'The Breakfast Club' Cast Reunites After 40 Years For First Time

The cast of "The Breakfast Club" got back together this weekend for the first time in 40 years.

The stars of the popular 1980s teen movie appeared on stage at the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo on Saturday.

"I feel really, very emotional and moved to have us all together," said Molly Ringwald, who played Claire in the movie. "This is the first time that Emilio (Estèvez) has joined us. We don't have to use the cardboard cut-out anymore."

Estèvez, who played Andrew, said joining the reunion was "something that finally I felt I needed to do, just for myself." He also said it was special to return to Chicago, where they filmed the movie.

The actors talked about the film's director, John Hughes, who has passed away. He was also known for famous teen movies like "Sixteen Candles" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."

"Hughes explained to us the differences between the young and old, so now is the time for him to show us where we meet in the end, cause we're all older now," said Judd Nelson, who played John Bender. "But we're not gonna get that, which is sad."

Estèvez also shared that he "passed out" when the cast first met because he had his wisdom teeth removed the day before. He said that after they read through the script for the first time, director John Hughes suggested they watch the first version of "Sixteen Candles," which starred Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall.

"I don't think I made it through the opening credits, and I passed out," said Estèvez. "I woke up at the end credits and I looked at Judd and Judd says, 'I think you're getting fired.'"

Ringwald, who was 16 when they filmed "The Breakfast Club," said watching it years later with her kids was a "wild experience" that made her think differently about being a parent.

"If you would've told me when I was 16 years old (that) one day I would be watching that movie with my 10-year-old and (it'd) change the way that I parent. I mean it's just mind-blowing," she said. The actress admitted that, at the time, her daughter may have been too young to watch the movie. However, speaking about the characters her daughter identified with "opened up this incredible conversation."

"And then I watched the movie recently with my 15-year-olds, little more age appropriate, and I have to say that they didn't pick up their phones once, which to me… that was a win," Ringwald added.