Disney’s latest sequel presents the perfect opportunity to revisit its 2003 comedy hit starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan. It’s hard to believe that Freaky Friday is already 22 years old. The remake of a 1976 comedy of the same name starred Curtis and Lohan as a mother and daughter whose contentious relationship is challenged when the pair switch bodies for a day.
The film took the same premise as the original and modernized it for a new generation. Audiences and critics responded positively at the time, as it currently holds an 88% on Rotten Tomatoes. It also performed fairly well at the box office, grossing over $160 million worldwide on a production budget of $26 million.
It was a profitable, low-budget comedy that is now getting a sequel two decades later. Curtis and Lohan return alongside newcomers Julia ʙuттers and Sophia Hammons, who incidentally get involved in the body-swapping action. Freakier Friday debuts in theaters on August 8, but there are many reasons why the original deserves a rewatch or first-time viewing.
You Must Watch (Or Rewatch) Freaky Friday Before Freakier Friday Comes Out
It’s A Perfect 2000s Teen Classic
Freaky Friday is a beloved film for many adults who grew up during the 2000s. It’s funny, heartfelt, and featured many relatable issues that kids or teenagers experienced at school or with their parents. However, it’s also a good movie for parents as it addresses how stressful it can be to be a teenager, which has arguably gotten worse in the age of social media.
Curtis and Lohan are the stars and deliver excellent performances, especially when they swap bodies. Lohan is very convincing as an adult trapped in a teen’s body and the same can be said for Curtis, but vice versa. They have excellent comedic timing, and their chemistry shines, even while portraying different characters.
It’s also a perfect time capsule of pop culture during the early 2000s. Lohan’s character is in a pop-punk band, and the soundtrack features many popular bands of the time, such as Simple Plan and Bowling For Soup. One Tree Hill‘s Chad Michael Murray also has a supporting role, capitalizing on his heartthrob status from his other TV appearances. He is also returning for the sequel.
While Lohan’s career suffered setbacks afterward, this film debuted during a mᴀssive winning streak in her career. After this film, Lohan played the lead role in 2004’s Mean Girls, another high school comedy that essentially became a religion for teenagers during that era. She was a talented young star, and Freaky Friday offers one of her best performances.
Freaky Friday is such a product of its time, so it will be interesting to see how Freakier Friday addresses the new challenges parents and teenagers face in 2025. Lohan and Curtis will be even more out of their depth in the sequel, and it will be entertaining to see how they adapt.
