28. Mean Girls (2004)- Mark Waters

Mean Girls Trailer

Without a doubt, THE defining movie of my generation, Mean Girls immediately became a classic as the new "Clueless." The screenplay, which was written by Tina Fay, is based off of a book ("Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman) that describes the social dynamic of high schools (cliques) and how it affects young girls. Anything written by Tina Fay, produced by Lorne Michaels, with a kick ass cast of some of SNL's greats (Tina Fay, Amy Poehler, Tim Meadows), and staring Lindsay Lohan before the coke years, was never going to suck. The best part of Mean Girls, besides the fact that I can literally recite the entire movie word for word, is that each time I watch it, I laugh hysterically because it is incredibly accurate in portraying how high school girls actually are. From the various different groups (Plastics, jocks, Asian nerds, etc.) to the constant desire for older boys to be interested in you, to competition over Spring Fling queen, to the "cool mom" who offers you alcohol, but only in the house, every aspect of the film is realistic, allowing the audience to be able to laugh at themselves, because it highlights the ridiculousness of it all. This brilliant film has had such an impact that there is even a "National Mean Girls Quote Day" on Facebook dedicated to paying homage to the over the top, yet belly laugh funny screenplay. I don't know anybody who doesn't name this as one of their favorite movies. It appeals to everybody, from the bitchy popular girls to the girls who want to be those girls, and the boys that complicate all of their lives. Everybody has a Regina George, and everybody is Cady Heron. But just remember, "none for Gretchen Weiners!"