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Julia Stiles has proven she can handle pretty much any genre. She ruled the teen rom-com scene with "10 Things I Hate About You" and "Save the Last Dance." She took action as Matt Damon's co-star in the fast-paced "Bourne" series. She was perfect as  the horrified mother of one creepy kid named Damien in "The Omen." But now Stiles is taking on one genre she wasn't even aware existed: apocalypse comedies.

In her latest film, "It's a Disaster" directed by Todd Berger, available now in VOD and in theaters April 12, four couples meeting for Sunday brunch find themselves stranded together when they receive news that the world is ending. Stiles plays Tracy, a doctor who's introducing her new boyfriend Glen (David Cross) to her three best friends and their significant others. While her biggest initial fear is whether her friends will approve of her new beau, she soon realizes passing the friend test is the least of her worries at this couple's brunch. (Check out the film at its official site.)

NextMovie sat down with Stiles in her hometown of New York City to chat about the film, awkward brunches, and how a ukelele could help in an apocalypse scenario.

"It’s a Disaster" is described as a doomsday comedy, which seems to be sort of a trend right now. We’ve got "This is the End," "The World’s End"…what do you think is so funny about the apocalypse?
I had no idea there were these other apocalypse movies coming out. I think what's funny about it, what I liked about "It's a Disaster" when I read it, is it's so much more about how all these people are in denial about the reality of their situation. They focus on seemingly mundane things and also are totally incapable of doing anything to survive without technology. Once the power goes out and the internet's out and they can't see anything on the TV or on the radio, they're completely useless.

Are you personally worried about the world ending?
There's no point in worrying about it. There's nothing I can do about it.

So if you were in an apocalypse situation, how would you prepare?
I'm really bad with that. I am like the character in the movie where I would be so in denial. I'm good in a crisis situation when it’s right in front of my face but if it's someone guessing that something's going to happen…Like what would I have in my survival kit? I mean the essentials, food, water, it depends on where I am. Am I in New York City?

Yeah, sure!
What would be really valuable? I mean food and water and a weapon of some sort. And a musical instrument just to offset the weapon.

Do you play any musical instruments?
No...I have a ukulele. I can play one song and I could always hand it off to someone else to play it.

What song can you play?
It's so corny. "If I Had a Hammer." That would help me in a crisis situation.

So in your movie, your character talks about all the things she wished she had done. If the world was ending today, what are some things you wished you had done?
Oh, go to Brazil. Hmm... wish that I did? I've had a pretty awesome life. There are probably some drugs that I would've tried. That’s about it: Brazil and certain drugs.

Okay, good combo. In your career, which of your roles has been most similar to yourself?
Oh, see, it depends on what age you caught me at. If you had caught me 12 years ago I would've said I’m like my character from "10 Things I Hate About You," although less uptight. I’m not really similar to a lot of the characters that I play.

You share billing with some very big-name comedians, including The Vacationeers and David Cross.
When I first found out that David Cross was going to be in it, I saw him in the East Village because we live in the same neighborhood. And I actually did the thing where I ducked my head and darted across the street. I don’t know why, I just sort of panicked! I was a big fan of his before I met him and then eventually we had a beer and we were fine.

Oscilloscope

In the movie, you say every guy you date turns out crazy. Is there anything a guy can do to make you send him immediately packing?
I really hate snarkiness so if he's nasty or if he's rude to a waiter, that would be a huge turnoff for me.

In "Silver Linings Playbook", you have a pretty awkward dinner scene as Jennifer Lawrence’s sister. And then in "It’s a Disaster" you’re at an awkward brunch. You’ve mastered the awkward meal.
I just gravitate towards awkwardness, that's what I read!

Have you ever had an awkward lunch or dinner in real life?
When have I not had an awkward lunch in real life? I feel like I'm constantly trying to avoid awkwardness. I always try to pretend that the awkwardness doesn't exist and then it just becomes more awkward.

