St. Elmo's Fire (1985)
Seven college friends face down adulthood's messy realities, navigating love and careers with witty, melancholic earnestness.
Reluctant to let go of college life, a close-knit team of seven friends--irresponsible saxophone player Billy, young Republican Alec, his girlfriend Leslie, struggling journalist Kevin, drama queen Jules, lovesick waiter Kirby, and Wendy, a social worker with a heart of gold--realise the party is over. And as the burdens of maturity close in on the young dreamers, the complexities of adulthood and the daily struggle of growing up put their sacred friendship to the test. But everyone knows life is not a bed of roses. It won't be easy, but when all is said and done, what will it take for St. Elmo's clique to find its place in the real world?
How intense is St. Elmo's Fire?
St. Elmo's Fire has no gore and no real violence. Emotionally it is heavy. The pace is measured, and it is a comfort watch and a full-attention watch. The humor runs dry. Rated R.
What St. Elmo's Fire feels like
- Tone
- melancholyearnestnostalgic
- Pace
- Measured
- Humor
- dry and witty
- Best for
- Comfort watchFull attention
Where to stream St. Elmo's Fire
Not on a US subscription service at our last check. Rent or buy may still be an option.
US availability via TMDB, last checked Sep 14, 2026. The app filters picks to the services you actually have.
Is St. Elmo's Fire for you?
Is St. Elmo's Fire scary?
No. St. Elmo's Fire is not a scary watch (scare level 0 of 3).
Is St. Elmo's Fire gory or violent?
No gore (0 of 3) and no real violence (0 of 3). Squeamish viewers are fine here.
Is St. Elmo's Fire sad or heavy?
It is emotionally heavy (2 of 3). Expect it to land.
Is St. Elmo's Fire OK for kids?
It is rated R, so it is made for adults. Intensity: scare 0, gore 0, violence 0, each out of 3.
How long is St. Elmo's Fire?
St. Elmo's Fire runs 1h 48m.
Where can I stream St. Elmo's Fire?
St. Elmo's Fire is not on a US subscription service right now (rent or buy may still be an option).
Does St. Elmo's Fire have a happy ending? spoiler-safe answer
Bittersweet. It earns its ending, but not everyone gets what they want.
Cast and crew
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