Winona Ryder Calls Heathers A Masterpiece 36 Years Later

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Winona Ryder calls the movie Heathers a “masterpiece.” Before becoming known for her role as Joyce Byers in the 1980s-set Netflix hit Stranger Things, Ryder first gained popularity playing unique characters like Lydia Deetz in Beetlejuice (1988) and a key role in Heathers (1989).

Recently, while discussing her famous roles for GQ, Winona Ryder described the movie Heathers as a “masterpiece.” She said she first felt that way when she read the script, calling it a “masterpiece” then, and again later, stating, “I think it’s a real masterpiece.” You can read her complete thoughts or watch the video clip here.

Michael McDowell, the writer of Beetlejuice, passed a script along to me – he and the writer of Heathers, Dan Waters, were friends. It felt like a huge opportunity! I immediately thought it was brilliant, and it still is. I was living at home in Petaluma at the time, and I actually found Michael Lehmann’s phone number and called him out of the blue. I explained that Michael McDowell had given me the script and that I really loved it, even acknowledging I might not be the typical choice for the project. He was incredibly kind and receptive during our conversation.

As soon as I heard the film was getting made and they were holding auditions, I jumped at the chance. I basically told them I didn’t even care about getting paid, or even if the movie ever saw the light of day! I was completely consumed by the role, and honestly, I’ve never wanted anything more in my life. I felt such a strong connection to the character and the story. They really took a chance on me, and I’ll always be thankful for that.

Okay, let me tell you, I’m a huge fan of this film. I’ve actually collected props – I have a monocle just like the one in the movie, my ID from Westerberg High, and even the little clip, though it’s laminated for protection. Plus, I went the extra mile and recreated all the notes from Heather Chandler myself, making sure the handwriting matched. Yeah, I’m a bit obsessed, but can you blame me?

I really enjoy the moments where the character acknowledges the absurdity of the situation, like the line about not liking bunny rabbits and the darkly humorous comment about ‘teen angst bullshit having a body count.’ The bit where she gets confused about which witch is which – West or East – is also hilarious and feels wonderfully unexpected. It all adds up to what I consider a truly brilliant piece of writing. The original script was incredibly long, over 300 pages, and I treasure it as one of my favorite possessions.

Okay, so I just watched Heathers, and wow. This film marks the debut of both director Michael Lehmann and writer Daniel Waters, and it’s seriously impressive. It centers around Winona Ryder, playing a typical high school girl navigating the treacherous world of a close-knit group of popular girls. But things take a dark and twisted turn when a new, really cynical kid shows up and starts offing the most popular students, making it look like they took their own lives. It’s a wild ride, and honestly, a surprisingly sharp satire.

The film features Winona Ryder, a two-time Oscar nominee known for roles in The Age of Innocence and Little Women, alongside Christian Slater, the late Shannen Doherty, Lisanne Falk, Kim Walker, Oscar nominee Penelope Milford (Coming Home), Glenn Shadix, Lance Fenton, Patrick Labyorteaux, and Jeremy Applegate.

When Heathers came out, critics loved its dark humor, biting satire, and willingness to challenge the standard high school movie formula – ultimately influencing teen comedies for years to come. Despite a modest box office return of $1.1 million on a $3 million budget, the film has gained a dedicated following and become a beloved cult classic.

The film Heathers has inspired both a stage musical, debuting in 2014, and a TV series that aired for one season on the Paramount Network in the same year. The series was ultimately canceled after the 2018 Santa Fe High School shooting, due to concerns about its sensitive content.

Winona Ryder is right to call Heathers a masterpiece. The film is celebrated as one of the greatest coming-of-age movies ever made, and it significantly impacted teen comedies. It stood out by satirizing the pursuit of popularity in high school and showing how teenage experiences connect to larger issues in society.

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2025-12-29 22:50