When thinking of classic 80’s movies, few come to mind before “The Breakfast Club.” This movie, directed by John Hughes, brings together five high schoolers, all from different levels of the social ladder, to Saturday detention. This movie is a perfect example of the phrase, “oldie but goodie.” It makes you laugh along with the antics that the five students get into and one moment later makes you cry at the struggles that they face. A perfect Friday movie night movie with friends, “The Breakfast Club” highlights exactly what everyone does and does not miss about high school.

This movie starts out as if it will be the usual high school romance movie. Viewers see the two popular members, Claire and Andrew, discussing a party as rebellious John Bender teases them about it. The bookish Brian and outcast Allison keep to themselves mostly, with the occasional interruption from Brian that the rest ignore. Things really begin when Bender steals the screw from the door that is to be propped open at all times, leaving it closed to the assistant principal. This allows the students to actually speak to each other and get to know one another.

This coming-of-age movie reminds viewers to never underestimate the power of bored students. At one point, after briefly smoking marijuana, the five realize that they all face similar pressures at home, opening up to the fact that even though they are socially diverse, they are not that different after all. The reasons Allison, Andrew, Brian, Claire, and John are in detention all stem from those stresses from home, each one’s parents trying to force them to be different people.

While this movie may not be a family movie to watch with the little kids, recent graduates from high school will be reminded of how true to life this fictional high school is. This timeless classic proves that it cannot be recreated in this age of cell phones and computers where everyone keeps to themselves. Beautiful plot twists keep this movie alive, a good one to watch with friends wrapped up in blankets with a bowl of popcorn in the middle. The end scene with The Simple Mind’s popular song “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” proclaims what high school really is all about: lasting friendships with people one would never expect.