200 Best Reader’s Digest Jokes of All Time

100 Dark Humor Jokes: An Ultimate List Of Straight Comedy Grime

A good joke is an excellent spice to a dull conversation. But what about the witty lines that lean into dark and uncomfortable territory?

Dark-humored quips are often thought-provoking and controversial and may sometimes offend a more sensitive individual. On the flip side, finding humor in serious situations helps lift the spirits and make tough times more manageable.

If you appreciate edgy one-liners, you will surely enjoy our list of 100 dark humor jokes. Share these jokes with fellow black comedy lovers who will embrace your shady side. Be warned, however: We delve into some complicated subjects.

Best Dark Humor Jokes

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If you've got a wicked sense of humor, our list of top dark jokes will be the type of laughing elixir you need. See others cringe as you let out an evil chuckle. 

1. "I told my therapist I have suicidal thoughts. He said I should pay in advance."

2. "Why don't cemeteries have Wi-Fi? Because people are already dying to get in."

3. "I told my wife she should embrace her mistakes… so she gave me a hug."

4. "My doctor asked me to pass on drinking, but he didn't mention it would be out of a paper bag."

5. "I once asked the Grim Reaper for a favor. He said, 'Sure, but it'll cost you an arm and a leg.'"

6. "The other day, my ex got hit by a car. Startled by the news, I put the car in reverse and hit her again."

7. "I'll never forget my grandfather's last words. He said, 'Stop shaking the ladder!' Not the best time for a joke, I guess."

8. "People say you should live every day like it's your last. So I'm ignoring everyone and eating cake alone as if it were my last birthday. Problem solved!"

9. "People asked me to explain why I have a lot of skeletons in my closet. I keep them there because they can't fit under the bed anymore, and I'm too lazy to throw them out."

10. "My friend asked if I wanted to go bungee jumping. I said, 'The last thing I want to do is get attached to someone who will let me down.'"

Dark Jokes on Death and Mortality

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Sure, you may irritate someone or get a bunch of awkward stares for saying things about death, but deep inside, everyone will find it relatable — can't escape it, might as well have a blast.

1. "When I die, I hope it's during a stand-up routine — so everyone can say I killed it."

2. "Death comes for us all, but I like to think I can at least leave him on 'read' for a while."

3. "My friend left a note that he wanted to be cremated. I wondered if that was to make sure he'll be warm or because he wants to burn bridges even in death."

4. "Why do we fear the Grim Reaper? He's just there to make sure you get your eternal rest — think of him as a sleep therapist."

5. "I've always been bad at goodbyes, so when I die, I'm planning to just ghost everyone. That's fair enough, eh?"

6. "My Uncle Frank died, so I cornered the funeral director to get a discount on his burial plot. The man refused and slammed the door while saying, 'Sorry, it's a dead-end deal.'"

7. "My Uncle Frank says he wanted to be buried in his favorite beer mug. That would mean he'd be Frank in stein when he dies."

8. "They say you can't take anything with you when you go. Feeling nostalgic, I still packed my bags and all my black clothes, just in case."

9. "My tombstone is going to read, 'BRB' — because I'm not committing anything to anybody, even death."

10. "If I ever meet death, I hope he's wearing a Hawaiian shirt. That way, I know we're going somewhere warm."

Dark Jokes on Illness and Suffering

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Dark jokes about illness may seem like bitter pills, but they are comically contagious, and the resulting laughter makes for good medicine. Be sure to use them sparingly!

1. "The good thing about catching a cold is it's a free excuse to avoid people — like social distancing, but with extra snot."

2. "After two years of the pandemic, I'm just glad we're all getting used to the idea that handshakes are basically biohazards."

3. "My doctor told me to stay positive about my health. I said, 'Sure, but I thought we were trying to avoid being positive for COVID?'"

4. "I asked my therapist if feeling sick of everything is normal. He said, 'That's just pandemic fatigue — or maybe the flu.'"

