The Breakfast Club

It was a real pleasure watching this movie once again, twenty-five years after I originally saw it, while I myself was still in high school. Say what you will about the late John Hughes, this particular movie somehow captured what it is to be a young person in a way that few others ever did or ever will. This movie is centered around seven people: The late Paul Gleason, as school principal and antagonist, Richard Vernon. John Kapelos, as the surprisingly funny and canny janitor, Carl. Anthony Michael Hall, as Brian Johnson, the smart, somewhat nerdy kid. Emilio Estevez, as Andrew Clark, the wrestling jock. Ally Sheedy, as Allison Reynolds, the proto-emo outcast girl. Molly Ringwald, as Claire Standish, the designer clothes wearing princess. Judd Nelson, as John Bender, the defiant kid, the one we would have called a hood back in the day. Bender is a veteran of the detention routine, very well acquainted with Vernon. The last five characters are the students forced to come in for Saturday detention, during which Principal Vernon has given them the assignment of writing a 1,000 word essay about exactly what each of them thinks he/she really is. That alone sets the tone for how bellicose Vernon is going to be, even before he starts interacting with them. Bender immediately expresses his disdain for him within the first five minutes of Vernon setting the terms, with one of the funniest lines I recall in a movie: "Does Barry Manilow know that you raid his wardrobe?" winning himself yet another Saturday on the spot. From there, Bender systematically sets about tormenting first Vernon, then each of the kids, focusing particularly on Claire, someone who couldn't be more his polar opposite in attitude and economic status. At first, it's tough to like Bender, given his boorish treatment of first Claire, then to Brian and Andrew, but there is something charismatic about him that starts to show through, and he turns out to be surprisingly intelligent. He propels the story, especially for the first two thirds, clashing with principal and kid alike, but bringing out in each something that wouldn't have emerged otherwise. Claire is troubled by how her parents seem to use her against each other, and -- as is common with the popular kids -- held prisoner to her friends' dictates. Allison is ignored by her parents and basically friendless at the beginning of the movie. Andrew is a jock driven relentlessly by a dad obsessed with winning to the exclusion of all else. Brian is quite a bit like Andrew, except both parents are obsessed with his academic achievement. Then we have Bender, who proves he's not just telling stories when he memorably reenacts how he has been badly physically abused at home. Watching this all over again, I realize that I knew all of the characters to one extent or another in high school, and most people could identify with each to one degree or another. The dialogue is biting, often witty, and nearly always sarcastic. The conflict that only grows with time between Bender and Vernon propels the movie, and Bender's harsh words for each of the kids eventually get them to open up in ways they never would have done without him to berate them. Because of this juxtaposition of the sarcastic with the sadness each of them has, this manages to be a very touching movie that does so without being cloying about it. I won't spoil the movie for those of you who have yet to see it, but I will just say that this is no action movie or cookie cutter teen movie. This is about the universal misgivings that people have throughout their lives, especially when they are young and at their most vulnerable. There is little doubt that Judd Nelson's Bender is the driving force here, and he is very good in that role, wildly veering from wickedly funny to exploding into rage, with only his unusually strong command of the English language making him just a bit unbelievable. Ally Sheedy's Allison has the least dialogue by far, but she plays it very well, getting the maximum out of her character with her expressions and the laborious way that she speaks, as Nelson and Hall observe during the commentary track, as if she were unpracticed at speaking. Hall plays Brian very well, just the type of personality of the nerdy guy, but with a nerd's sensitivity and intelligence. Estevez's Andrew is in some ways even better, first playing tough guy tempered with chivalry by standing up to Bender's taunting of Claire, then showing that he really is much more than just an athlete, especially when recounting the real reason that he got put on detention with the others and when talking one-on-one with Allison. Ringwald's Claire is also very good, and she is a nice foil for Bender, who quickly pivots from tweaking Vernon to making openly crude comments toward her. At first, it's tough to feel too sorry for her, given her membership in the popular clique, but she emerges as someone who would prefer to be her own person, and it turns out that Bender, is the one person who brings that out more than anyone else. Kapelo as Carl didn't have much time on screen, but he was a real highlight, showing that he is much more than a blue collar guy, but someone with a real understanding of human nature and wisdom. Gleason as Vernon was in some ways the best of all, not just a cardboard cutout authoritarian, but someone even with just a hint of self doubt. He is particularly funny, with his impenetrable front that first Bender, then the other kids, and finally even he (unintentionally) puncture throughout the movie. Anyone wondering about the R rating for this should know that there is no nudity or anything of the sort, but that the reason for the rating was because of some harsh language, with some sexual comments thrown in. This is a nicely packaged Blu-Ray, with both the regular movie and the audio commentary version with Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, and DVD producer Jason Hillhouse. You also get a 12-part documentary titled "Sincerely Yours," with focus placed on each of the actors, plus various other aspects of the movie itself. They also include the five minute "The Most Convenient Definitions: The Origins of the Brat Pack," a short discussion of exactly what it says, and speaking for myself, I always thought that term was unfairly dismissive, condescending, and smacked of a certain elitism of elders toward young upstarts. This is a BD-Live disk, so there are some features available through it directly online, but I didn't really bother exploring those. Picture quality was good and certainly an improvement over conventional DVD upscaled on a 1080p set, but I was surprised at how it was slightly grainy in parts when I got up close to my 1080p TV, almost as if the producers had simply produced the Blu-Ray from the exact same resolution master from the DVD release instead of going back to the original film itself to make a Blu-Ray specific master. However, the minor graininess in no way detracted from the movie, which is -- after all -- about the characters. I realize that John Hughes was often derided by the elites in show business when he was still alive, and to some extent even now, but this to me is one of his two very best movies, the other being the superb Planes, Trains and Automobiles (Those Aren't Pillows Edition) . I highly recommend either movie, and consider yourself lucky if it's the first time watching it.

