The Freaky Friday franchise is a series of beloved films that all share the same concept: a mother and daughter switch bodies for a day, leading to hilarious and heartwarming results. The franchise began in 1976 with the original film, starring Barbara Harris and Jodie Foster, followed by a 1995 made-for-TV movie starring Shelley Long and Gaby Hoffman, and a 2003 film starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan.
The 1976 Freaky Friday tells the story of Annabel Andrews, a teenage girl who is constantly at odds with her mother, Ellen. Annabel wishes that she could switch places with her mother for just one day and to her surprise, her wish comes true. Annabel must then navigate her mother’s life, including work, school, and her own budding romance, while her mother must survive the trials of being a teenager. The two learn valuable lessons about each other’s lives and return to their own bodies with a newfound appreciation and empathy for one another.
The 1995 Freaky Friday was a made-for-TV movie that updated the original story. The plot followed the same basic premise as the original, with Annabel, portrayed by Gaby Hoffmann, and her mother Ellen, portrayed by Shelley Long, switching bodies and learning valuable lessons.
The third movie of the franchise, 2003’s Freaky Friday starred Jamie Lee Curtis as Tess Coleman, a workaholic mother and Lindsay Lohan as Anna Coleman, her teenage daughter. This version of the story was more of a comedy than the previous two and featured a subplot involving Tess’ upcoming wedding. Tess and Anna switch bodies and spend a day in each other’s shoes before switching back, both of them learning valuable lessons.
Speculation is that a sequel to the 2003 version of Freaky Friday with Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan returning as producers is in early development. However, no official confirmation has been made yet. With the timeless concept and beloved characters, fans are eagerly awaiting for the next installment of the Freaky Friday franchise.
In addition to the three films, there is also a Disney Channel Original Movie version of “Freaky Friday” which is a musical television film. It premiered on August 10, 2018, on Disney Channel and stars Cozi Zuehlsdorff and Heidi Blickenstaff and is directed by Steve Carr. The musical adaptation follows the similar storyline of a mother and daughter who switch bodies, but this time it includes musical numbers and musical performances.
