10 Meanest Girls in High School Movies

Summary

• Mean girls in high school movies serve as captivating elements, driving the protagonist's personal growth and earning the audience's sympathy.
• Characters like Regina George and Kathryn Merteuil embody the quintessential mean girl archetype, showcasing cunning, manipulation, and cruelty.
• While some mean girls may have complex backstories, their negative actions and harmful behavior solidify their status as iconic villains in cinematic history.

Some characters leave their stamp on cinema history, not through acts of heroism, but rather by embodying villainous traits. The charming bullies known as Mean Girls fall into this category. In high school movies, these antagonistic characters often play crucial roles in the protagonist’s journey, becoming catalysts for the main character's personal growth and, sometimes in the end, earning the audience’s sympathy. The mean girl trope was prevalent from the '80s to the early-2000s, featuring girls with a relentless desire to dominate others and achieving widespread popularity in high school.

While in recent times the mean girl trope may seem outdated or undergoing changes, there’s unquestionably a time when these mean girls served as captivating elements in high school dramas. Their theatrics, tantrums, and vengeful plots were just enough to keep many glued to their screens. The Heathers played a pivotal role in popularizing this trope. Then came Regina George, Kathryn Merteuil, Jennifer Check, and others. No high school movie was complete without them.

Here are 10 of the meanest girls in high school movies.

10 Regina George — Mean Girls (2004)

You can cross anyone, but definitely not Regina George, the leader of the plastics in North Shore High School in 2004's Mean Girls. Known for her beauty, confidence, and manipulative skills, Regina was both universally despised and admired. Despite being a villain, she’s considered one of the most iconic characters in 2000s movies, with her infamous long scream still ringing in many ears.

The Mean Girl Icon

Rachel McAdams' Regina was the quintessential mean girl archetype, often displaying a high level of cunning and cruelty in her interactions with others, especially those perceived as threats to her popularity. From spreading rumors to subtle bullying, Regina had her own methods of asserting dominance. She was so mean, her malevolence earned her a place among the greatest villains in cinematic history. Stream on Paramount+

9 Harriet — Wild Child (2008)

Those who remember the 2008 comedy film Wild Child will certainly remember the mean and popular girl, Harriet, at the Abbey Mount School. Portrayed by George King, this mean girl played a pivotal role in propelling the plot forward, much like other notorious mean girls. Alongside her clique, she ensured the main character, Poppy (Emma Roberts), had a difficult time fitting into their school.

Typical Mean Girl

Harriet’s typical mean girl behavior involved spreading rumors, belittling others, and fiercely protecting her social status within the school hierarchy. Though not as iconic as some other mean girls in high school movies, Harriet in Wild Child perfectly embodied the typical teen antagonist viewers love to hate in this genre. For Poppy to embark on her journey to growth and self-discovery, Harriet was needed as a necessary obstacle. Stream on Starz

8 Kathryn Merteuil — Cruel Intentions (1999)

Kathryn Merteuil, portrayed by Sarah Michelle Gellar in Cruel Intentions, is a manipulative and wealthy teenage girl who strikes a bet with her step-brother, Sebastin Valmont (played by Ryan Phillippe). Their target? Annette Hargrove (Reese Witherspoon), the headmaster’s morally upright daughter. The character of Kathryn is loosely based on the Marquise de Merteuil, a cunning and devious woman from the 18th-Century novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses.

Manipulative and Sophisticated Villain

Now, even though these mean girls are primarily known for their wicked intentions and negative attributes, it does not mean that certain viewers won’t feel for them or understand their perspectives. Cruel Intentions digs into Kathryn’s background, revealing the challenges and pressures placed on her, effectively contributing to a better understanding of her actions and motivations. However, given Kathryn’s deceitful and harmful behavior, it’s hard not to see her in a negative light. No doubt, she deserves a spot among the meanest girls in movies. Stream on Prime Video

7 The Heathers — Heathers (1989)

Mentioning cinema’s meanest girls is incomplete without acknowledging The Heathers, the infamous clique from the dark comedy Heathers. They are the iconic representations of the mean girl trope; essentially, they walked so that Regina George could run. Consisting of Heather Chandler, Heather Duke, and Heather McNamara, these girls were known for their various acts of cruelty and exclusion that made the school environment more toxic.

The Queen Bees of High School

As the queen bees of high school, led by Heather Chandler (Kim Walker), the Heathers reigned supreme until they met their untimely end. There’s always that debate about who’s meaner between Regina George and Heather Chandler, with some arguing that Heather is the blueprint for the mean girl trope. Regardless of opinions, both characters stand as iconic representation of the mean girl trope. Stream on Prime Video

6 Jennifer — Jennifer’s Body (2009)

In Jennifer’s Body, Jennifer initially embodies classic mean girl traits before taking an ominous and supernatural turn. Portrayed by Megan Fox, she’s depicted as an arrogant high school girl with a dismissive attitude towards others, in contrast to her nerdy friend Needy (Amanda Seyfried). Fox brings depth to the character, infusing it with heart and a badass vibe.