Are you the one in an awkward silence, you have to say something because you can’t take it anymore?
Yes, I usually have to. Even in interviews, I stick my foot in my mouth so much because if there's a silence before…you don't even have to ask me a question and I feel like I need to talk.

You’ve been in a few modern day Shakespeare adaptations — "10 Things I Hate About You", "Hamlet", "O." Do you have a Shakespeare addiction?
Not an addiction. Certainly I'm not the only person who enjoys his plays and his writing otherwise they wouldn't keep doing Shakespeare plays over and over again all over the country and all over the world. I studied Shakespeare in college, but not theatrically, more in terms of literature, and then I kind of took a break from it. Now there’s resurgence in my appreciation for him. It's amazing, there are so many book titles and song titles that come just from lines that he wrote. His body of work is extraordinary and I’m certainly not the only person that thinks that. But I was lucky that there was a certain time when people were adapting a lot of those plays and I got to be a part of it. But I want a do-over on a lot of them. I want a do-over on "Hamlet" for sure.

If you're home watching TV and "10 Things I Hate About You" or "Save the Last Dance" is on, do you watch it?
No.

Not even tempted?
No, not at all. It’s like, why would you watch a home video? I mean, for me it's kind of crazy because it's like looking through a high school yearbook or something. It's a moment in time or a moment in my life that was captured on film. But no, usually I've got better things to do than stare at myself.

You had a fan ask you once if you could teach them the dance from "Save the Last Dance," right?
Once? All the time!

Has anyone ever asked you if you still remember the poem from "10 Things?"
No! Nobody’s ever asked me that, that's interesting.

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Do you think you could do it if someone asked you? Do you still remember?
I remember parts of it. I remember the end of it. "And most of all...I hate the way I don't hate you not even a little bit, not even at all." I remember the last line.

When you were up there did you have a piece of paper or you just did it?
No, I memorized it.

Do people ever quote your own lines back at you?
No, it's usually they just have a specific thing that they've seen that they liked.

No one liners?
No, but I don’t think I've ever had any memorable one-liners. Oh, that's not true… in an airport somebody quoted the Bourne movies to me. They were like "This is Treadstone 3.0" or what was it they said? "They don’t do mistakes." I don't remember what it was, but  I was like woah.

In the spirit of "It’s a Disaster," Mimosa or Bloody Mary?
Depends on how hungover I am. I would say Bloody Mary.

New York or LA?
New York, for sure.

How often do you check your IMDB page?
Never.

What’s your porn star name?
Millie Green. That’s horrible!

You sound like a pioneer.
Or Tommy Green.

I kind of like Millie.
I wouldn't buy that porn.

Warner Bros.

Okay, so here's a movie pitch for you: Take a group of mismatched friends, send them out for an evening of drunken revelry and then watch the hilarity ensue when they try to figure out just what the heck they did. Guaranteed hit, right?

But we're not describing the plot of "The Hangover" — we're actually describing the plot of the upcoming teen comedy "21 and Over," which is basically exactly like "The Hangover" except, you know, with college students in it.

"21 and Over" is hardly the first film to blantly remake another movie, book or play for a teenage crowd; it's actually a longstanding tradition in Hollywood. So in honor of "21 and Over's" brazen replication, here's a closer look at it and six other films like it.

1. "Easy A:" We love 2010's "Easy A," mostly because it's the film that turned Emma Stone into the superstar she was always meant to be. or, alternately, Stone turned "Easy A" into a good movie, whiever way you want to look at it. Anyway, the point is, "Easy 's" story about an high school girl osctracized for supposedly being loose is just a teenage variation on the classic Nathaniel Hawthorne novel "The Scarlet Letter." And "The Scarlet Letter" has been made into rather adult films any number of times in the past, most notably in 1995, when Demi Moore and Gary Oldman headlined. We have to hand it to Hollywood — a creepy story about judmental puritans isn't exactly the most obvious teen comedy ever.

