After its premiere in 1999, Cruel Intentions still has fans talking about its scandalous story line — and dreamy lead Sebastian Valmont.

In the 90s cult classic, which is a teen version of the French film Dangerous Liaisons, Sebastian’s (Ryan Phillippe) sultry stepsister Kathryn Merteuil (Sarah Michelle Gellar) challenges him to “deflower” the new school headmaster’s daughter Annette Hargrove (Reese Witherspoon).

What Sebastian doesn’t expect is to fall in love with Annette and find himself broken after she learns the truth about the bet. In the end, Annette comes out on top besting Kathryn at her own game before riding off into the sunset. Sadly, Sebastian isn’t by her side — he sacrifices himself to save Annette — but she feels his presence while driving his beloved convertible as The Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony” plays in the background.

“It makes me smile almost every time. No matter where I am,” Phillippe exclusively told Us Weekly in September 2021 of the iconic final scene playlist. “And there’s been a couple of times in my life where I’ve been, like, at a gas station or whatever. And I’ll suddenly hear the song from across the way. And then there’ll be a group of people waving to me. Like, they put the song on a purpose because they saw me there.”

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