Demi Moore, 2024
On Friday, June 28th, the 1985 romantic comedy that played a pivotal role in Demi Moore's rise to stardom celebrated its 39th anniversary. Moore, now 61, took to Instagram to mark the occasion with her own unique twist on the beloved film.
"Jules would have loved Brat Girl Summer. Happy 39th birthday to #StElmosFire!" Moore captioned an Instagram Reels post. The video compilation featured clips of Moore in her iconic role as Jules, one of the core members of the "Brat Pack"—a group of young actors including Emilio Estevez, Andrew McCarthy, Rob Lowe, Ally Sheedy, and Judd Nelson.
Back in 1985, journalist David Blum coined the term "Brat Pack" in a New York magazine article, drawing inspiration from the Rat Pack of Hollywood's Golden Age—Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. However, the young actors weren't initially fond of the label.
"None of us liked being called 'brats' or the implication that we weren't serious about our work," Moore explained to Entertainment Weekly. "It was a curious thing—we each had different experiences. The label had a significant impact on Andrew and shaped his career trajectory."
Recently, the group reunited in New York City to support McCarthy, now 61, at the Tribeca Film Festival where his documentary "BRATS" premiered at the OKX Theater at Borough of Manhattan Community College on June 7th.
In the documentary, Moore expressed gratitude for director Joel Schumacher's unwavering support during the making of "St. Elmo's Fire."
"They could have easily cast someone else," Moore reflected. "At the time, I didn’t have the star power to justify his faith in me."
Ahead of the documentary's release, McCarthy spoke with PEOPLE about the mixed reception to the "Brat Pack" label.
"It had both positive and negative effects on our careers," McCarthy noted. "While the public embraced us, the industry sometimes viewed us unfavorably."
Despite any initial reservations about the label, Moore's recent Instagram tribute featured Charli XCX's song "365" from her album "Brat," underscoring her enduring fondness for the film and its cultural impact.
