The Princess Diaries is a 2001 American coming-of-age comedy film produced by Walt Disney Pictures, directed by Garry Marshall, and written by Gina Wendkos. Based on Meg Cabot’s 2000 young adult novel of the same name, the film stars Anne Hathaway (in her film debut) and Julie Andrews, with supporting roles played by Héctor Elizondo, Heather Matarazzo, Mandy Moore, Caroline Goodall, and Robert Schwartzman. The story follows Mia Thermopolis (Hathaway), a shy American teenager who discovers she is the heir to the throne of a European kingdom. With the help of her grandmother (Andrews), the queen of the kingdom, Mia must decide whether to accept or give up her royal title.

Meg Cabot’s agent believed the book had strong potential for a movie and shared the idea with producer Debra Martin Chase, who later pitched the project to Disney after reading the novel. Disney approved the film, originally planning to call it The Princess of Tribeca, but changed the title after moving the story’s setting from New York to San Francisco, where most of the film was filmed between September and December 2000. Marshall agreed to direct because he believed the story would appeal to families. Although Cabot had limited involvement in the film’s production, she was asked for her opinions on changes to the story and characters. Hathaway was chosen for the lead role over other experienced young actresses, and the film marked Julie Andrews’s return to Disney movies after a long break, her first since Mary Poppins (1964).

The film premiered at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles on July 29, 2001, and was released in movie theaters in the United States on August 3. Surprisingly successful, the film earned $165.3 million worldwide, which was higher than expected because many believed its G rating and themes would limit its audience. Critics had mixed opinions about the plot and themes, but they praised Hathaway’s performance. The film’s success helped establish Hathaway as a popular actress and brought Andrews’s career back into the spotlight. A sequel, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, was released in 2004, and a third movie is currently being planned.

Plot

Grove High School student Mia Thermopolis lives with her mother, Helen, in a restored firehouse in San Francisco. Mia is not popular with her classmates, and she feels nervous about speaking in public. She has a crush on Josh Bryant, but his girlfriend, Lana Thomas, often teases her. Mia's only close friends are Lilly Moscovitz, a student who is not well-liked, and her older brother, Michael, who secretly likes Mia.

Mia is invited to meet her paternal grandmother, Clarisse, during a diplomatic visit to San Francisco. She learns that she is the only heir to the small European kingdom of Genovia, which she inherited from her recently deceased father, Philippe. Clarisse wants to help Mia become a proper princess so she can one day rule the kingdom. At first, Mia refuses, but her mother convinces her to attend lessons with Clarisse, with the promise that she can decide whether to accept the role after three weeks at the Genovian Independence Day Ball.

Mia receives a new, elegant appearance and a limousine driven by Joe, the queen's head of security and trusted advisor, who becomes a father figure to her. Her transformation changes how her classmates treat her, and her busy schedule strains her friendship with Lilly. To protect Lilly, Mia shares the truth and asks her to keep it secret. However, the secret is leaked to the press by Paolo, the beautician who helped Mia with her makeover, and paparazzi begin following her. Although Mia makes a mistake at her first state dinner, Clarisse finds her behavior endearing and suggests spending time together, canceling their lessons for the next day. Clarisse explains that Mia's parents divorced amicably so they could pursue their own interests, with Philippe staying in Genovia to become king and Helen returning to America to give Mia a normal childhood.

As Mia becomes more popular, Josh invites her to a beach party. She agrees, causing her to neglect Lilly and forget plans with Michael. At the party, paparazzi take pictures of Mia, and Josh kisses her publicly to gain attention, while Lana is photographed wearing only a towel. Both images are published in the newspaper. Clarisse scolds Mia for her behavior, and Mia promises to give up her title. Joe reminds Clarisse that Mia is still a teenager and that her reaction was too harsh.

