An important thing to remember about John Hughes' movies is to compare them to other teen movies of the 80s. There were lots of them and they were all stupid comedies about sex and partying. Hughes' films treated teen like actual real complex human beings -- and that was new and amazing. And always great soundtracks.
Hughes gets criticized for the elements in some of his movies as problematic (God, I HATE that word). But he strove from realism, and reality for teenagers is always problematic. Please check out, The Outsiders.
an important thing to remember is that hughes' sense of comedy was toned down a lot!! he was kinda messed up...his early lampoon stuff and all, even the vacation stuff, a lot was toned down or taken out. that's why all his movies have the little bit of raunch that makes it in...he was a lot into the incest and pedophilia stuff..as comedy obv..he was a family guy.
Bender's behavior is pretty common for teens who are abused. He's angry and bitter because of his home life. He puffs up his chest because he wants to keep people from seeing how hurt he actually is. And as for the principal, he froze up because it was literally what happens to him at home all over again. He was terrified of being beaten like his father beats him. He's not doing any of it on purpose. It's a coping mechanism, and it's likely this one Saturday may have actually done him a world of good. He'll probably manage to avoid becoming his father now.
Kids don't change like that. I'm sure that on Monday he was acting the same as he was on Friday. And none of these kids ever talked to each other again.
@@MasteRgamer-mk5bp I mean, be realistic, come monday, everyone is back in their cliques and under their respective group pressures, it's easy if you're forced to sit together and have no one to perform to who knows how you usually act. I'd say it's very realistic that not all of them would openly associate with him when everyone can see it, maybe they'd even do it but then someone from their circle is like "look at that crazy pos, why's he waving to you" and that's all it takes. The prospect of judgment alone
@@clydefrosch my point is 4 of the 5 are in relationships with each other and most people would choose to spend time with their girl no matter what their clique says. and plus you dont reveal all the shit they did and just forget about all the bonding the group expirenced.
@@MasteRgamer-mk5bp they're in a relationship when noone saw or judged it yet. Again, that still has to survive an 80's Monday, there's a lot of time to rationalize that this weekend session was special circumstances that don't apply anymore.
The perfect coming of age teen comedy drama film that never gets old, because we all had problems on our lives, but try to figure out a way to deal with them.
I was Class of 1990 and saw The Breakfast Club on video in 1986 while in eighth grade. I loved it, even though I was a few years younger. I guess “Heathers” (1989), a dark comedy satire, was the closest thing to my generation’s Breakfast Club.
Me too! Back then, this movie seemed so important. I watched it again in the early 2000's and not so much. But after reconnecting with an old friend in my class and hearing the things that were really going on with my classmates back then, it suddenly became important again.
One of the most humbling & endearing films of all time. Every time you watch it, you just can't help but feel like a lost teenager again longing for understanding. This one will always be special.
In case you didn't know, the guy who played Brian (Anthony Michael Hall) was the jock hothead boyfriend of Wynona Rider's character in Edward Scissorhands. He was a staple in the 80s, appearing in Sixteen Candles, Weird Science, Vacation, and more.
I used to think that last line about us all being a "jock, princess, brain, criminal, and basket case" was a little trite, but the older I get, the more it rings true.
This is such a great movie. I like how they have kids from different social statures. The girl was using pixie sticks (which is pure sugar) and Captain crunch for her sandwich. After watching this movie many times I wondered how she kept her sushi fresh in that bag she kept it in. The reason Bender was acting out so much getting the extra days of Saturday detentions was due to his home life. He’d rather be at school than home. The reason the girl stole the lock cause she’s ignored at home so she does things to try and attract attention to her. A flare gun can do some damage to someone especially at such a close range.
Allison was a kleptomaniac. She also stole Bender’s knife, Brian’s wallet, and Andy’s patch off his letterman jacket while he was still wearing it, which is why I think she was there in detention-stealing. If she really had nothing better to do as she claimed, why didn’t Vernon question her being there? If she wasn’t supposed to be there, why did Vernon hand out 5 pencils and 5 sheets of paper? She’s a compulsive liar, remember? Also, there’s a pretty good chance that a flare gun could kill you. If he actually used it like a regular gun, put it against his head and pulled the trigger? Yep, I’m pretty sure he’d be dead. Jan-Michael Vincent of “Airwolf” was fooling around with a prop gun that used blanks and shot it up in the air beside his head, and the impact of the blast was enough to actually kill him.
@@mattslupek7988 Jon Erik Hexum, another actor of that time, was not as lucky … I read that Michael Douglas once shot a sandbag full of holes with a 'prop' gun, to demonstrate of dangerous it wss. Latest since the "Rust" incident people should know that 'prop' guns are just regular guns refitted with so-called blanks, which still can do lots of damage. Not even talking about live guns if they want to film a real impact (today's high-def makes that possible, no one would have thought of that back then.)
@@mattslupek7988 Jan Michael Vincent didn't die that way, you're thinking about Jon Erik Hexum, who died when he was playing around with a blank gun.
I love how much of this movie was improvised, like the library of the school being too small so they transformed the gym into a huge library for the movie. They also improvised some lines, and the title of the movie was changed from "The Detention" to "The Breakfast Club" because a friend of John Hughes had a son who called his detention the same name.
When I was in high school in the 80s, a "Breakfast Club" was a group of girls who had slumber parties and went out for breakfast the next morning in their pajamas. 😁
'85 was a defining year for teen movies: The Breakfast Club, Back to the Future, St. Elmo's Fire, The Goonies, Weird Science, Real Genius, Teen Wolf, Just One of the Guys, The Legend of Billie Jean, Fright Night, etc...
Welcome to the John Hughes' world! (RIP to John Hughes) This movie was one of the starters from the 80s & it was the major wake up call for parents & teenagers, just to pay attention to the teenagers how they were expressing themselves &how their lives were different from others! Big thanks to my 2 older sisters for introducing me &bloving the 80s! I'm 41 yrs old. "When u grow up, your heart dies" by Allison, the Basket Case. Man that was truuuue & I have to just keep the faith & just live!
