The Breakfast Club (1985)

The Breakfast Club is one of the most iconic teen movies ever made, directed by John Hughes. Released in 1985, the film has become a cultural touchstone, capturing the angst, humor, and vulnerability of adolescence in a way few films have managed. It’s not just a high school comedy—it’s a deep character study disguised as one.

Detailed Summary

The Setup: Five Strangers in Detention

On a Saturday morning, five students from Shermer High School in Illinois are sent to all-day detention. Each represents a high school stereotype: the brain (Brian), the athlete (Andrew), the basket case (Allison), the princess (Claire), and the criminal (Bender). They have little in common at first, and their differences are exaggerated by their appearances and attitudes.

The Authority Figure: Principal Vernon

The students are supervised by Principal Vernon, who assigns them to write an essay about who they think they are. His presence is overbearing and antagonistic, embodying adult authority that fails to understand teenagers. His constant attempts to control them highlight the generational gap.

Clashes and Confessions

At first, the students bicker and insult one another. Bender provokes almost everyone, especially Claire, while Andrew and Brian struggle with their own insecurities. As the hours pass, their walls start to crumble. Through personal confessions, they reveal the struggles behind their stereotypes: parental pressure, neglect, abuse, loneliness, and the desire to be accepted.

Finding Common Ground

As they open up, the group begins to bond. They share secrets, laugh together, and even experiment with marijuana. The stereotype labels start to blur, and the characters realize they are more alike than different. The most important realization is that outside the library, their fragile connection may not survive the harsh hierarchies of high school.

Movie Ending

The film concludes on a bittersweet yet hopeful note. Each student comes away from detention having learned something about themselves and each other. Claire shares a kiss with Bender, bridging the gap between the “princess” and the “criminal.” Andrew connects with Allison, giving her validation and attention she’s never received. Brian, though he doesn’t find romance, becomes the voice of the group.

In the final moments, Brian writes the essay that Vernon demanded, but instead of conforming, he writes on behalf of all of them:

“You see us as you want to see us—in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain, and an athlete, and a basket case, a princess, and a criminal.”

As the students leave, Simple Minds’ song “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” kicks in. Bender walks across the football field and thrusts his fist triumphantly into the air—a freeze-frame that has become one of cinema’s most iconic endings.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, The Breakfast Club does not include any post-credits scenes. Once the credits roll with Simple Minds playing, the story is considered complete.

Type of Movie

The film is a teen drama-comedy with strong elements of coming-of-age storytelling. It’s often categorized as a dramedy, as it balances humor with raw, emotional honesty.

Cast

• Emilio Estevez as Andrew Clark (the Athlete)
• Paul Gleason as Principal Vernon
• Anthony Michael Hall as Brian Johnson (the Brain)
• Judd Nelson as John Bender (the Criminal)
• Molly Ringwald as Claire Standish (the Princess)
• Ally Sheedy as Allison Reynolds (the Basket Case)

Film Music and Composer

The most famous musical contribution is “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” by Simple Minds, which became forever linked to the movie. The score and soundtrack were compiled with Hughes’ input, reflecting the energy and emotion of 1980s youth culture.

Filming Locations

The movie was filmed primarily at Maine North High School in Des Plaines, Illinois. The school had closed down, which allowed the crew to use it freely. The entire story unfolds in the school’s library, which was actually a converted gymnasium made into a massive set. The choice of location reinforces the film’s claustrophobic intensity, forcing the characters into confrontation.

Awards and Nominations

While The Breakfast Club did not sweep awards at the time of its release, it has since gained recognition as one of the greatest teen films ever made. It has been preserved in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for its cultural and historical significance.

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Judd Nelson stayed in character as Bender even when the cameras weren’t rolling, sometimes annoying his co-stars.
• John Hughes shot much of the film in sequence, allowing the cast to grow naturally into their roles.
• The famous fist-pump ending wasn’t scripted—Nelson improvised it on the spot.
• Emilio Estevez was originally supposed to play Bender, but Hughes changed his role after casting Nelson.

Inspirations and References

John Hughes drew inspiration from his own teenage years and the stereotypes he saw in high schools. The story was meant to challenge the idea of fixed labels, showing that teenagers are more complex than society assumes.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

Several deleted scenes existed, including a dream sequence where each student imagined their perfect future. These were cut to keep the focus tight on the group’s interaction. Hughes also considered showing what happened to the students on Monday, but decided the ambiguity was more powerful.

Book Adaptations and Differences

There is no book adaptation that predates the movie. However, novelizations of the film were later written. Unlike book-to-film adaptations, The Breakfast Club was purely John Hughes’ original script brought to screen.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• The group’s marijuana-fueled dance sequence.
• Allison dumping her purse, revealing her secrets.
• Brian’s confession about bringing a gun to school.
• Claire giving Bender her diamond earring.

Iconic Quotes

• Bender: “Screws fall out all the time, the world’s an imperfect place.”
• Brian: “When you grow up, your heart dies.”
• Essay (Brian’s voiceover): “Each one of us is a brain, and an athlete, and a basket case, a princess, and a criminal.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• Principal Vernon’s coffee mug has a cracked handle—symbolizing his broken authority.
• The running time of detention (from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.) matches the approximate runtime of the actual movie in “detention hours.”
• The janitor Carl, who claims he’s “the eyes and ears of this institution,” was once a student at the school—hinting at the cycle of high school life.

Trivia

• The library set was built because the real school library wasn’t large enough.
• John Hughes wrote the entire script in just two days.
• Molly Ringwald originally wanted to play Allison, but Hughes felt she embodied Claire.
• The film was made on a relatively low budget of $1 million and grossed over $50 million.

Why Watch?

The Breakfast Club is more than a movie—it’s a cultural mirror. It peels back the surface of teenage life, exposing vulnerability and truth. It’s funny, raw, heartfelt, and timeless, showing that no matter the decade, young people struggle with identity, acceptance, and self-expression.

Director’s Other Movies

• Sixteen Candles (1984)
• Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
• Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)
• Uncle Buck (1989)

Recommended Films for Fans

• Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
• Sixteen Candles (1984)
• Dead Poets Society (1989)
• Dazed and Confused (1993)
• Stand by Me (1986)
• Clueless (1995)
• 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)