50 Fun Facts About Mean Girls

Before attending a public high school in Illinois, where did Cady Heron grow up?

Cady Heron was homeschooled in Africa by her zoologist parents before moving to the suburbs of Illinois and attending North Shore High School.

What is the name of the high school clique that Regina George leads?

Regina George is the leader of The Plastics, the most popular clique at North Shore High School, which also includes Karen Smith and Gretchen Wieners.

Who wrote the screenplay for the 2004 film Mean Girls?

Tina Fey wrote the screenplay for Mean Girls, basing it partly on Rosalind Wiseman's non-fiction book Queen Bees and Wannabes. Fey also played Ms. Norbury in the film.

What day of the week do The Plastics wear pink?

On Wednesdays we wear pink is one of the most iconic rules of The Plastics and became one of the most quoted lines from the film.

Which actress plays Regina George in the 2004 film?

Rachel McAdams portrayed the iconic queen bee Regina George. The role helped launch McAdams into stardom and is considered one of the greatest teen movie villain performances.

What is the name of the book that The Plastics keep, filled with gossip and insults about other students?

The Burn Book is a scrapbook filled with rumors, secrets, and insults about students and teachers at North Shore High. Its exposure is a major plot catalyst in the film.

What non-fiction book served as the source material for the Mean Girls screenplay?

Tina Fey adapted the screenplay from Rosalind Wiseman's 2002 non-fiction book Queen Bees and Wannabes, which explores teenage girl social dynamics and bullying.

Which Plastic is known for trying to coin the slang word 'fetch'?

Gretchen Wieners, played by Lacey Chabert, repeatedly tries to make 'fetch' happen as slang, leading to Regina's famous retort about stopping trying to make fetch happen.

What role does Tina Fey play in the 2004 Mean Girls film?

Tina Fey plays Ms. Sharon Norbury, a math teacher at North Shore High who becomes a target in the Burn Book and plays a key role in resolving the film's conflicts.

What is Gretchen Wieners' father credited with inventing?

In the film, Gretchen's father is said to have invented Toaster Strudel, making her family extremely wealthy. This becomes a recurring joke throughout the movie.

Which actor plays Damian in the 2004 film?

Daniel Franzese plays Damian Leigh, Janis Ian's best friend who is described as 'almost too gay to function.' The role became one of his most beloved performances.

What academic competition does Cady join at North Shore High?

Cady joins the Mathletes (math competition team), and the state championship competition at the end of the film plays a pivotal role in her character arc.

Who directed the 2004 Mean Girls film?

Mark Waters directed the 2004 film. He was also known for directing Freaky Friday (2003) with Lindsay Lohan. Tina Fey wrote the screenplay but did not direct.

What animal does Cady compare the social dynamics of high school to?

Throughout the film, Cady draws parallels between the social hierarchy of high school and the animal behavior she observed growing up in Africa, particularly scenes at a watering hole.

Which actress plays Karen Smith, the least intelligent member of The Plastics?

Amanda Seyfried plays Karen Smith, whose naive and dim-witted comments provide much of the film's comedy. It was one of Seyfried's earliest film roles before her breakout in Mamma Mia!

What does Regina George's mother, played by Amy Poehler, famously call herself?

Amy Poehler's Mrs. George declares 'I'm not a regular mom, I'm a cool mom,' while trying (and failing) to be hip and relatable to the teenage girls.

What is the name of the boy Cady has a crush on, who is also Regina's ex-boyfriend?

Aaron Samuels, played by Jonathan Bennett, is the love interest that both Cady and Regina compete for throughout the film.

What holiday-themed talent show performance becomes one of the film's most memorable scenes?

The Plastics perform a suggestive dance routine to 'Jingle Bell Rock' at the Winter Talent Show, which goes hilariously wrong when the boombox breaks and Cady has to improvise.

What happens to Regina George at the end of the film?

After a dramatic confrontation in the school parking lot, Regina George gets hit by a school bus. She survives and channels her aggression into lacrosse during her recovery.

What is Karen Smith's supposed talent that she demonstrates at the talent show?

Karen claims her breasts can tell when it's going to rain, which she calls her 'ESPN.' This is a play on ESPN/ESP that highlights her lovably clueless character.

What costume does Cady wear to the Halloween party, not understanding the unwritten dress code?

Cady shows up in a gory zombie bride costume, not realizing that at North Shore, Halloween is an excuse for girls to dress in revealing outfits. Her costume horrifies the other partygoers.

Which teacher at North Shore High is having an inappropriate relationship with students?

Coach Carr is revealed to be having inappropriate relationships with students, including two students mentioned by name. He is eventually fired from the school.

What does Cady give Regina that she claims is a weight-loss bar but actually causes weight gain?

As part of her sabotage plan, Cady gives Regina Kaltene nutrition bars, telling her they're from Sweden and burn carbs. In reality, they are designed to cause weight gain.

Who plays the school principal, Mr. Duvall?

Tim Meadows plays Mr. Duvall, the beleaguered school principal who struggles to maintain order during the Burn Book crisis. Meadows was a longtime SNL cast member alongside Tina Fey.

What date has become an unofficial holiday inspired by the film, based on a line Aaron Samuels says to Cady?

October 3rd became 'Mean Girls Day' because of the scene where Cady narrates, 'On October 3rd, he asked me what day it was,' referring to Aaron Samuels asking for the date.

