If you try to find the All I Wanna Do movie on a major streaming platform today, you might run into a weird bit of Hollywood history. Depending on where you live or how old your DVD copy is, you might know it as Strike! or maybe The Hairy Bird. It’s a movie with an identity crisis that has absolutely nothing to do with the quality of the film itself.
Honestly, it’s a crime.
Released in the late 90s, this movie should have been as big as Clueless or 10 Things I Hate About You. It had the cast. It had the wit. It had a rebellious soul that felt genuine rather than manufactured by a boardroom of middle-aged men trying to "reach the youth." But because of a messy distribution deal and a title change that stripped away its edge, it became a cult classic instead of a box-office titan.
The Messy History of the All I Wanna Do Movie
Let’s get the naming thing out of the way first because it's confusing as hell.
The original title was The Hairy Bird. That’s a reference to a specific... anatomical drawing... the girls in the movie use as their secret society symbol. Miramax, the studio that picked it up, got cold feet. They thought the title was too suggestive or just plain weird. So, they changed it to Strike! for the Canadian market and eventually All I Wanna Do for the US release.
It didn't help.
The movie was directed by Sarah Kernochan. She based a lot of the script on her own experiences at Rosemary Hall in the 1960s. That’s probably why the dialogue feels so sharp. It’s not just "movie talk." It’s the way smart, frustrated teenage girls actually speak when they think no one is listening.
A Cast That Was About to Explode
Look at the call sheet for this movie. It’s insane. You have a young Kirsten Dunst right before she became an A-list icon. You have Gaby Hoffmann, who was basically the queen of indie teen cinema at the time. Then there’s Rachael Leigh Cook, Merritt Wever, and Heather Matarazzo.
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Even the "adult" roles were stacked. Lynn Redgrave plays the headmistress.
It’s rare to see a film where every single character feels like a distinct human being with their own internal life. Usually, in teen movies, you get the "The Slut," "The Nerd," and "The Jock." In the All I Wanna Do movie, everyone is a bit of a mess. Odette (Gaby Hoffmann) is obsessed with sex but also deeply intellectual. Verena (Kirsten Dunst) is a brilliant strategist who hides her vulnerability behind a wall of cool indifference.
What the Plot Gets Right About Rebellion
The story is set in 1963 at Miss Godard’s Preparatory School for Girls. The school is failing financially. The solution? Merge with a nearby boys' academy.
To the adults, it’s a logical business move. To the girls, it’s an existential threat. They know that as soon as the boys arrive, the focus of the school will shift. They’ll go from being the protagonists of their own lives to being the "supportive girlfriends" or the "distractions."
They decide to sabotage the merger.
It’s not just a cute prank movie. It’s a film about bodily autonomy and the right to an education that isn't centered around pleasing men. When the girls start chanting "Solidarity Forever," it’s funny, but it’s also kind of radical. They aren't just fighting for their school; they’re fighting for a space where they don’t have to perform for anyone else.
Why It Failed at the Box Office
Miramax essentially buried it.
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Harvey Weinstein—who we now know was a monster for many reasons—was notoriously difficult with films he didn't "get." He didn't seem to know how to market a movie about girls who weren't obsessed with finding a prom date. The marketing turned it into a generic "girls behaving badly" flick, which it isn't.
It’s a smart, period-accurate comedy-drama.
Because it didn't get a massive theatrical push, it lived its life on Comedy Central reruns and in the "Cult" section of Blockbuster. If you grew up in the early 2000s, you probably stumbled upon it at 2:00 PM on a Saturday and realized it was way better than it had any right to be.
The Soundtrack and the Vibe
We have to talk about the music. The All I Wanna Do movie uses its 60s setting perfectly. It’s not the "flower power" 60s that people usually caricature. It’s the early 60s—the "Mad Men" era where the cracks were just starting to show in the perfect American facade.
The title song, "All I Wanna Do," is an absolute earworm.
The cinematography has this warm, hazy, nostalgic glow that makes the school feel like a fortress. It’s a world unto itself. When the girls sneak out to the local pub or have "Hairy Bird" meetings in the attic, you feel that sense of claustrophobia mixed with the thrill of breaking the rules.
The Enduring Legacy of the Hairy Bird
Why does this movie still matter in 2026?
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Because the themes haven't aged a day. We’re still talking about women’s spaces. We’re still talking about how the education system treats girls differently than boys. And frankly, we still don't have enough movies that show female friendship this authentically.
There is a scene where the girls are discussing their future plans—college, careers, sex—and it’s so raw and honest that it feels like it could have been written yesterday. They aren't archetypes. They're kids trying to figure out how to be people.
How to Watch It Now
Finding the All I Wanna Do movie can be a bit of a scavenger hunt.
- Check the alternative titles: If you're searching on Amazon or Vudu, try Strike! or even The Hairy Bird if you’re looking for import versions.
- Physical Media is King: This is one of those movies where owning the DVD is actually better because the extras (if you can find them) explain the whole title debacle.
- Streaming Rotations: It occasionally pops up on platforms like Hoopla or Kanopy (the library streaming services). It’s worth the search.
Real Insights for Film Buffs
If you’re a fan of Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird, you owe it to yourself to watch this. You can see the DNA of the All I Wanna Do movie in almost every modern coming-of-age story that prioritizes female friendship over romance.
It’s also a masterclass in ensemble acting. Watch Merritt Wever. She’s now an Emmy winner and one of the most respected actors in the business, but even here, as the younger, slightly terrified Flatty, she’s incredible.
Practical Next Steps for the Viewer
Stop waiting for it to trend on TikTok.
- Hunt down the DVD: Look for the 1998/2000 releases. The cover art is usually terrible and looks like a generic teen sex comedy, but ignore that.
- Watch it with friends: This isn't a "solo watch" movie. It’s meant to be seen with people who understand the specific brand of chaos that comes with being a teenage girl.
- Research Sarah Kernochan: She’s a fascinating creator—a songwriter, a novelist, and a director. Understanding her background makes the film's wit make much more sense.
The All I Wanna Do movie is a reminder that sometimes the best films are the ones that fall through the cracks of the studio system. It’s a middle finger to the idea that "girl movies" have to be vapid. It’s loud, it’s messy, and it’s deeply human. Go find it. You won't regret the effort.