Bender being frozen in fear was so realistic. Probably was reliving his home life..in that moment he wasn't a loud mouthed bad boy, he was a scared kid that had yet another adult thats supposed to care about him threatening to harm him
My mom was a teacher & had too many kids like Bender. She was always able to bond with them & they were all extremely intelligent.. they just didn't have good parents.
The "Eat my shorts" line originated here and John Bender was an inspiration for Bart Simpson. And Bender the robot, of course. Tells you what Matt Groening thinks of this film.
It didn't originate in this movie, but I'm sure Matt Groening was inspired to use it by watching the film. I've seen comments from people saying they were using that phrase at school in the 70s. I believe them.
I was a senior in high school when this came out and it was one of the most accurate movies about high school at that time, I went to school with every character. Fast Times at Ridgemont High was another iconic movie from the 80’s that got it right.
i went to high school in the mid/late 90s and it wasn't much different. as far as 90s high school experience... American Pie captures the feel and vibe of the times.
Me too . . . . I was only 17 when I graduated in 85 but living through the 70s and 80s as a kid will never happen again. I tried to give my kids the same experience in the 90s and early 2000s as muh as I could. There are too many pussies today.
John Hughes cameo as Brian's dad picking him up at the end. Also that was Anthony Michael Hall's real mother and sister that were in the car when he was dropped off. The part of Andrew's confession during the circle meeting was unscripted and Emilio just went for it. Honestly he's right. "How do you even apologize for something like that? There's no way." He isn't wrong. John Hughes made a lot of movies I still enjoy today. Breakfast Club, Pretty In Pink, Sixteen Candles, Home Alone, Uncle Buck, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Great films. I also like during Andrew talking about his dad you can see Bender is uncomfortable seeing as he deals with an abusive dad at home. Andrew's dad is more words and mental while Bender's dad is more physical. What I love is how open ended the movie is. Do these people stay friends? Or do they default back to their normal groups? We don't know.
I don’t know if they but I got a feeling out of school most likely they talk to each other maybe as a group sometimes or when somebody is buys they still would talk to each other out of school
I do want to point out that Andrew liked Allison BEFORE she got her makeover. He was the one who asked her about her parents and was the first person to really pay attention to her. Even when he sees her after the makeover, his only comment is "I can see your face".
@@mintjulius275 same, but that’s part of the imperfections with these characters that fueled the whole movie anyway, you know? It still ended with everyone knowing that the Nerd was writing it for them and likely wouldn’t be buddies with them moving forward. Bender would still be a troublemaking rebel. They are all communicating the only way they know how. Of course the popular queen bee of the school would try to be nice through glamour and fashion lol
The thing about John Hughes is that while he gave a cultural voice to Gen X (I was 16 when I first saw this in theatres in 1985 and still remember being blown away by the experience), his themes were so universal and timeless that we're still talking about his movies today. I still remember my father (now 82) being affected by the movie and I personally know of people in their teens and 20s who also love it. The Breakfast Club is and will always be a coming-of-age touchstone.
Funny, because in 1985 (when the breakfast club came out) that’s exactly what the people from the previous generation were saying about the world - this character is also immortalised as Mr. Vernon in the Breakfast club, really it depends on who it is, I’m 14 years old, so I’m surrounded by this generation practically, and I can tell you it isn’t as black and white as made out to be, it all depends on the individual themselves.
Jason Voorhees: It's sad because I think a lot of people would be better off if it was. I wonder how things went so far off the rails? Was it technology? Helicopter parents bubble-wrapping their kids? Was it the final decline of schools, homes, families, and communities? Something else or All of the above?
@@jamesalexander5623I really think it depends on a number of variables. I graduated in '85, and while we had cliques, we all got along as well. Many kids would cross over into multiple cliques, even. I do wonder if school size/class size has an impact on this? 🤷🏼♂️
John Hughes passed at 51 from a heart attack. I was 17 when this movie came out . I saw every John Hughes film it’s day of release. I counted the days. I can’t imagine those years without these movies making us feel seen at a time in film when teenagers weren’t otherwise celebrated or focused on or seen. These movies were the days of our lives . Figuratively & Literally . R.I.P John Hughes & Thank you
I’ve always loved this movie. The saddest thing about it, is that, this would NEVER happen today because everyone would just sit and stare at their phones and completely ignore each other.
Funny, because in 1985 (when the breakfast club came out) that’s exactly what the people from the previous generation were saying about Tv and video games (which were becoming more and more prevalent) - this type of character that believes the youth has been corrupted and isn’t anything like they were at that age is immortalised as Mr. Vernon in the Breakfast club, so really it depends on who it is, I’m 14 years old, so I’m surrounded by this generation practically, and I can tell you it isn’t as black and white as made out to be, it all depends on the individual themselves, i for certain don’t “sit and stair at my phone and completely ignore” in fact I don’t even use my phone that much asides from calling when I need to, checking the time, etc, and in a short period of time *this* and ALSO I’m a social butterfly, I love talking to people, and because of that people (usually) love talking back to me, though it may throw some off guard at first, they soon become inclined to do the same, so it would seem that all is not yet quite lost.
I agree. I would imagine taking their phones away would be part of the "punishment" and ironically could end up being the best thing about a scenario such as this. People can actually connect without being glued to their phone.
They could absolutely film a great remake of this movie with the concept of taking the kids' phones away for the entire Saturday detention, forcing them to have actual conversation. That could be even better than the original.
this is such an epic movie that captured my High School life. I graduated in 1985. The library furniture was literally the same as the furniture in my HS library.
