We all know them, we love them, and more often than not, we like to hate them. No matter how any of us really feel concerning the iconic, troublesome teenagers that spherical out the material of Hollywood’s youth-centric media, they’ve left their signature messy marks. This checklist covers the large hitters, the unmistakable part-of-pop-culture adolescents who derailed monumentally (depending on their character and world, not all misguided minors are created equal). Every calling card of those chaotic characters has a number of issues in frequent–they’re misplaced and confronted with battle–however how they resolve their points results in many extra points than options. Buckle up and seize your favourite nostalgic combine tape/playlist; we’re in for a bumpy trip.
Jim Stark and Buzz Gunderson – Insurgent With out a Trigger
That is by far probably the most influential motion pictures that jumpstarted the teenager style and it’s huge due to Jim Stark (James Dean) and Buzz Gunderson (Corey Allen). When gang chief Buzz and new-in-town Jim conform to a “chickie race,” that’s when issues go up in smoke. Jim is left to face the fallout.
Marissa Cooper – The O.C.
You possibly can most likely make a case for many of The O.C. youngsters, however Marissa Cooper (Mischa Barton) undoubtedly tops all of them. Coop’s undoing was a monolith and began on the wings of her dad and mom’ divorce. It led to underage ingesting, tumultuous relationships, petty theft, and finally to her passing away after a automotive crash on the finish of Season 3.
Danny Zuko – Grease
Like many different ensembles, you can make a decide largely anybody from the Grease solid, however Danny Zuko’s (John Travolta) points bled into everybody else’s. To not point out, he strung Sandy Olsson (Olivia Newton-John) alongside till the very finish of the film.
Serena van der Woodsen – Gossip Lady
Gossip Lady is one other present the place you can argue an excellent case for any of the characters being the largest saboteur. However like Marissa Cooper, Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Full of life) simply can’t shake off bother in most issues she does. The considered previous her and Georgina Sparks collectively actually appears like they’d prime the checklist collectively.
Veronica Sawyer – Heathers
Heathers and Veronica Sawyer (Winona Ryder) had been forward of the curve. When awkward loner Veronica will get invited to affix the varsity’s hottest group, she rapidly realizes it’s not the place for her. After befriending new child Jason Dean (Christian Slater), they by accident kill one of many Heathers. This units off a whole killing spree that wreaks havoc on Westerburg Excessive Faculty.
Dawson Leery – Dawson’s Creek
Despite the fact that he might have been seen extra as a golden boy throughout his reign, Dawson (James Van Der Beek) brought about some main harm in his day. We actually have a separate checklist showcasing all of the occasions Leery was the worst character for his family members to be round. If he’d solely been supportive of Joey Potter (Katie Holmes) going to Paris, who is aware of what may’ve been?
Cady Heron – Imply Ladies
Tina Fey’s wildly quotable Imply Ladies wants no introduction or clarification. With Cady (Lindsay Lohan) coming to phrases with attending a public highschool within the US after rising up in Africa, she is a poster baby for this checklist. As she explores her new actuality, she will get misplaced for a second amid lady world drama, which ends up in a number of pal, household, and relationship troubles.
Rue Bennet – Euphoria
The Max ‘teen’ jewel-encrusted drama juggernaut holds one other ensemble of misplaced and morose college students. Nonetheless, Rue Bennet (Zendaya) and her substance abuse points are the focus. It is upended friendships, brought about familial stresses, a number of occasions over, inflicting Rue to lie, steal and harm everybody within the East Highlanders.
Chris Hargensen – Carrie
Stephen King’s Carrie is one other basic highschool staple that helped push the envelope on what fictional teen worlds may maintain. In style lady and bully, Chris Hargensen (Nancy Allen) makes Carrie’s (Sissy Spacek) life a dwelling nightmare. Hargensen continues down a downward spiral that results in the bone-chilling however iconic prank that occurs on the dance (which has some really grim penalties).
Tim Riggins – Friday Evening Lights
If something about this NBC community TV basic, you both love or hate Tim Riggins (Taylor Kitsch). Whereas he was an everyday womanizer, heavy partier, to not point out that he sabotaged himself and the group with some regularity, he straightened up.
