Bring on the tough stuff. There’s not just one right answer.
- Why does Sam like Jake Ryan? Why does Jake like Sam? Is their relationship a high school crush, or is it love? Will Sam and Jake Ryan live happily ever after?
- The Geek is often made fun of by other characters, but he actually has some wisdom to impart. What do others learn from the Geek during the course of the movie?
- The grandparents bring Long Duk Dong to America to help him "assimilate." Do they succeed? What is the Donger's impression of American culture based on what he witnesses? Is his impression of America at that time accurate?
- Why is Sam's sixteenth birthday so important to her? Do you think she places more importance on it than her peers?
- How does Sam's sixteenth birthday compare to yours? (Or if you're not sixteen yet, how does hers compare to what you want yours to be?)
- Is Sixteen Candles still relevant today? What issues does Sam deal with that you dealt with at that age, or are still dealing with?
- Compare Sam's fashion style to that of sixteen-year-old girls today. How does 80's fashion still influence today's style?
- How is Sixteen Candles similar to other popular John Hughes films like Home Alone or Ferris Bueller's Day Off?
- Why was this film an iconic teen film at the time? How did it change the genre? What elements of Sixteen Candles are still used in more modern teen comedies? How have teen comedies changed since this era?
- How has the humor aged? Are there some jokes or scenes in this film that are inappropriate today?
- Where are Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall today? How did this movie define their careers?