10 Things I Hate About You (1999) User Reviews

The Teen Flick of My Generation

[marlyly · 8/10 · 4 October 2008]

I'm 19 now (so was only 9 when '10 Things I Hate About You' came out) and I have seen this film way too many times to count. There have been countless sleep-overs, film days, random get-togethers and quite evenings alone that have all featured this film, so much so that I can now pretty much recite the entire script off by heart. Yet it is a mark of just how great this film is that, despite knowing it inside out I can still sit down and watch it and thoroughly enjoy doing so - it is and always will remain one of my favourite films.

When I was younger I never questioned anything in the films I watched - it is only as I have grown up that I have learnt to be critical of films, books and music, and even now, I can't fault any of the acting in '10 Things I hate About You'. Heath Ledger gives a dazzling performance as usual (which is surprising considering how reluctant Ledger was to take the part in case he became typecast) but the real breath-taking performance for me was by Julia Stiles - it is only now I am older that I can appreciate just how believably she managed to pull off her character that you do not for an instance question whether she is the 'rude, aggressive, bitter older sister of the most popular girl at school who only behaves in this way as a defence mechanism'. The remainder of the cast, Jospeh Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, David Krumholtz etc all play their parts perfectly, and with a true 90's script and killer soundtrack this film couldn't fail to be anything but a success.

I guess that part of the appeal of this film for me is the fact that I grew up through my teenage years constantly watching it. If I was to be introduced to this film for the first time today, I am not sure whether I would like it anywhere near as much as I do now, but it has a certain sentimental value for me, and brings back many, many memories. And I have to say, in this genre of film, '10 Things I hate About You' will always come out on top. I guess that this film is my generations High School Musical, however, there is one key difference in my opinion - although this may be a teen chick flick it is in a class of it's own quality wise, and definitely should not be disregarded as anything less. Love it!!

Shakespeare's teen rom-com

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 4 February 2015]

Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles) is a hard girl to like. Cameron James (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a new student at Padua High in Seattle. Michael (David Krumholtz) befriends the newcomer. Cameron falls for Bianca Stratford (Larisa Oleynik) but her father Walter (Larry Miller) won't let her date until his daughters graduate. Then Walter changes the rule to allow Bianca to date when Kat does. Cameron intends to find somebody for Kat. Michael tricks Joey Donner (Andrew Keegan) to pay mysterious bad boy Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) to take out Kat. It's basically William Shakespeare's teen rom-com "The Taming of the Shrew". It has enough wit and fun. On top of it all, there's the good young pretty cast. Stiles is a terrific high-minded B and Ledger is a great bad boy with a heart. It's all good fun.

Pretty good overall

[MovieAddict2016 · 7/10 · 8 December 2004]

Based on Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew," "10 Things I Hate About You" offers a refreshing revival of the "good" teen films, as compared to the "typical" teen films.

It's based on Shakespeare's story somewhat loosely. It's about a teenaged girl whose father will not allow her to date. Finally he comes up with a clever idea - if she can convince her older sister (who is a strict, boring "b***") to date someone, the younger sibling can as well. Her father knows this is as realistic as saying "When pigs begin to fly" but then he can't be accused of being unfair.

"10 Things..." is overall pretty good. It's better than I thought it would be. It has some funny moments, it's got a talented cast with some older actors popping up in various humorous roles, etc. It's not as refreshing or unique as a John Hughes teen comedy but it certainly plays upon some of the clichés of the genre (invented by Hughes no less) to good effect.

Overall, I was impressed with the movie, and the actors, and that's saying a lot considering it's a teen film (a genre I have come to loathe recently with entries such as "Slackers" etc.).

Funny, lively and enjoyable despite being a little predictable

[bob the moo · 13 October 2002]

On his first day at a new school, Cameron falls for Bianca Stratford. However not only is she popular and beautiful but her father has forbidden her to date until her older sister does too. The problem is her sister, Kat, is negative, bad tempered and unfriendly and certainly undateable. Cameron seeks the services of school bad boy Pat who he arranges to be paid to date Kat and thus allow him to go out with Bianca - but things never go smoothly when it comes to love.