Dallas ‘Dally’ Winston – The Outsiders
Francis Ford Coppola’s adaptation of The Outsiders is a quintessential coming-of-age story. Despite the fact that the entire gang is tough and tumble, together with any of the ‘Socs,’ Dally (Matt Dillon) is probably the most troubled. With an already tumultuous background, Johnny’s demise sends him on to make poor choices for himself and his associates.
Cory Matthews – Boy Meets World
Stunning, I do know. The extra basic selection from Boy Meets World could also be Shawn Hunter, however Cory Matthews (Ben Savage) sparked loads of bother in his time (like fellow do-gooder, Dawson Leery). All through the 7 seasons, he brought about extra rifts between his household, associates and Topanga than anybody else.
Billy Loomis & Stu Macher – Scream
Naturally, any teen in any scary film typically has some baggage that results in strife in a method or one other. Youths like Billy (Skeet Ulrich) and Stu (Matthew Lillard) are totally different, although, they’re deliberately motivated to terrify and hurt their fellow classmates and the folks of Woodsboro. Sadly for them, their plans backfire on them gravely.
Lucas Scott – One Tree Hill
Just like the aforementioned teen community drama reveals of the mid and late ‘00s, any character is up for debate. Lucas Scott (Chad Michael Murray), the primary protagonist, places on an excellent present of commotion for everybody in his life. Being a serial heartbreaker whereas being unloyal and manipulative to others lands him this explicit title.
Jennifer Verify – Jennifer’s Physique
Jennifer’s Physique, once more, isn’t stuffed with common adolescents, and particularly not Jennifer (Megan Fox). Whereas she and longtime pal Needy (Amanda Seyfried) head out for a semi-average night time of Jennifer-approved enjoyable, all goes awry. We discover out that Jennifer has was a demon feasting on the male teenagers of Satan’s Kettle, WY. After the buddies face off, Needy will get pinned for the murders and will get taken to an insane asylum.
Rachel Berry – Glee
The destined-for-greatness Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) sometimes stopped at nothing to get what she wished, whatever the penalties. Whereas the fictional NYADA darling had moments of hope and promise, her ego and ambition all the time appeared to trigger extra hurt than good. (Any Ryan Murphy-created teen may do, although.)
Seth – Superbad
The 2007 basic was the primary Seth Rogen-Evan Goldberg challenge, and it instantly put them on the map. The semi-biographical Superbad revolves round characters with the identical names and fairly typical senior tropes. Of the fictional duo Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera), and their pal, Fogell (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), the primary of the trio creates probably the most bother for his or her celebratory night. Whereas the trio make up, together with the women (Emma Stone, Martha MacIsaac), earlier than commencement.
Rory Gilmore – Gilmore Ladies
“Why did you drop out of Yale?” Despite the fact that Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel) is likely one of the extra uncommon fictional excessive schoolers on the checklist, her dropping out was monumental for the world of Gilmore Ladies. Even Lauren Graham didn’t just like the storyline due to the turmoil it created between Lorelai and Rory. To not point out, her sleeping with Dean, lacking Lorelai’s commencement and afterward, being extra misplaced than ever in her 30s.
Donnie – Donnie Darko
Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal) isn’t your typical troublesome, drama-filled teen, although his selections in a single actuality result in severe penalties. His current ED signifiers (Emotional Disturbance) current Donnie as one thing else, however we finally come to understand he is an anti-hero of kinds. As he comes to understand that there are a number of timelines at play, he chooses to repair it to save lots of Gretchen Ross’ (Jena Malone) life. And along with his developed powers, he returns to the day when all of it went awry, which ends up in his destiny–death.
Archie Andrews – Riverdale
Archie of The CW’s Riverdale was one of many many, a lot darker TV reboots on the market. And although all of the drama has all the time hinged on the red-headed soccer hero no matter style, the TV present actually packs Archie with a punch. To be honest, he additionally discovered himself within the improper place on the improper time fairly continuously–it’s how he reacted to them that offers him the highest spot for the looking college students of Riverdale Excessive.
Kathryn Merteuil & Sebastian Valmont – Merciless Intentions
One other younger and terrifying twosome is Kathryn Merteuil (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Sebastian Valmont (Ryan Philippe). The oddball step-siblings wager a guess that entails harmless and new Annette Hargrove (Reese Witherspoon). Via the scheme, the group of scholars is confronted with persevering with drama till a really unhappy finish.
