Five high school students from different walks of life endure a Saturday detention under a power-hungry principal. The disparate group includes rebel John, princess Claire, outcast Allison, brainy Brian and Andrew, the jock. Each has a chance to tell his or her story, making the others see them a little differently -- and when the day ends, they question whether school will ever be the same.
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- RichardSeptember 4, 2025There are movies that entertain, and then there are movies that understand you. The Breakfast Club is the latter. Decades later, I still love it, not just for its iconic quotes or unforgettable soundtrack, but for the way it dares to look beneath the surface of teenage life and say, “You’re not alone”. Five students walk into Saturday detention as stereotypes: the brain, the athlete, the basket case, the princess and the criminal. But by the time they walk out, those labels have been cracked open, revealing the raw, complicated people underneath. It’s funny, it’s sharp, and it’s deeply human. But there’s one moment that never stops echoing: when John Bender, the rebellious “criminal,” reveals the bruises of his home life, not metaphorical ones, but real, physical abuse from his father. He jokes about it, mocks it, shrugs it off. But the pain is there, simmering just beneath his sarcasm. While the movie ends with a triumphant fist pump and a kiss from Claire (The princess), there’s a quiet, devastating truth we’re left to sit with: when the school doors close, Bender goes home. Back to the same house. Back to the same fists. Back to the same silence. That’s the hidden sadness of The Breakfast Club. It gives us hope, but it also reminds us that one day of connection doesn’t erase a lifetime of pain. And yet, it matters. That day matters. Because for a few hours, Bender wasn’t just a criminal. He was seen. He was heard. He was loved. I still love this film. Not because it’s perfect, but because it’s honest and sometimes, honesty is the most powerful thing a movie can offer.
- CoffeeJesus666February 8, 2026One of those movies that I always thought I misunderstood. I mean, everyone loves it... What am I missing? I sat down and decided to watch it again and it is glaringly obvious that this movie goes nowhere and despite the characters fitting a very specific genre of "teen"... There's nothing to write home about here. It is well directed and I do feel like most of the "emotional" parts of the film are all single shots (aka.not filmed in a group because the actors probably couldn't pull it off). Overtly close up camera angels to hide the fact that the characters are shot alone and spliced together. Every kid only experiencing mild childhood trauma (except for the Judd character which suffers from actual physical abuse but is so obnoxious the whole movie that it makes him extremely hard to like). A John Hughes classic that kind of just feels like some strange pseudo-psycological concept piece that truly goes nowhere. I suppose nostalgia may make you side with this film in certain circumstances but truly this is at the bottom of the John Hughes 80s barrel in my book. Incredibly average.
- RecordedsnakeJanuary 1, 2026The Breakfast Club is a timeless coming-of-age film that turns familiar high-school stereotypes into real, relatable people. With sharp dialogue, heartfelt performances, and plenty of humour, it shows how a single day can change how we see ourselves and others. Funny, honest, and still deeply relevant today.
- Namkai BancoOctober 28, 2025They gave my disconnected and often self-righteous teenage meladrama meaning. I've since grown up into middle-age and still feel that raw adolescent grit they express. No other movie better represents what it feels like to be an outcast at this high school in 1985 serving detention and having to write a paper about it. If you want to feel things again while listening to Wang Chung, this is the movie for you.
- Jonathon PackSeptember 12, 2025Hearing so many people talk about The Breakfast Club being one of their favorite films over the past couple decades makes so much more sense now that I finally sat down to watch it. Some elements towards the end are a little too far out there for me, but the entire film was a great time. It was not at all what I thought it would be.
- Davey’s Wonderful WorldAugust 30, 2025This is what I like to call John Hughes, Magnum, opus such great acting from the brat pack. Such great humor, fun, silly adventures, and thought provoking themes for teenagers about pressure and expectations It is simply marvelous and everyone if they’re a teenager should absolutely see it at least once
- drakeg23August 25, 2025I just watched the classic 1985 movie the breakfast club and I gotta say, this movie holds up REALLY well. This movie is the definition of a character-based story. There's not a central story but the writing is good enough to make this movie as good as it is. All five characters bring something to the movie and you really care about every one of them by the end of the film. The way they explore so many different themes in this film is genuinely incredible, and the scene with the five of them talking about their pasts is one of the best movie scenes ever. This is a very emotional and heartfelt movie that is definitely timeless. Universal really made this & Back to the Future in the SAME YEAR, absolute greatness
- TomVaderMay 28, 2025I didn't see this movie as a teen, or a child. I saw this movie well into my 40s. To be honest, I loved it. Maybe I loved it because it harkens back to my teenage years, or maybe it's just a fun story, albeit with some obvious stereotypes. I don't really know. That being said, I found it fun to watch, and will definitely watch it again, and again. It's literally just about a bunch of kids in detention on a Saturday, but somehow it works.
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The Breakfast Club was released on February 14, 1985.
The Breakfast Club was directed by John Hughes.
The Breakfast Club has a runtime of 1h 38m.
The Breakfast Club was produced by Ned Tanen, John Hughes.
Five high school students from different walks of life endure a Saturday detention under a power-hungry principal. The disparate group includes rebel John, princess Claire, outcast Allison, brainy Brian and Andrew, the jock. Each has a chance to tell his or her story, making the others see them a little differently -- and when the day ends, they question whether school will ever be the same.
The key characters in The Breakfast Club are Andrew Clark (Emilio Estevez), John Bender (Judd Nelson), Claire Standish (Molly Ringwald).
The Breakfast Club is rated R.
The Breakfast Club is a Comedy, Drama film.
The Breakfast Club has an audience rating of 9.2 out of 10.
The Breakfast Club had a budget of $1M.
The Breakfast Club has made $51.5M at the box office.