AHHH John Hughes are the coming of age movies of my 80’s youth. He was incredible at giving teens actual depth of character. Since you watched this, I HIGHLY recommend watching Sixteen Candles immediately next. Molly Ringwald (Claire) and Anthony Michael Hall (Brian) are the lead actors in that movie and completely different characters than this movie. Other great John Hughes movies: Pretty In Pink (Also with Molly Ringwald) Weird Science (Also with Anthony Michael Hall) Uncle Buck Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Planes Trains & Automobiles Home Alone
Emilio Estevez, who played the jock, is Charlie Sheens older brother. He wanted to make it in Hollywood on his own merit so he kept the family name, Estevez, instead of the showbiz name Sheen that their dad started going by
When Veron had Bender cornered, imagine how Bender was feeling. Trapped and afraid he was going to get hjt, he was expecting it. Bender's dad and even his mother is the reason. It's sad bit it's amazing how he is not worst. He puts on a tough act, but it's to defend himself.
Yes and he wasn't just a criminal he ended up being a very broken kid that hadn't had a good thing in his life. I have always loved too that when Bender repeats Andrew's line earlier about nobody caring about him and he may not even exist that even though he acted like he didn't care he really did, you can kind of see it before he starts talking again. It shows that he does have feelings and that really hit him hard, he again probably gets the same insults at home. And even though he acts tough I don't believe Bender would ever actually harm someone, like when he pulled out that knife that was all for show.
@@russellward4624 and what’s more fucked up was that the principal was just itching to punch bender. Bender hasn’t said anything else at that point, he was just sitting there in shock and Vernon was getting more pissed off and hoping to get a punch in, literally threaten physical violence against a student because he himself felt powerless in his role as an authority figure.
@@russellward4624Also John didn't mind the Saturday detentions because it's better than being at home until Vernon made him feel unsafe at school. To John, school was the safest place for him until that scene.
Fun hidden detail: In one of the backgrounds as they roam the halls, you can see a list of "Student of the Year" or something like that... and one of them is Carl.
Vernon is an example of the worst kind of teacher, who got into it probably because he thought it would be easy and he enjoys the power trip. he's also the worst for a kid like Bender who is giving classic warning signs that he needs help but is instead met with threats of violence. as a teacher myself, all those scenes with Vernon threatening Bender make me cringe and I love when Carl knocks him down a peg or two. this is my favorite 80s movie and I'm so glad you guys enjoyed it! ❤
Interesting observation. Also being a teacher myself, Vernon came across as a nasty, burned-out teacher, who no longer enjoyed his work and openly despised the students. He said he was teaching for over 20 years, and he probably was in the profession for so long that he was trapped with nowhere else to go and saw no way to improve his situation. In the meantime, he took out his frustrations and anger on the students, which was inexcusable: He was the adult who should know better. An important thing I learned as a teacher: Never underestimate the janitors. They know a lot more than they often let on, and Carl was observant enough to knock Vernon down a peg. Even though Carl's part was small, he was an excellent addition to the film.
@@hellohi821 I loved Carl too! Vernon totally got what he deserved from Carl, a good kick in the pants and a wake up call. your observations could also be correct; I’ve seen many veteran teachers get into teaching expecting things to stay the same as they were when they entered, refusing to adapt to evolving curriculums and educational practices, and then taking out their frustrations on the students. teachers like them give teachers in general a bad name.
I'm going to stick up for the makeover at the end. A lot of people bitch about Andrew being into her because of the makeover. He was already into her. He was intrigued. But, the way she carried herself allowed her to not be seen. He was just happy to be able to see her. She didn't need to change to get his attention. She already had it.
Precisely! He wasn't into her because of the makeover but because he could finally see her face. It's very subtle but he pays attention to her whenever she draws attention and he's right there on the couch with her before then. With the makeover, she was no longer hiding behind a goth-y asthetic and he could finally see her, just her as she is. Clair didn't even really add that much.
This 100% I get, she always tried to hide herself mainly because he parents obvious ignored her so because of this she never tried to stand out; but at the end we finally see her face and who she really is.
@@seungminmakesmestay exactly! Thank you! Noticed he never said that she looked better or more beautiful or whatever. He liked that she wasn’t hiding anymore and can see her face.
Notice how no matter how the others felt about Bender, they never ratted him out and even actively covered for him? In John Hughes movies, clueless adults, especially school authority figures, are viewed as the universal common enemy of teens. Regardless of how they feel about each other, they always unite against them.
I always felt they were a bit envious of Bender's ability to mouth off to Vernon without any noticable fear of the consequences. He was doing what they all wanted to do but were afraid to so as much as they saw Bender as a jerk they also had a begrudging respect for him doing what they couldn't.
I love how you two are so good at analyzing movies after you watch them. So enlightening and entertaining. This movie is such a classic 80s. Love John Hughes movies. They are such a part of our youth 🥰
Everyone always wonders what happens after. I've always imagined they did just pass each other in the hall, nothing more than a hello, but the next Saturday each of them trickled in, one by one to share detention with Bender, and every Saturday after
My middle school teacher first showed me this and Ferris beuler, I thank him for it. I feel like I learned a lot from these movies at 13-14. About trying to live your life to the fullest to try to be the best you can not to judge someone you don’t know. And most importantly have fun. Life moves pretty fast If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. Wishing all of you the best of weekends
Fun fact, the melody they all whistle at 12:33 is the "Colonel Bogey March" made famous in the movie “The Bridge on the River Kwai” which would be an amazing movie for you to react to. It stars Alec Guinness who also plays Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original Star Wars trilogy. So there, I connected Star Wars to The Breakfast Club.
Just a little trivia for you. In the beginning credits you see that Carl the janitor was the star quarterback and big man on campus in his high school days.
I don't know if anybody commented on this but I have the answer to y'alls question. When they're all dancing and the 3 guys are doing that move and y'all were like what the fuck was that. In the 80s there was a popular band called The Talking Heads and in the music video for their song Once In A Lifetime the lead singer is doing that move. That's where they got that from.