A magical movie with the perfect cast. The Breakfast Club is easy to watch today as it was in the 80s. It shows some of the deep issues kids deal with while growing up.

Despite myself being 30, and this a small budget movie from 40 years ago about high schoolers I never related to... Damn, what a great movie. What a raw expose and mirror and critique and hope.

This movie is a CLASSIC! Though the styles change, the psychology of high schoolers doesn’t. Kids deal with the same emotional issues, & these characters are relatable & timeless. This movie evokes tears & laughter!

The Breakfast Club isn’t just another teen movie—it’s a powerful snapshot of what it means to grow up and be misunderstood. Set almost entirely inside a high school library on a Saturday detention, it proves you don’t need explosions or special effects to make something unforgettable. Each character starts off as a stereotype—the brain, the athlete, the basket case, the princess, and the criminal—but by the end, you realize how many layers people truly have. The performances feel real and raw, especially Judd Nelson and Molly Ringwald, and the writing captures that awkward mix of humor, rebellion, and vulnerability that defines high school. Even after 40 years, the message about judgment, pressure, and finding your voice still feels relevant. The soundtrack is iconic (“Don’t You (Forget About Me)” will stick with you), and the film’s simple setting makes the emotions stand out even more. If you’ve never seen The Breakfast Club, watch it now. And if you have—it’s worth revisiting every few years. It reminds us all that deep down, we’re not that different from one another.