Columbia

2. "Agent Cody Banks:" Hey you guys, remember Frankie Muniz? Back in 2003, he was totally a thing, in part due to "Agent Cody Banks." And in case the title didn't tip you off, here's the entire plot of the film: It's James Bond, only with a kid. The end. Unfortunately, "Agent Cody Banks" didn't do quite well enough at the box office to warrant 22 sequels, but that's okay; it's hard to do a movie about a kid secret agent is the kid ends up growing a mustache during filming.

3. "10 Things I hate About You:" The movie that introduced most of the world to the talents of Heath Ledger is, as you might expect, a classic. but the 1999 romcom is also a teenified version of the famous William Shakespeare play "The Taming of the Shrew." We're guessing Julia Stiles is probably perfectly happy with the change it title, since nobody likes to be called a shrew. It's not much a surprise that Shakespeare's works do so well when remade as teen movies, though; after all, Shakespeare himself swiped the plot of the ultimate teen romance, "Romeo and Juliet," from an older play. He'd be right at home in Hollywood.

4. "Brick:" Back in 2005, writer/director Rian Johnson put together one of the most unlikely teen revamps in film history with "brick," a little indie film that answered the question: What would happen if you set a hard boiled 40's detective noir thriller in a high school? It totally shouldn't have worked, but thanks to Johnson and star Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the mix of Dashiell Hammet and John Hughes became one of the coolest cult classics of the decade — and set the stage for their 2012 collaboration, "Looper."

5. "She's All That:" Here's the relatively quicky premise behind the 1999 Freddie Prinze Jr. flick "She's All That:" Freddie plays a high shcool jock who makes a bet that he can take one of the leats popular girls in school and turn her into a contender for prom queen. And then some romance happens. We won't get into all the things that are wrong with this premise, because most of that blame has to go to legendary author George bernard Shaw and his play "Pygmalion," which in 1963 was turned into one of the most beloved musicals of all time, "My Fair Lady." Our suggestion: Just watch the original movie, teens or no teens.

Lucasfilm

6. "The Goonies:" Ask anybody who grew up in the '80s and they'll tell you: "The Goonies" is one of the greatest films of all time. And while there's plenty of credit to go around, much of the success of "The Goonies" has to be attributed to producer and co-writer Steven Spielberg. Spielberg, you see, had the brilliant idea to take all the stuff that made "Raiders of the Lost Ark" such a massive success and put it all into a film for and about kids. The results pretty much speak for themselves.

7. "Whatever It Takes:" After the success of "She's All That" and "10 Things I Hate About You" in 1999, "Whatever It Takes" seemed like a shoo-in at the box office when it came out a year later. Like those two films, it took a classic story with a proven cinematic track record — in this case, Edmond Rostand's play "Cyrano de Bergerac," which has been made into hit films like  Steve Martin's "Roxanne" — and re-imagined it for teens. Unfortunately, it tanked, earning les than $9 million. Maybe if they tried remaking it for toddlers next time?

8. "21 and Over:" And, of course, we can't end our examination without a closer look at the film that inspired it all. How much does "21 and over" snag the premise of "The Hangover?" Well ... the film is actually written by the guys who wrote "The Hangover" and "The Hangover Part II," John Lucas and Scott Moore. Hey, if you're going to steal, steal from yourself, right?

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Evan Rachel Wood has at least one thing to love about life: She's just snagged the lead role in "10 Things I Hate About Life."

Although the title will throw you into a fit of nostalgia recalling the classic 1999 film "10 Things I Hate About You" (Julia Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Heath Ledger), Deadline reports that this upcoming project is not the sequel.
However,  the dynamic duo that brought us the modern day adaptation of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew," writer/director Gil Junger and producer Andrew Lazar, are teaming up again to bring us this Los Angeles-set romantic comedy.

The film will follow Wood's character as she plans to commit suicide, but meets a man with the same mission, putting at least a temporary hold on her demise. "Their chance meeting is so awkward, so raw, and so funny, they postpone their intentions and go their separate ways," said Junger.  