Not sure if anyone else mentioned this. At the beginning of the movie, you see a photo of a student "most likely to succeed"on a wall, and it's an old picture of Carl the janitor.
37 years and this movie still communicates truth. Many of us moved between more than one if these teen types, so it was an amazing way to pull it all together. They start talking and realize we're all struggling. We're all trying to figure this out.
⚜️ Guys! Bringing me back to my early teens! I had such huge crushes on Judd Nelson and Anthony Michael Hall - and Molly Ringwold and Ally Sheedy!Emilio Estevez was alright, too. This soundtrack is 🔥!
I first watched this movie the week prior to leaving high school, felt like a transcendent experience, gave me real perspective on the positions of me and the people I went to school with, us against the system kinda vibes, all of us trying to find our own place and identity and such. Genuinely a movie that’s a real tear jerker for me, there’s just something really special about it.
I was fifteen when this movie came out, but I didn't see it till I was in my 20s. I really could have used this movie when I was 15. With very few exceptions, inside of every tough guy is a scared kid who nobody protected.
Imagine watching this in High School, it came out my Senior Year and we were all into this- it nails the various cliques from school and for a few weeks- we were all talking to each other- Eric Pfister, the Physics D&D guy who never talked was absolutely animated.
One thing that you have to keep in mind as far as Bender, is that although Judd Nelson appears to be pushing 40, he's a kid. I think his behavior is a cry for help and Vernon is a real piece of shit to respond to that by literally threatening a child with physical violence when he's an authority figure. Where is Bender supposed to see a good example of how to be a man when both his father and principal bully him? Also, I think Brian was planning to use the flare gun to blow up the woodshop project. One thing I find very heartening watching reactions is that there are a lot of young people (I'm probably 10 years younger than these characters would be) who say watching this and other movies that their high school experience was a lot less cliquey and certainly violent as far as bullying and fights than what they see in films. And I have to say that even in the 90s, that was fairly realistic. People got shoved into lockers and beat up and the adults in school often punished the parties equally even when there was a clear aggressor and victim. So, it is nice to hear a lot of modern kids of different "types" say those aspects of movies don't resonate with their experiences.
That scene where Vernon calls Bender names gets me every time. The pain in his eyes breaks my heart. I knew guys like him in high school and it makes me think of them
It's called Breakfast Club because they had to be there at 7am. It was filmed at a school in the suburbs of Chicago. This is John Hughes film. Hughes is from Chicago, so many of his movies are based in Chicago area. ( Uncle Buck, Home Alone, Ferris Bueller's Day Off)
This movie was from my parents teen years and my mom bought it on VHS and introduced me to it as a kid. This was my favorite movie for many years its still probably top 10. I had a big crush on John Bender which is not a good thing. I was attracted to the bad boys. Bryan's got so many great lines. I love how everything the basket case girl does is an art project including her lunch. I saw so many parents like Andy's dad when I was in school. Girls on my basketball and softball team that had to deal with that. Luckily my parents didn't care I was a bench warmer and average student.
I was 19 when this came out, in my second year of college. Re: your point about the limited set and cast: I distinctly remembering discussing exactly that with my friend Chuck, and we both agreed it could work really well onstage. I'm surprised no one's ever adapted it. Maybe I should give Chuck a call.
I've read that John Hughes didn't want any theatre versions or sequels to this movie (but then I read that there where plans of a whole series of sequels were the teens meet each other again in different times of their lives, but it never happend because Hughes never wanted to work with Judd Nelson again). But I know a friend who actually made a theatre play version of this movie, but I doubt she got any permission to do it & this was only amateur theatre. I never saw it though, but I would have loved to & in my opinion she would have been perfect as Allison 🙂
I absolutely enjoyed you guys reaction. ❤️ I’ve seen a couple of reactions to this film and yours was the best. You totally got the comedy part and why they acted the way they did. Thanks guys! ✌🏽❤️
3 fun facts: 1. Brian’s mother in the film is his mother in real life. 2. John Hughes portrays Brian’s dad at the end. 3. The reasons that they had detention was ad libbed by each actor.
This is such a great movie, I was a kid in the 80s and this was what our world was like back then. I love John Hughes movies and I love the cast in this movie.
"The breakfast club" was what the kids in John Hughes's high school called morning detention. He ended up making it about a Saturday detention, but like the name enough to keep it anyway.
If you’re gen Z this movie is your high school experience. It’s such a quiet script and it’s great. It’s just about the expectations parents put on their kids and we all deal with it
I think what is probably hardest to understand for young people watching this today is that this movie isn't a caricature. I knew real people who were exactly like any one of the characters in this movie - the parents, the teachers, the kids. It was a different time.
You guys are so funny. This is my Top 5 of 80's movies with an awesome soundtrack takes me back. I have yet to find a fellow GenXer who doesn't like this film, i shared it with my (now grown) kids and I love seeing young ppl relate to it as well. Times have changed but ppl not so much.
I think this movie was necessary for all teenagers who studied since that decade. The characters said everything inside of different kind of students, and that was a great message to stop the bullying.
I remember the last day of school on my junior year of high school the art teacher played this movie for us and it was lunch period next and she said we can bring our lunch into the room and finish the movie if we wanted to and most of the class did bring their lunch in. The following year on the last day of my senior year she played Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
The dark-haired girl in the back is Ally Sheedy I fell in love with her when I first saw this movie I'd pick her over the red-haired Molly Ringwald any day
This movie had 5 of the 8 main official Brat Pack members from the 80's in it. The other 3 are Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy and Demi Moore. There was another member, Mare Winningham, but she never appeared in movies with any of the rest of the members so some lists include her and others don't. There are other members but but they aren't considered part of the core 8.
Another one of my favorites. If a teenager is reading this, I can only recommend you to watch it ASAP! This movie will speak to you the most at this time in your life.