I'm not a big fan of teen comedies. They mostly are lame, trading on the same old plots and clichés that have been around since Animal House and Porkies. The recent trend has just seen classical texts adapted giving rise to some poor films like `She's all that'. The plot for this is basically `The Taming of the Shrew' updated - most of it bares little resemblance to the play but that doesn't matter - the core is interesting enough to stand on it's own. It may not surprise you in terms of who gets which girl and it's fairly predictable in a romantic comedy type way but that's not it.

No - the film is funny, lively and pretty enjoyable. The comedy is built around the central plot with lots of nice touches and characters that are genuinely funny, such Mr Morgan and the erotic drama writing headmistress. The jokes happily never stoop to the gross-out type and this helps it feel fresh and lively, rather than just scrapping the bottom of the barrel.

Another strength is that the cast are all very likeable and give good performances all round. Compared to the horror or Prince and Lillard in `She's all that' this was a dream cast. Ledger is a real up and comer and he does well here - he doesn't over-egg his bad boy cake and his fall into love is believable. Stiles is very cool and better than the teen roles she has had of late. Here she rises above the `outsider' cliché given to her and does good work - again being a likeable and believable character.. Gordon-Levitt is OK but quite characterless compared to the main two roles, likewise Oleynik. The bets roles are those on the edges and the three adult support roles really do well and are very funny - Janney, Mitchell and especially Miller on good form. Gabrielle Union is once again given a side role that doesn't play to her strength. I like her and want to see her in bigger roles but here she is a `minority face' in a predominately white film, just as she was in She's All That - maybe I'm being a little paranoid but that's what it feels like.

Overall I was taken by surprise as to how funny and lively this film was. It didn't sink to the gross out comedy of so many teen movies and had characters and actors who brought spark and energy to the screen. It may be predictable but it works and the jokes and side characters just add to the sense of fun. Not brilliant but compared to the mediocre bunch of teen comedies you COULD watch, this is fantastic!

Looking back

[kosmasp · 6/10 · 21 July 2009]

Looking back, this movie had a pretty (no pun intended) decent cast. The now deceased Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles as front runners of course. It is a pretty good romantic teen comedy, that is pretty nice. And that's saying something, if you consider the fact, that it came out the same year, American Pie was.

While the latter was a pretty gross comedy, that still had heart to it, this is more the classical approach to a teen comedy. Something that hasn't been done that much after "10 things..." came out. Which obviously lies within the fact, that it's pretty easy to slide down the cliché road and wind up boring people more than entertaining them. But which also states the fact, that this is pretty decent and a nice addition to the teen rom-coms!

They don't make movies like this anymore

[manishasc · 10/10 · 30 July 2015]

Love love LOVE this movie. It is a classic, story is great, the actors are amazing, and the comedy is funny! There is something to laugh at every minute, and all the elements marry together perfectly to make a feel good movie, with depth and humour that isn't seen very often these days.

The cast are brilliant, Heath Ledger is awesome and brings an honesty to his character, Julia stiles is authentic and someone every girl can identify with. Has a lot of actors who made it big after the film - great cast.

An old school movie, they don't make them like this anymore!

This was a story by Shakespeare?

[Smells_Like_Cheese · 7/10 · 28 November 2003]

It's kinda weird that people say this story was based off of a Shakespeare story, yet no one ever mentions what this was based on. But 10 Things I Hate About You is one of the classic teen movies that came out of the 90's that was actually pretty good. It had a great cast, the story was original and a lot of fun, and the whole movie made you laugh and feel good. This was the movie that really sky rocketed Heath Ledger's career in America and I remember in school how all the girls were just drooling over him. Also all the guys fell in love with Julia Styles, she was also just awesome in this movie and made for a good strong female lead. This movie captured a great amount of what most teens go through in their world, wither it's just wanting to be different, popular, having an over protective parent, dealing with sex and rejection, this movie just worked on so many levels.

