Top 10 Best Teen Movie Character Introductions

These are the characters that had us at hello. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top 10 character introductions in teen movies.

For this list, we’ll be looking at films that focus on teens and young adults, and the significant ways in which the characters from them make their first impressions on the audience.

#10: Meet Juno MacGuff
“Juno” (2007)

In this coming-of-age comedy, we meet Juno - a seemingly normal teenager - as she is captivated with an old recliner chair that she got physical on with her friend Paulie. The unique character, with her sarcastic and witty humor, deserves an introduction that is just as unique as she is, and director Jason Reitman gives her just that. Whether that be her drinking Sunny D straight out of the carton or her distinctive lingo, Juno’s intro perfectly encapsulates her quirkiness and unconventionality.

#9: Meet Nadine Franklin & Krista
“The Edge of Seventeen” (2016)

One of the central relationships in this film is the friendship between the protagonist Nadine and her best friend Krista. True to the nature of the comedy-drama’s coming of age genre, we get to see not only the beginning of Nadine’s struggle to fit in but also the origins of her relationship with Krista. Portraying the pair’s relationship through their introduction is central to the premise of the movie as it allows us to better understand the betrayal felt by Nadine as their friendship is called into question. As well, the fact that Nadine and Krista’s relationship was formed over a caterpillar showcases the odd, and often hilarious ways children become friends.

#8: Meet Olive Penderghast
“Easy A” (2010)

This hilarious 2010 comedy follows high school student Olive Penderghast as she deals with the repercussions of lying about losing her virginity. Presented through her own first-person narration, Olive’s introduction is unique from the other movies on this list as she speaks directly to the audience via webcam and provides the audience with a brief backstory of the film’s events from her own perspective. Fun fact: Emma Stone, who plays Olive, got the role by sending a webcam recording of herself to director Will Gluck doing the opening monologue, which was similar to the one she does in the actual film,.

#7: Meet the Actual Blue
“Love, Simon” (2018)

Throughout this teen rom-com, we are plagued with the question of who is Blue - an anonymous user that frequently chats with Simon online, and who Simon begins to fall for. Unlike the other films on this list, we only properly meet Blue in person at the very ending of the film, which makes the reveal and introduction highly anticipated. Not only is the reveal unexpected - as it turns out to be Bram - a fellow high school student and acquaintance of Simon’s, but it is also extremely heartwarming, as Simon finally meets the real Blue and they can now openly be together.

#6: Meet the Toro Cheerleading Squad
“Bring It On” (2000)

Presented to viewers through a cheerleading routine in a dream sequence that Kirsten Dunst’s Torrance has, the Toro cheerleading squad has one of the most unconventional, yet truly iconic intros in teen movie history. This iconic status comes from the film putting a central focus on the eccentric characters and their roles on the team, making the introduction one of the most memorable scenes of the entire comedy. And with the extremely catchy cheer performed throughout, there is no doubt that we will be cheering right along with them!

#5: Meet Gigi & Jared
“Booksmart” (2019)

This 2019 coming-of-age comedy follows best friends Amy and Molly as they come to the realization that they focused too much on their academics throughout high school and never really had fun. While Amy and Molly are the lead characters in “Booksmart,” the introduction of the characters Gigi and Jared is easily the most memorable, and arguably one of the funniest scenes of the entire movie. From the song “Money” by Leikeli47 playing in the background to the peculiar paint job of Jared’s car, and the dynamic between the two friends in this initial scene, it perfectly captures Gigi and Jared’s relationship and eccentric personalities.

#4: Meet Danny Zuko & Sandy Olsson
“Grease” (1978)

Like “Bring It On,” Grease also introduces characters Danny and Sandy in a totally unconventional way. We first meet the lovebirds as they both sing to their friends about their summer romance and how it ended in the song titled ‘Summer Nights’. Not only is this tune what puts Danny and Sandy here, but it’s also one of the most popular tracks to come out of the musical rom-com, reaching number 5 on the Billboard Charts and topping UK charts for 7 weeks. The pop number is also set to provide the premise for a prequel to the film that was announced in 2019 titled ‘Summer Loving’, and is set to focus on the couple’s summer romance as described in the song.

#3: Meet the Breakfast Club
“The Breakfast Club” (1985)

While this teen comedy-drama is mostly known for its ending monologue, director John Hughes can also be credited for the way he presented the film’s main characters to the audience. We first meet the titular Breakfast Club as they are forced to spend their Saturday in detention, entering their school’s library one-by-one. There is so much detail put into each character’s entrance that it really establishes their relationship with each other and their individual personalities. Shown through their demeanor, the place they chose to sit when they first walk in, and their perceived attitudes towards being in detention, we can decipher the roles these differing characters will play in the film very early on.

#2: Meet the Plastics
“Mean Girls” (2004)

The introduction to the Plastics is one of the many popular scenes to come out of this 2004 comedy. The most popular girls at North Shore High School are initially shown to us when they are being described by characters Janis and Damian to new girl Cady. Not only are we able to clearly see the group’s social domination over the student body, but we’re also given some of the most iconic lines of the film. In fact, the part of the scene showing the students’ direct addresses to the camera in which they talk about Regina George was even referenced in Ariana Grande’s ‘Thank U, Next’ music video.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

Meet the Heathers
“Heathers” (1988)

Meet All the Boys Lara Jean Has Loved Before
“To All the Boys I've Loved Before” (2018)

Meet Scott Pilgrim
“Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” (2010)

Meet Charlie Kelmeckis
“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” (2012)

Meet Mia Thermopolis
“The Princess Diaries” (2001)

#1: Meet Ferris Bueller
“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (1986)

This John Hughes-directed flick is known as one of the greatest teen movies of all time, due in large part to the pitch-perfect introduction of protagonist Ferris. The high schooler’s narration to the camera lecturing us about school skipping techniques and European socialism not only sets the tone for the rest of the film but has also had a tremendous influence on the introduction of characters inside and outside of teen movies. The way in which we get to know Ferris has even extended to other films on this list; most notably “Easy A,” which not only mimics the ‘breaking of the fourth wall’ aspect but also features Olive with a shampoo-styled mohawk singing into her showerhead.