Summary
TheBratsdocumentary was recently released and delved into the lives of the Brat Pack, who were defined by the best movies of their careers, which mostly occurred in the 1980s. While not every member of the Brat Pack reached peak stardom in the 1980s, and some later went on to make a comeback in other projects, many faded into obscurity after the boom of their iconic films.These movies often dealt with themes of coming-of-age, maturity, and the disaffected nature of youthduring the 1980s and into the early 1990s.
There’s a significant overlap between their best films, as the Brat Pack earned their name for starring alongside each other in so many projects.
In some ways,being labeled The Brat Pack derailed the careersof the actors who gained so much fame from their first projects. Few of them have maintained the level of stardom they achieved in the 1980s, and many of their best-received films are among the Brat Pack movies. There’s a significant overlap between their best films, as the Brat Pack earned their name for starring alongside each other in so many projects. However,particular members of the group shined in different films and rode the wave of their fame with varying degrees of success.
8Emilio Estevez - St. Elmo’s Fire (1985)
As Kirby Keager
Kirby’s defining characteristic is his romantic infatuation with Dale (Andie MacDowell) and the lengths he goes to express his feelings for her.
Emilio Estevez is a familiar figure in the Brat Pack and plays one of the more likable characters inSt. Elmo’s Fire. The movie is one of the more mature films featuring the Brat Pack, as it deals with a group of friends from college into their early adult years.Estevez’s character, Kirby, is one of the main roles in the ensemble castthat features people of different classes, backgrounds, and ambitions. Kirby’s defining characteristic is his romantic infatuation with Dale (Andie MacDowell) and the lengths he goes to express his feelings for her.
One of the biggest critiques ofSt. Elmo’s Fireis that the characters are old enough to know better and avoid the pitfalls of their juvenile mistakes. However, immaturity lasting into adulthood and extended adolescence is frequently featured in Brat Pack movies, making the film no exception.Estevez is well suited to his role, as he thrives in the stoic suffering of Kirby,traits he explores in other Brat Pack movies that are similarly well-remembered.
7Anthony Michael Hall - Sixteen Candles (1984)
As The Geek
Sixteen Candlesis easily the most problematic of all the Brat Pack movies directed by John Hughes, as it depicts problematic racial stereotypes and treats assault casually. Unfortunately,Anthony Michael Hall’s character, merely referred to as Farmer Ted or The Geek, is a key part of one of the worst scenes in the film,even though he’s supposed to be viewed as sympathetic by the audience throughout the film. Hughes would stray away from these one-dimensional takes on class in his later work, but it’s on full display inSixteen Candles.
Despite these issues,Sixteen Candlesis still familiar to many audience members today, and Hall’s performance is indicative of an actor giving his all to a role.Sixteen Candlesremains relevant because of Sam’s (Molly Ringwald) developmentand her journey to feel recognized and seen by her peers. Hall’s character is viewed through a lens of empathy for so much of the movie because he’s enamored with Sam and is one of the few people to see that she’s special. He’s also aspirational for young people who could relate to feeling like a social outcast during their teenage years.
Sixteen Candles
Cast
In John Hughes’s directorial debut, Molly Ringwald stars as Samantha Baker, a high school student in suburban Chicago whose sixteenth birthday is marred when her whole family forgets to celebrate the occasion due to her older sister’s wedding. Navigating a school dance and a seemingly unrequited crush on an older boy, Sam’s sweet sixteen becomes a day to remember. Anthony Michael Hall, Michael Schoeffling, and Gedde Watanabe also star.
How The Brat Pack Changed Hollywood Forever
The mid-1980s films featuring the legendary Brat Pack members changed Hollywood forever. It was a defining time for young people in cinema.
6Rob Lowe - The Outsiders (1983)
As Sodapop “Soda” Curtis
WatchingThe Outsiderstoday is a reminder of how masculinity can be found in sensitivity and interpersonal relationships instead of violence and ostracization.