Cameron James, the new kid at Padua High School, is given a tour of the school by Michael, who is an audio-visual geek. Michael provides Cameron with information on the school's various cliques. During the tour, Cameron spots the beautiful and popular Bianca and is immediately smitten with her. Michael warns that Bianca is shallow, conceited, and worst of all, not allowed to date. Michael does, however, inform Cameron that Bianca is looking for a French tutor. Bianca's outcast sister Kat is another problem of hers' as well as her protective father, Walter, as he wants Kat to attend college nearby and wants Bianca to not date thinking it will lead to pre-marital pregnancy. Bianca begs her father to allow her to date, but is rejected, Kat's aversion to dating prompts the father to come up with a new rule: Bianca can only date if Kat is dating. Cameron starts tutoring Bianca, and she informs him of her father's rule. This news motivates Cameron and Michael to set out to find a boy who is willing to date Kat. Patrick Verona, an outcast who is just as ill-tempered as Kat. Cameron tries asking Patrick for his assistance, Cameron pays Patrick to take Kat out. Patrick agrees, but Kat, however, wants nothing to do with Patrick. Leading into Dawson's Creek drama.

If you do have the opportunity to see 10 Things I Hate About You I do recommend that you take the chance. It's a good movie and doesn't push you around or play games with you, and that's why everyone loved it, because it was just honest. Plus you just have to love the adorable scene where Heath Ledger sang to Julia Styles on the bleachers and got chased around by security, if that's not love and commitment, then I don't know what is. It has a great happy ending and just makes you feel good.

7/10

Makes me cry looking back

[numenorsniper-66396 · 9/10 · 20 September 2022]

This movie was one of those turning point movies for cinema as a whole, from the same batch as A Knight's Tale, Titanic, The Matrix, Donnie Darko, American Pie, and so on.

So many brilliant actors in their youth here, in this petri dish of talent, it makes my heart wrench at how much the world, cinema, and life has changed since then, and those who are no longer around, such as Heath.

This is one of the best romance movies imo, and reminds me of my youth when life felt so new, young and exciting

The casting, acting, direction, writing, everything really, is superb.

Recommended for everyone.

Happy 20 years!

[joanacatbagan · 7/10 · 28 March 2019]

It seems very timely that HBO was playing this today- on it's 20th Anniversary. Of course, I had to watch it while I was getting ready for work. Since this is a rewatch (for the nth time), I'm kind of embarrassed to admit that I know most of the dialogues here- I can even recite Kat's (Julia Stiles) lines! Even the French scene between Cameron and Bianca. Crazy! This is a "terribly underrated" movie and I still love it 20 years after- I still fell for Heath and JGL, for the music, for all the clichés, the fun and all the 90s aesthetics.

I can't stop watching this movie!

[sirokai · 10/10 · 27 November 2004]

I wanted to see this movie when it first came out but never did. I didn't get a copy until a week ago and finally watched it with my girlfriend. I have to admit, I've seen it five times in the past week. A lot of teen movies have very basic or clichéd plots, but not this one. It's based on "The Taming of the Shrew" and it has a lot of interesting twists. The music is awesome, every song actually fits the moment, and the two love stories are actually interesting to watch. Even all the actors did a really great job. The only bad thing is the occasional dirty jokes. If you don't care for teen movies, don't worry, you are just like me, this movie is still worth watching. I'm giving it a 10 to bring those ratings up!

Good Flick But Far Yet From Being A 10

[meeza · 7/10 · 9 May 2000]

To see or not to see? That is the question isn't it? Although simplistic at times, I do recommend everyone to see " The 10 Things I Hate About You." The movie is yet another one of those adolescent modern stories that are based on old shakespearean plays. The difference with this one is that it does work. Why? I will give well what about 10 reasons for you: 1) Humorous screenplay 2) Well-ensembled acting 3) Julia Stiles 4) Adequate duration time 5) Julia Stiles 6) Larry Miller's obsessive parental performance 7) Julia Stiles 8) Nifty soundtrack 9) Julia Stiles 10) Feel good movie

Did i forget to say Julia Stiles? Ms. Stiles demonstrates that she does have a promising future in the acting business. It might not be a perfect 10, but " The 10 Things I Hate About You" gets high marks. **** Good

Sweet *teenage love, lies, & consequences* flick!