"Captain America" star Hayley Atwell was originally linked to the leading role. There's no word yet on the suicidal gentleman's casting, but with production looming, our curiosity should be addressed soon.

With the bleak premise and no cast crossover (so far), we're inclined to believe the "no sequel" reports. But with this tried and true creative team at the helm, they had us at "10 Things."

Paramount

Remember the 1999 blockbuster "10 Things I Hate About You" that launched the late Heath Ledger to instant teen-heartthrob stardom? That might be the question of the hour, as there is (apparently) a sequel in the works. Now. More than a decade later.

Seems a little slow on the uptake, if you ask us, but we're intrigued just the same. According to Variety, "Captain America: The First Avenger" beauty Hayley Atwell has signed on to star in this installment, coined "10 Things I Hate About Life." Now, we love us some Atwell, but something about her as the lead seems kind of … random. Then again, so does the sequel in general, so maybe that fits.

Writer/ director Gil Junger will return to helm this flick, which he says, "advances situations from the original film," and was inspired after he came "across a man who had committed suicide at a scenic overlook."

Wait, this is a comedy, right?

Besides this rather odd fact, details about the film remain scant. Perhaps 10 years post high-school, poetess Kat Stratford is finding herself in an existential crisis? Or maybe her kid sister, Bianca, has made some poor life choices that left her kind of bitter? The possibilities are truly endless.

No word yet on who Atwell will play (besides "the lead") or whether any of the original cast will return (Julia Stiles and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, we're talking to you) — but we'll find out sooner rather than later, as filming is slated to start as soon as this coming November.

Warner Bros.

From the looks of it, the party at the center of "Project X" is an epic teen throwdown to rival the best of them. No wonder, since it's produced by "The Hangover" director Todd Phillips.

To mark this Friday's release of the sure-to-be raucous flick, we've weeded through some of our favorite party films of all time to pick the 13 best movie parties we wish we'd attended. From "Animal House"s' infamous toga party to Will Ferrell streaking at a Snoop Dogg concert in "Old School," one thing's for certain: These parties rocked.

If only life were more like the movies.

'National Lampoon’s Animal House': Toga Party

As anyone who's seen this raunchy classic from John Landis ("The Blues Brothers") can attest, "Animal House" has the most epic toga party ever committed to celluloid. That's no small feat, especially considering (get this) it was the first ever one put on film. You have this movie to thank for making your time spent in college well worth it.

'Old School': Snoop Dogg Concert

In “Old School,” Mitch (Luke Wilson) dumps his long-time girlfriend and finds himself in dire straits. So what does his friend Bernard (Vince Vaughn) do? Throw an epic party, featuring a set by none other than Snoop Dogg. The party gets so out of hand that their buddy Frank (Will Ferrell) reverts back to his drunken ways and goes on a streaking rampage through the neighborhood.

'Almost Famous': The Pool Jump

Oh, how times have changed. Back in the ‘70s, pill popping was considered the norm at house parties. Now, not so much. To see how rock stars really let loose during that defining period, then look no further than the loopiest scene in “Almost Famous,” where rowdy guitarist, Russell Hammond (Billy Crudup), tripping on LSD, jumps off a roof and into a pool, screaming, “I am a golden god!” Well all righty then.

'Dazed and Confused': The Last Day of High School

Richard Linklater's coming-of-age classic is essentially one prolonged party. In other words, it's our kind of movie. The '70s-set film takes place on the last day of school at Lee High School in Austin, Texas, as next year’s group of seniors hazes the hell out of the incoming freshmen. Poor souls.

'House Party' (It's in the Title, People)

The party at the center of “House Party” is one we’d kill to attend. Dance contests, freestyle battles ... what’s not to love? The rowdy affair hosted by Play (hip-hop artist Christopher ‘Play’ Martin) almost gets disrupted by a local bully, who goes by the apt name of Stab; but luckily for Play, the police get involved, preventing Stab from ruining a good time.

