Pretty Woman is a 1990 American romantic comedy film directed by Garry Marshall and written by J. F. Lawton. The film stars Richard Gere and Julia Roberts, and includes Héctor Elizondo, Ralph Bellamy (in his final performance), Laura San Giacomo, and Jason Alexander in supporting roles.

The story focuses on Vivian Ward, a Hollywood escort, and Edward Lewis, a wealthy corporate raider. Vivian is hired to accompany Edward to several business and social events, and their relationship grows during her week-long stay with him. The film’s title, Pretty Woman, comes from the 1964 song "Oh, Pretty Woman" by Roy Orbison.

The original screenplay was called 3000 and written by J. F. Lawton, who was not yet successful as a screenwriter. Initially, the film was meant to be a serious story about social class and prostitution in Los Angeles. However, it was later changed into a romantic comedy with a large budget.

Pretty Woman received mixed reviews from critics when it was released. However, many praised Julia Roberts’ acting and her chemistry with Richard Gere. It sold the most tickets in the United States among romantic comedies, with Box Office Mojo listing it as the top romantic comedy by estimated domestic ticket sales at 42,176,400, slightly more than My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) at 41,419,500. The film earned $463.4 million worldwide and was the fifth-highest-grossing film globally at the time, behind E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Star Wars, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and Jaws. It was also the highest-grossing R-rated film until Terminator 2: Judgment Day surpassed it in 1991. It held the record for the highest-grossing R-rated film from Walt Disney Studios for 34 years until Deadpool & Wolverine surpassed it in 2024.

Pretty Woman helped Julia Roberts become a major star. She won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical Movie and received her first Academy Award and BAFTA nominations for Best Actress. The film also earned nominations for the BAFTA for Best Film and the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.

Plot

One night, Edward Lewis, a man who buys companies, leaves a party in the Hollywood Hills. He takes his lawyer’s car, a Lotus Esprit, and drives to Hollywood Boulevard, where he meets Vivian Ward, a woman who works on the street. Edward struggles to drive the car and accepts Vivian’s help to reach the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel. He quickly hires her for the night, and despite feeling nervous, they spend the night together in his hotel room. The next day, Edward asks Vivian to stay for a week so he can attend business meetings and try to buy a shipbuilding company owned by Jim Morse. They agree on $3,000, and Edward gives her money to buy better clothes.

When Vivian tries to buy a dress on Rodeo Drive, store workers refuse to help her because of how she looks. She asks the hotel manager, Barney, for help. Barney finds a saleswoman named Bridget to buy her a dress for an important dinner that evening. Later, Barney teaches Vivian how to behave at a dinner table. Edward is surprised by how much Vivian has changed. At the dinner, Edward introduces Vivian to Jim Morse and his grandson, David, who will run the company. The dinner does not go well because Morse and David are upset about Edward’s plan to take over their company. Later, Edward shares stories about his life, including his difficult relationship with his late father.

Edward takes Vivian to a polo match. When his lawyer, Philip, sees Vivian talking to David, he tells Edward he suspects Vivian is working for another company. Edward explains that Vivian is not a spy and that they have a business arrangement. Philip, who is married, later talks to Vivian alone and asks her for help in a rude way. Vivian is upset with Edward for exposing her and tells him she was jealous when she saw Vivian talking to David. Edward takes Vivian to see an opera called La Traviata, which is about a prostitute who falls in love with a rich man. Vivian is moved by the story and breaks her rule of not kissing Edward. After the opera, she tells Edward she loves him, thinking he is asleep.

As the week ends, Edward offers Vivian a home and money, promising to visit her often. Vivian feels he is treating her like a prostitute and shares a childhood dream of being rescued by a knight on a white horse. Edward meets with Jim Morse and decides to help save his company instead of taking it over. Philip, angry about Edward’s change in plans, goes to the hotel and attacks Vivian, trying to hurt her. Edward arrives, stops Philip, and fires him. After finishing his business in Los Angeles, Edward asks Vivian to stay with him for one more night if she wants to, not because he is paying her. She politely refuses and leaves, telling him she thinks he has "lots of special gifts."

