It's hard to find a face more synonymous with 90s cinema than Freddie Prinz Jr. And now, almost three decades since we first fell in love with him in I Know What You Did Last Summer, we're receiving a healthy dose of nostalgia, with Prinze Jr set to return to the story that started it all.
He’s back as Ray Bronson in the reboot (which comes out in less than a month, by the way), although this time he's not the boy running from a hook-wielding killer, but an older version of the character, who's very much haunted by his past.
In addition to a new generation of actors, Prinze stars alongside original cast mate Jennifer Love Hewitt in the revival. And while Sarah Michelle Gellar — his wife and co-star — isn’t part of the cast (though she is back for the Buffy reboot coming soon), her presence still hovers in the background. The film is, in some ways, a return to the world where their love story began.
So, in honour of Prinze's return to one of his most iconic characters, we thought there's never been a better time to look back at his best films. Prep your weekend watch list, below.
She's All That (1999)
This is essentially the film that turned Prinze Jr into a teen icon. He plays Zack Siler, the high school golden boy who makes a bet to turn the "weird girl" into prom queen — and, of course, falls for her in the process. It’s a classic makeover rom-com that admittedly hasn’t aged perfectly, there's something undeniably enigmatic about it. If you grew up with it, you’ll definitely feel nostalgic when “Kiss Me” plays.
I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
Obviously, this one goes without saying. Back in the late 90s, Freddie was best known for dodging serial killers on the Fourth of July. This was one of his earliest big-screen roles, and one of the more serious. It's also the film that introduced him to Sarah Michelle Gellar, who he's been married to for over two decades — a fact that makes every scene between them feel a little more iconic now.
Scooby-Doo (2002)
Don't judge it unless you've seen it. As Fred Jones in the live-action Scooby-Doo, Freddie leaned into full cartoon camp. And then there’s the real-life joy that comes from watching him act opposite Sarah Michelle Gellar again, this time as Daphne.
Summer Catch (2001)
In Summer Catch, Freddie plays Ryan Dunne, a college student with dreams of making it big in baseball. But his plans are derailed when he strikes up a romance with Tenley — the effortlessly cool rich girl played by Jessica Biel. It's a classic working-class boy meets untouchable girl story that still makes for easy watching, all these years later.
Boys and Girls (2000)
This one often gets left out of the Freddie Prinze Jr canon, but we can't help but find it endearing. Prinze Jr plays Ryan, an engineering student who falls for Claire Forlani’s character, a free-spirited aspiring writer. Over the years, their paths keep crossing, from awkward high school encounters to college friendships, eventually evolving into something more complicated. It’s a classic friends-to-lovers story.
