A Cinderella Story

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A Cinderella Story

PG

Released Jul 16, 2004

1h 35m

Romance

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

11%

Tomatometer

102 Reviews

53%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Sam (Hilary Duff), a teenager in California, is obliged to work as a janitor and dishwasher in the diner of her stepmother (Jennifer Coolidge). After a cell phone mix-up, Sam begins an anonymous text-messaging and e-mail relationship with a boy. They agree to meet at a school dance, but when Sam finds out that her secret pen pal is none other than Austin Ames (Chad Michael Murray), the cutest boy in school, she panics and looks for a way to make herself cooler.

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Critics Consensus

An uninspired, generic updating of the classic fairy tale.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Funny and sweet update of the Cinderella story.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 21, 2010

Full Review

Anna Smith

Empire Magazine

This is simple, lazy storytelling rendered merely functional by appealing leads and the eternal lure of romantic fantasy.

Rated: 2/5

Aug 19, 2004

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Wendy Ide

The Times (UK)

Every high school clich in the book is dredged up for this piece of fluff

Aug 19, 2004

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Rachel Wagner

Rachel's Reviews (YouTube)

Jennifer Coolidge is so funny as the evil stepmother, she has so many good lines.

Rated: 7/10

May 14, 2019

Full Review

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

The movie will wash over adolescent female audiences who don't know any better like melted Brie on 110-degree asphalt, but for the rest of us it's a grueling waste of time.

Rated: D-

Jul 11, 2010

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Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

Duff has yet another brainless movie to add to her repertoire.

Apr 29, 2009

Full Review

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Emily P

Honestly I love Hilary Duff she is very talented but this movie was magical to me as a kid but no it honestly isn’t that good.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/14/25

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Co D

One of my faves, it’s no Oscar worthy film but the critics suck lol

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/11/25

Full Review

Miranda A

Jennifer Coolidge's performance in this movie is immaculate

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/28/25

Full Review

jolin t

i know this is a 2000s staple movie but i cannot stand hilary duff in here. her voice annoys me and the whole film is just kinda dumb. Michael Chad Murray's character's only redeeming characteristic was that he's hot.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/02/25

Full Review

Maya S

A magical story to enjoy and a great movie to watch! Don’t listen to the hater critics, they’ve just criticized so many things that they don’t know how to enjoy simple great film anymore. I love this movie, and you will, too!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/25/24

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Nicole L

this is genuinely my comfort movie. i love it so much and i watch it so much i probably know all the words to every scene. this movie is too good

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/25/24

Full Review

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Mark Rosman

Director

Hilary Duff

Sam

Jennifer Coolidge

Fiona

Chad Michael Murray

Austin Ames

Dan Byrd

Carter

Regina King

Rhonda

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Synopsis

Sam (Hilary Duff), a teenager in California, is obliged to work as a janitor and dishwasher in the diner of her stepmother (Jennifer Coolidge). After a cell phone mix-up, Sam begins an anonymous text-messaging and e-mail relationship with a boy. They agree to meet at a school dance, but when Sam finds out that her secret pen pal is none other than Austin Ames (Chad Michael Murray), the cutest boy in school, she panics and looks for a way to make herself cooler.

Director: Mark Rosman
Producer: Hunt Lowry, Dylan Sellers, Clifford Werber, Ilyssa Goodman
Screenwriter: Leigh Dunlap
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Gaylord Films, Clifford Werber Productions, Warner Brothers
Rating: PG (Mild Language|Innuendo)
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 16, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $51.4M
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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