Top 10 Small Details You Missed in Teen Movies
#10: A Half-Dressed Reporter “The Princess Diaries” (2001)
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After the news that Mia is the Princess of Genovia gets leaked, she’s greeted by a media circus at school. This prompts her grandmother, aka the Queen, to pay a visit to the establishment. Naturally, the press flock to her. There’s one journalist in particular who seemingly got the whole “only your top half is visible on camera” memo years before the rest of us. He’s wearing a nice, appropriate suit and tie, but his bottom half is a different story, with some shorts and casual shoes. It’s an easy detail to miss amid the frenzy of the scene. But you’d think a reporter trying to get a quote from literal royalty would dress the part!
#9: Cher Horowitz's Report Card “Clueless” (1995)
Cher’s persuasion skills are unmatched, as evidenced by the way she argues her way to better grades. And there’s more than one gem on her finalized report card. Oddly enough, her name is listed as Cher Hamilton instead of Horowitz – but that’s not even the most interesting part. If you look closely, you can see that many of her grades have indeed been changed by hand, revealing how drastically she improved her scores. What’s more, the original comments are still visible. Her geometry teacher praised her “nice shapes,” while her biology instructor claimed she wouldn’t dissect anything! Meanwhile, before bumping her C up to an A, Mr. Hall wrote that she was “unprepared” and “undisciplined”. That’s way harsh, sir!
#8: A Lingering Arrow Injury “10 Things I Hate About You” (1999)
When Joey comes up to Bianca during gym class, she lets the arrow in her hand fly free. It has to go somewhere, and the unlucky target is Mr. Chapin. As it lands in his derriere, he can be seen in the background, falling to the floor in complete agony. Unfortunately, the injury has lasting effects. A few scenes later, he’s seen supervising detention. When he goes to lean against his desk, the expression on his face quickly turns painful. At this point, most viewers have probably forgotten about the arrow incident, but Mr. Chapin is still suffering. He may be a minor character, but this attention to detail makes his storyline feel well thought-out. Plus, the gag is just downright funny!
#7: The “Go Shermer” Banner “Ferris Bueller's Day Off” (1986)
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John Hughes has gifted us with a slew of memorable teen movies, each with their own unique identity. But do any of his characters know each other? Well, there’s a clue that suggests “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and “The Breakfast Club” may actually take place at the same high school. Granted, their buildings look different, especially from the outside – but bear with us. When “The Breakfast Club” kids arrive, we see that they go to Shermer High School. In “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” there’s a shot of the hallway where a “Go Shermer” banner can be spotted on the wall. Is it a coincidence? Is it a fun little easter egg? Or is it possible that, somehow, these two movies exist in the same universe?
#6: Going to See "The Scarlet Letter" “Easy A” (2010)
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There are numerous references to "The Scarlet Letter" in “Easy A”. After all, the 2010 movie took many cues from Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel. In fact, Olive is able to give viewers a quick run-down which foreshadows some of the film's plot. Of course, it also inspires the red “A” she eventually dons. But there’s a less obvious nod that went over our heads. When a boy pays Olive with movie passes that are only valid at the foreign theater, she reluctantly makes a night of it. Unless you’re a fluent German speaker, the name of the film she picks probably doesn’t sound familiar. But it’s actually “The Scarlet Letter”! If that’s not sticking to a theme, we’re not sure what is.
#5: The Car License Plates “The Breakfast Club” (1985)
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The cars in this movie matter more than you think, and not because of their make and model. Brian’s ride has a “EMC2” license plate, referencing the mass–energy equivalence formula in physics. That’s pretty perfect for the “Brain” of the group. Meanwhile, the plate on the car resident “Athlete” Andrew gets picked up in is presumably a nod to the sporty Ohio State University. But “The Breakfast Club” isn’t the only film that uses license plates wisely. When you do the math, the numbers on Jake’s car in “Sixteen Candles” total sixteen. And in “A Cinderella Story,” “2SAM” is visible on one of the plates as a hint that Sam will inherit everything. Who knew license plates could be so meaningful?!
#4: A Peculiar Birthplace “Pitch Perfect 3” (2017)
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Lilly is without question the most mysterious member of the Bellas. We don’t know much about her life, and she never really speaks. On the rare occasions where she whispers tidbits of information, we’re left with more questions than answers! But in the third movie, there’s a travel montage that features a quick look at her passport. It’s a blink-and-you-miss-it moment, but it reveals that Lilly was born in Area 51! It’s slightly creepy, to say the least, but fitting nonetheless. And the movie doesn’t stop there when adding to the mystery that is Lilly, either. It goes without saying, but we’re going to need a prequel movie about her life ASAP.
#3: Jenna Rink's Adult Apartment “13 Going on 30” (2004)
As a teen, Jenna wants to be like the models in Poise magazine. She specifically points out a piece about successful thirty-year-olds, which features a woman in a stylish home. After a disastrous birthday, her wish to be a glamorous adult comes true. We were too stunned by her sudden growth to pay attention to her new surroundings at first, but they’re significant. You know that Poise article we mentioned? Well, Jenna’s grown-up living room looks a lot like the one it featured. Plus, her sleeping mask is very similar to the blindfold she had on prior to the transformation. These choices tie Jenna’s teenage life to her adult one, subconsciously reminding us that though she looks thirty, she’s still thirteen at heart.
#2: Brianna & Gabriella's Clothes “A Cinderella Story” (2004)
This 2004 movie follows Sam, a modern-day “Cinderella” struggling to fit in at school while being severely mistreated by her stepmother. We all know that her stepsisters, Brianna and Gabriella, have bad attitudes that rival their animated Disney counterparts. But it turns out that’s not the only thing they share. Throughout the story, Sam’s evil step-siblings can often be seen in pink and green clothes. It would be easy to dismiss this as nothing more than a fashion statement. Yet those are the same hues we repeatedly see Cinderella’s stepsisters, Anastasia and Drizella, in. This brilliant parallel serves as a visual indicator that Brianna and Gabriella cannot be trusted, letting us know just how terrible they truly are.
#1: The Accessories “Mean Girls” (2004)
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As Queen Bee, Regina George has a fair amount of power over what the Plastics can or can’t do. Namely, we learn that she’s forbidden Gretchen from donning hoop earrings. She also wears an “R” necklace, indirectly affirming her power within the group. As Cady starts turning Plastic in her quest to take Regina down, she can be seen sporting an identical “C” around her neck. When she starts usurping the proverbial throne, she asserts her new place in the social hierarchy by wearing – you guessed it – hoop earrings. It’s a subtle but powerful act symbolizing her transformation. Thankfully, the Plastics eventually go their separate ways. And yes, Gretchen rocks some seriously cute hoops at the end!