5. "Every time I sneeze in public, I wonder if it's COVID and realize how hard it is without fresh air to breathe."

6. "I asked about getting the monkeypox vaccine, wondering if it would protect me from people making bad jokes. Sadly, the answer was no."

7. "I told my boss I couldn't come in because I was feeling ill. He said, 'Don't worry, we've all felt dead inside since 2020.'"

8. "I wanted to catch up on my reading during the pandemic, but I ended up just catching existential dread instead."

9. "I have a new policy: If the illness doesn't come with at least two weeks off, it's not worth catching."

10. "My wife asked if she could get me a prescription for my lack of enthusiasm. The doctor said it's called a pandemic, not a cure."

Dark Jokes on War and Tragedy

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These heavy hitters are ready for a boisterous battle. Play the historian with these tricky one-liners that bank on humanitarian tragedies.

1. "War never changes — just the people who are unlucky enough to fight in it."

2. "I asked a historian what the difference between war and tragedy is. He said, 'War is when they write history; tragedy is when they forget to.'"

3. "I told my friend war is hell. He said, 'At least in hell, you know where everyone stands.'"

4. "The only thing worse than a war is trying to survive the peace that comes after."

5. "I asked why there are no winners in war. Someone told me, 'Because, in the end, we're all just losers.'"

6. "Wars are fought over lines on a map, but the real battle is for the ones drawn in our minds."

7. "You know it's a bad day when your best option is surviving a war zone."

8. "I used to think tragedy was just something that happened in books. Then I turned on the news. "

9. "They say war brings out the best in men. I think they meant the best at hiding fear."

10. "I once asked a soldier how he copes with war. He said, 'One day at a time, but some days feel like they last forever.'"

Dark Jokes on Controversial Topics

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If you dare to tackle these topics head-on, you have what it takes to deliver these edgy punchlines. The ultimate loyalty test is to see if your partner or friend can handle these jokes.

1. "They say money can't buy happiness, but it sure can buy a lot of therapy and plane tickets to help you cope without it."

2. "Religion's like a buffet — everyone picks what they want, and then they judge what's on your plate."

3. "The best thing about conspiracy theories is that they make you feel like you're in on the joke — until you realize you're the punchline."

4. "Talking politics at family dinners is like playing Russian roulette — someone will lose, and everyone will regret it."

5. "My profile reads I want children and I'm pro-choice, especially when it comes to choosing not to talk about it at parties."

6. "Sex education in school was always awkward — kind of like learning how to swim by watching Titanic."

7. "I told a nutritionist I was thinking about going vegan. The man responds, 'Just remember that no one cares.'"

8. "They say everyone's entitled to their own opinion, but my wife thinks she's entitled to mine too."

9. "I asked a lawyer if honesty is the best policy. He said, 'Only if you can afford the truth.'"

10. "They say laughter is the best medicine, but that depends on what you're dying of."

Dark Jokes on Mental Health and Insanity

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These dark jokes are crazy and will get you thinking and laughing about those mental moments. Don't try these jokes with someone afraid of the dark undertones of mental madness.

1. "My therapist told me to write down my triggering feelings since childhood. Now I'm just worried about the mental health of my therapist."

2. "I told my psychiatrist I felt dead inside because I was feeling like I was losing my mind. He said, 'Don't worry; it's working. You're just making space for something new.'"

3. "When I said I was 'crazy busy,' I didn't realize it would be more crazy than busy."

4. "They say laughter is the best medicine, but I think I've overdosed."

5. "I'm not sure why I tried meditation to calm my mind. Now, my thoughts are just arguing in silence."

6. "I asked my friend how he managed his anxiety. His response was, 'I just keep it as a pet — it's better trained than I am.'"

7. "I've joined a support group for overthinking. We meet every night in my head."

8. "They told me to stay positive, so now I just smile through the madness."

9. "I told my therapist that I hear voices. She said, 'As long as they're paying rent, we're good.'"

10. "The line between sanity and insanity is thin, but at least on the other side, there's no waiting."