'Can’t Hardly Wait': The Whole Movie

Let’s face it, the best parts about most teen movies are the party scenes. So it’s clear why we have a soft spot for this charmer -- the whole thing takes place at a single party. In “Can’t Hardly Wait,” everyone comes to their high school graduation party with an agenda. It was hard to pick, but our favorite storyline concerns Kenny (Seth Green), a wannabe rapper who's dead set on losing his virginity. Things don’t quite turn out as planned for the guy.

'Boogie Nights': The Porn Parties

If "Boogie Nights" is any indication, nobody throws a party like the porn industry. Paul Thomas Anderson's film tracks the remarkable rise of a young porn hopeful, Dirk Diggler (Mark Wahlberg in a breakout role). Along with fame come the parties, and Dirk isn’t one to hold back. The guy parties like a rock star.

'Sixteen Candles': The School Dance

As anyone familiar with the John Hughes teen classic “Sixteen Candles” knows, Samantha Baker’s (Molly Ringwald) sixteenth birthday doesn’t start off on a good note. Her big day is upstaged in favor of her big sister’s wedding, scheduled to take place the following day; her ‘sex quiz’ lands in the hands of her high school crush, Jake Ryan; and her grandparents force her to take their foreign exchange student to the school dance that night. Thankfully for Samantha, things take a turn for the better at the party when Jake, bored with his girlfriend, starts to take an interest in her.

'Harold and Kumar Escape Guantanamo Bay': The Bottomless Party

Let's face it folks, Lady Gaga knows best: Pants are overrated. Our favorite stoners, Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Penn), know this. In this loopy sequel to the teen cult favorite, Cho and Penn bare their backsides at a bottomless party where they find themselves after escaping Guantanamo Bay (it's a long story). And no, Lady Gaga wasn't invited.

'10 Things I Hate About You': Bogey Lowenstein's Party

Before Julia Stiles proved she had all the right moves in "Save the Last Dance," she showed off her hip-hop dancing skills atop a table at a rowdy party in "10 Things I Hate About You." In the teen retelling of "The Taming of the Shrew," Stiles plays Kat, an ill-tempered outcast, who makes a change for the better when she falls for Patrick (Heath Ledger). Patrick is thrown for a loop when he sees Kat shaking what her momma gave her, and so were we. Stiles got back!

'Clueless': The Valley Party

While we don't condone the smoking that goes on in the house party early in "Clueless," we are in full support of the Suck and Blow game that occupies Alica Silverstone and her friends. For anyone who's seen the teen classic, you know how to play. For those of you that haven't, what are you waiting for?

'Billy Madison': Circus Graduation Party

If your idea of a good party is watching a clown on stilts fall, break his legs and get a hemorrhage, then this one's for you. At a circus-themed third-grade graduation party, misbehaved man-child Billy Madison (Adam Sandler) has a good time at this poor clown's expense. Not to worry though, the clown lives to sing about his injury.

'Weird Science': The 'Weird' House Party

High school nerds Gary and Wyatt just want to be popular and liked by girls. Who can blame them? Their prayers are met when they create the perfect woman, who makes it her mission to turn the boys into a hot commodity. To help the sad sacks out, she throws a party, inviting anyone and everyone -- including Gary and Wyatt’s two biggest foes, bullies Max and Ian. Things take a turn for the weird when Lisa conjures up a group of mutant bikers to kick the party into high gear.

Weinstein Co.

Your first impression of William Shakespeare may not have been the most exhilarating of your life. In fact, you may have wiped it from your memory completely -- though it likely had something to do with a school play, discussions of iambic pentameter (what's that again?) and longingly staring at the clock.

But don't brush off this scribe so quickly, because Hollywood has proven, time and time again, that this guy knew a thing or two about being cool. And defying your parents. And dying young.

