The Best John Candy Movies Of All Time
When you're watching the best John Candy movies, you can't help but love the big guy. Though he died more than 20 years ago in 1994, his roles and characters are still remembered to this day. For example, Planes, Trains and Automobiles just wouldn't be the same without him. But narrowing down the best John Candy movies into a list is tough, mainly because he hit it out of the ballpark in many of his roles. But fans such as yourself have taken on the task of voting on their favorite John Candy movies below.
Candy honed his comedy skills at Second City before starring in such films as The Great Outdoors and Uncle Buck, and his highest grossing movies have received plenty of accolades over the years, earning millions upon millions around the world. But the greatest John Candy performances didn't necessarily come from the best movies, as he was also a great in Camp Candy, which aired from 1989 to 1992.
If you've ever wondered what are the best John Candy movies are or what the greatest John Candy roles of all time are, this list provides a great crowd-sourced answer. Some people are more interested in comedies starring a young John Candy, while others want to know about the films he made in the final years of his life. If you think the funniest John Candy role isn't at the top, then vote it up so it has the chance to become number one.
You might also enjoy our list of best Steve Martin movies and best Dan Aykroyd movies. After all, they often costarred in the best John Candy movies.
- 1John Candy, Amy Madigan, Jean Louisa Kelly
- Released: 1989
- Directed by: John Hughes
Character: Buck Russell
When Cindy (Elaine Bromka) and her husband, Bob (Garrett M. Brown), have to leave town for a family emergency, there is only one person available to babysit for their three kids: Bob's lazy, carefree ...more - 2Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Stephanie Faracy
- Released: 1988
- Directed by: Howard Deutch
Character: Chester "Chet" Ripley
It's vacation time for outdoorsy Chicago man Chet Ripley (John Candy), along with his wife, Connie (Stephanie Faracy), and their two kids, Buck (Chris Young) and Ben (Ian Giatti). But a serene ...more - 3Steve Martin, John Candy, Laila Robins
- Released: 1987
- Directed by: John Hughes
Character: Del Griffith
Easily excitable Neal Page (Steve Martin) is somewhat of a control freak. Trying to get home to Chicago to spend Thanksgiving with his wife (Laila Robins) and kids, his flight is rerouted to a ...more - 4John Candy, Richard Crenna, Karen Austin
- Released: 1985
- Directed by: Carl Reiner
Character: Jack Chester
After air traffic controller Jack Chester loses a plane (it's covered on his screen by a fly), he's told to take a break. Jack books his family into a plush resort, but it turns out that their ...more - 5Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Warren Oates
- Released: 1981
- Directed by: Ivan Reitman
Character: Dewey "Ox" Oxberger
Hard-luck cabbie John Winger (Bill Murray) -- directionless after being fired from his job and dumped by his girlfriend -- enlists in the U.S. Army with his close pal, Russell Ziskey (Harold Ramis). ...more - 6John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, James Brown
- Released: 1980
- Directed by: John Landis
Character: Parole Officer Burton Mercer
After his release from prison, Jake (John Belushi) reunites with his brother, Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) -- collectively known as the "Blues Brothers." Jake's first task is to save the orphanage the ...more - 7Leon, Doug E. Doug, Malik Yoba
- Released: 1993
- Directed by: Jon Turteltaub
Character: Irving "Irv" Blitzer
Four Jamaican bobsledders dream of competing in the Winter Olympics, despite never having seen snow. With the help of a disgraced former champion desperate to redeem himself, the Jamaicans set out to ...more - 8Mel Brooks, John Candy, Rick Moranis
- Released: 1987
- Directed by: Mel Brooks
Character: Barf
In a distant galaxy, planet Spaceball has depleted its air supply, leaving its citizens reliant on a product called "Perri-Air." In desperation, Spaceball's leader President Skroob (Mel Brooks) ...more - 9Richard Pryor, John Candy, Rick Moranis
- Released: 1985
- Directed by: Walter Hill
Character: Spike Nolan
Brewster's Millions is a 1985 comedy film starring Richard Pryor and John Candy based on the 1902 novel of the same name by George Barr McCutcheon. It is the seventh film based on the story, with a ...more - 10Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Christie Brinkley
- Released: 1983
- Directed by: Harold Ramis
Character: Russ Lasky
Accompanied by their children (Dana Barron, Anthony Michael Hall), Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) and his wife, Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo), are driving from Illinois to a California amusement park. As ...more - 11Tom Hanks, Daryl Hannah, John Candy
