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The Breakfast Club

  • 19851985
  • RR
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
387K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
264
67
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, and Anthony Michael Hall in The Breakfast Club (1985)
Trailer for The Breakfast Club 30th Anniversary Edition
Play trailer1:21
9 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama

Five high school students meet in Saturday detention and discover how they have a lot more in common than they thought.Five high school students meet in Saturday detention and discover how they have a lot more in common than they thought.Five high school students meet in Saturday detention and discover how they have a lot more in common than they thought.

IMDb RATING
7.8/10
387K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
264
67
  • Director
    • John Hughes
  • Writer
    • John Hughes
  • Stars
    • Emilio Estevez
    • Judd Nelson
    • Molly Ringwald
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Hughes
  • Writer
    • John Hughes
  • Stars
    • Emilio Estevez
    • Judd Nelson
    • Molly Ringwald
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 983User reviews
    • 154Critic reviews
    • 66Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins

    Videos9

    The Breakfast Club: 30th Anniversary Edition
    Trailer 1:21
    The Breakfast Club: 30th Anniversary Edition
    What to Watch After "I Am Not Okay With This"
    Clip 3:39
    What to Watch After "I Am Not Okay With This"
    The Breakfast Club: 30th Anniversary Edition
    Clip 1:27
    The Breakfast Club: 30th Anniversary Edition
    The Breakfast Club: 30th Anniversary Edition
    Clip 1:30
    The Breakfast Club: 30th Anniversary Edition
    The Breakfast Club: 30th Anniversary Edition
    Clip 1:11
    The Breakfast Club: 30th Anniversary Edition
    The Breakfast Club: 30th Anniversary Edition
    Clip 1:09
    The Breakfast Club: 30th Anniversary Edition
    'The New Mutants' Cast Reveal Characters & Film Inspirations
    Interview 3:25
    'The New Mutants' Cast Reveal Characters & Film Inspirations
    The Evolution of Nerds
    Video 3:44
    The Evolution of Nerds
    Dates in Movie & TV History: March 24, 1984 - 'The Breakfast Club'
    Video 2:14
    Dates in Movie & TV History: March 24, 1984 - 'The Breakfast Club'

    Photos148

    Anthony Michael Hall in The Breakfast Club (1985)
    Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, and Anthony Michael Hall in The Breakfast Club (1985)
    Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, Ally Sheedy, and Anthony Michael Hall in The Breakfast Club (1985)
    "The Breakfast Club" Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, Ally Sheedy, director John Hughes, Anthony Michael Hall
    "The Breakfast Club" Paul Gleason, director John Hughes
    "The Breakfast Club" Molly Ringwald, director John Hughes, Judd Nelson, Emilio Estevez
    "Breakfast Club" Molly Ringwald
    "The Breakfast Club" Director John Hughes
    "Breakfast Club" Judd Nelson, Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Ally Sheedy 1985 Universal
    Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy at an event for The Breakfast Club (1985)
    Tom Cruise at an event for The Breakfast Club (1985)
    Tom Cruise and Rebecca De Mornay at an event for The Breakfast Club (1985)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Emilio Estevez
    Emilio Estevez
    • Andrew Clarkas Andrew Clark
    Judd Nelson
    Judd Nelson
    • John Benderas John Bender
    Molly Ringwald
    Molly Ringwald
    • Claire Standishas Claire Standish
    Ally Sheedy
    Ally Sheedy
    • Allison Reynoldsas Allison Reynolds
    Paul Gleason
    Paul Gleason
    • Richard Vernonas Richard Vernon
    Anthony Michael Hall
    Anthony Michael Hall
    • Brian Johnsonas Brian Johnson
    John Kapelos
    John Kapelos
    • Carlas Carl
    Perry Crawford
    • Allison's Fatheras Allison's Father
    Mary Christian
    • Brian's Sisteras Brian's Sister
    Ron Dean
    Ron Dean
    • Andy's Fatheras Andy's Father
    Tim Gamble
    • Claire's Fatheras Claire's Father
    Fran Gargano
    • Allison's Momas Allison's Mom
    Mercedes Hall
    • Brian's Momas Brian's Mom
    John Hughes
    John Hughes
    • Brian's Fatheras Brian's Father
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • John Hughes
    • Writer
      • John Hughes
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The scene in which all characters sit in a circle on the floor in the library and tell stories about why they were in detention was not scripted. Writer and director John Hughes told them all to ad-lib.
    • Goofs
      Throughout the movie it appears that Bender is wearing Claire's diamond earring in his left ear, even though she doesn't give it to him until the very end of the film. However, it is actually an ear cuff that is worn anywhere above the earlobe on the outer part of the ear. It is clearly seen when he puts on her earring.
    • Quotes

      Andrew: We're all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it, that's all.

