St. Elmo's Fire

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1:24

St. Elmo's Fire

R

Released Jun 28, 1985

1h 48m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

44%

Tomatometer

45 Reviews

67%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

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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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

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Sheila Benson

Los Angeles Times

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

Jul 13, 2017

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Many reviewers at the time of its release slammed the movie for being fussy, unfocused, and self-important, completely missing the point that these are the very same qualities often attributed to college-age kids.

Rated: 3/4

Feb 5, 2025

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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

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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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thiago s

Filme legalzinho, o roteiro é bacana, o elenco é legal, as histórias de dramas e de romance dos adolescentes é legal, com traições e coisas de relacionamentos, um meio que parece um episódio/filme de friends só que de adolescentes, por que são amigos que tem coisas de relacionamentos que acontece depois da formatura, o filme teve muito drama e pouca comédia para um elenco desse, eu só recomendo se quiser ver um filme de drama e romance de adolescentes, por que comédia não tem.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

12/23/24

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Brad CKA L

https://youtu.be/IwsZi4rLwyE?si=9x70zD_N2vhYvASu

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/25/24

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Mark A

Unrealistic and very self absorbed

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

11/04/24

Full Review

Calvin R

It started out OK, but degraded quickly. My wife and I couldn't finish watching it.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/23/24

Full Review

Craig B

St. Elmo’s Fire… should have been, what it could have been.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

06/21/24

Full Review

Vivienne T

Resonates with the coming of age genre - we all make mistakes in our youth- and I love the music.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/21/24

Full Review

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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

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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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
Producer: Lauren Shuler Donner
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
Runtime: 1h 48m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Stereo, Surround
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Scope (2.35:1)

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