So as we prepare to welcome yet another Shakespearean remix, "Coriolanus," to the silver screen, we decided it's high time you get thee to a nunnery your favorite movie-watching spot and revisit these nine Shakespeare-inspired favorites. Then thank your high-school English teacher for trying to show you that The Bard really is the man.

1. '10 Things I Hate About You'

Touchstone

We're just gonna say it: This very well may be the best role of Julia Stiles' career to date (not counting her run on "Dexter," of course). Loosely based on Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew," this romantic comedy turned Heath Ledger into a teen heartthrob virtually overnight. And if Ledger's flowing locks and dance across the stadium bleachers weren't enough to sell you on the reboot, Joseph Gordon-Levitt makes an appearance, too.

2. 'Hamlet 2'

Focus Features

Who's everyone's favorite brooding hottie? Hamlet. Duh. And just when you thought this iconic tale of angst and betrayal couldn't get any better, "Hamlet 2" comes along, putting a modern, ahem, musical spin on the old favorite. Starring Steve Coogan as (arguably) the best/worst high-school drama teacher ever (he's a failed actor determined to create a sequel to the stage classic, in true 21st century form), this indie comedy proves that the only thing better than Shakespeare is… a cameo by Amy Poehler?

3. 'The Lion King'

Disney

It may not have occurred to you when you first saw Disney's smash hit "The Lion King," but this tale of corruption and loyalty is, some say, based on "Hamlet." Let's take a minute to let that sink in. Sure, the film had beautiful animation, as well as unforgettable characters and music (spurring it to become one of the most successful Broadway musicals of all time), but it also had a captivating story. And for that, you can thank ... you know who.

4. 'My Own Private Idaho'

Fine Line

What do you get when you combine Keanu Reeves, Gus Van Sant and "Henry IV"? Total awesome-ness. (Yes, that is the technical term.) In "My Own Private Idaho," director Gus Van Sant remasters the story of the King Henry IV's rebellious son, transforming him into a modern-day hustler (Keanu Reeves) working it with his best friend (River Phoenix) on the streets of Portland. If only all hustlers could look like this.

5. 'O'

Lionsgate

Okay, we lied; this might be Julia Stiles' best role to date. (What is it with this chick and Shakespeare?) Playing opposite hottie Mekhi Phifer and Josh Hartnett (before he got all serious), Stiles stars in a modern update on "Othello." This version, set in the world of high school basketball, features just enough drama, desire and good ol' fashioned throwdowns to turn the dark side of Shakespeare into a bright spot in teen flicks.

6. 'Romeo + Juliet'

20th Century Fox

Baz Lurhmann's '96 "Romeo and Juliet" reboot was so good it even nabbed an Oscar nod. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Romeo and Claire Danes as Juliet, this flick turned a classic tragedy into a crime thriller and inspired many angelic prom looks that year. Maybe it was Leo's baby blues. Maybe it was all that fancy Shakespeare talk. But this is one movie that will stay with us forever.

7. 'Romeo Must Die'

Warner Bros.

In a less glossy take on "Romeo and Juliet," this action flick starred Jet Li opposite Aaliyah. The story follows an avenging cop who seeks out his brother's killer and falls for the daughter of a businessman who is involved in a (sketchy) money deal with his father. Besides the standard star-crossed lovers bit, this version has one more big thing going for it: kickass fight sequences. Need we say more?

8. 'Shakespeare in Love'

Miramax

Did the greatest love-story writer of all time ever fall in love himself? This is the question posed by the '98 Academy Award winner for Best Picture. We like the drama. We love the romance. And we absolutely adore seeing Gwyneth Paltrow in drag. (Though she even looks gorgeous with the teenage boy haircut. Some things just aren't fair.)

9. 'She's the Man'

DreamWorks

Calling all Amanda Bynes fans! Remember when Ms. Bynes starred in a twist on Shakespeare's classic "Twelfth Night"? Because we do. In yet another remake set in the world of high school sports (we see a theme developing), Bynes poses as her brother and plays on his soccer team -- only to fall for one of his teammates. Since the crush doesn't know Bynes is actually a "he," things get, well, Shakespearean.

