10 Things I Hate About You: Main Characters Ranked, According To Intelligence

10 Things I Hate About You presents audiences with a memorable teen comedy. Some viewers call 10 Things I Hate About You one of the best teen comedies from the 1990s. Bianca and Kat Stratford develop tumultuous relationships as the story unfolds, and the personalities they engage with present their smarts in their responses to conflict.

Some students are characterized by their goofiness like Michael Eckman. Others are stern and mysterious like Patrick Verona. These traits might influence viewers to see them as more or less foolish, but their smarts are determined by their actions.

Chastity Church

Gabrielle Union plays Chastity in 10 Things I Hate About You, one of her highest-rated roles. She is one of the less-developed characters in the film, and her intelligence is harder to determine as a result. However, she shows her lack of smarts in her relationship with Bianca.

Chastity and Bianca are both introduced as shallow and weak-witted. They discuss the difference between “like” and “love” in a conversation about their shoes and accessories. She presents ditzy statements like asking if one can be simply “whelmed,” rather than over or underwhelmed.

Joey Donner

Andrew Keegan’s Joey is one of the movie’s main antagonists. He is characterized as a bone-headed model with poor intentions. He shows a lack of self-awareness. When he is demonstrating his poses to Bianca at a party, he can’t tell how bored she is.

He shows his foolishness multiple times. He shows up at the Stratford house to take Bianca to the prom, assuming he’s taking her without realizing she has chosen Cameron. He shows a lack of emotional intelligence in his outbursts like when he punches Cameron.

Michael Eckman

David Krumholtz plays Michael. He is Cameron’s best friend. He is goofy and presents foolish behavior several times, like when he crashes his moped. However, he also shows his smarts through his actions.

He comes up with the idea of Joey backing his and Cameron’s plan financially and easily manipulates him into doing so. He shows critical thinking in his gift to Mandella, taking note of her interests and coming up with a gift she loves.

Mandella

Mandella is played by Susan May Pratt. She is Kat’s best friend. Mandella is one of the least developed main characters in 10 Things I Hate About You, so there are fewer actions to help determine her intelligence.

However, Mandella’s smarts are showcased in her interests. She is an academic, and deeply fascinated with William Shakespeare, highlighting her intellectual curiosity. She is able to follow clues to determine that Michael is the person who gifts her a dress.

Cameron James

10 Things I Hate About You is one of Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s highest-rated movies. He is one of the protagonists of the film. He shows critical thinking several times, like when he unpacks Bianca’s compliments to him and judges their significance.

However, Cameron shows his naivité in his relationship with Bianca. He is easily manipulated by her. However, he shows his smarts when he realizes what she’s doing and stands up for himself before he gives her a ride home.

Walter Stratford

Larry Miller plays Walter, Kat and Bianca’s dad. He is shown most frequently warning his daughters about the consequences of risky behavior and reminding them of the rules of his household.

He shows foresight in his worrying about the future. He shows attention to detail like when he catches Bianca and Chastity trying to sneak out of the house. He shows critical thinking in his suspicion of Bianca when she tells him she’s meeting a study group when she plans to go to a party.

Bianca Stratford

Larisa Oleynik’s Bianca is Kat’s sister and the object of Cameron’s affection. She is introduced as shallow and air-headed in her vapid discussions with her friend Chastity.

However, Bianca shows critical thinking in her relationship with Cameron. They look in Kat’s room for clues about her and use the evidence to determine her interest in dating. She shows emotional intelligence when she buries the hatchet with Kat.

Patrick Verona

Some fans consider 10 Things I Hate About You to be one of Heath Ledger’s best movies. He plays Patrick. He presents his smarts in his relationship with Kat, as well as Cameron and Joey.

When Joey offers him money to date Kat, he shows his quick wits and ability to manipulate. He gets a higher payment from Joey as a result. He is able to convince Kat that he likes her even before he develops feelings for her.

Katarina “Kat” Stratford

Julia Stiles plays Kat. She is perhaps the smartest character in 10 Things I Hate About You. She is introduced as an intellectual, being vocal in her English class and presenting intelligent ideas.

She is eloquent and speaks with conviction. After she drinks too much, Patrick tells her, “leave it to you to use big words when you’re smashed.” She shows critical thinking in her suspicion of Patrick’s intentions, which she ultimately discovers to be justified. She gets into a good school and is a proven academic.

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