Olive, an average high school student, sees her below-the-radar existence turn around overnight once she decides to use the school's gossip grapevine to advance her social standing. Now her classmates are turning against her and the school board is becoming concerned, including her favorite teacher and the distracted guidance counselor. With the support of her hilariously idiosyncratic parents and a little help from a long-time crush, Olive attempts to take on her notorious new identity and crush the rumor mill once and for all.
Acting
Emma Stone's breakout star power—charismatic, vulnerable, and comedically precise.
Writing
Diabolically clever script that weaponizes teen movie tropes against themselves.
Costume
The progressively scandalized wardrobe choices tell their own story.
Director
Will Gluck
Emma Stone
Olive
Penn Badgley
Woodchuck Todd
Amanda Bynes
Marianne
Dan Byrd
Brandon
Thomas Haden Church
Mr. Griffith
Patricia Clarkson
Rosemary
Cam Gigandet
Micah
Lisa Kudrow
Mrs. Griffith
Malcolm McDowell
Principal Gibbons
Aly Michalka
Rhiannon
Stanley Tucci
Dill
Fred Armisen
Pastor
Juliette Goglia
Eighth Grade Olive
Jake Sandvig
Anson
Morgan Rusler
Mr. Abernathy
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This film arrived at the tail end of the 2000s teen comedy boom, directly responding to The Scarlet Letter in ways Clueless responded to Emma—part of a proud literary adaptation tradition disguised as popcorn entertainment.
The webcast framing device was almost cut; Emma Stone fought to keep it because she loved the direct address to camera. Director Will Gluck has said he filmed multiple endings for the webcast's final episode, unsure if Olive should end up with Todd or alone.
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