A cult classic and one of the best comedies of all time was released on this day 31 years ago.
Clueless was originally written by Amy Heckerling, who also directed the film, as a TV show before it eventually evolved into a smash hit comedy.
“Originally, it wasn’t called Clueless. It was Clueless in California. Before that, it was I Was a Teenage Teenager. And before that, when I first pitched it as a TV show, it was called No Worries. Twentieth Century Fox said they wanted a show about teenagers — but not the nerds,” she revealed.
“They wanted it to be about the cool kids. The most successful character in anything I’d ever done was Jeff Spicoli in Fast Times. People think that’s because he was stoned and a surfer. But that’s not it. It’s because he’s positive. So I thought, ‘I’m going to write a character who’s positive and happy.’ And that was Cher.”
‘Clueless’ Named Among Greatest Comedy Movies of All Time
Variety ranked Clueless at No. 39 on its list of the greatest comedy movies of all time.
“But what sets Clueless apart from other ’90s teen comedies is how clued in Heckerling was to the actual dynamics of young adults of the era. She studied students at Beverly Hills High to master their slang (“Audi,” “buggin’,” “Betty,” “whatever!”) to create a pop-culture time capsule,” Variety wrote.
“And Silverstone takes a bubble-gum-twirling ditz and invests her with such nuance that anyone can relate to her plight, whether it’s learning to drive or owning her feelings for her ex-stepbrother (Paul Rudd).”
Reese Witherspoon, Keri Russell and Angelina Jolie were considered for the lead role before it eventually went to Alicia Silverstone, who was spotted in an Aerosmith music video led to her big break.
The film is certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with an 82% from critics.
Related: One of the Greatest Comedy Movies of All Time Was Released 21 Years Ago Today
This story was originally published by Men’s Journal on Jul 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men’s Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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