Based on the hit novel by S.E. Hinton, the 1983 screen adaptation ofThe Outsidersis the definitive take on the book and is considered a faithful retelling. The novel is still taught in schools all over the U.S. and does a great job of dealing with the complex social issues of its time. Additionally,Rob Lowe is an important aspect of the film as Sodapop, Ponyboy’s older brother.The Outsidersis arguably one of the most important movies of the 1980s as it kickstarted the careers of several incredible stars, including Lowe, Tome Cruise, and many more.
As one of thebest Brat Pack movies of the 1980s,The Outsidersearns this title thanks to the strength of the source material as well as the work of the young actors.Lowe and his costars were intensely believable as a group of struggling young boysforced onto the fringes of society because of their lack of adult and community support. WatchingThe Outsiderstoday is a reminder of how masculinity can be found in sensitivity and interpersonal relationships instead of violence and ostracization.
The Outsiders
The Outsiders is Francis Ford Coppola’s adaptation of S.E. Hinton’s coming-of-age drama novel. Two teen gangs, the Socials and the Greasers find themselves at irreconcilable odds when one of the Social’s boys is killed in a brawl. Following the event, the Greasers head into hiding while some of them seek redemption for their past crimes.
5Andrew McCarthy - Pretty In Pink (1986)
As Blane McDonnagh
Andrew McCarthy plays the complicated love interest, Blane, inPretty in Pink, a collaboration between him, Molly Ringwald, and John Hughes. At times, it’s difficult to empathize with Blane, as he represents the kids in school who give Andie (Ringwald) a hard time, and he is easily convinced to leave her behind due to her lower social class.Pretty in Pinkis one of Hughes' most political movies, as Andie’s socioeconomic situation is discussed at length,and Blane and his friends aren’t let off easily for their behavior towards Andie.
However,McCarthy plays the nuanced heartthrob with ease, and it’s not impossible to see why Andie would be smittenand decide to forgive him in the end. Overall,Pretty in Pinkis more Ringwald’s movies than McCarthy’s. However, none of his other projects reached the popularity ofPretty in Pink, which remains a hit to this day. WhileWeekend at Bernie’sbecame something of a cult hit for comedy fans and viewers following McCarthy’s career, it doesn’t have the cultural hold or influence thatPretty in Pinkdoes on mass media.
Pretty in Pink
Pretty in Pink is a 1986 romantic comedy-drama directed by Howard Deutch and written by John Hughes. The film stars Molly Ringwald as Andie, a high school student navigating social divisions and romantic entanglements. With a prominent supporting cast including Jon Cryer and Andrew McCarthy, the story explores themes of class disparity and youthful aspirations in the context of 1980s suburban America.
4Demi Moore - Ghost (1990)
As Molly Jensen
The success ofGhostled to Moore being cast in even more movies that explored her sexuality and put her in high-intensity situations, likeStripteaseandA Few Good Men.
Ghostisn’t just well-known for the chemistry between Demi Moore and her costar, Patrick Swayze, but also because it showed audiences a side of these actors that they had never seen before. Also starring Whoopi Goldberg,Ghostis much more sinister than viewers remember,as the love story between Sam (Swayze) and Molly (Moore) is told in conjunction with a terrifying conspiracy and religious overtones concerning the afterlife. However, it allowed Moore to transition to a new phase of her career.
Though Moore rose to prominence with the rest of the Brat Pack, her fame, thanks toGhost, has far exceeded her early work.Ghostwas a breakout hit for Moore because it painted her in a more adult light than any of her previous rolesin Brat Pack movies. The success ofGhostled to Moore being cast in even more movies that explored her sexuality and put her in high-intensity situations, likeStripteaseandA Few Good Men. Moore might have been able to achieve this longevity because she wasn’t as high-profile a star in the Brat Pack.
Ghost
Ghost is a romantic thriller directed by Jerry Zucker, featuring Patrick Swayze as Sam Wheat, a man who has been murdered and becomes a ghost to protect his girlfriend Molly Jensen, played by Demi Moore. With the assistance of a reluctant psychic named Oda Mae Brown, portrayed by Whoopi Goldberg, Sam attempts to uncover the truth behind his death and bring closure to his unfinished business.
