St. Elmo's Fire

R

Released Jun 28, 1985

1 hr. 48 min.

Drama

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List

42%

45 Reviews

Tomatometer

67%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

A group of recent college graduates embark on a series of misadventures in the real world. There's Kirby (Emilio Estevez), a waiter who wants to be a lawyer; Kevin (Andrew McCarthy), a moody writer who yearns for the wild Jules (Demi Moore) ; Alec (Judd Nelson), whose political aspirations alienate his girlfriend, Leslie (Ally Sheedy) ; and Wendy (Mare Winningham), a quiet girl in love with Billy (Rob Lowe), who juggles roles as husband, dad and drunk. Together they grapple with adulthood.

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Critics Consensus

St. Elmo's Fire is almost peak Brat Pack: it's got the cast, the fashion, and the music, but the characters are too frequently unlikable.

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Wayne K

St. Elmo's Fire is essentially the Avengers Assemble of Brat Pack flicks, in that it has more members of the group than any other film before or since. A breakthrough movie for Joel Schumacher and much of the cast, it received a lukewarm reception back in its day, with much criticism focusing on the unlikability of the characters. I guess no one told them that characters need to be flawed in order to be interesting. I definitely didn't think that they were too unlikeable. All have their own unique shortcomings, and the film explores how this affects their day to day lives. At its heart, the film is about how the biggest problems in our lives are invariably the ones that we create for ourselves, whether we're too hesitant to take a opportunity when its presented, or squander it through arrogance or carelessness. We sabotage relationships out of spite or stupidity, and we blame others for our own errors. It's a mostly plotless film, being more of a character study, and even though its hard to remember names to begin with, the time we spend with our leads allows us to familiarise and empathise with them and their various situations. There's other films that do this better, even films made around this time, but if you can get past how long it feels at times, I think its earnesty and unpretentiousness will win you over.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/28/24

Full Review

Ma'ark T

The only thing this movie has going for it is the snapshot back into the mid-80s (oh and the live saxophone scene is great!). It's a pretty boring script for a coming-of-age film about a group of very unlikeable people. It really did not age well either.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/09/24

Full Review

Test T

I watched this on DVD recently because I liked the theme song, and I'd never seen the movie. It's a bit like a Friends/Cheers hybrid, but with more characters and a lot less comedy. It's quite serious and dramatic at first and I found it difficult to take an interest. However, as the plot unfolds the story improves and the characters become more familiar. By the end I quite liked it, and I'm glad I took the time to watch it. It reminded me of the 80's when I was growing up.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/10/24

Full Review

Mlg

Brat pack movie which personally reflected exactly my life at that time showing the ins and outs of being a twenty something and not knowing about or caring about the horrors of getting older and just being in your own little world of pretty healthy people....I suppose nostalgia means a lot when reviewing a film and the simply delicious Demi Moore was my absolute favourite fantasy girl......omg that voice.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/29/24

Full Review

matthias s

"St. Elmo's Fire" is a film that brings together a group of young and talented actors, but unfortunately, the story fizzles out like a damp firework. The characters seem to be going through the typical struggles of post-college life, but their actions and choices often leave you scratching your head. While the soundtrack may ignite some nostalgic feelings, the plot fails to live up to the hype, making it feel like a melodramatic soap opera rather than a memorable coming-of-age tale. Despite its shortcomings, the film still manages to capture the essence of the 80s, leaving you with a sense of curiosity about the decade's quirks and fashion choices. If you're looking for a movie to pass the time, "St. Elmo's Fire" might suffice, but don't expect it to set your cinematic world ablaze.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

11/11/23

Full Review

stephen b

In the 80s, did people really sympathize with characters like this? Was it okay to be a stalker?

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/09/23

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Joel Schumacher

Director

Rob Lowe

Billy Hicks

Demi Moore

Jules

Andrew McCarthy

Kevin Dolenz

Judd Nelson

Alec Newbary

Ally Sheedy

Leslie Hunter

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St. Elmo's Fire: Official Clip - Jules Freaks Out

2:13

St. Elmo's Fire: Official Clip - It Is Tomorrow

2:11

St. Elmo's Fire: Official Clip - Our Time at the Edge

2:08

St. Elmo's Fire: Official Clip - Not the Fat Chick

2:12

St. Elmo's Fire: Official Clip - Still a Virgin

2:13

St. Elmo's Fire: Official Clip - Marriage Is Obsolete

2:10

St. Elmo's Fire: Official Clip - Very Pink

2:10

St. Elmo's Fire: Official Clip - What's the Meaning of Life?

1:49

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St. Elmo's Fire: Trailer 1

1:24

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Derek Malcolm

Guardian

In spite of good playing from talented players like Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy and Ally Sheedy, the film looks more like an up-market version of Porky's than anything more coherent.

Apr 4, 2022

Full Review

Paul Attanasio

Washington Post

These aren't characters -- they're character hooks.

Jan 3, 2018

Full Review

Sheila Benson

Los Angeles Times

All speed and stylishness without a bit of emotional resonance beneath.

Jul 13, 2017

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

...St Elmo's Fire is self-absorbed and dull, just like the characters that it depicts. But it's also something of a hoot to see 80's idiocy laid bare like this...

Rated: 3/5

Jun 8, 2021

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...familiar territory that is, for the most part, employed to underwhelming effect...

Rated: 2/4

May 20, 2021

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Christopher Lloyd

The Film Yap

Savaged when it was released, is it time for a reconsidering St. Elmo's Fire, a retrograde look at '80s single life? No. No, it's not.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 28, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

A group of recent college graduates embark on a series of misadventures in the real world. There's Kirby (Emilio Estevez), a waiter who wants to be a lawyer; Kevin (Andrew McCarthy), a moody writer who yearns for the wild Jules (Demi Moore) ; Alec (Judd Nelson), whose political aspirations alienate his girlfriend, Leslie (Ally Sheedy) ; and Wendy (Mare Winningham), a quiet girl in love with Billy (Rob Lowe), who juggles roles as husband, dad and drunk. Together they grapple with adulthood.

Director: Joel Schumacher
Screenwriter: Joel Schumacher
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 28, 1985, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2010
Sound Mix: Dolby, Stereo, Surround
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Scope (2.35:1)

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