The Breakfast Club

John Hughes, 1985
R; 97 minutes

“Five kids spending Saturday doing detention time in the high school library: it's not such a spine-tingling situation. But in The Breakfast Club, John Hughes lets the kids challenge, taunt, and confront each other as if this were Twelve Angry Men. Personalities are dissected; tears are shed. The kids, each representing a different teen stereotype, come to understand each other. They strike up friendships. They denounce their parents. They decide that ‘when you grow up, your heart dies.’” –Janet Maslin, The New York Times

Five high school students from different walks of life endure a Saturday detention under the watchful eye of a power-hungry administrator (Paul Gleason). The disparate group includes rebel John (Judd Nelson), princess Claire (Molly Ringwald), outcast Allison (Ally Sheedy), brainy Brian (Anthony Michael Hall), and Andrew (Emilio Estevez), the jock. Each has a chance to tell his or her story, making the others see them a little differently–and when the day ends, they question whether school life will ever be the same.

Celebrate back-to-school festivities with the featured films this September. “My Favorite Films” features tales of romance, humor, suspense, satire, and heroism. This series of films may hold special memories for you—no matter how many times you see them, they draw you in again and again. While many of these films are available through streaming, seeing them in theatre is always more fun.

Make a day of it at the Modern and include extra time to visit the galleries. Enjoy lunch in Café Modern followed by an afternoon screening, or plan for a coffee break afterward with fellow film enthusiasts.

Screenings are at 2 pm most Wednesdays in the auditorium. Tickets are $5 (FREE for Modern members) and are available at the Museum’s admission desk or online. Click here to purchase tickets online.