After reconciling with Lilly, Mia confronts Josh during PE and stands up to Lana for bullying a classmate. She invites Lilly and Michael to the ball, but Michael declines, still upset about Mia's earlier rejection. After Clarisse apologizes, she tells Mia she must publicly renounce the throne at the ball. Terrified, Mia plans to leave for Colorado until she finds a heartfelt letter from her late father and decides to stay. Her car breaks down on the way to the ball, leaving her stranded in the rain until Joe rescues her.

When they arrive, Mia is still wet and messy. She accepts her role as Princess of Genovia, with Clarisse, Helen, and Lilly watching proudly. After changing into a gown, Mia joins Clarisse in the ballroom. Michael, who has forgiven her, invites her to dance before going to the courtyard, where they confess their feelings and share their first kiss. In the final scene, Mia travels to Genovia by private plane with her pet cat, Fat Louie, and writes in her diary that she plans to move to Genovia with her mother.

Production

"The Princess Diaries" is based on a young adult novel written by Meg Cabot in 2000. Cabot’s agent believed the book had the potential to become a movie. She contacted Debra Martin Chase, who had previously made a television film called "Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella" (1997). Chase thought the story’s themes of overcoming hardship and transformation, similar to the Cinderella story, made it a good fit for a film. She liked the book and convinced Disney to make a movie version. Disney’s chairman, Peter Schneider, wanted to help the company return to making live-action family films. Disney paid Cabot $4,000 for the film rights, though some sources said she was offered a larger amount. Cabot said her book being adapted helped her get promoted at her job, as publishers had previously been hesitant to publish it because of concerns about its content. HarperCollins, a publishing company, showed interest in her book in 1999, followed by Disney.

By August 1999, Disney approved the film and partnered with singer Whitney Houston’s production company, BrownHouse Productions. Cabot’s book was sent to screenwriters for adaptation. Chase worked with writer Gina Wendkos to develop the script. Cabot did not write the screenplay herself, but she gave input on changes needed to translate the story to film. She said the film still kept the book’s message about staying true to oneself. Garry Marshall was hired as the director, with Houston and Chase producing the film alongside Mario Iscovich. Marshall had been suggesting ideas to Disney executives before being hired. He thought the film would be good for families and liked the story of a girl growing up and learning to make a positive impact. He also said he enjoyed stories about women achieving their goals. Marshall almost turned down the project because of a typo in the film’s original description that read "The Princess Dairies," which made him think it was about cows. This was Houston’s first feature film production, and it was BrownHouse’s second film after "Cinderella." Houston and Chase hoped to make more films centered on strong female characters, with plans to remake the 1976 movie "Sparkle" next. They believed that while girls might watch films for boys, it was harder to get boys to watch films for girls, but they were encouraged by the success of Disney’s "The Parent Trap" (1998).

Disney wanted to challenge the idea that children were no longer interested in live-action films for girls. Marshall was hired to make a G-rated film that was fun and appealing to adults. The movie differs from the book in several ways. It was originally planned to be set in New York and called "The Princess of Tribeca," but the setting was changed to San Francisco, California, where Marshall and his granddaughters live. The film is dedicated to his granddaughters. While the characters Mia and Lilly remain environmentally and politically aware, the filmmakers softened some of their political traits to avoid making the story seem like a political argument. Some parts of the script were inspired by Cabot’s childhood, such as when her mother began dating a teacher after her father’s death. Cabot was consulted about changes but chose not to be involved further to protect her vision for future books. She said she had little input in the film and trusted Marshall’s experience in filmmaking. She noted that Disney talked to her about changes but described the conversations as informative rather than collaborative. Cabot said adapting a 300-page diary-style book into a 90-page screenplay was challenging but was happy with the final result and Marshall’s direction.

