They were our peers, they were our friends, they were us. The basket cases, brains, jocks, princesses, criminals. There was something and someone for everyone in The Breakfast Club, that most brilliant high school film we could all relate to. It’s hard to believe it’s been 30 years since we met The Breakfast Club’s teenaged cast of characters as they met each other. But as it turns out, time has a way of making everyone grow up.
If you were a child of the 80s, there’s no chance you didn’t connect to this classic movie about five stereotypical teens brought together by their bad behavior. Landing in a Saturday detention, they managed to find out that they had more in common than their cliques led them to believe. Stuck in that library together, and bound by a common disdain for their arrogant assistant principal, they busted out of their pigeonholes and learned to understand, empathize and even like each other—in spite of themselves.
Like me, you can probably even recite those Brat Pack lines by heart: We’re all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it, that’s all. I hate it. I hate having to go along with everything my friends say. What do you care what I think anyway? I don’t even count, right? I could disappear forever and it wouldn’t make any difference. Even though three decades have passed—or maybe even because of that—you love being launched straight back to those high school halls of discovery and angst every time you watch it. And as an anniversary treat, it’s returning to the big screen.
So we’re wondering: In 2015, where would those characters who showed us that there’s something to love about everyone be now? How would you picture those crazy crew of 40-somethings today? Where have their lives taken them? If those Breakfast Club teens were our friends in real life, here’s how we think they’d have turned out. Agree? 
Brian Johnson (The Brain) played by Anthony Michael Hall – Was senior class Valedictorian at Shermer High School. Brian graduated at the top of his class from MIT, with an Honours Degree in Chemical Engineering, and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering Practice (CEP). He became CEO of a Biotech company at the age of 30. Brian married his college sweetheart (also the first woman he ever slept with!), has three children, and homes in Nantucket, Boston, Phoenix and Naples. He also has a mistress in Miami. Ah, so it turns out a bit of John Bender rubbed off on him.
Clai
re Standish (The Princess) played by Molly Ringwald – Had a brief and stormy relationship with John Bender after their fateful meeting in detention. Claire graduated from Sarah Lawrence College with an Honours Degree in Women’s Studies. Claire married a professional polo player she met while on vacation in Monaco, and became a socialite in Europe. Left her husband for an Earl she met at a party in Dubai. After her divorce, she married the Earl and moved to Beverly Hills. They have two children, both in private school in Switzerland. Claire tried unsuccessfully to join The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. She is the latest YouTube sensation, with over 1,000,000 hits for each of her video tutorials on creative ways of applying lip gloss without using her hands. The income from the videos fuels her Botox addiction.
John Bender (The Criminal) played by Judd Nelson – Upon completing his two-month stint in detention, John made enough money 
selling weed to his classmates to buy a motorcycle. He spent the year after graduation touring across the United States, eventually getting arrested in Texas for selling marijuana to minors. After spending time in jail, he moved back to Shermer, and landed a job as a night supervisor at a local factory. While on vacation in Vegas, he hit the jackpot on a slot machine, collecting a whopping $2.5 million. John moved to Nevada, opened a garage, and became the wealthiest mechanic on the west coast. He married a Vegas showgirl, and they have two daughters and a son. Both daughters attend private school, and John forbids them to date until they’re 30. His son is a UFC fighter, and Dad sits ringside at all his major fights.
Allison Reynolds (The Basketcase) played by Ally Sheedy – Became the unknown hottie everyone wanted to date at Shermer High, thanks to her detention makeover from Claire. She was voted Homecoming Queen at the Senior Prom, landed a modelling contract with Maybelline, and with a little help from Prozac, became the ‘Girl Next Door’ everyone loved. After spending 10 years modelling all over the world, she moved to Miami, married a music producer, and became the toast of South Beach. Allison opened a modelling agency, and manages some of the top models in the US. She still enjoys Corn Pop sandwiches when she’s home alone. It’s her comfort food.
Andrew Clark (The Jock) played by Emilio Estevez – Dated Allison Reynolds briefly after they met in detention, but she dumped him for the captain of the football team. He attended the University of Michigan on a wrestling scholarship, and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Studies. Andrew married his college sweetheart, who tutored him in several of his classes. They moved to Phoenix, and opened a wilderness store together. Andrew has twin sons, Johnny and Brian. Both attend Oklahoma State on wrestling scholarships, and hope to compete at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Never seen The Breakfast Club? You’re missing out. As long as high school exists, this is one movie that will never go out of style. We want to know: Who’s your favourite character and why?
