The film begins with the following quotation from the 1971 David Bowie song, “Changes” : “…And these children, that you spit on, as they try to change their worlds, are immune to your consultations, they’re quite aware what they’re going through…” As the title card shatters with the sound of breaking glass, the film depicts images of the fictional Shermer High School with voice-over narration by Anthony Michael Hall in the role of “Brian Johnson”: “Saturday, March 24th, 1984. Shermer High School. Shermer, Illinois. 60062. Dear Mr. Vernon, We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong. What we did was wrong, but we think you’re crazy to make us write an essay telling you what we think we are. What do you care? You see us as you want to see us. In the simplest terms, the most convenient definitions, you see us as a ‘Brain,’ an ‘Athlete,’ a ‘Basket Case,’ a ‘Princess,’ and a ‘Criminal.’ Correct? That’s the way we saw each other at seven o’clock this morning. We were brainwashed.” Anthony-Michael Hall’s voice-over repeats at the end of the film with a slight variation as follows: “Dear Mr. Vernon, We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong. But we think you’re crazy to make us write an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us. In the simplest terms, the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a ‘Brain,’ and an ‘Athlete,’ and a ‘Basket Case,’ a ‘Princess,’ and a ‘Criminal.’ Does that answer your question? Sincerely yours, The Breakfast Club.”
       The Breakfast Club was set to be filmmaker John Hughes’s directorial debut, as stated in a 28 Feb 2010 Vanity Fair article. The picture’s original title, Detention, was changed when he heard a friend’s teenage son refer to his school’s morning detention class as “the breakfast club.” Hughes optioned the script to A&M Films in 1982 and agreed to make the movie for $1 million. According to a 31 May 2013 Chicago Tribune article, Hughes wrote the film with a single location and an ensemble cast so that it could be completed for a minimal budget. However, production went into limbo. With The Breakfast Club on hold, Hughes wrote four feature film releases in 1982 and 1983 including the surprise success National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983, see entry). The picture was based on “Vacation ’58,” a short story that earned Hughes an appointment on the staff of National Lampoon magazine and spearheaded his career in comedic screenwriting.
       According to the Jan 1993 edition of Spy, Hughes’s unconventional personality caused him to be temporarily fired from another 1983 film, Mr. Mom (see entry). As Mr. Mom neared its 22 Jul 1983 release date, Hughes became concerned that his next project, The Breakfast Club, would not have commercial appeal for its target teen audience. Fearing the repercussions of starting his directorial career with an unmarketable, sparse chamber piece—The Breakfast Club—Hughes wrote an action-based script for Sixteen Candles over the 1983 Fourth of July weekend. As noted in various sources, including Vanity Fair, Hughes had recently come across a headshot of actress Molly Ringwald while casting The Breakfast Club, and wrote Sixteen Candles with the photograph of Ringwald pinned on the bulletin board above his desk.
       When Mr. Mom was released at the end of Jul 1983, it grossed over $40 million its first month, prompting Universal Pictures to offer Hughes a three-year, $30 million contract. Producer Ned Tanen, who had recently left his presidency at Universal, agreed to absorb The Breakfast Club on condition that Sixteen Candles be released first. At that time, much of The Breakfast Club was already cast, with John Cusack as “John Bender” and Molly Ringwald as “Allison Reynolds.” When production was delayed for Sixteen Candles, Cusack was replaced by Judd Nelson, and Ringwald insisted on taking on the role of “Claire Standish.”
       Principal photography for The Breakfast Club began on 28 Mar 1984 at the abandoned Maine North High School in Des Plaines, IL. Production notes in AMPAS library files state that the school’s gymnasium was used as a soundstage for construction of the film’s central location, a two-story library, as well as principal “Richard Vernon’s” office. The high school also housed editing facilities, screening room, and production offices. Despite the relatively quick thirty-two day shooting schedule, Hughes shot over 1 million feet of film, according to Vanity Fair.
       Reviews were mostly critical, but over the years, it became a cult classic to its teenage fans, and was subsequently rereleased on 26 Mar 2015 to commemorate its thirty-year anniversary. As stated in a 26 Mar 2015 Vogue news item, the picture was scheduled to open that night at over 430 theaters, followed up by a second opening on 31 Mar 2015.
       End credits include the following acknowledgements: “The producers wish to thank the following for their generous cooperation in the making of this motion picture: Main North High School; Illinois Film Commission; Glenbrook North High School; Marlene Alexander; Don Stillwell; Bobby Richter; David Bowie; Town of Des Plaines.” Maine North High School is incorrectly credited as “Main” North High School.