Chase decided to keep the characters’ ethnic backgrounds as in the book because the story is set in a European country. At 18 years old, Anne Hathaway was cast as Mia Thermopolis after other actresses, including Juliette Lewis, turned down the role. This was Hathaway’s first major film role. She auditioned during a layover in Los Angeles while traveling to New Zealand for another movie. Her only acting experience before was a short-lived TV show. Hathaway said she was nervous during the audition and fell out of her chair, but her awkwardness impressed Marshall. Many other young actresses were considered for the role, including Reese Witherspoon and Kirsten Dunst. Marshall’s granddaughters helped choose Hathaway over Liv Tyler, who was a top contender, because they thought Hathaway had more "princess-like" hair. Hathaway was cast based on her audition alone, without a screen test. Marshall said while other actresses could do Mia’s funny parts, only Hathaway had the confidence to deliver the film’s important speech. Hathaway said she related to Mia’s shyness and her own experiences in high school. Marshall compared Hathaway to actress Julia Roberts, whom he had directed in "Pretty Woman" (1990). He described her as a mix of Roberts, comedian Harpo Marx, and his sister, Penny Marshall. Hathaway gained weight to look more like a typical teenager.

Julie Andrews, who was not acting much at the time, was cast as Clarisse Renaldi. Marshall personally asked her to join the project, and she accepted because of her confidence in him. She did not read the script before agreeing to the role. Sophia Loren was rumored to have been offered the part, but Marshall said he only considered Andrews, whom he had admired since her Broadway role in "My Fair Lady" (1956). Andrews used her knowledge of European royalty, including her own experience as a Dame of the British Empire, to shape her performance. Marshall gave her creative freedom to portray Clarisse. Cabot was initially unsure about Andrews but was satisfied with the final result."

Themes

Andrews explained that the film focuses on both the inner qualities and responsibilities of being a princess, as well as the outward appearance and lifestyle that come with the role. Hathaway said one of the film's important messages is "remaining true to yourself," describing Mia's journey as emotional, psychological, and physical. Hathaway added that, even after her character's transformation, the story emphasizes that "life shouldn't be about what the rest of the world can do for her" but rather about "doing everything in her power to help other people," highlighting her emotional growth more than her physical changes. Chase described the plot as an "empowerment story," stating that its main message is "the power to be anything that you want to be." Chase explained that at first, Mia looks in the mirror and believes she is not princess material, but eventually, she comes to believe she is. Houston agreed that being a princess does not require royal blood, but instead depends on how a person feels about themselves and how they treat and love themselves. Bustle contributor Veronica Walsingham wrote that the film explores themes like feminism, identity, family, girlhood, and duty, noting that The Princess Diaries features fully developed female characters who do not rely on male characters for their stories, and that it passes the Bechdel test. A critic for Time Out wrote that the film discusses "responsibility, surrogacy, rites of passage, and the value of friendship." Writers for USA Today noted that, even though the film is a comedy, it also includes deeper topics such as "familial bonds, self-worth, and stepping out of your shell."

Most of Marshall's films focus on themes "of recognizing and embracing one's own unique qualities and gifts." The Globe and Mail's Liam Lacey observed that the film follows a traditional fairy tale structure: "a fairy godmother, and the lowly girl who becomes a princess, complete with tiara, the dress, and a plump frog to be transformed into Prince Charming." The Princess Diaries includes some romantic comedy elements. The film has also been compared to Pygmalion, a play that inspired the stage musical My Fair Lady, in which Andrews coincidentally played the role of Eliza Doolittle; Mia has been compared to Eliza. Philip French of The Guardian noted that Pygmalion is "the model for all subsequent dramas about the recreation of social identity" and cited The Princess Diaries as one of several "makeover dramas" inspired by the play. Similarly, HuffPost contributor Matthew included the film among "recent approaches" to the Pygmalion story. Kristal Brent Zook of The Washington Post wrote that Clarisse "must … remake the gawky girl into a vision of regal grace" in "true Henry Higgins fashion," a character from My Fair Lady. Moira Macdonald of The Seattle Times joked that Andrews "play[s] Henry Higgins to young Anne Hathaway's Eliza." Michael O'Sullivan of The Washington Post also noted that "Most of the comedy mileage comes from the My Fair Lady scenario, in which Mia's initially frumpy appearance and klutzy manner are eliminated through a regime of industrial-strength cosmetology and boot camp-style finishing school."

