Phrases from the movie such as “That was so fetch” and “Get in loser, we’re going shopping” are now part of the cultural lexicon. Even people unfamiliar with the film have probably heard these phrases. It truly resonated with its audience and new generations of high schoolers have continued to discover it. Paramount, as a result, has benefited greatly from home video sales, cable rights, and merchandise. Money was made well beyond the box office.
That’s why we have a new musical version of the film for the new generation in theaters right now. That new musical version is, itself, influenced by the Broadway musical that was inspired by the film. It became a franchise that has encompassed both the stage and the screen. And for all of the success that Fey has on classic shows like “30 Rock” and “SNL” both as a writer and performer, this remains the only movie script to her name. It’s remarkable but if she never did another thing on the silver screen, she’d have made her mark.
It’s worth noting that Rosalind Wiseman, whose book inspired this whole franchise, is not exactly happy with how things panned out. She’s actively in a dispute with Paramount over profit participation, recently revealing to the New York Post that she hasn’t been paid anything after making her deal for the film rights. Wiseman believes she’s owed compensation for her part in the phenomenon.
“I think it’s fair for me to be able to get compensated in some way for the work that has changed our culture and changed the zeitgeist. Over the years Tina’s spoken so eloquently about women supporting other women, but it’s gotten increasingly clear to me that, in my own personal experience, that’s not going to be the experience. You don’t just talk about supporting women, you actually do it.”
In an eye-roll-worthy bit of studio accounting nonsense, Paramount has allegedly told Wiseman that they have not profited from the franchise. Success remains elusive even for resounding success stories, it seems.