The Princess Diaries (2001)

Directed by

Garry Marshall

Genre

comedy film, comedy drama, romantic comedy, teen film, children's film, coming-of-age fiction

Country

United States

Runtime

1h 55m

Rated

G

Rating

7.0 of 10 from 5,298 voters

Elsewhere

IMDb

How it feels

A shy San Francisco teenager learns she is the heir to a European throne. With coaching from her regal grandmother, she must decide whether to become a princess or stay an ordinary girl.

feel-goodlightheartedwarmfunnycharmingwhimsicalgentleuplifting

What happens

The Princess Diaries is a 2001 American coming-of-age comedy film directed by Garry Marshall from a screenplay by Gina Wendkos. Produced by Walt Disney Pictures, it is based on Meg Cabot's 2000 novel of the same name and stars Anne Hathaway (in her film debut), Julie Andrews, Héctor Elizondo, Heather Matarazzo, Mandy Moore, Caroline Goodall, and Robert Schwartzman. In the film, shy American teenager Mia Thermopolis (Hathaway) learns she is crown princess of Genovia and receives tutelage from her estranged grandmother Clarisse Renaldi (Andrews), Genovia's reigning queen, as she decides whether to claim or renounce her title. Development on the film began after Cabot's agent, believing in the novel's feature film potential, pursued Debra Martin Chase to adapt it: Chase eventually secured a deal with Disney, and the film was greenlit in August 1999, being co-produced with Whitney Houston's BrownHouse Productions. Wendkos collaborated with Chase on the screenplay, which differs from Cabot's novel, with certain themes softened and other aspects introduced or removed, as Marshall sought to create a G-rated film with broad appeal to adults and children. Hathaway was cast in 2000 while Andrews (who was then semi-retired from acting), joined due to Marshall's involvement, marking her first Disney film since Mary Poppins (1964). The rest of the cast, which included the return of Marshall's frequent collaborator Elizondo and Marshall's family in minor roles, was rounded out soon thereafter. Principal photography took place from September to December 2000, with filming locations including Walt Disney Studios in Burbank and in San Francisco. The film's costumes were designed by Gary Jones and the music was composed by John Debney. The Princess Diaries premiered at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles on July 29, 2001, and was theatrically released in the United States on August 3, by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution. A sleeper hit, the film grossed $165.3 million worldwide, defying industry expectations of an underperformance due to its G-rating and subject matter. Upon release, The Princess Diaries received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for Hathaway's and Andrews' performances (establishing Hathaway as a bankable star and reviving Andrews' career), but criticism for its plot. It received retrospective praise for its themes of self-discovery and identity and its centering of female characters. A sequel, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, was released in 2004, and a third installment is in development. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

Trailer

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