Production note Roger Cumble reportedly begged Reese Witherspoon to do the film and promised only 15 shooting days.
Production note Bill calls Reese’s real first name Laura and says Laura Witherspoon would not work as well.
Production note The movie’s R rating was contractually required by producer Neil Moritz.
Production note Bittersweet Symphony reportedly cost close to a million dollars and about 10 percent of the budget.
Production note The soundtrack was nearly different because Billy Corgan reportedly turned down To Sheila.
Production note The movie included an explicit revenge-porn-style opening sequence featuring Tara Reid.
Production note The film’s Catholic symbolism and coke-cross imagery are treated as a striking part of the movie’s style.
Dangerous Liaisons Used as the direct predecessor and adult counterpart to Cruel Intentions.
The Sopranos Bill uses it to argue for Sebastian as an early anti-hero.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High Cited as an earlier naughty teen movie tradition.
Scream Used as a teen-movie benchmark and comparison for casting/genre effect.
She’s All That Mentioned as another bet-based teen movie.
The Perfect Date Referenced as a more recent variant of the same teen-bet formula.
10 Things I Hate About You Used as another 1999 teen romance adjacent to the film’s setup.
Pulp Fiction Bill jokes about the line being able to fit anywhere in the movie, using the kind of quote-commentary style associated with iconic dialogue.
The Brady Bunch Referenced to explain the ‘Marsha Brady’ line.
Buffy Used as the show that made Sarah Michelle Gellar famous before this film.
Dawson’s Creek Cited as part of the late-90s teen TV environment and as a place where Counting Crows was used heavily.
Jerry Maguire Used as an example of watching an R-rated movie with parents.
He Got Game Another parental R-rated viewing anecdote.
Officer and a Gentleman Another example of awkward family movie-viewing.
