The Princess Diaries

Right now you can watch The Princess Diaries in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Disney Plus — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. Its 7/10 TMDB score, built from 5,300 ratings, reflects a title that consistently delivers. Anne Hathaway is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. Start it on Disney Plus whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

The Princess Diaries arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. The Princess Diaries gets the fundamentals right first, then finds room to get weird with it. A socially awkward but very bright 15-year-old girl being raised by a single mom discovers that she is the princess of a small European country because of the recent death of her long-absent father, who, unknown to her, was the crown prince of Genovia. She must make a choice between continuing the life of a San Francisco teen or stepping up to the throne. Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews lead a cast with the timing to make it work. The Princess Diaries came out in 2001. The Princess Diaries earns its laughs from character rather than situation, which is why it does not wear thin the way pure farce tends to. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Comedy fans looking for a reliably funny watch will find it in The Princess Diaries. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Anne Hathaway is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.