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Mean Girls turns 15 today, and by this point, it may just be the most overquoted films of all time. But just because Sharon from HR has ruined “Get in losers, we’re going shopping” for you, that doesn’t mean you should dismiss what is genuinely a great movie. A quick rewatch of the 2004 classic—which is streaming on HBO Now—reveals that actually, every line is a gem. Sure, Glen Coco is a classic, but you all knew that already, didn’t you?
Written by Tina Fey and directed by Mark Waters, it’s no accident that this film became a cult hit. It truly is a masterpiece of the teen movie genre. If you’ve somehow managed to avoid it for the past 15 years, here’s a brief recap: Kady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) is a transfer student from Africa at North Shore High School. There she befriends social outcasts Janis (Lizzy Caplan) and Damian (Daniel Franzese), who convince her to infiltrate the school’s popular, mean girl clique (Rachel McAdams, Lacey Chabert and Amanda Seyfried). Hilarity ensues. In honor of the film’s 15th birthday, let’s dive into some of the most overlooked quotes.
"Your mom's chest hair!" −Janis Ian
Janis Ian, played by the great Lizzy Caplan, is consistently underrepresented on Mean Girls quote lists. This one—which comes in response to a random kid asking her, “Nice wig Janis, what’s it’s made of?”—is a perfect blend of aggressive, shocking and funny.
"So you can go shave your back now." −Regina George
Rachel McAdams is so delightfully bitchy as Regina George, and while many of her quotes are already iconic—like “Boo, you whore”—this biting insult rarely gets quoted like it deserves. It’s so mean and so funny!
"Oh my god, Danny DeVito, I love your work!" −Damian Leigh
This line, shouted by Damien to a girl who tells him he can’t be in the ladies room, is not quite underrated, considering I do see it on a lot of quote lists, but it should be a Mean Girls Hall-of-Famer up there with “You go, Glen Coco.” It’s not, and that is truly an injustice.
"Make sure you check out her mom's boob job. They're hard as rocks!" −Gretchen Weiner
This line, combined with the Jaws theme when Amy Poehler goes in for the hug, boobs first, is a delightfully weird little moment that serves no real purpose other than being hilarious.
"If I was wearing jeans today I would be sitting over there with the art freaks."−Gretchen Weiner
Yes, we’re doing back-to-back Gretchen quotes, but only because we love her so much. Also, this scene has always stuck with me for the purity Damian and Janis’s friendship in that moment.
"Sometimes I have really bad breath in the morning." −Cady Heron
This is Cady’s contribution to the Plastics criticizing their physical appearance, followed, of course, by Karen saying “Ew.” It’s a naive misreading of the perverse pleasure women get out of hating themselves, and a classic Tina Fey line: Biting social commentary that’s really freakin’ funny.
"We can get twice as much funding if we have a girl." −Kevin Gnapoor
Full disclosure, I am a Kevin Gnapoor diehard. And while his rap is great, the way actor Rajiv Surendra unabashedly deadpans this line to Cady when he asks her to join the Mathletes gets me every time.
"Those bitches." −Janis Ian
It’s simple but brilliant. The great Caplan is at it again with this one, spitting the words out with emphatic venom after Cady tells her she’s not in the burn book.
"Say crack again." "Crack." −Damian and Janis
Can you tell I’m a Lizzy Caplan fangirl? Her rapport with Daniel Franzese, who plays Damian, is unbeatable, and this quick exchange perfectly encapsulates the Damian-and-Janis dynamic.
"Looks like he's headed for the projection room above the auditorium!" −Cady Heron
Unnaturally specific dialogue is my favorite kind of humor. Lohan nails the stilted delivery on this joke after a “burglar” (Damian) steals her purse to lure Aaron Samuels to the projection room above the auditorium.
"You smell like a baby prostitute." −Janis Ian
OK, OK, this is the last Janis line, I promise. Fun fact about this one: Fey reused this joke in the fifth season of 30 Rock when Jenna has a “children’s book idea: Baby Hooker. Don’t tell Liz.”
"I can put my whole fist in my mouth. Wanna see?" −Karen Smith
This quote is usually overshadowed by the line that immediately follows it—”It’s like I have ESPN or something”—but let’s give Amanda Seyfried’s fist some love too.
"I don't think my father, the inventor of Toaster Strudel, would be too pleased to hear about this." −Gretchen Wieners
It’s a joke that was set up at the very beginning of the film, when Damian mentions Gretchen’s father as the source of her wealth. When the payoff comes an hour later, it’s totally worth it. Shout-out to actor Lacey Chabert for her perfect blend of naiveté and bravado.
"I will keep you here until 4." −Principal Duvall
Let’s give comic veteran Tim Meadows, who plays Principal Duvall, some love, shall we? This whole speech is great, but I particularly love how Meadows doesn’t miss a beat in this exchange: “I don’t care how long it takes, I will keep you here all night.” “We can’t keep them here past four.” “I will keep you here until 4.”
"We pick the girl, too." −M. Kratzer
This Mathlete contestant from the rival school didn’t get a first name, but he does get a great, classic Fey joke at the end of the film. (You know, right before Cady realizes “the limit does not exist!”) It’s funny because women aren’t taken seriously in STEM!