I've been slowly starting to watch John Hughes teen comedies of the 1980's because they seem much more realistic than the teen comedies that dot the landscape today. That being said, I considered throwing the I Quit towel into the ring about an hour into the film thinking that I was too young to feel what fans of The Breakfast Club failed to see in this flick. That it was nostalgia that granted this film the "classic" status that it has achieved in some circles. I couldn't for the life of me understand why I should care that the jock, the popular girl, the criminal thug, the nerd, and the loner were in detention together... Then came the final half hour and the pieces magically fall into place because we learn that these people who we think are SO DIFFERENT are really struggling with many of the same issues--abuse, pressure put on by parents, etc. and these revelations are like a wall coming down as they themselves realize that they are not so different. I also appreciated that John Hughes sort of left the "What Happens on Monday" question hang in the air (at least in the movie), do they go back to their cliques as though nothing has happened or do they become friends bending the rules of the grand high school hierarchy? The great thing about John Hughes films is that he almost always leaves something to the viewer's imagination. I don't think that one has to necessarily like the characters in this movie, for example Bender comes across as a jerk, but even in the jerk, there is something deeper that one can identify with. I even found myself to an extent identifying with Principal Vernon, even if I didn't agree with his tactics. I found 1/3 of the film to be a powerful film about how our perceptions of people may bind us to believe certain stereotypes, but it also provided some hope that we can move beyond our stereotypes, even if its' unclear whether these will survive the pressures of the real world.

Not my kinda movie

I love the breakfast club

Ich würde soweit gehen und behaupten, dass "Der Frühstücksclub" der bedeutenste Teenager-Film, die Betonung liegt auf "Film", aller Zeiten ist und dies auch bleiben wird. "Breakfast-Club" wie dieses Werk von John Hughes im Original heißt, ist oberflächlich gesehen nur erstmal eine weitere Teenie-Komödie. Doch unter dem Deckmantel der Komödie steckt weitaus mehr dahinter. Warum ich die Bedeutung so hoch lege, werde ich im weiteren Verlauf erläutern. Fünf Teenager wie sie unterschiedlicher nicht sein könnten, müssen Samstag morgen in der Schulbibliothek nachsitzen und unter der Aufsicht von Lehrer Vernon (Paul Gleason) einen Aufsatz mit nicht weniger als tausend Wörter schreiben. Die fünf Teenager gehen zwar alle auf die selbe Schule, kennen sich untereinander jedoch nicht. Die unterschiedlichen Welten von Streber Brian (Anthony Michael Hall), dem Rebell John (Judd Nelson), Sportass Andrew (Emilio Estevez),der Prinzessin Claire (Molly Ringwald) und Außenseiterin Allison (Ally Sheedy) prallen aufeinander. Während zu Beginn des Nachsitzens die Unterschiede zwischen den Charakteren sichtbar werden und die fünf ihre Sicht der jeweils anderen deutlich werden lassen, kommen sie sich durch Provokation, Streit und Auseinandersetzungen allmählich näher. Durch weitere intensive Gespräche wird ihnen allen bewusst, dass sie sehr viel mehr gemeinsam haben als erwartet. Ob man den Film jetzt nun mag oder nicht, eines kann man ihm nicht absprechen: Dass er so ziemlich das fetteste Intro aller Zeiten hat. Wenn das Universal Logo erscheint und die 12"-Fassung von Simple Mind's "Don't You forget about me" aus den Boxen röhrt, bekomme ich jedesmal aufs Neue Gänsehaut und ejakuliere