The scene where they're sitting and telling each other how they got detention was not in the script...Hughes told them to each come up with what they thought their characters would have done to have gotten in trouble. Phenomenal improv from the actors
Fun fact: All John Hughes movie's the high school that's in every film of his is the same abandoned school in Illinois. Also the entire inside of the McCallister house in the original Home Alone was built in the same Gymnasium that Bender was playing Basketball in "The Breakfast Club".
Yeah. He got permission from the city to use it as a filming location since it was abandoned at the time, and he never had to rent any studios to build sets or anything. The same hallways appear in a couple movies.
This movie covers a lot of ground. Parental expectations vs. who we want to be, the labels we put on each other, the performative nature of peer acceptance, the cynicism of authority figures--it's a well-rounded movie, from an emotional perspective.
This came out when I was 7 and I saw it whenever it made it's way to HBO, so probably 10-12 years old. It explained a great many things to me and answered questions I didn't even know I should ask. It may indeed be low budget, but that can be a good thing. Well defined restrictions encourage creative thought. If you are strictly budgeted in time, money or both, it forces you to do more with less, and I think that's clearly seen here. If being an empath is even a thing, I suppose I am one. When I walk into a room I feel what's going on. My career choices have led me to be even more observant and cautious, and one of the things this film helped me to understand was defense mechanisms. They come in quite handy when not overused. The right tool for the right job and all that. Another good one gents. Have a lovely time zone all.
This is the first movie that actually took a serious look at teenage issues. Before this time, teenagers and children as well were portrayed in the movies as not really having actual problems, or that the problems they face were not actually important. It’s a common trope now, but back in the day this was groundbreaking and the first movie of this type.
Ok ok ok. This is my generation, class of 86. I had the soundtrack on cassette and the full size laminated movie poster because my friend worked at the video store and saved it for me. I LOVE the way Bender looks at Clair with that smirk when she enters the closet. So sexy! The Dad picking up Brian at the end is actually John Hughes. And, Carl the Janitor also plays the cringey groom in Sixteen Candles, another John Hughes classic, along with Molly and AMH.
The 80's teen movie holy trinity: 1. Fast Times at Ridgemont High 2. Breakfast Club 3. Can't Buy Me Love Honorable mention for The Last American Virgin
An important thing to remember about John Hughes' movies is to compare them to other teen movies of the 80s. There were lots of them and they were all stupid comedies about sex and partying. Hughes' films treated teen like actual real complex human beings -- and that was new and amazing. And always great soundtracks.
And they usually took place in the Chicago suburbs
Very well said
@@sarahfullerton6894 And when Jay and Silent Bob found out it they were fake towns, they were very disappointed :p
Hughes gets criticized for the elements in some of his movies as problematic (God, I HATE that word). But he strove from realism, and reality for teenagers is always problematic.
Please check out, The Outsiders.
an important thing to remember is that hughes' sense of comedy was toned down a lot!! he was kinda messed up...his early lampoon stuff and all, even the vacation stuff, a lot was toned down or taken out. that's why all his movies have the little bit of raunch that makes it in...he was a lot into the incest and pedophilia stuff..as comedy obv..he was a family guy.
Bender's behavior is pretty common for teens who are abused. He's angry and bitter because of his home life. He puffs up his chest because he wants to keep people from seeing how hurt he actually is. And as for the principal, he froze up because it was literally what happens to him at home all over again. He was terrified of being beaten like his father beats him.
He's not doing any of it on purpose. It's a coping mechanism, and it's likely this one Saturday may have actually done him a world of good. He'll probably manage to avoid becoming his father now.
Kids don't change like that. I'm sure that on Monday he was acting the same as he was on Friday. And none of these kids ever talked to each other again.
@@John_Locke_108 did you watch a different breakfast club?
@@MasteRgamer-mk5bp I mean, be realistic, come monday, everyone is back in their cliques and under their respective group pressures, it's easy if you're forced to sit together and have no one to perform to who knows how you usually act.
I'd say it's very realistic that not all of them would openly associate with him when everyone can see it, maybe they'd even do it but then someone from their circle is like "look at that crazy pos, why's he waving to you" and that's all it takes. The prospect of judgment alone
@@clydefrosch my point is 4 of the 5 are in relationships with each other and most people would choose to spend time with their girl no matter what their clique says. and plus you dont reveal all the shit they did and just forget about all the bonding the group expirenced.
@@MasteRgamer-mk5bp they're in a relationship when noone saw or judged it yet.
Again, that still has to survive an 80's Monday, there's a lot of time to rationalize that this weekend session was special circumstances that don't apply anymore.
Notice how he was making fun of everyone else's lunch because he didn't have any lunch.
I am 43, watched this since I was a kid, and didn’t even make that connection. That makes me sad. 😢
Great observation because I’ve watched this movie so many times and never look at it that way.
Damn..
Many people don't pick up that Bender didn't have lunch AND he was the only one not dropped off by a parent
Very astute observations. It took me years of watching this mo in to pi k up on that
The sandwich had Cap'n Crunch on it, so technically there actually was Breakfast food
Plus Estevez had a whole carton of milk.
@@88wildcat and a bag of donuts
And fruit
The perfect coming of age teen comedy drama film that never gets old, because we all had problems on our lives, but try to figure out a way to deal with them.
Facts
Perfectly said.
This film also stands the test of time because the characters still exist in 2022.
💯💯💯
so true
I cannot under state how important this movie was to my generation (Class of 1985). This movie defined us. It “got” us
I was Class of 1990 and saw The Breakfast Club on video in 1986 while in eighth grade. I loved it, even though I was a few years younger. I guess “Heathers” (1989), a dark comedy satire, was the closest thing to my generation’s Breakfast Club.
Me too! Back then, this movie seemed so important. I watched it again in the early 2000's and not so much. But after reconnecting with an old friend in my class and hearing the things that were really going on with my classmates back then, it suddenly became important again.
Loved this movie. Class of 1986 here :)
!!
Class of '85, whoooo! Yeah, this movie, omg......
