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Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, Andrew McCarthy, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy ... see more see more... , Emilio Estevez , Mare Winningham , Martin Balsam , Jon Cutler , Joyce Van Patten , Andie MacDowell , Jenny Wright , Blake Clark , Elizabeth Arlen , Daniel Eden , Gina Hecht , Anna Maria Horsford , Whip Hubley , Seth Jaffe , Judy Kain , Jeffrey Lampert , Kaaren Lee , Mario Machado , Dean Miller , Jim Turner , Scott Nemes , Jamison Anders , David Lain Baker , Thom Bierdz , Bernadette Birkett , Bennet Bowman , James Carrington , Cindi Dietrich , Daniele Iraberen , Vincent J. Isaac , Nora Meerbaum , Don Moss , Laurel Page , Andy Scott , J.T. Solomon , Michele Winding , Patrick Winningham , Jennifer Shull , Matthew Laurance

Post-collegiate angst, '80s style, is the subject of this coming-of-age ensemble piece, which traces the fortunes of a group of Georgetown grads as they enter the real world and grapple with work, inf... read more read more...idelity, and adulthood. The most outwardly upscale member of the gang, Jules (Demi Moore), hides a plethora of emotional baggage behind a chic wardrobe, an expensive apartment, a fashionable drug habit, and lots of meaningless casual sex. Her friend Wendy (Mare Winningham) has the opposite problem; a trust-fund baby with body-image issues and little sexual experience, she's hung up on Billy (Rob Lowe), a no-good, sax-playing drunkard who can't face up to his responsibilities in the job market or at home with his wife and young child. Such open infidelity is anathema to Alex (Judd Nelson), who must maintain a sense of propriety even while engaging in compulsive womanizing; after all, the Democrat-turned-Republican's nascent political career requires the sort of picture-perfect relationship he shares with girlfriend Leslie (Ally Sheedy). That doesn't sit too well with tortured writer Kevin (Andrew McCarthy), who toils away at a newspaper job and pines away for the unattainable Leslie. Unrequited love also dogs Kirby (Emilio Estevez), a law-school student whose greatest wish is to romance classy doctor Dale Biberman (Andie MacDowell), who is, alas, way out of his league. Co-written by director Joel Schumacher and his studio intern, Carl Kurlander, St. Elmo's Fire spawned the number one pop hit "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)," which was credited to John Parr but co-written by music producer David Foster. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

Flixster Users

70% liked it

53,482 ratings

Critics

47% liked it

30 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 50 min.

Directed by: Joel Schumacher

Release Date: January 1, 1985

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DVD Release Date: November 20, 2001

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Stats: 2,631 reviews

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St. Elmo's Fire St. Elmo's Fire Sexy Judd Nelson St. Elmo's Fire Cast Rob Lowe as "Billy" in St. Elmo's Fire St-Elmos St. Elmo's Fire Demi Moore as "Jules" from St. Elmo's Fire Ally and Demi St. Elmo's Fire "Kevin" (Andrew McCarthy) and "Alec" (Ally Sheedy) in St. Elmo's Fire
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Flixster Reviews (2,631)

  • murphmann93
    October 24, 2011
    murphmann93
    St. Elmo's Fire is an enlightening and coming-of-age ensemble that warms your heart and leaves you feeling all happy inside. The cast is one of the best, being the brat pack, nobody could get enough of them in the 80's and I can see why. It's also a great learning film, that teac... read morehes you all about drugs, sex and everyday things that teenagers are influenced by and still are. A great little film and I'd really reccomend it. Definite must see!
  • movieguru12
    September 3, 2011
    movieguru12
    This movie shows and tells you about the transition to life after college. Just a really good honest film about life. Great story and great 80s music, this is another classic! :) I love it! :) :) :)
  • spielberg00
    August 8, 2011
    spielberg00
    I first heard the song "St. Elmo's Fire," and I liked it, but the movie was much better. That said, ST. ELMO'S FIRE could have easily been titled THE BREAKFAST CLUB: PART II, as it both has similar actors (Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, Emilio Estevez) and a much similar plotline--ju... read morest age the characters by a few short years and take away the weekend detention setting. It certainly isn't as good as THE BREAKFAST CLUB, an instant John Hughes classic without a doubt, but it has every shade of drama available, a hint of humor, and great acting.
  • jennifxu
    May 31, 2011
    jennifxu
    Yuck. 80s angst gone bad.
  • ajv2688
    January 20, 2011
    ajv2688
    I know that this film is usually considered an 80s classic, and yes it has a lot of great actors, but there are things about it I don't like. This romantic college drama has all the great stars except Ringwald, which disappoints me, the story is pretty good, but not realistic en... read moreough, and some of the characters are a bit annoying. It's not bad, I just don't really like it.
  • LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    May 15, 2010
    LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    "The passion burns deep."

