Multi-generations of comedy lovers grew up laughing at some of the most hilarious films involving legendary comedian John Candy. When he tragically passed away in 1994, the entertainment globe lost a gentle giant, a wonderfully talented Canadian actor very best remembered for his considerable contributions to some of the greatest comedies of all time.

From his rise to prominence on the well-known Canadian sketch comedy series SCTV to his key starring roles in amusing hits such as Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Spaceballs, and Uncle Buck, Candy amassed an impressive and hilarious acting profession in the course of his lifetime. Users on Letterboxd undoubtedly agree, considering that most of his filmography has been very praised on this well-known film-focused platform. Candy’s immense presence in some of the greatest motion pictures ever produced has cemented his location as a legend in Hollywood and is a bold testament to his status as an icon.

15 ‘Splash’ (1984)

Letterboxd Rating 3.

After just about drowning in Cape Cod as a boy, Allen Bauer (Tom Hanks) is saved by a mermaid but does not think what he saw. Twenty years later, right after a terrible breakup, Bauer returns to Cape Cod and falls unconscious right after a boating accident. He is saved once more by the mermaid, which then sparks a film of twists, turns, and romance as Allen Bauer need to shield his girlfriend’s secret life as a mermaid. John Candy plays Freddie Bauer, Hank’s older brother, who supports his brother’s strange adore affair.

The film was provided constructive evaluations, sitting as the tenth highest-grossing film of 1984, and was mentioned to be a highlight of Ron Howard’s directorial profession. Critics on Letterboxd have been not as generous, with most acquiring the film to be complete of genre tropes. One critic on Letterboxd mentioned, “With sprinkled comedy that keeps the story upbeat, along with clever edits to make the film flow strongly, this is a well made, but flat film.”

Splash

Release Date

March 9, 1984

Runtime

111

14 ‘The Great Outdoors’ (1988)

Letterboxd Rating: 3.1/5

Dan Aykroyd stars as Chet Ripley in this comedy film about a man set to go on trip in the terrific outdoors, only to have his weekend crashed by his wife’s brother-in-law Roman Craig (John Candy) and his stuffy household. This is a single of John Hughes’ lesser-recognized motion pictures that he wrote and developed. While the film was panned by critics, viewers believed the opposite, with a 71% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

The viewers on Letterboxd also believed somewhat very of the film, providing it 3 and a half stars with a single user saying, “What an absolutely charming, and hilarious treat to throw on for the summer. ‘The Great Outdoors’ (1988) is not a particularly complex film with a whole bunch of bells and whistles, but it is effective in its effortless storytelling and comedic timing.”

The Great Outdoors

Release Date

June 17, 1988

Director

Howard Deutch

Cast

Dan Aykroyd , John Candy

Runtime

90 Minutes

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13 ‘Brewster’s Millions’ (1985)

Letterboxd Rating: 3.2/5

An aging minor league baseball player, Monty Brewster (Richard Pryor), is about to inherit 300 million dollars. However, to get the income he need to devote 30 million dollars in 30 days devoid of telling any person what he’s carrying out. The film did relatively effectively at the box workplace, earning $45,833,132 against its $30,000,000 price range.

Critics did not adore the film saying the film wasn’t geared toward Richard Pryor’s comic talents and that for a screwball comedy, neither Pryor nor Candy have been acting incredibly screwy. One critic on Letterboxd mentioned, “‘Brewster’s Millions’ is a comedy that lacks in punchlines, but makes a recurring joke out of the biggest gag of all: wealth management.”

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12 ‘Only the Lonely’ (1991)

Letterboxd Rating: 3.1

John Candy stars as Danny Muldoon, a Chicago cop who nevertheless lives with his mom. After falling in adore with a girl from the funeral parlor, he need to prove to his overbearing mom that he is prepared for a partnership with somebody else other than her. It’s a simple film with no twists or turns, but Candy offers an great functionality. The majority of the film was shot in Chicago with quite a few nearby spots getting employed as sets.

Directed by Christopher Columbus, who also worked with Candy in Home Alone, it was provided typical to mainly constructive evaluations, with most saying that it did not take any dangers, but was a really feel-great film that any person could locate one thing to take pleasure in. A Letterboxd critic who gave it 4 stars mentioned, “It is the kind of film that won’t set the world alight and will probably not be that well known today, however, it is worthy of being watched.

