Warning: This article contains spoilers for the documentary Brats.
Summary
The documentaryBratsbrings upBack to the Future, raising questions about whether the 1985 sci-fi film is considered a Brat Pack movie. The new docuseries Brats explores the lives and careers of a group of actors in the 80s called the “Brat Pack.” This term was a play on the term “Rat Pack” from the ‘50s and ‘60s, which described actors in their early 20s who became successful in movies.
The coreBrat Pack moviesinclude eight actors who appeared in coming-of-age movies catered towards teenagers. These films are credited with Hollywood realizing that teens and young adults will watch movies. The documentaryBratsoutlines the creation and aftermath of these movies, bringing up classics likeThe Breakfast ClubandPretty In Pink. However, at one point, the documentary brings up the classic sci-fi movieBack to the Future, which was eventually turned into a trilogy. This raises questions about whether the movie and its star, Michael J. Fox, fall into the category of Brat Pack.
Why Molly Ringwald & Judd Nelson Aren’t In The Brat Pack Documentary
Andrew McCarthy’s Brats documentary features several key Brat Pack alum, leading many to wonder why Molly Ringwald and Judd Nelson don’t appear.
Despite the Brat Pack documentary,Brats,mentioning the sci-fi filmBack To The Futureis not considered a Brat Pack movie. There are some defining characteristics of the Brat Pack movies thatBack to the Futuremeets. Firstly, while sci-fi is the predominant genre, the movie has the hallmarks of a coming-of-age film, too. The movie also came out in the 1980s, the time period when most Brat Pack movies were made.
However,Back to the Futurealso breaks some major rules that define the genre. A de facto rule for the label is thattwo or moremembers of the Brat Packmust appear, andBack to the Futureonly has one Brat Pack-adjacent actor. The Brat Pack movies also center almost exclusively on the young adult characters.Back to the Futuretoes this line because Marty McFly is a teen, whereas Doc Brown is much older. Because of these aspects,Back to the Futureis a Brat Pack-adjacent movie at best.
Michael J. Fox Was Also Not Part Of The Brat Pack
Michael J. Fox’s TV Debut Excludes Him From The Brat Pack
The only actor inBack to the Futurewith any connection to the Brat Pack is Lea Thompson, though she’s considered tangential to the group instead of a member. Though Michael J. Fox seems like a part of the Brat Pack, he was never included in this label. The actor never worked with the official Brat Pack members onscreen, meaning he didn’t get lumped in with them.
The term Brat Pack was reserved for teen or young adult actors who got their start in movies, which wasn’t the case for Michael J. Fox.
Fox didn’t appear in eitherBreakfast CluborSt. Elmo’s Fire,thetwo films that were considered the foundation of the title. Moreover, the term Brat Pack was reserved for teen or young adult actors who got their start in movies, which wasn’t the case for Michael J. Fox. Prior toBack to the Future, Fox got his big break playing Alex P. Keaton in the TV showFamily Ties.
