Heathers was released in 1988 and starred Christian Slater and Winona Ryder. Though it initially didn’t find glory among Hollywood films, it quickly became one of the biggest cult films of all time with its DVD release and cable run.
Basically — in case you’ve been living under a rock — the film tells the story of a high school girl, Veronica, who hangs out with the popular kids (all named Heather) only as a survival method. But when the new kid (and sociopath), J.D., gets Veronica all hot and bothered, the two hatch a plan for revenge that spirals out of control (read: murder the Heathers and redistribute the popularity across the high school hierarchy).
It’s dark comedy at its finest, and the film is known for its witty one-liners, like the classic, “Well, fuck me gently with a chainsaw. Do I look like Mother Teresa?” and “What’s your damage, Heather?” And while the one-liners are a sure way to make new friends, there are also some crazy little-known facts about the making of the movie itself.
Click through our slideshow to get all the dirt on this cult hit.
Winona Ryder Was Even Younger Than Veronica
Winona Ryder was only 15 when she landed the role as Veronica. She turned 16 during production.
Winona Ryder Wanted to Play Veronica Sawyer So Badly
Ryder loved the script so much, she offered to do it for free.
"I read it before it went out to people and I freaked out," Ryder said of the script during a piece with Interview magazine. "I called Michael Lehmann [the director], and I was like, 'You don’t have to pay me. I just want to say these lines.'"
Winona Ryder Wasn’t the First Choice to Play Veronica
Film writer Daniel Waters and director Lehmann initially didn't think Ryder was pretty enough to play Veronica. When Ryder heard this, she got a makeover at a mall and walked back into their offices, convincing them to let her have the role.
Jennifer Connelly and Justine Bateman both turned down the role of Veronica.
There’s a Special Meaning Behind 2 of the Character’s Names
The names Veronica and Betty come from the Archie comics, while the girls' last names, Sawyer and Finn, are taken from Mark Twain's classic characters.
Winona Ryder & Christian Slater Had Crushes on Each Other
Winona Ryder and Christian Slater both had crushes on one another while filming, but they never dated.
In fact, Slater was dating Kim Walker, who played Heather Chandler, at the time. The two broke up after the film wrapped, and Ryder said she and Slater later had a fling but never an official relationship.
Shannen Doherty Had a Heather-like Attitude
Shannen Doherty apparently acted like a Heather on set IRL.
Actor Carrie Lynn, who played Martha Dunnstock, called Doherty "bitchy."
"She had a television career, and she was a really talented actress, but a bit of a handful," Lehmann said to EW of working with Doherty.
Waters added, "Shannen’s mother [Rosa] kept throwing Our House in our faces. 'Well, you know, Shannen is the star of this TV show.' She was very ambitious."
Shannen Doherty Was Really Innocent
Shannen Doherty was reportedly very innocent on set and had trouble swearing. The infamous line, "Fuck me gently with a chainsaw," was supposed to be hers, but she just couldn't bring herself to say it.
Kim Walker Died in 2001 From a Brain Tumor
Walker, who played Heather Chandler and uttered the famous line, "Did you have a brain tumor for breakfast?" died from a brain tumor in 2001 at age 32.
Heather Chandler Was Almost a Different Heather
Heather Graham was the first pick for Heather Chandler, but her parents wouldn't let her be in the film because she was only 17 at the time, and they didn't think it was appropriate.
Brad Pitt Was Considered for the Role of J.D.
Brad Pitt auditioned for the role of J.D., which eventually went to Christian Slater. Producers thought Pitt looked too nice for the role.
Christian Slater Was Inspired by Jack Nicholson
Christian Slater used Jack Nicholson as his character inspiration throughout the film. He even attempted to call Nicholson to tell him about the film, but it didn't end so well.
"I don’t know if he thought I was completely insane or trying to impress somebody or what, but I couldn’t take it," Slater reportedly recalled. "So I just hung up on him. I hung up on Jack Nicholson. It was a moment of clarity — like 'What have I done? I’ve just ruined my career.'"
Writer Daniel Waters Had a Unique Inspiration for the Film
The first line Waters wrote was "You can’t use that knife. It’s filthy!" when Veronica and J.D. are about to stage Heather Duke’s suicide.
He recalled to EW, "The teen films of the time, the John Hughes film, were fun. But there’s a whole other wing of the high school they weren’t going into — the dark, Stephen King wing that nobody wanted to look at. And I think Heathers was refreshing. It was the first time a lot of people lost their dark humor virginity. It’s hard to even remember now that going back then, there were so many television shows and documentaries about the horror of teen suicide that just made it so attractive to commit suicide because you got all this love and adulation. Who can resist! It seemed like I was the only one noticing the humor in it."
The Movie Was Supposed to Have a Different Ending
The movie was originally supposed to end with J.D. blowing up the school and then everyone would have prom in heaven while drinking blue punch. Apparently, the studio rejected this ending because they thought it was too grim.
Get This: There Was Yet Another Possible Ending in the Works
Another ending reportedly had Martha "Dumptruck" Dunnstock pulling out a knife, stabbing Veronica and shouting, "Fuck you, Heather." With the knife in her stomach, Veronica would laugh and say, "My name’s not Heather. My name’s not Heather." Then, Martha would stand from her wheelchair and walk off.
‘Heathers’ Was a Huge Box Office Flop
Heathers only made $1.1 million in theaters and was considered a box office failure. However, it later became a cult classic thanks to showings on cable television.
The Heathers legacy still lives on today and can be seen echoed in movies like Mean Girls and TV shows like Glee.
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