The Parent Trap (1998)

85% of critics liked it
(47 reviews)
67% of users liked it
(460,562 ratings)

The husband-and-wife team of Nancy Meyers and Charles Shyer, who scored with their 1991 remake of the 1950 Father of the Bride, returned for this updating of the 1961 comedy about twins who hope to bring their divorced parents back together. Sheyer and Meyers stayed close to the original screenplay… More The husband-and-wife team of Nancy Meyers and Charles Shyer, who scored with their 1991 remake of the 1950 Father of the Bride, returned for this updating of the 1961 comedy about twins who hope to bring their divorced parents back together. Sheyer and Meyers stayed close to the original screenplay by David Swift, based on Erich Kastner's book Das Doppelte Lottchen. At a summer camp in Maine, 11-year-old Hallie Parker (Lindsay Lohan) meets Annie James (also Lindsay Lohan). Despite a curious resemblance, Hallie develops an immediate dislike for Annie, and the feeling is mutual. However, the two eventually discover they are twin sisters separated not long after they were born. Their parents, Elizabeth (Natasha Richardson) and Nick (Dennis Quaid), had met on the Queen Elizabeth 2 and married on that same voyage. After a divorce, Nick brought up Hallie at his Napa Valley vineyard, while Annie lived with wedding-gown designer Elizabeth in London. Neither twin was aware she had a sister, until their summer-camp meeting. To learn more about their parents, they switch places and maintain the deception until Nick states he will remarry. The twins then try to engineer a renewed romance between Nick and Elizabeth, but Nick's annoying but attractive fiancee Meredith (Elaine Hendrix) presents a major problem in reaching their happy-ending goal. Hayley Mills portrayed the twins in the 1961 original and subsequent TV-movie sequels: In The Parent Trap II (1986), the twins are adults with their own romantic problems. In The Parent Trap III (1989), the twins compete for a widower (Barry Bostwick), the father of triplets, and that same year, the twins also returned in Parent Trap Hawaiian Honeymoon (1989). ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 2 hr. 7 min.
Directed By: Nancy Meyers
Written By: Nancy Meyers, David Swift, Charles Shyer
Genres: Comedy, Kids & Family

In Theaters: Jul 29, 1998 Wide
On DVD: Mar 16, 1999
Studio: Walt Disney Productions

Critic Reviews

Lisa Alspector, Chicago Reader
This 1998 romantic comedy mostly bores with its cumbersome exposition and close-ups of trivial objects scattered throughout lackluster montage sequences.
Joe Leydon, Variety
New pic is slick, sentimental and exceptionally well cast, with enough cross-generational appeal to suggest strong commercial potential.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Movies like this remember how much fun escapism can be.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
The lavish, super-cute new version of The Parent Trap is a remake of the 1961 Hayley Mills hit, which was seriously adorable in its own right
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
It never fails to amaze me that something as essentially light and pointless as Disney's remake of The Parent Trap can clock in at over two hours in length.
Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle
Richardson and Quaid, who is beginning to resemble Harrison Ford in his rumpled mode, have great chemistry. It's a shame it takes so long for the movie to bring them together to demonstrate it.
Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide
The technology for twinning a single young actress is considerably more seamless than it was in 1961, and Lohan is a perky charmer.
, Film4
The whole thing is pleasant enough -- provided you can suspend your disbelief for long enough to accept that all English people talk in plummy accents, swan around Kensington and have butlers.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Delightful remake is great for the whole family.
Wally Hammond, Time Out
The light comedy is sweetly timed, the direction smart and assured, and the visuals bright, colourful, unobtrusive and faultless.
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
The Parent Trap provides a nice snapshot of Lohan before she became a tabloid nightmare.
James Plath, Reel.com
Lindsay Lohan doesn't have the same charisma as Mills, nor does she sing or juggle the two roles with as much deftness, but she's still plenty engaging.
Michael Szymanski, International Press Academy
Lindsay at twice her best...
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
I don't mind saying there were more than a few teary-eyed moments for me; and, yes, I mostly fell in love with the characters all over again. (Special Edition DVD)
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
Even if you've seen and enjoyed the original Parent Trap, this 1998 update should make you happy all over again.
Dan Lybarger, Nitrate Online
Agreeable remake of the 60s Disney hit.
Shawn Bowers, Kansas City Star
A light-hearted Disney remake...Lohan makes an impressive debut.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...exactly the sort of easy-going, endlessly engaging family film that seems to have become an unusually rare breed in this day and age.
John R. McEwen, Film Quips Online
Lohan is cute and charming, as would be expected, but she also brings a street-savvy quality to both her roles, and distinguishes them well enough for us to tell the difference, even if no one in the movie can.

