The iconic teen film The Breakfast Club, directed by John Hughes, celebrated its 40th anniversary in February of 2025. Released in 1985, the film has captivated audiences for decades with its portrayal of five teenagers who spend a Saturday in detention, grappling with their differences and personal challenges. With a star-studded cast including Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Ally Sheedy and Judd Nelson. Collectively, they are inseparable from the success and legacy of the film.
Like today’s films, The Breakfast Club was made for a mere $1 million. It would go on to gross over $50 million in theaters, solidifying its place as one of the most treasured teen films ever created. Andrew Meyer, the film’s producer, hopes the film is timely and timeless. He argues that it’s the movie’s unique and relatable themes, particularly the parental troubles experienced by teens, that leave audiences shook.
Meyer explained that the discussions around the film focus on the broader issue of, “Will they be friends Monday morning? This question both registers the tumult of adolescent intimacy and expresses the desire to be accepted in our complexity and find love even across divides.
“Those kids in that library … they had their differences and they had their fights. But you could see that they would always be connected.” – Andrew Meyer
As Meyer reflects on the societal landscape surrounding the making of the film, he compares and contrasts it to the struggles we face today. He said, “That’s a world that doesn’t exist anymore.” He started by making clear just how different the characters’ challenges are compared to the challenges young people face today. Notably, he underlined that the teens were still dealing with parental problems. They all did not experience the present threats that so many other children are subjected to in today’s society.
“There were no school shootings then. The problems the teens in the film had were parental, which is certainly not insignificant.” – Andrew Meyer
Meyer acknowledges these differences, but insists that viewers can yet relate to “The Breakfast Club.” He stated, “You can look at that movie now and still connect to it.” His story, a wondrous blend of identity, friendship, and social dynamics—alley-oops included—strikes a chord with viewers of all ages.
As a testament to its lasting impact, Meyer emphasized, “If there’s any theme to the movies I make: one is, they’re timeless.” He believes that “It’s a movie that’s about something, and that people can learn from.” The climax wraps around Simple Minds’ legendary song “Don’t You (Forget About Me.)” It perfectly encompasses the film’s emotional core and leaves audiences questioning where the characters have come from and where they’re going.
“When they walked out, you sort of felt they had all found themselves.” – Andrew Meyer