Underestimated and often overlooked, teen films have been setting trends, challenging labels, and rooting themselves in pop culture since the 1980s. Netflix's latest teen flick, the pastel-colored black comedy Do Revenge, has proven that the teen movie genre is more than ready to leave its mark again.
Already considered a Gen Z representative, Do Revenge stars Riverdale's Camila Mendes and Stranger Things' Maya Hawke as two high school seniors who team up to seek revenge on their respective bullies. As edgy teen comedies make their comeback, fans should turn to the biggest hits of the last 40 years to enjoy.
10 Mean Girls Is The Most Iconic Teen Comedy Of The 2000s
Arguably the most iconic teen comedy of the 2000s, Mean Girls stars Lindsay Lohan as Cady, a teenager who's enrolls in public school for the first time after being homeschooled for most of her life. After befriending Janice and Damien, the trio devises a plan for Cady to join the most popular clique in school and wreak havoc from the inside.
Over the years, Mean Girls has become a pop culture phenomenon like no other, setting the standard for teen movies thereafter. After a disappointing made-for-television sequel in 2011, the film was adapted into a musical that ran for two years on Broadway. Mean Girls arguably laid the groundwork for fun romps like Do Revenge.
9 Easy A Follows A High Schooler As She Embraces High School Rumors
In Easy A, Emma Stone stars as Olive Penderghast, a seventeen-year-old who gets classed as her school's most promiscuous girl after agreeing to lie about romantic escapades with several boys in her class. Instead of fighting against this label, Olive embraces her new image and stands up to the conservative people in her town.
Easy A was inspired by Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter and was both a major financial and critical success. Many fans and critics praised Emma Stone's acting and comedic timing.
8 Clueless Is One Of The Best Modern-Day Adaptations Of All Time
Based on Jane Austen's Emma, Clueless revolves around Cher Horowitz, a popular and fashionable teenager who enjoys playing matchmaker and giving makeovers to those she considers less attractive than her. It starred Alicia Silverstone in the main role, Stacey Dash and Brittany Murphy as Cher's best friends, and Paul Rudd as her love interest.
Years after its premiere, Clueless has gained a massive cult following due to its representation of 1990s teen culture, excellent costume design, and modern take on a beloved classic. Do Revenge's wardrobe choices rival Clueless' iconic outfits. Clueless' popularity even spawned a spin-off television series and a young adult book saga.
7 Wild Child Is A Campy Story About A Spoiled Girl Gone Good
Wild Child follows Emma Roberts as the spoiled and wealthy Poppy Moore, a Malibu high schooler who gets sent to boarding school in England to correct her wild and selfish attitude. As she befriends her roommates and falls in love, Poppy begins to change for the better and leaves behind her bratty attitude.
Wild Child was critically panned upon its release, but it has slowly gained a small and dedicated fandom over the years for its over-the-top, campy direction. Fans enjoy the film for its heartwarming story.
6 Two Former Best Friends Rekindle Their Friendship By Plotting A Murder In Thoroughbreds
In 2017, Anya Taylor-Joy and House of the Dragon's Olivia Cooke teamed up in Thoroughbreds, a black comedy about two upper-class teenagers, Lily and Amanda, rekindling their friendship. As the two bond over their current troubles, they begin plotting the murder of Lily's stepfather with the help of a drug dealer.
Despite making a little over half of its budget, Thoroughbreds received praise for its thought-provoking writing and impeccable performances. If fans enjoyed the more mature subject matter of Do Revenge, they'll certainly enjoy Thoroughbreds.
5 The Craft Follows A Coven Of New Witches As They Explore Their Powers
The Craft blends teen drama and supernatural horror to deliver one of the most unique teen movies of the 1990s. Set in Los Angeles, the film centers on a group of four outcasts who begin practicing witchcraft while attending a deeply religious high school. Soon after, the four girls start experiencing the negative consequences of their newfound powers.
After its premiere, The Craft received mixed reviews but was heavily praised for taking on darker themes and departing from teen movie clichés. The movie quickly became a cult classic of teen cinema. A sequel, The Craft: Legacy, was released in 2020 with mostly negative reviews.
4 Cruel Intentions Revolves Around Wealthy Students And Their Chaotic Relationships
An adaptation of the eighteenth-century novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Cruel Intentions revolves around a group of wealthy New York students and their troubled relationships. The ensemble cast included Sarah Michelle Gellar as the insidious protagonist, Kathryn Merteuil, and Reese Witherspoon as the headmaster's daughter.
Though it was criticized for its script, Cruel Intentions was considered a great modern-day adaptation. The film received many accolades for its performances, won several fan-voted awards, spawned two direct-to-video sequels, and was adapted into a 2015 jukebox musical.
3 Heathers Is The Quintessential Dark Teen Comedy About The Dangers Of Cliques
In 1988, Winona Ryder played Veronica Sawyer in the quintessential dark teen comedy, Heathers. The film centers on a popular clique that consists of Veronica and three girls named Heather, who reign supreme over their high school. Their lives change completely when a rebellious new student arrives to disrupt their established hierarchy.
Despite bombing at the box office, Heathers has become a cult favorite for its use of satire and pessimistic tone to depict the high school experience, which bears similarities to Do Revenge. In 2010, the film was adapted into a highly successful off-Broadway musical.
2 A Trio Seeks Revenge On Their Unfaithful Boyfriend In John Tucker Must Die
John Tucker Must Die follows three very different high school girls as they seek revenge on their cheating boyfriend, a basketball player named John Tucker. The trio seeks help from an unassuming fellow student named Kate (played by Brittany Snow) who must do her best to break his heart and humiliate him.
John Tucker Must Die was criticized for its predictable plot and casting, but it was considered an entertaining teen movie with plenty of clever dialogue and charm to captivate the audience. Much like Do Revenge, John Tucker Must Die focuses on themes of revenge and social status.
1 Jawbreaker Follows A Popular Trio As They Cover Up Their Friend's Murder
1999's Jawbreaker stars Rose McGowan, Rebecca Gayheart, and Julie Benz as three of the most popular girls in Reagan High. When one of them murders the fourth member of their friend group, the trio must do their best to hide any evidence and continue ruling their school, even as their lives fall apart.
Jawbreaker wasn't a critical success after its premiere, with many commenting on its similarities to Heathers as one of its detractors. Its acting and colorful costume design, however, have turned it into a cult classic for fans of campy teen movies.