Originally published Oct. 24, 2011.

Universal

We at NextMovie don't condone drinking to excess. No sir. Nuh-uh. Alcohol is bad, mmkay?

That said, while watching people get drunk in real life isn't always a barrel of laughs (ever been to a St. Patrick's Day parade?), watching people in movies get drunk can be downright hilarious.

They fall on their faces! They say and do crazy things! (Bless you, Will Ferrell, you are indeed going streaking.) They're far more entertaining -- and infinitely more clever -- than your buddy Joe after he's broken open a bottle of tequila.

Watch, enjoy and share our mashup of our favorite drinking and drunk scenes in movies... and you don't even need alcohol to do it.

Movies Included (Click to Buy)

Three Amigos | Arthur | The Blues Brothers | Sixteen Candles | 10 Things I Hate About You | The Big Lebowski | 40 Year Old Virgin | Lost In Translation | M*A*S*H | Shag | My Favorite Year | Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas | Cat Ballou | Working Girl | Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy | Orange County | The Wedding Singer | The Philadelphia Story | Blazing Saddles | Airplane! | Hamlet 2| The Birdcage | Old School | High Society | Can't Hardly Wait | Spring Breakdown | Foul Play | The Thin Man | Billy Madison | Sideways | Tommy Boy | Scott Pilgrim vs. The World | Superbad | The Legend of Drunken Master | The Bad News Bears (1976) | The Party | Revenge of the Nerds | Get Him To The Greek | The Hangover | The Princess Bride | Who Framed Roger Rabbit? | Withnail & I | Animal House

Screen Gems

You may have hated reading them in high school, but, as the release of "Easy A" shows, some of the best teen movies have been adapted from books that sent you running for the Cliffs Notes back in the day.

Why? A good story is a good story, even if it sometimes takes a modern setting and some hot Hollywood actors and actresses to make us recognize one.

Here are seven movies (including three based on the works of The Bard) that started out as classic lit and became must-see teen movie hits.

'Cruel Intentions' (1999)

Columbia Pictures

Lit-spiration: "Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Dangerous Liaisons)" by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
Page to Screen: The action moved from France in the 1700s in the book to 1990s Manhattan in the movie, but the story remained mostly the same: Wealthy society types Sebastian Valmont (Ryan Phillippe) and his wicked stepsister Kathryn Merteuil (Sarah Michelle Gellar) manipulate their fellow teens -- including making a bet about whether or not Sebastian can bed the virginal daughter, Annette (Reese Witherspoon), of their school's new headmaster -- simply for their amusement. The stellar cast and swanky NYC locales (which rivaled anything "Gossip Girl" has done since) made for a fresh, fun take on the story, with a truly satisfying ending.

'10 Things I Hate About You' (1999)

Lit-spiration: "The Taming of the Shrew" by William Shakespeare
Page to Screen: From Padua... to Seattle? They're both fine settings for this classic story, about a, um, temperamental girl who becomes more agreeable when she meets a guy who "gets" her. In the "10 Things" version, the titular shrew is Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles), a smart Padua High School student who doesn't suffer the teenage fools around her gladly. But when fellow outcast Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) is paid to woo Kat by some students interested in Kat's sister Bianca (Larisa Oleynik), he ends up falling for her, she ends up falling for him, and, to borrow a phrase from another Shakespeare piece, all's well that ends well. The movie was not only the breakout vehicle for both Ledger and Stiles, but the story and characters were so memorable that it was even adapted as a short-lived ABC Family TV series in 2009.

