Written and directed by John Hughes, this film's stars came to be known as the Brat Pack because they all hit stardom at the same time and tended to star in movies together. The teenagers in the film were played by Emilio Estevez (Andrew Clarke, the high school jock), Anthony Michael Hall (Brian Ralph Johnson, the nerd), Judd Nelson (John Bender, the rebel stoner), Molly Ringwald (Claire Standish, the rich girl), and Ally Sheedy (Allison Reynolds, the weird girl). Paul Gleason played the principal; John Kapelos played the janitor. Hughes appeared in an uncredited role as Brian's father.
Some argue that the movie has a disappointing ending because Allison renounces her maverick ways and succumbs to the mainstream female image (makeup, pink dress, rather submissive, etc.).
The film's theme music, Don't You (Forget About Me) was a US and UK top-selling hit for Simple Minds.