The five teens who make up The Breakfast Club struck a major chord with its Gen X audience, earning the film over $50 million on a $1 million budget when it was released. John Hughes created characters who felt like real teenagers—and he cast five young actors who did a bang-up job portraying these realistic kids with emotion, dignity, and humor. It felt like we were watching real people overcome their prejudices together.
Which raises an interesting question: if these were real people, what might they be up to 40 years after that fateful day in detention?
Let’s imagine what retirement might look like for the former members of the Shermer High School Breakfast Club:
Brian (portrayed by Anthony Michael Hall): Trying to rebuild his nest egg for the third time
After attending Stanford for