Top 10 John Candy Films by North American Box Office

John Hughes's 1989 comedy grossed $66.8 million in the United States and Canada and opened at number one. Candy stars as Buck Russell. Uncle Buck was released in the United States and Canada on 16 August 1989 by Universal Pictures. Hughes wrote and directed it, and Candy stars as Buck Russell, a bachelor asked to watch his brother's three children. Amy Madigan plays Chanice. The film runs 100 minutes. It opened with $8.8 million from 1,804 theaters and stayed number one for four consecutive weeks. Wikipedia says it was the 13th-highest-grossing film of 1989 in the United States and Canada, with $66.8 million, and estimates $12.5 million outside that market, for a worldwide total of $79.3 million. Filming began on 4 January 1989 in Chicago, with interiors at the vacant New Trier High School West campus in Northfield, Illinois. On Rotten Tomatoes, as cited on the page, 61 percent of 28 reviews are positive.

The 1983 Warner Bros. road comedy grossed $61,399,552. National Lampoon's Vacation was released by Warner Bros. on 29 July 1983. Harold Ramis directed from a John Hughes screenplay based on Hughes's short story "Vacation '58". Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo play Clark and Ellen Griswold. Candy plays Russ Lasky, a Walley World security guard. The film opened in 1,175 venues and earned $8,333,358 in its opening weekend, ranking number one. The page states that it grossed $61,399,552 and, separately, that it earned more than $60 million in the United States alone. The running time is 98 minutes.

Hughes's 1987 Thanksgiving road film finished its American run with $49,530,280. Candy stars opposite Steve Martin as salesman Del Griffith. Planes, Trains and Automobiles was released on 25 November 1987 by Paramount Pictures. Hughes wrote, produced, and directed it. Steve Martin plays advertising executive Neal Page and Candy plays shower-curtain-ring salesman Del Griffith. A snowstorm diverts their flight, and the pair try to reach Chicago for Thanksgiving. Wikipedia lists a budget of $15 million, a running time of 92 minutes, and a box office of $49.5 million. It opened with $7,009,482, grossed $10,131,242 in its first five days, and finished a 12-week American run on 22 January 1988 with $49,530,280. Filming began in February 1987 and lasted 85 days, mostly in New York state. On Rotten Tomatoes, as cited on the page, it has a 93 percent approval rating based on 66 reviews.

The 1988 Universal comedy grossed $41,455,230 in North America. Candy plays Chester "Chet" Ripley opposite Dan Aykroyd. The Great Outdoors was released on 17 June 1988 by Universal Pictures. Howard Deutch directed from a John Hughes script. Candy plays Chester "Chet" Ripley and Dan Aykroyd plays Roman Craig, brothers-in-law whose families share a cabin in the fictional Wisconsin town of Pechoggin. Annette Bening makes her film debut as Kate Craig. The running time is 90 minutes. Wikipedia's box-office section says it grossed $6,121,115 in its opening weekend and ended with a North American gross of $41,455,230 and a worldwide gross of $43,455,230. It was shot over three weeks in October 1987 in Bass Lake, California, standing in for the fictional lake. On Rotten Tomatoes, as cited on the page, it holds 44 percent from 39 reviews.

Walter Hill's 1985 comedy grossed $40,833,132 domestically. Candy plays Spike Nolan, catcher and friend to Richard Pryor's Monty Brewster. Brewster's Millions was released on 22 May 1985 by Universal Pictures. Walter Hill directed, and the script adapts George Barr McCutcheon's 1902 novel. Richard Pryor plays minor-league pitcher Montgomery Brewster, who must spend $30 million in 30 days to inherit $300 million. Candy plays Spike Nolan, the team's catcher and Brewster's friend. Wikipedia lists a budget of $15 million and a running time of 101 minutes. The box-office section says it made $9,858,905 on the opening weekend of 24 May 1985 and ultimately grossed $40,833,132 domestically, plus $5,000,000 internationally. The baseball park shown as Hackensack was a reused set inside the LADWP Valley Generating Station in Sun Valley, California.

Mel Brooks's 1987 science-fiction parody grossed $40,306,483 in the United States. Candy plays Barf, the half-man, half-dog partner of Lone Starr. Spaceballs was released by MGM/UA on 24 June 1987. Brooks directed and plays both President Skroob and Yogurt. Bill Pullman plays Lone Starr, Candy plays Barf, Rick Moranis plays Dark Helmet, and Daphne Zuniga plays Princess Vespa. The film runs 96 minutes. Wikipedia's box-office section says it grossed $40,306,483 in the United States and took in $6,613,837 on its opening weekend, finishing behind Dragnet. The infobox lists a budget of $22.7 million; the box-office section refers to an estimated $25.5 million budget. Brooks said his agreement with George Lucas meant no Spaceballs action figures were made. On Rotten Tomatoes, as cited on the page, 53 percent of 106 reviews are positive. A sequel, Spaceballs: The New One, is scheduled for 2027.

Carl Reiner's 1985 comedy grossed $24,689,703 in the United States. Wikipedia calls it Candy's first starring role in a feature film. Summer Rental was released in the United States on 9 August 1985 by Paramount Pictures. Carl Reiner directed, and Candy stars as air-traffic controller Jack Chester, who takes his family from Atlanta to the fictional Florida town of Citrus Cove. Richard Crenna plays sailing champion Al Pellet. The film runs 87 minutes. Wikipedia's infobox lists a US box office of $24,689,703, and the box-office section says the domestic total was $24.7 million. It opened in 1,584 theatres and made $5,754,259 in its first weekend, ranking second. Principal photography ran from 18 March to 15 May 1985, starting in St. Petersburg and St. Pete Beach. The page says Candy stated in a 1986 interview that he was paid $800,000.