It’s the eyebrows. Honestly, when Paolo brushes back Mia Thermopolis’s frizzy hair and snaps those glasses in half, something shifted in the collective teenage psyche back in 2001. We weren't just watching a girl get a haircut. We were watching the ultimate "what if" scenario play out in real-time. What if you were actually secret royalty? What if your biggest flaw—clumsiness, social anxiety, a lack of style—was suddenly framed as "charming" because you had a throne waiting for you in a fictional European country?
Finding movies like The Princess Diaries isn't just about looking for tiaras. It's about that specific, cozy brand of wish fulfillment. You want the underdog story. You want the mentor who is slightly terrifying but secretly has a heart of gold (shoutout to Julie Andrews). You want the slow-burn romance with the guy who liked her before the blowout.
Most people think this genre died out with the mid-2000s mall culture, but it’s actually just evolved. Whether it’s the high-stakes fashion world or a literal kingdom in the Alps, the DNA of the "Princess Diaries" vibe is everywhere if you know where to look.
The "Makeover" Trope is the Secret Sauce
We have to talk about the makeover. It's the cornerstone of the genre. But a good makeover movie isn't just about the clothes. It’s about the internal shift. In The Devil Wears Prada, Andy Sachs doesn't just put on Chanel boots; she learns a new language. It’s the same energy as Mia learning to sit properly without breaking the chair.
If you’re hunting for that specific feeling, Miss Congeniality is basically the older, more violent sister of The Princess Diaries. Sandra Bullock’s Gracie Hart is essentially Mia if Mia joined the FBI instead of the Genovian monarchy. You have the resistant protagonist, the sophisticated mentor (Michael Caine doing his best "male Queen Clarisse"), and the high-stakes reveal. It works because the humor is grounded in her refusal to change, even while she's being waxed and polished.
Then there’s She’s All That. It’s the high school blueprint. While it lacks the literal royalty, it captures the "invisible girl" trope perfectly. It’s dated, sure. The "ugly" girl is just a gorgeous artist in overalls. But that’s part of the charm of these movies. They require a certain level of suspension of disbelief that modern, gritty dramas just don't allow.
Why Genovia Still Wins
Genovia isn't real. We know this. But Meg Cabot, the author of the original book series, and director Garry Marshall created a world that felt lived-in. When people search for movies like The Princess Diaries, they are often looking for that specific "Marshall Touch." He did Pretty Woman. He did Runaway Bride. He knew how to make a movie feel like a warm blanket.
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Exploring Modern Movies Like The Princess Diaries
If you’ve watched the original a hundred times, where do you go next?
You go to Enchanted. Amy Adams plays Giselle with a sincerity that should be annoying but is actually heartbreakingly sweet. It flips the script. Instead of a normal girl becoming a princess, a princess becomes a "normal" New Yorker. It hits all the same emotional beats: the fish-out-of-water comedy, the romantic tension, and the realization that you can define your own "happily ever after."
Then you have the Netflix era. The Princess Switch and A Christmas Prince are the direct descendants of the Genovian legacy. They’re cheesier. The budgets are lower. But they understand the assignment. They provide a safe, predictable world where the biggest problem is a missing heirloom or a fake accent.
- Wild Child: Emma Roberts brings the "spoiled brat" energy to a British boarding school. It’s the reverse makeover—taking the glam girl and stripping it away to find the real person.
- What a Girl Wants: Amanda Bynes going to London to find her father, who just happens to be a high-profile politician. It’s the quintessential "American girl in a stuffy British world" story.
- Monte Carlo: Selena Gomez gets mistaken for a socialite. It’s pure escapism with a side of travel porn.
The Complexity of the Mentor Relationship
One thing people get wrong about these films is focusing only on the girl. The mentor is just as important. Julie Andrews as Queen Clarisse Renaldi is the gold standard. She is elegant but flawed. She loves her granddaughter but is burdened by duty.
In The Intern, you see a modern, platonic version of this. Anne Hathaway (coming full circle!) is the high-powered CEO, and Robert De Niro is the older, wiser mentor. The dynamic is different, but that sense of "learning how to navigate a world you don't belong in" is identical. It’s a sophisticated take on the growth arc that started in a high school gym.
The "Invisible Girl" Misconception
There’s a common critique that these movies tell girls they aren't good enough until they’re pretty. Honestly? That's a shallow reading. In The Princess Diaries, Mia’s struggle isn't that she's "ugly." It’s that she’s invisible. She feels like she doesn't matter. The crown is just a metaphor for being seen.
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Movies like Easy A or Lady Bird handle this with more edge, but the core is the same. They're about identity. Easy A uses the "makeover" as a weapon of reputation, while Mia uses it as a suit of armor. If you want the spirit of Mia Thermopolis but with a 2020s lens, Booksmart captures that frantic, awkward, "I just want to be okay" energy perfectly, even without the ballgowns.
The Fashion Evolution
We can't ignore the style. The costumes in The Princess Diaries were designed by Gary Jones. He understood that Mia’s transition had to feel aspirational but attainable.
If the fashion is what draws you in, you have to watch Confessions of a Shopaholic. It’s chaotic. It’s colorful. It captures that same "clumsy girl in a glossy world" vibe, but with a focus on New York’s editorial scene. It’s a spiritual cousin that replaces the palace with Barney’s.
Hidden Gems You Might Have Missed
Sometimes the best movies like The Princess Diaries aren't the obvious ones.
Take Ever After. It’s a Drew Barrymore vehicle that reimagines Cinderella as a historical drama. It’s smart. It’s feminist. It treats the "royal" aspect with a level of seriousness that makes the payoff feel earned. There are no magic pumpkins here—just a girl who reads Thomas More and happens to catch the eye of a prince.
Then there’s Penelope. Christina Ricci plays a girl born with a pig’s nose due to a family curse. It’s a literal fairy tale in a modern setting. It deals with the paparazzi, the pressure of expectations, and the "reveal" in a way that feels very much in line with Mia’s journey. It’s quirky, weird, and deeply underrated.
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Putting the Crown Away
The magic of these films isn't the wedding at the end. It's the moment the protagonist stops apologizing for taking up space. Mia Thermopolis learned to stand up for herself before she ever put on that final tiara.
If you're looking for your next watch, don't just look for "royalty." Look for the awkwardness. Look for the girl who trips over her own feet but decides to keep walking anyway. That’s where the real Genovian spirit lives.
Your Next Watch List
If you need a quick roadmap based on what part of The Princess Diaries you loved most, try these:
- For the "Hidden Royalty" itch: The Prince & Me (The 2004 version with Julia Stiles is the only one that counts). It’s got that college-sweetheart-turns-out-to-be-a-king drama.
- For the "Career Makeover": Morning Glory. Rachel McAdams plays a producer trying to fix a failing morning show. It’s got the frantic energy and the "terrifying mentor" (Harrison Ford) down to a science.
- For the "High Society Culture Clash": Crazy Rich Asians. It’s the modern-day peak of the genre. The makeover scene with the dresses is legendary, and the "Queen Mother" figure (Michelle Yeoh) is as formidable as they come.
- For the "Classic Vibe": Sabrina. Either the Audrey Hepburn original or the 1995 remake with Julia Ormond. It’s the ultimate "girl grows up and shocks everyone" story.
The best way to enjoy these movies is to lean into the sincerity. Don't worry about the tropes being predictable. The predictability is the point. It’s about knowing that, for two hours, the clumsy girl wins, the guy is sweet, and the makeover actually solves something. Sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.
Start with Miss Congeniality if you want a laugh, or Ever After if you want a cry. Either way, you're in good hands.