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Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Ally Sheedy ... see more see more... , Paul Gleason , John Kapelos , Mary Christian , Perry Crawford , Ron Dean , Tim Gamble , Fran Gargano , Mercedes Hall , Maureen McGovern , Jackie Burch

John Hughes wrote and directed this quintessential 1980s high school drama featuring the hottest young stars of the decade. Trapped in a day-long Saturday detention in a prison-like school library are... read more read more... Claire, the princess (Molly Ringwald); Andrew, the jock (Emilio Estevez); John, the criminal (Judd Nelson); Brian, the brain (Anthony Michael Hall); and Allison, the basket case (Ally Sheedy). These five strangers begin the day with nothing in common, each bound to his/her place in the high school caste system. Yet the students bond together when faced with the villainous principal (Paul Gleason), and they realize that they have more in common than they may think, including a contempt for adult society. "When you grow up, your heart dies," Allison proclaims in one of the film's many scenes of soul-searching, and, judging from the adults depicted in the film, the teen audience may very well agree. Released in a decade overflowing with derivative teen films, The Breakfast Club has developed an almost cult-like status. ~ Dylan Wilcox, Rovi

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90% liked it

470,659 ratings

Critics

91% liked it

44 critics

R, 1 hr. 37 min.

Directed by: John Hughes

Release Date: May 15, 1985

Keywords: funny, teen, 80's, school, simple, angst

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DVD Release Date: September 2, 2003

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Stats: 40,847 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (40,847)

  • cosmo313
    April 17, 2013
    cosmo313
    Quintessential John Hughes and a classic of the 1980's. Very iconic and memorable. Required viewing. PERIOD. The set up is simple: five teens from different social cliques and backgrounds spend a Saturday in detention together and begin to see that they have more in common than t... read morehey initially realized.

    Seeing as how I was only born a year after this movie came out, I don't have the nostalgia for it that many do. I did however, first discover it at a young and impressionable age, so, even though it doesn't resonate with me on a level like something from my own generation, it still hits big emotionally and with experiences and relatability.

    In a way, this movie isn't really dated becasue of that, and the message in general. It may be set in the 80s, and deal with instances and situations anchored in that time, but the overall impact and point is timeless, and I'd like to think that that was the whole point all along.
  • ironclad1609
    December 16, 2012
    ironclad1609
    review coming.
  • fb100000293612769
    November 24, 2012
    fb100000293612769
    Powerful and iconic, The Breakfast Club is a well-filmed, well-acted, and quite entertaining coming-of-age film that is, to this day, surprisingly and effectively relatable.
  • CloudStrife84
    July 30, 2012
    CloudStrife84
    To the soaring, cult-laden tunes of "Don't You Forget About Me" by 80's sensation Simple Minds, this unforgettable classic by the late great John Hughes, gave a voice to an entire generation and yet continues to resonate among teenagers everywhere.

    Plot-wise, it's really simple:... read more five high school students who each represent a specific stereotype, gets sentenced to detention, forced to spend an entire Saturday together, which normally, they'd never even consider.

    As individuals at odds and from clashing social groups, the atmosphere at first is tense and rather hostile. But as their outward masks break down - all of whom exposing frailty and voices crying for help - they suddenly begin to discover that they're not so different as they had first believed.

    Therein lies the beauty of this film. For as these troubled teens open up their hearts to us and share their innermost issues, we recall upon our own high school years, where angst and constant pressure lay heavy upon our shoulders.

    Whether it be the Brain, the Athlete, the Basket Case, the Princess or the Criminal, we all have someone we can relate to in this film, which in my eyes will always render it precious and timeless.

    A deep and soulful coming-of-age story, which despite the confined setting (or perhaps with credit to), bears great meaning, hope and emotional impact. Essential viewing for anyone who has ever been a teen or lived a less-than-perfect life (i.e. the lot of us).

