When I was in middle school the directorial skills of John Hughes somehow managed to equate secondary school with the level of magic that one most often associates with Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This being said, I was supremely disappointed when I realized that the people were more asinine than magical and the vending machines often ate your dollar without giving you the can of soda that said dollar would ordinarily entail.

Nevertheless I treasure the films of John Hughes with what probably is the only scrap of sentimentality I possess for the ages of 11-14. Hughes taught me that half the fun of prom was deciding to go at the last minute and making your own dress, he also taught me that everyone needs a quality mental health day once in awhile. Even though the era in which these films were initially set escapes us more and more each day the residual themes of longing (whether it be for a kiss from Jake Ryan or something to do on a saturday), friendship, and the natural sense of opposition that breeds within school grounds against teachers and students grow more and more prevalent with each generation that discovers the transformative effects of joining The Breakfast Club. If you need a less sappy excuse to go ahead and have your own ‘80s movie marathon, please consult the following list:

1). Let’s face it, Molly Ringwald is a mythical creature. Whether she’s stuck in the Breakfast Club or wondering why everyone forgot her birthday she serves as the quintessential representation of teen girl soul searching.

2). Hughes portrays Chicago and the surrounding suburbs with the sort subtle cinematic wonder that the windy city deserves. Hughes knew that Chicago was a character within itself and he made sure to represent that visually. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off wouldn’t have been the same movie if there was no parade down Chicago’s bustling streets.

3). Let’s all just take a minute and admit that our parents have all come pretty close to forgetting our birthday or any other special event that pertains specifically to our person in lieu of a bigger family wide event.

4). Duckie’s record store dance is completely adorable and also demonstrates why he would make an excellent prom date. Personally, Duckie seems like the greatest

ellent prom date. Personally, Duckie seems like the greatest

5). Jennifer Grey who played Ferris’ sister in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was also baby in Dirty Dancing.

6). The cinematography always compliments the outfits. It’s wonderful, the distressed flannels and roomy black skirts perfectly align with the grimy flourscent opening shots of the Breakfast Club.

7). Molly Ringwald once referred to The Breakfast Club as her generation’s “version of Catcher in the Rye”

8). Cameron serves as a reminder that you can still be pretty cool even if you’re just the neurotic sidekick in the Redwings Jersey. I read something on tumblr once about how people grow up wanting to be Ferris Bueller but they end up being Cameron, and that’s okay. He may not be as charismatic or outwardly bold as Ferris but he’s loyal and willing to overcome his anxieties to try something totally new, which is pretty admirable.

9). The soundtracks to Hughes’ movies were on point and always meshed well with the scene that they were accompanying. They achieved a fantastic balance of visual and musical synthesis causing the soundtracks to become as praised as the films themselves.

10). Though Hughes’ films are admittedly surreal at times they manage to encapsulate all the weird, gross yet somehow still wonderful parts about growing up

By Rosie