The Princess Diaries

She rocks. She rules. She reigns.

2001 • 115 min • Comedy · Family · Romance

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Synopsis

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.

Our family guide

Best from age 6

Movie Knight Score

5319 reviews

100 Reviewers · 2 · 51%
70 Audience · 5317 · 49%

Mia Thermopolis, a socially awkward San Francisco teen, discovers she's the heir to a European principality. With her grandmother's guidance, she navigates princess lessons, high school drama, and a life-changing decision: embrace her royal destiny or remain a normal teenager.

Violence & peril: 1/10
Language: 1/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking: 0/10
Romance & sensuality: 1/10
Scary moments: 0/10

Heads up

Some mild bullying at school
A minor accident involving a bus

What it models well

Self-discovery and identity
Family bonds and mentorship
Embracing responsibility
Inner beauty over outward appearance

Talk about it after

What makes a good leader?
The importance of standing up for yourself
Dealing with unexpected changes in life
True friendship

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for The Princess Diaries. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.

Where to watch

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Top billed cast

Director: Garry Marshall • Crew: Gina Wendkos

Trailers & clips

Mia Hits a Home Run?!

The Foot Pop Moment

The Iconic Balloon Art Scene

“Lana Got Coned” | Iconic Ice Cream Scene

Anne Hathaway Reveals She's A Princess

“The Queen Is Coming!”

Makeover Scene | Iconic Glow Up Transformation

Casting Anne Hathaway in 'The Princess Diaries'!

Reviewer notes

Recommended
It goes on for a bit too long, but <em>'The Princess Diaries'</em> is just about a good film. Anne Hathaway (Mia) is the star no doubt, she's the only character I'll likely remember from this 2001 production. Julie Andrews (Clarisse) is decent too, while Héctor Elizondo (Joe) is extremely likeable in his role. There's also a (incredibly) small appearance from <em>'The Walking Dead'</em> alum Karl Makinen. I ...
r96sk, TMDB Community

Recommended
Good watch, would watch again, and can recommend. This feels like a trope, but I'm honestly not sure if "surprise, you're royal" is a trope. Making up a country for this also feels like a special sub-trope. What I'm sure is a trope is the "She's All That" where you have a clumsy, homely girl that you turn into a beautiful, graceful desirable. The fun of cultures clashing between America and "Genovia" is ...
Kamurai, TMDB Community