January 8, 2024 (New York City)
January 12, 2024 (United States)
Mean Girls is a 2024 American teen musical comedy film directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr. from a screenplay written by Tina Fey. It is based on the stage musical of the same name, which in turn was based on the 2004 film (both also written by Fey), itself based on Rosalind Wiseman's 2002 book Queen Bees and Wannabes. It stars Angourie Rice, Reneé Rapp, Auliʻi Cravalho, and Christopher Briney. Fey and Tim Meadows reprise their roles from the original film.
Paramount Pictures announced the film's development in January 2020, with Fey returning to write the screenplay and serve as a producer alongside Lorne Michaels, who produced the 2004 film. Composer Jeff Richmond and lyricist Nell Benjamin returned to rework their songs from the stage musical, while Richmond also composed the film's score. Casting began in December 2022. Principal photography took place in New Jersey between March and April 2023. Originally set for release on the streaming service Paramount+, Paramount Pictures opted to release the film theatrically after positive test screenings.
Mean Girls premiered at the AMC Lincoln Square in New York City on January 8, 2024, and was released in the United States by Paramount Pictures on January 12. The film grossed over $105 million worldwide on a $36 million budget and received mixed reviews.
Storyline
16-year-old homeschooled Cady Heron moves back to the United States from Kenya with her mother and attends North Shore High School. She befriends Janis ʻImiʻike and Damian Hubbard, who introduce her to the various cliques, warning her to avoid the Plastics, who consist of the insecure gossiper Gretchen Wieners, unintelligent and bubbly Karen Shetty, and manipulative "queen bee" Regina George. When Regina invites Cady to join their group, Janis uses this as an opportunity to convince Cady to infiltrate the group for her.
Cady becomes attracted to Aaron Samuels, a senior in her calculus class and Regina's ex-boyfriend. Gretchen and Karen warn her that he is off-limits as he has dated Regina. While at Regina's house with the Plastics, they show Cady their "Burn Book", a scrapbook they have filled with cruel content about students and staff at the school including Janis, Damian and Ms Norbury.
Cady tells Janis and Damian about the Burn Book, and they explain that Janis and Regina were once friends, but fell out after Regina spread a rumor about Janis being a lesbian. Despite being mathematically skilled, Cady begins to intentionally fail math to get closer to Aaron, who offers to tutor her. He eventually invites her to his Halloween party. Regina discovers Cady's crush on Aaron and, in a fit of jealousy, flirts with Aaron before kissing him in front of Cady. Realizing Janis was right about Regina, she agrees to commit to her plan to ruin her reputation.
Cady tricks Regina into eating weight-gain Kälteen Bars to lose weight and replaces her face cream with lard. The trio target Gretchen's insecurities by having a Candy Cane-Gram sent to Cady on Regina's behalf, making Gretchen believe Regina has replaced her as her best friend. Gretchen reveals Regina's secrets to Cady, including her cheating on Aaron with football player Shane Oman. Regina's reputation takes a further hit after a disastrous performance at the Winter Talent Show leads to viral embarrassment. With Regina's social status plummeting, Cady becomes the new "queen bee".
Janis invites Cady to her art show, but she lies, saying she has to travel with her mother to Madison. However, Cady convinces her mother to let her stay home and secretly throws a house party, where she drunkenly admits to Aaron that she has been deliberately failing math to get closer to him. He rebukes Cady for becoming as manipulative as Regina and storms out. When she follows him, she is confronted by Janis, who calls her out on being as catty as Regina. Cady in turn calls out Janis for being obsessed with her, leading to Janis renouncing their friendship.
Enraged upon discovering that she was not invited to the party and that Cady lied about the Kälteen Bars, Regina adds herself into the Burn Book as an alibi and deliberately drops it in the school hallway. A riot breaks out among the junior girls over the rumors inside. Principal Duvall and math teacher Ms. Norbury call the junior girls into the gymnasium to find the book's source. Ms. Norbury stages a cathartic intervention, encouraging the girls to apologize to each other about their treatment of others. Janis speaks out and reveals the plan to take revenge on Regina, who storms out in anger. Cady races after her to try to apologize, but after ranting at her, Regina is hit by a bus.
Cady realizes the damage she has done and takes full responsibility for the book, leading her to be suspended for three weeks and placed on absolute final warning. Ms. Norbury offers Cady a way to earn extra credit by joining the Mathletes at state championships, so Cady redeems herself by helping the team win. At the Spring Fling, Cady reconciles with Regina and is elected Spring Fling Queen, but breaks the plastic crown and distributes the pieces out to the other girls, telling them they are all special in their own way. She apologizes to Janis and Damian, who accept her back as their friend, and makes amends with the Plastics and Aaron, who kisses her.
Also See
Movie Trailer
- Mean Girls (2024) (Trailers)
Sound Effects Used
- Hollywoodedge, Bird Hawk Single Scre PE020801/Hawk Screech Single AT082901
- Sound Ideas, ZIP, CARTOON - BIG WHISTLE ZING OUT
- Wilhelm Scream