In 1985, young Hollywood actors saw their fortunes change in less than a week. A New York magazine article, referring to them as the Brat Pack, came out on a Tuesday and, by Friday, Andrew McCarthy recalls, our lives were different.
The term not only attached itself to stars of St. Elmo’s Fire but also those in various John Hughes movies. Certain core members were undeniable,
McCarthy says. This included Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, Ally Sheedy, Molly Ringwald, and McCarthy himself. Later, Anthony Michael Hall and Jon Cryer joined this elite group.
Exploring the Impact of the Brat Pack
In his new docu-series, BRATS, McCarthy revisits these actors and uncovers how they felt about the label and its implications. He even talks to the article’s author and discovers he never met the referenced actors. McCarthy describes his unexpected warmth for him with surprise.
A Youth Market Shift
The mid-’80s saw a significant shift in Hollywood, with producers targeting teen audiences. As McCarthy puts it, Grownups see movies once. Kids go to see movies five, six, seven times.
Rob Lowe embraced this attention, while some like Emilio Estevez felt it made them seem like lightweights. For Ally Sheedy, auditions became challenging as people perceived them as partying, fame-seeking young punks.
A Seismic Cultural Shift
Molly Ringwald wasn’t mentioned in the Brat Pack article despite her success in three major teen films during that era. This oversight highlights how media perception didn’t always align with reality. When asked to join the documentary, she ultimately declined.
The Challenge of Perspectives
Jon Cryer provides insight into why some actors might want to avoid connections to their past labels: A lot of times as actors we want to be free of the baggage of our pop culture associations and we just want to act.
McCarthy’s Journey
Andrew McCarthy did not have any agenda or questions when he began filming BRATS. He wanted to reconnect. This resulted in organic, sometimes poignant moments—like hugging Rob Lowe—a connection they didn’t have in their youth due to career competition.
The Legacy of Joel Schumacher
Joel Schumacher significantly influenced these actors’ careers by casting St. Elmo’s Fire. According to McCarthy, Joel cast the movie very well…He embraced everybody’s ‘themness.’
The Enduring Impact of the Brat Pack
The legacy of the Brat Pack remains impactful even today. Timothy Hutton reflects on his Oscar-winning role in Ordinary People, suggesting that looking back helps put things into perspective.
The Brat Pack represented a seismic cultural shift that was happening then and it grew and took hold.
Social media’s current landscape wouldn’t allow something similar to develop today due to its rapid essence dragging away long-lasting starlight moments.
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