    For as far as depictions go of the dramedy of youth, this is the best and most beautifully written film I've ever seen on the subject. A classic in every sense, that I'd feel criminal to give anything less than an A++!
  • fb1033186916
    April 19, 2012
    fb1033186916
    Often funny and easy to relate to, The Breakfast Club captures the nature and essence of being caught within the entrapment of pressure and stereotypes during teenage years. It tackles the society's imposition of a high school hierarchy in a meaningful and heartfelt way, but that... read more doesn't matter when watching this iconic masterpiece. What matters is realizing that you are never alone, whether you chose to or not.
  • fb733768972
    December 9, 2011
    fb733768972
    The Breakfast club, gleefully, may just be the only movie I have ever seen that has absolutely no flaws. There is always a way of picking out things from a film, but to me, it seems impossible here. The backstories of the characters are so charismatic, that when taking them serio... read moreusly, you have to cry by the time the movie finishes. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this film, but having five completely different people, mixed together to become friends, is something that moved me in many ways, and I will grasp onto this story forever. Charishable, Unforgettable, and my personal favourite movie of all time! Easily said.
  • fb634552688
    November 18, 2011
    fb634552688
    For any piece of work to become a classic, it has to tackle themes and ideas that transcend time. And it has to do this in a way that can be understood/related to by anyone. The Breakfast Club is about a group of seemingly small-minded teenagers stuck in detention, who then pro... read moreceed to discover ideas way beyond their level of education. At it's core, The Breakfast Club is a movie about friendship and the pains of growing up. However, it expands into something much much greater. It presents this idea that we are quick to categorize and label people instead of attempting to truly understand who they are. If we believe that we have never shared the same fears or challenges as them, then we simply lob on the first idea of "their type" that is presented to us. We never take the time to understand what make them tick, and prefer to just assume that we know. We forget that we are all human. And while we can only really relate to someone else insofar as our experiences go, it is possible that their experiences are comparable to ours. It is humorous and well-written and, of course, emotional.
  • fb791220692
    November 15, 2011
    fb791220692
    It's easy to see why 'The Breakfast Club' is often seen as influential and iconic. it's as honest and sentimental as they come, but it's also painfully obvious to me that this movie is exclusively powerful for those who were actually teenagers in the 80s, and who mirrored the ang... read morest-filled teens it stars. Only a couple decades later, the film manages to come off as overly dramatic, and unfortunately, the fact that so many have 'borrowed' from Hughes also makes the characters feel more cliched than they undoubtedly were when the movie first released. In the end, despite the fact that there is still a lot teenagers today can learn from 'The Breakfast Club', it seems more like a relic of the past, and will only feel more dated as time passes. It's worth watching for its place in film history, and the performances are pretty good all around, but I prefer and would recommend the 90s 'Dazed and Confused' for a similar but more relatable representation of young adults attempting to understand themselves and the world they live in.
  • movieguru12
    August 31, 2011
    movieguru12
    The greatest teen comedy. There has never been a movie made like this awesome movie. There will never be another movie with so much hilarity, teen angst, and such great music! :) This is how I got interested in the 80s! :) :) :)
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    August 24, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    John Hughes The Breakfast Club is an incredible drama film about five teens spend a Saturday in detention. These teens are very different, coming from different backgrounds, yet they all have the same problems. This is a brilliant film that not only teens can relate to. As an adu... read morelt, I was blown away by this film. The film has such a simple story, yet works so well because of its terrific cast. John Hughes was a phenomenal talent, and I've seen a few of his films, but The Breakfast Club really stood out for me, this is the film that will be remembered as the essential John Hughes classic. A wonderful film with drama and comedy, The Breakfast Club is one of those films that you can relate to because, we all feel at times frustrated, just like the characters in this film. The film is still relevant today, and watching this film reminded me of all the great films that were made in the past. This is a wonderful, well thought film that has a mix of everything that any viewer can relate to. The cast that star in this film are absolutely wonderful, and this film is a near flawless piece of cinema. The beauty of its simplistic story mixed with great acting makes The Breakfast Club one of the best teen drama comedy films ever made. Usually teen films tend to be brainless and insult the audience because of their age, but The Breakfast Club doesn't do that whatsoever. Instead director John Hughes treats the subject with respect and embodies everything a teenager can feel while fitting in, and finding his or hers place. This is a film that has stood the test of time, and it's a well acted and told story that really anyone can relate to. The Breakfast Club is a winner, and a classic of cinema.

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Critic Reviews

Michael Booth
July 27, 2007
Michael Booth, Denver Post

In nine hours of threatening, bickering and, eventually, poignant (but never maudlin) self-revelation, the stereotypes dissolve and re-form. Full Review

Dave Kehr
July 18, 2007
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

John Hughes's 1985 film seems meant to explain 80s youngsters to yesterday's youth, and comes to the comforting conclusion that they're just as alienated, idealistic, and vulnerable as the baby boomer... Full Review

Variety Staff
July 18, 2007
Variety Staff, Variety

Does director John Hughes really believe, as he writes here, that 'when you grow up, your heart dies.' It may. But not unless the brain has already started to rot with films like this. Full Review

June 24, 2006
Time Out

An iconic movie of the '80s, with all the unappealing baggage that suggests. Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The Breakfast Club doesn't need earthshaking revelations; it's about kids who grow willing to talk to one another, and it has a surprisingly good ear for the way they speak. Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Mr. Hughes, having thought up the characters and simply flung them together, should have left well enough alone.

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

In The Breakfast Club, Hughes has created a surprisingly enduring motion picture that is still effective 13 years after its theatrical debut. Full Review

Tim Brayton
September 26, 2011
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy

A movie that has far more problems than its reputation would suggest, the kind of flaws that can be very readily glossed over in a fit of fond remembrance. Full Review

Brian Orndorf
September 8, 2008
Brian Orndorf, DVDTalk.com

There's not a single false beat to be found, concluding Breakfast with a singular display of emotional discharge unheard of in its genre. Full Review

Cole Smithey
February 16, 2008
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com

Time capsule.

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Facts

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    • Andrew Clark: That's really intelligent.
    • John Bender: You're right. It's wrong to literature. It's such fun to read. And Moe-Lay really pumps my nads.
    • Claire Standish: Moliere.
    • John Bender: What's that?
    • Claire Standish: Sushi.
    • John Bender: Sushi?
    • Claire Standish: Rice, raw fish and seaweed.
    • John Bender: You won't accept a guy's tongue in your mouth, and you're going to eat that?
    • Claire Standish: Can i eat?
    • John Bender: I don't know. Give it a try.
    • John Bender: It was an accident.
    • Claire Standish: You're an asshole.
    • John Bender: Sue me.
    • John Bender: Screws fall out all the time, the world is an imperfect place.
    • John Bender: You know what I got for Christmas this year? It was a banner fuckin' year at the old Bender family. I got a carton of cigarettes. The old man grabbed me and said "Hey. Smoke up Johnny."
    • Allison Reynolds: I'd do that. I'll do anything sexual, and I don't need a million dollars to do it either. I'm a nymphomaniac
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The Breakfast Club Trivia

  • Lines like "Does Barry Manilow know you raid his wardrobe?" and "Could you describe the ruckus?" were in which 1980s high school movie?  Answer »
  • "Does Barry Manilow know that you raid his wardrobe?" Name the movie this quote is taken from.  Answer »
  • In which film did the brat pack spend their saturday in detention?  Answer »
  • In what movie does someone say, "Don't mess with the bull young man, you'll get the horns."  Answer »
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