- Released: 1984
- Directed by: Ron Howard
Character: Freddie Bauer
A young boy saved from drowning by a beautiful mermaid, falls in love with her 20 years later when she returns to seek him out. Before he can choose between life on dry land or a deep sea paradise ...more - 12John Candy, Jeffrey Jones, Annie Potts
- Released: 1989
- Directed by: Paul Flaherty
Character: Harry Crumb
Harry Crumb (John Candy) descends from a long line of sleuths, but the well-intentioned private detective tends to turn the simplest case into a disaster. That's why Harry's maniacal boss, Eliot ...more - 13Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern
- Released: 1990
- Directed by: Chris Columbus
Character: Gus Polinski - Polka King of the Midwest
When bratty 8-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) acts out the night before a family trip to Paris, his mother (Catherine O'Hara) makes him sleep in the attic. After the McCallisters ...more - 14John Candy, Eugene Levy, Robert Loggia
- Released: 1986
- Directed by: Mark L. Lester
Character: Frank Dooley
A police officer who has been wrongly dismissed from his job, Frank Dooley (John Candy) finds work as a security guard, along with Norman Kane (Eugene Levy), an inept lawyer. Unfortunately, the ...more - 15John Candy, Maureen O'Hara, Ally Sheedy
- Released: 1991
- Directed by: Chris Columbus
Character: Danny Muldoon
Rose (Maureen O'Hara) dearly loves her adult son, Danny (John Candy) -- but when Danny meets Theresa (Ally Sheedy) and falls deeply in love, Ruth feels threatened. Desperate not to lose her son to ...more - 16John Candy, Mariel Hemingway, Emma Samms
- Released: 1991
- Directed by: Tom Mankiewicz
Character: Jack Gable
Jack Gable (John Candy), a soap opera writer with little in the way of a love life -- and even less job security -- takes a knock on the head one day and wakes up in the very television show he has ...more - 17Kevin Costner, Sissy Spacek, Joe Pesci
- Released: 1991
- Directed by: Oliver Stone
Character: Dean Andrews Jr.
This acclaimed Oliver Stone drama presents the investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy led by New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner). When Garrison ...more - 18Thomas Ian Nicholas, Gary Busey, Albert Hall
- Released: 1993
- Directed by: Daniel Stern
Character: Cliff Murdoch (announcer)
A freak accident causes 12-year-old Little League player Henry (Thomas Ian Nicholas) to become such a powerful and accurate pitcher that the Chicago Cubs sign the junior high student to a contract. ...more - 19Bob Newhart, Eva Gabor, John Candy
- Released: 1990
- Directed by: Hendel Butoy, Mike Gabriel
Character: Wilbur
Cody (Adam Ryen), a boy living in the Australian outback, frees a rare golden eagle from a trap. When an evil poacher (George C. Scott) kidnaps Cody to catch the eagle, a group of local animals ...more - 20Alan Alda, John Candy, Rhea Perlman
- Released: 1995
- Directed by: Michael Moore
Character: Sheriff Bud Boomer
In a desperate bid to revive his abysmal peacetime approval rating, the president of the United States (Alan Alda) agrees to a scheme proposed by corrupt cabinet member Stu Smiley (Kevin Pollak) and ...more - 21Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, John Candy
- Released: 1991
- Directed by: Dan Aykroyd
Character: Deputy Dennis / Eldona
While attempting to seduce gorgeous lawyer Diane Lightson (Demi Moore), wealthy gadabout Chris Thorne (Chevy Chase) agrees to drive her to Atlantic City, N.J. But, when some reckless driving draws ...more - 22Tom Hanks, John Candy, Rita Wilson
- Released: 1985
- Directed by: Nicholas Meyer
Character: Tom Tuttle
Hoping to avoid gambling debts, rich playboy Lawrence Bourne (Tom Hanks) stows away on a plane of Peace Corps volunteers set for Thailand. Once aboard, he meets the outrageously affable Tom Tuttle ...more - 23Harvey Atkin, Thor Bishopric, Rodger Bumpass
- Released: 1981
- Directed by: Gerald Potterton
Character: Den / Dan / Desk Sergeant / Robot
Adventures from deep space to futuristic New York, and beyond. Each world and story is dominated by the presence of the Loch'nar -- the sum of all evils manifest as a glowing green sphere whose power ...more - 24Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, Steve Martin
- Released: 1986
- Directed by: Frank Oz
Character: Wink Wil
Meek flower shop assistant Seymour (Rick Moranis) pines for co-worker Audrey (Ellen Greene). During a total eclipse, he discovers an unusual plant he names Audrey II, which feeds only on human flesh ...more - 25John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Lorraine Gary
- Released: 1979
- Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Character: Pvt. Foley
After Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, residents of California descend into a wild panic, afraid that they might be the next target. Among them are Wild Bill Kelso (John Belushi), a crazed National ...more
