‘Mean Girls’ 2024: What Do People Think of The Musical?

Here we find ourselves in the year 2024, where the reigning monarch of the box office is an unexpected sovereign, ‘Mean Girls.’ Yes, you read that right, the cult classic of 2004 has morphed into a Broadway-born musical, then gracefully pirouetted onto the silver screen once more.

It’s a modern-day loop of cultural creation, akin to a snake consuming its tail, or as the intellectuals call it, an IP ouroboros. Move over, High School Musical; there’s a new, more prosperous player in town.

Now, don’t let the lukewarm reviews and the conspicuous absence of musical snippets in the trailers fool you. The revamped ‘Mean Girls’ conquered the MLK holiday weekend box office, raking in a cool $33 million.

Adjusted for inflation, that’s a power move surpassing the original’s opening weekend earnings. Yet, beneath the glossy exterior, the musical adaptation struggles to justify its existence, often feeling like a polished but slightly over-rehearsed karaoke performance attempting to mimic the unmatchable original.

For those questioning the necessity of a ‘Mean Girls’ redux, one sentiment resonates — the enduring love for the original runs deep. Over two decades since it first graced the silver screen, ‘Mean Girls’ maintains an unyielding grip on pop culture. This phenomenon isn’t lost on Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, whose book, “So Fetch: The Making of Mean Girls,” delves into the enduring obsession.

The film’s continued relevance hinges on its relatability. The intricate social codes of the Plastics, led by the indomitable Regina George, may have evolved with time, but the essence of navigating the labyrinth of teenage social intricacies remains. Bullying and social power dynamics, fueled by the amplifying effects of social media and the broader polarization in society, continue to strike a chord across generations.

Let’s not overlook the sheer quotability of Mean Girls. Lines like “It’s October 3rd,” “There’s a 30% chance that it’s already raining,” and “Get in loser, we’re going shopping” have transcended the confines of the movie and infiltrated memes, gifs, and TikToks. The very title has become a cultural shorthand for a particular brand of behaviour, seamlessly applicable to various contexts, from high school antics to boardroom politics.

‘Mean Girls’ owes part of its sticky longevity to timing. Released at the dawn of MySpace and Facebook, it imprinted itself on millennial minds just before the social media explosion. Lindsay Lohan’s journey from ‘Mean Girls’ fame to tabloid notoriety further entwined the film with the aughts’ culture, mirroring the era’s blogosphere, the mean girls of the internet.

Fast forward to today’s digital landscape dominated by videos and memes, and the question arises — does Mean Girls resonate with the TikTok generation? The new film attempts to bridge the gap with nods to front-facing cameras, TikTok-esque elements, and a plot twist turned viral Instagram content. However, Armstrong’s research reveals that the original film still strikes a chord with today’s youth.

Even if they haven’t watched it, the film’s quotes persist in memes and TikToks and its Y2K aesthetics remain a chic throwback.

As ‘Mean Girls’ celebrates two decades in the limelight, one ponders its destiny. Will it endure as a coming-of-age classic like John Hughes’ masterpieces, ‘Clueless,’ or ‘Rebel Without a Cause’?