Summary
A member of the Brat Pack himself, director Andrew McCarthy managed to wrangle most of the group’s members for his documentary, the aptly titledBrats, two actors are noticeably absent: Molly Ringwald and Judd Nelson. A play on the informal group of ’50s and ’60s entertainers known as the Rat Pack,the Brat Pack refers to actors who appeared together in a string of coming-of-age films in the 1980s. So-called “core"Brat Pack members, like McCarthy, Ringwald, and Nelson, appeared in the ensembles of either John Hughes’sThe Breakfast Cluband Joel Schumacher’sSt. Elmo’s Fire.
FromPretty in PinktoBlue City, theBrat Pack-starring movieswent on to define ’80s Hollywood — and, for a long time, the actors themselves. For performers like McCarthy, a lapsed Brat Pack membership is still a defining trait. A few years ago, the actor-turned-director published a memoir about the experience,Brat: An ’80s Story. The Hulu documentaryBratsrevisits parts of McCarthy’s memoir, all while expanding its point of view to include other Brat Pack alum, like Emilio Estevez and Ally Sheedy, leading many to wonder why Ringwald and Nelson don’t appear in the film.
Molly Ringwald & Judd Nelson Declined To Be Interviewed For Brats
The Breakfast Club Stars Weren’t Interested In Revisiting The Past For Hulu’s Documentary
InBrats,McCarthy seeks out fellow Brat Pack alum to have honest conversations with them about their fond and not-so-fond memoriesassociated with the moniker. While thetight-knit group of ’80s actorswere launched to new heights of stardom thanks to the Brat Pack phenomenon, the group’s all-defining legacy isn’t necessarily all positive. McCarthy, who hadn’t seen some of his friends and former co-stars in decades, notes that the Brat Pack association is “like an octopus” — at times, the tentacles offer a nice embrace, but sometimes it can feel more confining (viaEntertainment Tonight).
…it became clear to the director that Ringwald was more interested in “looking forward.”
While Judd Nelson doesn’t appear in the film because he was hard to track down — reportedly, he lives a quiet life and doesn’t make himself available for Hollywood projects — Ringwald has been more open about her feelings about the Brat Pack label. Previously,theSixteen Candlesactor called the Brat Pack designation “limiting,“especially when she tried to take on more adult roles. InBrats, McCarthy explains that he did askMolly Ringwald to join the movie, and while she said she’d think about speaking, it became clear to the director that Ringwald was more interested in “looking forward.”
Why Molly Ringwald & Anthony Michael Hall Are The Only Main Brat Pack Members Missing From St. Elmo’s Fire
Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall are the only main Brat Pack members missing from St. Elmo’s Fire, but there’s a good reason for their absence.
Molly Ringwald & Judd Nelson Still Appear In The Brat Pack Documentary In Footage
The Core Brat Pack Members Can Be Seen Throughout Andrew McCarthy’s Brats
From Demi Moore and Ally Sheedy to Rob Lowe, theBrat Pack actorsappeared together time and again, redefining the types of movies that could become Hollywood blockbusters. On the downside, they were often “packaged” together in a way that clearly feels reductive to some of its members, especially in hindsight. While Ringwald and Nelson don’t appear to discuss their current feelings about the Brat Pack label, they can be seen throughoutBratsin archival footage and scenes from some of the biggest Brat Pack films, soboth Molly Ringwald and Judd Nelson are still very present in the documentary.
Bratsstreams exclusively on Hulu beginning July 23, 2025.
Brats
Brats offers an in-depth look at the lives of military children, capturing the complexities of growing up on the move. Through heartfelt interviews and vivid storytelling, the documentary highlights the resilience and adaptability required to navigate frequent relocations.
