Clueless may be an iconic film from the ’90s, but despite its age, this movie has managed to be a relevant, timeless, and just plain fun ride for any generation. Loosely based on Jane Austen’s classic novel Emma, the colorful teen comedy follows the antics of Cher, a rich, self-absorbed but good-hearted Beverly Hills teenager, as she tries to “improve” the lives of everyone around her. Along the way, we’re treated to a fabulous parade of exaggerated ’90s fashions, throwback pop music choices, and so, so much quotable dialogue.
In some ways, it’s funny to look back at Clueless and see how it was clearly meant to be an over-exaggerated satire. Things like teenagers having cell phones on them at all times are treated as over-the-top jokes — and now it’s just part of normal life! There’s something really fun about Clueless, though, in how it plays with the usual tropes of teen movies.
Typically, the “popular” kids are the villains, and the heroine is “not like other girls.” In Clueless, each of the cliques has its own minor problems, but only a couple of people are actually terrible. While Cher is very much “like other girls,” she doesn’t have to give that up to help further her character development.
That irrepressible joy and big heart are why Clueless has endured as a classic for decades now, and it’s definitely had a big influence on teen movies of more recent years, too. While nothing could ever quite capture the exact same vibes as Clueless, there are plenty of movies out there that pair perfectly with it. If you’re looking to have a double feature or just want more movies that are like Clueless, we’ve rounded up some of our best recommendations in the gallery ahead. How many of these are already favorites for you?