This 1985 $51-Million Classic Would Be Canceled Now, Says Molly Ringwald

Summary

• The movie in question was a huge hit at the time of its release.
• Unlike many other movies, it portrayed teenage life authentically.
• Molly Ringwald says there are some things in it that could get this movie canceled today.

There are classic movies that remain relevant decades after their release. Some Like It Hot, Psycho, The Shawshank Redemption, and Die Hard - classics come in all genres and shapes. But while some remain popular with audiences, others don't age well.

John Hughes' The Breakfast Club seems to be the one classic film that, despite its immense commercial success and impressive cult following, wouldn't fare well if it were released today. The indie comedy-drama about a group of high school detainees and their authoritarian vice principal was a hit, grossing a whopping $51.5 million against a $1 million budget. But apparently, modern audiences might raise an eyebrow at some of the movie's 'cancelable' features.

Authenticity

Unlike many movies and TV shows about teenagers, The Breakfast Club starred real teenage actors. For example, Molly Ringwald, who played one of the detained students, the princess-like Claire Standish, had just turned sixteen when filming began.

Ringwald's character was going through a rough time at home, as her parents were in the midst of a messy divorce and were constantly using her to get back at each other. This led Claire to misbehave, and one day she skipped a day of school and went shopping instead, for which she was sentenced to Saturday detention with the other characters.

Molly Ringwald's Contemporary Take on the Movie

As much as the role was a breakthrough for Molly Ringwald, the actress recently rewatched The Breakfast Club with her daughter Mathilda, who is also an actress and stars in the upcoming Amazon Prime Video movie The Idea of You alongside Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine. And interestingly enough, Ringwald has come to the conclusion that the 1985 classic would stir up a lot of controversy these days.

'There is a lot that I really love about the movie but there are elements that haven't aged well – like Judd Nelson's character, John Bender, who essentially sexually harasses my character. I'm glad we're able to look at that and say things are truly different now,' Molly Ringwald said in a recent interview.

In The Breakfast Club, John Bender's behavior is not properly addressed, which makes the whole scene seem normal. And this is a problem that modern audiences would not turn a blind eye to. Hopefully, though, people will still be able to enjoy the classic despite its flaws. The Breakfast Club is currently available on Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video.

Source: The Times of London.