The Scariest Mean Girl

Jennifer ticks all the boxes for mean girl attributes, from sass and arrogance to narcissism. However, after her transformation, she becomes a literal monster, feeding on her male classmates to sustain her demonic powers. Unlike other mean girls who may hurt others with their words or vengeful plots, Jennifer takes things to a whole new level. Despite the film’s blend of bloodiness, satire and humor, Jennifer’s character drives home the message about the consequences of unchecked desires. Stream on Max

5 Courtney Shane — Jawbreaker

Jawbreaker is a dark and satirical teen comedy centered on a high school prank gone wrong. At the center of it is Courtney, the leader of the popular clique who accidentally causes the death of Liz. The same clique orchestrates a plan to cover up the murder by blaming it on Fern, who stumbles upon the truth. Courtney is determined to go any lengths to protect her reputation, even betraying friends and manipulating others.

Devious and Unforgettable

Courtney Shane is so mean and manipulative that many see her as a combination of Heather Chandler and Regina George — a truly frightening combination. Her cunning nature, emotional detachment, and calculating actions contributed to the darker aspects of Jawbreaker. Yet, like other mean girls, she exudes confidence and other magnetic qualities, with her iconic slow-motion walk down the school hallway with her friends remaining memorable. Rent on AppleTV

4 Madison Morgan — The Duff (2015)

In The Duff, Bella Thorne plays the mean girl everyone loves to hate, serving as the foil to Bianca’s journey of self-discovery and empowerment. Though not the most highly complex character, she truly epitomizes the negative aspects of high school social dynamics. Her meanness surfaces through various actions that involve belittling those she feels are beneath her and being a menace in the school hallway.

Mean for a Reason

While she may be a rebirth of Regina George, her meanness stems from finding humor in her snarky words and actions rather than having a calculated approach like most mean girls. The Duff initially presents Madison as a stereotypical mean girl, only to later reveal the hidden insecurities and vulnerabilities influencing her actions. To some extent, her meanness is a coping mechanism for dealing with her fears and pressures, though it does not excuse her picking on others and bullying the entire school. Stream on Paramount+

3 Big Red — Bring It On (2000)

Bring It On, a 2000s teen comedy, revolves around the competitive world of high school cheerleading. Lindsay Sloane plays Big Red, the former captain of the cheerleading group, the Toros, responsible for stealing the Clovers' routines and posing a significant obstacle to the Toros' success. Unapologetic in her actions and determined to secure the championship for her team, she takes extreme measures, even going as far as secretly recording the rival team to steal their routine.

Embodiment of an Unhealthy Competitive Spirit

As an embodiment of an unhealthy competitive spirit, Big Red is manipulative and lacks authenticity, making her the main antagonist in the film. She makes leadership unbearable for Torrance (Kirsten Dunst), who desires her team to win on their own merits. Breaking sportsmanship integrity to ensure her team’s winning streak, Big Red’s choices underscore the repercussions of wanting to win at any cost.

2 Marianne Byrant — Easy A (2010)

Mean girls can also come in the form of judgmental and overzealous Christians, as seen in Easy A. Portrayed by Amanda Bynes, she is the thorn in Olive Penderghast’s (Emma Stone) side. Throughout the film, Olive gets caught up in a web of lies that Marianne exploits to further her own agenda of promoting abstinence and condemning those she deems morally questionable.

Self-Righteous and Mean

Marianne may not be outright evil or mean, but she is definitely a contrast to the morals she preaches. Actively participating in gossip, bullying, and judgment, she contributes to the social pressures faced by Olive. Marianne serves as a social commentary on the issues of hypocrisy and judgmental attitudes. Bynes injects humor and brilliance into the role, endearing to some viewers. However, it does not change the fact that Mariane is generally insufferable and overly sanctimonious. Rent on AppleTV

1 Nancy Downs — The Craft (1996)

Expertly played by Fairuza Balk, Nancy Downs is one of the key characters in The Craft, and part of a group of girls who form a coven of witches. Initially portrayed as a rebellious, edgy and emotionally unstable girl from an unstable home, Nancy turns to witchcraft as a means to seize control and power in her life. She becomes not just a mean girl, but an extremely dangerous one.

Extremely Dangerous Mean Girl

As the story progresses, Nancy Downs becomes the most formidable witch, using her magical ability for revenge. An extremely bitter and violent girl, she casts spells on classmates or authority figures who have wronged her and even manipulates others in her coven, stirring up conflict and tension in their group. She’s erratic, unpredictable and poses dangers to those around her, both physically and magically.