The Breakfast Club at 40: The Tale Behind the Defining Coming-of-Age Teen Drama of the 1980s

      As The Breakfast Club celebrates its 40th anniversary, Hasitha Fernando explores the story behind John Hughes’ iconic film from the 80s. John Hughes is a name closely linked to coming-of-age teen dramas and the decade itself, with The Breakfast Club consistently recognized as one of his finest works. As we commemorate this milestone, let’s reflect on the behind-the-scenes moments that shaped the film and its lasting influence.

      John Hughes penned the screenplay in just two days. Over his extensive career, he directed, wrote, and produced some of the most unforgettable live-action comedy films, including Sixteen Candles, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and Planes, Trains and Automobiles, along with writing classics like Home Alone and National Lampoon’s Vacation. Hughes wrote the script for The Breakfast Club while also working on Sixteen Candles, accomplishing it in merely two days. Initially titled The Lunch Bunch, a friend suggested the title be changed to "The Breakfast Club," which referred to their own detention class in school. Hughes accepted this suggestion. In an interview, he mentioned that securing approval for the project was challenging since Universal executives remarked on the absence of party scenes, nudity, or drinking—elements they expected in a teenage film.

      Judd Nelson's method acting nearly led to his dismissal. Starting his acting journey in the mid-80s with films like Making the Grade and Fandango alongside Kevin Costner, Judd Nelson gained prominence in 1985 with The Breakfast Club, following it up with St. Elmo’s Fire. For his role as John Bender, Nelson adopted a method acting style, staying in character even between takes, which led him to bully Molly Ringwald, just as his character does. This behavior almost resulted in his being removed from the set, but Paul Gleason, who portrayed Vice Principal Richard Vernon, defended Nelson's unconventional approach, ultimately changing the director's mind.

      Nicolas Cage and John Cusack were considered for the role of John Bender. Judd Nelson truly owned the character of John Bender, but before his casting, both Nicolas Cage and John Cusack were strong contenders. Cage's high salary demands led the studio to explore Cusack, who had auditioned multiple times and traveled between Chicago and Los Angeles for the role. However, John Hughes ultimately decided on Nelson because he felt Cusack lacked the intensity he envisioned for Bender. Interestingly, the outfit Nelson wore in the film was the same one he used for his audition.

      Emilio Estevez was initially considered for a different role before filming began. Emilio Estevez, a notable member of the "Brat Pack" alongside Demi Moore, Ally Sheedy, Rob Lowe, and Judd Nelson, gained recognition in 1980s teen dramas before transitioning to other genres like Judgement Night and Mission: Impossible. Initially, John Hughes had Estevez in mind for the role of John Bender, but after meeting Judd Nelson, he cast Estevez as Andrew Clark instead.

      Ally Sheedy contributed creatively to the film. Ally Sheedy began her career with local theater and then transitioned to television before making her film debut in Bad Boys with Sean Penn. She subsequently starred in successful films like WarGames and St. Elmo’s Fire. During The Breakfast Club’s production, she made notable contributions that enhanced the film's memorability, such as suggesting the David Bowie quote from “Changes” to open the movie and the idea for Claire to eat sushi for lunch, representing luxury at the time. She also proposed adding Cap ‘n’ Crunch cereal to the sandwich for an appealing crunch sound.

      Simple Minds were skeptical about the film’s prospects. The Scottish band Simple Minds did not hold high expectations for their song “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” and believed that The Breakfast Club would merely be another forgettable teen drama. Although they had achieved success in the UK and Europe, the band questioned the film's potential and the lead singer even neglected to write lyrics for part of the song in the original recording. However, the band appreciated his spontaneous “La la la la” and decided to keep it, which became an iconic part of the film’s music.

      Molly Ringwald originally aimed to play Claire’s character. Molly Ringwald gained fame through her breakout role in Sixteen Candles. While cast in The Breakfast Club, there was speculation about her role, with rumors suggesting she might play the part that eventually went to Ally Sheedy. Ringwald later clarified that she had always intended to portray Claire and did not seek to convince Hughes or the studio to cast her as Allison.

      The film's closing scene was entirely improvised. The memorable closing scene of The Breakfast Club was improvised by Judd Nelson. John Hughes encouraged Nelson to experiment with his actions as he walked into the sunset. Taking the cue, Nelson raised his fist, which he did spontaneously without prior discussion with the crew or director. Hughes and others loved the moment so much that