A brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, and a criminal, each students at the same Illinois high school that couldn’t be from more opposite sides of the spectrum if they tried, forced to spend a Saturday in detention together for their own unique offenses.
Originally released on February 15, 1985 (but taking place on March 24, 1984), The Breakfast Club was Director/Producer/Writer John Hughes’ magnum opus, portraying the American teenager at the time so accurately that it struck a cord so deep within audiences (grossing over $51 million domestically) its fabrics have remained a staple within pop culture (and our lives) in the ensuing years since, often quoted, imitated, or parodied.
Anthony Michael Hall played the “Brain” with a penchant for good grades and computers, Emilio Estevez was the “Athlete” pushed to the breaking point by a controlling father, Ally Sheedy was the “Basket Case” outcast ignored by the world, Molly Ringwald was the preppy “Princess” with everything seemingly handed to her in life, while Judd Nelson was the “Criminal” that no parents wanted to see their daughters bringing home.
Photo of actress Molly Ringwald as Claire in The Breakfast Club spotted at a local clothing store (Revolve) on 8/2/23 (from the author’s personal collection).
These unique characters – as well as the actors playing them – were each relatable enough in their own ways that nearly any teen could find at least some part of themselves in them, even more so once the nickname the “Brat Pack” was coined to define the young cast and several of their contemporaries (Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, and Rob Lowe were a few more to fit in this club, among others). And who could forget the Simple Minds hit and the film’s theme song, “Don’t You Forget About Me?”
At the time of its initial release and ’80s prime, I was still just a kid grade school. But with four older brothers and sisters in either middle or high school, I was very much aware of the influence of The Breakfast Club, and I can distinctly remember going to one of said siblings’ schools at the time (namely Overbrook High School in New Jersey, coincidentally where I also attended preschool) and feeling as though I was in a John Hughes movie myself with the students we would come across there.
Today, the legacy of The Breakfast Club is just as strong as ever; one year while doing some back-to-school shopping with my own teenager at a local resale clothing shop, various images from the film were scattered about different areas (see above), and not even a week ago I was picking up a Funko Pop! figure of Nelson’s John Bender character (see below). The film has clearly endured for decades, and no doubt will for decades more to come; in the words of Hall’s own Brian character…”Sincerely yours, the Breakfast Club.”
John Bender Funko Pop! recently spotted on a store shelf on 3/21/25 (courtesy of the author’s collection).