Dark Jokes on Misfortune and Bad Luck

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Embrace the comedy in bad luck and watch your audience warm up to your endearing mishaps. You might even catch the eye of someone who finds self-deprecation charming or romantic.

1. "My luck's so bad, if I bought a cemetery, people would stop dying."

2. "I used to find it weird how many people believe in bad luck, until I lost my job, walked under a ladder, broke a mirror, and then a black cat crossed my path. At this point, I'm just waiting for the universe to offer me a loyalty card."

3. "If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck."

4. "I tried to turn my life around, but I think I just did a full circle."

5. "I don't have a dark cloud following me. It's more like a permanent storm."

6. "Every time I try to count my blessings, I calculate the odds of another disaster."

7. "I'm so unlucky, I'd find a four-leaf clover and discover it's actually just poison ivy."

8. "They say when one door closes, another opens. In my case, it's a trapdoor."

9. "My life's a series of unfortunate events, but at least my plot twists keep things interesting."

10. "I thought I hit rock bottom, but then life handed me a shovel."

Dark Jokes on Absurdity and Irony

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When irony strikes, it can be painfully comical and absurdly dark, just like these puns.

1. "I bought a stress ball to relieve anxiety, but now I'm just stressed about squeezing it too hard."

2. "I find it weird how many people take the irony of life for granted. By the time they're old enough to understand it, they're too tired to care."

3. "I signed up for a self-help seminar, but the guy running it was just as lost as I am. Sign up to learn more today."

4. "I went to a fortune teller, and she told me my future was uncertain. Best $20 I ever spent."

5. "Life's a joke, but we're all in on it."

6. "I tried to be the bigger person, but I just ended up feeling smaller."

7. "I spent years climbing and still holding the ladder of success, only to find out it was leaning against the wrong wall."

8. "I wanted to find myself, but I just ended up getting more lost. Now I'm teaching others the same."

9. "The best part about irony is that it's always there when you least need it."

10. "I tried to take life seriously, but life thought it was hilarious."

Dark Jokes on Cynicism and Nihilism

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It takes true comical craftsmanship to land a cynical or nihilistic punchline. These jokes are ludicrous.

1. "I used to be an optimist, but then I realized nothing matters."

2. "Why chase your dreams and bucket lists when we're all just heading to the same finish line?"

3. "Life's a journey and I'm just a passenger — until the bills come.'"

4. "I asked what the meaning of life is, and someone told me, 'It's just a cosmic joke with no punchline.'"

5. "I told my friend to look on the bright side, and he said, 'I'm afraid of the light.'"

6. "They say life's what you make of it, but I've found that it makes a pretty good mess on its own."

7. "I was looking for meaning in life, but I think I just found the void staring back."

8. "I tried to find the silver lining, but it turns out it's just the tin foil to my chicken sandwich."

9. "Life's a joke, and I'm just here for the awkward silence after the punchline."

10. "They say you only live once, but considering how things are going, once is more than enough."

Dark Jokes on Existentialism

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Sprinkle these existential jokes liberally to leave everyone contemplating life's big questions.

1. "I had an existential crisis, reached the difficult decision, but then I realized it didn't matter — so now I'm just having a nap."

2. "I think, therefore I am… confused about why I'm still doing this and if this is still the right choice for me."

3. "I looked into the abyss for answers, but it just shrugged and asked me what I was doing with my life."

4. "I tried to find meaning in life, but all I found were unanswered texts, expired coupons, and a note on the fridge that says, 'call mom'."

5. "The more I search for life's purpose, the more I realize I hate looking for things."

6. "I asked life what the point was, and it replied, 'I'm still figuring things out myself.'"

7. "I used to wonder why I'm here, but as I get older, I just hope the snacks are worth it."

8. "Life is just one long existential shrug, and I'm not even sure what the question was."

9. "I tried to find myself, but I kept bumping into all the things I was trying to avoid, like the Chinese restaurant across the street."

