A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
-
Positive Messages
some
The messages are mixed, but themes include communication, empathy, and humility. Cher is absorbed with her looks, clothing, and position in her high school's social order. As such, she has a set of rules that parallel Jane Austen's Edwardian mores and restrictions. Getting high occasionally at a party is OK, but "it is quite another thing to be fried all day," for example. Teens drink at a party, but a drunk teen is shown vomiting in a pool.
-
Positive Role Models
some
Cher remakes Tai, the new kid who dresses wrong, talks wrong, does too many drugs, and has too much sex. Cher espouses her philosophy throughout, demonstrating that though she's smart, she also is ignorant. Despite her own cluelessness, Cher does some good. She matches two lonely teachers romantically. And she comes to admire her more serious, "do-gooder" stepbrother, who influences her to question her selfishness and values. Characters quote Hamlet and Dickens and read books by Nietzsche and William Burroughs. Cher's father is extremely supportive and family-oriented though also brusque and rude. He yells when her grades are low, then beams with pride when she uses her powers to persuade a teacher to improve her grade instead of doing the required schoolwork.
-
Violence & Scariness
a little
A character gets mugged at gunpoint.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
-
Sex, Romance & Nudity
some
Cher is ready to lose her virginity but doesn't realize the guy she targets is gay. Teens kiss. Sex is discussed and joked about.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.
-
Language
some
Several instances of "s--t." "Penis," "balls," "boink-fest," and "crimson wave" (menstruation). "Retard." Sexual innuendo -- talk of crooked penises, and double entendre over the word "balls." "Crap." "A--hole." Kids from a different clique are called "loadies" because they dress slovenly and are assumed to be on drugs. Goatee is called "chin pubes."
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.
-
Products & Purchases
some
Materialism is a major theme. Jeep, Tiffany, Calvin Klein, Cartier, co*ke, malls, and the Beverly Hills high-end shopping mecca, Rodeo Drive, are featured. Lead characters often shown carrying Starbucks cups. Advil label clearly shown. A student, in a mock "acceptance speech" for having the most tardies, "thanks" McDonald's and their Egg McMuffins. One of the characters sings along to the Mentos commercial jingle playing on television.
-
Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
some
Teens drink and smoke marijuana ("doobies") at a party. They discuss other drugs (one mentions the beverage co*ke and someone thinks she means cocaine). A pothead joins a 12-step program to get clean, is shown donating his bong to help flood victims. Drunk teen at a party vomits in a pool.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.
-
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Clueless is a 1995 teen comedy in which Alicia Silverstone plays a materialistic Beverly Hills teen who learns to understand what's really important in life. It's an oh-so-'90s retelling of Jane Austen's Emma, but amidst the "as if!" and "What! Ever!" catchphrases and baggy clothing, there are some mixed messages about teen sex, underage drinking and drug use, and materialism. There's occasional mild profanity, but also use of the word "retard" in a pejorative way, as well as calling the grunge-skater clique "loadies." Some sexual innuendo: Talk of crooked penises, and double entendre over the word "balls." A goatee is called "chin pubes." A teen is shown vomiting in a pool after drinking heavily. One of the "loadie" students is shown donating his bong to charity. A student walks to the window of the classroom as if he's going to jump out. There's also frequent consumerism: product placement of Mentos, Starbucks, and McDonald's, as well as a steady reference from Silverstone's character to the stores she likes at the mall and the fashion brands she likes best. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
-
Clueless Official trailer -
-
-
Clueless
- Parents say (33)
- Kids say (168)
age 13+
Based on 33 parent reviews
Andrea L Adult
August 14, 2020
age 13+
Lots of teen and adult language.
Language is mild to PG-13. But is there a teen party where there is lots of drugs and passionate kissing in the background. There is also a scene where the main character Cher gets robbed at gunpoint. (***NO BLOOD OR VIOLENCE***) So in my opinion it is not for younger kids.
Lydia M. Parent of 12 and 16-year-old
February 25, 2023
age 15+
Romanticizes disrespectful/imbalanced relationships
The final romance is that the 16 year old main character falls for a college aged man who thinks of her in a really condescending and patronizing way, yet somehow their getting together is considered romantic. This type of unequal power dynamic in a relationship shouldn't be portrayed as something positive. Also, there's joint smoking, alcohol drinking, passed out high school kids at multiple parties. No thanks. We can do better.
What's the Story?
In CLUELESS, Cher (Alicia Silverstone) just can't keep herself out of other people's business. After one successful attempt at matchmaking, she decides to make over and set up the new girl in school, with disastrous results. Meanwhile, her own love life is rather confused, and it isn't until she starts being honest with herself that she sees what she really wants.
Is It Any Good?
This movie is loosely based on Jane Austen's Emma, and it does an excellent job of transferring the story to a contemporary context. It doesn't feel dated -- the direction is bright and fresh, and the performances are uniformly excellent. Silverstone is particularly good, managing to be charming, ditsy, and annoying all at once, and it's clear why this movie made her a star.
This film isn't appropriate for young kids -- it contains drinking, drug use, and implied sex -- but teens will love it. And it might even get them to read some Jane Austen.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Clueless' continued appeal. Is it still relevant? What makes it a classic for teens?
How is Cher less than honest with herself about her motivations for her "good deeds"? What other choices could she have made?
Tai also is a character who is less than true to herself, and she pays a price. Was what she went through worth it?
Families also might want to look at Jane Austen's novel Emma and see how this adaptation reflects the original.
How do the characters in Clueless demonstrate communication, empathy, and humility? Why are those important character strengths?
Movie Details
- In theaters: July 26, 1995
- On DVD or streaming: June 24, 2003
- Cast: Alicia Silverstone, Brittany Murphy, Paul Rudd
- Director: Amy Heckerling
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Paramount Pictures
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Book Characters, Friendship, High School
- Character Strengths: Communication, Empathy, Humility
- Run time: 97 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: sex related dialogue and some teen use of alcohol and drugs
- Last updated: October 18, 2023
Inclusion information powered by 
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Clueless
Suggest an Update
Your privacy is important to us. We won't share this comment without your permission. If you chose to provide an email address, it will only be used to contact you about your comment. See our privacy policy.
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
-
Legally Blonde
age 13+
-
-
Emma
age 10+
-
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
age 17+
Related Topics
Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
