Before the dark teen drama Riverdale or the mystery Pretty Little Liars or high school movies like Superbad and Mean Girls, John Hughes was the one telling adolescent stories. His 1980s films (many of them starring his muse, Molly Ringwald) are famous for actually depicting what it's like to be young and confused. Whether it's a girl whose birthday goes forgotten in Sixteen Candles or very different classmates stuck in Saturday detention in The Breakfast Club, his storytelling lives on.
While most of John Hughes' beloved movies are about teens, there are a few that are about families, like Home Alone, Uncle Buck, and Mr. Mom. One thing is for sure: his characters stand out from the pack and embrace individuality, quirks, and charm. Here are the Myers-Briggs® Personality Types of some of the characters from John Hughes movies.
Watts From Some Kind Of Wonderful: ISFJ
Mary Stuart Masterson's character in the 1987 film Some Kind Of Wonderful is in love with her close friend, Keith (Eric Stoltz). She's not into being girly and marches to the beat of her own drummer. Unfortunately, he's got a crush on Amanda Jones (Lea Thompson). She even helps the two of them, ignoring how she really feels. Thankfully, the movie has a sweet, happy ending and Keith and Watts end up together.
Her MBTI would be ISFJ or "Practical Helper." These types "enjoy serving the needs of others and providing practical assistance" which is how Watts approaches the fact that her best friend likes Amanda. Instead of getting upset or finding it hard to stay friends with him, she wants to help him out. She's "sensitive" and "detailed" and "thoughtful of others." She's even with Keith when he gets earrings to give to Amanda.
Ferris Bueller From Ferris Bueller's Day Off: ESFP
Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) sounds a lot like an ESFP or "Enthusiastic Improviser." These types are "friendly" and "persuasive" and "fun loving." When he chooses to skip school for a day, he wants to have the best time ever, and he's determined to make that happen.
:
He loves to have a good time and doesn't take himself, or life, too seriously. After all, his life motto (and one of the most classic lines from the movie) is when he says, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." Ferris is also someone who is "action oriented." When he doesn't go to school, he doesn't stay home so he can lie in bed all day and watch TV -- he wants to have an adventure.
Brian Johnson From The Breakfast Club: ISTP
Anthony Michael Hall's character in The Breakfast Club, the classic 1985 movie that is constantly referenced in other pop culture, is on the nerdy side. When Andrew Clark (Emilio Estevez) asks, "What do you need a fake I.D. for?" he says, "So I can vote."
Brian Johnson's MBTI would be ISTP or "Logical Pragmatist." These personality types are "factual" and all about "regimentation." They're also "expedient." He's someone who follows the rules. Even though he's the "geek" of the group, he's hiding a secret pain and is there a lot more to his character. It turns out that he had been thinking about killing himself, which adds a heartbreaking element to the movie.
Caroline Butler From Mr. Mom: ENTP
Mr. Mom is a movie that deserves a lot of praise. Starring Michael Keaten as a family man who loses his job, he learns to help out around the house, take care of the kids, clean and cook as his wife Caroline (Teri Garr) goes back to work.
While Michael Keaten is hilarious in this movie, it's Teri Garr's character Caroline who steals the show. She works in advertising and stands up to the men in the room, and the fact that it's a male-dominated industry doesn't phase her one bit. Her MBTI would be ENTP or "Enterprising Explorer." She's "outspoken" and "questioning." Her best scene is when she says that the guys don't get what real moms actually want to buy and see in supermarkets. ENTPs don't like when their "competence is not respected" and Caroline doesn't, either.
Kevin McCallister From Home Alone: ENTJ
Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) is the adorable star from the classic movie that everyone loves watching during the holidays. Kevin's MBTI would be ENTJ or "Decisive Strategist."
Kevin completely embraces the challenge of being left home by himself and sounds like the description: "They like to organize people and resources efficiently in order to accomplish long-term goals." Whether he's eating junk food or going after the Wet Bandits, he's "assertive" and "tough when necessary" and "decisive." It's honestly impressive what he accomplishes in this film.
Allison Reynolds From The Breakfast Club: INFJ
Ally Sheedy's The Breakfast Club character, Allison Reynolds, is an INFJ or "Insightful Visionary." She's the "basket case" of the story and seems like an outcast, but as the others get to know her, they realize that they all get along and have things in common. She also gets a makeover from Claire Standish (Molly Ringwald).
Allison has the INFJ traits of being "compassionate" and "priavte" and someone who will "seek meaning." She feels that her family doesn't care about her and carries around a lot of pain.
Samantha From Sixteen Candles: ISTJ
Molly Ringwald's Sixteen Candles character, Samantha, is an ISTJ or "Responsible Realist" When "The Geek" asks her how she's doing, she says, "How's what going?" When he says, "You know - things, life, whatnot" her response is, "Life is not whatnot, and it's none of your business."
Samantha is strong-willed and even though everyone that she knows has completely spaced that it's her birthday and she's having a truly bad time, she still sticks up for herself. She's a typical teenage girl and very relatable, and she's "sensible" and "realistic" like ISTJs are.
Buck Russell From Uncle Buck: INFP
Uncle Buck may not be as well-known as the John Hughes movies starring Molly Ringwald but it's a hilarious film. Uncle Buck (John Candy) helps out with his nieces and nephews and realizes through the experience that he's really good at looking after other people.
Buck is an INFP or "Thoughtful Idealist." Take this quote from the movie, for instance: "I don't think I want to know a six-year-old who isn't a dreamer, or a sillyheart. And I sure don't want to know one who takes their student career seriously. I don't have a college degree. I don't even have a job. But I know a good kid when I see one." That's exactly the type of thing that an idealistic person would say. He's "devoted" to the kids and "creative" and a really cool, fun person.
Duckie From Pretty In Pink: ISFP
The 1986 film Pretty In Pink is a total classic and Jon Cryer's character, Duckie, is hilarious, kind, and also has a big crush on his best friend Andie. His most famous line is when he's talking to Andie about Blane, the popular guy that she likes, and he says, "His name is Blane? Oh! That's a major appliance, that's not a name!"
Duckie is an ISFP or "Versatile Supporter." He would help Andie in any way that he could, and he's "sensitive" and "cooperative" and someone who will "offer praise."
Andie From Pretty In Pink: ENFJ
Molly Ringwald's Pretty In Pink character Andie is strong, stylish, independent, and inspiring. She's poor but makes the best of things by putting together amazing outfits and hanging out with her best pal, Duckie. When she says about the popular, rich kids, "I just want them to know that they didn't break me," it's heartbreaking but motivating at the same time.
Andie's MBTI would be ENFJ or "Compassionate Facilitator." She's "verbal" and has many witty statements throughout the movie, and she's also "expressive" (through her clothing) and "idealistic" and "compassionate."