The Princess Diaries

Play trailer

2:09

The Princess Diaries

G

Released Aug 3, 2001

1h 55m

Kids & Family

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

49%

Tomatometer

118 Reviews

68%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Shy San Francisco teenager Mia Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway) is thrown for a loop when, from out of the blue, she learns the astonishing news that she's a real-life princess! As the heir apparent to the crown of the small European principality of Genovia, Mia begins a comical journey toward the throne when her strict and formidable grandmother, Queen Clarisse Renaldi (Julie Andrews), shows up to give her "princess lessons."

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

A charming, if familiar, makeover movie for young teenage girls.

Read Critics Reviews

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Terrific fun for girls and their families, too.

Rated: 5/5

Dec 28, 2010

Full Review

Anna Smith

Empire Magazine

A light, uneven Pygmalion story that may win young girls over with its wish fulfilment theme and teen movie staples, but does not live up to the expectations created by the cast and director.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 30, 2006

Full Review

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.

Feb 9, 2006

Full Review

Dan DiNicola

The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)

The Princess Diaries is as sappy as they come, a Pygmalion story told in Pollyanna terms. But sometimes sappy works, and this is one of those times.

Rated: B-

Apr 30, 2024

Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

To say that both Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews are absolute perfection in The Princess Diaries would not be an understatement.

Aug 3, 2021

Full Review

Debbie Lynn Elias

Behind The Lens

Do Queen Clarisse and Joe succeed with their fair lady? Does Mia accept her destiny? Does she get her Prince Charming? Come on! This is Hollywood. This is Garry Marshall. This is a fairytale. This is once-upon-a-time. This is as good as it gets.

Nov 14, 2019

Full Review

Read all reviews

Michael V

She rocks. She rules. She reigns. The Princess Diaries is a 2001 American coming-of-age comedy film produced by Walt Disney Pictures, directed by Garry Marshall 👸 Not bad, but not my favourite either 😉 It’s ok, but I feel mixed about this one 😉 I’d recommend it if you like this genre, but if not then probably give it a miss 👍🏼👎🏼 A socially awkward but very bright 15-year-old girl being raised by a single mom discovers that she is the princess of a small European country because of the recent death of her long-absent father, who, unknown to her, was the crown prince of Genovia. She must make a choice between continuing the life of a San Francisco teen or stepping up to the throne.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/06/24

Full Review

Eloise J

I love this movie, I don’t care if people think it’s basic or sappy I love it. Nobody and I mean NOBODY can beat Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/19/24

Full Review

Violet R

This is one of those movies where nostalgia may blind viewers to make them think this was the epitome of teenage girl movies back when it came out, it's not a masterpiece but it is cheesy and fun to sit through and quote every now and then.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/11/24

Full Review

Alexander H

So good. Perfect cast.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/21/24

Full Review

Cleveland E

Good acting but horrible terrible & predictable absurd script. I wished I had turned it off half way through. What a waste.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

08/28/24

Full Review

Hanalina A

This movie is as comfortable as comfort movies get. The story of a young girl finding out she is a princess is a little sappy, but the way the writers make you look beyond the storyline and invest into the characters and the country of Genovia is outstanding. The morals of learning your responsibilities and not taking advantage of your ability to use your voice is one that I think is important for every young girl to learn; Princess Diaries does just that. Lastly, the way Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway make you feel like you are in the princess lessons, at the carnival or driving in the mustang with them is unreal and makes this one of the happiest, cozy movies I have ever watched. P.S. You have to watch this movie to see how amazing Mandy Moore is during Stupid Cupid

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/17/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Garry Marshall

Director

Julie Andrews

Queen Clarisse Renaldi

Anne Hathaway

Mia Thermopolis

Héctor Elizondo

Joe

Heather Matarazzo

Lilly Moscovitz

Mandy Moore

Lana Thomas

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Beethoven's 4th

0%

28%

Beethoven's 4th

Watchlist

Muppets From Space

63%

58%

Muppets From Space

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Muppets From Space

Beethoven's 3rd

0%

25%

Beethoven's 3rd

Watchlist

The Country Bears

29%

34%

The Country Bears

Watchlist

The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

26%

59%

The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Weekly Ketchup: Naomi Watts to play Princess Di

Razzie Nominations Announced; Easy Targets Run for Cover

Fox Searchlight Digs the "Phat Girlz"

The Princess Diaries: Trailer 1

2:09

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Shy San Francisco teenager Mia Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway) is thrown for a loop when, from out of the blue, she learns the astonishing news that she's a real-life princess! As the heir apparent to the crown of the small European principality of Genovia, Mia begins a comical journey toward the throne when her strict and formidable grandmother, Queen Clarisse Renaldi (Julie Andrews), shows up to give her "princess lessons."

Director: Garry Marshall
Producer: Debra Chase, Whitney Houston, Mario Iscovich
Screenwriter: Meg Cabot, Gina Wendkos
Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures
Production Co: Bottom of the Ninth Productions Inc., BrownHouse Productions
Rating: G
Genre: Kids & Family, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 3, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 27, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $108.2M
Runtime: 1h 55m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Most Popular at Home Now