John Hughes: Danke Schoen, and RIP.
Last week, the world lost a legend. John Hughes, the Hollywood writer-director whose body of work included now-classic films like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Breakfast Club, and Weird Science, died in New York City of a heart attack. He was 59.
In the often-superficial world of Hollywood, John Hughes was one of a kind: a prolific maker of movies who really cared about teenagers—how they talked, how they felt, how they experienced the world. (For an incredible story about how he spent two years writing letters back and forth with a young fan, click here. Beware: it might make you cry.) And while his movies are known for capturing the essence of 1980s-era teen angst—in all of its big-haired, oddly-clothed glory—here at SparkNotes, we’ve noticed something great:
The current generation of teenagers—that would be you guys—have just as keen an appreciation for those hilarious, heartfelt, and eminently quotable cinematic favorites as your twentysomething editors.
We can’t say we’re surprised, because let’s face it, John Hughes was just. That. AWESOME. So today, we hope you’ll join us in this tribute to bid a fond farewell to the man who brought us Jake Ryan and John Bender, Duckie Dale and Sloane Crosley, Cameron Frye and… Bueller? Bueller? Bueller???
Sparklers, prepare to twist and shout.