Bride Wars (2009)

11% of critics liked it
(141 reviews)
56% of users liked it
(318,317 ratings)

A clerical error tests the lifelong friendship of two brides-to-be by scheduling their respective weddings at the famed Plaza Hotel on the exact same date in this romantic comedy starring Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson. Ever since they were little girls, Liv (Hudson) and Emma (Hathaway) have bonded… More A clerical error tests the lifelong friendship of two brides-to-be by scheduling their respective weddings at the famed Plaza Hotel on the exact same date in this romantic comedy starring Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson. Ever since they were little girls, Liv (Hudson) and Emma (Hathaway) have bonded over planning their weddings down to the very last detail. Now, both in their mid-twenties, Liv and Emma have each found the men they want to spend the rest of their lives with. But while most of the details regarding their respective weddings don't overlap, the one thing that both Liv and Emma have always dreamt of is holding their ceremony at the legendary Plaza Hotel -- New Your City's ultimate bridal destination. Unfortunately, a simple clerical error has scheduled both of their weddings on the exact same date, at the exact same place. As a high-powered lawyer who's used to getting her way, Liv simply isn't willing to settle for anything less than perfection. And though simple schoolteacher Emma has always placed the needs of others above her own, the prospect of making any sacrifices on her big day brings out her inner bridezilla in ways that shock her unsuspecting friends and family. There was a time when Liv and Emma would have done anything for each other, but now that the two best friends are at odds over who will get their dream wedding and who will have to settle for second best, the lacy gloves are off and it's all-out war. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Gary Winick
Written By: Greg DePaul, Casey Wilson, June Diane Raphael
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 9, 2009 Wide
On DVD: Apr 28, 2009
Studio: 20th Century Fox

Critic Reviews

Richard Roeper, Richard Roeper.com
You want to see Anne Hathaway in a worthy vehicle? Check out "Rachel Getting Married." You want to see Kate Hudson in a worthy vehicle?Rent a time machine.
Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor
Bride Wars makes Sex and the City seem like Jane Austen.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
There's more cheer to be gained from staring outside at a bleak and desolate winterscape in the twilight of a shortened day than paying good money to endure this example of cinematic offal.
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal
No cues are needed to understand the plot, which feels computer-generated and barely serves to sustain an hour and a half running time.
Peter Howell, Toronto Star
Director Gary Winick has long since abandoned his cool cred from Tadpole and 13 Going on 30 and given himself over to the dark side of making glossy amusements that are about as deep as staring into a snow globe.
Mary F. Pols, TIME Magazine
In the end, the movie owes its mild success to Anne Hathaway, who makes it watchable.
Joshua Starnes, ComingSoon.net
Bride Wars renders its women characters as stereotypes only capable of approaching the world the way a character from a prime-time TV show might.
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
reptilian, hateful stuff, biologically engineered to disrespect--with maximum efficiency--the precise demographic to which it targets itself.
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
Call me a cynic, but I enjoyed the 'Wars' parts of the film rather than the 'Bride' parts of the film.
Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews
It's like the Whack-a-Mole of everything reasonable people hate about so-called 'chick flicks.' [Blu-ray]
Staci Layne Wilson, Buzzine Magazine
Blu-ray disc review.
Rob Humanick, Projection Booth
Enough to make one yearn for the rich complexity of Home Improvement.
David Cornelius, DVDTalk.com
It's a movie that mistakenly believes that we should want to like these people.
Betsy Sherman, Boston Phoenix
There are no pleasant surprises in this partly-Boston-shot Gary Winick film.
Keith Cohen, Entertainment Spectrum
The movie shows that life can be messy and how unrealistic it is to expect everything to be perfect on "the biggest day in a girl's life"
Sean McBride, Sean the Movie Guy
the leading ladies don't provide any memorable moments other than the obvious visual gag of a cat fight between two women in wedding dresses.
Bruce Bennett, Spectrum (St. George, Utah)
If Bride Wars is any indication of what's to come, please let last year linger a little longer.
Avi Offer, NYC Movie Guru
Often unimaginative, asinine and bland, even if you're willing to check your brain at the door and suspend your disbelief for 90 minutes.

Read all 18 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Anthony L

I think the reason I dislike this film so much is because it is so awful but the fact that I'm currently planning my own wedding might have helped. Vacuous people being nasty to each other for 90 mins with no real pay off, not my idea of a great film.
Dean !