Vivian returns to her apartment hotel to prepare for a move to San Francisco, where she will start a new job and earn a high-school diploma. She gives her roommate, another prostitute named Kit De Luca, some money and tells her she has "a lot of potential." Kit decides to leave her job and take beauty classes. Vivian waits for the bus, and Edward sends his driver to take him to her apartment. He climbs out of a white limousine’s sunroof and climbs up the fire escape to "rescue" Vivian, like the knight in her childhood dream. When he asks what happens after the knight rescues her, she replies, "She rescues him right back," and kisses him.

Cast

• Richard Gere plays Edward Lewis, a rich man from New York who takes over companies and hires Vivian to be his companion for one week
• Julia Roberts plays Vivian Ward, a carefree woman who works as a prostitute in Hollywood
• Ralph Bellamy plays Jim Morse, the owner of Morse Industries, a struggling shipbuilding company that Edward plans to take over
• Jason Alexander plays Philip Stuckey, Edward's harsh and unkind lawyer
• Héctor Elizondo plays Barnard "Barney" Thompson, a polite and kind hotel manager
• Laura San Giacomo plays Kit De Luca, Vivian's sarcastic and humorous best friend and roommate who taught her how to work as a prostitute
• Alex Hyde-White plays David Morse, Jim Morse's grandson who is being prepared to lead the Morses' shipbuilding company
• Amy Yasbeck plays Elizabeth Stuckey, Philip's wife
• Elinor Donahue plays Bridget, a friend of Barney Thompson who works in a women's clothing store
• John David Carson plays Mark Roth, a businessman who works in Edward's office
• Judith Baldwin plays Susan, one of Edward's former girlfriends who recently married, and Edward's secretary was a bridesmaid at the wedding
• Patrick Richwood plays Dennis Rowland
• James Patrick Stuart plays Day Bellhop
• Dey Young plays a proud and rude saleswoman in a clothing store
• Larry Miller plays Mr. Hollister, the manager of a clothing store where Vivian buys her new clothes
• Hank Azaria plays a detective (this is his first film role)
• Larry Hankin plays a landlord

Production

The film was first planned as a serious story about prostitution in Los Angeles during the 1980s. The relationship between Vivian and Edward originally included Vivian being addicted to drugs, and part of the deal was that she had to stay away from cocaine for a week. Edward later throws her out of his car and drives away. The original script, written by J. F. Lawton and called 3000, ended with Vivian and her prostitute friend on a bus heading to Disneyland. Producer Laura Ziskin believed these elements made it harder for people to feel sympathy for Vivian, so they were changed or given to another character named Kit. Deleted scenes were later found and included on the DVD released for the film’s 15th anniversary. One scene shows Vivian telling Edward, “I could just pop ya good and be on my way,” showing she is not interested in romantic conversations. Another scene shows her being confronted by a drug dealer named Carlos and later rescued by Edward when the limo driver, Darryl, pulls out a gun.

The film was inspired by movies like Wall Street and The Last Detail, but it also resembles the story of Pygmalion, a classic play by George Bernard Shaw, which later became the Broadway musical My Fair Lady. Walt Disney Studios president Jeffrey Katzenberg wanted the film rewritten as a modern fairy tale and love story instead of the original dark drama. It was then sent to Touchstone Pictures and changed into a romantic comedy. The title 3000 was changed because Disney executives thought it sounded like a science-fiction movie.

Casting for the film took a long time. Marshall first considered actors like Christopher Reeve, Daniel Day-Lewis, Kevin Kline, and Denzel Washington for the role of Edward. Other actors, including Albert Brooks, Sylvester Stallone, Tom Berenger, Christopher Lambert, Al Pacino, and Burt Reynolds, turned down the role. Pacino even did a reading with Roberts before rejecting it because he had just been cast in The Godfather Part III. Sam Neill, Tom Conti, and Charles Grodin also tested for the part along with Roberts. Gere initially refused the role but agreed after meeting Roberts, who persuaded him. Gere was very active in his role at first, but director Garry Marshall told him, “No, no, no, Richard. In this movie, one of you moves and one of you does not. Guess which one you are?”

