Heathers is a 1988 dark comedy set in Westerburg High School, where ordinary school routines sit beside much darker teenage drama. The school bell became a handy shorthand for that world, instantly signalling classrooms, corridors, and the pressure of the school day. As short-form edits and fan videos grew, creators began lifting the familiar ring to open scenes, mark transitions, and add irony to school-themed jokes. Its staying power comes from that instant recognition, a few seconds of sound that place any clip inside a high school without needing a single visual cue.