Inside the Gen-Z Friend Group That's Becoming Hollywood's Hottest Clique

In the 1960s, there was the Rat Pack, A-list movie stars like Frank Sinatra and Humphrey Bogart who partied and romanced their way around Hollywood. Two decades later, it was all about the Brat Pack, painfully attractive 20 somethings including Rob Lowe and Demi Moore known for dominating the coming-of-age genre. Cut to the new millennium and the rise of the Frat Pack, bro-y comedians such as Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd often seen palling around in R-rated blockbusters.

Now, another 20 years later, there’s a new group rising to cultural ubiquity, made up of multi-talented, genre-bending Gen Z up-and-comers like Olivia Rodrigo, Maude Apatow, and Kaia Gerber. They may not yet have a catchy moniker, but together, they’re undoubtedly defining pop culture for a new generation.

Unlike the previous iterations, this new alliance transcends any one sphere of influence, with its mostly-female members gaining fame through film, TV, music, modeling, influencing, or, often, a combination of several of the above. They’re solidly Gen Z, ranging in age from 17 to 24, and the few who aren’t the children of celebrities themselves grew up alongside those who are. They live in L.A. but consider NYC their second home; they form their friendships—and build their careers—primarily through social media, using their huge platforms to bond over anxiety and boredom just as much as glamour and fame. They’re co-workers and close pals, collaborators and muses, established icons and rising talents. At least a handful are currently appearing on HBO’s Euphoria.

And while not all of them are household names just yet, their power is undeniable. A casual selfie from Gerber leads to the start of a new fashion trend; a music rec from Rodrigo causes another artist’s career to take off. To their millions of followers, these young stars aren’t just idols, but influencers in the truest sense, constantly setting and resetting the cultural tone. It’s time to get to know who they are.