The last day of school and the first day of summer vacation spells paradise. Displaying all the fundamental signs of its lineage of high school films, Dazed and Confused works as an elaborate summary of the angst and trite that every student goes through as a rite of passage. The film is directed by Richard Linklater, a director whose entire filmography is largely synonymous with youth and love. In terms of the plot, the story revolves around a group of high schoolers during the last day of school. Linklater brilliantly documents the many factions of students without overly typecasting them. There are the nerds, the jocks, the stoners, and the juniors. Dazed and Confused deals with themes of love, drugs, and sexuality with a degree of reality and rawness. An appropriate approach to the transition from youth to maturity. Here’s a look at where the cast is today.

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Matthew McConaughey

     Paramount Pictures

“Alright, alright, alright” As soon as you hear these words, Matthew McConaughey’s teenage face pops up in memory, hand on the steering wheel, joint in hand. In an interview, the now Oscar award-winning star explained these three words were the first words he ever uttered on film. Cut to two decades later, Matthew McConaughey firmly holds the position of one of the most versatile, revered, and impactful actors of the current generation, having won an Academy Award for his portrayal of Ron, a hard-boiled, rodeo cowboy who’s been diagnosed with AIDS in Dallas Buyers Club. Apart from that, McConaughey’s has gone on to feature in blockbuster films such as Interstellar, Wolf of Wall Street, The Gentlemen, and a major role in HBO’s hit series, True Detective.

Ben Affleck

     Warner Bros. 

Dazed and Confused launched another megastar in the form of Ben Affleck. The film showed Affleck playing the part of a brain-dead jock, Fred O’Bannion responsible for terrorizing the juniors. Currently, Affleck is as big a name as any in the power circles of Hollywood and has been seen in pathbreaking projects such as Gone Girl and Argo, while also briefly playing the coveted role of Bruce Wayne, AKA Batman, in Zack Snyder’s epic Batman Vs Superman. For his efforts, Affleck has received an Academy Award as a writer for Good Will Hunting and as a Director for Argo.

Jason London

     Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

Jason London is best known for his portrayal of Randall ‘Pink’ Floyd in Dazed and Confused. Since then, London has gone on to act in films such as The Rage: Carrie 2, and Out Cold, along with his miniseries called Jason and the Argonauts. Additionally, the actor has more than 130 acting credits on IMDB, along with a special appearance in Aerosmith’s video for “Amazing”.

Milla Jovovich

     Pathe Distribution

After playing the cute Michelle Burroughs in Dazed and Confused, Milla Jovovich has gone on a killing spree of monsters in the Resident Evil film series. A stark contrast from the shy teenager to the alpha woman, thereby helping Jovovich carve out a certain niche in the action/horror genre. Along with her staple Resident Evil films, the Ukrainian-born actress has also featured in films such as Zoolander, Hellboy, and The Fifth Element.

Wiley Wiggins

     Gramercy Pictures

Post Dazed and Confused’s celebratory buzz, Wiley Wiggins has had a somewhat unusual career. The then-teenage star, has gone on to work as a game designer and producer, and also has taken up the role of an editor. The multi-talented artist also has acting credits on films such as Walking Life, Boys, and Computer Chess.

Adam Goldberg

Adam Goldberg began his acting career with Mr. Saturday Night, before he went on to play Mike Newhouse in Dazed and Confused, which then set him up for an opportunity that would put him on the map for the world to see. Goldberg landed the role of Mellish, a loudmouth of an infantryman in Steven Spielberg’s war epic, Saving Private Ryan. Since then, Goldberg has gone on to do several supporting roles in films such as A Beautiful Mind, Deja Vu, and Frankenstein. The actor has also worked on several TV shows, most notably on HBO’s Entourage.

Nicky Katt

     Warner Bros.

Having risen to fame due to his rough and cruel antics in Dazed and Confused, Nicky Katt went on to star as a white supremacist, and child abuser in A Time to Kill. The actor collaborated again with Richard Linklater on SubUrbia, where he played the role of Tim, a drunk teenager, with a knack for shooting off his mouth. With more than 70 acting credits in a career spanning more than four decades, Nicky Katt’s latest project sees him portray the role of Cyril on the TV series, Casual.

Cole Hauser

     Paramount Network

Another Dazed and Confused bully on the list is Benny O’Donnell. A nightmare on-screen, Cole Hauser along with fellow bullies provided a much-needed balance on-screen in contrast to the meek and docile nerds. Since then, Hauser has worked on revolutionary films such as Good Will Hunting, 2 Fast 2 Furious, and the Emmy-nominated show, Yellowstone.