- "Clueless" and "Mean Girls" are widely considered the defining teen movies for millennials and Gen Z.
- People are debating Gen Alpha's equivalent. "Easy A" and "Pitch Perfect" were strong contenders.
People are trying to figure out what movies Gen Alpha will see as retro teen classics when they grow up — but it's making them question whether their future cultural touchstone even exists yet.
Born between 2010 and 2024, the oldest members of Gen Alpha are just beginning to enter teenagehood, an age where many people start seeing their more mature (and often aspirational) experiences represented in Hollywood.
In a post published on August 14 that has over 17 million views, drag comedian Gina Tonic asked, "Okay if Clueless is THE teen movie of the 90s and Mean Girls is THE teen movie of the 00s, what is THE teen movie of the 10s???"
—Gina Tonic (@ginatonicnyc) August 14, 2023
No one seems to have a clear-cut answer.
Teen movies have long-lasting appeal as retro classics
The two movies Tonic referenced hold a very specific place in millennial and Gen Z culture.
"Clueless," released in 1995 and set in a California high school following the lives of affluent students, became popular for satirizing teenage culture and societal norms, and it is still widely viewed as a classic. It's regularly referred to as one of the best movies of the 1990s.
Also a teen comedy movie, "Mean Girls" was released almost a decade later in 2004. Written by Tina Fey and starring Lindsay Lohan, it explores the social dynamics, cliques, friendships, and rivalries of high school. It's full of quotable one-liners, which has contributed to its popularity as one of the most iconic movies of the '2000s.
Both movies have proven to have an enduring cult following, even as the people who watched them in their teens age way out of the age bracket they were aimed at, but continue to revisit them for their comforting and retro value.
But for people born after their release, they're unlikely to hold the same nostalgic vibe.
The generation-defining movie of the 2010s isn't as clear-cut
Many people suggested that "Easy A," a teen comedy released in 2010 about a high school student who becomes embroiled in a web of rumors and misunderstandings, will be Gen Alpha's defining movie.
"Teen movies that stand the test of time are often reminiscent of timeless, great literature, a fantastic soundtrack, a perfect montage, a male love interest who was hot then AND now, and at some point—a makeover. And that's why it's Easy A," posted one user.
—Meech (@MediumSizeMeech) August 16, 2023
But many people were skeptical — including Tonic. She questioned whether "Easy A" really defined a generation. "Do people dress up as her for Halloween? Do people wear t shirts with quotes from the movie?" she wrote.
Musical comedy "Pitch Perfect," released in 2012, was another contender. The movie has been credited with redefining a cappella groups, and one person wrote that it felt like a "cultural reset."
—Aimee (@Aimee_Czamara) August 14, 2023
But others argued that it doesn't quite fit the bill as it's set in a college instead of a high school.
In another post, one person suggested "Booksmart," a coming-of-age comedy movie released in 2019 that explores the stories of two high-achieving best friends who realize they have missed out on the fun of their teenage years as they're about to graduate high school, and try to make up for it with a big night of partying.
However, they added that the movie may not have been mainstream enough to qualify as a defining generational moment.
—cool mom (@jensyn_sais_pas) August 15, 2023
Several people suggested that "The Hunger Games" was Gen Alpha's defining movie. One person pointed out that the movie is popular, quotable, and "people still dress up like the characters for Halloween."
Someone else agreed that the movie was culturally relevant, pointing to the popular "Katniss Everdeen braid," modeled off the hairstyle of the movie's protagonist, and the "Peeta vs. Gail debate" framed around her two love interests. But "Hunger Games" is neither a comedy not set in a high school.
—EmperorOfChocolate (@EmperorOfChoco1) August 15, 2023
The most convincing suggestion may have been "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," a 2012 teen drama that chronicles the characters' various emotional struggles.
One proponent argued that it "began the wave of being more open and accepting of how mental health affects people."
—Dani (@writteninstar5) August 16, 2023
Someone pointed out that at one time it was impossible to go anywhere without seeing quotes from the movie, such as, "We accept the love we think we deserve," and, "In that moment, I swear we were infinite." Another person boldly announced that the movie is "THE teen drama for depressed folks."
Still, not everyone agreed, pointing out that it doesn't fit the "pattern" of "Clueless" and "Mean Girls," which were more comedic and focused on female characters.
Did high-school comedies die in the 2000s?
Despite the debate, it seems like there is still no obvious answer for which movie will define Gen Alpha.
One person argued that "teen movies died in the 00s," and that there has been "nothing good" since the Amanda Bynes, Hilary Duff, and Lindsay Lohan era. Another person agreed that "despite efforts," there hasn't been a "Clueless" or "Mean Girls" movie released in the '10s.
Fortunately, many members of Gen Alpha are still toddlers, so there's still some time left to decide on an answer.