The ’80s Teen Classic On Streaming That Launched So Many Careers
In the 1980s, a group of stars known as the Brat Pack ruled the roost when it came to films angled toward the teenage crowd. The uber-popular ensemble appeared in one way or another in titles including The Breakfast Club, The Outsiders, Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, and more. Now, Hulu subscribers can catch one of the gang’s most classic features, St. Elmo’s Fire, as it’s now streaming on the platform.
Like other titles in the Brat Pack category, St. Elmo’s Fire was a coming-of-age film. Starring some of the biggest names of the time, the call sheet included the likes of Rob Lowe (Parks and Recreation), Demi Moore (A Few Good Men), Emilio Estevez (The Breakfast Club), Andrew McCarthy (Weekend at Bernie’s), Judd Nelson (The Breakfast Club), Ally Sheedy (The Breakfast Club), Mare Winningham (Georgia), and Andie MacDowell (Groundhog Day).
The Brat Pack classic St. Elmo’s Fire is streaming on Hulu.
St. Elmo’s Fire sees the group of superstars as recent college graduates taking on the big wide world together. In a true piece of ensemble storytelling, each member of the cast has a character arc that holds the rest of the film together. Rob Lowe stars as Billy, a young man who struggles with his alcoholism as a father and a husband, while Mare Winningham’s Wendy finds herself inexplicably drawn to the bad boy.
And then there’s Andrew McCarthy’s Kevin, a writer who can’t help but be in love with Leslie (Ally Sheedy), and Judd Nelson’s Alec, who has dreams of becoming a major player in the world of politics. Finally, Emilio Estevez stars in St. Elmo’s Fire as Kirby, an aspiring lawyer who works hard to earn a paycheck as a waiter, and Demi Moore as the party girl Jules.
While fans of Batman will know him as the man behind one of the most divisive films from the superhero IP, Joel Schumacher got his start as the helmer behind St. Elmo’s Fire. The ‘80s also saw him standing behind another teen favorite production, The Lost Boys, before the next decade brought him gigs including The Client and the aforementioned Batman Forever and Batman & Robin.
St. Elmo’s Fire came in the middle of the Brat Pack obsession, with fan-favorite films…
He would go on to back films like Phone Booth, Tigerland, and The Phantom of the Opera, with a two-episode credit in House of Cards being his final work before his death in 2020.
Though Schumacher managed to get some of Hollywood’s biggest and brightest of the time to join the cast of St. Elmo’s Fire, the beginning of the production looked like it would be rough waters ahead. After trying to sign the likes of Anthony Edwards (Top Gun) and Lea Thompson (the Back to the Future trilogy), filmmaker John Hughes helped the casting team in their search, helping to secure a handful of The Breakfast Club alums for the film.
Along with being another tentpole in the careers of several members of the Brat Pack, St. Elmo’s Fire also jump-started the decades-spanning work of Grammy-winning composer, David Foster.
Considered to be the girl on the outside of the Brat Pack, Demi Moore’s casting in St. Elmo’s Fire would solidify her standing alongside the rest of the elites.
Along with being another tentpole in the careers of several members of the Brat Pack, St. Elmo’s Fire also jump-started the decades-spanning work of Grammy-winning composer David Foster. Though he’s known for his solo work and stunning musical compositions, Foster has also collaborated with numerous big names in the music industry, including Ringo Starr, Chuck Berry, Ronnie Hawkins, Bo Diddley, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Glen Campbell, Rod Stewart, Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Madonna, and many more.
Though St. Elmo’s Fire would go on to receive less than favorable reviews, many were still drawn to the compelling soundtrack penned by the 16-time Grammy Award-winning musician.
Raking in $37.8 million against its $10 million production cost, St. Elmo’s Fire was a complete washout compared to the other titles that the Brat Pack was known for. Fortunately for the up-and-coming actors, the film wouldn’t hurt their careers, and despite his movie receiving so much bad press, Schumacher would also recover from the dumpster fire.
St. Elmo’s Fire came in the middle of the Brat Pack obsession, with fan-favorite films including Pretty in Pink, Blue City, About Last Night…, Wisdom, Fresh Horses, and Betsy’s Wedding coming out in the years to follow. Aside from The Breakfast Club, St. Elmo’s Fire was the only other movie in the Brat Pack’s repertoire to include so many members of the iconic group. Jump back into a simpler time with St. Elmo’s Fire now streaming on Hulu.