An ok if nothing special comedy as 2 life long best friends try to out do each other for their dream wedding day. Quite a good cast and it has a few funny moments as they take increasing steps to get back at each other. Otherwise quite predictable.
Bethany M

Hilarious! Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway thrive off each other. Brilliant!
Brad W

Really dumb and juvenile, didn't have any funny scenes.
Candy R

Two bestfriends have planned their weddings their whole lives for June at the Plaza. They both get engaged at the same time and the wedding is double booked. They do everything to sabotage each other's weddings. Very funny movie. I'd pick Kate over Anne.
Dead A

Are you kidding me? Does that really happens in real life? I mean I've seen people fighting over stupid reasons but what the heck was this? And the ending was too much! I think the word coincidence.would be a proper word for it. Anyway, this was predictable. I… More
Are you kidding me? Does that really happens in real life? I mean I've seen people fighting over stupid reasons but what the heck was this? And the ending was too much! I think the word coincidence.would be a proper word for it. Anyway, this was predictable. I didn't laughed at most of the funny parts. I did liked Kate Hudson's reaction after that hair dye disaster and also couple of scenes. But that's it.
Stuart B

Was forced to watch this shit whilst on holiday. If I would have known how bad it was, I would have prefered to have dug my own eyes out with a spoon.
Spencer S

Fun but threadbare.
Conner R

Even though it's a total guilty pleasure movie, I still really loved it. Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson are so good together and it's actually pretty original. While it was made to mainly show off the rockin bods of both actresses, I feel like it really touched on the… More
Even though it's a total guilty pleasure movie, I still really loved it. Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson are so good together and it's actually pretty original. While it was made to mainly show off the rockin bods of both actresses, I feel like it really touched on the obsession that so many girls have with marriage. For a deemed chick flick, it's actually really funny and doesn't parade around any man hating behavior or follow a typical boy meets girl scenario.
Richard C

this sucked a lot, skip this. F
Lewis C

Disposable fluff. The main thing that Bride Wars accomplished, was turning its two appealing stars into very unappealing characters. The story is about as predictable as they come, and if you've seen the trailer, you've basically seen the entire movie. Even women will… More
Disposable fluff. The main thing that Bride Wars accomplished, was turning its two appealing stars into very unappealing characters. The story is about as predictable as they come, and if you've seen the trailer, you've basically seen the entire movie. Even women will probably find little to like, here.
Arash X

Terribly stupid chick flick without any charm, chemistry or comic value, It makes other chick flicks of the recent years look really good, Anne Hathaway is annoying as usual & Hudson is totally wasted but you know what's the worst thing? Hathaway's supposed to be funny… More
Terribly stupid chick flick without any charm, chemistry or comic value, It makes other chick flicks of the recent years look really good, Anne Hathaway is annoying as usual & Hudson is totally wasted but you know what's the worst thing? Hathaway's supposed to be funny & sexy dance sequence, really made me feel nauseating
Dean M

Great comedy between Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway as best friends-turned-rivals because of their dream weddings at the New York's Plaza Hotel was booked on the same day. I laughed at them fighting each other to ruin their own pre-weddings. Hathway looks smokin' hot in the… More
Great comedy between Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway as best friends-turned-rivals because of their dream weddings at the New York's Plaza Hotel was booked on the same day. I laughed at them fighting each other to ruin their own pre-weddings. Hathway looks smokin' hot in the bachelorette party and Hudson is much funnier in her acting as what I thought she follows her mother's steps.
Film C

WOW i loved this film even more than the adverts its a brilliant chick flick and really won't disappoint fans! its brilliantly acted and Hathaway and Hudson were brilliant and made it that much funnier!! This movie is funny, not as predictable as you may think it was quite a… More
WOW i loved this film even more than the adverts its a brilliant chick flick and really won't disappoint fans! its brilliantly acted and Hathaway and Hudson were brilliant and made it that much funnier!! This movie is funny, not as predictable as you may think it was quite a surprise ending and just kept my loving the film really its a brilliant movie left me in hysterics in some parrts!! Its just about two best friends who have dreamed of a wedding at a special venue all there lives and when the moment arrivees there both very happy but when theres a cockup and they are booked on the same day they end friendship and become arch nemises and then theres so many funny sabotages throughout the movie, will they become nest friends and both marry and live happily ever after? you'll have to watch, really worth a watch!!!
Rachel F

Cute movie. It definitely has its share of funny moments.
Sanjaya &

Well, the story was definitely a chick flick, about two best friends with their dreams to have a June wedding at the plaza... Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson makes a good appearance as best friends who have a war because they don't want to share the same wedding day... The movie… More
Well, the story was definitely a chick flick, about two best friends with their dreams to have a June wedding at the plaza... Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson makes a good appearance as best friends who have a war because they don't want to share the same wedding day... The movie itself just okay, it's pretty entertaining, but I don't like the ending they made... To be honest, why don't they make an ending that these two best friends share the same wedding day, why it must one of them step back??? That's the one that I don't like it...
Nani V

It was an okay movie, one of those where you already know what to expect. It's a fun movie to watch with your close female friends, defintitely a chick flick.
Cassie H

Very entertaining and funny cute movie.
Roy G

A movie best left at the altar.
Mark H

Flimsy chick flick depicts an escalating feud between two best friends who, each to be married to their boyfriends, clash over the same booked location of their respective weddings. As these lifelong friends, sabotage each other's impending weddings in vicious ways, it's… More
Flimsy chick flick depicts an escalating feud between two best friends who, each to be married to their boyfriends, clash over the same booked location of their respective weddings. As these lifelong friends, sabotage each other's impending weddings in vicious ways, it's unclear why we the audience, would want to spend even one minute with these wholly detestable characters. Script champions superficiality, materialism and narcissism. If your life's goal is to be married in New York's Plaza Hotel, perhaps this strident comedy might make some sense. All others should simply check "will not attend".