Valerie Malone – Beverly Hills, 90210
Although there was loads of precise drama on the set of Beverly Hills, 90210, Valerie Malone (Tiffani Thiessen) wasted no time sowing seeds of chaos. Arriving in Season 5 with quite a lot of baggage within the type of household trauma, Malone was instantly set as much as be in bother. She dated lots of the guys and usually feuded with the women.
Max Fischer – Rushmore
As one of many many stylized Wes Anderson movies, Rushmore was considered one of his earliest. Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) is a love-drunk scholar decided to this point his instructor and can cease at nothing to realize it. After an array of mishaps and his fellow acquaintance, Blume (Invoice Murray), hitting it off together with her, Max loses it. He leaked the affair publicly and quickly burned bridges with each of them.
Willow Rosenberg – Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Willow’s (Alyson Hannigan) rise to elevating hell for Buffy and co. could also be a gradual burn, however as soon as she hits it, issues get wild. Whereas her use of telepathy, manipulation and struggling to maintain her magic in examine kick off the season, Tara’s demise units Willow into overdrive in attempting to destroy the world.
PJ & Josie – Bottoms
Gen Z coming-of-age comedies are available all styles and sizes, together with Emma Seligman’s Bottoms. The satirical tackle the highschool expertise is wild, particularly with PJ (Rachel Sennott) and Josie (Ayo Edebiri). The BFF’s hatch a combat membership for women to allow them to discuss to cheerleaders they’ve crushes on. Evidently, quite a lot of drama goes down, together with a automotive blowing up.
Mona Vanderwaal – Fairly Little Liars
Actually, most characters from the 2010 sequence have a good shot right here. However Mona (Janel Parrish) is the rationale for the entire thriller and torment. She is who sparks the sequence due to her grudge in opposition to the primary pal group. Ultimately, she turns into considered one of them, and much more bother ensues.
Laura Palmer – Twin Peaks: Hearth Stroll with Me
For my part, there’s no checklist about misguided excessive schoolers full with out Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee). The character was cemented into popular culture in David Lynch’s cult present, Twin Peaks, however the much less widespread prequel film reveals her tragic undoing. Her final days are stuffed with traumas regarding her drug dependancy, internet of lies and darker spirits. Warning, this film is not for the faint of coronary heart.
DeGrassi: The Subsequent Technology
DeGrassi: The Subsequent Technology is possibly the one title on the checklist during which every character is as chaotic and troubled because the final. The long-lasting Canadian teen cleaning soap has a number of iterations, however the 2002-2015 sequence takes the cake. Between the scholars, they’ve each basic dramatic HS storyline within the guide, and alumni Drake’s “I’m Upset” reunion-filled music video summarizes some key factors.
Nancy Downs – The Craft
The quartet of ladies in The Craft begin as misplaced as the following, however Nancy’s (Fairuza Balk) power-hungry methods destroy what they’ve collectively. After quiet Sarah Bailey (Robin Tunney) strikes to city and will get wronged, Downs and her friends take her in. All 4 hatch a scheme to solid a spell on the wrongdoer, and when it succeeds, that’s when Nancy begins sabotaging every part.
John B – Outer Banks
Netflix’s Outer Banks is one wild trip with wayward John B (Chase Stokes) on the helm. Positive, different characters could also be outwardly extra troubled (JJ, Sarah or Rafe), however everybody’s lives intensified due to John B’s preliminary treasure hunt.
Christine ‘Girl Hen’ McPherson – Girl Hen
As one of many extra delicate teenage pot stirrers, Ladybird (Saoirse Ronan) nonetheless makes her presence and opinions unmistakably clear. Her foremost sources of battle reside inside her relationship together with her hardworking mother (Laurie Metcalf) and nerdy finest pal (Beanie Feldstein). Whereas Girl Hen quickly burns bridges with each in pursuit of higher life expectations and new associates, she mends issues with each.
Effy Stonem – Skins UK
A cult basic that ran from 2007-2013 and largely featured the rebellious however misplaced Effy Stonem (Kaya Scodelario). From the bounce, we see 14-year-old her sneaking house within the early morning after being out all night time at a rave. Evidently, Effy’s journey was a bumpy one stuffed with substance abuse, psychological well being crises, and an internet of lies.