The film was a hit when it came out, despite it's restricted rating for language, as it was one of the first teen comedy/dramas that wasn't exploitative. During the 80's, there were so many bad teen comedies that were filled with so many dumb characters and exploitative nudity, many were surprised by its success. Filmmaking fact: The scene where they all talk and confess everything was shot over 3 days. Estevez said in an interview it was the hardest days he ever had acting at the time
Glad to see you both enjoyed this one. As far as the younger generation reactions go to this movie, it seems to be hit or miss (from what I've seen so far.) I am Gen X myself so this movie really resonates with me, but I've watched The Graduate (which is THE quintessential Boomer coming-of-age movie) and it does nothing for me. And... I can't remember the comment, but if you are expecting an 80s movies with a much darker take on high school life, then it's time to watch Heathers.
One reason why Hughes’ movies with teen casts have stood the test of time is because he treats the teen characters like adults. The dialogues and scripts are mature conversations about coming of age.
Nostalgia note: Although sushi (8:43) obviously existed in the US long before The Breakfast Club, it was not a commonplace American foodstuff until it started showing up as a very snooty, upscale food eaten by rich characters in movies in the early '80s. All-you-can-eat sushi buffets were springing up everywhere by the mid-'80s, though.
For me, as someone who entered his teenage years in 1986 this was a pivotal moment. I've always thought this was an important film for teenagers to watch and appreciate. It may seem dated with it's fashions and music, but the general concept is still the same. Kids in school can all come from different backgrounds and have different issues, but under the surface we are all the same and they just need someone to listen to their problems and understand which is eventually what happens in this film. It was a game changer back in the mid 80's. Still have a soft spot for it now at 50 years old.
John Hughes movies were so great when I was a teenager growing up in the 80s. They encapsulated the teenage experience while framing it with humor but examining some real issues and emotions we all dealt with.
… and the music REALLY helped to sell this film. We can hear one part of one song from here and we could tell you exactly what we were doing at the very moment we saw this film. When it first came on cable, the space shuttle “Challenger” blew up with the school teach Christine McCullough (sp?) on it.
Love love this film so much, btw the Simpsons started 1989 and this film was 1985 and I'm pretty sure that The Simpsons took that eat my shorts from this film. My favorite character is Carl the janitor he really brings Vernons character down a peg or two when they are relaxing having the beers. I would have to say that I was like Andrews character at high school.
One of my favourite films! Fact for you guys, the scene where they’re sat in circle where they are saying why they were in detention was ad-libbed by the actors and their reactions were genuine….Going to watch it myself tonight after this vid 👍🏻
I grew up in Cook County, IL, when (and where) these movies were shot. This was filmed at Maine North High School in Des Plaines, and Ferris Bueller was filmed, I believe, at either Glenbrook North or Glenbrook South in (Northbrook) "Glenbrook". 😉💜
I first saw this in about 2005 when I was 16 and it really resonated with me even so long after it’s release. Such a quotable film! So glad to see you react to this!
In Kevin Smith's Dogma, it starts with Jay and Silent Bob trying to find the Shermer Illinois shown in these films so they can sell pot there only to be crushed that it's fictional. Lol.
We (my younger sisters and I) probably watched this 100 times in the 80s, having recorded it off a pay channel (probably Showtime, we didn't have HBO) onto a Betamax tape (lol). The immense waves of nostalgia seeing this is mind blowing. Love this movie! Great reaction guys!
I have seen a dozen reactions to this movie and you two easily had the best one of all. Your insights and intelligent responses were fantastic. Thank you both so much for _getting_ this culturally important movie. (says the 62-year old lady)
OMG Im soooooo excited. Its about time yall watch this. I feel like i watch it every couple weeks. John Hughes is my man! He's got even better ones so i hope those movies are coming too. Too many to list lol!
One of the greatest coming of age comedy drama films ever made, where teens from different backgrounds learn how to cope with life and difficult challenges as they spend Saturday afternoon detention.
@@ryanjacobson2508 😂 I don’t ask for permission. Admin would have to walk in to my room in late May to catch me and by that point they leave us alone and are ready for summer.
When I saw it back in the day, I had to go back and watch it again. I don't re-watch many movies in the theater. Fun fact: Emilio Esteves improvised the whole taping Larry Lester's buns together story. I find that amazing because it's damn near perfect.
I was in in Grade 10 (High School) when the Breakfast Club came out and it instantly resonated. It became iconic because it perfectly portrayed what high school was like in 1985. Being part of a clique was just how it was. The 5 characters represented people we saw every day but we also saw ourselves in 1 of those characters. It was like looking in a mirror. The 10 minute scene near the end where they just sit and talk echoed what we were all thinking but never verbalized.
This movie is so campy but it has some genuine real moments in it, like the scene with Bender being scared of the adult threatening him, or when Clark starts crying when he talks about his prank on another kid. Those moments are a bug part of why this movie is considered iconic.
Sprawling on the fringes of the city In geometric order An insulated border In-between the bright lights And the far, unlit unknown Growing up, it all seems so one-sided Opinions all provided The future pre-decided Detached and subdivided In the mass-production zone Nowhere is the dreamer Or the misfit so alone Subdivisions In the high school halls In the shopping malls Conform or be cast out Subdivisions In the basement bars In the backs of cars Be cool or be cast out Any escape might help to smooth The unattractive truth But the suburbs have no charms to soothe The restless dreams of youth Drawn like moths, we drift into the city The timeless old attraction Cruising for the action Lit up like a firefly Just to feel the living night Some will sell their dreams for small desires Or lose the race to rats Get caught in ticking traps And start to dream of somewhere To relax their restless flight Somewhere out of a memory Of lighted streets on quiet nights Subdivisions In the high school halls In the shopping malls Conform or be cast out Subdivisions In the basement bars In the backs of cars Be cool or be cast out Any escape might help to smooth The unattractive truth But the suburbs have no charms to soothe The restless dreams of youth - ----Rush "Subdivisions"..lyrics by Neil Peart 1982!
