Netflix movie of the day: The Breakfast Club never goes out of style

Molly Ringwald sits at a desk eating lunch in the Breakfast Club

(Image credit: Prime Video)

Netflix movie of the day

Every day, we cut through the bottomless list of streaming options and recommend something to watch. See all our Netflix movie of the day picks, or our Prime Video movie of the day choices.

The Breakfast Club is a prime example of one of the best Netflix movies that will forever be iconic. You only need to say the name and people will immediately think of 80s fashion, an excellent soundtrack and high-school characters to fit every clique. from an athlete and a nerd to a criminal, princess and basket-case. It's so popular that you don't even need to see it to know something about it.

You should definitely watch it if it's one that's been on 'the list' for too long (everyone has one, admit it). While its premise is a simple one, the intimate approach to The Breakfast Club allows us to get closer to each of the five main characters, making up a group of misfits affectionately billed as the 'Brat Pack' – a documentary exploring the actors and the stint of 80s movies they starred in titled Brats landed on Hulu in June 2024.

Interestingly, most of the movie takes place in the classroom, placing us in that confined space with them. Here, they end up connecting in ways they didn't expect. As a result, the movie does rely heavily on the strength of its dialogue and acting, with memorable performances from actors like Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, and Molly Ringwald.

An authentic look at teenagers

There's been high praise from other critics too, with many praising the John Hughes movie for its themes and for influencing the coming-of-age genre. It currently holds an 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, meaning it's certified fresh.

Roger Ebert wrote in the Chicago Sun-Times: "The Breakfast Club doesn't need earthshaking revelations; it's about kids who grow willing to talk to one another, and it has a surprisingly good ear for the way they speak."

Ben Falk at the BBC added in his glowing five-star review: "Shot in sequence during 1984, The Breakfast Club became a benchmark for all that followed in the genre." Elsewhere, Shay Casey at Film Written Magazine said: "It's easy to see why The Breakfast Club appeals to teens - it understands their problems, sympathizes, and tells them that, no, it's not always their fault."

So if you're looking for an 80s classic with a lot of heart, this one is well worth your time.

Lucy is a long-time movie and television lover who is an approved critic on Rotten Tomatoes. She has written several reviews in her time, starting with a small self-ran blog called Lucy Goes to Hollywood before moving onto bigger websites such as What's on TV and What to Watch, with TechRadar being her most recent venture. Her interests primarily lie within horror and thriller, loving nothing more than a chilling story that keeps her thinking moments after the credits have rolled. Many of these creepy tales can be found on the streaming services she covers regularly.

When she’s not scaring herself half to death with the various shows and movies she watches, she likes to unwind by playing video games on Easy Mode and has no shame in admitting she’s terrible at them. She also quotes The Simpsons religiously and has a Blinky the Fish tattoo, solidifying her position as a complete nerd.