15 HOLIDAY GIFTS INSPIRED BY THE CHARACTERS IN “THE BREAKFAST CLUB”

Every GenX’er can recite the classic John Hughes film The Breakfast Club by heart, and we all identified with at least one–if not all five–of the main characters. Considering the movie’s theme song also defines Generation X, “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” giving you these great gift ideas inspired by the Brat Pack to make sure no one’s stuck with a lamp that won’t light up.

1-3. For the “John Bender” (Judd Nelson): Identified in the film as a “criminal,” Bender is actually a misunderstood Bad Boy with a soft spot for rich girls with Daddy Issues that mirror his own. Poor John only ever got a carton of smokes for Christmas, and that’s not going to fly in 2024. But he did have that thrift store overcoat and the classic denim jacket, a great layered look which makes for a stellar gift when modernized. I like to think John grew out of his Bad Boy phase and became a Girl Dad.

And to make sure your guy never looks like Barry Manilow raided his wardrobe, considering treating him to an appointment with a stylist. A well-fitting suit in the right color can make the difference between a cool kid and a neo-maxi zoom dweebie.

4 – 6. For the “Claire Standish” (Molly Ringwald): She claimed to be “not that pristine,” but no matter the occasion, Claire is going to have her hair and nails done.

The Luxury Essentials Set from R+Co contains mini-versions of their bestselling haircare products in an acryclic clutch that Claire would absolutely take with her everywhere. The gorgeous green color would go perfectly with her glorious red hair and also everything your most stylish friend owns.

Classic nail colors in a mini-set make for an ideal stocking stuffer gift for the Claire in your life (or even yourself) so that she doesn’t have to “take a day off” (aka “cutting school” in the movie) to go shopping for herself.

We all remember the iconic moment when Claire unpacks her lunch to reveal a full sushi kit. Adult Claire has probably upped her fancy-schmancy fish game by now, so get extra decadent and order The Savor Set from The Caviar Co. I appreciate the name of this handy gift because it’s also a “saver,” with your choice of three different caviar options, blinis, and creme fraiche packed into a convenient cooler for just $50.

7 – 9. For the “Andrew Clark” (Emilio Estevez): The “athlete” of the group, Andrew felt a lot of pressure to “be #1.” I visualize a present-day Andrew working in the Wellness Space and maybe even being a motivational speaker, because he learned how to see through a tough exterior to the real person behind it.

Andrew would encourage a healthy diet, starting with getting all of your daily greens. Green juices are as trendy as ever, and a well-meaning gift to kick start the after-holiday daily gut cleanse will hopefully be received better than weekly detention.

To keep your energy up all day, Andrew would have you snacking on a protein bar that’s as natural as possible, with the best ingredients. ALOHA Bars deliver those with an extra dash of Ohana with delicious flavors and ingredients native to the island paradise, and will boost you out of a dreary winter Saturday morning faster than a wrestling takedown.

Andrew understands that you need smooth lines underneath whatever you’re wearing, from a standard required wrestling uniform (which are not tights) to jeans to a suit. Pair of Thieves makes breathable underwear in various styles, colors, and prints. And no taping involved to keep them in place.

10 – 12. For the “Allison Reynolds” (Ally Sheedy): The self-described “basket case” comes out of her dark shell by the end of the movie thanks to a makover. “She was pretty all along” was a major trope of the 1980s teen comedy genre, but no one did it better or with more heart than Ally Sheedy. I like to think Allison became a therapist and spends her life making sure everyone lives in their own comfort zone, so the gifts she inspires will do the same.

The Earth Mama Wellness Signature Collection has all kinds of skincare essentials for the whole family (if Mama feels like sharing) to make it through a rough winter like the ones in Shermer, Illinois. I can see Allison sending one of these off to her good friend Claire, who probably regifts them to her nieces, but it’s up to you as to whether you want to share.

Allison’s main source of food used to be sugary cereal and Pixie Stix on Wonder Bread. She may actually eat real food now, but her secret sweet tooth occasionally gets the best of her and she wants to share that sweetness in a more grown-up way. This decadent Chocolate Pizazz Texas Trio by Mostly Chocolate fits the bill nicely thanks to this combination of salty, sweet, and crunchy treats packed into a festive holiday tin that elevates that boring popcorn thing your uncle always sends.

Allison was Goth Coastal Grandma long before it had a name. A long, warm wrap is the perfect cold weather gift, and come in colors and patterns other than black, says my mom in my head as we traipse through the mall on a Sunday in 1985.

13 – 15. For the “Brian Johnson” (Anthony Michael Hall). Some of the most memorable lines from The Breakfast Club come from “The Brain,” who ended up writing the farewell letter for all five members.

As soon as I saw the self-heating lunchboxes from UVI, I knew they were perfect for the Brian in everyone’s life. Brian had to pack a thermos to keep his soup hot, if you recall. So with all of these options in various sizes and colors, Brian could reheat an entire meal in his company’s lunchroom. I also like to think Brian works as an electrical engineer now.

Reading is fundamental for the Brain (an anagram of BRIAN btw) on your list (and everyone else, if you ask me), so why not give a book-related gift to your favorite reader? I love OutOfPrint.com, which has so many fantastic gifts for Smart Kids of all ages that you might be able to take of your entire list on this site alone. I’m extra charmed by these Library Card socks, especially since nearly the entire movie takes place in the Shermer High School Library/”Learning Center”.

Brian seemed tech-y to me, able to count up how many weeks Bender was stuck in detention in his head and constantly consulting his watch. A more updated version of that might look this “Spy Watch.” Okay, so it’s actually called the “HD Watch Camera Person Video Surveillance with IR Night Vision.” But if Brian had had this back in the day, he could’ve tracked Vice Principal Richard “Dick” Vernon” without getting up from his seat.