{{Infobox film | name = Return of the Secaucus 7 | image = The Return of the Secaucus 7 (1980 poster).jpg | border = yes | alt = | caption = Theatrical release poster by Monte Dolack | director = John Sayles | producer = | screenplay = John Sayles | starring = | music = Mason Daring | cinematography = Austin De Besche | editing = John Sayles | studio = Salsipuedes Productions | distributor = Libra Films | released = | runtime = 110 minutes | country = United States | language = English | budget = $60,000 (estimated)<ref name="sayles">Gerry Molyneaux, "John Sayles, Renaissance Books, 2000 p 37</ref> | gross = $2 million }}Return of the Secaucus 7 is a 1980 drama film written and directed by John Sayles and starring Bruce MacDonald, Maggie Renzi, Adam LeFevre, Maggie Cousineau, Gordon Clapp, Jean Passanante, and others. The film tells the story of seven friends who spend a weekend together in New Hampshire. The weekend is marred by the break-up of a relationship between two of the friends. This causes a ripple effect among the group and brings up old desires and problems. The picture was thought to have inspired The Big Chill (1983), which is a more widely known film with a similar storyline. However, writer-director Lawrence Kasdan has denied having seen Return of the Secaucus 7 before working on The Big Chill. In 1997, the film was added to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress for its historic merits. Plot Teachers Mike Donnelly (MacDonald) and Katie Sipriano (Renzi) prepare to host a gathering of their old college activist friends at their rural New Hampshire home. Frances (Cousineau), now in medical school, drives in with her old boyfriend, wannabe folk singer J.T. (LeFevre), who she found hitchhiking to the gathering. Irene (Passanante), a speechwriter for a Democratic U.S. senator, arrives with her conservative boyfriend, Chip (Clapp), who did not attend college with the others. Maura (Trott) says that she and Jeff (Arnott) are no longer a couple, which shocks the others and causes a somewhat uneasy first evening. Maura and J.T. are mutually attracted and have sex that night while Frances is nearby. The group attends a play that their old friend, Lacey, is acting in. Katie heckles Lacey, annoying Mike. Jeff arrives and is apparently unaware that Maura has ended their relationship. This further strains