Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Clueless holds up better than most 90s teen comedies—it's genuinely funny, surprisingly smart (hello, Jane Austen), and has more heart than its pink-and-plaid exterior suggests. Cher's journey from 'superficial matchmaker' to 'slightly less superficial person with actual self-awareness' is a solid coming-of-age arc.

That said, it's firmly PG-13. The sexual references aren't graphic but they're constant, there's a party scene that shows drugs and drinking, and the language goes beyond 'damn' territory. Parents should watch with teens, not let 10-year-olds stumble into it.

The bigger issue? It's 30 years old. The pacing feels slow by modern standards, the cell phones are hilariously huge, and half the cultural references will sail over Gen Alpha heads. It's a time capsule, which is charming for nostalgia but potentially boring for kids who don't care about 90s fashion or pre-smartphone matchmaking. Still, if your teen likes smart comedies and can handle the dated vibe, it's a fun watch—just set expectations that this is more 'classic' than 'current.'

Age Fit

Best for 13+ per Common Sense Media and the PG-13 rating. The sexual dialogue, party scene, and relationship themes are solidly teen territory. Younger middle schoolers might miss the humor while older teens and adults can appreciate the wit and Austen adaptation.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

72

Teen rom-com with genuine heart beneath the superficial Beverly Hills setting. Cher's character arc moves from shallow to self-aware, and the movie celebrates friendship, personal growth, and helping others. The tone is light and optimistic, though it includes PG-13 sexual references, party scenes with alcohol/drugs in background, and materialistic values played for comedy. Models kindness through Cher's matchmaking attempts, even if her methods are misguided.

Imaginative

68

Clever modern adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma set in 90s Beverly Hills high school culture. Creative use of fashion, slang, and teen social dynamics to reimagine classic literature. The computerized wardrobe system was ahead of its time. However, it's more about witty dialogue and social observation than inviting creative exploration or building—it's a watch-and-enjoy comedy, not something that sparks imagination in kids.

Safe

58

PG-13 content that parents should know about beforehand. Includes sexual references and dialogue throughout (though no explicit scenes), a party scene with visible drug use and alcohol in background, mild profanity (around 10 scatological terms per parent guides), passionate kissing, and mature teen relationship themes. No graphic violence or gore. Common Sense Media rates it 13+. The content isn't shocking for the rating, but younger kids stumbling on it might encounter more mature themes than expected.

Enriching

64

Smart script with literary roots (Austen adaptation) and vocabulary that's actually impressive beneath the valley girl speak. Explores themes of self-improvement, empathy, privilege, and growing beyond superficiality. Cher learns to think beyond herself and recognize her own flaws. That said, it's primarily entertainment—a fun, quotable comedy rather than deeply meaningful cinema. The 90s time capsule element offers some cultural/historical interest but also dates it significantly.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Genuinely clever script with literary roots—it's Emma but make it valley girl, and it works
Cher's character growth from self-absorbed to self-aware offers a solid arc about empathy and looking beyond yourself
The fashion, slang, and 90s teen culture create a fun nostalgia trip for parents watching with older teens
Celebrates female friendship and shows teen girls as smart (even if they pretend not to be)
Quotable dialogue that's become part of pop culture—'As if!' still lands

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What to Watch For

Sexual references and innuendo throughout—nothing explicit, but constant PG-13 dialogue about hookups, virginity, and teen relationships
Party scene with drugs and alcohol visible in background, plus passionate kissing
About 10 instances of stronger language (scatological terms) mixed with milder profanity
Materialistic values played for comedy but still pretty pervasive—designer labels, expensive cars, and wealth as status markers
Some 90s references and pacing may feel slow or confusing to kids raised on TikTok

Conversation Starters

"Cher thinks she's helping people by matchmaking—when does 'helping' cross into being controlling or manipulative?"
"How does Cher change from the beginning to the end? What makes her realize she needs to grow up?"
"The movie makes fun of how superficial Beverly Hills culture is, but also kind of celebrates it. What do you think the movie is really saying?"
"If this were set today instead of 1995, what would be different? What would stay the same about high school social dynamics?"

Deep Dive

It’s smarter than the plaid suggests

If you’re worried this is just 90 minutes of shopping montages and "Valley Girl" accents, you’re missing the point. The script is actually a clever update of Jane Austen’s Emma. Once you realize the lead character isn't just a "bimbo" but a well-meaning, slightly delusional social architect, the movie becomes much more interesting to watch with a teenager. It’s a foundational entry in the ultimate guide to must-watch high school movies of all time because it treats its young female characters as people with agency and wit, even when they’re making terrible choices.

The humor isn't just slapstick; it’s linguistic. The movie basically invented its own dialect, and watching how the characters navigate high school social hierarchies is a masterclass in satire. If your teen enjoyed the "Queen Bee" dynamics of Mean Girls, they’ll see the DNA of that movie all over this one.

The "step-sibling" elephant in the room

The one thing every parent forgets until they’re mid-rewatch is the central romance. The lead ends up with her former step-brother. To be clear: they aren't blood-related, their parents were married briefly years ago, and they didn't grow up together. But for a modern kid, it can feel a little cringe.

The movie handles it with a "he’s the only one who actually challenges her" vibe, but be prepared for your kid to have questions or just find the whole thing weird. It’s a specific brand of 90s "it’s not technically wrong" storytelling that doesn't always fly with Gen Alpha’s more rigid social boundaries.

A 90s field trip for Gen Alpha

Watching this in 2026 feels like a period piece. The "high-tech" closet organizer is now an app on every phone, and the massive brick cell phones are basically museum artifacts. This distance actually makes the movie safer to watch with younger teens because the "bad behavior" feels stylized and distant.

The "Val" party scene is the peak PG-13 moment to watch for. It’s got the classic tropes: red cups, "suck and blow" games, and people making out in the background. It’s the kind of scene that defines the ultimate list of must-watch teen movies, showing a version of high school that is more "Hollywood fantasy" than reality.

If your kid is used to the breakneck speed of modern streaming shows, the pacing here might feel leisurely. There’s no world-ending stakes or dark mystery—just a girl trying to pass her driving test and find a boyfriend for her friend. It’s a low-stakes, high-charm hang that works best if you lean into the nostalgia of it all.

How to use it well

Don't just let it play in the background. This is a great "media literacy" starter.

Ask your teen if they think the characters are actually "dumb" or if they’re just performing a role.
Compare the "makeover" trope here to modern TikTok transformation trends.
If they’ve read any Austen in school, the parallels are undeniable and make for a much better conversation than just talking about the clothes.

It’s a staple of the 50 essential high school movies you need to watch for a reason: it’s one of the few teen comedies that actually likes its characters.

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