One of the most humbling & endearing films of all time. Every time you watch it, you just can't help but feel like a lost teenager again longing for understanding. This one will always be special.
Facts
Very well said
As a teen you long for understanding, as an adult you realize you were an idiot. You should grow out of the teen years eventually
This movie is such a classic. The nostalgia is real.
In case you didn't know, the guy who played Brian (Anthony Michael Hall) was the jock hothead boyfriend of Wynona Rider's character in Edward Scissorhands. He was a staple in the 80s, appearing in Sixteen Candles, Weird Science, Vacation, and more.
Holy shit, I didn't even realize that was him from Edward Scissorhands; that's amazing!
@@OctoKrool Trust me no one could believe it! It's still hard to believe! lol
He's also an incredibly funny adult bully on an episode of Community. So so funny.
And Halloween kills
I used to think that last line about us all being a "jock, princess, brain, criminal, and basket case" was a little trite, but the older I get, the more it rings true.
It probably hits harder now. People are constantly rejecting labels now.
Absolutely
Really? This hit hard for me as a teenager as well.
I always thought putting people in boxes would end after high school, but no.. lol
@@d3l3tes00n Just the names of the boxes or categories have changed, but they still exist.
This is such a great movie. I like how they have kids from different social statures. The girl was using pixie sticks (which is pure sugar) and Captain crunch for her sandwich. After watching this movie many times I wondered how she kept her sushi fresh in that bag she kept it in. The reason Bender was acting out so much getting the extra days of Saturday detentions was due to his home life. He’d rather be at school than home. The reason the girl stole the lock cause she’s ignored at home so she does things to try and attract attention to her. A flare gun can do some damage to someone especially at such a close range.
Allison was a kleptomaniac. She also stole Bender’s knife, Brian’s wallet, and Andy’s patch off his letterman jacket while he was still wearing it, which is why I think she was there in detention-stealing. If she really had nothing better to do as she claimed, why didn’t Vernon question her being there? If she wasn’t supposed to be there, why did Vernon hand out 5 pencils and 5 sheets of paper? She’s a compulsive liar, remember? Also, there’s a pretty good chance that a flare gun could kill you. If he actually used it like a regular gun, put it against his head and pulled the trigger? Yep, I’m pretty sure he’d be dead. Jan-Michael Vincent of “Airwolf” was fooling around with a prop gun that used blanks and shot it up in the air beside his head, and the impact of the blast was enough to actually kill him.
@@mattslupek7988 Jon Erik Hexum, another actor of that time, was not as lucky …
I read that Michael Douglas once shot a sandbag full of holes with a 'prop' gun, to demonstrate of dangerous it wss.
Latest since the "Rust" incident people should know that 'prop' guns are just regular guns refitted with so-called blanks, which still can do lots of damage.
Not even talking about live guns if they want to film a real impact (today's high-def makes that possible, no one would have thought of that back then.)
@@Cau_No 17:24 what did he meant when he said that
It's a big time generation gap that you guys did not know they were pixie sticks
@@mattslupek7988 Jan Michael Vincent didn't die that way, you're thinking about Jon Erik Hexum, who died when he was playing around with a blank gun.
I love how much of this movie was improvised, like the library of the school being too small so they transformed the gym into a huge library for the movie. They also improvised some lines, and the title of the movie was changed from "The Detention" to "The Breakfast Club" because a friend of John Hughes had a son who called his detention the same name.
So where was Bender playing basketball? Did they turn the real library into a gym?
When I was in high school in the 80s, a "Breakfast Club" was a group of girls who had slumber parties and went out for breakfast the next morning in their pajamas. 😁
@@John_Locke_108 No, Bender was playing basketball in the small gym, they turned the large gym into the library.
@@lmcgregoruk Two gyms in one school? Dang. That's impressive.
@@John_Locke_108 Lots of high schools have 2 gyms.
Another great John Hughes movie is Ferris Bueller's Day Off, it's an all time classic.
'85 was a defining year for teen movies: The Breakfast Club, Back to the Future, St. Elmo's Fire, The Goonies, Weird Science, Real Genius, Teen Wolf, Just One of the Guys, The Legend of Billie Jean, Fright Night, etc...
Just One of the Guys doesn't get enough love.
Welcome to the John Hughes' world! (RIP to John Hughes) This movie was one of the starters from the 80s & it was the major wake up call for parents & teenagers, just to pay attention to the teenagers how they were expressing themselves &how their lives were different from others! Big thanks to my 2 older sisters for introducing me &bloving the 80s! I'm 41 yrs old.
"When u grow up, your heart dies" by Allison, the Basket Case. Man that was truuuue & I have to just keep the faith & just live!
I still say "Screws fall out. The world's an imperfect place" whenever I can 😆
John Hughes is the king of coming-of-age movies, you can’t tell me otherwise
AHHH John Hughes are the coming of age movies of my 80’s youth.
He was incredible at giving teens actual depth of character.
Since you watched this, I HIGHLY recommend watching Sixteen Candles immediately next. Molly Ringwald (Claire) and Anthony Michael Hall (Brian) are the lead actors in that movie and completely different characters than this movie.
Other great John Hughes movies:
Pretty In Pink (Also with Molly Ringwald)
Weird Science (Also with Anthony Michael Hall)
Uncle Buck
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Planes Trains & Automobiles
Home Alone
This movie is ACCURATE when it comes to going to high school in the 80s and 90s. There were a bunch of cliques and you didn't cross lines.
Emilio Estevez, who played the jock, is Charlie Sheens older brother. He wanted to make it in Hollywood on his own merit so he kept the family name, Estevez, instead of the showbiz name Sheen that their dad started going by
When Veron had Bender cornered, imagine how Bender was feeling. Trapped and afraid he was going to get hjt, he was expecting it. Bender's dad and even his mother is the reason. It's sad bit it's amazing how he is not worst. He puts on a tough act, but it's to defend himself.
And he can't retaliate to either cause as Vernon said nobody would believe him.
@@russellward4624 Yep, feeling powerless just like with his parents.