10. "I've accepted that I'll never find the meaning of life, but at least I'm getting good at existential small talk."

The post 100 Dark Humor Jokes: An Ultimate List Of Straight Comedy Grime first appeared on Bored Panda.

21 Things You Probably Didn't Know About '10 Things I Hate About You'

The film is based on a classic Shakespearean play. "10 Things I Hate About You" is based on the play "The Taming of the Shrew" Buena Vista Pictures

"10 Things I Hate About You" is loosely based on Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew."

The 1999 film used many of the play's character names and put a modern twist on the plot.

The play, like the movie, centers on two very different sisters, and the younger, Bianca, can't get married until her strong-willed sister Katherine is wed. Similarly, in "10 Things I Hate About You," the main plot is that Bianca can't date until Kat does.

And many names in the movie are based on Shakespeare and his works. There are several references to Shakespeare throughout the film. Buena Vista Pictures

In addition to following the play's plot, "10 Things I Hate About You" added little details to connect it back to the source material.

For example, the location shifts from the Italian city of Padua to Padua High School, and the story follows the Stratford sisters — a nod to William Shakespeare's hometown, Stratford-upon-Avon.

Patrick Verona's last name is also a nod to one of the settings in Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet." 

Along with these more subtle details, one of the film's characters, Mandella, is obsessed with Shakespeare and brings him up often. She even gets a Shakespearean "promposal" complete with a themed gown.  

The movie helped launch the careers of its young stars. Gabrielle Union, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Larisa Oleynik in "10 Things I Hate About You." Buena Vista Pictures/screencap

"10 Things I Hate About You" was a launching point for actors Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Gabrielle Union.

Stiles, who played Kat, went on to star in the teen classics "Save the Last Dance" and  "The Prince and Me," and she's well-known for her role in the "Bourne" franchise.

Ledger starred as Patrick Verona, and he became a legendary actor starring in "Brokeback Mountain" and "The Dark Knight" — which earned him a posthumous Academy Award for best supporting actor after his death in 2008.

Gordon-Levitt played Cameron, and since then, he's starred in "500 Days of Summer," "Inception," and "The Dark Knight Rises." He also won an Emmy for his show "HitRECord On TV" in 2014.

Union, who played Chastity, is well-known for her work in other classic rom-coms like "Bring It On" and "Love and Basketball."

The film premiered just months before "The West Wing" made Allison Janney a household name. Allison Janney in "10 Things I Hate About You." Buena Vista Pictures

Alongside the film's rising stars, Allison Janney played the school principal, Ms. Perky.

"10 Things I Hate About You" was released about five months before "The West Wing" premiered on NBC and catapulted Janney into superstardom as C.J. Cregg. 

Since then, Janney has worked on many successful projects, including CBS' "Mom" and the film  "I, Tonya," which landed her an Oscar.

Quite a few famous actors were considered for leading roles. Kate Hudson, Josh Hartnett, and Katie Holmes could have been in "10 Things I Hate About You." Kevin Winter/Getty Images; Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images; Roy Rochlin/Getty Images

In a 2019 interview with The New York Times, the film's casting director, Marcia Ross, said that Josh Hartnett, Eliza Dushku, Katie Holmes, and Kate Hudson were all considered for roles in "10 Things I Hate About You."

Ross even said that she "loved" Hudson's audition, but the actor ultimately passed on the role because her mother, Goldie Hawn, didn't think it was a good fit.

Casting the perfect male lead was a challenge for director Gil Junger. Heath Ledger in "10 Things I Hate About You." Buena Vista Pictures

In one of the film's DVD extras, director Gil Junger described the challenges he faced while casting Patrick Verona.

"He needed to be masculine without trying to be masculine. He needed to be smart, he needed to be removed, he needed to be unbelievably charming," Junger said. "A complicated role."

After seeing Ledger's audition, however, Junger said he knew the actor was "special" and that he was sure he was going to be a "movie star."

