The Breakfast Club (1985)
John Hughes' landmark coming-of-age drama unites five mismatched teenagers in a single Saturday detention that changes everything.
The Breakfast Club - Movie Information
- Original Title: The Breakfast Club
- Release Year: 1985
- Directed by: John Hughes
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Comedy, Drama
- Age Rating (US): R
- Runtime: 1h 38m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): February 15, 1985 (Norway - 15), February 15, 1985 (United States - R), March 5, 1985 (United Kingdom - 15), July 4, 1985 (Germany - 12), September 11, 1985 (France - U), May 3, 1986 (India - UA), August 1, 1985 (Australia - M), June 28, 1985 (Brazil - 14), September 27, 1985 (Italy - VM14), April 30, 1989 (Spain - 12)
- Alternative Titles: Der Frühstücksclub (DE), ਪੰਸਛਛ ੰ ਕਬਬ (IN), Breakfast Club (FR), ブレックファスト・クラブ (JP), Клуб Завтрак (RU), 조찾클력 (KR), O Clube (PT), Le club des petits déjeuners (CA)
- Production Companies: Universal Pictures, A&M Films, Channel Productions
- Production Countries: United States of America
The Breakfast Club - Plot
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.
The Breakfast Club - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see where it all begins:
They only met once, but it changed their lives forever.
Where to Watch The Breakfast Club
Looking for where to watch The Breakfast Club?
Compare all viewing options available in your region on JustWatch ↗
The Breakfast Club - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- John Hughes
Main Cast
- Emilio Estevez
- Judd Nelson
- Molly Ringwald
- Anthony Michael Hall
- Ally Sheedy
- Paul Gleason
- John Kapelos
- Perry Crawford
- Mary Christian
- Ron Dean
Writers
- John Hughes
Producers
- Ned Tanen
- John Hughes
The Breakfast Club - FAQs
What is The Breakfast Club about?
The Breakfast Club follows five high school students — a jock, a princess, a rebel, a brain, and an outcast — who are thrown together for a Saturday detention. Forced to spend the day in close quarters, they peel back their social masks and discover they have far more in common than their cliques would suggest.
Does The Breakfast Club have a happy ending?
The film ends on a bittersweet, hopeful note. The five students have genuinely connected and changed each other, but the closing voiceover raises a haunting question: will any of it last once Monday arrives and the social order snaps back into place? It's deliberately left open for the viewer to decide.
Where can you stream The Breakfast Club?
You can stream The Breakfast Club on Amazon Prime Video or YouTube TV. It's also available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home, so there are plenty of ways to revisit this classic.
What does the ending letter in The Breakfast Club mean?
Brian's closing essay rejects the principal's assignment and argues that each of them is simultaneously a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, and a criminal. It's the film's thesis statement — a declaration that people are more than the single label society pins on them.
Who are the main actors in The Breakfast Club?
The five leads are Emilio Estevez as jock Andrew, Judd Nelson as rebel John Bender, Molly Ringwald as popular Claire, Anthony Michael Hall as brainy Brian, and Ally Sheedy as mysterious Allison. Paul Gleason rounds out the core cast as the antagonistic principal, Richard Vernon.
Is The Breakfast Club based on a true story?
Not directly. John Hughes drew on his own memories of high school social hierarchies and the universal anxiety of teenage life to craft the story. While no single real event inspired it, the emotional truth of the film resonated so deeply that generations of viewers have felt it was written specifically about them.
Did The Breakfast Club win any major awards?
The film wasn't a major awards-season player at the time, but it earned significant recognition over the years. Its true legacy is cultural: it was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry in 2016 for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” — a distinction that speaks louder than any trophy.
Why is The Breakfast Club still relevant today?
Nearly four decades on, the film's core argument — that social labels are reductive and that empathy can bridge any divide — feels as urgent as ever. Its honest portrayal of teen pressure, family dysfunction, and the fear of being truly seen continues to strike a nerve with new generations of viewers worldwide.
More About The Breakfast Club
Explore further details on these authoritative resources: