English Breakfast

10) Uncle Buck (1989)

John Candy played the title role of a lovable oaf whose babysitting skills are put to the test in this lightweight yet undeniably funny family comedy. The fifth of eight Hughes films in which he appeared, Candy showed winning chemistry with 9-year old Macaulay Culkin in what remains a career highlight. Though a 1990 “Uncle Buck” sitcom starring Kevin Meaney was cancelled after one season, a new television series is currently being developed.

9) Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)

Hughes wrote this thoughtful romantic drama about a working class high school student whose crush on a wealthy, popular girl prevents him from recognizing his true soulmate waiting nearby with drumsticks in hand. Once again capturing the unique vernacular of the average American teenager, the film’s script contains a beautifully written scene in which Eric Stoltz’s melancholic young grease-monkey admits to his father that he’s one of those guys that just don’t fit in.

8) Weird Science (1985)

This sci-fi comedy about two geeks who create their very own dream girl during a lightning storm shows Hughes at his most outrageous. As the teenage Dr. Frankensteins, Anthony Michael Hall and Ilan Mitchell-Smith ground the dumb-yet-smart concept with genuine character and heart. Meanwhile, co-star Kelly LeBrock gives their supernatural sexpot a no-nonsense personality to be reckoned with. But it’s Bill Paxton who steals the show as the world’s worst older brother.

7) Christmas Vacation (1989)

The third film in the National Lampoon series, this hilarious holiday comedy finds the beloved Griswold family struggling to keep the joy of Christmas alive while obnoxious neighbors, disgusting relatives and rampaging squirrels make their home a living hell. Based on his short story “Christmas ’59, ” which appeared in the Lampoon magazine nine years earlier, Hughes’ big-hearted script is a classic farce filled with one laugh-out-loud gag after another.