# A Cinderella Story

> 2004 film by Mark Rosman

**Wikidata**: [Q276415](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q276415)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Cinderella_Story)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/a-cinderella-story

## Summary
A Cinderella Story is a 2004 American romantic comedy film directed by Mark Rosman, starring Hilary Duff and Chad Michael Murray. It modernizes the classic Cinderella fairy tale, set in a high school environment, and was released in multiple countries starting July 10, 2004. The film is part of a series and has been distributed by Warner Bros., contributing to its cultural impact in early 2000s teen cinema.

## Key Facts
- **Release Date**: July 10, 2004 (United States), July 16, 2004 (Canada), October 7, 2004 (United Kingdom)
- **Director**: Mark Rosman
- **Starring**: Hilary Duff, Chad Michael Murray, Jennifer Coolidge, Regina King
- **Genre**: Romantic comedy, teen film, children's film
- **Country of Origin**: United States, Germany
- **Production Companies**: Dylan Sellers Productions, Clifford Werber Productions, RHI Entertainment
- **Distributor**: Warner Bros.
- **Runtime**: 94 minutes
- **Budget**: $20 million
- **Box Office**: $70 million
- **Music**: John Debney, Christophe Beck
- **Cinematography**: Eric L. Goldstein
- **Editing**: Zene Baker
- **Studio**: Warner Bros. Pictures
- **Filming Locations**: Los Angeles, California; Vancouver, British Columbia
- **Based On**: Cinderella (fairy tale)
- **Sequel**: A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song (2011)
- **Preceded By**: None (first in the series)
- **Followed By**: A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song (2011)
- **Rating**: PG (USA), 12A (UK)
- **Wikipedia Sitelink Count**: 48
- **IMDb ID**: tt0356470
- **Rotten Tomatoes Score**: 11% (critics), 63% (audience)
- **Metacritic Score**: 32/100
- **Box Office Mojo ID**: cinderella-story
- **AllMovie ID**: 2004-351571
- **TV.com ID**: 523004
- **The Movie Database (TMDB) ID**: 273477
- **Freebase ID**: /m/02cxj_
- **MusicBrainz Release Group ID**: 3d3a3a3a-3a3a-3d3a-3a3a-3d3a3a3a3a3a
- **Official Website**: https://www.warnerbros.com/movies/cinderella-story/
- **Part of Series**: A Cinderella Story (film series)
- **Wikidata Item**: Q11424
- **Instance Of**: Film
- **Subclass Of**: Audiovisual Work, Moving Image, Visual Artwork
- **Related Entities**: Hilary Duff, Chad Michael Murray, Mark Rosman, Warner Bros., Romantic Comedy, Teen Film

## FAQs
**What is the plot of A Cinderella Story?**
The film modernizes the Cinderella fairy tale, following Sam Montgomery (Hilary Duff), a high school student who hides her identity online and falls in love with a popular student, Austin Ames (Chad Michael Murray), navigating social hierarchies and self-discovery.

**Who stars in A Cinderella Story?**
The main cast includes Hilary Duff as Sam Montgomery, Chad Michael Murray as Austin Ames, Jennifer Coolidge as Fiona Montgomery, and Regina King as Grace Reynolds.

**How was A Cinderella Story received critically and commercially?**
The film received mixed reviews from critics, with a 11% Rotten Tomatoes score, but performed well commercially, grossing $70 million against a $20 million budget, indicating its appeal to teen audiences.

**Is A Cinderella Story part of a series?**
Yes, it is the first installment in the *A Cinderella Story* film series, followed by *A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song* (2011) and other sequels, though it stands alone as a modern retelling.

**What themes does A Cinderella Story explore?**
The film explores themes of identity, social class, first love, and self-acceptance, set against the backdrop of high school life, resonating with teenage audiences of the early 2000s.

**Where was A Cinderella Story filmed?**
Primary filming locations included Los Angeles, California, and Vancouver, British Columbia, with scenes shot in both the United States and Canada.

## Why It Matters
A Cinderella Story matters as a quintessential early 2000s teen film that revitalized the classic fairy tale for a modern audience. It capitalized on the rising popularity of Hilary Duff and Chad Michael Murray, contributing to the teen comedy genre's commercial success during that era. The film's blend of romance, humor, and relatable high school struggles made it a cultural touchstone for its generation, influencing subsequent teen movies and series. Its financial success also demonstrated the viability of fairy tale adaptations in contemporary settings, paving the way for similar projects. Additionally, it played a role in establishing Hilary Duff as a leading actress in both film and music, solidifying her status as a teen idol.

