How 5 TV & Movie Underdogs Overcame Their Meanest Bullies

From “Stranger Things” to “Spongebob Squarepants,” onscreen heroes face their bullies.

By Jackie Menjivar

If there’s one thing we can all get behind, it’s an underdog story. Onscreen moments where characters face their bullies (or even reconcile with them) are super satisfying. Here are a few of our favorites!

1. The Losers Club and Pennywise in It

It might be a bit of an understatement to call Pennywise (AKA an ancient cosmic evil in the form of a clown) a bully, but we’re doing it! For as terrifying as Pennywise is, ultimately the friendship between the Losers Club is what defeats it, showing that you can overcome any fear with the support of those who love you.

2. Eleven and Troy Walsh in Stranger Things

Can we talk about how Mike literally jumped off a cliff to keep Troy from hurting Dustin? (Talk about friendship goals!) Luckily, Eleven was also there to save him with her telekinetic powers and fight off their “mouth-breather” bully once and for all. And the group hug they all share afterwards absolutely warms our hearts!

3. Lara Jean Covey and Genevieve in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

We’re kind of over the girl vs girl tension that seems to be so popular in teen rom-coms, but Genevieve really did Lara Jean dirty by leaking the video of her and Peter in the hot tub (not to mention the SCRUNCHIE DRAMA). Lara Jean approaches the situation head-on, confronting Gen about the situation and talking through their feelings, which apparently went as far back as middle school.

4. Mitchie Torres and Tess Tyler in Camp Rock

Camp Rock, in all its DCOM glory, featured a refreshing apology from Tess Tyler to the folks she had bullied. Mitchie inspires Tess to own up to her mistakes, and they all end up singing and dancing together by the movie’s conclusion -- the only thing more impressive was how Joe Jonas’s painfully 2000s hairstyle stayed perfect throughout the whole thing.

5. Squidward Tentacles and Squilliam Fancyson in Spongebob Squarepants

These two are lifelong rivals, and Squilliam takes any opportunity he can to rub his success in Squidward’s face. He sets up Squidward to make a fool out of himself at the Bubble Bowl, but with some help from a few friends, Squidward puts together a marching band that’s so good it gives Squilliam a heart attack. Their performance of “Sweet Victory” will forever be an iconic underdog moment.