The next time I have to come in here I’m cracking skulls.”

Look, if you don’t already know The Breakfast Club, then congratulations: you’ve been living under a rock, probably the same one Judd Nelson crawled out from before lighting his first cigarette in detention. John Hughes’ 1985 teen angst opus has finally been knighted by Criterion, meaning the same folks who canonised French dudes smoking in cafés have admitted that Shermer High deserves a seat at the grown‑up table, about time.

This isn’t just detention, it’s a cultural hostage situation: five archetypes locked in a library, forced to talk about their feelings while Paul Gleason’s principal prowls like a mall cop who failed the audition for Die Hard. You’ve got The Brain, The Athlete, The Basketcase, The Princess, and The Criminal — basically the original Avengers, but with more eyeliner and less CGI.

Critics back in the day thought Hughes was too teen-centred, too broad, too… whatever. Translation: they were too busy polishing their Fellini box sets to notice he’d nailed the sound of a generation slamming doors and blasting Simple Minds. Fans, of course, never stopped showing up. Because Hughes understood the math: lock kids in a room, strip away their labels, and watch them realize they’re all miserable in the same way. Boom — instant empathy, plus a killer soundtrack.

So, yeah, critics might have turned their backs on Hughes, but the fans never did. Never. They loved him and his musical selections – even Career Opportunities had its passionate followers – and the reason is because of his voice in creating characters that, when taken out of their elements, have no choice but to find commonalities. After all, even dramatists William Saroyan and Eugene O'Neill suggested that such a format – putting people in isolation – could illicit continued communication. Do we dare suggest otherwise? The truth is that thankfully, we will never know what Monday brought for these students. We don’t need to know.

The new 4K scan is gorgeous, like someone finally cleaned the fingerprints off your old VHS. Every eye roll, every middle finger, every Molly Ringwald hair flip looks sharper than ever. And yes, Judd Nelson’s fist pump at the end still lands like a victory lap for every kid who ever thought detention was a scam.

So here’s the truth: you don’t need to know what Monday brought for these kids. You don’t need sequels, spin‑offs, or gritty reboots. All you need is the reminder that, at some point, you, too, were stuck in a metaphorical detention hall, wondering if anyone else felt as lost as you did. Spoiler: they did.

Hey, hey, hey, hey. Don’t you forget about it.  The Breakfast Club is now on 4K thanks to the Criterion Collection.

4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray Edition

Home Video Distributor: Criterion
Available on Blu-ray - November 4, 2025
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: English SDH
Video: Dolby Vision; HDR10
Audio: English: LPCM Mono; English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Discs: 4K Ultra HD; Blu-ray Disc; Two-disc set
Region Encoding: 4K region-free; blu-ray locked to Region A

Detention never looked this good. Hughes locks five archetypes in a library, lets them squirm, cry, and trade insults until they realize they’re all equally miserable. Critics once dismissed it as teen fluff; now Criterion polishes it like sacred scripture. Paul Gleason still snarls, Judd Nelson still fist‑pumps, and Simple Minds still dares you not to sing along. Timeless proof that we’re all stuck in detention together — whether we admit it or not.

VIDEO

John Hughes’ The Breakfast Club finally gets the Criterion glow‑up it always deserved, with a 4K scan so sharp you can practically see Judd Nelson’s smirk cut glass. What was once dismissed as teen fluff now sits in the cinematic pantheon, reminding us that detention is less about punishment and more about peeling back labels until The Brain, The Athlete, The Basketcase, The Princess, and The Criminal all realize they’re stuck in the same mess together. Paul Gleason still snarls, Molly Ringwald still flips her hair like royalty, and Simple Minds still dares you not to sing along. It’s detention in high‑def, and yes, you’re invited.

AUDIO

Criterion’s 4K release of The Breakfast Club doesn’t just polish the picture, it gives the audio detention too: you get the original LPCM mono track (48kHz, 24‑bit) for purists who want Hughes’ 1985 soundscape exactly as it was, plus a DTS‑HD Master Audio 5.1 mix (48kHz, 24‑bit) that spreads Simple Minds and library ambience across your living room like a sonic fist pump. With English SDH subtitles included, it’s the best of both worlds — raw authenticity or room‑filling nostalgia, depending on how you want to relive Saturday detention.

Supplements:

Commentary:

• The crown jewel on this release is the new commentary from Anthony Michael Hall and Judd Nelson.  It’s a keeper!

Special Features:

The Criterion 4K package for The Breakfast Club is basically detention with bonus homework — but the kind you actually want to do. What is not to love here?

• New 4K digital restoration from the original 35mm negative, with Dolby Vision HDR
• Original uncompressed LPCM mono soundtrack (48kHz, 24‑bit)
• DTS‑HD Master Audio 5.1 surround mix (48kHz, 24‑bit)
• Audio commentary featuring Anthony Michael Hall and Judd Nelson
• New interviews with cast and crew reflecting on the film’s legacy
• Archival interviews and behind‑the‑scenes featurettes
• Video essay on John Hughes’ impact on teen cinema
• Original trailer and TV spots
• Booklet with essay

	Movie
	Video
	Audio
	Extras
Composite 4K Grade

MPAA Rating: R.
Runtime: 97 mins
Director: John Hughes
Writer: John Hughes
Cast: Emilio Estevez; Judd Nelson; Molly Ringwald
Genre: Comedy | Drama
Tagline: They only met once, but it changed their lives forever.
Memorable Movie Quote: "Screws fall out all the time, the world is an imperfect place."
Theatrical Distributor: Universal Pictures
Official Site: https://www.criterion.com/films/29272-the-breakfast-club
Release Date: February 15, 1985
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: November 4, 2025.
Synopsis: Five high school students meet in Saturday detention and discover how they have a great deal more in common than they thought.