Only the Lonely

Release Date

May 24, 1991

Director

Chris Columbus

Actors

John Candy, Maureen O’Hara, Ally Sheedy, Kevin Dunn, Anthony Quinn, James Belushi

Run Time

104 minutes

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11 ‘Stripes’ (1981)

Letterboxd Rating: 3.2

A sad man, played by Bill Murray, in his 30s has no hope left right after he loses his job and his girlfriend, so he impulsively joins the U.S. military, but, he is not pretty reduce out for army life. John Candy plays Dewey “Ox” Oxberger, a further enlistee searching to much better his life. Dan Goldberg a producer and writer for Stripes, knew Candy as they each grew up in Toronto, Canada. Most of the film was improvised due to Murray and Harold Ramis getting an established partnership, it was uncomplicated for them to riff off a single a further.

The film was a industrial good results and was met with constructive evaluations. One Letterbox critic wrote, “With Stripes, what we essentially get is a combination of ‘Animal House’, and ‘Full Metal Jacket’ starring Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, John Candy, and Judge Reinhold.”

Stripes

Release Date

June 25, 1981

Runtime

106

10 ‘Spaceballs’ (1987)

Letterboxd Rating: 3.4/5

Spaceballs is a 1987 satirical comedy co-written and directed by the king of parody films, Mel Brooks. With significant-named comedy stars attached, which includes Brooks, Rick Moranis, and John Candy, it is a hilarious spoof that pokes enjoyable at the important and industrial good results of well-known science fiction films at the time, such as Star Trek, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Planet of the Apes, and mostly George Lucas‘ iconic Star Wars Saga.

For his element, Candy plays Barf, the lovable half-man, half-dog sidekick to his very best buddy and co-pilot, Lone Starr (Bill Pullman). This Han Solo and Chewbacca parody duo cruises by way of the galaxy searching for their subsequent significant score even though avoiding the clutches of their evil archnemesis, Dark Helmet (Moranis). However, when the sinister Helmet captures the stunning princess Vespa (Daphne Zuniga) for ransom, it is up to Lone Starr and his loyal companion to go on a hilarious adventure to rescue the princess and save the day. Many Letterboxed customers agree that it is merely a joy to see Candy on screen, along with other comedic titans such as Rick Moranis and Mel Brooks. “More fun in a nostalgic way; it’s pretty groan-inducing with its gags,” reviewer Mike Allen mentioned, providing it 3 stars. “Still, it’s a joy to see Candy, Moranis, and Brooks.” We could not agree additional.

Spaceballs

Release Date

June 24, 1987

Director

Mel Brooks

Runtime

96

9 ‘Uncle Buck’ (1989)

Letterboxd Rating: 3.4/5

Uncle Buck is a heartwarming 1989 cult classic comedy directed and written by the late John Hughes, a single of seven films he has produced alongside his frequent star and close buddy, John Candy. Though it initially received mixed to typical reactions, the film nevertheless produced an impressive $79.2 million at the box workplace and is now regarded as a cult comedy classic.

The story follows Buck Russell (Candy), an unreliable, enjoyable-loving slob who’s counted on to care for his brother’s 3 kids even though he and his wife are away. While the two youngest children, Miles (Macaulay Culkin) and Maizy (Gaby Hoffman), swiftly warm up to their bumbling uncle, he’s not provided substantially respect by his rebellious teenage niece Tia (Jean Louisa Kelly), who desires him out of her life. However, as they gradually discover from every single other, they sooner or later type an unexpected and touching father-daughter bond. Candy’s portrayal of Buck is John at his comedic very best, and even though it might not be amongst his highest-acclaimed roles, it is nevertheless enjoyable to watch Buck Russell’s freewheeling strategies clash with these of his suburban, uptight household.

Uncle Buck

Release Date

August 16, 1989

Director

John Hughes

Runtime

100 minutes

8 ‘Cool Runnings’ (1993)

Letterboxd Rating: 3.5/5

Cool Runnings is a lighthearted 1993 sports comedy directed by Jon Turteltaub. Loosely primarily based on the 1988 Winter Olympics debut of the 1st-ever Jamaican national bobsledding group, it follows 4 aspiring young Jamaicans attempting to prove themselves and represent their nation. Although the events portrayed in the film are mainly inaccurate, it is nevertheless an inspiring and enjoyable story that became the highest-grossing reside-action Disney film up to that point.