How much money did the 2004 Mean Girls earn at the worldwide box office relative to its $17 million budget?

Mean Girls was a significant box office success, earning approximately $130 million worldwide against its $17 million production budget, making it one of the most profitable teen comedies of the decade.

What activity does Mr. Duvall say he will cancel if the students don't calm down after the Burn Book riot?

During the chaos caused by the Burn Book pages being scattered through the hallways, Principal Duvall threatens to cancel Spring Fling if students don't settle down.

What sport does Regina George take up after her accident?

After being hit by the bus and recovering, Regina channels her aggression into lacrosse, where her competitive nature makes her a star player.

What does Janis Ian's last name reference?

Janis Ian is named after the real folk singer-songwriter Janis Ian, who is known for her 1975 hit 'At Seventeen' about the cruelty of teenage social hierarchies.

Which SNL-connected actress plays Mrs. George in the film?

Amy Poehler plays Regina's mother, Mrs. George, despite being only seven years older than Rachel McAdams in real life. Her performance as the desperately 'cool mom' is one of the film's highlights.

What is the name of the Mathletes captain who performs a rap at the talent show?

Kevin Gnapoor (Kevin G), played by Rajiv Surendra, performs an enthusiastic rap at the winter talent show and is the captain of the Mathletes alongside Cady.

In which country was the 2004 Mean Girls primarily filmed?

Though set in Evanston, Illinois, Mean Girls was primarily filmed in Toronto, Canada. Several Toronto-area high schools were used as locations for the fictional North Shore High School.

What phrase does Regina use to shut down Gretchen's attempts to popularize new slang?

Regina's line 'Stop trying to make fetch happen! It's not going to happen!' became one of the most quoted lines in 2000s pop culture, often used to describe failed trends.

What does Cady do with the Spring Fling crown after winning it?

In a symbolic gesture of unity, Cady breaks the Spring Fling tiara into pieces and distributes them to the crowd, signaling that everyone deserves recognition.

Which character famously receives four candy cane grams during the holiday delivery scene?

Glen Coco receives four candy cane grams, prompting Damian's iconic delivery: 'Four for you, Glen Coco! You go, Glen Coco!' despite Glen Coco never having a speaking role.

According to the gym teacher's speech, what will happen to you if you have sex?

Coach Carr's absurd sex education speech includes the line 'Don't have sex, because you will get pregnant and die,' which became a frequently quoted line mocking abstinence-only education.

What excuse does Cady use for doing poorly in math class as an excuse to get closer to Aaron?

Despite being naturally gifted at math, Cady pretends to struggle in class so Aaron Samuels will tutor her, giving her an excuse to spend time with him.

What does the Burn Book entry about Ms. Norbury falsely accuse her of?

The Burn Book contains a false accusation that Ms. Norbury is a drug pusher, which leads to her being investigated and nearly losing her job before Cady confesses.

What exercise does Ms. Norbury tell the girls to do during the trust-building session in the gymnasium?

During the assembly in the gym, Ms. Norbury has each girl apologize for something mean they've done and then fall backward into the crowd as a trust exercise.

What year did the Mean Girls Broadway musical officially open?

The Mean Girls musical opened on Broadway on April 8, 2018 at the August Wilson Theatre, with music by Jeff Richmond (Tina Fey's husband) and lyrics by Nell Benjamin.

Who composed the music for the Mean Girls Broadway musical?

Jeff Richmond, who is Tina Fey's husband and a composer for 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, composed the music for the Mean Girls musical.

In what year was the Mean Girls musical film adaptation released?

The Mean Girls musical film was released in January 2024, starring Angourie Rice as Cady Heron and Renee Rapp reprising her Broadway role as Regina George.

Who plays Regina George in the 2024 Mean Girls musical film?

Renee Rapp reprised her Broadway role as Regina George for the 2024 film adaptation, having previously played the role on stage to critical acclaim.

Which actress plays Cady Heron in the 2024 Mean Girls musical film?

Australian actress Angourie Rice plays Cady Heron in the 2024 musical film adaptation, taking over the role originated by Lindsay Lohan in 2004.

Who plays Janis in the 2024 Mean Girls musical film?

Auli'i Cravalho, known for voicing Moana in the Disney animated film, plays Janis in the 2024 Mean Girls musical adaptation.

What is the name of the fictional high school in Mean Girls?

The fictional North Shore High School is set in the Chicago suburbs. The name references the affluent North Shore area of the Chicago metropolitan region.

What rule about clothing items are The Plastics NOT allowed to break?

Among The Plastics' many appearance rules, Gretchen is told she can't wear hoop earrings because 'that's Regina's thing.' This rule illustrates Regina's controlling nature over the group.

What happens when someone wears sweatpants on a day other than Friday, according to Plastics rules?

According to The Plastics' strict dress code, you can only wear sweatpants on Fridays. Breaking this rule means you can't sit with the group, as famously declared to Cady.

What item of clothing does Regina wear after she can no longer fit into her regular wardrobe?

After gaining weight from the nutrition bars Cady gives her, Regina famously cuts holes in her tank top, which ironically starts a new fashion trend that the whole school copies.

What song does Damian perform during the Winter Talent Show?

Damian performs 'Beautiful' by Christina Aguilera at the Winter Talent Show, delivering an enthusiastic and heartfelt rendition that becomes one of the film's most charming moments.