Clueless celebrates its 25th anniversary today and will be marking the milestone with a new Blu-ray and a limited edition steelbook on July 21. The film is also available to purchase today on Digital.

What follows is my original review with a minor update to reflect the fact that the film is turning 25 years old:

Amy Heckerling’s satirical Clueless still holds up 25 years after its 1995 release. Sure, the technology is dated, but that doesn’t matter. The charm, humor, and heart are timeless.

We meet Cher Horowitz (Alicia Silverstone) during an upbeat montage set to The Muffs’ “Kids in America.” Cher is the quintessential Beverly Hills teen: wealthy, stylish, and wildly popular. Her lawyer dad, Mel (Dan Hedaya), dotes on her, while best friend Dionne (Stacey Dash) shares her love for shopping and schoolyard politics. Cher’s ex-stepbrother Josh (Paul Rudd), a do-gooder college student, teases her constantly—but he clearly cares. Their slow-burn relationship predates Flower by more than 20 years, even if the former-step-sibling romance hasn’t exactly become a full-blown trope.

Instead of traditional community service, Cher decides to “give back” by giving new student Tai (Brittany Murphy) a makeover. The idea hits her during PE, while students are busy dodging tennis. Clueless actually beat She’s All That to the makeover trope by four years. At first, it’s a success—too much so, as Tai’s popularity eventually eclipses Cher’s. Before this, Cher had already played matchmaker for two teachers, Mr. Hall (Wallace Shawn) and Miss Geist (Twink Caplan), in a ploy to improve her report card.

One of the film’s funniest moments comes during Cher’s infamous “Haitians” monologue. It’s a perfect mix of sharp writing and Silverstone’s comedic timing. Heckerling wisely told cinematographer Bill Pope to keep rolling. It pays off. Despite her cluelessness, Cher begins to grow up. By the end, she starts to understand herself and the world around her a little better.

Fashion plays a massive role from the very first frame. Cher’s wardrobe is iconic, influencing style for years to come. The film had a surprisingly modest costume budget—just $200,000—and yet managed to feature 63 unique looks. Credit goes to costume designer Mona May, whose bold, preppy aesthetic helped define an era. Jen Chaney’s book As If! explores this in greater depth.

Silverstone, then known for a few acting credits and those Aerosmith music videos, turned in one of the most memorable teen performances of the 1990s. Clueless made her a star, though her momentum slowed after 1997’s Batman & Robin. Still, her turn as Cher remains definitive.

Heckerling’s screenplay—loosely inspired by Jane Austen’s Emma—brilliantly satirizes teen life in Beverly Hills. The slang alone cemented the film as a cultural touchstone. Phrases like “As if!” and “Whatever” entered the mainstream, forever linked to the film’s enduring legacy.

Beyond its immediate success, Clueless has had a lasting influence on pop culture, from fashion and slang to countless homages and adaptations. It inspired a TV series, a stage musical, and remains a go-to reference point for teen comedies today.

There may never be another Clueless but writer-director Amy Heckerling gave us a gem for the ages. Smart, stylish, and endlessly quotable, it remains one of the great teen films of its era.

BONUS FEATURES

• Clue or False Trivia Game
• The Class of ’95 – A look at the cast, then and now
• Creative Writing with Writer/Director Amy Heckerling
• Fashion 101
• Language Arts
• “Suck ‘N Blow” – A Tutorial
• Driver’s Ed
• We’re History – Stories from the cast and crew
• Trailers

DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER: Amy Hecklerling
CAST: Alicia Silverstone, Paul Rudd, Stacey Sash, Brittany Murphy, Dan Hedaya, Jeremy Sisto, Breckin Meyer, Justin Walker, Wallace Shawn, Twink Caplan, Julie Brown, Donald Faison

Paramount Pictures will release 25th anniversary editions of Clueless on Blu-ray and a Limited Edition Blu-ray Steelbook.

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