Read all 19 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

John M

Surprisingly cute movie and well done. My daughters loved it.
AJ V

This remake is a lot like the original, except of course it tries to modernize the story, make it more realistic for today's audience. It's good, actually, but it will never be as good as the original, of course.
Cassie H

Before Lindsay Lohan was in bad trouble she was an adorable 12 year old who had a promising future and Hallie and Annie, twins in this great remake of the original Parent Trap. Dennis Quid is adorable, Natasha Richardson is beautiful, Lisa Ann Walter who plays Chessi is awesome and I… More
Before Lindsay Lohan was in bad trouble she was an adorable 12 year old who had a promising future and Hallie and Annie, twins in this great remake of the original Parent Trap. Dennis Quid is adorable, Natasha Richardson is beautiful, Lisa Ann Walter who plays Chessi is awesome and I adore Martin (:
Brad W

I always liked this film, it was innocent and fun, it was a cute movie and I miss Linsey Lohan like this, before she went downhill.
Alexander D

Good
Bethany M

Lindsay Lohan at her best. Her English accent is quite good and I really loved the story.
Lady D

The remake of the Haley Mills film of the same name starring a young Lyndsey Lohan, taking the part of trans Atlantic twins. A fun kids tale.
Dead A

You know, the story (the part where twins who were separated at birth found each other) kinda reminded me of Dallywood films (if anyone have seen Dallywood films will know what I meant <a href='http://www.thescubasite.com' title='Scuba Site'><img… More
You know, the story (the part where twins who were separated at birth found each other) kinda reminded me of Dallywood films (if anyone have seen Dallywood films will know what I meant <a href='http://www.thescubasite.com' title='Scuba Site'><img src='http://forum.thescubasite.com/winking/winking0035.gif' alt='Scuba Site' border='0'></a>). No matter how corny and weird the story (and the movie itself) was, I liked it. It's pretty long but I didn't felt that much boring. Though I hated that scene where Meredith <i>almost</i> swallowed a lizard (weird much?). Lindsay Lohan haven't changed a bit. I do get it why most of the people hate her but I like her (no homo).
KJ P

The Parent Trap is a lovable kids comedy that I loved since the day it was released. It will never get old, even though it is a little silly. I love the Parent Trap, and everything it has going for it, the entire way through
MisterYoda ?

3 stars
Bently L

This remake is great! Lindsay Lohan (before she was a druggie, folks) portrays the two twins well. The parents played by Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson are also good. Sadly, its hard to say which one is better: the original or the remake. That just proves that both films are… More
This remake is great! Lindsay Lohan (before she was a druggie, folks) portrays the two twins well. The parents played by Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson are also good. Sadly, its hard to say which one is better: the original or the remake. That just proves that both films are good. A fun film for kids and adults alike! "I gave you a fright?"
Richard C

F
Jason L

I actually liked this movie. A sure classic for tweens and parents.
Conner R

I always have and always will love the Parent Trap. I can remember seeing it in the theaters and having an amazing time and watching it countless times on the disney channel and vhs and having an equally amazing time. If anything, it introduced the world to Lindsay Lohan and double… More
I always have and always will love the Parent Trap. I can remember seeing it in the theaters and having an amazing time and watching it countless times on the disney channel and vhs and having an equally amazing time. If anything, it introduced the world to Lindsay Lohan and double the fun at that. It's just a gimmick that I can't get enough of. It's also got Dennis Quaid as the most awesome dad ever. I think it's just a really great story and even though it's a remake it's 10x better.
Tim S

Meh.
Anthony L

Awful remake
Alice S

Just delightful :~) Ah, pre-train-wreck LiLo.
Thomas B

though it starts out with a promising story, it quickly spirals downwards.
Coxxie M

i hate HATE HATE Linsay Lohan gahhhh there was this old interview on tv for her stupid true hollywood story or whatever and shes talkin about the movie and how they picked her for her convincing (seriously) english accent. her accent sucks. she makes want to never see a movie again.… More
i hate HATE HATE Linsay Lohan gahhhh there was this old interview on tv for her stupid true hollywood story or whatever and shes talkin about the movie and how they picked her for her convincing (seriously) english accent. her accent sucks. she makes want to never see a movie again. well atleast if i did i would stop my bitching...
Candy R

This re-make is as good as the original. Twins who were separated at birth, meet at a summer camp and plot to bring their parents back together. Stars Lindsay Lohan and Dennis Quaid. Good fun movie.