When five high school students from different social groups are forced to spend a Saturday together in detention, they find themselves interacting with and understanding each other for the first time. A jock (Emilio Estevez), a criminal (Judd Nelson), a princess (Molly Ringwald), a basket case (Ally Sheedy), and a brain (Anthony Michael Hall) talk about everything from parental tension to sex to peer pressure to hurtful stereotypes while serving time. Ultimately, the five find that they may have more in common than they ever imagined and learn more about themselves as well as each other. The only question is, Will they remember what they've learned after they leave detention? Director and writer John Hughes, along with the stellar Brat Pack, cast makes this a memorable, moving film filled with believable dialogue, intelligent humor, and a sufficient dose of high school hijinx. Its timeless appeal makes this film a teen classic along with Hughes's other teen films from the 1980s: SIXTEEN CANDLES and FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF. A great soundtrack features the hit "Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds.
In one of the few intelligent Brat Pack movies, five high school students are forced to spend an entire Saturday together in detention. While serving time, they slowly form friendships that could last a lifetime...or might not last until Monday morning.
Theatrical release: February 15, 1985.
Filmed at Main North High School and Glenbrook North High School in lllinois.
Glenbrook North High School is writer-director John Hughes's alma mater.
The film was shot in sequence from the opening scene to the final shot.
Director John Hughes appears as Brian's father.
Like most of Hughes's films, THE BREAKFAST CLUB takes place in fictional Shermer, IL.
Director John Hughes and stars Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall previously teamed up on SIXTEEN CANDLES. Hughes and Ringwald subsequently made PRETTY IN PINK.
Excerpt: "So it's sort of social--demented and sad, but social."--Bender (Judd Nelson) to Brian (Anthony Michael Hall)
"Don't mess with the bull, young man. You'll get the horns."--Vernon (Paul Gleason) to Bender
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
DTS Surround 5.1 - English
Interactive Features:
Scene Access
Interactive Menus
Choreographer
Dorain Grusman:
Costume Designer
Marilyn Vance: Costume Designer, FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH (1982)
Director of Photography
Thomas Del Ruth:
Production Designer
John W. Corso:
Costume Designer
Christian Zamiata:
Review 1:
"...A heartfelt, surprisingly experimental film....A touchstone of 80's pop culture..." -- Rating: B
Source: Entertainment Weekly
pp.80-1 08/07/1998
Review 2:
"...The Brat Pack unite under '80s Teen King John Hughes..."
Source: Total Film
p.128 08/01/2003
Review 3:
"...Paul Gleason is convincing as the kind of teacher no one ever goes back to see..."
Source: USA Today
p.9E 09/05/2003
Review 4:
4 stars out of 5 -- "John Hughes' teen masterpiece remains entertaining after all these years..."
Source: Empire
p.193 11/01/2008