This is movie gives a great insight into North American highschools during the 80s. I was 15 when I first saw the film. My grade 10 Language Arts teacher brought it to class one day and had us watch it. She was young and cool. Yes, I had a crush on her like the others guys. But, this film along with the other Hughes films really spoke to us Gen Xers.👍🏼
11:13 This seen is darker the most people realize! People forget that this is an abused child, because of how grown up the actor looks, and all the other more famous parts of the movie. Remember how earlier he talked about his father burning him with cigarettes and hitting him and his mother. So, this grown man, that is supposed to be a teacher, just threatened to beat up an already abused child.
Fun Easter Egg, at the start of the movie there is a plaque that shows the 1969 “Man of the Year” was the janitor when he was in the same high school. I think it was to show that who you are in high school doesn’t determine who you are as an adult.
Great reaction guys! This is my favorite movie of all time. Funfact: the dancing scene was only supposed to be Claire but Molly Ringwald wasn't comfortable dancing alone so the scene was changed to include everyone. 🙂 RIP, the legendary John Hughs
Bit of Trivia: John Hughes Wanted to hire Anthony (who played Brian) as the lead for "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". But Anthony was busy. I was in school in the 80s. And although later in life I've heard some folks say this focus on cliques was accurate, I didn't see it and felt it was a lens which films and tv were trying to get us to see life through. But, I was also oblivious and kept to myself, so it might simply have been a case of not caring about it.
I consider The Breakfast Club to be the quintessential 80s film regardless of genre.. it's a like a time capsule visually but the themes are timeless..
Anthony Michael Hall underwent his own transformation after this, seriously bulked up with muscles & landed the role of the bully in Edward Scissorhands. he's almost a different person.
I read recently that John Hughes wrote the script over a weekend and that there was no script for the part where they each have their reason for getting detention so they each had to improvise it. It is definitely not the same school lol
Shaun is half right. Some of the interiors for Ferris Bueller were shot at that high school but those steps belong to a completely different school which had recently closed. Tom playing with the drawstrings on his hoodie.. just like Andrew! 😅😅
One of my all time favourites. I remember staying up late one school night, and stumbling across it on TV. I wasn’t allowed to stay up to watch it all, so I went to the nearest video store and bought it on VHS the same week.
When I was a senior at high school, I was able to do a mural of this movie’s poster on one of the ceiling tiles of the art room. I can still see it when I look through the window. Also, at Prom, I went up on the bleachers and started doing the dances and everyone cheered
I agree with you gentlemen. I'm so glad you gave it a high score. I'm the same age as these characters and it is spot on like my high school. Thank you, till next time!
The way I see Alisson's character is that the breakfast club already liked her for who she was. Andy, the jock, already liked for who she was. The makeover was just a plus. I don't necessarily think it was to make her change who she was, it was just something Claire did for her to bond with her because that's probably how she bonded with her friends.
this is definitely a movie that improves with a rewatch. I first saw this film in my Adolescent Psychology class and so many of the themes in it about coming of age, the pressure it puts on adolescents, and how they tend to cope are pretty spot on. we had so many great discussions about this film in that class and ever since being introduced to it, it's become one of my favorite films. thanks for another great reaction guys! ❤
lol my fun fact is that my college roommate actually went to the physical high school where they filmed and that that library isn't actually the school's library. It's the school's gymnasium that they turned into a library for the film.
if you look at the flags on the balcony you'll see one of them is the (old) GA state flag that included the Confederate Battle Flag in its design, included as a symbol of their rebellion.
Did you realize that Brian is the prototype personality for their future' society's school rampage killer, like the Columbine boys? Did you notice that Bender didn't have a lunch? Although this movie really speaks to the generation X that it belongs to, the personalities in it can be related to, by any and every generation, in terms of societies' segregated social hierarchy. Every generations youth has their own set of youth cult divisions. That behavior is taught and encouraged all throughout school, to prepare you for the same kind of society.
Something that is easy to overlook is that Brian isn't just a nerd. At first he seems shy and overly-intellectual, but as the movie goes on it's clear that he also has a sense of entitlement and contempt for the others. When he gets a fail grade in shop it wounds his sense of superiority and he "snaps" with the flare gun (also, it's never really addressed just what Brian was going to do with the gun after they laugh about it going off accidently; was he going to try and set a fire somewhere in the school on purpose?)
80s movies don’t always age well, but this does. As for the basket case, I think the writer was saying her strangeness was a shield or armor. That may not be the thought of today, but it was accurate to the time.
When I was young I made the mistake of seeing this first out of all the John Hughes films. So I thought they'd all be like this. Then I watch Sixteen Candles and it's crazy silly with some really questionable stuff going on and I was like, what the hell??? Lol. And Bender is in a way truly tragic. Bad home life, teachers looking to just get him but if you pay attention he's really really smart. His troublemaking is very clever, he's laser sharp in perceiving others (maybe as a defense mechanism but still) and how he speaks, his word choice. Okay, that's because John Hughes does good dialogue BUT it does translate to Bender being sharp. But he gets no breaks.
Great reaction! This is one of the best films - totally rewatchable. You mention the idea of what it would be like for Ferris Bueller being in this film. While it's not in this film universe, you should check out WarGames. It's with Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy (Allison from this movie). It's from this time period and a really good film, you'll definitely like it.
This is my all time favourite movie. My dad showed it to be when I was younger because he wanted me to know old movies and how some movies don't have to be action and magic and super heroes. I absolutely love the message behind this movie.
I never realised that but you're right, same school as in Ferris Bueller, seems that John Hugues shot the two mocies using the same sets to save money. Thanks for the notice 😉
While most "teen" films tend to be made 'for' teens, the thing that sets Breakfast Club apart is that is 'about' teens. I think that lends to viewers truly seeing themselves and the people they knew in these characters.
