The Princess Diaries (2001)
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A shy teenager discovers she is the heir to a European throne and must decide whether to embrace her royal destiny or lead a normal life.
The story
Grove High School student Mia Thermopolis lives in San Francisco with her single mother. Unpopular and struggling with a fear of public speaking, Mia's life changes when she is invited to meet her estranged grandmother, Clarisse. Mia learns she is the sole heir to the kingdom of Genovia. Her grandmother, the Queen regent, begins a series of 'princess lessons' to prepare her for the throne. Mia is given a glamorous makeover and a dedicated escort, but her new status quickly becomes public knowledge, leading to a whirlwind of media attention and a difficult choice regarding her future.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Mia Thermopolis is an unpopular high school student in San Francisco who discovers she is the heir to the throne of Genovia. Her grandmother, Queen Clarisse, takes her under her wing to provide 'princess lessons' before the Genovian Independence Day Ball. Mia undergoes a dramatic makeover and gains a sense of confidence, but the secret of her royal status is leaked to the press. Amidst paparazzi and social complications, Mia must navigate her changing relationships with her friends Lilly and her brother Michael. After a series of mishaps, including a public scandal at a beach party, Mia initially considers renouncing her title. However, after a heartfelt moment with her grandmother and a realization of her own identity, she decides to accept her role. At the ball, she officially becomes the Princess of Genovia and reconciles with her loved ones, ultimately deciding to move to Genovia with her mother.
- First release year
- 2001
- Runtime (minutes)
- 115
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Garry Marshall
- Writers
- Gina Wendkos · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Anne Hathaway · Mia Thermopolis; Julie Andrews · Clarisse Renaldi; Héctor Elizondo · Joe; Heather Matarazzo · Lilly Moscovitz; Mandy Moore · Lana Thomas; Caroline Goodall; Robert Schwartzman · Michael
- Genres
- comedy; romance
- Themes
- self-discovery; identity; empowerment; responsibility; duty
- Tone and mood
- comedy; fairytale
- Setting
- San Francisco, California and the kingdom of Genovia.
- Premise and plot tags
- coming-of-age; makeover; royal; high school
- Source material / true-story basis
- Meg Cabot's 2000 novel of the same name
- Franchise connections
- The Princess Diaries
- Content notes
- G-rated
- Reception
- The film was a sleeper hit that received mixed reviews from critics but was praised for the performances of its leads and its themes of self-discovery. It has since gained a significant following and is considered a staple of early 2000s teen cinema.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 50% · scale: percentage · review count: 120; Metacritic · score: 52 · scale: weighted score · review count: 27
- Awards and nominations
- Young Artist Award · Best Family Feature Film - Comedy · win; ASCAP Award · Top Box Office Film · win; MTV Movie Award · Breakthrough Female Performance · nomination
- Production trivia
- The character of Clarisse was expanded significantly for the film compared to the novel.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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