Stiles said she was "desperate" to land the role of Kat Stratford. Julia Stiles in "10 Things I Hate About You." Buena Vista Pictures

In a 2019 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Stiles said she was "desperate" to play Kat in the film.

"It was so refreshing to see a teenage girl who was so feisty," she told the publication. "I thought that the writers had a healthy dose of cynicism with their humor that you don't always find with teen romantic comedies."

But Stiles later compared seeing herself in "10 Things I Hate About You" to watching a "slightly uncomfortable" home video. Julia Stiles in "10 Things I Hate About You." Buena Vista Pictures

In a 2015 interview with Cosmopolitan UK, Stiles said, "I'm so grateful to have been in that movie. It was my first big break, and such a fun part. I have so many good memories from filming, but I don't really like to watch it back."

She continued, "If you could imagine a home video of your 17-year-old self, broadcast for all the world to see, you might feel slightly uncomfortable, too. I was such a baby."

In a similar vein, the actor told People in 2019, "I usually just look away. I'm glad that people enjoyed it and I'm glad that they're still talking about it. I don't take that for granted, but I look away pretty quickly."

The film's writers were inspired by "Clueless," and they went on to pen several hit rom-coms. The writers also worked on "Legally Blonde." Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

"10 Things I Hate About You" was written by screenwriters Kirsten Smith and Karen McCullah, who got the idea for their film after seeing the success of "Clueless" a few years prior.

In 2015, McCullah told The Script Lab, "We knew we wanted to write a teen movie and when 'Clueless' came out. We thought Amy Heckerling was a genius for contemporizing a classic, so we decided to try that as well."

"Clueless" was inspired by Jane Austen's "Emma," and that successful framework ultimately led McCullah and Smith to adapt "The Taming of the Shrew."

After "10 Things I Hate About You," the writing duo went on to create classic rom-coms like "Legally Blonde," "Ella Enchanted," "She's the Man," and "The House Bunny."

Ledger thought he tanked his audition. Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles in "10 Things I Hate About You." Buena Vista Pictures

In 2019, the film's production staff told The New York Times that Ledger thought he "bombed" his audition for Patrick Verona. But the production team was totally dazzled by his "star power."

After the audition, Junger recalled saying to the women on the production team, "Ladies, I have never wanted to sleep with a man, but if I had to sleep with a man, that would be the man. Please cast him immediately."

Union is almost a decade older than most of her costars. Gabrielle Union and Larisa Oleynik in "10 Things I Hate About You." Buena Vista Pictures

Union was 26 when "10 Things I Hate About You" was released. In comparison, Oleynik was 17, Gordon-Levitt and Stiles were 18, and Ledger was 19. 

In the 2019 interview with The New York Times, Union said, "I was over 10 years older than my younger cast members, some of whom were still in high school. It was kind of like, how close is this to my high-school years? Do I look crazy playing a 15-year-old? Don't mention Earth, Wind & Fire or give away your age."

Gordon-Levitt said he wasn't interested in doing the film at first, but that he ended up having a blast on set. Joseph Gordon-Levitt in "10 Things I Hate About You." Buena Vista Pictures

Gordon-Levitt reflected on his acting career in a 2020 video for Vanity Fair.

When he discussed "10 Things I Hate About You," he said he was "not sold" at first on doing a teenage romantic comedy. But his agent encouraged him to try something different with his career.

Ultimately, he said he was glad he took the role, not only because of the success of the film but also because of his experience on set. 

"The experience is actually what I love the most about that whole thing," he said. "Even if people didn't like the movie, we had such a good time. All of us hung out, all the time."

Gordon-Levitt auditioned for Michael and Cameron, and he wasn't very excited about his role at first. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and David Krumholtz in "10 Things I Hate About You." Touchstone Pictures

When Gordon-Levitt auditioned for the film, he tried out for both Cameron and Michael, and he was more interested in the latter at first. 

The actor told Vanity Fair "I auditioned for both of those parts, and the director offered me the role of Cameron and I was like 'eeh.'"

