Have your tweens watched the classic 80s John Hughes films?

[VenusClapTrap]

Dd is 11 and I’m itching to cosy up on a Sunday afternoon and watch all my old favourite coming of age films with her - The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller, Pretty in Pink etc.

I think she’d enjoy them, and they could spark some important conversations. But is it a bit soon? I’m not too bothered about the sweariness, but some of the themes are a bit adult, if I remember correctly. That said, I’m sure we watched far worse far younger back in my day, without any negative impact.

Have you/would you let your tween watch them?

I'd not be comfortable watching them with an 11year old. Probably more 13/14.

There's some horrendous sexism in those films, including stuff like sexual assault being minimised. My eldest is only 10 but I can't imagine wanting her to watch them soon.

I watched some of these with my DD over the last couple of years. I was remembering them with sweet nostalgia and found that they haven't aged well! She's 14
DD was deeply unimpressed. The breakfast club has some pretty unpleasant scenes, is a bit rapey in parts (upskirting) and has a rather stereotypical goth girl gets pretty and boy likes her now ending. She thought Andi was an idiot for forgiving Blaine but Ducky wasn't much better! Ferris Bueller wasn't liked much either, she thought he was unpleasant and horrible to his friend.
She did like Clueless and Legally Blond though.

I think they could be used for some discussion about how life has changed . Also to discuss things like sexual attitudes etc.

Interestingly Molly Ringwald has said she wouldn't show her teenage daughter The Breakfast Club (this was a few years ago) simply because she was uncomfortable with the scene where Judd Nelson looks up her skirt....even though it was an older woman who replaced Ringwald for that scene.

I loved all of these films when I was younger. Ferris Buellers Day Off is still a favourite.

Ferris Bueller is fine. A bit sweary but fun. I would wait a couple of years for the other two.

Oh hell. Yes, I can there are problems with some of the scenes now I think about it. Maybe I’ll watch them myself first just to check. Glad I posted.

I don’t know maybe Ferris Bueller? That’s a fun film. My 11yo hasn’t seen any yet just because I don’t think he’d really be into them. The Breakfast Club is a good film but you need to be aware when watching times have changed. I always hated Pretty in Pink anyway.

The Breakfast Club is quite depressing to watch as an adult. I definitely didn’t feel that way as a young teen watching it but rewatched recently and was shocked at the scene where the headmaster basically threatens that one day he will beat up Judd Nelson’s character.

Ferris Bueller, yes. There's more bad language than we're used to, but they enjoyed it.

Mine (11 and 13) loved Ferris Bueller