At the 30th anniversary screening of Clueless at Cinespia at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Cher Horowitz got the full queen treatment. She was celebrated under the stars, surrounded by fans and honored in the heart of LA’s most legendary resting place. Clueless isn’t just a movie. It’s a moment. A movement. A manifesto for everyone who ever layered a baby tee over a slip dress and called it fashion.
The crowd showed up in full 90s energy. The vibe was electric. The surprise of the night came when Breckin Meyer, aka our favorite skateboarding slacker Travis, popped up to introduce the film. He shared memories from 1995 and talked about how Clueless left a mark on an entire generation.
He’s right. This film shaped people. It shaped me. I was still a teenager that summer and saw Clueless in theaters three times (which is one more time than I saw Titanic, and this was the 90’s so that’s important).
It wasn’t just funny or stylish. It created an entire world that felt like ours, only better. A world where girls were smart, sharp and running the show. Okay so I wasn’t a virgin who couldn’t drive, but I still felt seen. Maybe that’s a little TMI for a movie review, but let’s be real. This movie is 30 years old and you’re not here for restraint. You’re here because I have existential feelings about teen comedies and I overshare them with style.
Clueless blended post-grunge attitude with pastel glamour and gave us a cast of characters that felt like friends. It defined what it meant to be a teen in the mid-90s. From the feather pens to the plaid sets to the open-mouth gum chewing, it all hit. One fan even raved that they met costume designer Mona May at the event. She’s the reason we have so many of those unforgettable looks. That red mini dress? “This is an Alaïa.”
Clueless at Cinespia Highlighted Real LA Diversity
Clueless also did something that still doesn’t get enough credit. It gave us a teen comedy that actually reflected the diversity of Los Angeles in 1995 and not just with blink-and-you’ll-miss-it background actors. These were real characters with names, lines and iconic moments. Stacey Dash as Dionne wasn’t just Cher’s best friend. She was stylish, sharp and took up space like the queen she was. Donald Faison as Murray brought swagger, charm and the perfect chaotic boyfriend energy. Their dynamic was messy, hilarious and never tokenized.
The film let Black and Latinx characters be funny, flawed, and fully present, still a radical concept at the time. This wasn’t diversity for show. It was woven into the story without flattening anyone into a punchline. That was rare in 1995. Let’s be honest, it’s still rare now.
Clueless gave us an LA high school that actually looked like LA. It was aspirational without being exclusionary. And that’s part of why it still hits because it let so many of us see ourselves in a story that didn’t treat us like afterthoughts.
And as you can see from the above photo, the sassy teenage girl still living inside of me can’t even believe she gets to write about this.
clueless at cinespia introduces these characters to a new gen
The legacy of Clueless lives in every sarcastic line, every heel click, and every chaotic closet montage. It also lives in Brittany Murphy’s performance as Tai. She brought heart, humor and an underdog sweetness that made the film deeper than it had to be. She rests at Forest Lawn now, but her spirit was felt at Hollywood Forever. Tai wasn’t just a sidekick. She was the soul of the story.
Benito Skinner and Mary Beth Barone also showed up to celebrate. They star in Amazon Prime Video’s “Overcompensating,” a series inspired by Clueless. The impact of this film continues to ripple through pop culture.
This was more than a screening. It was a love letter. Presented by Amazon MGM Studios, the night felt like a reunion of every awkward, over-accessorized, heart-on-her-sleeve 90s kid who never really got over this movie.
AND CINESPIA ISN’T OVER
Cinespia’s summer season is just getting started.
Coming up next:
- Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – June 7
- Showgirls: 30th Anniversary – June 14
- Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – June 21
- Casablanca – June 28
And if you’re heading to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood or Showgirls, leave your switchblades and flame throwers at home, Nomi Malone. Pack your brown rice and vegetables. Hydrate. Prepare to witness the most gloriously unhinged camp classic ever projected under the stars.
Tickets and info at: www.cinespia.org
Bug spray and glitter encouraged. Ice for your nipples? Optional.
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