Freaky Friday (2003)

88% of critics liked it
(147 reviews)
60% of users liked it
(864,567 ratings)

A high-strung mom and her punky daughter learn what it's like to walk in each other's shoes -- literally -- in Disney's second update of their 1977 teen fantasy comedy. The new-millennium Freaky Friday has disgruntled teen Anna Coleman (Lindsay Lohan) living, sans father, with her uptight… More A high-strung mom and her punky daughter learn what it's like to walk in each other's shoes -- literally -- in Disney's second update of their 1977 teen fantasy comedy. The new-millennium Freaky Friday has disgruntled teen Anna Coleman (Lindsay Lohan) living, sans father, with her uptight therapist-author mom Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis) and bratty brother Harry (Ryan Malgarini). The angst between the two reaches a fever pitch on the eve of Tess' wedding rehearsal: Anna wants to ditch the proceedings for an all-important band audition, but Tess sees the conflict as a show of resentment toward imminent step-dad Ryan (Mark Harmon). When the whole clan goes out to dinner at their favorite Chinese restaurant, their sage waitress (Lucille Soong) picks up on the tension between the mother and daughter and casts a spell on them via two magic fortune cookies. The next day, Tess and Anna must put up with life in each other's bodies -- until, as the fortune says, they can come to a greater understanding of one another. Freaky Friday was previously remade for TV in 1995 with Shelley Long and Gaby Hoffman in the leads. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 36 min.
Directed By: Mark Waters (VIII)
Written By: Mary Rodgers, Heather Hach, Leslie Dixon
Genres: Drama, Kids & Family, Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 6, 2003 Wide
On DVD: Dec 16, 2003
Studio: Buena Vista Pictures

Critic Reviews

David Ansen, Newsweek
Maybe it's only adults who'll get teary-eyed -- kids just wanna have fun. And they will.
Ted Shen, Chicago Reader
The premise provides a fine showcase for the two appealing actresses, who appropriate each other's vocal and physical mannerisms with dead-on accuracy.
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
A likable but flimsy retread that's barely worth the effort.
Ty Burr, Boston Globe
The material here may not be the freshest, but screenwriters Heather Hach and the redoubtable Leslie Dixon have buffed the dialogue until it sparkles like the finest cubic zirconium, and the cast is game from top to bottom.
Jennifer Frey, Washington Post
It's really a family film, deftly updated for the 2003 market, but still sweetly funny at its heart.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Cheerful, energetic and on the money.
, Film4
What should have been a bland Disney remake has somehow ended up as the most satisfying family comedy for a long time.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Mother-daughter switch is fun comedic chaos.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
A sitcom formula film that tries too hard.
Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed
While occasionally fluffy and cheesy and just brainless, this is a very good, very well-acted and laugh out loud funny remake.
Mark Halverson, Sacramento News & Review
The two featured females offset these distractions by having so much apparent fun that it becomes contagious.
Prairie Miller, Long Island Press
Curtis slinks back toward adolescence, then grooves on it as the regenerated hormones start kicking in.
Kam Williams, Princeton Town Topics
A hilarious, heartwarming remake.
Angie Errigo, Empire Magazine
Cute and innocently funny, with engaging turns from a beautifully silly Curtis, and Lindsay Lohan as a 21st century high school heroine.
, Time Out
Nothing's really wrong here, but nor are there surprises.
Kevin Carr, Film Threat
It's meant to be a fun kid's movie, and it's a must see for mothers and daughters.
Michael Szymanski, International Press Academy
perhaps the best of the bunch
JoBlo, JoBlo's Movie Emporium
Offers enough all-around entertainment for most any teen, or even adult, to appreciate through its quick 90-minute run.
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
...hardly a classic -- neither was the original -- [but] good-natured enough that you'll be willing overlook the terrible Chinese accents and the obligatory smarmy speeches.
Tony Medley, tonymedley.com
I now understand why I've had to sit through all the truly awful movies I've seen this summer. The Almighty was preparing me for Freaky Friday.

Read all 21 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

Lucas M

Not so good as the originl version.
Jeff "

Freaky Friday for me is a terrible, unimpressive film that really is a waste of time. Hated this film, and I thought that Jamie Lee Curtis was wasted here. She shouldn't have played in this garbage of a film, and this is one of worst films. I really couldn't get into this… More
Freaky Friday for me is a terrible, unimpressive film that really is a waste of time. Hated this film, and I thought that Jamie Lee Curtis was wasted here. She shouldn't have played in this garbage of a film, and this is one of worst films. I really couldn't get into this film. I hate Lindsay Lohan, and considering her current legal problems, it doesn't take Einstein to figure out why I hate her, that and she can't act at all. Freaky Friday is a boring film that I thought was a big waste of time. There is nothing good going on here and the film is simply pointless. I thought the film was stupid. I thought that the film suffered from predictable clichés and it just didn't cut it for me. I didn't laugh once. I love a good comedy like the next person; unfortunately Freaky Friday is not such a film. The film is poorly crafted with no substance, ideas that go nowhere and despite a strong lead (Curtis) the film is bad. I think it's a shame that Jamie Lee Curtis is wasted here, but like with every actor and actress, there's at least one film that put a black mark on their career, for Curtis that film is Freaky Friday, a stupid, unfunny comedy that fails to deliver genuine laughs. If you're looking for a good family oriented comedy with good laughs, Freaky Friday isn't that film. This is a waste and it could have been much better than this.
Scott G