    A Group of friends, just out of college, struggle with adulthood. Their main problem is that they're all self-centered and obnoxious.

    REVIEW

    Anyone who left home afte... read morer high school to go to college or for any other reason will relate to this movie. Only people who don't understand the futility of life will not comprehend nor appreciate its artistic analysis of yuppies. Truly a brat pack relic, up there with the Breakfast Club! First, the ensemble sufficiently consist of a vast variety of characters with real issues. Life is certainly fleeting and the fresh graduates attempt to prove else-wise. Second, who cannot help but fall in love with that music score that richly encompasses DC in the fall. Lastly, I love it because it stars the brat pack though at their twilight still keeps the audience attracted performances.
  • ythelastman89
    May 8, 2010
    ythelastman89
    Whether they knew it or not at the time, St. Elmo's Fire captures just about every stereotypical character from the 80s and groups them together as friends. You see the yuppie lifestyle in full, cynical writers, unhappy divorces, coke whores, loser musicians and shy virgin girls.... read more While I think the first time I saw this it was not as interesting or revelatory, this movie has a lot to offer in terms of the thought process of the 80s. What better way to tell that than with heartthrobs and stars of the time. In many ways this takes every John Hughes movie and laughs in its face, by showing all the dark sides of those characters. While it does have some weird themes and moments, this is such a time capsule of the 80s.
  • phubbs1
    October 25, 2009
    phubbs1
    This may be a seminal 80's film for the youth of the time but I never really liked this, it just comes across as an over acted young ego trip for these young stars which kinda makes you hurl haha
    The plot is rather dull and uninteresting and there is no humour or anything engagin... read moreg throughout, pretty overrated if you ask me.

    The Breakfast Club is the better cast ensemble film :)
  • Godless
    May 25, 2009
    Godless
    The only way for Schumacher to make this good would be to add nipples to all the cotumes and throw in George Clooney.
  • tsigur
    December 10, 2007
    tsigur
    Judd Nelson is terrible. The whole cast is pretty bad. Except for EMILIO!

View All St. Elmo's Fire Reviews

Critic Reviews

Ellen Twadell
January 1, 2011
Ellen Twadell, Common Sense Media

Soapy 20-something friends saga isn't for kids. Full Review

Walter Chaw
October 13, 2009
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central

there's a perceptive, brilliant essay buried somewhere in St. Elmo's Fire on the dangers of deeply, tragically stupid people trying to write the great American novel. Full Review

James Plath
August 22, 2009
James Plath, Movie Metropolis

Even teens might have a hard time identifying with the level of melodrama we get here. Full Review

Pete Croatto
June 29, 2009
Pete Croatto, Filmcritic.com

Everyone struggles. Everyone triumphs. The music swells. No one cares. Full Review

James Sanford
October 13, 2005
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette

the loud clothes, the pumped-up fake rock of John Parr, the questionable sex appeal of McCarthy and the unctuous Nelson. Turn it on and watch your skin crawl. Full Review

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
August 18, 2004
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

A telling look at the confusions and challenges facing seven friends who have recently graduated from the same college. Full Review

Jake Euker
July 8, 2004
Jake Euker, F5 (Wichita, KS)

The intolerable apotheosis of 80s youth-driven filmmaking.

Nell Minow
June 19, 2003
Nell Minow, Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

An icon of the 80's.

Ken Hanke
April 21, 2003
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Soapy brat pack sap.

Clint Morris
September 19, 2002
Clint Morris, Moviehole

An unforgettable master-piece. One of the best films for young people ever made. The young cast are splendid.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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St. Elmo's Fire Trivia

  • Which actress links the movies "Unstrung Heroes", "St. Elmo's Fire", "Short Cuts", "Four Weddings and a Funeral", "Multiplicity" and "Beauty Shop"?  Answer »
  • This actor starred in such films as St. Elmo's Fire, About Last Night, and Wayne's World, but is also famous for his role on The West Wing. Who is he?  Answer »
  • Who connects: D3 The Mighty Ducks, Judgement Night, Men AT Work, Young Guns, St. Elmos Fire, The Breakfast Club, Stakeout ?  Answer »
  • Who played Kevin in St. Elmo's Fire?  Answer »
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