12 Anne Hathaway Chick Flicks That Have Stood The Test of Time

Anne Hathaway has never been one to stick to a single lane. She has sung on barricades, soared through space, ruled a kingdom, and out-schemed a room full of con artists—all while becoming a Hollywood favourite, an Oscar winner, and a muse to both Versace and Valentino. Since her breakout as Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries, she has taken on roles across every genre, from sweeping dramas to box office blockbusters.

In 2026, she returns to the spotlight with one of her most exciting lineups yet. She’ll reprise her iconic roles in The Devil Wears Prada 2 and The Princess Diaries 3, take on the lead in the film adaptation of Verity, play a pop star in David Lowery’s A24 drama Mother Mary, and appear in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey.

While her filmography continues to grow more ambitious, her early chick flicks (and we mean that in the most complementary way possible) remain unforgettable. They gave us fashion montages, chaotic love stories, awkward first kisses, and heroines we still root for. These are the roles that have truly stood the test of time—and the ones we’ll never stop rewatching.

Mia Thermopolis, The Princess Diaries 

The movie that launched a thousand tiaras. Anne plays Mia Thermopolis, an awkward teen with frizzy hair, zero confidence, and—oops—a claim to a European throne. Cue: etiquette lessons, accidental slapping, and Julie Andrews being regal AF. Truly, the glow-up that defined a generation.

Watch here.

Ella of Frell, Ella Enchanted 

A fairytale comedy where Anne plays a cursed girl who must obey every command. Naturally, this leads to impromptu musical numbers, ogre negotiations, and Anne fighting back with sass, swords, and sparkly eyeliner. Think: Cinderella if she had a rebellious streak and better comebacks.

Watch here.

Andrea Sachs, The Devil Wears Prada 

The chic flick. Anne swaps cardigans for Chanel as she navigates the cutthroat world of fashion media under the icy glare of Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep, terrifying and fabulous). Includes a Paris glow-up, pursed lips from Emily Blunt, and that cerulean monologue that made us rethink every sweater we’ve ever owned.

Watch here.

Jane Austen, Becoming Jane 

As a young Jane Austen—ambitious, sharp-tongued, and stubborn—Anne brings the beloved author to life before the fame and the novels. Expect longing stares across drawing rooms, walks in dewy fields, and a love interest (James McAvoy) who ruins you in the most English way possible. It’s a slow-burn romance packed with wit, angst, and corseted rebellion. Tragedy, but make it literature.

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Kym Bunchman, Rachel Getting Married 

This one trades the glossy charm for raw family chaos. Hathaway plays Kym, a woman in recovery from years of substance abuse, who returns home for her sister’s wedding and brings years of emotional baggage with her. Old wounds reopen fast, turning a weekend of celebration into something far more volatile. The drama unfolds over awkward toasts, unresolved grief, and a dishwasher-loading scene that feels more intense than most breakups. It’s uncomfortable, powerful, and unforgettable. This proves that a chick flick doesn’t need to be light to leave a lasting impact.

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Emma Allan, Bride Wars 

Two best friends. One venue. Zero chill. Bride Wars is peak early 2000s chaos, where Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson go from inseparable to absolutely unhinged after a bridal scheduling snafu at The Plaza. Expect sabotage, spray tan disasters, and that iconic blue hair moment—all in the name of love and Vera Wang. 

Watch here.

Josephine Chesterfield, The Hustle

In this con-woman comedy set on the French Riviera, Hathaway leans in as Josephine Chesterfield, a glam, vaguely European scammer who takes clueless rich men for everything they’ve got. She teams up with Rebel Wilson’s lowbrow grifter, and the result is chaotic, sparkly, and entirely unserious. Anne fake-cries, fake-vomits, and delivers lines in a delightfully ridiculous accent. It’s not subtle, but it is fun—especially if you love a good slow-motion walk in couture.

Watch here.

Liz Curran, Valentine’s Day

A glossy ensemble rom-com in the spirit of Love Actually, but with more sunshine and Taylor Swift. Anne plays a surprisingly wholesome phone-sex operator, juggling her day job and a new relationship with Topher Grace. Set in Los Angeles on Valentine’s Day, the film follows a sprawling cast of lovebirds, cheaters, best friends, and secret admirers. It’s cheesy, chaotic and exactly what 2010 called romance.

Watch here.

Maggie Murdock, Love & Other Drugs 

A naked Jake Gyllenhaal might lure you in, but it’s Anne as Maggie Murdock—a fiercely independent artist living with early-onset Parkinson’s—that gives the film its emotional core. The chemistry sizzles, the banter bites, and the vulnerability is real. Further, the origin story of the little blue pill becomes strangely romantic. You’ll laugh, cry, and possibly never look at pharmaceutical reps the same way again.

Watch here.

Emma Morley, One Day 

Playing idealistic bookworm Emma Morley, Anne anchors this time-hopping love story about two friends whose lives intertwine year after year. It’s a slow-burn romance built on missed chances and quiet longing, with a devastating third act that sneaks up on you. The emotional payoff is worth the tears. Small warning: her Yorkshire accent is… ambitious, but we’ll let it slide.

Watch here.

Jules Ostin, The Intern 

Hathaway plays Jules Ostin, a stylish but overwhelmed CEO trying to keep her company, marriage, and sanity intact. When a 70-year-old intern (Robert De Niro) joins her team, things shift in unexpected ways. Their dynamic starts off awkward but quickly turns into something genuinely sweet. It’s not romantic, but it still leaves you feeling seen, supported, and weirdly inspired to clean your desk.

Watch here.

Daphne Kluger, Ocean’s 8 

Ah, Ocean’s 8. The film sparkles with star power, featuring Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, and Rihanna among others. Still, Hathaway steals the show as Daphne Kluger, a gloriously self-absorbed actress with ‘one of the greatest necks in the world.’ She struts through the Met Gala in couture and diamonds, plays the clueless mark to perfection, and somehow ends up stealing the spotlight and the necklace. It’s camp, it’s calculated, and she knows exactly what she’s doing.

Watch here.

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