Plotiko - Movie Plot Breakdown

In "The Breakfast Club," five high school students—John Bender, Claire Standish, Brian Johnson, Andrew Clark, and Allison Reynolds—are forced to spend a Saturday together in detention at Shermer High School. At the beginning, the group is divided by their different social backgrounds: the criminal (Bender), the princess (Claire), the brain (Brian), the athlete (Andrew), and the basket case (Allison). As the day progresses, their initial hostility gives way to understanding as they share personal stories and confront their own insecurities. The climax occurs when the group opens up about their struggles and realizes they have more in common than they thought. By the end of the movie, the students form an unexpected bond, leaving detention with a new sense of self-awareness and empathy for each other. The film features a talented cast, including Judd Nelson as John Bender, Molly Ringwald as Claire Standish, Anthony Michael Hall as Brian Johnson, Emilio Estevez as Andrew Clark, and Ally Sheedy as Allison Reynolds. These actors, often referred to as members of the "Brat Pack," deliver memorable performances that have become iconic in teen cinema. One of the most famous songs from the movie is "Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds, which plays during the final scene as Bender walks across the football field and raises his fist in the air—a moment that has become a defining image of the film.