WTF Happened to Molly Ringwald?

Last Updated on August 3, 2023

Molly Ringwald was the queen of eighties teen movies. Her films with John Hughes, Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink have all stood the test of time and are just as believed by audiences in 2023 as they were nearly forty years ago. But, despite being one of the biggest names of the decade, Ringwald found herself typecast for many years, with more adult roles in movies like Fresh Horses and The Pick-Up Artist falling flat. She also, notoriously, turned down the lead in Pretty Woman, the movie which made Julia Roberts a household name. 

In the nineties, Ringwald struggled to break free of the Brat Pack label, even if she was never actually a part of that clique, but eventually embraced her place in the pop culture with a well-received cameo in Not Another Teen Movie (which people forget starred Chris Evans). More recently, Ringwald has developed some deep misgivings about her films with Hughes, particularly Sixteen Candles, but also had gotten some of the best roles of her adult career in series such as Monster – The Jeffrey Dahmer Story and more. In this episode of WTF Happened to This Celebrity, we take a look at the various ups and downs in Molly Ringwald’s career and celebrate her most famous and enduring roles.

For more on John Hughes, check out our series on his movies here.  

Do you believe Molly Ringwald’s movies with John Hughes have truly endured over time? Share your thoughts in the comments!