## Notable For
- **Modern Fairy Tale Adaptation**: Successfully reimagined Cinderella in a high school context, appealing to both younger and older audiences.
- **Teen Comedy Influence**: Contributed to the resurgence of teen-focused romantic comedies in the early 2000s, alongside films like *The Princess Diaries*.
- **Hilary Duff's Career**: Helped establish Hilary Duff as a leading actress, leveraging her popularity from *Lizzie McGuire* into a film career.
- **Commercial Success**: Grossed $70 million worldwide on a $20 million budget, proving the profitability of low-to-mid-budget teen films.
- **Cultural Impact**: Memorable scenes, quotes, and soundtrack tracks (e.g., "Our Lips Are Sealed") became ingrained in early 2000s pop culture.
- **Launch of a Film Series**: Spawned a franchise with multiple sequels, though none achieved the same level of recognition as the original.

## Body

### Production and Release
A Cinderella Story was directed by Mark Rosman and produced by Dylan Sellers, Clifford Werber, and RHI Entertainment. Filming took place in Los Angeles, California, and Vancouver, British Columbia, with a budget of $20 million. The film premiered in the United States on July 10, 2004, and later in Canada and the United Kingdom, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It received a PG rating in the U.S. and a 12A rating in the UK.

### Cast and Crew
The film stars Hilary Duff as Sam Montgomery, a high school student navigating her secret online relationship, and Chad Michael Murray as Austin Ames, the popular student she falls for. Supporting cast includes Jennifer Coolidge as Sam's eccentric mother, Fiona, and Regina King as Grace Reynolds, Sam's supportive best friend. The crew included cinematographer Eric L. Goldstein, editor Zene Baker, and composers John Debney and Christophe Beck, who created the film's soundtrack.

### Themes and Reception
The movie explores themes of identity, social class, and first love, resonating with teenage audiences. While critics gave mixed reviews, with Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic scores reflecting polarization, the film performed well commercially, grossing $70 million worldwide. Audiences praised its light-hearted humor and relatable portrayal of high school life, contributing to its enduring popularity.

### Cultural and Legacy Impact
A Cinderella Story became a cultural phenomenon among teens in the early 2000s, with memorable scenes and quotes entering pop culture lexicon. It helped solidify Hilary Duff's transition from Disney Channel star to film actress and influenced the teen comedy genre. The film's success led to a series of sequels, though none matched its original impact. Its soundtrack, featuring tracks like "Our Lips Are Sealed," also contributed to its memorability.

### Technical Specifications
- **Runtime**: 94 minutes
- **Aspect Ratio**: 1.85:1
- **Sound Mix**: Dolby Digital, DTS
- **Color**: Color
- **Film Gauge**: 35 mm
- **Negative Format**: 35 mm
- **Cinematographic Process**: Digital Intermediate (2K)
- **Printed Film Format**: 35 mm

### Related Entities and Series
As the first installment in the *A Cinderella Story* series, the film spawned sequels such as *A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song* (2011), *A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits* (2016), and *A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish* (2019). It is distinct from but often compared to other modern fairy tale adaptations like *10 Things I Hate About You* (1999) and *She's the Man* (2006). The film's success also ties to the broader context of early 2000s teen cinema, alongside projects featuring Lindsay Lohan and Amanda Bynes.

### Awards and Nominations
A Cinderella Story received several Teen Choice Awards nominations in 2004, including Choice Movie: Comedy, Choice Movie Actor: Comedy (Chad Michael Murray), and Choice Movie Actress: Comedy (Hilary Duff). It won the 2005 ALMA Award for Favorite Movie Actress (Hilary Duff) and was nominated for a 2005 MTV Movie Award for Best Female Performance.

### Historical Context
Released during the peak of Hilary Duff's career, following the success of *Lizzie McGuire*, the film capitalized on her popularity and the growing teen market. It reflects early 2000s fashion, music, and technology, such as the use of instant messaging and flip phones, which are now nostalgic elements for audiences. The film's portrayal of high school dynamics also provides insight into early 2000s social issues and youth culture.

## References

1. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
2. The Movie Database
3. A Cinderella Story. Rotten Tomatoes
4. Freebase Data Dumps
5. [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0356470/releaseinfo)
6. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0356470/releaseinfo/)
7. IMDb
8. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0356470/parentalguide)
9. [Box Office Mojo](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0356470/)
10. Kinopoisk
11. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/cinderella-story/)
12. terjesztesre_kerulo_filmalkotasok_nyilvantartasa.xlsx
13. Online-Filmdatenbank
14. [Source](http://portal.mj.gov.br/ClassificacaoIndicativa/jsps/DadosObraForm.do?select_action=&tbobra_codigo=11978)
15. Brazilian Advisory Rating System
16. Bechdel Test Movie List
17. mymovies.it
18. [Source](https://ui.eidr.org/view/content?id=10.5240/CD1C-29AD-7951-8931-1A2B-S)
19. TheTVDB
20. Trakt.tv
21. FilmVandaag.nl