Is there anything cheesier, sillier, more fabulous, more energizing, more life-affirming than a good old-fashioned Hollywood trope makeover montage? For as long as films have been made, comedies and rom-coms love to take a leading star (often dour or plain) and give them a splashy new look—sometimes when they desperately need it, other times when they seriously don’t. But no matter what the end result serves us, you can’t deny it’s highly entertaining to watch someone go from an “ugly duckling” (however the movie defines that) to a beautiful swan.
But not all transformations are equal! Some are well-done—others are lazy. In honor, Vogue is looking back on 24 iconic movie makeovers and rating them on a scale from 1 (bad) to 5 (good). What constitutes a good movie makeover, you ask? Well, for one—and this may seem painfully obvious—the “after” needs to give us something dramatically different. Give us some production value!
Remember when they just … took Rachael Leigh Cook’s glasses off in She’s All That? Boo … that earns it a low ranking in our eyes. Now, when Halle Berry morphed from Patience Phillips into Catwoman in the 2004 flick, however? Her all-leather outfit was a far cry from the shy wardrobe worn by timid Phillips; in other words, it was a top-tier transformation. A good “movie makeover” also needs to have a clear impetus.
A well-done one will see a character go
A well-done one will see a character go through a dynamic physical change not just for the aesthetic appeal but to move the plot forward. For instance: When Gracie—a tough-as-nails FBI agent— poses undercover as a beauty pageant contestant in Miss Congeniality, she’s not only getting a makeover, but going undercover to get her job done and to solve the crime at hand. The transformations do not need to be particularly ethical, either.
We’re basing our decisions purely on how enjoyable it is to watch, rather than how “good” it ends up being for the characters. In The Devil Wears Prada, for example, Andy turns into a Chanel-clad fashionista not only to fit in with the Clackers, but to showcase how she loses herself and her identity in the process. But she looks fab so … In 2003’s Priscilla, meanwhile, the jet-black bouffant and heavy winged liner worn by Priscilla Presley isn’t just a visual vibe—it also represents how she was controlled by Elvis and often treated like his own personal Barbie doll.
These are makeovers with purpose, people! Now that we’ve laid out the parameters, it’s now time to sit back, scroll, and read on for our definitive rankings. The premise: Rachel Leigh Cook’s character, Laney Boggs, is given a makeover once she starts dating Freddie Prinze Jr.’s Zack Siler, who is a popular jock who has taken on a bet to make her—gasp!—popular, too. The execution: The problem begins with Cook being objectively beautiful to begin with.
The film tries to convince us otherwise, putting
The film tries to convince us otherwise, putting her in glasses and paint-splattered overalls, and deeming her “quirky” and “bookish.” Then, when she emerges in a red dress with her hair down and contacts in—voila! A star is born, as though she was a hideous monster before. Final rating: 1 out of 5 glasses. The styling? Lazy. The innovation? Non-existent. The premise: Zeta Alpha Zeta—a sorority house made up of socially awkward “geeks”—meet their new house mother, named Shelley (played by the amazing Anna Faris), a former Playboy Bunny.
With Shelley’s help, the girls all undergo a makeover in order to gain popularity, which they need for more pledges in order to save their sorority house. The execution: The girls’ makeovers are pretty standard when it comes to Hollywood makeovers: it’s for the male gaze. This means longer extensions, more makeup, and tighter clothes. None of the girls’ individual styles or personalities are taken into account, though they do decorate one house sister’s back brace with jewels.
Why not! Final rating: 3 out of 5 hair extensions. Sure, it’s not the most innovative makeover, but the crew does look pretty good after. Plus, at the end of the movie, they go through the whole realization that their looks don’t really matter. Good for them. The premise: When Tai, the new girl at school, makes friends with Cher and Dionne, she must undergo a makeover in order to hang with the popular crew.
Bring in the blow-dryer and eyeshadow
Bring in the blow-dryer and eyeshadow! The execution: First, Cher and Dionne wash out Tai’s hot-red, Kool-Aid-dyed hair. Then, they put her in cute little mini skirts and force her to work out. Sure, Cher gets tight, white Calvin Klein dresses and Alaïa coats—but Tai seems to get her hand-me-downs. Final rating: 2.5 out of 5 Calvin Klein dresses. Cher and Dionne’s intentions were good in wanting Tai to look her best, but they didn’t have to go and make her a carbon copy of them!
