Created in 1984, Sixteen Candles features Sam (Molly Ringwald) waking up to her sweet 16, a birthday that she's daydreamed about since she was a kid. However, her birthday is completely forgotten by her whole family in their stress over her older sister's wedding. Thus, begins the fast-paced classic, which basically takes place over two days. There are friends, awkward family members, general social awkwardness, and Jake Ryan (Sam's crush).
So iconic is Sixteen Candles that it was referenced in a more modern romantic comedy, To All the Boys I've Loved Before, when Lara Jean insists that Peter sees the movie, adding it to their contract. While Sixteen Candles is a good story and iconic, there are a number of things that haven't aged well. Still, some of the characters aged more gracefully than others, while some either were or became "the worst."
10 Aged The Best: Randy
While Sam doesn't seem to have a large crowd of friends, that doesn't matter when you have a friend as good and solid as Randy. It's clear that these two are extremely close. They often call each other first thing in the morning, see each other at school, and then after school. Randy is kind but blunt throughout the film - a timeless good-friend characteristic.
Also, when Ted is being obnoxious at a dance, she tells him to leave and to basically leave Sam alone. Randy is a good friend who looks out for Sam, and that stands the test of time.
9 Aged The Worst: Ted
In contrast, Ted doesn't age well, although he isn't all bad. When he isn't trying to impress his friends or try "player" moves on his romantic interests, he has some endearing qualities. He appreciates Sam once he gets to know her and he helps Jake Ryan find her.
That being said, Ted is also the worst. He says insulting things to Sam and after she gives him her panties to borrow for just a couple minutes so he can save face with two of his friends, he and his friends have other freshmen pay to see them, spreading rumors. Luckily, social media didn't exist back then.
8 Aged The Best: Jake Ryan
Jake is the object of Sam's affection, her crush. While he's with Caroline, the most desired girl in the school, he's really unsatisfied. He's tired of the partying and of feeling like his life is laid-out. Compared to his friends, he is more compassionate. However, tricking Caroline into hanging out with Ted wasn't cool. The more-adult break-up conversation with Caroline helped to balance this, which puts him in the category of aging well. Without it, he would be in a similar bracket as Ted.
Throughout much of the movie, he's looking for Sam. In the end, he treats her to a thoughtful present. For Sam, whose birthday was forgotten at the beginning of the film, this is extra special. He doesn't care about her lack of popularity and he doesn't try to change her. Jake Ryan is curious and interested in her and wants to know her, not make her into someone else.
7 Aged The Worst: Rudy
Sam's older sister, Ginny, is marrying Rudy. When Sam's parents and Ginny have dinner with Rudy and his parents, it's clear that Sam's parents don't really care for Rudy and his family.
At the wedding, when it's announced that Ginny got her period, he jokes to the priest, "I guess those guys who thought we had to get married feel pretty stupid right now, huh, padre." This just shows why Sam's parents aren't thrilled about having him as a son-in-law, and his behavior comes across as pretty crass now, too (if not more so).
6 Aged The Best: Brenda
Although Sam has fewer single scenes with her mom than she does with her dad, it's clear that Brenda is a pretty good mom and a nice person. She's overwhelmed, working through the preparations for Ginny's wedding.
Adding to this, she has to cram her house with the grandparents, four characters that are neither the best or the worst, but still pretty funny. When Brenda realizes that the family forgot Sam's birthday, she seeks Sam out to apologize and have a one-on-one moment. This sincere one-on-one conversation is timeless, and it shows that she cares about her daughter.
5 Aged The Worst: Bryce & Cliff
Bryce and Cliff are Ted's friends. They follow him around, idolizing (and sometimes doubting) his ability with women. When he brings a drunk Caroline to their house to show off, Ted has them take pictures so that others will believe it really happened. Although Ted is the ring-leader, these two follow his orders and amplify them.
Had Caroline's picture turned out, no doubt, they would have circulated the image, just as they circulated (and made a profit from) Sam's underpants. Good thing there wasn't social media back then.
4 Aged The Best: Sam
Sam is an all-around nice person. When she realizes that she had been a jerk to her sister, she apologizes and wishes Ginny a great marriage. Even though Ted is irritating and inappropriate, she still helps him save face. One of the reasons that this film has been special for so many years is that the audience roots for Sam.
Viewers want her to have a good birthday and to be valued. She is a likable protagonist: cynical, and yet still hopeful. Due to this, she's a protagonist that ages well.
3 Aged The Worst: Ginny
Ginny is the contrast to Sam. While Sam is reflective and considerate to others, Ginny is more self-absorbed. What Ginny loves the most about Rudy is that he loves her and has loved her longer than the other men she dated. She doesn't love him for who he is or what he does.
While Ginny isn't horrible, this wedding seems to have brought out the worst of her self-absorbed nature.
2 Aged The Best: Jim
Jim is one of the best dads in movie-history, or at least in coming-of-age-1980s movie history. When he realizes that they forgot Sam's birthday, he comes down to tell her sorry. Sam confides in him about Jake, the boy she likes, and how she doesn't think she's good enough for Jake.
Jim responds, "Well if it's any consolation, I love you. And if this guy can't see in you all the beautiful and wonderful things that I see, then he's got the problem." This pep-talk is one of the best ever.
1 Aged The Worst: Long Duk Dong
The portrayal of this exchange student is a stereotype that affected the media's representation of Asians, as well as Asian Americans for decades to follow.
Meant for comic relief, his character comes across differently now. Revisiting the movie and seeing the character of Dong and how the other characters interact with him makes one feel uncomfortable. This character has not aged well and makes the 1984-film feel like it belongs in the 1980s.
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