Four years after the HBO finale aired, the impossible happened. We got the big screen reunion. Seeing the sex in the city the movie cast walk down a Manhattan street again felt like a fever dream for fans who spent the early 2000s arguing over whether they were a Carrie or a Miranda. Honestly, the road to getting all four women—Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon, and Kristin Davis—back together was messy. There were rumors of feuds, salary disputes, and a script that allegedly needed massive overhauls before the cameras finally started rolling in the fall of 2007.
It wasn’t just about the four leads, though.
The movie had to expand the universe. We needed the men. We needed the assistants. We needed the iconic New York City characters that made the show feel lived-in. When Michael Patrick King sat down to write the screenplay, he didn’t just bring back the core four; he brought back the entire support system that made the series a cultural juggernaut.
The Core Four: More Than Just Friends
Sarah Jessica Parker returned as Carrie Bradshaw, obviously. But this time, she was also a producer with significant skin in the game. Her performance in the 2008 film leaned heavily into the "fashion icon" persona that had eclipsed the character's earlier, grittier writer vibes. People forget that in the early seasons of the show, Carrie was a bit of a mess. In the movie, she's a polished brand.
Kim Cattrall’s return as Samantha Jones was the biggest question mark. If you followed the tabloids at the time, you know the drama. Cattrall famously held out for a higher salary, citing the massive success of the show and her worth to the ensemble. She was right to do it. Samantha provides the comedic heartbeat of the film, relocated to Los Angeles but still deeply connected to her girls. Without her, the movie would have felt like a funeral.
Then you have Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis.
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Nixon’s Miranda Hobbes arguably has the most grounded storyline in the film. She's dealing with Steve’s infidelity, a plot point that fans still debate at brunch to this day. Was Steve out of character? Maybe. But Nixon played the heartbreak with a raw, un-glamorous edge that balanced out the $15,000 handbags. Kristin Davis brought Charlotte York Goldenblatt to life with a newfound maturity, finally getting the "happily ever after" that was plagued by the fear of it all falling apart.
The Men Who Survived the Transition
You can’t talk about the sex in the city the movie cast without mentioning the "Fifth Character"—New York City—and the men who tried to navigate it. Chris Noth returned as Mr. Big (John James Preston). His role in the film is essentially the catalyst for the entire plot. The "jilted at the altar" sequence at the New York Public Library remains one of the most discussed moments in romantic comedy history. Noth played Big with a mixture of charm and cowardice that reminded everyone why we both loved and hated him for six seasons.
David Eigenberg (Steve Brady) and Evan Handler (Harry Goldenblatt) filled out the husband roles. Eigenberg’s Steve was the "everyman" who messed up, while Handler’s Harry remained the moral compass of the group—the guy who actually showed up and stayed.
And then there’s Willie Garson.
Stanford Blatch. Garson’s chemistry with Sarah Jessica Parker was genuine, rooted in a decades-long real-life friendship. His presence in the movie provided the necessary continuity. Along with Mario Cantone’s Anthony Marentino, they represented the "extended family" that fans demanded to see.
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The New Faces: Jennifer Hudson and the Assistant Phenomenon
One of the smartest moves the production made was casting Jennifer Hudson as Louise from St. Louis. Fresh off her Oscar win for Dreamgirls, Hudson was the breakout star of the sex in the city the movie cast.
She served two purposes:
- She gave Carrie a reason to explain her life to the audience without it feeling like a monologue.
- She brought a younger, more diverse energy to a show that had been criticized for being "too white and too wealthy."
Louise wasn't just a sidekick; she was the emotional anchor for Carrie during the "dark year" following the wedding disaster. Her subplot about renting luxury handbags (shoutout to Bag Borrow or Steal) was a perfect reflection of the 2008 economic zeitgeist—luxury was still the goal, even if you had to lease it.
Behind the Scenes: The Supporting Players You Missed
Look closely at the credits and you’ll see some interesting names. Candice Bergen returned as Enid Frick, the formidable Vogue editor. It was a small role, but it anchored the movie in the reality of the publishing world.
There were also the kids.
Alexandra and Parker Fong played Lily, Charlotte’s adopted daughter. Joseph Pupo played Brady, Miranda’s son. Seeing these children grown up (sorta) was the ultimate "time has passed" marker for the audience. It forced the characters—and us—to realize that the era of cosmopolitan-fueled clubbing was officially over.
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Why the Cast Worked (And Sometimes Didn't)
The chemistry was still there. You can't fake ten years of history. When the four women are sitting in that Mexican resort, the dialogue flows with a rhythm that only comes from actors who know exactly how to play off one another.
However, critics at the time—and many fans now—noted a shift. The movie felt more like a "spectacle" than the intimate show it used to be. The cast was often buried under layers of couture. Patricia Field, the costume designer, was arguably as much a part of the cast as anyone else. Sometimes, the clothes talked louder than the actors.
Real-World Impact and Legacy
The 2008 film was a massive financial success, raking in over $415 million worldwide. It proved that "chick flicks" (a reductive term we used back then) could be blockbuster events. The sex in the city the movie cast became the blueprint for the ensemble reunions we see today on streaming platforms.
But it also signaled the beginning of the end for the original dynamic. By the time the second movie rolled around in 2010, the cracks in the foundation were showing. The balance between relatability and luxury had tipped too far toward the latter.
Moving Forward: What to Watch Next
If you’re revisiting the movie, don’t just watch it for the fashion. Watch it for the performances of the supporting cast. Look at how Jennifer Hudson holds her own against SJP. Notice the subtle work David Eigenberg does in the scenes where he's begging for Miranda's forgiveness.
Practical Steps for the Ultimate Rewatch:
- Check the Extended Cut: There are several scenes, particularly between Carrie and Louise, that add much-needed depth to Carrie's recovery process.
- Follow the Careers: Since the movie, Cynthia Nixon transitioned into politics, Sarah Jessica Parker launched a successful shoe line (SJP Collection), and Kim Cattrall eventually moved on to projects like Glamorous and How I Met Your Father, famously opting out of the revival series And Just Like That.
- Location Scouting: Many of the filming locations, like the New York Public Library and Buddakan, are still iconic NYC staples. If you're in the city, the "Sex and the City" bus tours still run, though they've updated to include spots from the new series.
The magic of the original movie cast was their ability to make us believe that despite the fame, the money, and the ridiculous shoes, these four women were still the same people who sat around a diner table in 1998 wondering why men were so complicated. That’s why we still talk about them. They weren't just characters; for a generation of viewers, they were the friends we grew up with.