'Clueless' (1995)

Lit-spiration: "Emma" by Jane Austen
Page to Screen: Not only is it based on a novel, but "Clueless" went on to inspire a series of young adult novels (and a TV series) itself. But first it was this Alicia Silverstone gem, revolving around a spoiled, but ultimately well-intentioned Beverly Hills teen Cher, who, with her BFF Dionne (Stacey Dash), spends her time shopping, "negotiating" her way into good grades and trying to hook up two lonely teachers. After fixing up those around her, Cher decides it's OK to spark up a romance of her own, and after a misdirected crush on "disco-dancing, Oscar Wilde-readin, Streisand ticket-holding "friend of Dorothy" Christian, she finally makes a love match with former stepbrother Josh (Paul Rudd). Another selling point for "Clueless": Like many a great teen flick, including "Intentions" and "10 Things," the movie's soundtrack rocks, with tunes from Luscious Jackson, Radiohead, the Lightning Seeds, Beastie Boys, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Counting Crows.

'She's All That' (1999)

Lit-spiration: "Pygmalion" by George Bernard Shaw
Page to Screen: It's all about the makeover, as in BMOC Zach (Freddie Prinze Jr.) turning high school geek Laney (Rachel Leigh Cook) into a prom queen. After getting dumped by his queen bee girlfriend (for a washed-up reality TV star), Zach thinks the only way to save his reputation is by proving he still has the clout to turn anyone, even loser Laney, into a popular beauty. It works, of course, and after a series of misunderstandings, they fall for each other, with him inspiring her to become more social and her inspiring him to become ... a performance artist. Hey, it's Hollywood. And speaking of, yeah, we know, it's not like Cook was ugly to begin with ... still, it's a charming flick.

'She's the Man' (2006)

DreamWorks

Lit-spiration: "Twelfth Night" by Shakespeare
Page to Screen: Just like the Shakespeare play, the Amanda Bynes movie is a comedy of mistaken identity and errors, as Bynes plays Viola, a high school soccer play who tries to join the Cornwall High boys team after her own squad is cut. When the sexist boys team coach nixes the idea, Viola pretends to be her twin brother and enrolls at Illyria Academy, a rival school, to play for its boys team. She also falls for teammate Duke Orsino (Channing Tatum, in one of his first major movie roles) -- who thinks she's a dude -- and becomes the object of affection for Duke's love interest Olivia, who also thinks she's a dude, and breaks up with her brother's girlfriend, while pretending to be her brother. The complicated scenario finally unfolds (after some -- off-screen -- genital flashing) and Viola and Duke become a couple and official co-ed teammates.

'O' (2001)

Lit-spiration: "Othello" by Shakespeare
Page to Screen: The soldier Othello becomes Odin "O" James (Mekhi Phifer), and his beloved Desdemona becomes Desi Brable (Julia Stiles) in this high school-set retelling of the drama. Odin, the star of the high school basketball team, and Desi, the most popular girl in school, are in love, which doesn't sit well with Hugo (Josh Hartnett), who's jealous of Odin's space in the spotlight, nor Roger (Elden Henson), Hugo's BFF who wants to date Desi. Hugo's wicked plot to break O and Desi apart involves manipulating O into believing that Desi is cheating on him with her platonic friend Michael (Andrew Keegan). The plan works, initially, but drives Odin mad, and ends in one tragic showdown that includes multiple murders and a suicide, and a delusional Hugo vowing he'll still get his day in the spotlight. If the action sounds shockingly violent for a teen movie, its distributor Lionsgate agreed; the flick was filmed for a 1999 release, but, because of its violent themes, was postponed for two years after the Columbine High School killings.

'Easy A' (2010)

Screen Gems

Lit-spiration: "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Page to Screen: Olive Penderghast (Emma Stone) becomes suddenly popular at her high school when her classmates think she's turned into the campus sex queen, thanks to her own (fake) interactions with the school's nerds and the jealous rumor-spreading of her uptight classmate Marianne (Amanda Bynes). But in a true update of the classic Hawthorne tale, unlike Hester Prynne, Olive decides to turn the scandal around and let Marianne and her other judgmental classmates know she's above their double standards. She affixes a red "A" to her clothing and embraces her new position as the most famous, or infamous, girl in school. It's "Mean Girls" meets "Saved" meets 19th century lit.