Molly Ringwald’s 10 Best Movies & TV Shows, Ranked

Summary

• Ringwald seamlessly transitioned from child actor to teen sensation to serious adult actress with exciting new roles in each phase of her career.
• Her memorable cameos in recent TV shows like Riverdale showcase her recognizable talent and bring new audiences to her earlier work.
• Ringwald’s willingness to take on challenging roles in projects like The Stand proves her range and ability to enhance any series.

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Molly Ringwald has been acting almost her entire life, and the best movies and TV shows throughout her long career illustrate her development and range as a performer. Beginning as a child actor in the 1970s, Ringwald moved through each decade of her career seamlessly. She successfully transitioned from child actor to teen sensation to a serious adult actress. In each phase of her career, Ringwald brought something new and exciting to her roles and stood out among her costars. Her abilities and interesting projects quickly propelled her to stardom.

She’s so well-known that seeing her in a film or show can be jarring, as she’s instantly recognizable.

Recently, Ringwald made a cameo in The Bear, one of the biggest TV shows of the past few years, and the actress frequently takes on these types of roles. She’s so well-known that seeing her in a film or show can be jarring, as she’s instantly recognizable. However, it’s always delightful to see her on the big or small screen. Ringwald has maintained her skills and established herself as an actress who can wear many hats. Moving into the next phase of her working life as an actor, it’s likely that audiences will continue to see Ringwald everywhere.

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Every John Hughes & Molly Ringwald Movie, Ranked Worst To Best

Although Molly Ringwald has a bit of a tainted view on the films now, John Hughes’ 1980s movies with her are some of the most influential teen movies.

10 The Facts Of Life (1979–1988)

Created by Dick Clair & Jenna McMahon

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Without The Facts of Life​​​​​​, there would be no Molly Ringwald, and it’s delightfully heartwarming to look back on her episodes as a child and see the great performer she would become. Her stint on the show was brief, but it was enough to give her a taste for show business and let filmmakers see her talent. Working as a child star in the film industry is extremely taxing, and it was even less regulated when Ringwald was coming up. However, what she learned on Facts of Life carried through to her adult projects.

It was a spin-off of Diff’rent Strokes but soon eclipsed the original show in popularity and longevity.

The show centered on a young woman who works at an all-girls boarding school in upstate New York. It was a spin-off of Diff’rent Strokes but soon eclipsed the original show in popularity and longevity. Ringwald played one of the students living at the school and was part of episodes that dealt with relevant social and political topics facing teenagers during this period. Even though Ringwald was only part of the series for a short time, it set her career in motion and established her ability to deal with teenage subject matter.

the facts of life
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9 Riverdale (2017–2023)

Created by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

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Riverdale, the outlandish TV teen drama based on the Archie comics, became something of a phenomenon before its final season in 2023. Ringwald’s stint on the series was as Archie’s (KJ Apa) mother, and she remained a significant part of the series for many years. Even as Riverdale became more outlandish and out of touch with reality, Ringwald was an incredibly good sport and stuck around to provide some credibility and weight to the series.

For younger audiences unfamiliar with Ringwald’s early work, this might be the only project they’ve seen her in, which works in Ringwald’s favor. Her willingness to not take herself too seriously in shows like Riverdale means that viewers will be introduced to her and her work, potentially seeking out the movies she made her career on. Additionally, being on Riverdale must have been a lot of fun for the star, as there wasn’t much pressure and the stakes were low, letting her relax and root the series in reality with her notoriety.

Riverdale
Drama

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A darker take on Archie, Betty, Veronica, and their friends from the Archie Comics series, Riverdale is a CW supernatural mystery series that sees the group trying to illuminate the truth surrounding various strange occurrences and murders in the titular town. When a teenage girl is found dead in the once-quiet town, the event starts a series of ever-growing mysteries that ultimately lead to darker secrets in the town’s history. Led by Archie, the Riverdale gang will attempt to navigate their new normal while dealing with all of the drama that comes with being high school teenagers.

Cast Camila Mendes , Marisol Nichols , Ashleigh Murray , Cole Sprouse , Ross Butler , Madelaine Petsch , K.J. Apa , Luke Perry , Lili Reinhart , casey cott Release Date January 26, 2017 Seasons 7

8 Single Drunk Female (2022–2023)

Created by Simone Finch

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Within her role on the show, Ringwald fits right in, easily communicating the delicate tonal balance.

Though Ringwald is only a special guest star in Single Drunk Female season 2, she makes an impression and adds a lot to the show. Despite only running for two seasons, the series will be remembered as well ahead of its time and as an underrated addition to the genre of addiction and recovery. Starring Sofia Black-D’Elia as Samantha, a recovering alcoholic, the show is simultaneously funny and empathetic in its portrayal of addiction. Within her role on the show, Ringwald fits right in, easily communicating the delicate tonal balance.

Moving forward, it would make sense for Ringwald to seek out roles like hers in Single Drunk Female. It’s still comedic and allows Ringwald to have fun with her performances, but it isn’t a throwback to her earlier work. Though her performances are always strong, it’s nice to see Ringwald working with excellent writers and actors who know how to use her skills to enhance the series. Even though Single Drunk Female has come to an end, it proves how much more Ringwald can achieve on television.

