The character originally shared a name with a folk singer who appeared on the series premiere of Saturday Night Live on October 11, 1975 and had a Top Ten single "At Seventeen", which reached no.

The song is a stirring critique on high school angst, popularity delusions and teen barbarity.

After the incident, Janis had shaved half her hair and left school due to being upset about Regina's treatment of her.

During her time away, Janis developed a different style and expression, that being her now-iconic gothic punk image, and grew a bitter hatred towards Regina for making everyone think she was a lesbian.

She is notable for being rather teasing with said friends, calling Cady "Caddie" and poking fun at Damien for being "too gay to function".

After Cady returns to Janis's house from a Halloween party in tears after Regina kissed her crush, Aaron Samuels, Janis concocts a plan to take down Regina, by ruining her relationship with Aaron and the other Plastics, and making her body fat.

The friendship was broken after Cady lied about being unable to attend Janis's art show due to going to a show with her parents in Madison the same night, when she actually stayed home and threw a party without inviting Damian or Janis.

When the Burn Book is released (where Janis is called "dyke", a lesbian slur), there is a riot and then the girls have to attend an apology workshop in the gymnasium.

Janis ends the movie being friends with Cady and Damian and having begun a relationship with Kevin Gnapoor.

Janis' character remains very close to the original 2004 film and musical, however one notable change is with her sexuality and ethnicity.