Mean Girls 20th Anniversary – Celebrating the Legacy of a Cult Classic

Hey! Have you heard about Mean Girls? It’s that iconic movie where Cady moves to the U.S. and gets caught up with the popular group, “The Plastics.” The movie delivers high school drama, friendships, and plenty of laughs, along with many memorable moments that people still talk about. And here’s some exciting news!

To celebrate the 20th anniversary, Mean Girls is coming back to theaters! You can catch it on Mean Girls Day (October 3rd) and October 6th, thanks to Fathom Events and Paramount Pictures. It’s the perfect time to relive all the fun and drama with Cady and the gang on the big screen!

The Return of Mean Girls and Its Impact

Mean Girls is based on the book Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman. The movie follows Cady Heron (played by Lindsay Lohan), a girl who was homeschooled in Africa and transferred to North Shore High School. She makes friends with two outsiders, Janis Ian (Lizzy Caplan) and Damian Leigh (Daniel Franzese). They convince her to join “The Plastics,” a popular group led by Regina George (Rachel McAdams), along with Gretchen Wieners (Lacey Chabert) and Karen Smith (Amanda Seyfried).

Things get complicated when Regina gets back together with her ex-boyfriend, Aaron Samuels (Jonathan Bennett), who Cady has a crush on. Cady, along with Janis and Damian, decides to get revenge on Regina. They plan to turn her friends against her while trying to win over Aaron. Tina Fey, who also stars in How to Watch Only Murders in the Building – Season 4 plays Ms. Norbury, the math teacher, and also wrote the screenplay for the movie.

The Mean Girls musical movie, released in 2024, brought the iconic story back to life with a fresh cast and a musical twist. Tina Fey reprised her role in the 2024 movie musical based on the Broadway adaptation of Mean Girls. In this new film, Angourie Rice, known as Spider-Man, played Cady, while Renee Rapp, a Broadway star, took on the role of Regina George. Tim Meadows also returned as the principal, just as he did in the original Mean Girls and its less-discussed sequel, Mean Girls 2.

Below is a trailer for Mean Girls 2:

The re-release of Mean Girls will include a special introduction by famous film critic Leonard Maltin. He will explain why the movie became so popular and why people still love it 20 years later.

Mean Girls Continues to Shape Pop Culture

It has been twenty years since Mean Girls came out, and as we celebrate its 20th anniversary, people still reference it in their daily conversations. The movie continues to be popular on social media, especially TikTok, where fans are still trying to make “fetch” happen. It has made over $129 million at the box office, with $86.1 million earned in the U.S. and $49 million from other countries. While the new Mean Girls released earlier this year showed some promise, fans agree on one thing. The original movie will always be the best.

“Cold, Shiny, Hard, Plastic.”

Mean Girls (2004) dir. Mark Waters pic.twitter.com/SmjP3iwRyl

— 📽 (@fiIlmography) July 24, 2019

Last month, Mean Girls was a hit on streaming services, even making it into the top ten on Paramount+. In 2024, it’s been all about “Girl World,” as both movies were released on Blu-ray in April, including a special 4K version with a blooper reel. The impact of Mean Girls will always be felt in pop culture. It’s a classic film that has shaped the lives of many viewers and has stuck with them over the years.

Check out the Mean Girls 20th-anniversary trailer below:

Why is October 3rd Significant in Mean Girls?

Fans celebrate October 3rd as “Mean Girls Day,” and it all started with a memorable line from the movie. You know the scene where Cady has a crush on Aaron Samuel and asks him what the date is? He replies:

It’s October 3rd.

That moment, along with how the movie captures teenage life so well, really helped it become a classic. Nearly twenty years later, fans still love to celebrate the day. They share Mean Girls memes, wear their pink outfits, and of course, watch the film.

Fun fact!

On October 3rd, 2017, ticket sales for the Mean Girls Broadway musical kicked off. Tina Fey, who wrote the musical, joined in on the celebration as well. She handed out free cheese fries to people waiting in line!

What is the Psychology Behind Mean Girls?

What makes girls act like “mean girls”? There are several psychological reasons that could explain this behavior. One common idea is that mean girl actions come from feelings of insecurity and low self-esteem. Girls who aren’t confident about their social status might try to feel better about themselves by putting others down.

Another reason could be that girls use mean behavior as a way to handle the pressures of growing up. While navigating the tricky social world of middle and high school, they might turn to social aggression. This behavior helps them express their identity and find their place in the social scene.

There might be biological factors at play too. Some studies suggest that girls might be more likely to show social aggression because of differences in brain development and hormone levels. For instance, girls usually have higher levels of oxytocin, a hormone linked to social bonding. However, this hormone can also lead to more aggression toward people outside their group.

Wrap Up!

As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Mean Girls, it’s clear that the movie has made a lasting impact on pop culture. Its funny lines and relatable characters continue to connect with audiences today. Mean Girls reminds us of the ups and downs of teenage life and social issues. Fans celebrate “Mean Girls Day” each year, showing just how much this classic film means to them. Its legacy lives on, teaching us important lessons about friendship, acceptance, and being true to ourselves.