I was born in the 80s but I was in high school in the last half of the 90s and it was still very close to this. Cliques were commons but maybe a little looser. I don't remember being pigeon-holed into my group of friends as much or maybe my character allowed me to be more fluid even though I felt clearly at home around the nerdy people tables. I have watched a lot of react to this movie, watched it myself maybe two times in the past 5 years (first time) and I like it a lot. Idk how i missed that movie back then. My family was watching up to 3 movies every weekend so my childhood and teen years involved a lot of movies.
Ally Sheedy’s character wanted ultimately to be noticed. Because she gots none at home. So her change imo was what she really wanted. I graduated in 1988, so this was my life.
To be fair, I think Andy liked Allison before the makeover, but as he pointed out, it was nice to actually see her face. She was already wearing makeup before ('why do you wear all that black sh*t around your eyes?'), Claire actually toned her makeup DOWN to look natural.
I watched this with both my kids as they reached their mid-teens. It's very mature content but was a good launching point for discussion. Comparisons of my youth, I graduated from HS the year this came out,. Discussions of peer pressure, and expectations, sex, drugs. It was interesting to hear from them how some things had changed but how many things were still the same. I watched it again when they were in their 20's to see their perspective change. This is certainly not a family film... but watch it with your family and discuss. Grandma may shock you.
This was so great. I watched this as a youngster and was so drawn into the movie. I do agree that most kids won't be able to sit through this movie today, but times were different back then and I'm glad we can enjoy this movie. THANK YOU!
This movie is a Cinematic Masterpiece. The way the school feels soooooo empty yet you have ur core Five and you can almost feel the ghosts of that school who might feel the same way.
Anthony Michael Hall( The Brain) has been in some of everything. If you've watched National Lampoon's Vacation, he was Rusty. Besides this movie, he was in other John Hughes films. AMH is still acting, with such recent credits as Yhe Blacklist, Halloween Kills and Clerks III.
John Hughes had an amazing gift, reach out to teenagers on their own level, but without talking down to them or patronizing them. He actually understood what teenagers were going through, and what their lives were like. That's why all of his movies from the eighties still remains so popular today. He portrayed teenagers in their own way, as they actually were.
Please continue with more John Hughes! I almost feel like this movie should be required viewing for parents and teachers. The character Vernon is such a prime example of everything you want to avoid being as a teacher. Main message that I take away is that you can’t judge a book by its cover. There was so much more to each character than just their labels and they each had so many layers.
I was in high school in the noughties, and while the lines were a little more blurred between cliques (mostly cause a lot of us knew each other since we were 4-5) a lot of this still hit a chord. Like, no matter what circle you ran with, there was an unspoken understanding that we ALL *hated* our vice-principle.
Bender being frozen in fear was so realistic. Probably was reliving his home life..in that moment he wasn't a loud mouthed bad boy, he was a scared kid that had yet another adult thats supposed to care about him threatening to harm him
Im totally frozen in love by your profile picture😍
Yes cause that’s how his father spoke to him and it triggered the same response in him . Exactly
My mom was a teacher & had too many kids like Bender. She was always able to bond with them & they were all extremely intelligent.. they just didn't have good parents.
Poor Bender. I always felt so bad for those kids.
@@Pazuzu82 AYO?
The "Eat my shorts" line originated here and John Bender was an inspiration for Bart Simpson. And Bender the robot, of course. Tells you what Matt Groening thinks of this film.
It didn't originate in this movie, but I'm sure Matt Groening was inspired to use it by watching the film. I've seen comments from people saying they were using that phrase at school in the 70s. I believe them.
I was a senior in high school when this came out and it was one of the most accurate movies about high school at that time, I went to school with every character. Fast Times at Ridgemont High was another iconic movie from the 80’s that got it right.
i went to high school in the mid/late 90s and it wasn't much different.
as far as 90s high school experience... American Pie captures the feel and vibe of the times.
Same & Facts Jim 🌠
Hello Fellow Generation Xer! I was 17 when this came out! Wasn't being a teen in the 80s the best?! So much fun!
Senior in ‘85 as well - this was an eerily accurate portrayal of the HS I attended and so much of the shit we were dealing with.
Me too . . . . I was only 17 when I graduated in 85 but living through the 70s and 80s as a kid will never happen again. I tried to give my kids the same experience in the 90s and early 2000s as muh as I could. There are too many pussies today.
John Hughes cameo as Brian's dad picking him up at the end. Also that was Anthony Michael Hall's real mother and sister that were in the car when he was dropped off. The part of Andrew's confession during the circle meeting was unscripted and Emilio just went for it. Honestly he's right. "How do you even apologize for something like that? There's no way." He isn't wrong. John Hughes made a lot of movies I still enjoy today. Breakfast Club, Pretty In Pink, Sixteen Candles, Home Alone, Uncle Buck, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Great films. I also like during Andrew talking about his dad you can see Bender is uncomfortable seeing as he deals with an abusive dad at home. Andrew's dad is more words and mental while Bender's dad is more physical. What I love is how open ended the movie is. Do these people stay friends? Or do they default back to their normal groups? We don't know.
John Hughes also was the writer for Anthony Michael Hall's first major film National Lampoon's Vacation.
we can only believe that in the end, the power of simple minds kept them together.
@@samanthanickson6478 "Don't you... Forget about me. Don't, don't, don't."
I don’t know if they but I got a feeling out of school most likely they talk to each other maybe as a group sometimes or when somebody is buys they still would talk to each other out of school
I do want to point out that Andrew liked Allison BEFORE she got her makeover. He was the one who asked her about her parents and was the first person to really pay attention to her. Even when he sees her after the makeover, his only comment is "I can see your face".