Yes and he wasn't just a criminal he ended up being a very broken kid that hadn't had a good thing in his life. I have always loved too that when Bender repeats Andrew's line earlier about nobody caring about him and he may not even exist that even though he acted like he didn't care he really did, you can kind of see it before he starts talking again. It shows that he does have feelings and that really hit him hard, he again probably gets the same insults at home. And even though he acts tough I don't believe Bender would ever actually harm someone, like when he pulled out that knife that was all for show.
@@russellward4624 and what’s more fucked up was that the principal was just itching to punch bender. Bender hasn’t said anything else at that point, he was just sitting there in shock and Vernon was getting more pissed off and hoping to get a punch in, literally threaten physical violence against a student because he himself felt powerless in his role as an authority figure.
@@russellward4624Also John didn't mind the Saturday detentions because it's better than being at home until Vernon made him feel unsafe at school. To John, school was the safest place for him until that scene.
Of all the Sheen family, Emilio Estevez is horribly underrated. When he does the "win, win, win." I just welled up on your reaction.
Fun hidden detail: In one of the backgrounds as they roam the halls, you can see a list of "Student of the Year" or something like that... and one of them is Carl.
It's films like this.. That NEED a remake.. Films that bring people closer together and make us realize we're not all that different..
Vernon is an example of the worst kind of teacher, who got into it probably because he thought it would be easy and he enjoys the power trip. he's also the worst for a kid like Bender who is giving classic warning signs that he needs help but is instead met with threats of violence. as a teacher myself, all those scenes with Vernon threatening Bender make me cringe and I love when Carl knocks him down a peg or two. this is my favorite 80s movie and I'm so glad you guys enjoyed it! ❤
Interesting observation. Also being a teacher myself, Vernon came across as a nasty, burned-out teacher, who no longer enjoyed his work and openly despised the students. He said he was teaching for over 20 years, and he probably was in the profession for so long that he was trapped with nowhere else to go and saw no way to improve his situation. In the meantime, he took out his frustrations and anger on the students, which was inexcusable: He was the adult who should know better.
An important thing I learned as a teacher: Never underestimate the janitors. They know a lot more than they often let on, and Carl was observant enough to knock Vernon down a peg. Even though Carl's part was small, he was an excellent addition to the film.
@@hellohi821 I loved Carl too! Vernon totally got what he deserved from Carl, a good kick in the pants and a wake up call. your observations could also be correct; I’ve seen many veteran teachers get into teaching expecting things to stay the same as they were when they entered, refusing to adapt to evolving curriculums and educational practices, and then taking out their frustrations on the students. teachers like them give teachers in general a bad name.
The film is now part of the National Film Registry and the Library Of Congress.
I'm going to stick up for the makeover at the end. A lot of people bitch about Andrew being into her because of the makeover.
He was already into her. He was intrigued. But, the way she carried herself allowed her to not be seen. He was just happy to be able to see her. She didn't need to change to get his attention. She already had it.
Precisely! He wasn't into her because of the makeover but because he could finally see her face. It's very subtle but he pays attention to her whenever she draws attention and he's right there on the couch with her before then.
With the makeover, she was no longer hiding behind a goth-y asthetic and he could finally see her, just her as she is. Clair didn't even really add that much.
This 100% I get, she always tried to hide herself mainly because he parents obvious ignored her so because of this she never tried to stand out; but at the end we finally see her face and who she really is.
@@seungminmakesmestay exactly! Thank you! Noticed he never said that she looked better or more beautiful or whatever. He liked that she wasn’t hiding anymore and can see her face.
Chris I really loved your quote "There's nothing weaker than acting tough"
You two are my favorite reactors. Heart, laughs, great head bangs. Perfect.
The scene where they're telling how they got into detention is actually ad-libbed. Especially Andrews, AKA Emilio Esteves.
No it’s not
He did not just randomly think of this whole story
@@zach4627 He didn't make it up, it actually happened when he was a teenager.
@@lunarose698 Source?
@@ajclements4627 I can't find the source anymore
Notice how no matter how the others felt about Bender, they never ratted him out and even actively covered for him? In John Hughes movies, clueless adults, especially school authority figures, are viewed as the universal common enemy of teens. Regardless of how they feel about each other, they always unite against them.
I always felt they were a bit envious of Bender's ability to mouth off to Vernon without any noticable fear of the consequences. He was doing what they all wanted to do but were afraid to so as much as they saw Bender as a jerk they also had a begrudging respect for him doing what they couldn't.
I love how you two are so good at analyzing movies after you watch them. So enlightening and entertaining. This movie is such a classic 80s. Love John Hughes movies. They are such a part of our youth 🥰
Everyone always wonders what happens after. I've always imagined they did just pass each other in the hall, nothing more than a hello, but the next Saturday each of them trickled in, one by one to share detention with Bender, and every Saturday after
Unfortunately Andrew would never get away with that. He'd have games to get to. But it's a gorgeous thought.
I absolutely love this idea!! I think they’d give Andrew a pass.
How incredible the actors were. Emilio Estevez deserves so much more acclaim than his brother.
My middle school teacher first showed me this and Ferris beuler, I thank him for it. I feel like I learned a lot from these movies at 13-14. About trying to live your life to the fullest to try to be the best you can not to judge someone you don’t know. And most importantly have fun. Life moves pretty fast If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. Wishing all of you the best of weekends
Fun fact, the melody they all whistle at 12:33 is the "Colonel Bogey March" made famous in the movie “The Bridge on the River Kwai” which would be an amazing movie for you to react to. It stars Alec Guinness who also plays Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original Star Wars trilogy. So there, I connected Star Wars to The Breakfast Club.
And it shows how they are all prisoners for the next 8ish hours.
but growing up in the 70's and 80's everyone knew it from the COMET commercials
You’d probably be good playing that six degrees of kevin bacon game. Lol.
They also used it in the movie space balls.
Just a little trivia for you. In the beginning credits you see that Carl the janitor was the star quarterback and big man on campus in his high school days.
