one of the most refreshing things about this movie was how patrick actually had a personality and wasnt even seen as just "a hot guy"

The running gag of her getting kicked out of lit class the whole movie, and then the one time she doesn’t get kicked out, she leaves anyway 😂

Truly the peak of all teen romcoms everywhere

I think the reason Kat works as a “not like other girls”  character without us hating her is she’s not actually “not like other girls” - she’s just not like the other popular girls in her school. She has a girl friend she likes so she doesn’t hate women in general. (Usually the “not like other girls” characters have a male best friend cause “girls are too much drama” lol) Her interests aren’t portrayed as “only she likes these things cause she’s so much more special than everyone else” because there’s plenty of other women at the concert she’s enjoying. And the biggest thing - She doesn’t use her “not like other girls”ness to get the attention of men or to undermine other girls. She doesn’t hate her sister for being pretty and popular, she just doesn’t like the attention due to her own trauma and has different interests because of that. It also helps that this was before the feminist characters had to be Mary Sues so her flaws actually make her more relatable and sometimes more likable as a character.

HOW did Alex completely skip over the principal writing fanfiction in her office????????? Like, PLEASE that is one of the most iconic things about this movie.

10 Things I Hate About You is the most accurate portrayal of High School Hollywood has ever done. Simply because it perfectly portrays the students as narcissistic and hormonal sociopaths.

Fun Fact: Kat wasn't supposed to cry while reading the poem at the end. Julia Stiles was overcome with genuine emotion, and the director loved it so much, that he left it intact.

I think it’s less about ‘he didn’t take advantage of her’ and more that it’s super embarrassing to lean in for a kiss and the other person to not reciprocate, even with the best of motives. But honestly props to a movie from 1999 for showing that he didn’t; ik it should be the basic default behaviour but it often isn’t, and especially back then was not considered as bad as it is now (source: I’m middle-aged).

I adore this movie even though I know it backwards. Glad you do too :)

They did Bianca so dirty with the prom dress

incoming rant:

this movie had such an impact on me when i first watched it, mainly because it showed such a variety of characters without reducing them to basic tropes. kat was supposed to be the alt indie girl, but I also personally liked that they didn't ever portray her as "not like other girls" (in the way that is negatively connoted). and i loved that the film never made it seem like someone else had to validate her "difference", so to say - she did her for herself and was unapologetic for it.

patrick wasn't the typical hot dude jock, he had a genuine personality and showed genuine regret for his actions and was very protective of the people he cared about.

bianca wasn't your typical popular "hot girl", she was also kind and the film does show the consequences of her vapidity.

and cameron wasn't painted as the loser nerd who is hopelessly in love with the popular girl, because his desperation does affect him at the end and drives him to stand up for himself and his integrity.

everyone, even the supporting characters, are portrayed as completely human, as flawed and as insufferable as they may come across. they face the consequences of their actions and they are forced to acknowledge their own prejudices and impressions of each other.

this movie was just plain good, not even by the standards of a "romcom" or whatever. it was a beautifully written, beautifully incisive look into human relationships and the significance of "teenager life". i love it so much. heath ledger, you will be forever missed.

Honestly, the kiss scene where Kat leans in but gets denied... my first thought always was "girl you threw up... i dont wanna kiss someone who threw up and didnt brush their teeth or wash their mouth out..."

the "i love you baby" scene was soooooo adorable im crying 😭😭

I like to imagine this movie as being official lore for the Dark Knight's Joker

In a period where the “make over” was a big part of teen rom coms. it was refreshing that no one really had to change who they are or their interests to find love. They grow as people but in the end kat and Patrick are still rebels, cam is still a bit of a dork, Bianca is still a princess (Although a nicer one). The closet thing to a make over is when Michael dresses up as William Shakespeare to impress Mandela 😂

0:54 soooo true!!! the "not like other girls" trope was ACTUALLY cool back then

“$30 in 1999 is about $8,000 today” 😂😂😭😭

One of my favourite movies of all time. Heath ledger and julia stiles nailed their characters perfectly.

rip kat you wouldve loved tumblr

I felt my heart sink hearing this movie was based on the taming of the shrew and kept dying inside seeing the similarities but then was so relieved to see that this movie ended up being more wholesome

IMO, part of point of the story is that Kat is like other girls, she’s just extremely hurt and is angrily lashing out at everyone.