The 1999 teen movie 10 Things I Hate About You is still so beloved thanks to its update on Shakespeare's play The Taming of the Shrew. Sisters Kat and Bianca Stratford couldn't be more different and audiences are captivated by their dad's harsh and rigid dating rule: that Bianca can only date her crush if Kat enters the dating world as well.
While looking at this movie through the lens of 2021 means that some aspects seem dated, and some might say that their dad is too strict and wouldn't act the same way today, there are other elements that are just as compelling as they were back when 10 Things I Hate About You was released.
The Wish To Be Popular (Or Not)
While some teenagers will always be content to do their own thing, some high schoolers will always hope that they can hang out with the popular crowd and have everyone like them. It's a universal theme that is in many teen movies for a good reason, and the question of whether popularity is even worth it is at the heart of 10 Things I Hate About You.
Kat might not care about being cool, which makes her cooler than anyone else in the movie, but Bianca definitely enjoys being adored by her peers. The way that each sister feels still makes a lot of sense today as they have strong character development and each learns a lesson by the movie's end.
The Sibling Rivalry
As 10 Things I Hate About You is adapted from Shakespeare, it continues the story of sisters Katherine and Bianca who are opposites, as Katherine is independent and tough and Bianca is considered to be totally perfect. The same thing is true in the movie, as Kat shuns her classmates and wants to be left alone and Bianca loves fashion, makeup, and socializing.
The movie's sibling rivalry holds up well and it's an element that could be in any movie in 2021. It's only logical that Kat is sick and tired of how flawless Bianca seems, and it also makes sense that Bianca feels that Kat started ignoring her when their mom died and she feels abandoned by her older sister.
The Portrayal Of High School Dating
When Bianca does get to go on a date with her dream crush Joey Donner, she quickly realizes that he isn't as cool or nice as she thought. Sure, he's attractive, but his conceited personality ruins her hopes for a good relationship.
Bianca and Kat realize that dating is different than they thought it was going to be and so do their love interests Cameron James and Patrick Verona. Bianca learns that she has to stand up for herself and believe that she's worthy of a kind person like Cameron, and both Kat and Patrick realize that avoiding intimacy and vulnerability isn't going to serve them well.
The Loss Of A Parent
Kat and Bianca are some of the best characters in 10 Things I Hate About You thanks to the grief that they're dealing with over the death of their mother.
While this isn't a huge focus of the movie, this loss and grief does inform how the siblings approach their family life, as they don't seem to talk to their father much and their own relationship has soured in recent years. The movie does a good job of showing that Walter just wants the best for his daughters and he sets up too many rules because it's hard for him to raise them on his own. This is a universal subject that can still be explored today.
High School Parties
Every good teen movie needs a solid party scene and this movie definitely delivers. While it might be a little more intense than some real life gatherings, as it features a lot of fancy objects being broken and general mayhem and chaos, it's still a funny part of the story.
The portrayal of high schoolers being excited to attend a party when someone's parents go out of town still holds up well, as this has been happening since forever. The movie also does a good job of showing how disappointing these parties can be, as Kat accidentally drinks too much and Bianca realizes that Joey is a jerk.
Preparing For College
There are many reasons why 10 Things I Hate About You is a nostalgic and classic '90s teen movie, including Kat's strong, fascinating character.
Part of what makes Kat's story so relatable and entertaining is her dream of going away to college. Near the start of the movie, Kat is thrilled to receive an acceptance letter from Sarah Lawrence, but her dad thinks she would be better off going to a local college. Audiences can relate to Kat's desire to leave the town that she grew up in and spread her wings, and this is a constant theme in many teen movies and TV shows. She's ready to be more independent and she doesn't see much reason not to take a risk.
Gossip And Rumors
When audiences learn about Patrick, he seems like a scary person who lives a wild life of adventure and courage. Rumors about him fly around the high school constantly, and it's no wonder that Cameron is nervous about asking if he'll take Kat out on a date.
It turns out that Patrick is a super sweet, decent person who falls in love with Kat and her intelligent, no-nonsense attitude. Kat realizes that she judged him too harshly by assuming that she wouldn't like him, and Cameron learns that he should get to know someone before believing gossip. The fact so many people believe a rumor still unfortunately holds true now.
Being Hurt By A Best Friend
At the beginning of the movie, it seems like Chastity Church is a great best friend to Bianca. The two rule the school and joke about whether someone can be just "whelmed" instead of underwhelmed or overwhelmed. But as the story progresses, it becomes clear that Chastity would hurt Bianca in an instant if she could get what she wants.
When Bianca's best friend begins dating Joey, it's not only incredibly painful but also a good reminder of how well this movie holds up. Many people experience a big friendship fight or a relationship that falls apart because of an incident, and this is a relatable storyline.
Not Realizing The Right Person Has Been There All Along
There are many common tropes in teen comedy movies, and while it might be a bit of a cliche for 10 Things I Hate About You to give Kat and Bianca happy endings, it's still welcome that they end up with their respective love interests.
Just like Bianca never gave Cameron a second thought and then falls for him hard, Kat realizes that Patrick is her soulmate and that he understands her like no one else ever has. It might be cheesy to say that the people they were meant to be with were there all along, but it's a sweet part of the movie and just one reason why it's a fan favorite.
Having Sex In High School
In a heartwarming scene between the sisters who rarely talk to each other throughout most of the movie, Kat tells Bianca that Joey is actually her ex-boyfriend and she felt that she should sleep with him when she didn't want to. Joey didn't treat her well and ended her relationship, which hurt a lot. Bianca also discovers that Joey just wanted to go out with her so he could sleep with her, too.
Sex often comes up in teen movies and when Kat tells Bianca that listening to what she wants is the most important thing, 10 Things I Hate About You sends a positive and important message on a subject that is just as relevant today.