10 movies where birthdays take center stage
It’s my birthday on Saturday, Feb. 21. And since I’ve probably logged more screen time than meal time in my life, I’m celebrating the only way that makes sense: with a movie marathon. In honor of cake, candles and cinematic chaos, here are some of my favorite films where birthdays take center stage. Light ’em up and hit play.
“Sixteen Candles” (1984) – Poor Samantha (Molly Ringwald). Her “sweet 16” is forgotten by her family thanks to her sister’s wedding frenzy, while her crush barely knows she exists. Tragic now, triumphant later — and Anthony Michael Hall is pure comic gold.
“City Slickers” (1991) – A miserable almost-40 yuppie (Billy Crystal) trades midlife dread for a cattle drive with two buddies to “go find his smile.” Jack Palance’s Oscar-winning cowboy wisdom is classic.
“Uncle Buck” (1989) – John Candy stars as the world’s least qualified babysitter, flipping birthday pancakes so big that he needs a snow shovel to flip them. “I hope you’re hungry!” he says. I hope you have enough syrup.
“Logan’s Run” (1976) – In the future, everyone dies at age 30. Bummer. We follow an officer known as a “Sandman” (Michael York), who hunts escapees while secretly dreaming of freedom. Dark, flashy and still wildly entertaining.
“On Golden Pond” (1981) – An 80th birthday brings old wounds and tender moments at a lakeside cabin. Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda are luminous in their Oscar-winning roles, and the film hits that perfect sweet spot between nostalgia and heartbreak. Jane Fonda also stars in the only film that she and her father appeared in together.
“What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” (1993) – Small-town life, heavy responsibilities, and an impending 18th birthday party that changes everything. A young Leonardo DiCaprio’s Oscar-nominated performance is astonishing, and Johnny Depp has never been more quietly powerful.
“13 Going on 30” (2004) – A 13-year-old wishes herself into adulthood and wakes up at age 30. Proof that growing up is overrated — I’m on my third midlife crisis already. Ha.
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (1975) – Time warp? Birthday party? Undead muscle man in gold shorts? Sure. Tim Curry’s Frank-N-Furter hosts probably one of the weirdest celebrations in cinema history, and I respect that level of commitment.
“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” (2001) – The one that started it all, the first of many film adaptations based on J.K. Rowlings’ beloved magical series. Here, we are introduced to Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) who has just turned 11, and enrolls in the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he learns the truth about himself, his family and a terrible evil that haunts the magical world. Such as, why is there no more popcorn?
“Happy Death Day” (2017) – Christopher Landon’s signature blend of guts and humor has never been more effective than in this genre-bending horror story about a college student (Jessica Rothe) who must relive the day of her murder (and birthday) over and over again, in a loop that will end only when she discovers her killer’s identity. Well, some people wish that their birthdays could last forever. Careful what you watch for!
Reach Rod Pocowatchit at rodrick@rawdzilla.com.