[ILoveDMB · 9/10 · 5 April 1999]

I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Granted I'm just 15 years old, and also a huge fan of Shakespeare, but it was really a great film. I would have to say it's definitely more directed towards the teenage/GenX generations, but it was awesome. The tongue-and-cheek Shakespeare references were great (the "Stratford" girls, etc.) Julia Stiles & Larisa Oleynik were convincing in their roles, and not to be shallow but the guys of the movie just all looked really good. =) I recommend this to most teenage girls, although it's not totally a "chick flick" because my brother enjoyed it too. In any case, the scene with the "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" ballad at the soccer practice is a can't-miss for all you love saps. =) I will tell you right now, the ending IS predictable, but not hackneyed. It leaves you with a happy bubbly feeling about teenage love. Excellent movie, that is. (P.S. When watching this in the theaters-- DON'T leave as soon as the credits roll. There are some hilarious out-takes afterwards.)

Good teen comedy from the late 90s starring the late Heath Ledger

[lisafordeay · 7/10 · 1 August 2018]

10 Things I Hate About You was released in 1999 and stars Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger and tells the story of this guy called Cameron(Joseph Gordon Levitt)who is in love with a girl called Bianca(Larissa Oleynik)who is a very prim and proper. The problem is her father (played by Larry Miller)doesn't want her to date anyone until her older sister Kat(played by Julia Stiles)starts to date as he has a no sex policy. Of course Cameron and his friend bribe a strange handsome guy named Patrick(played by the late Heath Ledger)to go out with Kat in order for Cameron to date Bianca. Of course there is another guy who is a real douchbag named Joey(Andrew Keegan) who also bribes Patrick to date Kat so he can steal Bianca from Cameron.

As Patrick begins to see Kat however he ends up falling for her for real and doesn't want to go through with the bribe anymore. But will they won't they get together?

Overall I found this film entertaining and funny in some parts. The music is very rock/pop,the setting was nice and the plot reminded me of another teen romantic comedy called She's All That which came out the exact year as this as the plot to that film was similar to this film but sorta different at the same time. Both Julia and Heath had great chemistry together as both were newcomers at the time since Heath was in Home And Away in the mid 90s before he went to Hollywood till his death in 2008.

If you liked She's All That,How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days then you will enjoy this.

Predictable, Cheesy Comedy

[rochelle-rochelle · 4/10 · 11 April 2006]

This movie is nothing short of predictable, cheesy and goofy. The transformation of Julia Stiles character is quick, unbelievable and cheesy. The filmmakers must think the viewers were idiots to buy the change in character's "overnight" transformation from "men are scum" to "i want a man" as it comes about. This movie should have been a made-for-TV small screen gem vs. a large screen goofy, cheesy and predictable comedy that is far from being a "classic".

PLOT - Strict rules in the Stratford household forbid Bianca from having a boyfriend until her odious sister has one of her own. Mating mayhem ensues when Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger)--a sullen young man with a mysterious past--is bribed by Bianca's wannabe boyfriend (Andrew Keegan) to woo and win Kat, in order to clear the way for Bianca to begin dating.

They say it's a twist on Shakespeare's play, however this is a far cry from it. It doesn't come remotely close to being in the same class as a Shakespearean play. The comparison is laughable and a downright lie.

obstacles to true love knows no time era

[saimahuq · 25 November 2002]

One thing about the Bard -- he knew the plots that touches everyone's lives, no matter where on the social strata or when in history they may be. It is made apparent in the case of Cameron James, new kid in school, as he falls for the lovely Bianca, who cannot date until her older shrewish sister Kat will date. But Kat doesn't WANT to date, and thus Cameron must scheme to find a suitable guy for this harpy-with-the-heart-of-gold if he is to win the fair Bianca.

Julia Stiles may be no Elizabeth Taylor, but then, she doesn't have to be. This flick relays the same message to a brand-new audience and is fun and entertaining to boot (plus I don't think Taylor could dance on a table quite like Stiles does in one of the more memorable scenes.)

In the end, this is a charming movie that will entertain and educate high-schoolers as well as those several years past graduating. After all, Shakespeare knew what he was writing about -- there is no age limit when it comes to matters of the heart!