It's aim was to make you laugh, it just made me chuckle under my breath, there was no real fun in it, no laugh out loud moments, but it still gets some respect.
Cassie H

Love this movie. Jamie Lee Curtis is hilarious and I adored Lindsay Lohan in movies like this before she got screwed up.
Unknown H

Movies aimed at angsty teenage girls have never really appealed to me but considering when this movie came out nearly all of my friends were just so, I was subjected to this mess of sorry acting and poor scripted nonsense time after time. Jamie Lee Curtis is one of my favourite… More
Movies aimed at angsty teenage girls have never really appealed to me but considering when this movie came out nearly all of my friends were just so, I was subjected to this mess of sorry acting and poor scripted nonsense time after time. Jamie Lee Curtis is one of my favourite actress' of all time, but I even found her slightly intolerable in this ramshackle film that is better left untouched.
Brad W

I actually find this movie hilarious, a cheesy and dumb movie at times, but funny and has a good heart.
Jameson W

A good, fun, and most important, entertaining film! Jamie Lee Curtis is really funny here and gives a fantastic performance as the mother.
erika b

Freaky Friday is about a mother and her kid that fell like they do not understand each other. The kid feels like her mother does not know what it is like to be a teenage woman. The next day they trade place to get a better idea on the other life, over time they learned how to accept… More
Freaky Friday is about a mother and her kid that fell like they do not understand each other. The kid feels like her mother does not know what it is like to be a teenage woman. The next day they trade place to get a better idea on the other life, over time they learned how to accept each other and understand each other. They will have a hard time finding out to go back to thier normal lives. Will they be stuck in each other's shoes forever or will they go back to their normal life's. Pros good plot Good music Con Acting was lacking a bit.
Bethany M

Hilarious! One of Lindsay Lohan's best films and Chad Michael Murray singing Britney Spears was my favourite scene from the whole movie. Definite must watch, a real family fun film that will have you laughing and smiling all the way through. Must watch!
Michael E

its a girl movie that i thought was okay
KJ P

A fun family film with hilarity and charm. Freaky Friday does what no other movie can do, amuse us with something that is totally ridiculous!
Dead A

You go ask her then you old fart! I laughed at the part where Harry Coleman (Ryan Malgarini) saw his mom's ass. His expression was funny! Some stuffs like Jake (Chad Michael Murray) feeling attracted towards Tess Coleman (Jamie Lee… More
You go ask her then you old fart! I laughed at the part where Harry Coleman (Ryan Malgarini) saw his mom's ass. His expression was funny! Some stuffs like Jake (Chad Michael Murray) feeling attracted towards Tess Coleman (Jamie Lee Curtis) was so not cool. I mean come on what were you thinking when you put that on the script??!! And another thing was when Tess pulled out her ear stud. Okay the movie itself was odd. But still it was connected to the reality (except for the Chinese voodoo or whatever you call it), but wouldn't it hurt (a bit at least?) to pull out the stud from the fresh pierced ear? Yes it is freaky if I have to move to my mom's body. I think I'll just die before realizing what a difficult life our parents are facing. Overall this movie was good. Loved the acting. It was perfect.
Richard C

C+
Film C

ive always absolutely loved this movie!! its awesome!! its funny, fun and just plan entertaining with very fun and entrtaing characters played very well!!
Conner R

Sure it's kind've dumbed down and corny, but there's something I really like about body switching movies. Lindsay Lohan, Jamie Lee Curtis and Chad Michael Murray are all at the top of their game and are essentially the main reason you can enjoy this movie. I think… More
Sure it's kind've dumbed down and corny, but there's something I really like about body switching movies. Lindsay Lohan, Jamie Lee Curtis and Chad Michael Murray are all at the top of their game and are essentially the main reason you can enjoy this movie. I think it's one of those movies that are fun to watch maybe once or twice, but lose their value after that.
Coxxie M

1 star because i have a HUGE crush on that bass player chick
E.J. B

Jamie Lee Curtis is great; the only entertaining element of this movie.
Martin S

How could I have expected anything but crap? But it was okay. If you watched Face/off and took away the action you would get this movie. There would still be good stuff
Sophie B

It was pretty good. Really funny when they ran into each other and the little kid was like "what?" haha and they were some more funny parts and some really good parts too. I wouldn't watch it again though.
Candy R

good re-make where mother and daughter switch places for the day. Great cast.