In a single of his final starring roles ahead of his untimely death, Candy co-stars as the Jamaican team’s reluctant but mentorly coach, Irving ‘Irv’ Blitzer, a disgraced former bobsledding champion and gold medalist who lost his medals and reputation due to a cheating scandal. Though initially hesitant about assisting the group at 1st, he gradually starts to recognize their complete possible and strives to assistance them succeed. Despite however losing in the finish, Irv and the group locate pride in what they’ve achieved and are eventually admired by every person for their bravery. Even in a additional toned-down comedic function, Candy brought a lot of character and laughter to the function of Coach Blitzer, and his comedic timing with his surrounding co-stars tends to make Cool Runnings the underrated gem that it is nowadays.

Cool Runnings

Release Date

October 1, 1993

Cast

Leon , Doug E. Doug , Rawle D. Lewis , Malik Yoba , John Candy , Raymond J. Barry

Runtime

98 minutes

7 ‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’ (1983)

Letterboxd Rating: 3.5/5

The 1st installment of the substantially-loved National Lampoon’s Vacation series kicked off a hilarious franchise with 3 mainly effective sequels, which includes a very well-known Christmas classic. Starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, and Randy Quaid, it follows the comedic cross-nation road trip of the Griswold household as they drive to see the globe-popular Wally World theme park.

Candy offers a short but memorable functionality as the timid and likable Wally World safety guard, Lasky, a man who finds himself becoming a hostage right after the Griswold household patriarch Clark (Chase) becomes upset as soon as he realizes the park is closed for renovations. Despite getting held at gunpoint with a BB gun, Lasky oddly enjoys his day of riding the quite a few attractions about the park with the Griswolds. Although their day ends with the SWAT teams arriving to arrest Clark, at least Lasky had a enjoyable encounter. Landing this function just two years right after his breakout functionality as “Ox” in Stripes, Vacation’s ending would not have been the identical devoid of the hilarious interaction in between Candy and Chase.

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6 ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles’ (1987)

Letterboxd Rating: 3.8/5

There’s no much better way to take pleasure in the holidays than to place on John Hughes’ 1987 vacation classic Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Starring Candy and fellow comedy icon Steve Martin, it shows the two in their comedic prime, brilliantly playing off every single other’s strengths and delivering a laugh-out-loud hilarious and pretty touching film.

All Neal Page (Martin) desires to do is have a smooth and swift journey house for the holidays to be with his household. Unfortunately, he’s accompanied along the way by Del Griffith (Candy), a friendly but obnoxious shower curtain ring salesman who unintentionally tends to make their trek all the additional tough. But in spite of the quite a few bizarre conditions they encounter and the friction they share at 1st, Neal and Del sooner or later discover to comprehend every single other. By the film’s finish, they’ve happily grown an unexpected friendship. While Candy undoubtedly brought the comedic charm, Planes, Trains and Automobiles was a single of the 1st motion pictures in which audiences got to see a additional severe side to him, specifically in the course of the iconic “You Wanna Hurt Me?” monologue that would move people today to tears. That, and the ending scene, showed that Candy had a lot additional variety as an actor than most people today might have realized at the time.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Release Date

November 26, 1987

Director

John Hughes

Runtime

93

5 ‘The Silent Partner’ (1978)

Letterboxd Rating: 3.8/5

The Silent Partner is a 1978 Canadian-developed suspenseful comedy thriller starring acclaimed actors Elliott Gould and Academy Award winner Christopher Plummer as two males, a single an intelligent bank teller and the other a sadistic robber, who face off against every single other in a deadly game of cat and mouse to retrieve $50,000. It’s a brilliantly written and acted nail-biter that pays amazing homage to its suspenseful predecessors, which includes the performs of Sir Alfred Hitchcock.

One notable aspect of the film was none other than John Candy in a single of his 1st key significant-screen roles. He portrays Simonsen as a delighted-go-fortunate bank employee, blissfully unaware that he has an unfaithful girlfriend and is operating at a job that is beneath the continual threat of getting burglarized. Despite getting restricted screen time and tiny significance to the all round story, this smaller function gradually helped jump-get started Candy’s later film profession. It proved that he could also perform effectively in other genres outdoors of comedy, and he wasn’t just a a single-genre actor.

