1985
Cast- Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy
Written and Directed by John Hughes
Five students are stuck in a Chicago high school library on a Saturday to serve a day long detention. They start the day as the Jock, the Brain, the Criminal, the Princess, and the Kook. After hours fighting, smoking, revealing secrets, and fighting teen hormones the five students realize that they are not as different as they originally thought.
Why I love it– I am a child of the 80’s (ages 9-19) and, for me, this is the quintessential high school movie of the 80’s. It is about stereotypes and cliques and judging people for who they are, not where other students have pigeon-holed them. I thought it was done perfectly and I loved each of the five for different reasons. I do confess that when I watched this last night the Princess (Molly Ringwald), who I loved back in the day, had lost some of her luster. Loved the cast and the story and the absurdity of it.
And let me be honest, if I was going to serve an 8 hour detention what better place than the most awesome high school library I have ever seen?! I never knew any school to have day-long detentions, what about you?
When I was in high school I watched this so many times I could (with the help of my friends) pretty much recite the whole movie. Sad, right? I’m sure that the reason this movie is so high on my list is for pure nostalgia. It takes me back to high school and it’s a fun place to revisit once in awhile. I am pretty sure that it does not hold the same appeal across generations, but I suppose I could be wrong.
Here’s the trailer. View the Brat Pack in all of their glory.
Stacy's Books 
love, love, love this movie!
I also thought of the library the same as you. All the cliques being represented, and the sad detention teacher. Too funny.
Oh Jake Ryan, where are you? Sorry but they just don’t make movies like they used to.
Yes, Jake Ryan will be coming up in another favorite film. Who didn’t love Jake? 🙂
I admit that I also loved this one…and my daughter just turned 18 and she also loves it! lol
I’m so glad that the high schoolers of today can appreciate it!
I think this was the very first VHS tape we ever rented and it’s been that long since I’ve seen it. We had friends over to watch it and we all enjoyed it.
Speaking of VHS, that’s how we watched the movie last night! I have a stash of old VHS in a cabinet and let Jason choose which one to watch 🙂
My girls were young teens when the movie first came out. They played it so many times, it drove me nuts. BUT, it also served as a point of conversation later on when cliques became a problem. They would remind each other of the movie. From this movie they went on to become big Molly Ringwald fans. Thanks for the memory.
I also love Molly. She just had twins, a boy and a girl. And she’s 41. How fast time flies 🙂
I love this movie!!! It was what you wished HS could be like when you went to an all girls catholic school! LOL
I don’t know how many parodies I have seen of different parts of this movie. John Hughes knew how to make popular comedies, that’s for certain.
I love this movie too. 🙂 In fact, I watched it just the other day. I hadn’t planned on it, but it was on and I was in a movie watching mood. It sure brought back memories.
We had Saturday School which was detention for the very bad – so I think that’s what the Breakfast Club was. But we had to sit in a regular boring classroom the whole time – and our library wasn’t that nice to escape to either. Er – I mean, so I’ve heard.
Hello, Stacy! I love this movie, too! I’m a child of the 80s as well, and seeing this movie always brings fond memories of that crazy decade.
I’ll still pretty much stop and drop everything to watch this one, Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles…I loved them all!!
Then you should come back tomorrow for my Literary Brat Pack Quiz!
Oh the memories…… and I adored Judd Nelson! The bad boy….
Never heard of this movie but I can almost tell I will love it. Will see if I can find it anywhere.
That makes me so sad!