I hate the way you are a cult classic film and the way you are on every top 10 romance movie list.10 Things I Hate About You, Gil Junger’s 1999 refreshingly modern take on Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, is a movie that redefined teen movies for a generation.

Released on March 31, 1999 10 Things I Hate About You was directed by Gil Junger was advertised as a modern retelling of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, taking place in a Seattle high school, where love, social cliques, and teenage rebellion collide in a story filled with humor, heart, and iconic moments that cemented its cult classic status. Starring Julia Stiles as the fiercely independent Kat Stratford and Heath Ledger in his breakout role as the charmingly rebellious Patrick Verona, the film also features Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the love struck new student Cameron, and Larisa Oleynik as Kat’s younger sister Bianca, whose dating life sets the entire plot in motion.

“This movie is totally iconic,” Senior Margo Martin said.

Okay, so let’s be real this movie is totally unrealistic, but that is what makes it so good. The marching band rarely helps in serenading students on the bleachers. Yet the cast sells the illusion of high school being a fantasy so well, you begin to fall in love with the characters. Julia Stiles delivers a perfect balance of wit and vulnerability as Kat, capturing the independence and sharpness of Shakespeare’s original Katherine while making her feel modern and relatable. Heath Ledger, in his first major American role, oozes charisma as Patrick Verona, turning what could have been a cliché “bad boy” into someone audiences couldn’t help but root for. The rest of the cast,from Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s sweet, awkward Cameron to Larisa Oleynik’s shallow-but-growing Bianca round out the film with plenty of humor and heart.

“My favorite part of the movie is when the younger sister realizes she is in love with the guy pursuing her, that is a beautiful part of the movie, and I think their an underrated couple.” Senior Kianna Paz said.

So, final verdict? 10 Things I Hate About You is one of those movies that everyone should watch at least once. If you love romantic comedies, you will fall for the banter and the big prom moment. If you’re into Shakespeare but want something way more fun than reading The Taming of the Shrew in English class, this is basically the perfect mash-up. And honestly, even if you just want to see Heath Ledger be the most charming guy on earth for 97 minutes, this movie delivers. It’s dramatic, it’s funny, it’s totally unrealistic and that’s exactly why the films a classic.

“I never seen that movie before, and now I understand why it’s a classic,” teacher Cora Carables said.