The makeover did make her look really different but she looks so much better the other way imo
I don't know if anybody commented on this but I have the answer to y'alls question. When they're all dancing and the 3 guys are doing that move and y'all were like what the fuck was that. In the 80s there was a popular band called The Talking Heads and in the music video for their song Once In A Lifetime the lead singer is doing that move. That's where they got that from.
This movie is literally my high school years in the late 80s. I was a weird combination of Bender, Allison and Brian. I love this damn movie!
Not sure if anyone else mentioned this. At the beginning of the movie, you see a photo of a student "most likely to succeed"on a wall, and it's an old picture of Carl the janitor.
Yeah I didn't know noticed that at all, but Carl truly succeeded; he turned out to be an understanding and an overall cool dude.
37 years and this movie still communicates truth. Many of us moved between more than one if these teen types, so it was an amazing way to pull it all together. They start talking and realize we're all struggling. We're all trying to figure this out.
Budget: $1 million
Box Office take: $51.5 million
Not too shabby.
That's the kind of success we like to see
So many huge 80s stars. I wonder if you recognized any of them from their other roles.
The real reason why Bender here detention is because he wanted to get away from his abusive father.
⚜️ Guys! Bringing me back to my early teens! I had such huge crushes on Judd Nelson and Anthony Michael Hall - and Molly Ringwold and Ally Sheedy!Emilio Estevez was alright, too. This soundtrack is 🔥!
It really warms my heart to see you guys enjoying this. 🥰
“Someone better be eating breakfast in this movie”
Oh my poor summer child...
I am SO GLAD y’all watched this- YES
I first watched this movie the week prior to leaving high school, felt like a transcendent experience, gave me real perspective on the positions of me and the people I went to school with, us against the system kinda vibes, all of us trying to find our own place and identity and such.
Genuinely a movie that’s a real tear jerker for me, there’s just something really special about it.
I cannot even express how much this is my favorite movie of all time. Another John Hughs classic. ❤️
I was fifteen when this movie came out, but I didn't see it till I was in my 20s. I really could have used this movie when I was 15.
With very few exceptions, inside of every tough guy is a scared kid who nobody protected.
Imagine watching this in High School, it came out my Senior Year and we were all into this- it nails the various cliques from school and for a few weeks- we were all talking to each other- Eric Pfister, the Physics D&D guy who never talked was absolutely animated.
One thing that you have to keep in mind as far as Bender, is that although Judd Nelson appears to be pushing 40, he's a kid. I think his behavior is a cry for help and Vernon is a real piece of shit to respond to that by literally threatening a child with physical violence when he's an authority figure. Where is Bender supposed to see a good example of how to be a man when both his father and principal bully him? Also, I think Brian was planning to use the flare gun to blow up the woodshop project. One thing I find very heartening watching reactions is that there are a lot of young people (I'm probably 10 years younger than these characters would be) who say watching this and other movies that their high school experience was a lot less cliquey and certainly violent as far as bullying and fights than what they see in films. And I have to say that even in the 90s, that was fairly realistic. People got shoved into lockers and beat up and the adults in school often punished the parties equally even when there was a clear aggressor and victim. So, it is nice to hear a lot of modern kids of different "types" say those aspects of movies don't resonate with their experiences.
That scene where Vernon calls Bender names gets me every time. The pain in his eyes breaks my heart. I knew guys like him in high school and it makes me think of them
He doesn't look like he's 40, and Brian wanted to kill himself, he says so.
You guys should watch "16 Candles." Another good John Hughes movie.
It's called Breakfast Club because they had to be there at 7am. It was filmed at a school in the suburbs of Chicago. This is John Hughes film. Hughes is from Chicago, so many of his movies are based in Chicago area. ( Uncle Buck, Home Alone, Ferris Bueller's Day Off)
Here’s a Fun Fact: The Lady who portrayed Brian’s Mother and the Little Girl portrayed, that’s actually the Actor’s real life Mother and Sister.
This movie was from my parents teen years and my mom bought it on VHS and introduced me to it as a kid. This was my favorite movie for many years its still probably top 10. I had a big crush on John Bender which is not a good thing. I was attracted to the bad boys. Bryan's got so many great lines. I love how everything the basket case girl does is an art project including her lunch. I saw so many parents like Andy's dad when I was in school. Girls on my basketball and softball team that had to deal with that. Luckily my parents didn't care I was a bench warmer and average student.
Yeah, no one talked about her amazing art abilities. What the heck?
I was 19 when this came out, in my second year of college.
Re: your point about the limited set and cast: I distinctly remembering discussing exactly that with my friend Chuck, and we both agreed it could work really well onstage. I'm surprised no one's ever adapted it.
Maybe I should give Chuck a call.
I've read that John Hughes didn't want any theatre versions or sequels to this movie (but then I read that there where plans of a whole series of sequels were the teens meet each other again in different times of their lives, but it never happend because Hughes never wanted to work with Judd Nelson again). But I know a friend who actually made a theatre play version of this movie, but I doubt she got any permission to do it & this was only amateur theatre. I never saw it though, but I would have loved to & in my opinion she would have been perfect as Allison 🙂
You should Definitely give Chuck a call😊
I absolutely enjoyed you guys reaction. ❤️ I’ve seen a couple of reactions to this film and yours was the best. You totally got the comedy part and why they acted the way they did. Thanks guys! ✌🏽❤️
The Best Man (1999) … PLEASE!!! 🤞🏽
Maybe ATL Next.
3 fun facts:
1. Brian’s mother in the film is his mother in real life.
2. John Hughes portrays Brian’s dad at the end.
3. The reasons that they had detention was ad libbed by each actor.
Best movie of all time. Every generation can relate. 10/10
You start out laughing, but half way in you're cryin. Great ending though. *Chef's Kiss*
This is such a great movie, I was a kid in the 80s and this was what our world was like back then. I love John Hughes movies and I love the cast in this movie.
"The breakfast club" was what the kids in John Hughes's high school called morning detention. He ended up making it about a Saturday detention, but like the name enough to keep it anyway.