Yeah I think some people miss that message - it’s about opening yourself up and allowing yourself to be vulnerable instead of hiding
I get what they were going for with the makeover but it's still my least favorite part of the movie
@@mintjulius275 same, but that’s part of the imperfections with these characters that fueled the whole movie anyway, you know? It still ended with everyone knowing that the Nerd was writing it for them and likely wouldn’t be buddies with them moving forward. Bender would still be a troublemaking rebel. They are all communicating the only way they know how. Of course the popular queen bee of the school would try to be nice through glamour and fashion lol
"It doesn't matter if they're all different, all their problems weigh the same on them." Wow loved that.
Could you time stamp this for us?
@@CinemaRules of course. 17:22
The thing about John Hughes is that while he gave a cultural voice to Gen X (I was 16 when I first saw this in theatres in 1985 and still remember being blown away by the experience), his themes were so universal and timeless that we're still talking about his movies today. I still remember my father (now 82) being affected by the movie and I personally know of people in their teens and 20s who also love it. The Breakfast Club is and will always be a coming-of-age touchstone.
I remember seeing this in the 80’s and when my kids were teens I showed it to them, they were basically raised on 80’s movies and they love them too.
One of my favourite films of all time but also makes me so sad. Life will never be like this again.
Well, fortunately, that’s not our problem. I’ve met kids today. I’m not weeping for them.
Funny, because in 1985 (when the breakfast club came out) that’s exactly what the people from the previous generation were saying about the world - this character is also immortalised as Mr. Vernon in the Breakfast club, really it depends on who it is, I’m 14 years old, so I’m surrounded by this generation practically, and I can tell you it isn’t as black and white as made out to be, it all depends on the individual themselves.
Jason Voorhees: It's sad because I think a lot of people would be better off if it was.
I wonder how things went so far off the rails?
Was it technology?
Helicopter parents bubble-wrapping their kids?
Was it the final decline of schools, homes, families, and communities?
Something else or All of the above?
As someone who went to high school in the ‘80s, I can confirm that EVERYONE fit into one of these characters. I was the weirdo.
90s werent much different.
@@penoyer79 The 60's were Waaaaaaaaay Different! ..... The Kids had cliques but we all got along.
@@jamesalexander5623I really think it depends on a number of variables. I graduated in '85, and while we had cliques, we all got along as well. Many kids would cross over into multiple cliques, even.
I do wonder if school size/class size has an impact on this? 🤷🏼♂️
2000s weren't much different either. I was the "weirdo" mixed with the "geek"
early 2000s wasn't so different! My school had those same cliques, minus the princess being rich
John Hughes passed at 51 from a heart attack. I was 17 when this movie came out . I saw every John Hughes film it’s day of release. I counted the days. I can’t imagine those years without these movies making us feel seen at a time in film when teenagers weren’t otherwise celebrated or focused on or seen. These movies were the days of our lives . Figuratively & Literally . R.I.P John Hughes & Thank you
I’ve always loved this movie. The saddest thing about it, is that, this would NEVER happen today because everyone would just sit and stare at their phones and completely ignore each other.
Funny, because in 1985 (when the breakfast club came out) that’s exactly what the people from the previous generation were saying about Tv and video games (which were becoming more and more prevalent) - this type of character that believes the youth has been corrupted and isn’t anything like they were at that age is immortalised as Mr. Vernon in the Breakfast club, so really it depends on who it is, I’m 14 years old, so I’m surrounded by this generation practically, and I can tell you it isn’t as black and white as made out to be, it all depends on the individual themselves, i for certain don’t “sit and stair at my phone and completely ignore” in fact I don’t even use my phone that much asides from calling when I need to, checking the time, etc, and in a short period of time *this* and ALSO I’m a social butterfly, I love talking to people, and because of that people (usually) love talking back to me, though it may throw some off guard at first, they soon become inclined to do the same, so it would seem that all is not yet quite lost.
@ethanames557 glad to hear. But you have to admit most people have to be shaken out of their screens (not necessarily a generational thing either) .
I agree. I would imagine taking their phones away would be part of the "punishment" and ironically could end up being the best thing about a scenario such as this. People can actually connect without being glued to their phone.
They could absolutely film a great remake of this movie with the concept of taking the kids' phones away for the entire Saturday detention, forcing them to have actual conversation. That could be even better than the original.
@@RebeccaStropoli What a great idea! Start writing a screenplay or I will:)
this is such an epic movie that captured my High School life. I graduated in 1985. The library furniture was literally the same as the furniture in my HS library.
The film was a hit when it came out, despite it's restricted rating for language, as it was one of the first teen comedy/dramas that wasn't exploitative. During the 80's, there were so many bad teen comedies that were filled with so many dumb characters and exploitative nudity, many were surprised by its success. Filmmaking fact: The scene where they all talk and confess everything was shot over 3 days. Estevez said in an interview it was the hardest days he ever had acting at the time
Glad to see you both enjoyed this one. As far as the younger generation reactions go to this movie, it seems to be hit or miss (from what I've seen so far.) I am Gen X myself so this movie really resonates with me, but I've watched The Graduate (which is THE quintessential Boomer coming-of-age movie) and it does nothing for me. And... I can't remember the comment, but if you are expecting an 80s movies with a much darker take on high school life, then it's time to watch Heathers.
Yess I love Heathers
Heather's, another classic 👌
Heathers or The River's Edge (I think that was late 80s with Keanu Reeves and Crispin Glover). That was a pre-grunge flick if ever there was one
One reason why Hughes’ movies with teen casts have stood the test of time is because he treats the teen characters like adults. The dialogues and scripts are mature conversations about coming of age.
Nostalgia note: Although sushi (8:43) obviously existed in the US long before The Breakfast Club, it was not a commonplace American foodstuff until it started showing up as a very snooty, upscale food eaten by rich characters in movies in the early '80s. All-you-can-eat sushi buffets were springing up everywhere by the mid-'80s, though.
