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September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Film

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is a 2003 romantic comedy film directed by Donald Petrie and starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is a 2003 romantic comedy starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey. The film follows two people who secretly bet on opposite outcomes while dating each other.

What it is

This film is a romantic comedy directed by Donald Petrie, released in 2003. It stars Kate Hudson as Andie Anderson, a magazine writer, and Matthew McConaughey as Benjamin Barry, an advertising executive. The plot revolves around a relationship where each person has a hidden bet: Andie tries to make Ben dump her, while Ben tries to make her fall in love.

Plot and premise

Andie writes an article on how to lose a guy in ten days, and Ben bets his colleagues he can make any woman fall in love with him in the same period. They unknowingly begin dating, each working toward their own goal. The resulting chaos and comedy come from their competing agendas.

Production and reception

The film was produced by Paramount Pictures with a budget of $50 million. It was released on February 7, 2003, and grossed about $177.5 million worldwide. It is loosely based on the picture book 'How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days: The Universal Don'ts of Dating' by Michele Alexander and Jeannie Long.

In short

  • Directed by Donald Petrie, released in 2003.
  • Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey star as leads with hidden bets.
  • Grossed $177.5 million worldwide against a $50 million budget.
  • Loosely based on a picture book of the same name.
Canadian angle

The film was widely distributed in North America, including Canada, and remains familiar to Canadian audiences as a mainstream Hollywood romantic comedy.

Quick questions

What is 'How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days'?
It is a 2003 romantic comedy film about a writer and an advertising executive who each pursue secret bets while dating one another.
Who directed the film?
The film was directed by Donald Petrie.
Was the film commercially successful?
Yes. Reported box office earnings were about $177.5 million worldwide on a $50 million budget.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Lose_a_Guy_in_10_Days
    Supports: Director, cast, release year, release date, budget, box office, and source material
  2. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/how-to-lose-a-guy-in-10-days
    Supports: Plot overview, director, cast, and release date
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/how_to_lose_a_guy_in_10_days
    Supports: Plot synopsis and basic film identification
  4. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/60026122
    Supports: Year, rating, genre, cast, and basic premise
  5. Facts.net — https://facts.net/movie/31-facts-about-the-movie-how-to-lose-a-guy-in-10-days/
    Supports: Statement that the film is fictional and not based on a true story