The beloved Brat Pack cast of the original 1985 film “The Breakfast Club” reunited in Chicago to celebrate the movie’s 40th anniversary. The reunion took place during a panel discussion at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, marking a significant moment for fans and the actors alike.
The Breakfast Club released on February 15, 1985. With an emphasis on diverse representation, it tracks the adventure and misadventures of five teens from vastly different social circles finding their way through detention in their high school. The movie has since become a cultural phenomenon. So far it’s scored more than $45 million at the global box office, according to The Numbers, which tracks revenues in the film industry.
The reunion featured the main cast members: Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy, Emilio Estèvez, and Anthony Michael Hall. This convening was especially momentous for Estèvez, who declared his candidacy on social media just a month before. Remarkably, it was his first time participating in a full cast reunion with his costars since the film’s premiere!
Molly Ringwald introduced the film reunion, with a surprise story. She was “really very emotional and moved” with the presence of her castmates. The cast and crew reflected on their experience behind the camera. They traded stories with gusto over their formative experiences working under the keen and legendary directorial eye of John Hughes, who died unexpectedly in 2009. As they looked back on their wonderful memories, we were reminded just how deeply the film indelibly colored their lives and careers.
On the morning of the event, Ringwald posted this poignant photo from her 2022 dinner date with her father. She and Sheedy hugged in the photo, which Sheedy later dubbed an “early Christmas present.” This moment was a perfect illustration of their lifelong friendship and prepared the audience for the true reunion that was to come.
During the entire panel discussion, the cast members recognized the 40-year absence since they were last reunited as a group. They discussed the film’s legacy and how it has continued to resonate with audiences of all ages. On the eve of the election, the convening took time to celebrate their collective accomplishments. Yet a deeper theme discreetly emerged too, one focusing on the meaningful relationships they cultivated working alongside each other.
