The Breakfast Club

Name: The Breakfast Club
Genre: Drama
Released: February 15, 1985
Duration: 97 min
Rating: 66
Cast: Ally Sheedy, Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald

1985

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 25 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 383 Ratings

See All

8.5

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8.5	Your Score
8.5	User Score Universal acclaim based on 383 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

The Breakfast Club

Now Playing: The Breakfast Club

Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: February 15, 1985 | R

Starring: Ally Sheedy, Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald

Summary: We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was that we did wrong. What we did WAS wrong. But we think you're crazy to make us write this essay telling you who we think we are. What do you care? You see us as you want to see us...in the simplest terms and the most convenient definitions. You seeWe accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was that we did wrong. What we did WAS wrong. But we think you're crazy to make us write this essay telling you who we think we are. What do you care? You see us as you want to see us...in the simplest terms and the most convenient definitions. You see us as a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess and a criminal. Correct? That's the way we saw each other at seven o'clock this morning... - The Breakfast Club… Expand

Director: John Hughes

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 97 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Ben Falk

The performances by the young cast, culminating in an exuberant pot-smoking session, followed by a genuinely touching denouement, is classic stuff. And such lines as: "The chick can't hold her smoke!" and "You wouldn't know her, she lives in Canada," are still spouted today. Read full review

Gene Siskel

The Breakfast Clu" is a breath of cinematic fresh air, taking on a very real adolescent problem and offering, in a dramatic way, a possible solution. The film is at its very best when the brainy kid wonders out loud toward the end of the film whether any of his new-found friends will still be his friends come Monday morning. It's a very real question, such being the impulse to conform in high school. A simple "hello" between a jock and a wimp in a crowd is a big risk for both of them. [15 Feb 1985, p.A]

Empire Simon Crook

Hughes has made funnier (Ferris Bueller) and better (Pretty In Pink), but this is the only one you could get away with calling iconic. Good and bad, it's still the definitive '80s teen movie - and, to paraphrase Simple Minds - don't you forget about it. Read full review

Roger Ebert

The Breakfast Club doesn't need earthshaking revelations; it's about kids who grow willing to talk to one another, and it has a surprisingly good ear for the way they speak. Read full review

Joe Brown

Their conversations give The Breakfast Club its snap, crackle and pop. And this is that rare movie that could benefit from another half hour of talking time. [15 Feb 1985]

Elvis Mitchell

The five young stars would have mixed well even without the fraudulent encounter-group candor towardS which The Breakfast Club forces them. Mr. Hughes, having thought up the characters and simply flung them together, should have left well enough alone. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Which would be fine, were the characters not a punchable quintet of overdrawn saps, the acting (Ringwald and Hall excepted) overplayed and unsympathetic, and the script the wrong side of the line that separates smart from smart-arse. Its continuing cult popularity is mystifying; as teen movies go, this is a long way off, say, Fast Times at Ridgemont High or Pretty in Pink. Hughes: stay behind for detention afterwards. And write me four sides on why this, uh, sucks. Read full review

SEE ALL 25 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

MKfan95

Apr 11, 2012

The Breakfast Club is without a doubt one of the greatest films of the 80's, while the setting is of the decade, the substantial quality of the film is timeless as the plot and characters are things that normal people like you or I can imagine ourselves in or relate to, aside from that, theThe Breakfast Club is without a doubt one of the greatest films of the 80's, while the setting is of the decade, the substantial quality of the film is timeless as the plot and characters are things that normal people like you or I can imagine ourselves in or relate to, aside from that, the interaction between the characters is fun, and the actors do a great job (Judd Nelson and Ally Sheedy give two of my favorite performances here). Easily recommend to everyone.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

stacyshystovska

Dec 26, 2020

'The Breakfast Club' is a 1985 teen dramedy. John Hughes is not only a director of this movie but also a scriptwriter. John Hughes later started to be even more popular because of such of his pictures as: "Home Alone" (1990), "Curly Sue" (1991), "Beethoven" (1992) and other movies that'The Breakfast Club' is a 1985 teen dramedy. John Hughes is not only a director of this movie but also a scriptwriter. John Hughes later started to be even more popular because of such of his pictures as: "Home Alone" (1990), "Curly Sue" (1991), "Beethoven" (1992) and other movies that became cult hits. Emilio Estevez, Paul Gleason, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy played six main roles. This movie earned $51.5 million, whereas its budget was $1 million.

When five high school students once stayed at school on Saturday morning as a school punishment, they didn't realize that they would get closer to each other by speaking about their lives.

This is an emotional movie about teenagers' lives with addictive plot twists. The life stories of the main characters open up to moviegoers gradually, provoking strong feelings. The movie raises and discloses many social topics. Teenagers deal with these topics and many others that have an impact on their lives and they cope with problems in their own ways. Even though the movie was released in 1985, the topics that were revealed in the movie are actual for the contemporary society and for current generations too.

Written by Anastasiia Shystovska… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

cameronmorewood

Nov 15, 2012

One of the most honest movies ever made, The Breakfast Club ranks with flawless social dramas such as American Beauty.

9 of 9 users found this helpful90

survivorfan989

Jan 17, 2019

An iconic 80's film, and a great 'coming of age' film to watch. I love the character development in it also.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Spangle

Jun 3, 2014

This is a great look at high school life. As with real life, everybody has a story and inner demons, whether they show them frequently or not. Everybody is also divided based on "status" and rarely get to actually talk to people from other "cliques", as is shown here. That is what makes thisThis is a great look at high school life. As with real life, everybody has a story and inner demons, whether they show them frequently or not. Everybody is also divided based on "status" and rarely get to actually talk to people from other "cliques", as is shown here. That is what makes this film so special, as it breaks down those walls and allows everyone from every different clique to really see the others as they truly are: people just like them. However, what I really liked about the film is one of the discussions they have at the end, where they discuss how their friendships will be once detention ends. This discussion really rings true as I think everybody knows that these kids will never see one another afterwards and, if they do, they may ignore them or mock them after seeing them because of high school social pressures. While this one is a very accurate representation of high school and all of its oddities, it is also very funny. At many times, I found myself laughing quite hard at something somebody said or did. Overall, this is a very good film and I feel ashamed for just watching it now.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

MovieGuys

Feb 23, 2014

The Breakfast Club focuses on the clichés of every high school in the 80's, but it uses them to its advantage in this social drama. The dialogue is fresh and sharp, and many a memorable line can be quoted from this movie.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

darkbeast119

Mar 28, 2015

the breakfast club is a film for melodramatic teenagers and impudent a-hole critics with absolutely no idea of what's it like to be a teenager. because clearly it all comes to down generations and generations pass from one era to the next era. in the end, this film has a very abused messagethe breakfast club is a film for melodramatic teenagers and impudent a-hole critics with absolutely no idea of what's it like to be a teenager. because clearly it all comes to down generations and generations pass from one era to the next era. in the end, this film has a very abused message with foul mouthed stereotypical teenagers who have few similarities to reality and a director he lives under a rock. the breakfast club is possibly the worst teenage film ever, john Hughes worst film of all time, and one of the worst movies I have ever seen in my young life. in other words it is a mutant abomination bred by poor directing and crude humour and a true disgrace to the cinema itself.… Expand

0 of 6 users found this helpful06

SEE ALL 57 REVIEWS