In 1995, a movie premiered that became a touchstone for a generation of movie-goers. The teen rom-com Clueless brought plaid mini skirts, classic movies, and “as if” to a wide audience. 2020 marks the movie’s 25th anniversary, and it has fans rediscovering Clueless on streaming sites.
If the first Harry Potter novel had been published a few years earlier, perhaps the original movie audience would have sorted Cher Horowitz and her friends into their appropriate Hogwarts houses then. Though Cher and her friends all come from wealthy families and have societal ambitions, they definitely wouldn’t all find themselves sorted into the same house.
Miss Geist: Gryffindor
The first time that Cher tells the audience about Miss Geist, it’s clear that the high school students from affluent families are probably spending a lot of time making fun of their teacher’s fashion sense - or lack thereof. Miss Geist might not be the most fashion forward, but she doesn’t let her students’ judgment of her, or their lack of enthusiasm for the subject she teaches, deter her from being herself.
Miss Geist is all heart, just like a Gryffindor. She looks at the world as a place to learn and grow, as well as a place to help as many other people as possible. Miss Geist is the teacher leading the call to help others after natural disasters and encouraging her students to learn from history.
Mr. Hall: Ravenclaw
While Mr. Hall is certainly true to himself, just like Miss Geist, he also is the teacher most likely to be focused on learning the material rather than learning about the world. He takes it seriously when students miss class, but he’s also willing to hear a good argument for why they might have been late.
Like a Ravenclaw who wants to immerse themselves in learning, Mr. Hall is always ready to learn something new, and to share knowledge with his students. He’s also always up for a good debate, no matter the subject.
Summer: Hufflepuff
Summer doesn’t have a large role in Clueless. She’s often in the background of group scenes, attending parties with the main characters or sitting near them in class. What little the audience gets to see of her though, it’s clear that she’s a good friend willing to go the extra mile.
Summer is always willing to pose for pictures when Cher takes up photography as a hobby. She’s also willing to drive friends home from parties so that others don’t have to go out of their way. Her friendly nature and her loyalty are clearly Hufflepuff traits.
Tai: Gryffindor
Tai might start off a little timid in the movie. As a new student surrounded by people with larger vocabularies and plenty of bling, it’s easy to see that she’s intimidated. After spending a few days with Cher and Dionne, however, her Gryffindor traits start to show.
Tai goes after what she wants, even if what she wants is one of the guys on the grassy knoll that her friends wouldn’t approve of. Despite her new clothes and her dyed hair, she’s still very much herself, ready to party at a moment’s notice. Tai even nails the Gryffindor trademark: carving a spot in the center of everyone’s attention.
Elton: Slytherin
Elton is the man who would be Tai’s suitor - if he’s interested in her. Instead, Elton spends a lot of time being nice to Tai simply to manipulate Cher’s feelings, hoping that being her knight in shining armor will earn him a chance to hook up with her.
When Elton doesn’t get what he wants, he immediately moves on to another one of the most popular and wealthiest girls in school. Elton is a social climber. That ambition and status is perfect for Slytherin.
Christian: Gryffindor
High school can be difficult, even if someone’s at a prestigious school and they get to attend all the coolest parties. In the movies, most kids just want to find a group where they can fit in. Christian isn’t most kids.
He embraces his more classic interests, like Billie Holiday’s music, Rock Hudson’s movies, and an aesthetic right out of the ’50s. Christian is completely himself, and he doesn’t care if that means he doesn’t quite fit in. He’s also one of the few people we see rush headlong into danger to save Tai, a very Gryffindor move.
Murray: Hufflepuff
Murray has a lot of bravado. He spends a lot of time being loud and argumentative with people in the movie, but he’s definitely more of a lover than a fighter.
Murray not only learns about how his vocabulary can reflect misogyny when Dionne calls him on it, but he also makes a habit of regularly driving his girlfriend’s friends around town. He’s loyal, despite his seeming love for arguing with her, and he’s clearly willing to put in the work to maintain their dramatic relationship. Murray belongs in Hufflepuff.
Travis: Gryffindor
Travis is a bit hard to sort. He doesn’t have the drive of a Slytherin, or the love of learning of a Ravenclaw. Travis does seem to have the work ethic of a Hufflepuff - at least when it comes to skateboarding. It’s Gryffindor, however, that seems like the place he’d most likely call home.
Travis operates on instinct for much of his story, giving into his impulses and emotions first. He does, however, own up to his mistakes and make amends for them by the end of the movie. At no point does Travis pretend to be someone he’s not, living his life how he sees fit.
Mel: Slytherin
Cher’s father definitely has a big brain. He’s a corporate lawyer who makes $500 an hour. For someone who can find any way to argue a point, he could be a lock for Ravenclaw.
Mel, however, is pretty sneaky. He uses his intelligence to feed his ambition and he keeps a tight rein on his employees who would rather call in sick than admit they messed something up. His hold on his power would certainly make him a good fit for Slytherin.
Josh: Ravenclaw
Josh showcases some Hufflepuff characteristics with his loyalty to Mel and his hard work on his internship. He, however, is also a pretty classic Ravenclaw.
Josh almost always has a book or a news broadcast at the ready, always trying to broaden his mind. His love of learning, however, means that he does tend to look down on those who aren’t interested in the same things.
Amber: Slytherin
If anyone in Clueless embodies the spirit of the worst side of Slytherin best, it’s Amber. She’s Elton, but turned up to eleven.
Rather than manipulate the feelings of her peers, Amber concentrates on manipulating the adults in her favor instead. She also seeks out popularity by emulating Cher and Dionne’s style, but she doesn’t actually care about the people around her, just the status.
Dionne: Hufflepuff
Dionne is always there for Cher, no matter what. She can be incredibly caustic and hurtful to the people she doesn’t trust, but the people in her inner circle garner immense loyalty. That’s why she’s a Hufflepuff.
As one of the most popular girls in school, Dionne has the power to make or break someone’s reputation, but she seems to reserve that power for good, much like Cher. The only people who appear to be the subject of her wrath are Amber and Murray.
Cher: Ravenclaw
As the main character, Cher is the most well rounded of characters in the movie. She exhibits the cunning of a Slytherin, the loyalty of a Hufflepuff, and the steadfastness of a Gryffindor, but she above all, she exhibits the imagination and love of learning of a Ravenclaw.
Though she’s dubbed “clueless” in her own inner monologue, Cher is definitely one of the most intelligent in the movie. She sees the potential for chemistry between people who would avoid romance. Cher applies the knowledge she has to debates of international politics, even if her classmates don’t get it. When she doesn’t understand something, she asks for explanations, and she learns from her mistakes. Cher belongs in Ravenclaw.
