‘The Breakfast Club’ at 40: From $1 million underdog to worldwide phenomenon

nypost.com:

Walking in the Fast Lane: Stories of a Lifetime,” said.Although “Sixteen Candles” was released several months prior, in May 1984, Hughes penned “Breakfast Club” first.

He’d never directed any feature before.Hughes had just come off the release of “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” the comedy he wrote starring Chevy Chase, just as Meyer founded a company called A&M Films (part of A&M Records) in 1983.

The producer liked what he saw and wanted to read more. “I was at John’s house the next day, and I said to John, ‘Do you have anything else?,’” Meyer, who also worked on “Better Off Dead” and “Fried Green Tomatoes,” recalled. “He said, ‘I do, but there’s a problem.’ I said, ‘What’s the problem?’ He said, ‘I have to direct it.’ “I think he had done a commercial.”He handed Meyer “The Breakfast Club,” and his mouth watered.

Hughes stressed that he wrote the film to take place in a single room and knew exactly what his vision required. He needed to direct it.