The Breakfast Club is iconic. Being a teenager in the 80s was the best. Shout out to all the GenXers out there!
For me, as someone who entered his teenage years in 1986 this was a pivotal moment. I've always thought this was an important film for teenagers to watch and appreciate. It may seem dated with it's fashions and music, but the general concept is still the same. Kids in school can all come from different backgrounds and have different issues, but under the surface we are all the same and they just need someone to listen to their problems and understand which is eventually what happens in this film. It was a game changer back in the mid 80's. Still have a soft spot for it now at 50 years old.
John Hughes movies were so great when I was a teenager growing up in the 80s. They encapsulated the teenage experience while framing it with humor but examining some real issues and emotions we all dealt with.
… and the music REALLY helped to sell this film. We can hear one part of one song from here and we could tell you exactly what we were doing at the very moment we saw this film. When it first came on cable, the space shuttle “Challenger” blew up with the school teach Christine McCullough (sp?) on it.
When the teacher says I expect more from a varsity Letterman he meant you should have told me who took the screws out of the door
One of the best film soundtracks ever. It’s remained on my driving playlist for over 20 years, first as cassette, then CD, and now ITunes.
My favorite teen drama movie from the 1980s, if it gets remade I`ll be really mad.
It's definitely one of those that should be left alone. It's great the way it is!
Love love this film so much, btw the Simpsons started 1989 and this film was 1985 and I'm pretty sure that The Simpsons took that eat my shorts from this film. My favorite character is Carl the janitor he really brings Vernons character down a peg or two when they are relaxing having the beers. I would have to say that I was like Andrews character at high school.
The Simpsons actually started in 1987 as filler between skits on The Tracey Ullman Show. People loved it and they got their own show.
One of my favourite films! Fact for you guys, the scene where they’re sat in circle where they are saying why they were in detention was ad-libbed by the actors and their reactions were genuine….Going to watch it myself tonight after this vid 👍🏻
I'm happy you guys reacted to this movie! I hope you continue doing John Hughes films, particularly "Sixteen Candles" and "Pretty in Pink."
I grew up in Cook County, IL, when (and where) these movies were shot. This was filmed at Maine North High School in Des Plaines, and Ferris Bueller was filmed, I believe, at either Glenbrook North or Glenbrook South in (Northbrook) "Glenbrook". 😉💜
I saw this in the theater in 1985 when it came out. I was 17 years old. What a great time to be alive! Being a teen in the 80s was awesome!
If you saw at the beginning, the Janitor was pictured in the glass case and voted "Most Likely To Succeed"
A hilarious detail!
Shaun has the correct pronunciation of "clique".
I first saw this in about 2005 when I was 16 and it really resonated with me even so long after it’s release. Such a quotable film! So glad to see you react to this!
Yes, The saying Eat my shorts was taken from this movie.
In Kevin Smith's Dogma, it starts with Jay and Silent Bob trying to find the Shermer Illinois shown in these films so they can sell pot there only to be crushed that it's fictional. Lol.
Where all the honeys are top shelf, and all the dudes are whiny p*ssies.
Except for Judd Nelson. Dude was harsh.
We (my younger sisters and I) probably watched this 100 times in the 80s, having recorded it off a pay channel (probably Showtime, we didn't have HBO) onto a Betamax tape (lol). The immense waves of nostalgia seeing this is mind blowing. Love this movie! Great reaction guys!
I have seen a dozen reactions to this movie and you two easily had the best one of all. Your insights and intelligent responses were fantastic. Thank you both so much for _getting_ this culturally important movie. (says the 62-year old lady)
OMG Im soooooo excited. Its about time yall watch this. I feel like i watch it every couple weeks. John Hughes is my man! He's got even better ones so i hope those movies are coming too. Too many to list lol!
One of the greatest coming of age comedy drama films ever made, where teens from different backgrounds learn how to cope with life and difficult challenges as they spend Saturday afternoon detention.
I’m a teacher that has shown this movie at the end of the year every year for 10 years. The students love it.
They still let teachers show this? Even with the dark and violent subject matters (especially WRT to Brian brining a gun to school).
@@ryanjacobson2508 not to mention doing dope right there on campus!
@@ryanjacobson2508 😂 I don’t ask for permission. Admin would have to walk in to my room in late May to catch me and by that point they leave us alone and are ready for summer.
When I saw it back in the day, I had to go back and watch it again. I don't re-watch many movies in the theater. Fun fact: Emilio Esteves improvised the whole taping Larry Lester's buns together story. I find that amazing because it's damn near perfect.
I was in in Grade 10 (High School) when the Breakfast Club came out and it instantly resonated. It became iconic because it perfectly portrayed what high school was like in 1985. Being part of a clique was just how it was. The 5 characters represented people we saw every day but we also saw ourselves in 1 of those characters. It was like looking in a mirror. The 10 minute scene near the end where they just sit and talk echoed what we were all thinking but never verbalized.
This movie is so campy but it has some genuine real moments in it, like the scene with Bender being scared of the adult threatening him, or when Clark starts crying when he talks about his prank on another kid. Those moments are a bug part of why this movie is considered iconic.
7:44 I'm glad you picked up on the 'Kwai' reference and I very much look forward to your reaction to it, lads. Clique rhymes with unique, Shaun!