Serviceable modernization of Shakespeare

[tbsqvhpvjq · 7/10 · 31 October 2023]

This movie is worth a watch for the performances of several then up-and-comers. It does smack a bit of the late 90s - early 2000s kitsch, but I think modern teens would still enjoy it. This is a modern retelling of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew, and the writers gave homage to the Bard with the inclusion of not only lines from the source material, but also a nod to the poetic form for which he is still noted. Heath Ledger gives a great performance (this makes me sad for the work we have missed due to his untimely passing), Joseph Gordon Levitt turns in a charming performance as Cameron, and Larry Miller puts his character acting skills to good use as Kate and Bianca's father. Andrew Keegan embodies the entitled rich boy with sites set on Larissa Oleynik's Bianca (a role that I suspect was attempting to break away from her Alex Mack days and progress into more mature roles). Gabrielle Union does well, if not a bit under utilized as Bianca's friend, and David Krumholtz serves well in a support role in the transition between The Santa Clause and Numbers. The soundtrack is a sampling of the pop music of the time, which works with the film's setting. Overall a bit of fun and a way to help make Shakespeare more accessible to modern audiences.

It was very good

[Boyo-2 · 9/10 · 1 May 2000]

A movie like this doesn't exactly hit you over the head with its originality, and can only be as good as the actors. They must convince you that you've never seen anything like this before. In this case every single member of the cast is so good that they sold me on the movie from minute one. Heath Ledger & Julia Stiles make a great couple and his rendition of "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" was one of the highlights. When Julia listed the "10 Things" she was crying and I was, too - extremely unusual for me in a movie like this. Everyone else was just as good and this movie is a keeper.

started for romance, stayed for mr. morgan

[pontesofiasp · 7/10 · 21 August 2023]

Main character is a classic y/n tomboy, just more likable.

Love the way she's confident about herself like it's inspiring.

Pretty cliche plot, reminded me a lot of mean girls 2 just better! Kinda boring, did not like the fact the fact that cameron fell for bianca at first sight it was blegh, one of my least favorite tropes. The romance between kat and patrick was decent minus the fact that it seemed pretty fast-paced and he was lowkey stalking her (but ig it was cute????? Idk..) ALSO, NO, ARGUMENTS CAN'T BE SOLVED WITH A KISS!!!! So happy that kat pushed patrick away when that happened because absolutely not. They were cheesy and cute and i liked it.

Anyways mr.morgan was actually hilarious and he carried the movie.

A masterpiece that leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling! 10 out of 10 for 10 Things

[BettieTeese · 10/10 · 12 March 2005]

All the praise in the world goes to every individual involved in the production of 10 Things I Hate About You,a film that rarely leaves my DVD player.I'm not a fan of Shakespeare's traditional plays,but the modern day screen adaptions are brilliant,and 10 Things I Hate About You is no exception.The highschool stereotypes of the cool kids nobody messes with,the wannabe's that try too hard to be something they're not,the geeks everyone picks on and the rebels everyone is afraid of,mean there's a character in this film everyone can relate to.The stand out performances are Heath Ledger as Patrick,the rebellious,feared and elusive bad guy who wins the heart of Kat Stratford played to perfection by fine actress Julia Stiles who has no interest in the opposite sex and is perceived to come from the planet 'Loser' while her more sociable,boy crazy sister Bianca (Larissa Oleynik)hails from planet 'Look at Me,Look at Me'.Her good looks catch the eye of the smooth,suave and egotistical Joey Donner (Andrew Keegan) who is a male model,and fights for the affections of the prettiest Stratford sister with Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) the highschool geek,with a big heart and a big crush on Bianca.The hilarious Larry Miller stars as Walter Stratford-the kind of father who puts his girls on a short leash and desperately tries to shield them from the horrors of sex,drugs and rock and roll,and of course,boys.A typical teenage comedy,but its witty dialogue,goofy,sexy,cool and bad ass characters,and enjoyable storyline set it apart from all the rest.There's plenty of memorable moments,romance,and clever and classic lines,all leading up to a predictable but perfectly good ending that leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling about teenage love.

Indeed A Classic!

[johanex71 · 7/10 · 24 April 2020]

This movie gets better & better everytime u watch it.

Maybe one of the best teen movies ever?

[ethanbresnett · 9/10 · 19 February 2022]

Practically everything about this film is just fantastic.