If you’re gen Z this movie is your high school experience. It’s such a quiet script and it’s great. It’s just about the expectations parents put on their kids and we all deal with it
“What did they do to you?” “They ignore me…..”. Heartbreaking.
You guys really should check out an overlooked gem of a film called: "Singles".
Great film and an AMAZING soundtrack.
The 80s was golden for its coming of age movies
I think what is probably hardest to understand for young people watching this today is that this movie isn't a caricature. I knew real people who were exactly like any one of the characters in this movie - the parents, the teachers, the kids. It was a different time.
I will always love this movie! Thanks so much for letting me watch again with you ❤
Thank you for watching with us :)
You guys are so funny. This is my Top 5 of 80's movies with an awesome soundtrack takes me back. I have yet to find a fellow GenXer who doesn't like this film, i shared it with my (now grown) kids and I love seeing young ppl relate to it as well. Times have changed but ppl not so much.
I think this movie was necessary for all teenagers who studied since that decade. The characters said everything inside of different kind of students, and that was a great message to stop the bullying.
This movie is an '80s
Classic!!! Probably the biggest classic '80s movie of the decade.
Thank you guys so much for watching this amazing movie. It's one of my favorite movies from the 80's.
I remember the last day of school on my junior year of high school the art teacher played this movie for us and it was lunch period next and she said we can bring our lunch into the room and finish the movie if we wanted to and most of the class did bring their lunch in. The following year on the last day of my senior year she played Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
The dark-haired girl in the back is Ally Sheedy
I fell in love with her when I first saw this movie
I'd pick her over the red-haired Molly Ringwald any day
what a classic..🤣🤣🤣"Did your mom marry Mr.Rodgers, No, Mr. Johnson"...🤣🤣🤣
This was a Great Reaction to a GREAT 80's Movie! Could you please do St. Elmo's Fire Next??
Thank you ‼️ Thank you ‼️ Thank you ‼️ My favorite 80s movie of all time EVER ‼️ 😘😘👍👍
Two of them are in Sixteen Candles, another strange knee slapper by John Hughes, who also did Bueller and many others like it. Right up your alley.
"Very clever dinner. Appetizing food fit neatly into interesting round pie."
@@centuryrox" Hey Fred I think I found your chinamen"
This movie had 5 of the 8 main official Brat Pack members from the 80's in it. The other 3 are Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy and Demi Moore.
There was another member, Mare Winningham, but she never appeared in movies with any of the rest of the members so some lists include her and others don't. There are other members but but they aren't considered part of the core 8.
She was in St Elmo's fire with a lot of them though
Another one of my favorites. If a teenager is reading this, I can only recommend you to watch it ASAP! This movie will speak to you the most at this time in your life.
The scene where they're sitting and telling each other how they got detention was not in the script...Hughes told them to each come up with what they thought their characters would have done to have gotten in trouble. Phenomenal improv from the actors
Fun fact: All John Hughes movie's the high school that's in every film of his is the same abandoned school in Illinois. Also the entire inside of the McCallister house in the original Home Alone was built in the same Gymnasium that Bender was playing Basketball in "The Breakfast Club".
Yeah. He got permission from the city to use it as a filming location since it was abandoned at the time, and he never had to rent any studios to build sets or anything. The same hallways appear in a couple movies.
Even though I was born ten years after this was made, it was all-time favourite in high school.
High School class of 1989 here, now you guys know exactly how it felt at my school. That's why we love John Hughes.... He saw us.
What a classic movie, been binging your channel lately
It’s so funny to think Brian went on to be the bully we all hated in Edward Scissorhands
Y'all: *talking about breakfast*
Me: Oh no who's gonna tell them this movie has no breakfast in it?
It's crazy that Emilio estevez isn't more famous. But his brother Charlie Sheen is.
This movie covers a lot of ground. Parental expectations vs. who we want to be, the labels we put on each other, the performative nature of peer acceptance, the cynicism of authority figures--it's a well-rounded movie, from an emotional perspective.
Spoiled white kids and their make believe problems.
"He doesn't care. God he's so cool!" 😂
I don't love this movie like many, but watched for your reaction. Very amusing as always!
Im from denmark, and in english class recently my teacher showed us this movie because we were having a main subject. From subculture to mainstream.
This came out when I was 7 and I saw it whenever it made it's way to HBO, so probably 10-12 years old. It explained a great many things to me and answered questions I didn't even know I should ask. It may indeed be low budget, but that can be a good thing. Well defined restrictions encourage creative thought. If you are strictly budgeted in time, money or both, it forces you to do more with less, and I think that's clearly seen here.
If being an empath is even a thing, I suppose I am one. When I walk into a room I feel what's going on. My career choices have led me to be even more observant and cautious, and one of the things this film helped me to understand was defense mechanisms. They come in quite handy when not overused. The right tool for the right job and all that.
Another good one gents. Have a lovely time zone all.
This is the first movie that actually took a serious look at teenage issues. Before this time, teenagers and children as well were portrayed in the movies as not really having actual problems, or that the problems they face were not actually important. It’s a common trope now, but back in the day this was groundbreaking and the first movie of this type.
Ok ok ok. This is my generation, class of 86. I had the soundtrack on cassette and the full size laminated movie poster because my friend worked at the video store and saved it for me. I LOVE the way Bender looks at Clair with that smirk when she enters the closet. So sexy! The Dad picking up Brian at the end is actually John Hughes. And, Carl the Janitor also plays the cringey groom in Sixteen Candles, another John Hughes classic, along with Molly and AMH.
The 80's teen movie holy trinity:
1. Fast Times at Ridgemont High
2. Breakfast Club
3. Can't Buy Me Love
Honorable mention for The Last American Virgin
Fast times to me is still kind of 70's in it's feel, it came out in 1982 before the 80's really hit their stride.
"I love Breakfast" 🤣
That made my day 😂😄
I stand by those words.
John Hughes movies are classics and timeless and when he passed away we truly lost a legend. I would highly recommend more of his movies.