Sprawling on the fringes of the city
In geometric order
An insulated border
In-between the bright lights
And the far, unlit unknown
Growing up, it all seems so one-sided
Opinions all provided
The future pre-decided
Detached and subdivided
In the mass-production zone
Nowhere is the dreamer
Or the misfit so alone
Subdivisions
In the high school halls
In the shopping malls
Conform or be cast out
Subdivisions
In the basement bars
In the backs of cars
Be cool or be cast out
Any escape might help to smooth
The unattractive truth
But the suburbs have no charms to soothe
The restless dreams of youth
Drawn like moths, we drift into the city
The timeless old attraction
Cruising for the action
Lit up like a firefly
Just to feel the living night
Some will sell their dreams for small desires
Or lose the race to rats
Get caught in ticking traps
And start to dream of somewhere
To relax their restless flight
Somewhere out of a memory
Of lighted streets on quiet nights
Subdivisions
In the high school halls
In the shopping malls
Conform or be cast out
Subdivisions
In the basement bars
In the backs of cars
Be cool or be cast out
Any escape might help to smooth
The unattractive truth
But the suburbs have no charms to soothe
The restless dreams of youth - ----Rush "Subdivisions"..lyrics by Neil Peart 1982!
As a 16 year old rush fan in 1982, no truer lyrics hit so close.
"Eat my shorts" was said here before the Simpsons used it.
My guys...this is special. And hopes everything's going well with your family and friends out in the UK. This is great with a weird lunch.
This is movie gives a great insight into North American highschools during the 80s. I was 15 when I first saw the film. My grade 10 Language Arts teacher brought it to class one day and had us watch it. She was young and cool. Yes, I had a crush on her like the others guys. But, this film along with the other Hughes films really spoke to us Gen Xers.👍🏼
11:13 This seen is darker the most people realize! People forget that this is an abused child, because of how grown up the actor looks, and all the other more famous parts of the movie. Remember how earlier he talked about his father burning him with cigarettes and hitting him and his mother. So, this grown man, that is supposed to be a teacher, just threatened to beat up an already abused child.
Clique = "Click" is the American pronouncation. So Tom's got the British pronouncation and Shaun's got the American version...you're both right!
Showed my 12 yr old recently and she loved it so kids can definitely sit through it and appreciate it
Yes!! I've waited 2 and a half years for this film reaction 🎉
Fun Easter Egg, at the start of the movie there is a plaque that shows the 1969 “Man of the Year” was the janitor when he was in the same high school. I think it was to show that who you are in high school doesn’t determine who you are as an adult.
Great reaction guys! This is my favorite movie of all time.
Funfact: the dancing scene was only supposed to be Claire but Molly Ringwald wasn't comfortable dancing alone so the scene was changed to include everyone. 🙂
RIP, the legendary John Hughs
Bit of Trivia: John Hughes Wanted to hire Anthony (who played Brian) as the lead for "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". But Anthony was busy.
I was in school in the 80s. And although later in life I've heard some folks say this focus on cliques was accurate, I didn't see it and felt it was a lens which films and tv were trying to get us to see life through. But, I was also oblivious and kept to myself, so it might simply have been a case of not caring about it.
I consider The Breakfast Club to be the quintessential 80s film regardless of genre.. it's a like a time capsule visually but the themes are timeless..
Anthony Michael Hall underwent his own transformation after this, seriously bulked up with muscles & landed the role of the bully in Edward Scissorhands. he's almost a different person.
I read recently that John Hughes wrote the script over a weekend and that there was no script for the part where they each have their reason for getting detention so they each had to improvise it.
It is definitely not the same school lol
I just watched the breakfast club for the first time yesterday.
And what did you think to it?
@@CinemaRules i enjoyed it and can deff understand why its considered a classic
Shaun is half right. Some of the interiors for Ferris Bueller were shot at that high school but those steps belong to a completely different school which had recently closed.
Tom playing with the drawstrings on his hoodie.. just like Andrew! 😅😅
Love John Hughes - love The Breakfast Club. Man I was lucky going to the cinema in the 80s! ❤
One of my all time favourites. I remember staying up late one school night, and stumbling across it on TV. I wasn’t allowed to stay up to watch it all, so I went to the nearest video store and bought it on VHS the same week.
When I was a senior at high school, I was able to do a mural of this movie’s poster on one of the ceiling tiles of the art room. I can still see it when I look through the window.
Also, at Prom, I went up on the bleachers and started doing the dances and everyone cheered
I agree with you gentlemen. I'm so glad you gave it a high score. I'm the same age as these characters and it is spot on like my high school. Thank you, till next time!
John Hughes based and filmed many of his films in the suburbs of Chicago--namely Lake Forrest.
The way I see Alisson's character is that the breakfast club already liked her for who she was. Andy, the jock, already liked for who she was. The makeover was just a plus. I don't necessarily think it was to make her change who she was, it was just something Claire did for her to bond with her because that's probably how she bonded with her friends.
Nice pick. Glad your reacting to this wonderful classic:)
"Where's your lunch?"
"You're wearing it."
this is definitely a movie that improves with a rewatch. I first saw this film in my Adolescent Psychology class and so many of the themes in it about coming of age, the pressure it puts on adolescents, and how they tend to cope are pretty spot on. we had so many great discussions about this film in that class and ever since being introduced to it, it's become one of my favorite films. thanks for another great reaction guys! ❤
lol my fun fact is that my college roommate actually went to the physical high school where they filmed and that that library isn't actually the school's library. It's the school's gymnasium that they turned into a library for the film.
Great reaction. I also thought you’d like to know that Bart Simpson’s catchphrase was taken from this movie.
if you look at the flags on the balcony you'll see one of them is the (old) GA state flag that included the Confederate Battle Flag in its design, included as a symbol of their rebellion.
Did you realize that Brian is the prototype personality for their future' society's school rampage killer, like the Columbine boys? Did you notice that Bender didn't have a lunch? Although this movie really speaks to the generation X that it belongs to, the personalities in it can be related to, by any and every generation, in terms of societies' segregated social hierarchy. Every generations youth has their own set of youth cult divisions. That behavior is taught and encouraged all throughout school, to prepare you for the same kind of society.
Bender did have lunch, if you are counting his own spit😂
@@Pazuzu82 or Clair’s face.
