Freaky Friday (1976)
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71% of critics liked it
(21 reviews) -
57% of users liked it
(65,285 ratings)
Prolific television director Gary Nelson made the Walt Disney live-action comedy Freaky Friday, based on the novel by Mary Rodgers. Barbara Harris stars as suburban housewife Ellen Andrews, the wife of Bill (John Astin) and the mother of Annabel (Jodie Foster) and Ben (Sparky Marcus). Ellen just… More Prolific television director Gary Nelson made the Walt Disney live-action comedy Freaky Friday, based on the novel by Mary Rodgers. Barbara Harris stars as suburban housewife Ellen Andrews, the wife of Bill (John Astin) and the mother of Annabel (Jodie Foster) and Ben (Sparky Marcus). Ellen just can't understand what's going on with teenaged Annabel, who hangs around the house making snappy remarks, eating ice cream for breakfast, and calling her brother Apeface. They each make a separate wish to be in the other's place, and they get their wish on Friday 13th. Ellen has to go through the day as a kid, playing on the field hockey team and dealing with typing class. Annabel has to deal with grown-up problems like getting appliances fixed and preparing a banquet. The whole silly story ends with a wacky car-chase/water skiing/hang-gliding conclusion in keeping with other Disney movies of the day. Freaky Friday was remade twice with the same title, and spawned a whole subgenre of body-switching movies in the 1980s. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi
- Directed By
- Gary Nelson
- Genres
- Kids & Family, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Dec 17, 1976 Wide
- Studio
- Disney
Critic Reviews
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, Time Out
Good performances struggle gamely to overcome the increasingly predictable plot.
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Richard Eder, New York Times
Toward the end there are some amusing car-chase scenes. Elsewhere the humor is clotted by the feeling that the jokes are chasing the reactions, instead of the other way around.
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Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
The situation -- a mother and daughter switch personalities for a day -- is rife with possibilities, but since this 1977 comedy is a Disney film, said possibilities are scrupulously squandered.
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Heather Boerner, Common Sense Media
Endearing '76 original may feel outdated to kids.
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Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
A kid's comedy classic.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Barbara Harris
as Ellen Andrews
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Jodie Foster
as Annabel Andrews
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John Astin
as Bill Andrews
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Patsy Kelly
as Mrs. Schmauss
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Dick Van Patten
as Harold Jennings
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Vicki Schreck
as Virginia
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Sorrell Booke
as Mr. Dilk
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Alan Oppenheimer
as Mr. Joffert
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Ruth Buzzi
as Opposing Coach
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Kaye Ballard
as Coach Betsy
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Marie Windsor
as Mrs. Murphy
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Sparky Marcus
as Ben Andrews
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Ceil Cabot
as Miss McGuirk
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Brooke Mills
as Mrs. Gibbons
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Karen A. Smith
as Mary Kay Gilbert
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Marvin Kaplan
as Carpet Cleaner
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Al Molinaro
as Drapery Man
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Iris Adrian
as Bus Passenger
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Barbara Walden
as Mrs. Benson
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Don Carter
as Delivery Boy
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Fritz Feld
as Jackman
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Laurie Main
as Mr. Mills
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Marc McClure
as Boris Harris
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Jack Sheldon
as Lloyd
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Charlene Tilton
as Bambi
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James Van Patten
as Cashier
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Fuddle Bagley
as Bus Driver
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Dermott Downs
as Harvey Manager


