Years after the iconic Plastics ruled North Shore High, the torch has passed to a new generation. This time, the stakes are higher, the drama is fiercer, and the consequences of social media make the high school experience more brutal than ever.
Plot Summary
Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan), now a successful environmental scientist, returns to North Shore High for a special alumni event celebrating her work in combating climate change. She’s joined by her best friends Damian (Daniel Franzese) and Janis (Lizzy Caplan), now a Broadway actor and a famous mural artist, respectively.
However, Cady’s return stirs up old memories—and old rivalries. Regina George (Rachel McAdams), now a wellness influencer and owner of a luxury gym empire, shows up at the reunion with her daughter, Riley George, a senior at North Shore High. Riley has taken up her mom’s mantle as queen bee, leading the new Plastics:
- Maya: The fashionista influencer with 10 million TikTok followers.
- Sophia: The academically brilliant but secretly manipulative tech wizard.
- Ally: The naive but lovable sidekick.
Meanwhile, a new girl, Emma, transfers to North Shore after moving from New York. Played by up-and-coming actress Olivia Rodrigo, Emma is socially awkward but whip-smart and determined to survive high school unscathed. Unfortunately, she quickly becomes a target for the Plastics after an accidental social media post goes viral, humiliating Riley.
Twists and Turns
- Cady mentors Emma, trying to teach her how to navigate the high school hierarchy without losing herself.
- The Plastics orchestrate a massive social media takedown of Emma, spreading fake rumors and even hacking her school project presentation.
- Regina reluctantly helps Cady when Riley’s antics spiral out of control, showing that even Regina has her limits when it comes to mean behavior.
Climactic Showdown
The movie builds to a dramatic climax at North Shore High’s Winter Talent Show, where Emma reveals a bold exposé of the Plastics’ schemes. Using her tech-savvy skills (learned from Janis), she uncovers the truth in front of the entire school.
Ending
Riley learns a hard lesson about leadership and kindness, following in her mother’s footsteps toward redemption. Emma finds her place at North Shore, forming a new, inclusive group that redefines what it means to be “popular.” The movie closes with a heartfelt montage of the original cast reflecting on how far they’ve come—and how high school never really leaves you.