Roberts was not the first choice for Vivian’s role and was not wanted by Disney. Many other actresses were considered. Marshall originally thought of Karen Allen, but she declined. Auditions then included Molly Ringwald, who turned it down because she felt the story was “icky.” Winona Ryder was rejected because Marshall thought she was too young. Jennifer Connelly was also dismissed for the same reason. Emily Lloyd declined due to scheduling conflicts with Mermaids. Drew Barrymore, Patricia Arquette, Brooke Shields, Uma Thurman, Kristin Davis, and Rebecca Schaeffer also auditioned. Meg Ryan, who was the studio and Marshall’s top choice, turned it down. According to Marshall’s notes, Mary Steenburgen was also a top choice. Diane Lane came very close to being cast, but scheduling conflicts prevented her from accepting. Michelle Pfeiffer turned it down, saying she disliked the script’s “tone.” Supermodel Janice Dickinson claimed she was considered but dropped out after being unable to audition in a room full of people. Daryl Hannah was considered but believed the role was “degrading to women.” Valeria Golino was not selected because of her thick Italian accent, and Jennifer Jason Leigh had auditioned. Lea Thompson also auditioned but thought the film was a drama.

After all other actresses turned down the role, 21-year-old Roberts, who was not well-known at the time except for her roles in Mystic Pizza (1988) and Steel Magnolias (1989), won the role of Vivian. J. F. Lawton, the original screenwriter, suggested the film’s happy ending was due to the chemistry between Gere and Roberts.

Veteran actor Ralph Bellamy, who plays James Morse, appears in his final acting role before his death in 1991. Jason Alexander, who later played George Costanza in Seinfeld, was cast as Philip Stuckey.

The film’s budget was $14 million, allowing producers to film in many locations. Most filming took place in Los Angeles, California, specifically in Beverly Hills and inside soundstages at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. The escargot scene at the restaurant was filmed at Rex II Ristorante, now named Cicada. Interior scenes set in the Beverly Wilshire Hotel lobby were filmed at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Filming began on July 24, 1989, but faced early problems. Ferrari and Porsche refused to allow their cars to be used in the film because they did not want to be associated with prostitutes. Lotus Cars accepted the opportunity and provided a Silver 1989 + 1⁄2 Esprit SE, which was later sold.

Filming was generally pleasant and relaxed because of the large budget and flexible schedule. During a scene where Vivian lies on the floor of Edward’s penthouse watching I Love Lucy, Garry Marshall tickled Roberts’ feet (out of camera range) to make her laugh. The scene where Gere snaps a jewelry case lid on Roberts’ fingers was improvised, and her surprised laugh was unscripted. The red dress Vivian wears to the opera has been listed among the most unforgettable dresses of all time.

During a scene where Roberts sang a Prince song in the bathtub, slid down, and submerged her head under bubbles, she found the crew had left except for the cameraman, who captured the moment. In the love scene, she became so stressed that a vein appeared on her forehead and had to be massaged by Marshall and Gere. She also developed hives and used calamine lotion to soothe her skin until filming resumed.

Shelley Michelle acted as a body double for Roberts in risqué scenes and for the film’s publicity poster. Filming wrapped on October 18, 1989.

Reception

In its first weekend, the film was number one at the US box office, making $11,280,591 and averaging $8,513 per theater. It dropped to number two in its second weekend but earned more money, $12,471,670. It returned to number one in its sixth weekend and stayed there for three weeks. The film remained in the Top 10 movies in the US for 16 weeks. In Australia, it was number one for 12 weeks, and in the UK, it was number one for nine weeks in a row. As of September 29, 2009, it made $178,406,268 in the US and $285,000,000 in other countries, totaling $463,406,268 worldwide. It was the second-highest-grossing film in the US and Canada in 2009 and the third-highest worldwide. It was Disney’s most successful film ever, beating Three Men and a Baby. It remained Disney’s top-grossing R-rated movie until Deadpool & Wolverine surpassed it in 2024. The film is the fourth-highest-grossing romantic comedy ever made.