Brilliant story, a wonderful adaptation of the Shakespearean source material, with many nice meta references to the man himself and the play.

Incredible casting. Heath Ledger brings so much charm and charisma to his role, and Julia Styles is a force to be reckoned with.

Great vibe to it. The set, the soundtrack, the lovely 90s trademarks that feel so nostalgic. Loved the whole tone.

Just brilliant. One of the best teen movies I've seen.

10 Things that were different about it...

[theBIGlebowskiD · 7/10 · 2 April 2002]

Teen movies...dumb, pointless and stupid vulgar "I cant wait for sex" teens. But TEN THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU was different. And here is why. 1) It had interesting characters/development 2) Didnt follow the basic teen plots. 3) Interesting humor 4) Good cast 5) Good ending 6) Went places unexpected 7) Doesn't map the movie around sex 8) Pary scenes that seem real and different than the normal pot parties. 9) Sub plots that made sense. 10) Just all around different. There you go. It's not CLUELESS, which is good, its not a sappy romance and its not too teenybopper. Liked it. A solid film

One of the best high school movies of the 90s

[cbobs · 8/10 · 25 May 2019]

This was the Kickstarter to three big actors careers. Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Some of the comedy is well utilised and the jokes can come in so bizarrely that you can't help but laugh. I mean, I love how random this film is. Parts of the film feel so different and bizarre and it actually works. And also the multiple amount of main characters. I mean, at first u think it's gonna be Joseph Gordon Levitt because he is the new kid at school, but then it changes to Bianca and Cat and it starts to become a story about two sisters but then it sort of changes to a love story about Heath Ledger and Cat. However, it doesn't feel bad either. But if I were to say anything negative about it then I would say that Cameron's backstory was kinda glanced over and he isn't really given much character development. Also, there's really strange scene. This is where they are trying to ask a bunch of strangers whether they would date Cat. Now they could have just had them all laughing which they do, but then proceed to ask them one by one. It just feels a bit too strange and the editing isn't great either. Anyway, my favourite character is probably the English teacher. He's just the embodiment of what you wanted, but also didn't want your teachers to be like. But obviously the best scene in the entire film is the 'Can't take my eyes off you" performance done by Heath Ledger. The acting is gray with Julia Stiles giving a strong performance and Heath Ledger killing it in his role. R.I.P Heath Ledger! Another great scene is the one where Cameron's friend nearly cycles all the way down to the sports stadium. It was so bizarre and out of left field but great at the same time. Anyway, while this film isn't perfect it's different to your average high school romcom and makes you feel just whelmed. Definitely worth a watch.

Good Teen Romance Drama.

[SameirAli · 7/10 · 28 August 2021]

The modern adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew, interestingly the film title sounds the same. Watchable Teen Romance Drama.

A Stereotypical Teen Movie; Nothing Fresh Or Original About It

[sddavis63 · 2/10 · 9 November 2012]

I'm not going to argue with teenagers. This is a stereotypical teen movie filled with every cliché that the genre uses. And of course there are a lot of teen movies filled with those same clichés simply because they work for their target audience. This one clearly works with the target audience. It has a good rating. So be it. But my warning: if you're not a teen, please avoid this.

I didn't find it funny or fresh or original. It's the same basic plot that gets respun over and over: kids (some cool and some not) desperately trying to fit in, and somehow in the midst of it all finding love in the most unexpected places. It didn't do anything for me - but then again, I'm not a teen. In fact, I wasn't really a teen even when I was a teen! So I'm definitely not the target audience. And maybe that's the reason that I spent a good part of this movie wondering about the title. What 10 things? I didn't really make the connection between the title of the movie and the content of the movie. It's like someone just made up a title out of thin air because it sounded cute or funny or something. But what did it have to do with the actual movie?

It's not a bad cast, but you really have to be into this kind of movie to enjoy it. I'm not, and I didn't. It has two or three mildly humorous and/or heartwarming moments. The father/daughter talk near the end of the movie as Mr. Stratford finally lets go of Kat was basically THE heartwarming moment of the movie, and it actually worked quite well, and so left me with a bit of a more generous reaction than I might otherwise have had. Still, though, I can't honestly say that I enjoyed this in any way, shape or form. (2/10)