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Pretty Woman
1990 120 min United States of America R 18+
★7.4
Romance, Comedy
Director: Garry Marshall
Trailers
Description
Vivian is a carefree, streetwise diamond in the rough when she meets sophisticated billionaire Edward in a chance encounter that turns into a week-long business arrangement. But Vivian's energetic spirit challenges Edward's no-nonsense approach to life, and soon they are teaching each other – and falling in love!
Budget:
$14M
US Gross:
$178.41M
Worldwide:
$463.41M
Starring
Richard Gere
Actor
Julia Roberts
Actor
Jason Alexander
Actor
Awards
Golden Globe 1991
— Best Actress (Comedy or Musical)
Golden Globe 1991
— Best Picture (Comedy or Musical)
Golden Globe 1991
— Best Supporting Actor
César Awards 1991
— Best International Feature Film
Academy Awards 1991
— Best Actress
BAFTA 1991
— Best Picture
BAFTA 1991
— Best Actress
BAFTA 1991
— Best Costume Design
Golden Globe 1991
— Best Actress (Comedy or Musical)
BAFTA 1991
— Best Original Screenplay
Key opinion
Pretty Woman is widely regarded as a quintessential romantic fairy tale that relies heavily on the undeniable chemistry between its leads to elevate a familiar Cinderella-style plot. While it remains a beloved genre staple for many, critics often point to its sugar-coated tone and implausible, sanitized depiction of sex work as significant narrative weaknesses.
| Acting | Julia Roberts and Richard Gere possess an iconic, magnetic chemistry that anchors the film and sustains viewer engagement | |
| Score | The soundtrack, featuring tracks like 'It Must Have Been Love' and 'The King of Wishful Thinking,' is a highlight that perfectly complements the film's tone | |
| Direction | Garry Marshall’s direction provides a charming, fairy-tale quality that effectively defines the film as a gold standard for the romantic comedy genre | |
| Acting | Supporting cast members, particularly Hector Elizondo, provide strong and memorable performances that bolster the lead actors | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is viewed by some as a charming, timeless 'modern Cinderella' story, while others dismiss the writing as simplistic, saccharine, and dangerously predictable | |
| Theme | The film’s portrayal of sex work is a major point of contention; supporters argue it functions successfully as an escapist fairy tale, while critics find the depiction unrealistic and problematic |