    • Crazy credits
      Opens with the following which then explodes from the screen. "And these children that you spit on as they try to change their worlds; are immune to your consultations, they are quite aware of what they are going through." -David Bowie
    • Alternate versions
      When they sneak out of the library, there is a scene where Dick is at the vending machine getting some candy. He loses his money and starts kicking the machine. Every one has to run by this door one at a time to get where they are going. They all run by just missing being noticed. Ally Sheedy however slowly walks by stops and stares at Dick kicking the machine then slowly walks past unnoticed. Molly Ringwald then says "She's nuts but she's cool"
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Songwriter/Nineteen Eighty-Four/Witness/Mrs. Soffel (1985)
    • Soundtracks
      Don't You (Forget About Me)
      Performed by Simple Minds

      Produced by Keith Forsey

      Words and Music by Keith Forsey and Steve Schiff

    User reviews983

    Review
    Top review
    One of the best portrayals of adolescent life ever done
    John Hughes is in my opinions the "king of teens." Each of his teen films is great, from "Sixteen Candles", "Pretty in Pink" (which he co-wrote and produced), and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." They all have funny and serious moments and are classics. By the same token, "The Breakfast Club" is no exception. However, it stands out as doing the best job of the above films at portraying 80s teen life (and perhaps even teen life today) as it really was (is). Hence the familiar plot: Five high school students from different crowds in school (a nerd, a jock, a prom queen, a delinquent, and a loner) are thrown together for a Saturday detention in their school library for various reasons. Detention is supervised by the gruff and demeaning principal Richard Vernon, believably portrayed by Paul Gleason. As the day progresses, each member tells the story of why they are in detention, and by day's end they realize they have more in common than they ever imagined.

    What makes the film unique is that each character tells his or her own story with credibility and persistence. Jock Andrew Clark (Emilio Estevez) is under pressure from his father to perform up to high standards, which Mr. Clark believes will add to his (dad's) lost youth. Nerd Brian Johnson (Anthony Michael Hall) excels academically, but is failing shop class. Neither he nor his family can accept an F. Delinquent John Bender (Judd Nelson), while tough on the exterior, masks a difficult home life. Prom queen Claire(Molly Ringwald) has pressure to conform from her friends, as well as issues with her parental unit. Loner Allison (Ally Sheedy) has few if any friends, wears all black, and has similar problems at home. Can the emotional bonding they share in detention hold true beyond the library, and can stereotypes be broken?

    "The Breakfast Club" presents no-doubt stereotypical characters, and every member represents countless real-life examples. But what makes it so enjoyable is that applies a variety of themes to its context: prejudice/discrimination, acceptance/tolerance, diversity, class/status differences, family matters, group dynamics, etc. It also encourages us to look at others and ourselves beyond surface-level appearances. Finally, "The Breakfast Club" has great 1980s pop culture and societal integrations, from the soundtrack with Simple Minds "Don't You (Forget about Me), to wealthy, surburban American life (haves and have nots), and superficial values of the "me" decade. It reminds us that there truly is diversity in all of us. We are different, but we are all "the same" in one way or another.
    helpful•80
    34
    • bppihl
    • Apr 4, 2005

    FAQ3

    • What does Bender's joke mean?
    • Why does Mr. Vernon hate Bender so much?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 15, 1985 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Der Frühstücksclub
    • Filming locations
      • Maine North High School - 9511 Harrison Street, Des Plaines, Illinois, USA
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • A&M Films
      • Channel Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $45,875,171
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,107,599
      • Feb 18, 1985
    • Gross worldwide
      • $51,525,171
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 37 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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