The Princess Diaries (2001)
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47% of critics liked it
(113 reviews) -
71% of users liked it
(690,488 ratings)
This teen comedy from Disney is based on a popular novel by Meg Cabot and directed by Garry Marshall. Mia Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway) is a teenage klutz who's openly mocked by the popular Lana Thomas (pop singer Mandy Moore). In fact, Mia's only friend at her exclusive prep school is the… More This teen comedy from Disney is based on a popular novel by Meg Cabot and directed by Garry Marshall. Mia Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway) is a teenage klutz who's openly mocked by the popular Lana Thomas (pop singer Mandy Moore). In fact, Mia's only friend at her exclusive prep school is the socially outcast Lilly (Heather Matarazzo). Mia's life takes a dramatic turn, however, when her mom announces that her late biological father was in actuality the crown prince of a small European nation, Genovia. Now Mia is the sole heir to the throne, and her grandmother, Queen Clarisse Renaldi (Julie Andrews) wants to tutor the awkward teen in royal behavior. It's a daunting task given Mia's lax table manners, poise, and hair care, but the girl perseveres with some makeover help from her grandmother's security chief Hector Elizondo) and a style expert (Larry Miller). In the meantime, Mia's romantic affections are torn between the handsome, popular Josh (Erik Von Detten) and the more appropriate Michael (Robert Schwartzman), who also happens to be Lilly's brother. The Princess Diaries is the second film from Whitney Houston's production shingle after the television version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella (1997). ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Directed By
- Garry Marshall
- Written By
- Gina Wendkos
- Genres
- Drama, Kids & Family, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Jul 29, 2001 Wide
- Studio
- Walt Disney Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Derek Adams, Time Out
Notions of responsibility, surrogacy, rites of passage and the value of friendship are gone through, but the highlighting of modern tropes merely serves to emphasise the film's conventionality.
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Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle
Screenwriter Gina Wendkos, working from Meg Cabot's novel, resorts to monotonous movie clichés: almost uniformly cruel classmates and a callous, cacophonous mob of media jackals.
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Ed Park, Village Voice
A modest, enjoyable fairy tale that easily outcharms its animated stablemates of the past decade.
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Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times
Bumpy but endearing.
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Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
A sweet movie from a sweet director.
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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Anne Hathaway
as Mia Thermopolis
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Julie Andrews
as Queen Clarisse Renaldi
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Hector Elizondo
as Joseph
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Heather Matarazzo
as Lilly Moscovitz
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Mandy Moore
as Lana Thomas
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Caroline Goodall
as Mia's Mom Helen
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Robert Schwartzman
as Michael Moscovitz
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Erik von Detten
as Student Josh Bryant
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Sean O'Bryan
as Teacher Mr. O'Connell
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Sandra Oh
as Vice Principal Gupta
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Kathleen Marshall
as Charlotte Kutaway
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Hope Alexander-Willis
as Lady Caroline
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Marvin Braveman
as State Dinner Waiter
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Terry Brown
as Policeman Washington
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Willie Brown
as Himself
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Diane Frazen
as Ball Guest Diane
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Robert Glaudini
as Consulate Valet Adolpho
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Ira Glick
as Ball Guest Dr. Glunk
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Greg Lewis
as Sigfried Von Troken Baron
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Bud Markowitz
as Pear Juggler
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Barbara Marshall
as Lady Jerome
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Jeff Michalski
as Scottish Duke
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Jane Morris
as Lady Evergreen
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Barbara Nabozny
as Ball Guest Barbara
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Julie Paris
as Princess Palisades
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Brian Phelps
as DJ Brian
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Tracy Reiner
as Press Secretary Spencer
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Steve Restivo
as Count Vitello
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Patrick Richwood
as Neighbor Mr. Robutusen
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Lori Sigrist
as Twin Reporter
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Terri Sigrist
as Twin Reporter
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Mark Thompson
as DJ Mark
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Nicholle Tom
as Teen Reporter Cassie
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Shannon Wilcox
as Ball Reporter
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Gary Combs
as Lord Fricker
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Stanley Frazen
as Ball Guest Stanley
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Erin O'Reilly
as Scottish Duchess
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Kathy Garver
as Cable Tourist
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Johnny Moran
as Beach Photographer
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Charles Guardino
as Limo Driver Mel
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Karl Makinen
as Climbing Manager Schiavone
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Sandra Taylor
as Sanchez Suki
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John McGivern
as Cable Car Conductor Macintosh
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Joe Ross
as Consulate Maitre'D
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Shannon Elliot
as Michael's Band Flypaper
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Joe Unitas
as Coach Joe Ewe
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Bill Ferrell
as Consulate Guard Darrell
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Reuben Grundy
as Street Reporter
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Adam Williams
as Dinner Guest Adam
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Patrick Flueger
as Student Jeremiah Hart
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Mindy Burbano
as Gym Teacher Harbula
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Kim Leigh
as Music Teacher Wells
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Beth Anne Garrison
as Cheerleader Anna
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Bianca Lopez
as Cheerleader Fontana
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Tamara Levinson
as Cheerleader Lupe
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Lenore Thomas
as Cable Show Student Melissa
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Erik Bragg
as Student Bobby Bad
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Abigail Green-Dove
as Student Linda Green
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Meredith Shevory
as Student Meredith
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Anita Marie Curran
as Newspaper Student Anita
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Korry Cannon
as Newspaper Student Korry
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Cassie Rowell
as Singing Student Alice
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Chrissy Gilman
as Beach Student
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Todd Lowe
as Lana's Date Eric
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Reggie Stanton
as Coach Dave Adams
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Joel McCrary
as Prime Minister Motaz
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Clare Sera
as Mrs. Motaz
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Juliet Elizondo
as Daughter Marissa Motaz
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Bonnie Aarons
as Joy Von Troken Baroness
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Darwood Chung
as Emperor Sakamoto
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Brigitta Lauren
as Lady Lindenlaub
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Alan Kent
as State Dinner Waiter
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Steve Totland
as Consulate Waiter
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Sparrow Heatley
as Gretchen
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Gwenda Perez
as Helga
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Sam Denoff
as Lord Jerome
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Dale Hikawa
as Band Leader Dawn Kawa
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Daru Kawalkowski
as Countess Puck
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Sol Rosenthal
as Lawyer Ball Guest
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Joe Allen Price
as Father Joseph
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James Brown Orleans
as Doctor Motors
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Rob Zylowski
as Pizza Delivery Man
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Sunny Hawks
as Climbing Instructor Vivian
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Mary Knoll
as Trolley Tourist #2
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Jason Ashland
as Trolley Tourist #1
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Erika Young
as Umbrella Lady
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Ethan Sandler
as Tour Bus Driver
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Bill Fricker
as Autograph Father
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Harold Carter
as Michael's Band Flypaper
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Michelle Yerger
as 911 Nun
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Wendy Hallin
as 911 Nun
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Lily Marshall-Fricker
as Kid Autograph Seeker
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Charlotte Marshall-Fricker
as Kid Autograph Seeker
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Tom Hines
as Nelson Davenport
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Patrick Noonan
as Suki's Cameraman
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Ali Gage
as Beach Reporter Ali
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Tanya Difrancesco
as Beach Reporter Tanya
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Niloufar Safaie
as Ball Reporter
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Tonje Larsgard
as Ball Reporter
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Flora Chong
as Street Reporter
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Gwen Holloway
as Street Reporter
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Fat Louie
as Himself


