The Princess Diaries

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2:09

The Princess Diaries

G

2001

1h 55m

Kids & Family

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

50%

Tomatometer

120 Reviews

68%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Shy San Francisco teenager Mia Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway) is thrown for a loop when, from out of the blue, she learns the astonishing news that she's a real-life princess! As the heir apparent to the crown of the small European principality of Genovia, Mia begins a comical journey toward the throne when her strict and formidable grandmother, Queen Clarisse Renaldi (Julie Andrews), shows up to give her "princess lessons."

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Critics Consensus

A charming, if familiar, makeover movie for young teenage girls.

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Caroline Siede

Girl Culture (Substack)

Apr 27

What makes The Princess Diaries sparkle is that it realizes tween girls want to watch movies made with love and care just like everybody else.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

12/28/2010

5/5

Terrific fun for girls and their families, too.

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Anna Smith

Empire Magazine

12/30/2006

2/5

A light, uneven Pygmalion story that may win young girls over with its wish fulfilment theme and teen movie staples, but does not live up to the expectations created by the cast and director.

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Codie Allen

fade in, breathe out (Substack)

2d

5/ 5

Twenty-five years later, it still has the same charm, the same warmth, and the same ability to make you believe that maybe, just maybe, everyone deserves their own fairy-tale moment.

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Gissane Sophia

Lady Geeks Media

6d

4/5

Fun, flirty, and wildly still quotable, The Princess Diaries remains a staple because of its cast and the nostalgia.

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Dan DiNicola

The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)

04/30/2024

B-

The Princess Diaries is as sappy as they come, a Pygmalion story told in Pollyanna terms. But sometimes sappy works, and this is one of those times.

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Shrish T

@RT86955283 Jul 22

The Princess Diaries, released in 2001, is one of the most memorable movies I watched as a kid. Anne Hathaway's portrayal of a shy high school teenager, lost in her own world and suddenly confronted with the responsibilities and expectations of royalty, remains unforgettable. Her transformation into a real-life princess has stayed etched in my heart ever since. It's every girl's dream brought to life, and she portrayed it flawlessly while staying true to herself. Even today, it's a must-watch.

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Josephine T

@RT94773624 Jun 4

Genuinely shaped my life, perfect for teens. 96/100

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Ben W

@Username618 May 30

I thought at the time, that the person getting their name wrong and crossing it out joke was taken from Big Lebowski and using light brushing technique, only to determine the man had been doodling. This was ok. The idea of Julie Andrews having an affair with her butler... strikes one as a bit like going out with a hoover! But the whole thing's absurd.

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KerryWhite's S.

@KerryWhite77 May 26

As a Kid: N/A (don’t recall) Now: 7/10. 72/100

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Blake- N

@PBSAniDom Apr 22

The Princess Diaries is a decent princess film that is easy to enjoy, even if it never fully becomes a great one. Anne Hathaway is charming and believable in the lead role, and Julie Andrews brings the perfect amount of warmth and elegance to make the royal side of the story work. The movie has a lot of heart, a fun makeover premise, and a few genuinely memorable moments that make it feel light and watchable. That said, the story is pretty predictable and a bit formulaic, and some parts feel very safe compared to what it could have been. It is more sweet and pleasant than truly original. Still, it does its job well and has enough charm to keep it entertaining. Overall, The Princess Diaries is a solid, decent princess movie. I would rate it a 6/10.

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Alexis S

@RT06663557 Apr 19

Just rewatched for first time since I was a kid (came out when I was 7) and it’s still such a great feel good movie! Love It.

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Garry Marshall

Director

Julie Andrews

Queen Clarisse Renaldi

Anne Hathaway

Mia Thermopolis

Héctor Elizondo

Joe

Heather Matarazzo

Lilly Moscovitz

Mandy Moore

Lana Thomas

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The Princess Diaries: Trailer 1

2:09

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Synopsis

Shy San Francisco teenager Mia Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway) is thrown for a loop when, from out of the blue, she learns the astonishing news that she's a real-life princess! As the heir apparent to the crown of the small European principality of Genovia, Mia begins a comical journey toward the throne when her strict and formidable grandmother, Queen Clarisse Renaldi (Julie Andrews), shows up to give her "princess lessons."

Director: Garry Marshall
Producer: Debra Chase, Whitney Houston, Mario Iscovich
Screenwriter: Meg Cabot, Gina Wendkos
Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures
Production Co: BrownHouse Productions, Bottom of the Ninth Productions Inc.
Rating: G
Genre: Kids & Family, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 3, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 27, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $108.2M
Runtime: 1h 55m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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