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Sixteen Candles

Sixteen Candles

Comedy · Romance · 1984

With the occasion all but overshadowed by her sister's upcoming wedding, angst-ridden Samantha faces her 16th birthday with typical adolescent dread. Samantha pines for studly older boy Jake, but worries that her chastity will be a turnoff for the popular senior. Meanwhile, she must constantly rebuff the affections of nerdy Ted, who is unfortunately the only boy in school who seems to take an interest in her.

Movie details

Sixteen Candles

“Turning sixteen isn't easy, when you've fallen in love... for the first time.”

1984 Comedy · Romance 1h 33m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.8 / 10

Community rating

With the occasion all but overshadowed by her sister's upcoming wedding, angst-ridden Samantha faces her 16th birthday with typical adolescent dread. Samantha pines for studly older boy Jake, but worries that her chastity will be a turnoff for the popular senior. Meanwhile, she must constantly rebuff the affections of nerdy Ted, who is unfortunately the only boy in school who seems to take an interest in her.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Sixteen Candles?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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The Kissing Booth

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

John Hughes

Written by

John Hughes

Molly Ringwald

Molly Ringwald

Samantha Baker

Michael Schoeffling

Michael Schoeffling

Jake Ryan

Haviland Morris

Haviland Morris

Caroline Mulford

Gedde Watanabe

Gedde Watanabe

Long Duk Dong

Anthony Michael Hall

Anthony Michael Hall

Geek (Ted)

Justin Henry

Justin Henry

Mike Baker

Paul Dooley

Paul Dooley

Jim Baker

Court is in session

Put Sixteen Candles on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Sentimental Softie

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Cool Ironist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.