Everyone’s favorite John Hughes movie is now 40 years old.
Over the past four decades, its become the exemplary coming-of-age film and a perennial classic.
But thats why its so goodits lessons and characters have the power of timelessness.
Universal Pictures
People are more complex than their labels.
Perhaps one of the biggest reasonsThe Breakfast Clubhas remained relevant is because of its most obvious lesson.
Conservative voters call liberal ones snowflakes, while liberal voters call anyone with a MAGA hat a racist misogynist.
ButThe Breakfast Clubproves that people are more than they may seem.
Could seeing past peoples labels in 2025 be the key to getting out of societys anti-social rut?
Success in school (or work, sports, etc.)
doesnt guarantee fulfillment … and failure isnt as bad as it seems.
Shes so preoccupied with upholding her reputation that she is still unhappy and insecure.
The janitor, a position often looked down upon, is much happier.
The Breakfast Clubis a formative film for many teens.
Growing up a perfectionist nerd, the lesson that success doesnt lead to fulfillment was arguably the most important.
Escaping from our problems cant solve them, but it can help us deal with them.
In many ways, every character inThe Breakfast Clubneeded that day of detention.
The film posits that connecting with others and talking about our problems can help us solve them.
For anyone who advocates against trauma bonding,The Breakfast Clubis the biggest adversary.
By the end of the film, many of the characters have overcome their obstacles, but only temporarily.
But that doesnt always happen in reality.
Stop worrying what others think and be your authentic self.
However, it feels like weve gone backwards.
Of course, not everyone uses social media, but those that do it well are often disingenuous.
