The Breakfast Club [Blu-ray] [1985]

Overview: Blu-Ray / 4K / Digital Combo Pack (Steel Book) The Good: The build quality on the Steel Book is great, as always. The artwork has a school locker theme, with miscellaneous pictures & items on the inside. This is a pretty clever design, as you're almost opening a "locker" instead of a steel book. As for the movie itself - Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy, Anthony Hall and Emilio Estevez's performances are just as great as you remember. The Bad: This is a bit pricy for a movie over 35 years old. Recommended? Yes - if you are an avid Steel Book collector or huge fan of 80's classics. If you already have it and the aforementioned doesn't apply to you, I would pass on this.

I love this Steelbook and this awesome movie love love love love love love love love love love love love it need I say more

This movie is such an 80's classic, it never gets old. If you haven't seen this movie yet you need to asap! Everyone I know who has seen it, loves it.

Fantastic movie!!! I already own this on bluray, but just had to buy this very cool, well thought out steelbook!!!

ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS MOVIE!!! Throw back from me growing up. Definitely worth buying.

I have a soft spot in my heart for the movies of the '80s -- "The Blues Brothers," "Ferris Beuller's Day Off," "Wargames," "Back to the Future," etc. Somehow the films of this era feel more "real" and "honest" than modern cinema, with actors who could be comedic without feeling fake or over-the-top and an overall feel to said movies that seemed more realistic and less contrived than most modern films. Granted, many of these films have become classics while other films of the '80s have fallen into obscurity, but there's a reason they've endured as classics, and I would rather re-watch one of these films than suffer through another mindless "comedy" put out by Hollywood's current crop of actors and directors. "The Breakfast Club" is a rather dark comedy/drama, especially in contrast with John Hughes' usual body of work. But it's still a poignant and unflinching look at high school and its cliques, and how youth are shaped by their parents, teachers, and other adults... for better or for worse. It's Saturday at a Chicago high school, and five students have shown up for a full day of detention for various infractions of the rules. They represent a variety of traditional high school cliques -- Andrew, a star wrestler and the quintessential jock; Brian, a quiet but well-meaning young genius; Claire, an aloof and slightly snobbish prom queen and popular girl; Bender, a foul-mouthed rebel who constantly butts heads with the school principal who oversees the detention; and Allison, a silent and eccentric artist who occasionally acts out for attention. At first the five students bicker and hassle one another, chafing under the jerkish principal's vigil and finding ways to push one another's buttons. But as hijinks ensue and secrets, pasts, and revelations come to light, the students realize they have far more in common than they realized... and the lines between cliques are never as clear-cut as they seem. Writer/director John Hughes is know for having a fairly light tone in his movies -- "Ferris Beuller's Day Off," "Home Alone," "Sixteen Candles," etc. -- so "Breakfast Club's" darker and even bleak tone may come off as a shock to those used to his sillier comedies. But this tone works for this particular movie, as it's not afraid to deconstruct the typical high school comedy and the various stereotypes that tend to populate said comedies. And it probes deeper into what shapes and influences teenagers than most teen movies do, even if the picture it paints isn't very pretty -- as characters in the film say, "Are we all going to grow up to be like our parents?" and "When you get older, your heart dies." That's not to say the movie isn't without its funny moments, though -- it still elicits plenty of laughs, even if the mood sometimes whiplashes between light and dark and some of the humor is of the "black comedy" variety. The acting in this film is pretty strong as well. It stars members of the "Brat Pack," a group of young actors especially popular in the '80s -- Judd Nelson, Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy, and Anthony Michael Hall. All of them slip into their respective roles almost effortlessly, and bring genuine pathos to their characters. It would have been all too easy for them to fall into the usual stereotypes, but here even the characters that should be unlikable, like Nelson's foul-mouthed and belligerent Bender, are made sympathetic and relatable. Paul Gleason is deliciously unlikable as the harsh and slightly corrupt Principal Vernon, but I found the janitor character (pretty much the only other notable character in the movie) to be somewhat forgettable. A well-deserved classic, far more honest and in-depth than most other teen movies. Probably best for ages 15 and up due to swearing, drug use, sexual conversation, and a very blatant (but funny) panty shot.

A Classic Take On A High School Dramedy, But While Dealing With Real Issues & Feelings That We’ve All Experienced! I’ve Always Been A Fan Of Films That Take Place In A Single Setting. They Usually Get More Intimate With Our Main Characters & Breakfast Club Is No Exception. The Cast Is Fantastic Across The Board, Covering Every Click You Probably Experienced Yourself In High School. John Hughes Really Gets Into The Meat & Bones Of What Goes On In The Mind Of A Young Person Going Through Their Adolescence. Everybody Delivers With Laughter & Tears While Being Constantly Challenged By Their Superior, Richard Vernon. Paul Gleason Is A Great Foil For Our Struggling Youngsters & Gives A Tour De Force Performance With Iconic Dialogue For Years To Come. Familiar John Hughes Yes, But With A Real Feel & Emotion More Than Most Ever Tackled. You’ll Thrust Your Fist In The Air John Bender Style By The End Of This Film. A Must See!

This Criterion Collection version is the best looking version to date. The people that restored this in 4K did an excellent job! The colors pop like never before and the actors/sets look amazing. As many times as I have seen this I was definitely pleased with seeing it restored in 4K! The extras are very nice to have and worth the price alone. All the other versions I have do not have anywhere near the extras that this Criterion version has. If you are a movie aficionado this is a must have and will delight you with the 4K quality of the content and restoration.