Something that is easy to overlook is that Brian isn't just a nerd. At first he seems shy and overly-intellectual, but as the movie goes on it's clear that he also has a sense of entitlement and contempt for the others. When he gets a fail grade in shop it wounds his sense of superiority and he "snaps" with the flare gun (also, it's never really addressed just what Brian was going to do with the gun after they laugh about it going off accidently; was he going to try and set a fire somewhere in the school on purpose?)
Dude, I want to SEE the immediate-second-watch reaction and discussion afterward. Unprecedented!
That was a very earnest, honest and thoughtful reaction review, guys. Thanks.
Hughes films gave us a voice in a way films had not previously done.
80s movies don’t always age well, but this does. As for the basket case, I think the writer was saying her strangeness was a shield or armor. That may not be the thought of today, but it was accurate to the time.
When I was young I made the mistake of seeing this first out of all the John Hughes films. So I thought they'd all be like this. Then I watch Sixteen Candles and it's crazy silly with some really questionable stuff going on and I was like, what the hell??? Lol.
And Bender is in a way truly tragic. Bad home life, teachers looking to just get him but if you pay attention he's really really smart. His troublemaking is very clever, he's laser sharp in perceiving others (maybe as a defense mechanism but still) and how he speaks, his word choice. Okay, that's because John Hughes does good dialogue BUT it does translate to Bender being sharp. But he gets no breaks.
Great reaction! This is one of the best films - totally rewatchable. You mention the idea of what it would be like for Ferris Bueller being in this film. While it's not in this film universe, you should check out WarGames. It's with Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy (Allison from this movie). It's from this time period and a really good film, you'll definitely like it.
I watched this when I was 5. Didn’t really understand it but I was always so enamored by it. There is something so beautiful about this film
This is my all time favourite movie. My dad showed it to be when I was younger because he wanted me to know old movies and how some movies don't have to be action and magic and super heroes. I absolutely love the message behind this movie.
I never realised that but you're right, same school as in Ferris Bueller, seems that John Hugues shot the two mocies using the same sets to save money.
Thanks for the notice 😉
While most "teen" films tend to be made 'for' teens, the thing that sets Breakfast Club apart is that is 'about' teens. I think that lends to viewers truly seeing themselves and the people they knew in these characters.
I was born in the 80s but I was in high school in the last half of the 90s and it was still very close to this. Cliques were commons but maybe a little looser. I don't remember being pigeon-holed into my group of friends as much or maybe my character allowed me to be more fluid even though I felt clearly at home around the nerdy people tables. I have watched a lot of react to this movie, watched it myself maybe two times in the past 5 years (first time) and I like it a lot. Idk how i missed that movie back then. My family was watching up to 3 movies every weekend so my childhood and teen years involved a lot of movies.
TOM, you got it! You really did capture the movie well.
I lovee this movie.❤❤❤ John Hughes is a legend.! Uncle Buck next.?? (=
Ally Sheedy’s character wanted ultimately to be noticed. Because she gots none at home. So her change imo was what she really wanted. I graduated in 1988, so this was my life.
To be fair, I think Andy liked Allison before the makeover, but as he pointed out, it was nice to actually see her face. She was already wearing makeup before ('why do you wear all that black sh*t around your eyes?'), Claire actually toned her makeup DOWN to look natural.
RIP, John Hughes 🙏 I love all his movies. This one is so good!
I watched this with both my kids as they reached their mid-teens. It's very mature content but was a good launching point for discussion. Comparisons of my youth, I graduated from HS the year this came out,. Discussions of peer pressure, and expectations, sex, drugs. It was interesting to hear from them how some things had changed but how many things were still the same. I watched it again when they were in their 20's to see their perspective change. This is certainly not a family film... but watch it with your family and discuss. Grandma may shock you.
This was so great. I watched this as a youngster and was so drawn into the movie. I do agree that most kids won't be able to sit through this movie today, but times were different back then and I'm glad we can enjoy this movie. THANK YOU!
This movie is a Cinematic Masterpiece. The way the school feels soooooo empty yet you have ur core Five and you can almost feel the ghosts of that school who might feel the same way.
Great reaction! Loved the discussion after. It’s such a good movie!
Nice to see you posting it feels like it's been forever
Anthony Michael Hall( The Brain) has been in some of everything. If you've watched National Lampoon's Vacation, he was Rusty. Besides this movie, he was in other John Hughes films.
AMH is still acting, with such recent credits as Yhe Blacklist, Halloween Kills and Clerks III.
And lately The Goldbergs as well.
the bully in the tv show Community.
Can't forget him in _Edward Scissorhands_ .
John Hughes had an amazing gift, reach out to teenagers on their own level, but without talking down to them or patronizing them. He actually understood what teenagers were going through, and what their lives were like. That's why all of his movies from the eighties still remains so popular today. He portrayed teenagers in their own way, as they actually were.
This is the first and last time I’m watching you guys. Y’all were talking over the movie and we couldn’t wouldn’t let us watch it. Never again.
Please continue with more John Hughes! I almost feel like this movie should be required viewing for parents and teachers. The character Vernon is such a prime example of everything you want to avoid being as a teacher. Main message that I take away is that you can’t judge a book by its cover. There was so much more to each character than just their labels and they each had so many layers.
btw, i loved your reaction. and ya.. it's freedom, not corruption.. ;) corruption is what happened to Bender in that closet, with that teacher. xo
I was in high school in the noughties, and while the lines were a little more blurred between cliques (mostly cause a lot of us knew each other since we were 4-5) a lot of this still hit a chord. Like, no matter what circle you ran with, there was an unspoken understanding that we ALL *hated* our vice-principle.
My favorite channel!! ❤
We didn’t have these groups in UK schools, but we all wished we had a John Bender because we all fancied him!