Rachael Leigh Cook surprises fans at ‘Josie and the Pussycats’ 25th anniversary screening

The punk-rock prom queen is back!

Rachael Leigh Cook surprised “Josie and the Pussycats” fans who gathered in Los Angeles Saturday for Cinespia’s 25th anniversary screening of the 2001 cult film.

Around 4,000 fans crowded the Hollywood Forever Cemetery as the film’s writing and directing duo Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont introduced special guests Cook and Kay Hanley, who played the film’s titular role and her singing voice, respectively.

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Josie and the Pussycat’s 25th anniversary screening at Hollywood Forever Cemetary @Cinespia @RachaelLeighCook #movies #movietok #cinespia #nostalgia #trl

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Rachael Leigh Cook and two other women holding microphones on stage in front of a neon sign. — Rachael Leigh Cook surprised fans at a Los Angeles screening of “Josie and the Pussycats” Saturday, as seen above. itsyourfilmsis/TikTok

“I have never felt more pride for being in a film that’s sort of also in excess with unearned ownership of that product, because I am only half of this role,” Cook told the crowd — more than half of whom were wearing the band’s signature leopard-print cat ears — ahead of the screening.

“I want to take this moment to just shout out Kay Hanley for the rest of my days,” she continued. “The only reason I can watch myself in this movie is because [Josie’s] spirit is you. I love your work in this movie so much.”

Cook, 46, concluded her speech by noting, “We live in very complicated times,” and shouting out “every life decision that got you here tonight.”

Rachael Leigh Cook at — Kay Hanley, who was the singing voice of Cook’s character in the film, was also a guest at the Cinespia event. itsyourfilmsis/TikTok

Rachael Leigh Cook holding a white electric guitar in front of a sparkly pink background with — “I have never felt more pride for being in a film that’s sort of also in excess with unearned ownership of that product, because I am only half of this role,” Cook, seen here in the Cinespia photo booth, told the crowd. rachaelleighcook/instagram

Hanley, the lead singer of ’90s alt-rock band Letters to Cleo, told the audience that she was “grateful” for the fans of the film, which also stars Tara Reid, Rosario Dawson, Parker Posey and Alan Cumming.

The movie “literally changed my life,” she explained.

“My daughter was 11 months old when we were doing the vocals and she was in a pack-and-play in the studio,” Hanley, 57, said. “Now, she’s 27 and she’s here tonight.”

Rosario Dawson, Rachael Leigh Cook, and Tara Reid in character as the music group Josie and the Pussycats. — “Josie and the Pussycats” starred Cook, Tara Reid and Rosario Dawson, seen above in the movie.

Rosario Dawson, Rachael Leigh Cook, and Tara Reid as Josie and the Pussycats in glittery outfits. — The 2001 film, which only made $14 million worldwide at the time, has since become a cult classic. (Pictured: Dawson, Cook and Reid in the film.) ©MCA/Courtesy Everett Collection

The film, which is based on the character of Josie McCoy from the Archie Comics, follows the small-town Riverdale band as they skyrocket to global fame, only to discover their music is being used to send subliminal messages to teenagers.

“Josie and the Pussycats” only grossed $14 million worldwide upon its 2001 release, but has since grown a cult following.

Back in 2021, Cook told People, “We all loved the movie we made, but sometimes movies don’t make money. It’s just a business … but it does do my heart good to know a movie that meant so much to me and the other girls when we made it is now resonating with other people.”

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