There were lots of teen movies made in the 1980s but not all of them are considered ‘official’ Brat Pack movies.
Those that make the grade are those that star two or more of the Brat Pack’s core members, which includes Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald, Rob Lowe, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, Demi Moore, Andrew McCarthy, and Anthony Michael Hall.
As such, you won’t find Footloose on this list or The Lost Boys. As great as those movies are, the young actors featured within – Kevin Bacon, Corey Haim, Kiefer Sutherland – weren’t officiually considered to be part of the Brat Pack.
With the release of the new Hulu documentary Brats, now is as good a time as any to present a list of the 12 movies that have been recognized as official Brat Pack films. Which of these is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below.
The Outsiders
Release Date: March 25, 1983
Brat Packers: Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez
Synopsis:
“In a small Oklahoma town in 1964, the rivalry between two gangs, the poor Greasers and the rich Socs, heats up when one gang member accidentally kills a member of the other.” (IMDB)
Class
Release Date: July 22, 1983
Brat Packers: Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy
Synopsis:
“A young man in private school spends one crazy night out, and only later does he learn more about the woman who enlivened his night.” (IMDB)
Sixteen Candles
Release Date: May 4, 1984
Brat Packers: Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall
Synopsis:
“A girl’s “sweet” sixteenth birthday is anything but special: her family forgets about it, and she suffers from every embarrassment possible.”(IMDB)
Oxford Blues
Release Date: August 24, 1984
Brat Packers: Rob Lowe, Ally Sheedy
Synopsis:
“A young American hustler pursues the girl of his dreams to Oxford, where he must enroll to obtain her.” (IMDB)
The Breakfast Club
Release Date: February 15, 1985
Brat Packers: Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald,
Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy
Synopsis:
“Five high school students meet in Saturday detention and discover how they have a great deal more in common than they thought.” (IMDB)
St. Elmo’s Fire
Release Date: June 28, 1985
Brat Packers: Demi Moore, Rob Lowe, Judd Nelson
Emilio Estevez, Andrew McCarthy, Ally Sheedy
Synopsis:
“A group of friends, just out of college, struggle with adulthood.” (IMDB)
Pretty in Pink
Release Date: February 28, 1986
Brat Packers: Molly Ringwald, Andrew McCarthy
Synopsis:
“A poor girl must choose between the affections of dating her childhood sweetheart or a rich but sensitive playboy.” (IMDB)
Blue City
Release Date: May 2, 1986
Brat Packers: Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy
Synopsis:
“A drifter returns to his Florida hometown only to discover that his father, the local mayor, was mysteriously murdered during his absence. Vowing to find the killer and avenge his father’s death, he starts his own investigation.” (IMDB)
About Last Night…
Release Date: July 2, 1986
Brat Packers: Rob Lowe, Demi Moore
Synopsis:
“A man and woman meet and try to have a romantic affair, despite their personal problems and the interference of their disapproving friends.” (IMDB)
Wisdom
Release Date: January 2, 1987
Brat Packers: Emilio Estevez, Demi Moore
Synopsis:
“Unable to find work after a past felony, graduate John Wisdom and his girlfriend embark on a cross-country bank-robbing spree in order to aid American farmers.” (IMDB)
Fresh Horses
Release Date: November 18, 1988
Brat Packers: Molly Ringwald, Andrew McCarthy
Synopsis:
“A college student from Cincinnati breaks off his engagement to his wealthy fiancée after falling in love with a girl from Kentucky. She claims to be 20, but he learns she is actually only 16 and already married.” (IMDB)
Betsy’s Wedding
Release Date: June 22, 1990
Brat Packers: Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy
Synopsis:
“The very different Betsy and Jake are getting married. They want a small wedding, but their dads want to give them a huge one.” (IMDB)
How many of these movies have you seen? Which is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below.