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'Cruel Intentions' turns 20 this year so cue 'Bittersweet Symphony'

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'Cruel Intentions' turns 20 this year so cue 'Bittersweet Symphony'
Columbia Pictures/Getty Images
ByElisa Tang
March 25, 2019, 8:03 AM

Raise your hand if "Cruel Intentions" was the movie you secretly watched while your parents were away.

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This is the movie that helped launched Reese Witherspoon, Ryan Phillippe, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Selma Blair into superstardom.

We fell in love with the cast! No wonder we live for moments when they reunite, like for this sweet photo op when the leading ladies went and saw the "Cruel Intentions" musical in 2015.

We are celebrating this major throwback with some of our favorite moments from the film.

Reese, we love you

We can't believe that Reese Witherspoon just turned 43! One of her most famous roles in her mega-successful career was Annette Hargrove. She was the beautiful, quiet, good-hearted girl who Sebastian Valmont, played by Phillippe, seduced as a cruel bet with his stepsister Kathryn Merteuil, played by Gellar. To Sebastian's surprise, he ended up falling for the nice girl next door!

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Sarah Michelle Gellar played the perfect bad girl

Kathryn Merteuil was the villain we loved to hate and hated to love, and she was played so perfectly by Sarah Michelle Gellar. She sought revenge on her boyfriend, who left her for someone else, and nothing was going to get in her way.

Selma Blair is iconic

Who could forget Selma Blair's breakthrough role as socialite Cecile Caldwell? While she had no idea that Kathryn was plotting to corrupt her for revenge, her funny one-liners made her the best comedic relief in this scandalous drama.

Ryan Phillippe portrayed the dream bad boy

Put blond, curly hair, glasses and a nice suit and tie all together and what do you get? The handsome Sebastian Valmont, played by '90s babe Ryan Phillippe. Some of the most unforgettable moments in "Cruel Intentions" were his witty comebacks and brooding looks.

"I'm in love"

Swoon. Sebastian and Annette's blossoming relationship was the stuff dreams are made of. Who would have thought that a mean bet would turn into unconditional love for Phillippe's and Witherspoon's characters?

If you want to celebrate the 20th anniversary of "Cruel Intentions," you're in luck! The movie has been re-released in theaters nationwide through Thursday, March 28, 2019.

Happy 20th anniversary, "Cruel Intentions"!

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