St. Elmo's Fire was a defining movie of the 1980s brat pack genre.

The film revolves around a group of friends that have just graduated from Georgetown University and their adjustment to their post-university lives and the responsibilities of adulthood.

The main characters are

• Kirby Keger (Emilio Estevez) - unsure about which path to follow in life, he starts the film as a waiter at the "St Elmo's Fire" bar
• Billy Hicks (Rob Lowe) - perceived as still being the "frat boy" of the group, he is unable (or unwilling) to keep a job
• Kevin Dolenz (Andrew McCarthy) - a depressed writer, employed as a obituary writer at the start of the film
• Jules Jacoby (Demi Moore) - despite a career in "international banking", she is seen as the "party girl" of the group
• Alec Newbary (Judd Nelson) - a ruthless, ambitious yuppie, hoping for a career in politics
• Leslie Hunter (Ally Sheedy) - Alec's yuppie girlfriend who wants to pursue an unstated career before thinking about marriage and children
• Wendy Beamish (Mare Winningham ) - from a rich family, she is seen as the "innocent" of the group and devotes her life to helping others

The film also features Andie MacDowell as Dale Biberman, the object of Kirby's affections.

The song St. Elmo's Fire has lyrics that if listened to are somewhat illuminating.

"They thought they'd be friends forever, but forever couldn't last."