"I remember having a meeting with them where I was like 'This doesn't make sense and that does make sense, and this feels cheesy and that feels cheesy,'" he continued. "And they listened, I think, to some of my ideas, but mostly I think I was probably just wrong and kind of being too serious about the whole thing."

Union said when she first met Ledger she thought he was "such a man." Gabrielle Union in "10 Things I Hate About You." Buena Vista Pictures

During a 2016 interview with Andy Cohen on Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live," Union spoke about her favorite memory of working with the late Ledger.

The actor said that when she first met the Aussie actor he was just a "mysterious 19-year-old."

"... He told me, and anyone else who was over 21, to go meet him up at the top of the bar, at the top of the hotel at this bar," she said. "And we walk in and he's just got this wild hair — and again he's 19 and he's got like a dad drink — and he gets up and he was just such a man and such a gentleman."

She went on to say "the whole cast was a dream" and that they would hang out and eat dinner together while they were filming.

Ledger had a specific vision in mind for Patrick's musical number. Heath Ledger in "10 Things I Hate About You." Buena Vista Pictures

While trying to win Kat over, Ledger's character Patrick performs Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" in the school's stadium — and yes, it was really Ledger singing.

McCullah told The New York Times in 2019 that the number was originally supposed to be set to The Partridge Family's "I Think I Love You" or Divinyls' "I Touch Myself," and it was actually Ledger who proposed the Valli song.

In a 2017 interview with Vice, Smith said that Ledger also had his own costume ideas for the scene. 

"He was so specific about what he wanted to wear; it had to be this certain type of dark shirt with a precise fit," she said. "Oddly, it's kind of a nondescript ensemble when you actually watch the movie, but seeing him architect the costume as part of his preparation [to act] was so impressive, especially because he was only 19."

The movie was shot at a real high school in Tacoma, Washington. "10 Things I Hate About You" was shot at Stadium High School. Buena Vista Pictures

Built in the late 1800s, the real-life structure for the film's Padua High School was originally supposed to be a luxury hotel financed by the North Pacific Railroad Co. And the Tacoma Land Co.

But after the financial crash of 1893 and a fire a few years later, they had to abandon work on the project.

After sitting empty for years, the building opened as Tacoma High School in 1906 and was later renamed to honor its famed stadium, which is heavily featured in the film. 

Stadium High School, as it's now called, still operates today, and it even held a screening of "10 Things I Hate About You" in celebration of the film's 20th anniversary in 2019.

Stiles' tears in her emotional poem-reading scene were unintentional — and only took one take. Julia Stiles in "10 Things I Hate About You." Buena Vista Pictures

At the end of "10 Things I Hate About You," Kat cries while reading a poem she wrote about Patrick for English class.

In the 2015 interview with Cosmopolitan UK, Stiles described the emotional scene saying, "I never expected that I was going to start crying. I don't know why I did, whether it connected to something going on at the time, or if I was just overwhelmed by the whole experience of making my first big movie." 

Furthermore, Junger told The New York Times that her performance made him cry, too.

"I did everything I could to cover my mouth and nose because I was crying so hard. It was such an amazing performance," he said. "That take [in the film] is the first take. I think I jumped up and just hugged her for the longest time."

The real-life band Letters to Cleo made several appearances in the film. Kay Hanley is the lead singer of Letters to Cleo. Buena Vista Pictures

In addition to its star-studded cast, "10 Things I Hate About You" is also fondly remembered for its iconic soundtrack.

It was filled with classic 1990s hits, and throughout the film, the band Letters to Cleo was featured live in several scenes, including at the concert Kat attends and at the school prom.

The crew apparently didn't have permission from Disney to shoot the final scene. The final scene of the movie zooms in on a band performing on top of the high school. Buena Vista Pictures

In the final scene of the movie, Letters to Cleo performs a cover of Cheap Trick's "I Want You to Want Me" on the roof of Padua High School.

