11 Movies Like Mean Girls That Are 'So Fetch'

It’s no secret that Mean Girls is one of the most iconic teen comedies of all time.

Written by Tina Fey and inspired by Rosalind Wiseman’s non-fiction book Queen Bees and Wannabes, the 2004 film stars Lindsay Lohan as Cady Heron, a homeschooled girl navigating the treacherous world of public high school for the first time since moving from Africa. As she attempts to make sense of her new environment, Cady is drawn into the orbit of “The Plastics,” a popular clique led by the ruthless and manipulative Regina George, portrayed by Rachel McAdams.

The film also features an all-star supporting cast, including Amanda Seyfried as the hilariously dim-witted Karen Smith and Lacey Chabert as the gossip-obsessed Gretchen Wieners. Fey herself has a role playing the school’s wise, yet overwhelmed teacher, Ms. Norbury. 

Mean Girls quickly became a cultural touchstone with its sharp humor, one-liners and its timeless take on the teen experience. Quotes like “On Wednesdays, we wear pink,” “You can’t sit with us” and “She doesn’t even go here” are still widely referenced today, keeping the movie’s influence alive and well. In the two decades since its debut, Mean Girls has gone on to inspire a TV movie sequel, a hit Broadway musical and most recently a film adaptation of the musical.

So if you’ve found yourself on your millionth re-watch, here are 11 more movies like Mean Girls to watch when you’re craving a teen comedy.

Booksmart

Beanie Feldstein as Molly and Kaitlyn Dever as Amy Antsler in ‘Booksmart’ (2019).

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Booksmart brings a fresh and hilarious take on the teen comedy genre, following best friends Amy and Molly – played by Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein, respectively – as they navigate the chaos of high school as they near their graduation. Determined to make up for years of missed fun, the two overachievers embark on a wild night to prove they can balance their academic success while partaking in typical pre-graduation debauchery.

Much like Mean Girls, Booksmart explores the intricacies of cliques and social dynamics with clever dialogue. Both films dive into the pressures of fitting in, along with the bonds of friendship. While Mean Girls leans into the drama of popularity and rivalry, Booksmart focuses on the comedic and heartfelt aspects of friendship, offering a more modern twist on the high school experience.

Dever and Feldstein are supported by a talented cast that includes Billie Lourd and Jason Sudeikis, among others.

Clueless

Alicia Silverstone as Cher Horowitz in ‘Clueless’ (1995).
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A 1995 teen comedy that follows the life of Cher Horowitz (played by Alicia Silverstone), Clueless is about a wealthy and fashionable student in Beverly Hills. As she navigates both friendships and romances (as a self-appointed matchmaker), Cher attempts to orchestrate the social lives of everyone around her, all while coming to terms with her own growth.

Similar to Mean Girls, Clueless delves into the high school hierarchy, with both films using humor and sarcasm to highlight the challenges of fitting in and learning to be true to oneself amidst the chaos of adolescence. Clueless offers a lighter, playful take on social status, focusing on Cher’s well-meaning but often misguided efforts to help others.

Silverstone’s performance is complemented by a notable supporting cast, including Paul Rudd, Stacey Dash and Brittany Murphy.

Easy A

Emma Stone as Olive Penderghast in ‘Easy A’ (2010).
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Released in 2010, Easy A offers a clever take on the high school experience, with Emma Stone delivering a standout performance as Olive Penderghast. When a harmless lie about her love life spirals into a full-blown rumor, Olive decides to embrace her new reputation — but soon discovers the consequences of her actions.

Much like Mean Girls, the film gets into adolescent social politics, but instead of focusing on cliques, it explores how rumors and reputations can distort one’s identity. Easy A takes a more satirical look at the double standards and moral judgments that teenagers often face.

With a strong supporting cast — including Stanley Tucci, Patricia Clarkson and Amanda Bynes — Easy A proves itself to be a more modern teen classic.

Bottoms

(L-R) Ayo Edebiri, Rachel Sennott, Zamani Wilder, Summer Joy Campbell, Havana Rose Liu, Kaia Gerber, and Virginia Tucker in ‘Bottoms’ (2023).

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Bottoms, one of the more recent additions to the high school comedy genre, made its debut in 2023 and immediately stood out for its bold humor. The film follows PJ, played by Rachel Sennott, and Josie, Ayo Edebiri’s character, who are two awkward lesbian best friends who start an unconventional fight club as a way to get the attention of their crushes. What begins as a quirky scheme quickly turns into a chaotic and empowering movement shaking up the social order.

Bottoms delves into the complexities of popularity, friendship and identity in high school, but with a rebellious twist. Like Mean Girls, the film focuses on the struggles of fitting in, but Bottoms takes a more daring approach, with its protagonists embracing their outsider status in an unexpected way.

Sennott and Edebiri’s performances drive the film’s energy, while the supporting cast — including Ruby Cruz and Nicholas Galitzine — add to its chaotic charm. Bottoms is a must-watch for fans looking for a more modern and edgy alternative to Mean Girls.

The DUFF

Robbie Amell as Wesley and Mae Whitman as Bianca in ‘The Duff’ (2015).

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The DUFF, released in 2015, focuses on the concept of social labels and how they affect personal identity.

The film follows Mae Whitman’s character Bianca, an intelligent and quirky high schooler who suddenly realizes she’s been labeled the “DUFF” (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) within her friend group. Determined to redefine her status, Bianca enlists the help of a popular jock named Wesley, who is played by Robbie Amell, to transform her image and challenge the harsh social hierarchy within the school.

