The Breakfast Club

by John Hughes

The Breakfast Club is a 1985 American teen drama script written by John Hughes. The storyline follows five teenagers (each a member of a different high school cliques) as they spend a Saturday in detention together and come to realize that they are all deeper than their respective stereotypes.

Genres: Young Adult, Classics, Contemporary

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

John Hughes, Jr. was an American film director, producer and writer. He made some of the most successful comedy films of the 1980s and 1990s, including National Lampoon's Vacation; Ferris Bueller's Day Off; Weird Science; The Breakfast Club; Some Kind of Wonderful; Sixteen Candles; Pretty in Pink; Planes, Trains and Automobiles; Uncle Buck; Home Alone and its sequel Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.

Hughes is best known for his pioneering romantic comedies that featured realistic portrayals of teenagers, most of which were set and filmed in the Chicago area (where Hughes lived for most of his life).

Reviews

[Desire Blue Unicorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Mr. Vernon,
We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong. What we did was wrong, but we think you're crazy to make us write an essay telling you who we think we are- You see us as you want to see us. In the simplest terms. The most convenient definitions.
But what we found out is that each one of us is a Brain....
and an Athlete...
and a Basket case...
a Princess...
and a Criminal.
Sincerely yours,
The Breakfast club.

[Kerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review soon!

[Petra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best movies I ever watched, I think everyone should watch it at least once

[Melica · Rating 5 out of 5]

But what we found out is that each
one of us is a brain...
...and an athlete...
...and a basket case...
...a princess...
...and a criminal...

[OC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the film. Loved the script. John Hughes does teenaged angst like no other.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's amazing. I love it so much.

[TJ Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This whole film is essentially dialogue. And it's brilliant.

[C. (Comment, never msg). · Rating 3 out of 5]

Work goes into my reviews. Comment please, don't blank click.

I did not only grow up in the 1980s. I became an individual through its music, films, and vibrant ambiance! I hated the rap, grunge, country 1990s. That decade regained breath with Jann Arden, Tea Party, Wild Strawberries, Bif Naked, Garbage, Real McCoy, and Britney Spears. Put it this way, I know the other single by Simple Minds; not only their hit on “The Breakfast Club” soundtrack!

I have that LP by the way; that thrumming rock soundtrack. When this screenplay said the kids danced together, I knew the song was “We Are Not Alone” and often wondered what else Karla DeVito sang. I hope to score a used compact disc of hers.

I doubt readers separate memories from this script. Readers should grade this written information by itself; no visual or audio cues from the film. Had I not seen the actors’ physical expressions, heard their tones, the vaulted atmosphere of creaking chairs and clicked pencils echoing, and background music.... how would I grade “The Breakfast Club: The Movie Script”? I give John Hughes’ unadorned writing three stars. Be serious: what impressions would you have if all you knew is what he typed?

I like 99% dialogue. My friend, Kerri proposed that a director’s screenplay would not need descriptions and instructions to convey the vision for that job. I would prefer that novels consist mainly of dialogue and let readers feel and picture descriptions for themselves.

This is not how we teenagers spoke in the 1980s. John was only born in 1950 but perhaps from his Parents, old expressions showed through; unobscured by these students frequently launching profanity.

One part made it more poignant, than an exercise in deflecting insults from the crude boy. Would we be friends across our peer groups, after this experience? Wow, that was powerful.

[Richard B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading for final paper

[Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was better than the movie.

[Daiva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the script and loved the movie. Simple as that.

[Syafira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this book

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read, it's a classic!!! The story is very relatable for not only teens but adults aswell! Love it <3 Once you pick up this book you won't be able to put it down until you've read it!

[Realini Ionescu · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Breakfast Club, written and directed by John Hughes
9.7 out of 10


Although in appearance this wonderful motion picture seems to be just an excellent, light comedy, it goes much further than that and it helps not only the protagonists to find who they are, but also the public, given that the questions asked on screen are thought provoking for those in the cinema halls.

The Breakfast Club is not only one of the films on The New York Times' Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made List, it is one of the 100 best, if you ask me.
It is a Saturday and early in the morning, cars pull in front of the school and teenagers get off, with the exception of John Bender aka the impressive Judd Nelson, who came on foot and we would later see why...he has an atrocious relationship with his abusive father and a cigar burn to prove it.

Richard Vernon, who has been a teacher for more than two decades and has changed for the worse, as Carl, the janitor, remarks, tells the three boys and two girls that have been punished to spend hours on a Saturday, at school, that they would have to write an essay - not one word repeated one thousand times - on who they think they are.
In fact the film starts and ends with Simple Minds and their hit Don't You Forget About Me and the essay is read at the beginning and near the end by the 'dork' Brian Johnson, who states that the teacher has labeled and thus it seems pointless for them to answer who they think they are given that the professor considers them to be

The Princess, the Dork, the misfit,the wrestler and the criminal...the first and last are accurate, but for the others, there probably were different categorizations.

