Molly Ringwald Shares Her Thoughts on Why John Hughes’ Films Should Stay as They Are

Molly Ringwald at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival; John Hughes in 1990.
Credit:

Arturo Holmes/Getty; Paul Natkin/Getty

Key Insights

• Molly Ringwald affirms that John Hughes opposed remakes of his films, a view she shares.
• The actress, aged 57, spoke exclusively with PEOPLE at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on January 26.
• She also discussed which of her previous films might inspire a contemporary narrative.

Molly Ringwald recently expressed her views on the potential for remaking a film by John Hughes, the iconic director known for his 1980s teen classics.

During an exclusive interview at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, where she premiered her latest film, Run Amok, Ringwald shared her reluctance regarding remakes of Hughes’s work, confirming that the late director himself would not have supported such endeavors.

“Well, they can’t be [remade] because they can’t be made without the permission of [the late] John Hughes, and he didn’t want the films to be remade,” Ringwald stated. “And I don’t think that they should be really.”

Hughes, who passed away from a heart attack in 2009 at the age of 59, is credited with creating several beloved films, including Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club, and 16 Candles.

Ally Sheedy (left) and Molly Ringwald in ‘The Breakfast Club’ (1985).

Universal Pictures/Getty

Ringwald noted that should a remake be considered, The Breakfast Club holds the strongest potential for relevance in today’s society. However, she emphasized that a modern interpretation focusing on contemporary issues would be preferable to a direct remake.

“I feel like if somebody does something, I would prefer that they do something … that takes from Breakfast Club and then builds on [it],” she said. “It should represent this generation’s issues rather than trying to recreate what was of a different time.”

In regard to her former co-stars from the so-called Brat Pack era, Ringwald shared, “I still see them from time to time. I seem to see Jon Cryer the most, but I love them all. It’s hard to believe that it’s been 40 years,” reflecting on the time since the premiere of Pretty in Pink in 1986.

Jon Cryer and Molly Ringwald in ‘Pretty in Pink’ (1986).

Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock

Addressing her new film, Run Amok, Ringwald described the project as an indie dark comedy that tackles serious themes, including a school shooting that occurred a decade prior. She acknowledges that this film is directed toward a new generation of teenagers.

“I have teenagers. I have two 16-year-olds and a 22-year-old,” she explained. “I feel like I’m very much in touch with this generation, and they deal with completely different issues than my generation dealt with.”

Molly Ringwald at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.

Mat Hayward/Getty

She also noted the contemporary challenges for today’s youth, stating, “…growing up with [gun safety] lockdowns in pre-K, and that’s not normal and it should not be normalized.” Ringwald emphasized the importance of her film in highlighting these pressing issues. Run Amok also features performances from Alyssa Marvin, Margaret Cho, and Patrick Wilson.