Mean Girls: 10 differences between the original film and the musical

The version of Mean Girls (2004) for Broadway was adapted for the cinema almost 20 years after the original film premiered. The new feature film — which is a musical — had to go through some changes to adapt to Generation Z’s school experience.

Find out the 10 main differences between the two films:

1. Cady’s mother is single

In the 2004 film, Cady’s parents are played by Ana Gasteyer It is Neil Flynn. In the new feature film, the character played by Angourie Rice lives only with his mother, embodied by Jenna Fischer. Regina’s father also doesn’t appear.

2. The story is narrated by Janis and Damian

The story of the original film is narrated by Cady, while the new version divides the role between Janis and Damian.

3. Karen and Janis have different last names

To honor the Indian and Hawaiian roots of Avantika Vandanapu It is Auliʻi Cravalhorespectively, their characters went from Karen Smith to Karen Shetty, and Janis Ian to Janis ‘Imi’ike.

4. Gretchen is of Latin descent

Gretchen is of Jewish origin in the original film and the Broadway musical, while in the 2024 feature film she is descended from a Latino family.

5. Janis is a lesbian

In the original, Regina George spreads a rumor that Janis is a lesbian, even though the character is not. The new Janis, however, is openly lesbian, as the actress who plays her stated in an interview with Screen Rant (via People).

6. Different jokes

With 20 years between the original film and the musical, some jokes are no longer seen as funny. “I wrote the script in the early 2000s, based on my experience as a teenager in the late 1980s,” she said. Tina Fey to the The New York Times (via People). “It’s no surprise to anyone that the jokes have changed.”

7. Damian sings another song at the talent show

Before Plásticas’ iconic Christmas performance takes place on the talent show stage, Damian sings “Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera. To do justice to Generation Z, Damian sings the opening song of Icarly in French in the new version of Mean Girls.

8. Rumors are spread through social media

Social networks have facilitated the speed at which gossip spreads and anonymity. Therefore, the internet took on a very important role in the latest film.

9. Regina’s mom is the one who tells her about Kälteen bars

In the original film, Cady recommends bars to Regina, who wants to lose weight. Much later, the queen bee’s boyfriend says that he eats the same bars to gain weight. Now, it is Regina’s mother who reveals the truth.

10. Mrs. Norbury and Mr. Duvall are a couple

Mrs. Norbury and Mr. Duvall are in a serious relationship.