The Breakfast Club

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The Breakfast Club

R

Released Feb 15, 1985

1h 32m

Comedy

Drama

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Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

113 Reviews

92%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

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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Critics Consensus

If The Breakfast Club's gestures towards authenticity are occasionally undercut by trendy flourishes, its blistering emotional honesty and talented troupe of young actors catapult it to the top of the teen comedy class.

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Jay Carr

Boston Globe

The film behaves as if it's dealing in soul-baring insights and emotional deepening. But it's only dealing in plastic. It's rare to encounter such unfailing falseness in a movie that seems to have been launched with benign intentions.

Feb 14, 2025

Full Review

Harper Barnes

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

I suspect all these kids are going somewhere, and Hughes, of course, is already there.

Feb 14, 2025

Full Review

Rob Salem

Toronto Star

Hughes is clearly of the impression that he knows a lot about kids and the way they think. He is, for the most part, mistaken... Yet this is a movie well worth seeing, if only for the performances, which are without exception excellent.

Feb 14, 2025

Full Review

Christopher Lloyd

The Film Yap

John Hughes' masterpiece, both the lodestone for Generation X and a story of the universality of teen struggles.

Rated: 5/5

Aug 4, 2025

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

No list of the best teen films or best films of the 1980s is complete without including The Breakfast Club.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 18, 2025

Full Review

Patrick Taggart

Austin American-Statesman

I can't remember ever wanting to applaud at the end of a movie, but the only reason I didn't after The Breakfast Club is that I was practically paralyzed with excitement. With this rousing new film... the Hollywood youth film finally comes of age.

Feb 14, 2025

Full Review

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Julio C

I first saw this movie upon its release. I was much younger then and missed some of the dialogue and its depth. I really enjoyed watching it again after all these years.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/17/25

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Ashlee B

It was great to see this movie in theaters. I didnt realize it has been 40 years already.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/12/25

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M.

Amazing script and acting. Honored the struggle of the age group without dummying down the content. Raw and honest.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/11/25

Full Review

SHAONA L

My first time EVER seeing this movie! I LAUGHED until I cried and then I cried too! 10/10 recommend!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/11/25

Full Review

Cult Classic John Hughes

My ultimate classic film. It made me feel like I traveled back in a time where we all found a piece of ourselves in each other. Love this movie forever and always.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/11/25

Full Review

William H

Always loved this movie. So cool to see it in theaters.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/11/25

Full Review

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John Hughes

Director

Emilio Estevez

Andrew "Andy" Clark

Molly Ringwald

Claire Standish

Judd Nelson

John Bender

Paul Gleason

Principal Richard Vernon

Anthony Michael Hall

Brian Ralph Johnson

The Breakfast Club: Official Clip - Bender Mocks Claire

2:57

The Breakfast Club: Official Clip - Lunchtime

2:59

The Breakfast Club: Official Clip - Andrew and Bender Fight

2:27

The Breakfast Club: Official Clip - Covering for Bender

3:00

The Breakfast Club: Official Clip - Eat My Shorts

3:00

The Breakfast Club: Official Clip - Social Clubs

2:58

The Breakfast Club: Official Clip - Don't Mess With the Bull

3:00

The Breakfast Club: Official Clip - Getting to Know Each Other

2:59

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The Breakfast Club: Trailer 1

1:25

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Synopsis

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.

Director: John Hughes
Producer: Ned Tanen, John Hughes
Screenwriter: John Hughes
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 15, 1985, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Sep 7, 2025
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 15, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $334.2K
Runtime: 1h 32m

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