Single Drunk Female
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7 For Keeps (1988)

Directed by John G. Avildsen

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Teen pregnancy is just as much a topic of debate in today’s media as it was in 1988. For Keeps plays up this issue for the sake of the story. However, Ringwald grounds the movie from the start in a narrative that could be taken as a misguided attempt to warn children about the consequences of sex. The 1980s were a conservative decade, but as attitudes shifted and the U.S. entered the ’90s, new subjects cropped up in film and television. While Ringwald still plays a teenager in For Keeps, it’s unlike anything she had taken on before.

For Keeps is available to rent on Prime Video or Apple TV.

Despite not being an enormous critical or commercial success, it was agreed upon that Ringwald was the best part of For Keeps. Her character challenges expectations and firmly makes her own choices no matter what anyone else says. While parts of the movie are considerably dated, it’s interesting to see how the filmmakers chose to grapple with the subject, especially since it’s the parents who push for Ringwald’s character to have an abortion. Watching For Keeps is a reminder of a time gone by and shows Ringwald’s willingness to take on controversial material.

6 Tempest (1982)

Directed by Paul Mazursky

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Working alongside some of the best actors of all time must have impacted Ringwald and her future performances.

A young Ringwald stars alongside John Cassavetes, Gena Rowlands, and Susan Sarandon in Tempest, a contemporary take on the Shakespeare play The Tempest. Though it’s not a direct adaptation, the movie takes many of the best elements of the play and features such a star-studded cast that it’s shocking, the film isn’t better remembered. Working alongside some of the best actors of all time must have impacted Ringwald and her future performances. It’s in her role in this film that Ringwald was singled out as a rising star, and this allowed her to transition to more serious roles after her early work in sitcoms.

Unfortunately, the film was not critically or commercially successful, but it has a charm when viewed today. Tempest is a time capsule of its period and features a remarkably empathetic performance from Ringwald despite her youth. Holding her own next to veterans who were well-established in their careers must have been intimidating, but Ringwald doesn’t show it. Additionally, it was well ahead of its time as the boom of modern Shakespeare adaptations took off in the 1990s.

Watch Tempest on Tubi or rent it on Prime Video.

5 Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans (2024)

Created by Ryan Murphy, Jaffe Cohen, & Michael Zam

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In the latest season of the historical anthology series Feud: Capote vs. The Swans​​​​​​, Ringwald gets to have fun with her character while donning some of her best costumes. She plays Joanne Carson, one of the titular Swans and a friend turned bitter enemy of Truman Capote, played by Tom Hollander. The cast is one of the best parts of the series, as each woman who plays one of the Swans demonstrates a unique take on their character and embodies all the drama and disgusting wealth of their elite group.

The decadence and extreme power of the wealthy are part of why audiences are drawn to TV series like Feud, as there’s little as fun as watching the rich turn on each other. In the latter half of her career, Ringwald has been featured in many teen drama TV shows and movies as a tribute to her roots in the genre. However, playing Joanne allows her to leave all that behind and separate herself from that legacy. While it’s an important part of her life, Feud shows how much more there is to remember about Ringwald.

Feud
TV-MA
Anthology
Documentary
Drama

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Feud is a documentary drama anthology series created for FX based on famous feuds throughout celebrity history. Packed with an ensemble cast, each season of Feud follows a new celebrity, with season one covering Bette Davis and Joan Crawford and the second season centering on Truman Capote.

Cast Jessica Lange , Susan Sarandon , Judy Davis , Jackie Hoffman , Alfred Molina , Stanley Tucci , alison wright , Naomi Watts , Diane Lane , Chloe Sevigny , Calista Flockhart , Demi Moore , Molly Ringwald , Treat Williams , Joe Mantello , Russell Tovey , Tom Hollander Release Date March 5, 2017 Seasons 2 Network FX Showrunner Jon Robin Baitz , Ryan Murphy , Tim Minear Creator(s) Ryan Murphy , Jaffe Cohen , Michael Zam , Jon Robin Baitz

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4 The Stand (1994)

Directed by Mick Garris

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Adapted from the Stephen King novel of the same name, the 1994 miniseries The Stand was a departure for Ringwald and the projects she took on. While her earlier movies and shows were rooted in reality and dealt with everyday subjects, The Stand was a post-apocalyptic narrative that included intense depictions of violence and cruelty. It was an expensive investment, but it paid off as it was praised by critics and is considered one of the best iterations of King’s work to this day.

In the show, Ringwald plays Frannie Goldsmith, one of the survivors of a deadly flu that leaves the remainder of humanity to form factions in the wake of societal collapse.

In the show, Ringwald plays Frannie Goldsmith, one of the survivors of a deadly flu that leaves the remainder of humanity to form factions in the wake of societal collapse. While other King movies and TV shows are different from his books, The Stand only differs slightly, and its miniseries format was beneficial for allowing the show to capture all angles of the story. As for Ringwald, she fits right into the depressed and depleted landscape, and no part of the meek teen girl of the 1980s is visible in her gritty performance.