Whitman is joined by a strong supporting cast that includes stars like Bella Thorne and Ken Jeong. With its mix of comedy, romance and a heartfelt message, The DUFF stands alongside Mean Girls as a fun, insightful teen comedy that resonates with anyone who’s ever felt out of place.

Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen

Lindsay Lohan as Mary Elizabeth “Lola” Cep in ‘Confessions Of A Teenage Drama Queen’ (2004).

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Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen also stars Lohan, who once again takes the lead in the teen comedy about navigating the ups and downs of high school. In this film, however, Lohan plays Lola, a dramatic and imaginative city girl who is forced to move to the suburbs. Much like her character in Mean Girls, Lola must adapt to a new school, where she quickly clashes with her rival, determined to stand out despite her new surroundings.

The film, released two months prior to Mean Girls, offers a more whimsical, over-the-top take on teenage dreams and individuality, showcasing Lola’s personal journey of self-expression, wrapped in a colorful, exaggerated world of drama and dreams. Supported by a fun cast including Megan Fox and Alison Pill, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen is a lively, feel-good counterpart to the sharper, more satirical Mean Girls.

A Cinderella Story

Hilary Duff as Sam and Chad Michael Murray as Austin in ‘A Cinderella Story’ (2004).

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Also released in 2004, A Cinderella Story stars Hilary Duff as Sam Montgomery, a modern-day Cinderella navigating high school. The film revolves around self-discovery amidst social pressures, but unlike Mean Girls, the movie has a fairy-tale twist.

Sam is an outcast, working for her wicked stepmother in her late father’s diner, while secretly emailing her crush, the popular quarterback Austin Ames (played by Chad Michael Murray). When Sam and Austin meet at a school dance, she’s forced to balance her secret identity with her everyday life, filled with mean girls and other school pressures.

With supporting roles from Jennifer Coolidge as the hilariously wicked stepmother and Regina King as Sam’s fairy godmother figure, A Cinderella Story brings humor and heart, making it a light, feel-good watch.

She’s The Man

(L-R) Clifton Murray, Brandon Jay McLaren, Channing Tatum, and Amanda Bynes in ‘She’s The Man’ (2006).

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She’s the Man stars Bynes as Viola Hastings, a soccer-loving teenager who takes on a wild challenge — posing as her twin brother at his new boarding school after her own team is cut. Determined to prove she can compete with the boys, Viola navigates the complications of her double life, all while dealing with her growing crush on her roommate, Duke, played by Channing Tatum, and fending off the advances of her brother’s girlfriend.

As Viola juggles her disguise and the chaos that ensues, the 2006 comedy delivers plenty of laughs with its gender-bending humor and romantic entanglements. Inspired by Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, the film offers a clever and modern twist on the classic mistaken identity trope, blending slapstick comedy with moments of genuine heart.

10 Things I Hate About You

Julia Stiles as Kat Stratford and Heath Ledger as Patrick Verona in ’10 Things I hate About You’ (1999).

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Released in 1999, 10 Things I Hate About You is another modern adaptation of Shakespeare — this time The Taming of the Shrew. The film follows Kat Stratford, a fiercely independent and sharp-tongued teenager played by Julia Stiles who has no interest in dating. Her younger sister Bianca, played by Larisa Oleynik, on the other hand, is eager to start dating, but isn’t allowed until Kat does.

To get around this, a plan is hatched to set Kat up with bad boy Patrick Verona (played by the late Heath Ledger), who is paid to take her out, though things quickly get more complicated when real feelings develop.

With its mix of wit, romance and of course, high school drama, 10 Things I Hate About You has become a beloved teen classic. The movie also contains standout performances from Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Gabrielle Union.

John Tucker Must Die

(L-R) Arielle Kebbel, Brittany Snow, Sophia Bush, and Ashanti in ‘John Tucker Must Die’ (2006).

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For a fun and vengeful take on teen relationships, give John Tucker Must Die a watch. The story centers around three girls — Heather, Beth and Carrie (played by Ashanti, Sophia Bush and Arielle Kebbel, respectively) — who discover they’ve all been dating the same guy, John Tucker (portrayed by Jesse Metcalfe), the school’s smooth-talking basketball star.

Teaming up with new girl Brittany Snow’s character, Kate, they plot to take John down by making him fall for Kate, only to break his heart.

Much like Mean Girls, the film explores cliques and the lengths teenagers go for revenge and power. While John Tucker Must Die is more focused on romantic mischief, it still taps into the dynamics of popularity and high school romances.

Heathers

(L-R) Shannen Doherty, Lisanne Falk, Kim Walker, and Winona Ryder in ‘Heathers’ (1988).

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Heathers, released in 1989, is a darkly comedic take on the high school experience, offering quite an edge that sets it apart from typical teen films. The story follows Veronica, played by Winona Ryder, who finds herself stuck in the popular clique, “The Heathers,” led by the domineering Heather Chandler, played by Kim Walker.

Tired of the toxic culture within the group, Veronica teams up with her rebellious new boyfriend, J.D. (played by Christian Slater), and things quickly spiral out of control as their plot to take down the Heathers turns deadly.

Heathers delves into much darker territory, exploring the destructive consequences of bullying, peer pressure and revenge. The film’s biting humor and over-the-top characters make it a cult classic, with Ryder and Slater’s dynamic performances anchoring the chaos.

With its satirical commentary on the high school popularity contest, Heathers is a great option in the teen movie genre if you’re looking for something unique.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education