Nanciann Cherry of The Blade reviewed the film as "no more and no less than a live-action Cinderella, all dolled up for the 21st century." Amy Meadows of The Tech remarked that the film would hold few surprises for anyone who has seen Cinderella, My Fair Lady, or any other fairy tale. The film's main characters react differently to Mia's physical transformation; Lilly fears that Mia will abandon her, Michael's attraction to her only grows, and Lana feels threatened by Mia's royal lineage and sudden popularity within her own school. Some critics were concerned that the film's message might encourage younger viewers "that all awkward teens need do to find contentment is get a makeover and wait for a hitherto unknown royal grandmother to come lay a crown on their heads."

Music

Houston and BrownHouse Productions played a big role in choosing music for the film. Kristal Brent Zook from The Washington Post noted that the music shows more girl power and ethnic influences than the film itself. Dawn Soler was the film’s music supervisor, and Moore recorded a cover of Connie Francis’ song “Stupid Cupid” for the soundtrack. Composer John Debney was asked to create the film’s score. Debney was a long-time friend of Disney executive Bill Green, who believed Debney would be a good fit for the film and personally suggested him to Marshall. Debney said The Princess Diaries is one of the films he is most proud to have worked on, explaining that the project reminds him of his mother, which makes it meaningful to him.

The official soundtrack was released by Walt Disney Records on July 24, 2001. The music includes mostly pop rock, teen pop, and dance-pop songs, with contributions from artists such as BBMak, Aaron Carter, Backstreet Boys, Myra, Hanson, and BWitched. Heather Phares from AllMusic* wrote that the album has many similar songs that do not stand out much, though a few tracks are more unique. She also suggested the album could have included more original songs, as seen in the Backstreet Boys’ track “What Makes You Different (Makes You Beautiful).” A separate soundtrack featuring only the film’s orchestral score was released on December 11, 2001, and is credited to Debney.

Release

Disney tried to promote the movie in a way that would help change people's opinions about G-rated films. The Princess Diaries was shown on July 29, 2001, at the El Capitan Theatre. Before the movie started, Marshall asked the audience to chant "G is a good rating," which was meant to highlight the lack of G-rated films that year. After the screening, a princess-themed tea party was held. Cast members such as Andrews, Hathaway, Matarazzo, Moore, Goodall, Schwartzman, Von Detten, and Burbano attended. Disney leaders like Bob Iger, Richard Cook, Mark Vahradian, Chuck Viane, and Oren Aviv were also there, along with actors like Spencer Treat Clark, David Hasselhoff, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Michelle Trachtenberg. The tea party also included actors dressed as famous Disney Princesses, such as Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, and Belle.

Disney delayed the release of The Other Side of Heaven, which Hathaway had already filmed before The Princess Diaries, to let The Princess Diaries be the main movie at the box office. Disney believed that The Princess Diaries would do well and help The Other Side of Heaven perform better later. The Princess Diaries was released in theaters on August 3, 2001, and became a big surprise success. It opened in 2,537 theaters across North America and earned more than $23.2 million during its first weekend, placing third behind Rush Hour 2 and Planet of the Apes. The film earned the second-highest opening amount for a live-action G-rated movie, after 101 Dalmatians (1996), which made $33.5 million. Experts had predicted the film would make between $13 and $15 million, but it far exceeded those expectations.

The Princess Diaries was the only G-rated film released during the summer of 2001. According to Breuse Hickman of The Honolulu Advertiser, the last live-action G-rated film before The Princess Dimaries was Disney’s 101 Dalmatians in 1996, a live-action version of their own 1961 animated film. ABC News said the movie’s strong start was partly because it was one of the few G-rated films in 2001, while many other films had higher ratings like PG-13 or R. Allen Wan of MarketWatch joked that the family-friendly rating did not stop older viewers from watching. The Dove Foundation said family movies like The Princess Diaries are usually 11 times more profitable than adult films, even though more R-rated films were released between 1989 and 2003. Dove Foundation CEO Dick Rolfe called the film an experiment to see if there was a market for wholesome family entertainment. The Princess Diaries earned $165.3 million worldwide, with $108.2 million in the United States and Canada and $57.1 million in other countries. The film’s success was surprising because its lead actress was a newcomer. It is among the most profitable films of 2001.

