Clueless is the 1995 romantic comedy starring Alicia Silverstone as Cher Horowitz. Written and directed by Amy Heckerling, the film follows Cher, a wealthy Beverly Hills high-school student whose matchmaking and makeover efforts gradually lead her toward greater self-awareness.
Heckerling based the story loosely on Jane Austen’s 1815 novel Emma. Cher corresponds broadly to Emma Woodhouse, although Clueless transfers the social maneuvering from an English village to a California school community. The film’s dialogue, costumes, and slang became especially influential in popular culture.
The cast includes Stacey Dash as Dionne, Brittany Murphy as Tai, Paul Rudd as Josh, and Donald Faison as Murray. Cher’s relationship with Josh forms the film’s romantic arc, while her friendship with Tai supplies much of the comedy. A common mistake is to describe Clueless as a direct adaptation of Emma; it is better understood as a modernized, loose adaptation rather than a scene-for-scene retelling.