All the teenagers have issues, but the one who seems to be an outlier in the field is John Bender, who seems to be provoking first the Princess aka Claire Standish, then Andrew Clark aka Emilio Estevez.
John is willing to bet one million dollars on the virginity of Claire, who is 'pristine' and then challenges, bullying and abusing her for the norms of the present, with questions about kissing, touching and many other private, delicate aspects of her life.

Anticipating, it would seem rather bizarre, if not an oxymoron to see the two getting close to each other later, but for quite a few long minutes, the Princess is more than teased by the outre Bender, who says that she might reach higher density and after marrying, puppies would follow and he thinks she would get fat.
Andrew intervenes and warns John to let the girl alone or they would fight, he is a member of the wrestling team and both he and Claire belong to the special groups, they are the elite, the superior teenagers.

The other three do not belong with them, indeed, in one conversation about what would happen on the next Monday, if they would still be friends, The Princess is frank and declares that both her and Andrew would be embarrassed about what their long time friends would say and thus break relations with their new found mates.
Allison Reynolds is last, but not least among the group of five, and she does not say a word, for long minutes, up to the point where she is sent with Andrew to get lunch for the group.

She then claims that she drinks vodka, then she serenely maintains that in terms of sex, she has tried it all, unless it is illegal, she is absolutely a nymphomaniac and with this she puts pressure on Claire, who puts her cards on the table, only to see that she has been tricked.
Allison is actually a virgin, just like Claire, but she is also a pathological liar - like the archetype, Trump.

A disturbing revelation about Brian is brought to light, after we learn that he belongs to the Latin, physics and another club - at the end of the year, they don't drink, they dress up - and he had just had an F and this is unacceptable for both his family and himself.
It is actually such a desperate situation that he had brought a gun to school...the reason he is punished is that the gun went off in his locker and it is a flare gun.

At this, first Andrew, then others laugh, albeit it is very serious, nay, dramatic that Brian had been contemplating suicide.

The Breakfast Club is a memorable, Magnus opus.

[Anatoly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Breakfast Club is an iconic film broadcast in 1985. The plot of the movie includes one day of a group of teenagers who have to stay in school on Saturday and write an essay on the topic "Who we are".

They present different characters and lifestyles: smart guy, athlete, hopeless person, princess, and outlaw. They share their thoughts with each other about the society which surrounds them.

The acting is good and very truthful. The actors were well selected, and the performances were excellent. The audience can recognize the different distinguishing traits of the people which we can meet around.

These are the link for the information about the movie and to a video clip from the film:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088847/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HND8...

[Evie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Breakfast Club is one of my all-time favourite movies, and it has been for almost a decade. It is a classic for a reason. Not many could pull off a film like this -a lot of dialogue and character progression rather than action, but it's fascinating to see these kids bear their souls and understand each other.

This was an interesting read, and I commend the actors for adding so much charm and soul to their characters, especially Judd Nelson as Bender. His delivery and small facial expressions turn a fairly dislikable character into a favourite.

While I do wish some of the scenes written in here that didn't make the final cut of the movie had; I'm also glad some others didn't.

[Myprivatebookclub · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read One of Us is Lying recently, I could not but also find the manuscript of the Breakfast Club..

I cannot believe that I have not come upon the movie previously, because it seems so genuine for its time.

I liked the concept, the students, so different from one another, managing to find a mutual media to meet at.

I can understand why One of Us is Lying has been inspired by this story and I can only promise to myself to watch the movie a.s.a.p.

[Ranette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A group of misfit high school students tease their teacher on Saturday detention.

[Sukriti · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Hughes's book captivates readers with its compelling narrative and vivid characters. The author skillfully weaves a tapestry of emotions, offering a rollercoaster of laughter and tears. Hughes's keen observations on human nature shine through, creating a story that resonates with authenticity. The pacing is brisk, keeping readers engaged from start to finish. The book's charm lies in its relatability, as Hughes explores universal themes with a fresh perspective. While some plot twists may feel predictable, the overall impact is undeniably heartwarming. A delightful read for those seeking a blend of humor, emotion, and a touch of nostalgia.

[Fiona McGrath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This movie will always be a favourite of mine and the screenplay gave me the opportunity to reexperience the film as it was the first time I'd watched

[Reese]

highschool

[Krisha · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh.

Pam in the TV show "The Office" in this "Fire" episode sold me into putting this to my TBR list. It's that episode where there's a fire drill and Jim started a conversation with his office mates wherein the topic is, if they will be stranded on a desert island what DVD movies would they bring and Pam mentioned Fargo and this the breakfast club.

I just.. really didn't like it. Five teenagers forcing interactions with each other. There were stereotypes, and yeah that made it uninteresting.

[Katia]

Movie (1985)
KEJ