# The Breakfast Club

> 1985 film directed by John Hughes

**Wikidata**: [Q499152](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q499152)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Breakfast_Club)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/the-breakfast-club

## Summary
*The Breakfast Club* is a 1985 American comedy-drama film directed by John Hughes, known for its portrayal of adolescent life and its enduring influence on the teen film genre. It follows five high school students from different social cliques who spend a Saturday in detention, exploring themes of identity, stereotypes, and personal growth.

## Key Facts
- **Release Dates**: Premiered on February 15, 1985, in the United States, with additional release dates on July 5, 1985.
- **Director**: John Hughes, a prominent figure in 1980s teen cinema.
- **Genre**: Classified as a **teen film**, **comedy-drama**, and **drama film**, blending humor with emotional depth.
- **Production Company**: Produced by **Universal Pictures**, an American film studio founded in 1912.
- **Country of Origin**: United States.
- **Cultural Recognition**: Inducted into the **National Film Registry** (established in 1988) for preservation by the Library of Congress, highlighting its significance in American cinema.
- **Aliases**: Also known simply as *Breakfast Club*.
- **Wikidata Presence**: 53 sitelinks, indicating widespread recognition across multiple languages and platforms.

## FAQs

**What is *The Breakfast Club* about?**
The film centers on five high school students—each representing a different stereotype (the brain, the athlete, the basket case, the princess, and the criminal)—who serve detention together and gradually break down their preconceived notions about one another.

**Who directed *The Breakfast Club*?**
John Hughes, a defining filmmaker of 1980s teen movies, directed the film. His work often explored adolescent struggles with authenticity and social hierarchies.

**What genre does *The Breakfast Club* belong to?**
It is a **comedy-drama** and a **teen film**, blending humorous and dramatic elements to depict the complexities of teenage life.

**When was *The Breakfast Club* released?**
The film premiered on **February 15, 1985**, in the U.S., with additional releases on **July 5, 1985**.

**Why is *The Breakfast Club* culturally significant?**
It was selected for preservation in the **National Film Registry** by the Library of Congress, recognizing its enduring impact on American film and its representation of youth culture.

**Which studio produced *The Breakfast Club*?**
**Universal Pictures**, a major American film studio founded in 1912, produced and distributed the film.

## Why It Matters
*The Breakfast Club* redefined the teen film genre by moving beyond superficial storytelling to explore deeper themes of identity, alienation, and human connection. Its honest portrayal of adolescent struggles resonated with audiences, making it a cultural touchstone for generations. The film’s inclusion in the **National Film Registry** underscores its historical and artistic significance, cementing its place as a classic of American cinema. Beyond entertainment, it served as a social commentary on the pressures of high school hierarchies and the universal desire for understanding.

## Notable For
- **Genre Innovation**: One of the most influential films in the **teen film** and **comedy-drama** genres, blending humor with poignant emotional moments.
- **Cultural Preservation**: Inducted into the **National Film Registry**, a distinction reserved for films deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
- **Iconic Characters**: Introduced five archetypal high school stereotypes that became ingrained in pop culture.
- **John Hughes’ Signature Style**: Exemplifies Hughes’ ability to capture the teenage experience with authenticity and wit.
- **Universal Pictures’ Legacy**: A standout production from one of Hollywood’s oldest and most prolific studios.

## Body

### Overview and Genre
*The Breakfast Club* is a 1985 **comedy-drama** and **teen film** that explores the dynamics of adolescent life through the lens of five disparate high school students forced to spend a Saturday in detention. The film’s genre classification places it within the broader tradition of **drama films** and **teen films**, which typically focus on adolescent characters and themes relevant to young audiences. Its blend of humor and emotional depth set it apart from more lightweight teen comedies of the era.

### Production and Release
- **Director**: John Hughes, known for his work on other iconic 1980s films like *Sixteen Candles* and *Ferris Bueller’s Day Off*.
- **Production Studio**: **Universal Pictures**, an American film studio founded on **April 30, 1912**, with headquarters in the United States. The studio has been a major player in the film industry for over a century.
- **Release Dates**: The film debuted in U.S. theaters on **February 15, 1985**, with additional releases on **July 5, 1985**.

### Cultural and Historical Significance
*The Breakfast Club* was selected for preservation in the **National Film Registry**, established in **1988**, which archives films deemed culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant by the Library of Congress. This honor reflects the film’s enduring impact on American cinema and its role in shaping the teen film genre.

The film’s narrative structure—confining five distinct characters in a single setting—allowed for deep character development and thematic exploration. It challenged audiences to look beyond stereotypes, a message that remains relevant decades later.

### Themes and Legacy
At its core, *The Breakfast Club* examines themes of **identity, alienation, and personal growth**. The characters—each representing a different high school stereotype—gradually reveal their vulnerabilities, fostering a sense of empathy and connection. This approach influenced subsequent teen films and television shows, which adopted similar character-driven storytelling.

The film’s dialogue, particularly its memorable monologues, has been widely quoted and referenced in popular culture. Its soundtrack, featuring songs like "Don’t You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds, further solidified its place in 1980s nostalgia.

### Connected Entities
- **National Film Registry**: The film’s inclusion in this registry highlights its importance in American film history.
- **Universal Pictures**: As the producing studio, Universal’s involvement ensured the film’s wide distribution and lasting availability.
- **Teen Film Genre**: *The Breakfast Club* is a defining example of this genre, which focuses on adolescent experiences and is often targeted at young audiences.
- **Comedy-Drama Genre**: The film’s mix of humorous and dramatic elements exemplifies this hybrid genre, which aims to balance entertainment with emotional depth.

### Reception and Influence
While the film initially performed well at the box office, its true impact lies in its long-term cultural resonance. It has been analyzed in academic contexts for its portrayal of teen identity and social dynamics. The film’s structure—a single-day, single-location narrative—has inspired countless other works in film and television.

*The Breakfast Club* remains a staple in discussions about 1980s cinema and continues to be studied for its narrative techniques and thematic richness. Its preservation in the **National Film Registry** ensures that it will be remembered as a landmark achievement in American filmmaking.

## References

1. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
2. The Movie Database
3. [Source](https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/complete-national-film-registry-listing/)
4. The Breakfast Club. Rotten Tomatoes
5. Box Office Mojo
6. [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088847/releaseinfo)
7. Lexicon of international films
8. Swedish Film Database
9. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
10. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
11. Kinopoisk
12. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/breakfast-club/)
13. terjesztesre_kerulo_filmalkotasok_nyilvantartasa.xlsx
14. AlloCiné
15. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
16. film distribution certificate
17. Cineplex
18. [Source](http://www.mecd.gob.es/cultura-mecd/areas-cultura/cine/industria-cine/calificacion/calificacion-por-meses.html)
19. Bechdel Test Movie List
20. mymovies.it
21. The Breakfast Club
22. Entertainment Identifier Registry
23. Danish Film Database
24. [Source](https://www.acmi.net.au/works/89768)
25. [The Breakfast Club (1985) - Trakt.tv](https://trakt.tv/movies/the-breakfast-club-1985)
26. TheTVDB
27. Trakt.tv
28. FilmVandaag.nl