It’s a thrilling plot of a World War II veteran who takes a job from a private investigator to search for a mysterious, missing woman: Daphne Monet, played by Jennifer Beals. This Carl Franklin film flopped at the box office upon release, and there’s truly no telling why. There’s a reason Clueless has achieved the status of cult classic.

Written and directed by Amy Heckerling, it’s undoubtedly her magnum opus - well-paced, with witty dialogue from everyone involved. But that would’ve never been possible without a high-quality script. Those four actors were pushed so heavily into the spotlight because they performed brilliantly, of course. Paul Rudd, Donald Faison, and Breckin Meyer all appear in supporting roles that were undoubtedly their most prominent up to that point in their respective careers. She wasn’t the only budding performer to burst onto the Hollywood scene with Clueless, though.

Her development is rendered tangible as she finds the need to better her own life, not those of others, and Silverstone encapsulated that idea to a tee. But the beauty of the character isn’t just in the wit of her dialogue or the charm of her performance. Here in Clueless (1995), protagonist Cher Horowitz - played by American actress Alicia Silverstone in her breakthrough role - spends most of her time using her social status to help others, like when giving her new friend a makeover.

20th century fox cinema 4d