macaulay Culkin
Amy Madigan
Elaine Bromka
Garrett M. Brown
Laurie Metcalf
Jay Underwood
Brian Tarantina
Mike Starr
Suzanne Shepherd
The soundtrack to Uncle Buck features a variety of classic rock, pop, rhythm and blues with artists like The Chordettes, LaVern Baker, Marvin Young, Tone Loc, The Beau Brummels, and Fresh for Lulu. The family-friendly comedy about a down-on-his-luck uncle babysitting his nieces and nephew for a week stars the titan of comedy John Candy, as well as Macaulay Culkin, Laurie Metcalf, Gaby Hoffmann, Jean Louisa Kelly, and Elaine Bromka. Tone Loc’s “Wild Thing” plays during a particularly endearing and hilarious scene when Uncle Buck stands up for his family.
Find the full Uncle Buck Soundtrack here.