vorzeitig auf die Couch. In den fünf Teenagern dürfte sich jeder irgendwo selbst wieder erkennen (ich sah mich früher als eine Mischung aus Andrew und John, gepaart mit der Intelligenz von Brian...) und anfangs dementsprechend mit seinem Charakter mitfiebern während man mit Sicherheit im Unterbewusstsein über die anderen herablassend denken wird. Anfangs lebt der Film von dem Kennenlernen der Figuren und der Distanz die sie sich erst einmal selber gegenüber den anderen vier gönnen, was natürlich auch sehr viel humorvolle Passagen ergibt. Vorallem Judd Nelson trumpft mit seinem rebellischen Charakter John dabei auf und sorgt mit seiner explosiven, verletzenden Art, dass hier keinem langweilig wird. Die Stimmung der "oberflächlichen" Komödie kippt aber im weiteren Filmverlauf um und Elemente eines Dramas bestimmen von nun an das Geschehen, als das Quintett sich näher kommt und über ihre Probleme, Ängste und Sehnsüchte reden. Dabei werden sie mit ihren eigenen Vorurteilen und Zwängen konfrontiert und lernen das Gegenüber schätzen und respektieren. Dieser Umschwung, dass der Film das komplette Tempo rausnimmt und plötzlich einfühlsam wird und durch psychologische Relevanz fesselt, dürfte nicht jedem gefallen. Der Unterhaltungsfaktor fällt weg und jeder Zuschauer muss (oder sollte) sich damit beschäftigen - denn jeder von uns wird so ähnliche Erfahrungen in seiner Jugend auch gemacht haben. "Der Frühstücksclub" zeigt auf ganz einfache Art und Weise aber auch effektiv, dass wir uns alle nach außen als Menschen mit Abwehrmechanismus verkleiden (und bei diesem Punkt will ich mal die Jugend-Komponente weglassen) und einfach nur das Produkt unserer Eltern, unseres Umfelds oder dem System sind, in dem wir leben - und doch (fast) alle die gleichen Ängste und Sehnsüchte haben. Die Message ist einfach: Man sollte Menschen, die anders sind als man selbst, Toleranz entgegenbringen und die Vorurteile in den Schubladen lassen, wo sie auch hingehören. Nicht jeder Mensch kann dem Idealbild entsprechen, dass sich das gesellschaftliche Umfeld wünscht. Auch wenn "Der Frühstücksclub" dementsprechend klischeehafte Charaktere der 80er Jahre zu bieten hat, bleibt der Film zeitlos - denn diese Probleme und die Suche nach Individualität wird es auch noch in 200 Jahren geben. Vorrausgesetzt, dass sich bis dahin die Menschheit nicht selber in die Luft gesprengt hat. Natürlich ergibt es in Zeiten des Remake-Wahns keinen Sinn, diesen Fall neu aufzurollen. Man könnte höchstens das Ensemble erweitern um einen Emo, einen Computer-Nerd und eine Ritzerin, wenn man es an dieses Jahrhundert anpassen will. Erwähnenswert ist noch, dass die eigentliche Laufzeit über 150 Minuten betrug und man nicht an das Potential dieses Films glaubte und ihn dann auf die heute 93 Minuten lange Fassung straffte. Unfassbar dabei ist jedoch, dass sämtliches Rohmaterial vernichtet wurde und der einzige, der die komplette Version besaß, nämlich der Regisseur John Hughes, diese "Langfassung" scheinbar bei seinem Tod im Jahr 2009 mit ins Grab nahm. "Die Säge-im-Kopf"-Szene von Bruce Lee's "Big Boss" lässt grüßen... Ich denke, ich habe alles gesagt. "Der Frühstücksclub" ist ein zeitloser Klassiker, der erstklassige Unterhaltung bietet und sich im weiteren Filmverlauf als einfühlsamer Genie-Streich entpuppt .

La pelicula es un clásico, muy buena.

Film cult da avere in videoteca!

Väldigt repig. Den fungerade ej.

心待ちしてました。やっとＤＶＤの発売が決まりましたね〜。当時（1985年前後かな）、ブラッドパックと呼ばれていた若手俳優勢揃い（ｴﾐﾘｵ･ｴｽﾃﾍﾞｽ、ﾓﾘｨｰ･ﾘﾝｸﾞｳｫﾙﾄﾞ、ｱﾘ･ｼｰﾃﾞｨ、ｼﾞｬﾄﾞ･ﾈﾙｿﾝ）。このころの青春映画（ｱｳﾄｻｲﾀﾞｰ、ｾﾝﾄ･ｴﾙﾓｽ･ﾌｧｲｱｰ、ﾌﾟﾘﾃｨ･ｲﾝ･ﾋﾟﾝｸなど）の中では、地味〜な映画（内容は、商品の説明で）だったけど、何故か心に残る作品でした。青春映画の好きな方は、ぜひ見てくださいまし。（すてきな片思いも同時発売するのでセットで買いますよ〜。）