Clueless: The Main Characters, Ranked By Intelligence
From the first few scenes in Clueless, Cher Horowitz seems to be all about fashion, looking good, and being popular. As the movie progresses, audiences see that she is intelligent, kind, and that she realizes that there is more to life than having people like her. Cher's friends, teachers, and family members witness her becoming a better version of herself, and while some of them seem very wise, others need to work on themselves just as much as Cher does.
From the two sweet teachers who Cher plays matchmaker for to her best friend, some of the main characters in Clueless are much smarter than others, and everyone is on their own journey.
12 Elton
While Elton has a crush on Cher, she she hopes that she can set him up with Tai. When Elton assaults Cher and she learns that he's a terrible person, she wants nothing to do with him, and audiences see that there is nothing smart about him.
Elton is conceited and thinks that he can do whatever he wants, and he's a problematic character who treats others badly.
11 Amber
Amber is not one of the most likable characters in Clueless and she isn't that smart, either. When Cher makes her famous speech in class about scrambling to add more guests to her dad's 50th birthday party, which is hilarious since that has nothing to do with the topic, Amber says that she can't possibly do her own presentation.
Amber wants to get by in life without trying very hard, and she often copies the other characters' fashion sense. Amber's main goals are to look great and be loved by everyone around her, and she doesn't have much inner peace or wisdom.
10 Murray
Dionne's boyfriend Murray is sweet and he does his best to be a good partner, but for much of Clueless, Dionne is frustrated with Murray because he doesn't show her as much respect as she wants him to.
Dionne and Murray connect more after they almost get into a car accident on the highway, and from that point on, Murray is kinder and more polite, knowing that he loves Dionne and he can never let her go. Their love story is one of the best parts of the movie.
9 Cher
Cher is part of the most memorable scenes in Clueless, and whether she's volunteering to help clean up a beach or giving Tai a new look, she tries to be a good person who is helpful to others.
While Cher doesn't seem super intelligent at the start of the movie, she learns a lot about herself and audiences see a massive change in her. When compared to some of the other main characters, Cher seems less smart, but she does have an innate sense of self and a confidence that gets her far in life.
8 Miss Geist
While Cher and Dionne find Miss Geist to be sweet and innocent, and Cher jokes about how she often gets some lipstick on her teeth, Miss Geiet seems like a brilliant teacher who really cares about her students and who wants to be there for them.
It's charming watching Miss Geist and Mr. Hall fall in love, and while Miss Geist might not be cool, calm and collected, she is great at her job and she knows that it's what's on the inside that counts.
7 Mr. Hall
Mr. Hall's scenes are often hilarious as he tries his best to control his class and teach them some important things, but they're often unruly, talking on cellphones and arguing with him.
Since Mr. Hall takes his job as a teacher seriously and follows the curriculum, he's one of the smartest characters in the movie. He hopes to be an inspiring force in his students' lives, even if they don't often listen to him.
6 Dionne
Cher's best friend Dionne is wise and strong, and when she tells Murray what she's feeling, fans can see that she has a lot of emotional intelligence.
Dionne doesn't like to keep her feelings in and she always wants to express herself, which is a really good thing. Dionne loves that Cher is becoming more involved at school and is always there by her side no matter what she needs.
5 Tai
There are some memorable outfits in Clueless, and when Cher wants to give Tai a makeover, Tai is up for it. As the new girl at school, she wants to seem cool and she wants others to like her.
Tai is one of the most intelligent characters in the movie because she can't help but be herself. While fitting in is important to her, fans can tell that she doesn't really care, as she falls for Travis and doesn't care what others think about it. When she gets a new look and becomes more confident, she's mean to Cher and Cher feels like she has created a monster, but Tai realizes her mistake and starts acting much nicer again.
4 Travis
Travis is the kind of person who everyone underestimates. While Cher and the other students see Travis as a skateboarder who isn't all that interesting, Tai sees his kind soul and unique personality.
Travis is smart because he stands up for himself and doesn't let other people tell him who to be or what to think. Fans can tell that he'll do well in life because he doesn't care about fitting in and he just wants to do the right thing.
3 Christian
From the moment that Cher meets Christian, she can tell that he's smart, cool, confident, and sophisticated. He has a knowledge of older movies and just seems like more of a grown-up than the other students at school.
As Christian becomes part of the friend group, he becomes a great friend to Cher, and he seems to understand more about the world and growing up than the others do.
2 Mel Horowitz
When comparing the personality types in Clueless, Cher's father Mel is tough, a bit rude, and incredibly ambitious.
While Mel might not be all that nice to people, he's an amazing lawyer who has built an impressive life for himself and his family. He mentors Josh and has him help him out with a big project, and he teaches Cher to never take no for an answer and get what she wants. While Mel might sometimes be too intense, he loves his daughter and he's doing the best that he can.
1 Josh
Josh is a college student who loves politics, the environment, and standing up for what's right. He wants to work in law and loves getting the chance to work for Mel.
Josh is the most intelligent character in Clueless as he's strong, wise, and he can also see that Cher is a great, interesting person, even when others tend to focus on her good looks and her fashion sense.