3Judd Nelson - The Breakfast Club (1985)
As John Bender
Though Judd Nelson is also inSt. Elmo’s Fire, and his role is similar to that inThe Breakfast Club, it’s inarguable that his work inThe Breakfast Clubis more iconic and recognizable. Later in his career,Nelson found some success in guest spots on TV and in the voice acting field.However,The Breakfast Clubwas and is his biggest project. When audiences think ofThe Breakfast Club, they might remember the famous closing shot of Nelson’s character, John Bender, holding his fist in the air as the song “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” by Simple Minds plays.
Of all the members of the Brat Pack, Nelson wasn’t in most films with the other stars and found himself recognized forThe Breakfast Clubmore than anything. While some critics have argued thatThe Breakfast Clubembraced stereotypes about cliques in high school, it also broke down barriers and demonstrated that young people were much more than the categories assigned to them in adolescence.Bender is characterized as “The Criminal,” but as his home life and reason for acting out are revealed, he’s shown to be full of depthand emotion.
The Breakfast Club
After receiving detention, a group of five high-school students bonds as they realize they have quite a bit in common despite being from different friend groups. Despite being over 35 years old, The Breakfast Club still stands as one of the quintessential movies of the ‘80s and one of director John Hughes standout films.
2Molly Ringwald - The Breakfast Club (1985)
As Claire Standish
Molly Ringwald’s best movies and TV showsdemonstrate what a strong actress she is and how she was much more than the Brat Pack. However,it’s impossible to talk about Ringwald without bringing upThe Breakfast Club.Her collaborations with Hughes were some of the most definitive works of her career, and Hughes' best project isThe Breakfast Club. While it’s more of an ensemble piece than the movies Ringwald leads, likeSixteen CandlesandPretty in Pink, it’s her most complex performance and gives her a layered character to work with.
Today, Ringwald might be the best-known member of the Brat Pack.
The Breakfast Clubresonated with teens and adults alike,as the coming-of-age genre needed an update, and the movie was the perfect provider. It’s one of the most iconic Brat Pack movies, with performances from some of the biggest names in the circle. Today, Ringwald might be the best-known member of the Brat Pack. Part of this can be attributed to her role inThe Breakfast Club. Even if audiences haven’t seen the film yet, it’s likely they’ve encountered it as part of a larger cultural conversation. Additionally, it is referenced in many pieces of media.
Every Actor Who Appears In The Brats Brat Pack Documentary (& How They Feel About It)
Most of the 1980s actors who comprised the Brat Pack agreed to be interviewed by fellow brat Andrew McCarthy for his Hulu documentary Brats.
1Ally Sheedy - WarGames (1983)
As Jennifer Mack
Ally Sheedy stars alongside Matthew Broderick inWarGames,and while Broderick was the lead character inFerris Bueller’s Day Off, aBratsadjacent movie, he wasn’t technically part of the group. However, he and Sheedy work together as if they were meant to and have excellent chemistry that drives forward the plot of the movie.WarGameswas two years before Sheedy’s major role as Allison inThe Breakfast Club. In this way,WarGameswas just as instrumental in forwarding Sheedy’s stardom.
Most recently, Sheedy was featured in the short-lived comedy seriesSingle Drunk Female, and her career has had a greater longevity than many other members of the Brat Pack. InWarGames, she plays Jennifer, a young high school student who gets caught up in the thrilling events of the film. At the time of its release,WarGameswas praised for its strong plot and realistic conflict that played on the contemporary fears of technological innovation and the Cold War in the 1980s.It was one of the first movies that introduced the concept of computer hacking into the mainstream.
Wargames
Starring Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy, Wargames tells the story of a teenage computer whiz who hacks into a military supercomputer and inadvertently starts a countdown to a new World War. The 1983 thriller is directed by Saturday Night Fever director John Badham.
