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First Daughter

Play trailer Poster for First Daughter PG Released Sep 24, 2004 1h 45m Romance Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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8% Tomatometer 86 Reviews 43% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Samantha MacKenzie (Katie Holmes), the daughter of the president of the United States (Michael Keaton), arrives at college with a group of Secret Service agents. Samantha, however, resents their presence and decides she wants to attend school just like a normal student. Her father agrees to recall the agents but secretly assigns James (Marc Blucas), an undercover agent, to pose as a student. They fall in love, but their romance is jeopardized when Samantha learns James' true identity.
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First Daughter

First Daughter

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Critics Consensus

First Daughter is a bland and charmless fairy tale that fails to rise above the formula.

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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media Very predictable, but tween girls may like it. Rated: 2/5 Dec 24, 2010 Full Review J. R. Jones Chicago Reader Yet another teen-princess fantasy. Feb 27, 2007 Full Review Time Out The President's little girl gets a pity party for the second time this election year. Jun 24, 2006 Full Review Joe Lipsett Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr Podcast Sam isn't a character, which doesn't leave Katie Holmes much to do. The romance with Blucas' secret service agent isn't interesting and the narrative seems stuck on repeat. Plus: there's some weird sexual chemistry between the President and First Daughter Rated: 2/5 Sep 19, 2023 Full Review Jim Lane Sacramento News & Review Rated: 1/5 Aug 7, 2008 Full Review Mary Lasse Christianity Today Perhaps the only redeeming factor is that both the President and the First Lady are devoted to their daughter. Otherwise, this film should be impeached. Rated: .5/4 Nov 17, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Kelly B As an early 2000s throwback, it was mildly entertaining. It’s not very good but I won’t spend time repeating what all of the original “critics” said about why. The fairytale gimmick is silly but looking at it in 2024, it’s now cringe. In the social climate of today, making a comparison between the presidency of the US, to an actual royal family is not something people fantasize about. The theme was playing out 20 years ago, now it’s just out of touch. Last gripe: if Samantha was at most 10 years old at the intro of the movie where her father was already president, and he’s reelected her freshman year of college, this means he’s been president for 2 terms and is back for another? It’s implied a few times that he’s been president since she was very young… these sloppy plot-holes are distracting and undermine the basic premise of the “fantasy”! Rated 2 out of 5 stars 12/30/24 Full Review SkyRo P "The First Daughter," a film centered around the child of the President of the United States and featuring Katie Holmes in the lead role, was a delightful surprise. I was genuinely excited to see her on screen, as her presence has become quite rare in 2024, despite her undeniable talent as an actress. One aspect I appreciated was how the film shifted the focus away from Michael Keaton, who plays the president, allowing us to see the story unfold through the eyes of his daughter. Even though the narrative revolves around his reelection campaign, it was refreshing to center the plot on her experiences rather than solely on his character. The film explores her college life and the challenges of being the president's daughter, navigating the complexities of her position while trying to avoid trouble—even though she does have her fair share of mischief. The plot takes an interesting turn when she falls for a charming young man named James, portrayed by Mark Blucas, whom fans may recognize as Riley from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Their relationship develops gradually, which I found refreshing; the film doesn’t force the romance down your throat. Additionally, their roommate Mia, played by a talented actress, adds another layer to the story. I wish I could see her in more projects because she brings a lot to the film. Overall, I highly recommend "The First Daughter." While it may not be packed with action or delve deeply into romance or comedy, it offers a little bit of everything to keep you entertained. It’s not a five-star masterpiece, nor even a four-star film, but it’s a charming watch that provides some fun, quirky moments and a heartwarming ending. Perfect for when you need something light and enjoyable! Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 12/29/24 Full Review Daniel G Really light modern fairy tale which could have been better if towards the end it turned a bit more serious and not all pomp and circumstance and fluffiness. Totally surprised that Forest Whitaker was so fully involved - from directing to soundtracking. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 12/22/24 Full Review Zachary Jacob S One of the most bland films I've ever experienced. There's nothing that makes it stand out as anything special. The relationships felt hollow to me. I didn't FEEL the depth of these characters in the slightest. The score is very in the background and forgettable. Truly nothing special. If you liked the film, FANTASTIC! But I personally felt nothing but boardum while watching it, and was relieved when it finally came to a close. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 11/02/24 Full Review Ed R Very predictable movie. No nostalgia. Hoping the younger generation appreciates it. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 10/29/24 Full Review J. M Ugh Katie Holmes is a terrible actress. I never really watched her in anything before. Between the voice and the bad acting . . . no, thank you. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/22/24 Full Review Read all reviews
First Daughter

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Samantha MacKenzie (Katie Holmes), the daughter of the president of the United States (Michael Keaton), arrives at college with a group of Secret Service agents. Samantha, however, resents their presence and decides she wants to attend school just like a normal student. Her father agrees to recall the agents but secretly assigns James (Marc Blucas), an undercover agent, to pose as a student. They fall in love, but their romance is jeopardized when Samantha learns James' true identity.
Director
Forest Whitaker
Producer
John Davis, Wyck Godfrey, Mike Karz, Arnon Milchan
Screenwriter
Jessica Bendinger, Jerry O'Connell, Kate Kondell
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
New Regency Pictures, Regency Enterprises, Karz Entertainment
Rating
PG (Language|Alcohol-Related Materials|Sexual Situations)
Genre
Romance, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 24, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$9.1M
Runtime
1h 45m
Sound Mix
Dolby SRD, DTS, Surround
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1)
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