10 Things I Hate About You is a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, set in a high school. The film follows Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), who falls for Bianca Stratford (Larisa Oleynik), but her strict father enforces a rule: Bianca can only date if her rebellious older sister, Kat (Julia Stiles), does too.
To solve this problem, Cameron and his friend Michael (David Krumholtz) trick rich jerk Joey Donner (Andrew Keegan) into paying bad boy Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) to date Kat. At first, Patrick only pursues Kat for the money, but as they spend more time together, he genuinely falls for her. Meanwhile, Kat remains resistant to relationships due to past heartbreak, but she starts opening up to Patrick.
As their romance blossoms, the truth eventually comes out—Kat learns Patrick was originally paid to date her, and she is devastated. However, Patrick redeems himself by proving his love, including an iconic musical moment where he sings Can’t Take My Eyes Off You on the school bleachers. In the end, Kat forgives Patrick, and she reads her heartfelt poem, “10 Things I Hate About You,” revealing her true feelings. Bianca also gets her moment by punching Joey for his arrogance, finally choosing Cameron.
Spending Budget & Box Office Performance
The film had a modest budget of $16 million. Upon its release, it performed well, earning $63.4 million worldwide, making it a commercial success.
Release Date & Success Story
Released on March 31, 1999, 10 Things I Hate About You was a hit among teen audiences and became a cult classic over the years. Its mix of witty dialogue, romance, and strong performances—especially from Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles—made it one of the most beloved teen comedies of the era.
The film’s popularity only grew over time, leading to a short-lived TV series adaptation in 2009. The chemistry between Ledger and Stiles remains iconic, and the movie continues to be a favorite in the romantic comedy genre.