The Stand (1994)
Drama
Horror
Fantasy

Cast Gary Sinise , Molly Ringwald , Jamey Sheridan , Rob Lowe , Laura San Giacomo , Miguel Ferrer , Ruby Dee , Bill Fagerbakke , Corin Nemec , Adam Storke , Ray Walston , Matt Frewer Release Date May 8, 1994 Seasons 1 Directors Mick Garris Creator(s) Stephen King

3 Sixteen Candles (1984)

Directed by John Hughes

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Unfortunately, as time has progressed, John Hughes’ classic teen movies have fallen under scrutiny for their outdated and offensive themes.Sixteen Candles features some of the worst instances, with sexual assault played for laughs and racist caricatures written into the script. These issues don’t necessarily mean that Sixteen Candles and Hughes, in general, should be forgotten about, but it’s important to look at even the most popular and well-loved movies through a critical lens if they’re going to remain relevant today.

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Additionally, Ringwald is a standout, and it’s impossible to discuss her career without bringing up Sixteen Candles. It was her first instance of working with Hughes, and their partnership would come to define her work as an actress and make her a teen icon of the 1980s. Many an adolescent struggling through high school, feeling misunderstood, has come across Sixteen Candles and felt seen by its story. Though many of its messages shouldn’t be taught today, Samantha’s (Ringwald) difficulties fitting in and feeling accepted are universal.

Sixteen Candles
PG
Romance
Comedy

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In John Hughes’s directorial debut, Molly Ringwald stars as Samantha Baker, a high school student in suburban Chicago whose sixteenth birthday is marred when her whole family forgets to celebrate the occasion due to her older sister’s wedding. Navigating a school dance and a seemingly unrequited crush on an older boy, Sam’s sweet sixteen becomes a day to remember. Anthony Michael Hall, Michael Schoeffling, and Gedde Watanabe also star. 

Director John Hughes Release Date May 4, 1984 Cast Molly Ringwald , Gedde Watanabe , Anthony Michael Hall , Haviland Morris , Michael Schoeffling Runtime 93 minutes

2 Pretty In Pink (1986)

Directed by Howard Deutch

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Also featuring a young John Cryer and James Spader, Pretty in Pink takes on serious subject matter for a movie billed as a classic teen drama.

Though Howard Deutch directed the iconic film, Hughes wrote it and continued his streak of winners starring Ringwald. In her final project with Hughes, Ringwald plays Andie. She’s a young girl who has to navigate the unfairness and discrimination of differences in social class and standing. Also featuring a young John Cryer and James Spader, Pretty in Pink takes on serious subject matter for a movie billed as a classic teen drama. However, it includes many poignant moments and requires a lot from Ringwald, who goes through a lot as the struggling Andie.

Not only does she face rejection in school and her love life, but Andie also has a difficult relationship with her father and resents him for his inability to provide for her. Pretty in Pink is a deceptively layered film that doesn’t let any of its characters off easy and also centers on a strong friendship that goes through ups and downs. Though it does end with a traditional happily ever after, Pretty in Pink is more than meets the eye and allows Ringwald to be a serious actor.

Pretty in Pink (1986)
PG-13
Romance
Drama
Comedy

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Pretty in Pink is a 1986 romantic comedy-drama directed by Howard Deutch and written by John Hughes. The film stars Molly Ringwald as Andie, a high school student navigating social divisions and romantic entanglements. With a prominent supporting cast including Jon Cryer and Andrew McCarthy, the story explores themes of class disparity and youthful aspirations in the context of 1980s suburban America.

Director Howard Deutch Release Date February 28, 1986 Cast Molly Ringwald , Harry Dean Stanton , Jon Cryer , Annie Potts , James Spader Runtime 97 Minutes

1 The Breakfast Club (1985)

Directed by Hughes

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When the coming-of-age genre is discussed, The Breakfast Club will likely be brought into the conversation, as it’s one of the most iconic depictions of high school from the 1980s. Movies about being in high school and the adolescent experience run rampant in Hollywood, but The Breakfast Club felt unique when it premiered. It grappled with the archetypes that still can be seen all over media and attempted to break them down and show the multi-faceted personalities of America’s youth.

Like all Hughes’ movies, it’s not without its problems, but it’s one of the less problematic within his body of work. Additionally, it might feature the best performance Ringwald has ever given. Though her earlier collaborations with Hughes saw her as the awkward teen girl, unlucky in life and love, in The Breakfast Club, she played the popular girl and had to push past her comfort zone. The results were an honest portrayal of a complicated and misunderstood young woman. It’s easy to feel that Ringwald is drawing on personal experience when watching the film.

The Breakfast Club
R
Comedy
Drama

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After receiving detention, a group of five high-school students bonds as they realize they have quite a bit in common despite being from different friend groups. Despite being over 35 years old, The Breakfast Club still stands as one of the quintessential movies of the ‘80s and one of director John Hughes standout films.

Director John Hughes Release Date February 15, 1985 Cast Molly Ringwald , Ally Sheedy , Anthony Michael Hall , Judd Nelson , Emilio Estevez Runtime 97 minutes

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