If You Love John Candy, You Need the Ol’ 96er on Your Wall

If you’re a fan of John Candy, chances are The Great Outdoors isn’t just another comedy — it’s comfort food. It’s quotable, endlessly rewatchable, and packed with moments that feel like they belong to a simpler, funnier time in movies. And no scene sums that up better than the legendary Ol’ 96er steak challenge.

You know the one:

• A steak so big it needs its own ZIP code.

• A crowd gathering.

• Roman Craig stepping up with pure, unstoppable confidence.

• And John Candy doing what he did best: turning absurdity into absolute comedy gold.

That moment is peak Candy — fearless, physical, and somehow still heartfelt — and it’s exactly why I wanted to capture it in one of my drawings.

A Scene That Deserves to Be Framed

The Ol’ 96er scene isn’t just funny — it’s iconic. It’s the kind of moment that instantly takes you back to sitting on the couch, laughing with family, rewinding the tape, or quoting it with friends who’ve seen it a hundred times too.

That’s what makes it such a perfect piece of wall art.

Whether it’s hanging in:

• Your cabin or lake house, where The Great Outdoors already feels like required viewing

• Your kitchen, where a massive steak just feels… appropriate

• Your man cave or rec room, surrounded by other movie memorabilia

• Your home theater, as a tribute to one of comedy’s greatest legends

…it’s not just decoration. It’s a conversation starter. It’s a laugh waiting to happen. It’s a signal that whoever lives here has excellent taste in movies.

Fun Facts for Fellow Fans

Because if you love this movie, you probably love the behind-the-scenes stuff too:

• The Great Outdoors was released in 1988 and was written by John Hughes, who also wrote Planes, Trains and Automobiles — another all-time John Candy classic.

• The Ol’ 96er steak was so huge they had to build multiple versions of it for filming — including lighter foam versions for certain shots.

• John Candy and Dan Aykroyd had incredible on-screen chemistry, and much of their banter feels natural because Hughes often wrote dialogue that played to the actors’ strengths.

• The movie has become a cult favorite over the years, especially among fans who grew up watching it on VHS or cable reruns.

It’s one of those films that never really left pop culture — it just quietly became a classic.

A Tribute to a Comedy Legend, John Candy

Part of what makes drawing scenes like this so fun is that it feels like paying tribute to performers who gave us so much joy. John Candy had a rare gift: he could be ridiculous and sincere at the same time. He could make you laugh while still making you root for him.

The Ol’ 96er scene is silly, sure — but it’s also pure determination, pure bravado, and pure Candy. That’s why it sticks with people. That’s why it still gets referenced decades later. And that’s why it felt like the perfect moment to turn into art.

If you’re the kind of person who still throws on The Great Outdoors when you want something familiar and funny…If you quote John Candy movies more than you probably should…If your ideal weekend involves movies, snacks, and maybe a grill…

Then this one’s for you.

Because some movie moments don’t just belong on a screen — they belong on your wall. 🎬🥩