Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez and the entire cast of The Breakfast Club reunited for the first time in 40 years at C2E2 in Chicago!
It was a nostalgic moment four decades in the making. The original cast of The Breakfast Club — Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, Ally Sheedy, Anthony Michael Hall, and Judd Nelson — reunited for the first time in 40 years during a panel at C2E2 in Chicago on April 12. The emotional event marked the first full group appearance since the film’s 1985 premiere, with Molly Ringwald calling the moment “very emotional” as fans and stars alike reflected on the cultural legacy of the iconic teen classic.
“I feel really very emotional and moved to have us all together,” Molly Ringwald told the crowd, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The actress, who portrayed Claire Standish, also shared a laugh with fans about past reunions where a cardboard cutout of Emilio Estevez had to stand in for the actor — but not this time. “We don’t have to use the cardboard cutout anymore because he’s here.”
Indeed, Emilio Estevez’s presence marked a special milestone. The actor, who played jock Andrew Clark, admitted it was time for him to join his co-stars in celebrating the film. “It’s obviously the 40th anniversary, and it just felt like it was time,” he said. “Somebody told me that Molly said, ‘Well, does Emilio just not like us?’ And that broke my heart. And I went, ‘No, of course I love all of them.’ And that just made sense, so here I am.”
Judd Nelson, who famously portrayed bad boy John Bender, echoed the sentiment. “I always felt in a weird way that the work was half done, that at some point we would all get back together,” he said. Referencing the film’s open-ended conclusion, Judd Nelson reflected on its deeper message. “‘What happens on Monday?’ The film is about the fact that everyone has to make that decision for themselves.”
Judd Nelson also paid tribute to the film’s late writer and director John Hughes, sharing that his absence left a lasting impact. “His passing was profound for me… Hughes explained to us the differences between the young and old. So now is the time for him to show us where we meet in the end, because we’re all older now, but we’re not going to get that, which is sad.”
While the cast members have crossed paths over the years, this C2E2 panel marked the first time all five original stars shared the stage since the film’s release in 1985. Fans online quickly reacted to the reunion with nostalgia and joy. “Love seeing this, great movie!” one X user posted. “Fantastic. Great for fans but I hope they enjoyed getting back together and recognizing what an impact that movie had / has on so many,” another added.
In a 2024 interview with The Times, Molly Ringwald reflected on The Breakfast Club‘s lasting influence — and the parts that haven’t aged well. “There is a lot that I really love about the movie, but there are elements that haven’t aged well — like Judd Nelson’s character, John Bender, who essentially sexually harasses my character,” she noted. “I’m glad we’re able to look at that and say things are truly different now.”
Still, the reunion served as a powerful reminder of the film’s enduring message — and the bond between its cast members. For one Saturday in Chicago, the Breakfast Club was back in session.
