John Hughes Films: Ranked From Worst To Best

3. Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Bueller... Bueller... Bueller... Ferris Bueller's day Off's premise is so simple, yet ingenious: what would happen if a high school kid decided to play truant and spent the day doing things he wanted to do, while trying to outwit his family, friends and teachers?

Remarkably, Hughes wrote the script in less than a week, successfully pitched it the day after he finished writing it and pretty much stuck to the script from there. The original cut of the film ran two hours and forty five minutes, thankfully trimmed by an hour for theatrical release.

The finished product blends all of Hughes' recurring themes and motifs and is, essentially, a doting letter to his beloved Chicago. The city's landmarks are all over the film and there's memorable scenes at the the Art Institute of Chicago, Wrigley Field and others. For the film's most spectacular and iconic moment (Ferris invading a parade), Hughes simply added a float to it without telling anyone and filmed the action, most of it spontaneous.

Behind all the pomp, however, is a serious message and a lot of heart. There is a sophistication and a likability with Ferris that few teen films have and it remains one of the best of the genre. Totally life-affirming and endlessly re-watchable, that this isn't Hughes' best/most fun film speaks volumes of his talent as a writer and director...