To celebrate the film’s 10th anniversary in April 2012, it was released on Blu-ray to match Disney’s National Princess Week and the release of Andrews’s book The Very Fairy Princess: Here Comes The Flower Girl! The Blu-ray was sold only at Target and came with a second disc featuring The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement.

The Princess Diaries received mixed reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes said 49% of 118 critics gave it positive reviews, with an average score of 5.3/10. Metacritic gave it a score of 52 out of 100, meaning reviews were mixed or average. Some critics called it a charming, familiar story for young girls, while others said it was average. Ed Park of The Village Voice said it was a modest, enjoyable fairy tale that outperformed older animated films. Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times called it an ideal family film and praised the director’s ability to make make-believe feel real. Lisa Schwarzbaum said the director handled the cast with care and highlighted Andrews’s performance.

Mick LaSalle called The Princess Diaries the director’s best film and Andrews’s best work in years, praising her humor. Michael O’Sullivan of The Washington Post said the film had enough content to interest older viewers. Some critics, like Robert Koehler and Liam Lacey, said the film focused too much on the main character’s school and love life instead of her training with her grandmother, but they still praised Andrews’s casting. Loren King of the Chicago Tribune said the cast worked well together and highlighted Andrews’s performance. Asher Price of The Denver Post called the film a sophisticated comedy that avoided typical teen movie tropes but said the main character’s confidence came only from her physical change, which he found troubling.

Many critics praised Hathaway’s performance and her chemistry with Andrews. LaSalle said Hathaway’s acting gave the film its emotional heart, comparing her to Audrey Hepburn. Asher Price said Andrews was a great match for Hathaway. Elvis Mitchell of The New York Times called Hathaway a rising talent but said her character became less interesting after her makeover. Moira Macdonald of The Seattle Times said the makeover was unnecessary but praised Andrews’s performance. Christine Dolen of the Miami Herald said the script had flaws but praised Hathaway’s timing. Some critics compared Hathaway to Julia Roberts.

Some critics were not impressed. James Berardinelli said the director told a predictable story in a boring way. Roger Ebert called the film a "swamp of recycled stories" and criticized its editing. Stephanie Zacharek said the film was bland and unremarkable, even calling the lead actors’ performances weak.

The Princess Diaries won the Young Artist Award for Best Family Feature Film – Comedy. Debney’s music won the ASCAP Award for Top Box Office Film, one of three awards he received. Myra’s song "Miracles Happen (When You Believe)" was nominated for an ALMA Award for Outstanding Song in a Motion Picture Soundtrack.

Sequel

A sequel called The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement was released on August 11, 2004. Marshall directed the film, and Debra Martin Chase and Whitney Houston produced it. Anne Hathaway, Julie Andrews, Linda Elizondo, Heather Matarazzo, and James Marsters returned to play their roles, while John Rhys-Davies, Chris Pine, and Callum Blue joined as new characters. For many years, people guessed whether a third film would be made. Some cast members, including Hathaway and Andrews, said they wanted to return for a third movie. In 2016, Marshall said he had talked with Hathaway and Andrews about making a third film set in New York. After Marshall passed away in 2016, Cabot said a script for the third film already existed, suggesting the third movie would likely honor Marshall.

In January 2019, Hathaway said a script for the third film was being written, and she, Andrews, and producer Debra Martin Chase were involved. However, in June 2022, Andrews said she thought a third film was unlikely and too late, especially since Marshall had died.