But Disney originally told the director that he couldn't do it because the shot would be too expensive. They also didn't have permission to film on the roof, but Junger decided to shoot it anyway. 

The band's lead singer, Kay Hanley, told The New York Times in 2019, "We're all arranged on top of this postage-stamp-sized roof with chicken wire the only thing protecting us from toppling to our deaths into the Puget Sound."

She continued, "We did two takes, and it was pretty much assumed that this shot wasn't going to work, and Gil would never work in Hollywood again because he had just blown through half a million dollars doing this shot he was forbidden to do. And it ended up being a pretty iconic scene."

The movie was adapted into an ABC Family show in 2009. Lindsey Shaw as Kat on "10 Things I Hate About You." ABC Family

The film continued to be successful with audiences throughout the 2000s, so ABC Family took advantage of its popularity and turned "10 Things I Hate About You" into a TV series.

The sitcom ran for one season and starred Lindsey Shaw, Meaghan Martin, Ethan Peck, Nicholas Braun, and Dana Davis.

Larry Miller even reprised his role as Kat and Bianca's father, Dr. Stratford. 

The movie became an advertisement for some of the best date spots in Seattle. Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger in "10 Things I Hate About You." Buena Vista Pictures

"10 Things I Hate About You" was filmed on-site in Washington, and Seattle's tourism industry has taken advantage of the movie's cult following.

To celebrate the film's 20th anniversary in 2019, Seattle magazine published a "10 Things I Hate About You" dating guide that detailed all the filming locations fans can visit for real-life dates.

Among these spots are Lake Union, where Kat and Patrick went paddle-boating, the Fremont Troll, where Bianca and Cameron went to talk after school, and the Paramount Theatre, where the prom was held. 

The list also included Gas Works Park, but unfortunately, it doesn't really have a paintball course.

This story was originally published in August 2020 and most recently updated on September 10, 2024.

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The Real Dadcore—A Former Vogue Editor's Dad Just Made His Runway Debut At Chopova Lowena

Then it was game time. All of a sudden we're lined up. I'm number eight. That's when it struck me that I was going to be walking out, when I saw the people filling up the venue. All of a sudden the place is packed and it strikes you that people really do this for a living. They work for magazines and the internet and retail stores, so you know you have to put on your game face and do the best you can.

There were these young ladies behind me [on the lineup]. They're young, but they've done this before. We're just chatting, but the minute the photographers came over and said pose they went into a whole different look. I thought, you know, there's a lot to learn here.

As I was walking, every now and then I would look at the audience, which is not what you should be doing, but it was on my mind. Since the venue was one where you walk through a room into another and then another, I had to keep the pace and look confident.

Ready to go.

Photo: Steff Yotka

The blocks.

Photo: Steff Yotka

At rehearsal.

Photo: Steff Yotka

With Steff.

Photo: Steff Yotka

I was really impressed with my look. It was pretty funny, because I had these big flowers on my belt that went from front to back, so every time somebody passed me on the backside they kind of got hooked, so we were attached. I was really impressed with the pants and, well, the whole thing. It was all pretty cool, and they made it special for me from what I understand.

Believe it or not, in my everyday life, I like to have a little bit of color. I'm wearing a Chopova shirt right now with some good color. I do it to offset some of the dad vibe that I've fallen into. I'll do a turquoise or green or pink polo shirt or something, and contrast that with dark jeans or black, even. I'm pseudo into fashion without being over the top, you know? Though I do have a Dries shirt lying around here somewhere!

I would walk another show, why not give it another shot? I'm not an expert by any means, but it was exhilarating. There are some fun lines I've seen out there that I think are pretty cool. I've been a fan of Thom Browne, and I mean his shorts because I think I have legs. And I like, on the other side, Brunelo Cuccinelli, the quality of that stuff is great. There's also Tom Ford. With those clothes, you feel like you're James Bond. I would definitely give it a shot if somebody was willing to take the chance again. They would go through my agent, my daughter, of course.

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