Pretty Woman

Pretty Woman is a 1990 American romantic comedy film directed by Garry Marshall and written by J.

Pretty Woman is a 1990 American romantic comedy film directed by Garry Marshall and starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. It follows a wealthy businessman who hires a sex worker to accompany him socially, leading to a romance that became a defining role for Roberts.

What it is

Pretty Woman is a romantic comedy released on March 23, 1990. It was written by J. F. Lawton and directed by Garry Marshall. The title was inspired by Roy Orbison's 1964 song "Oh, Pretty Woman". The film stars Richard Gere as businessman Edward Lewis and Julia Roberts as Vivian Ward, a sex worker he hires for social events. Their arrangement develops into a romance that bridges class differences.

Why it matters

The film was a major box-office success, earning about US$463 million worldwide, and became one of the most successful romantic comedies of its era. Julia Roberts won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical for her performance, and the film helped launch her into superstardom. It remains a cultural touchstone of 1990s Hollywood.

Key details

Pretty Woman was developed from J. F. Lawton's original screenplay titled 3000, later reshaped into a romantic comedy. The film runs 119 minutes and also stars Jason Alexander and Laura San Giacomo. In Canada, it is known by the same title in English, and in Quebec it was released as Une jolie femme.