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4 ‘Home Alone’ (1990)

Letteboxd Rating: 3.8/5

Home Alone is frequently regarded as a single of the quintessential Christmas motion pictures of all time. Grossing more than $476.7 million worldwide, it was a monster hit that dominated the 1990 box workplace and catapulted the profession of its top youngster star, Macaulay Culkin. It follows 8-year-old Kevin McCallister, a boy left behind on his family’s Christmas trip who need to defend his luxurious house from robbers.

In a further a single of his memorable supporting roles, Candy plays the “Polka King of the Midwest,” Gus Polinski, a cheerful smaller-time musician who gladly offers Kevin’s mother, Kate (Catherine O’Hara), a ride house to be with her son. Along the way, the two oddly share a tender moment as they bond more than their previous blunders as parents. It’s an underrated scene highlighting Candy’s comedic and dramatic talents. It also showcases his improvisational abilities, as most of his dialog was produced up on the spot.

Home Alone

Release Date

November 16, 1990

Runtime

103 minutes

3 ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ (1986)

Letterboxd Rating: 3.8/5

American filmmaker and puppeteer Frank Oz wonderfully brings Howard Ashman‘s and Alan Menken‘s hilarious horror musical, Little Shop of Horrors, to the silver screen. With significant laughs, a couple of great scares, and quite a few catchy tunes, it is an entertaining dark comedy that was stacked with some of the largest names in the entertainment sector at the time.

Among the quite a few terrific comedians who seem all through the film, Candy plays Wink Wilkinson, a well-known and energetic radio show host who aids market florist Seymour Krelborn’s (Rick Moranis) strange and speedy-developing plant, Audrey II. Though his function is only a short cameo, Candy was a single of these actors who produced the most of his screentime, no matter how extended or brief, which is completely illustrated right here as his kinetic power genuinely shines, creating the audience laugh out loud with his trademark entertaining voice and facial expressions.

2 ‘The Blues Brothers’ (1980)

Letterboxd Rating: 4./5

Today, The Blues Brothers is extensively regarded as a single of the greatest comedies ever to come out of the 1980s. Directed by John Landis and starring Saturday Night Live icons John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, it tells the comedic adventure of Jake and Elwood Blues, a pair of musician brothers on a mission from God to bring their band back with each other and raise sufficient funds to save their childhood orphanage.

This time, Candy plays the determined police detective Burton Mercer, Jake’s parole officer, who intends to bring each brothers behind bars. Throughout the film, Burton and the brothers’ hilarious game of cat and mouse leads to some genuinely thrilling and action-packed moments featuring explosions, auto chases, and a lot of house harm. Ultimately, their game leads to an epic finale that sees the brothers getting chased by Mercer and his whole army of police. Candy delivered a leading-tier functionality in a film that was filled with them, and even though his portrayal as the determined Detective Mercer is overlooked at occasions, his command of the screen anytime he shows up gave the film that additional push toward iconic status.

The Blues Brothers

Release Date

June 20, 1980

Director

John Landis

Runtime

133 minutes

1 ‘JFK’ (1991)

Letterboxd Rating: 4./5

Oliver Stone‘s Best Picture-nominated 3-hour-extended epic, JFK, is a tense political biopiccentered on a shocking conspiracy theory connected to the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy. Starring Kevin Costner as district lawyer Jim Garrison, the story requires a deep dive into the aftermath and the ensuing investigation of Kennedy’s death and the quite a few particulars surrounding the murder.

In a surprise dramatic functionality, Candy plays Dean Andrews, the shady New Orleans lawyer convicted of lying on the stand in the course of Garrison’s inquiry. Trading his distinct Canadian accent for a Southern a single, he brilliantly actions into the function, playing Andrews in a believable and intriguing way. Reportedly, Candy’s sweaty appear in his 1st meeting with Kevin Costner’s character was genuine, as he was nervous about acting in a dramatic film with so quite a few achieved actors. All these exciting qualities that Candy brought to the film ultimately shedded his image as just a comedic actor and helped make JFK a single of the very best films not only of his profession but of all time.

JFK

Release Date

December 20, 1991

Director

Oliver Stone

Runtime

189

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