Critics had mixed opinions about the film. Some praised the actors’ chemistry and the dialogue. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 64% approval rating based on 78 reviews. The site’s summary says, “Pretty Woman may be a fantasy, but its humor, music, and casting can make up for its flaws.” On Metacritic, the film has a score of 51 out of 100, based on 18 critics, which means reviews were mixed or average. Audiences gave the film an “A” grade on a scale from A+ to F.

Some critics criticized the film for using the “hooker with a heart of gold” idea too often. Others said the film ignored the real challenges of sex work. Gary Giddins wrote that the film shows women as gold-digging or snooty shopkeepers, not real working-class people. He said the movie’s jokes often made fun of the female character.

Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly gave the film a “D,” calling it a “plastic screwball soap opera” with characters that only exist in Hollywood. He said the film could be seen as a feminist version of a princess story but focused too much on wealth and status. On the film’s 20th anniversary, Gleiberman said he would give it a “B” today.

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave a positive review, saying the film shows a rare kind of love seen in movies. He praised the actors’ performances, noting that Julia Roberts’ character balances humor and restraint.

Janet Maslin of The New York Times said the film has a 1980s style and some unfair treatment of women but is mostly fun and lighthearted. She called Julia Roberts a standout and Richard Gere well-suited for his role.

Carina Chocano of The New York Times said the film is more about money than love, with a story that separates characters from the plot. In 2019, Julia Roberts said she was unsure if the film could be made today because of its controversial premise but believed people could still enjoy it.

American Film Institute lists:
• AFI's 100 Years… 100 Passions – No. 21

Music

The soundtrack includes the following songs (among others):

• "Oh, Pretty Woman" by Roy Orbison, which inspired the movie's title
• "It Must Have Been Love" by Roxette, first released in December 1987 and reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 1990
• "King of Wishful Thinking" by Go West
• "Show Me Your Soul" by Red Hot Chili Peppers
• "No Explanation" by Peter Cetera
• "Wild Women Do" by Natalie Cole
• "Fallen" by Lauren Wood

The soundtrack has been certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

The opera featured in the film is La Traviata, which also inspired the movie's story. A dramatic aria from the opera, the end of "Dammi tu forza!" ("Give me strength!"), is repeated in the film. Roberts sings "Kiss" by Prince while she is in the tub, and Gere's character is on the phone. The background music was composed by James Newton Howard. The piano piece played by Gere's character in the hotel lobby was improvised during the scene, as he explains in an interview.

Musical adaptation

A stage musical version of the film opened on Broadway on July 20, 2018, with preview performances. It officially began on August 16, 2018, at the Nederlander Theatre. Before this, the musical had a test run in Chicago at the Oriental Theatre from March 13 to April 15, 2018. Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance created the music and lyrics. The story was written by Garry Marshall and J. F. Lawton. Jerry Mitchell directed and choreographed the musical. The Chicago and Broadway casts included Samantha Barks, who made her Broadway debut as Vivian, and Steve Kazee as Edward. Barks left the role of Vivian on July 21, 2019, and Jillian Mueller took over the next day. Brennin Hunt, known for his role in Rent, played Edward after that. Orfeh performed as Kit, and Jason Danieley played Philip Stuckey. Eric Anderson portrayed Mr. Thompson, and Kingsley Leggs played James Morse.

The UK and Ireland tour of the musical began in the fall of 2023. The show opened in Bristol with Amber Davies as Vivian, Oliver Savile as Edward, and Ore Oduba as Mr. Thompson. The tour is expected to continue through most of 2024.