In November 2022, it was reported that Aadrita Mukerji was writing a script for a third Princess Diaries film as a continuation of the previous movies. Neither Hathaway nor Andrews had been confirmed to return. In October 2024, Adele Lim was named director of a second sequel, The Princess Diaries 3, with Hathaway set to return and produce.

Legacy

Elite Daily contributor Alana Altmann described the film as "a favorite of '90s and 2000s kids alike." Another writer for the same publication, Kristen Perrone, called the film "an essential part of the childhoods of anyone who grew up in the early 2000s." The actress, Anne Hathaway, believes the film's lasting popularity comes from new generations discovering it roughly every seven years. She says the film continues to connect with audiences because of its strong messages about responsibility, growing up, and self-discovery. Seventeen magazine ranked The Princess Diaries as the 10th best "Best Teen Movies You Can't Grow Up Without Watching." The scene in which the main character, Mia, undergoes a physical makeover is one of the most famous from the film. Many media outlets have ranked this scene among the greatest makeover sequences in film history. E! contributor McKenna Aiello said the montage is "the first scene that comes to mind" when thinking about The Princess Diaries, a view shared by InStyle. Lauren Hubbard, writing for Allure, believes the film "may very well be one of the single greatest makeover movies of our generation" and published a list of "11 Beauty Lessons We Learned from The Princess Diaries." Cosmopolitan's Eliza Thompson wrote that "Few makeover movies hold up as well as The Princess Diaries." Katie Rosseinsky of Grazia credited the film with introducing "one of the best makeover sequences in teen movie history" while teaching "excellent life lessons." Her Campus ranked the scene as the "best teenage makeover ever," and Total Beauty placed it ninth, calling it the "Best Hair Movie Makeover."

Bustle writer Veronica Walsingham noted that The Princess Diaries’ makeover sequence stands out because Mia undergoes a complete physical transformation, avoiding the common trope of simply removing her glasses. The Ringer ranked the scene seventh on its "definitive" movie makeover list. The popularity of this scene has made makeover films a common theme in Anne Hathaway's career, as her characters also underwent similar transformations in Ella Enchanted (2004), The Devil Wears Prada (2006), and Les Misérables (2012). Some media outlets have called Hathaway the "queen of makeover movies." In her AllMovie biography, Rebecca Flint Marx said Hathaway "became a familiar face to millions of moviegoers" by showing her comedic skills in The Princess Diaries, which helped open "a number of doors" for her as a leading actress. After the film's success, Hathaway struggled with being typecast in "good girl" roles, which led her to pursue more serious roles later in her career. In 2018, Marie Claire ranked The Princess Diaries as Hathaway's second best film performance. The website NewNowNext credited the film with helping Hathaway become a gay icon, comparing her role as a "reluctant princess" to Audrey Hepburn's role in Roman Holiday (1953). The film also helped revive the career of the actress who played Mia's grandmother, Julie Andrews, and introduced her to a younger audience. The film's popularity also helped turn the author of the books, Meg Cabot, into a celebrity. Cabot said the books were originally intended for older readers, but parents who watched the G-rated film often bought the books for young children, unintentionally exposing them to teen themes.

The Princess Diaries is the film for which director Garry Marshall is most remembered by millennials. After Marshall died in July 2016, several cast members honored him online. The Daily Telegraph's film critic, Robbie Collin, wrote that The Princess Diaries is "by no means a flawless movie," but it helped launch the career of a star who became "eyes bright, teeth flashing, and primed for adoration." He noted that Marshall's films were not always critically praised, but his best work relied on "smile power" from both the cast and audience. When the film was released on Netflix in 2018, the streaming service was surprised to learn that the film's producer was Houston, which sparked online reactions. The film's popularity has grown over time, despite its initial lukewarm reception. Veronica Walsingham noted that the film experienced a resurgence in 2018, which she credited to its release on Netflix and the marriage of American actress Meghan Markle to Prince Harry. Media outlets have compared Markle's story to Mia's, especially the fact that Markle underwent "duchess training" for her royal title.