Molly Ringwald Reveals Her First Reaction To Hearing ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’ From The Breakfast Club, And I Can’t Get Over How She Described The Song

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The film “The Breakfast Club,” currently available on your Netflix account, holds a special place in the hearts of many viewers. Often hailed as one of the greatest high school movies ever made, it delves into teenage struggles through five characters from diverse social groups who come to understand their shared humanity. And let’s not forget the iconic ’80s hit “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” by Simple Minds – a song that left a lasting impression on actress Molly Ringwald when she first heard it during filming.

Whenever you recognize the distinctive opening chords followed by “Hey, hey, hey, hey!”, you’re instantly transported to the ’80s with the classic hit “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”. Even a child of the ’70s like Molly Ringwald from The Breakfast Club can appreciate its timeless appeal. In the 2025 documentary film Simple Minds: Everything is Possible, Molly shared her initial response to the 1985 single – it was a powerful impact!

It felt gritty… almost like an obscene phone call — like, in a good way.

Indeed, that’s quite an intriguing point of view! In essence, the soothing tone of Jim Kerr, the lead singer, could almost resemble an unexpected musical phone call. To be honest, if someone phoned me to say they were “dancing alone, you know it, baby,” I might find that a bit peculiar.

In an interesting turn of events, I found out that Jim Kerr, the iconic musician, initially declined the opportunity to perform “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” in the movie. The offer was accepted only after the song’s composer, Keith Forsey, managed to connect with the band. Additionally, it’s intriguing to note that Molly Ringwald played a role in directing John Hughes towards Simple Minds – she was the one who guided him to their music!

I believe I suggested it to the film’s director, John Hughes. It feels good to have played a small role in that.

It’s fantastic that she did! Given how music played a pivotal role in John Hughes’ films, suggesting a popular rock band that teenagers of the time enjoyed must have been incredibly beneficial for the actress who was only 16.

The tune ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’ was a fitting choice to conclude a teen film that leaves viewers with strong emotions. The memorable final scene of the movie The Breakfast Club occurs when the students depart from detention, bidding their farewells, culminating in Bender symbolically pumping his fist towards them, signifying that each found value in that unconventional day. Listening to this 1980s hit song feels as if all characters – Bender, Claire, Ally, Brian, and Andy – are collectively wishing for their unique shared experience not to be overlooked.

Everything is Possible screening in theaters on June 13th.

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2025-05-22 03:07