Plus, they totally end up creating a monster, as Tai gets caught up in being popular and it goes right to her head. The premise: Okay, I know what you’re thinking: You chose this Catwoman to review? But hear me out: Halle Berry’s transformation from the shy Patience Phillips to the fiery, sexy Catwoman is the only good part of the movie. So let’s give it the moment it deserves, okay?
The execution: When Patience succumbs to her inner feline senses, she emerges in an all-leather outfit that’s skintight, with a mask, gloves, and whip to match. One of the only parts of the movie I remember is when she cuts and bleaches her hair, applies lipstick, and immediately hops on a motorcycle to defeat crime. A makeover with purpose! Final rating: 4 out of 5 whips. I’m not saying the movie is 4 out of 5 stars; I’m saying the makeover is.
You can’t deny Berry’s Catwoman is fierce
You can’t deny Berry’s Catwoman is fierce. Meow. The premise: When Fern witnesses her popular high school mates Courtney, Julie, and Marcie accidentally murder their friend, Liz (long story—it involves a jawbreaker), she is brought into the crew and given a makeover to fit in. The execution: As part of the popular crew, Fern suddenly becomes Violette: She’s given a new name, new blonde hair, and a killer new wardrobe that’s in all different shades of purple.
Overnight, the school becomes infatuated with her, even though she’s literally been in their math class this whole time. Final rating: 2.5 out of 5 jawbreakers. Violette looks great, but this doesn’t have very much originality. “Blonde = popular” is an overdone trope. But, still, would kill for her closet. The premise: At the end of this classic movie-musical, Sandy channels her inner greaser girl and finds newfound confidence in the process.
Her style transformation is also largely about dressing to impress her guy, Danny, who is also a greaser. The execution: Sandy, who has more preppy style than edgy, iconically changes into a skin-tight top, trousers, and leather jacket for the final number (her hair also gets bigger and curlier). It’s a dramatic switch-up that makes me want to say ooh, ooh, ooh! Final rating: 4 out of 5 moto jackets.
This is what a Hollywood makeover should be:
This is what a Hollywood makeover should be: dramatic, jaw-dropping, memorable. It also feels like she doesn’t sacrifice herself for the look—she totally owns it. The premise: We all know the classic Cinderella story: Her Fairy Godmother waves her magical wand and, suddenly, the humble Cinderella becomes a tiara- and gown-wearing princess who’s ready to go to the ball to meet her Prince Charming.
The execution: Cinderella, played by Brandy in this amazing TV movie, looks like a true princess in her blue off-the-shoulder gown, satin gloves, and shining tiara (the look stays true to the 1950 animated film). It’s a stark difference from the ragged, worn clothes she wears prior to her transformation—and showcases her true inner and outer beauty. Final rating: 4 out of 5 tiaras.
What can I say, I’m a sucker for a tiara. It’s giving me opulence. Drama. Regal. The premise: Overworked mother Tess switches bodies with her guitar-playing daughter, Anna. When Anna wakes up in Tess’s body, she decides to give her a grungier makeover, to match her true inner self. The execution: After cutting her hair shorter and spikier, she slips into a groovy velvet dress with tall, heeled boots.
It’s a really cool, chic look—Stevie Nicks would
It’s a really cool, chic look—Stevie Nicks would be proud. Final rating: 3 out of 5 Stevie Nicks shawls. It’s not that dramatic of a makeover—new dress, new hair—but it’s Tess’s newfound confidence and attitude that really sells it for me. The premise: Cady decides to infiltrate the Plastics—Regina, Gretchen, and Karen—and become one of the popular girls as a social experiment.
She must follow all their new styles rules: On Wednesdays, they wear pink. The execution: At first, Cady struggles with the idea of a makeover. She borrows her friend Damian’s pink polo shirt on Wednesdays. But as the film progresses, Cady’s skirts get shorter, and pink begins to dominate her closet. She gets lost in her sick little experiment and actually becomes cold, shiny, hard plastic.
Final rating: 3.5 out of 5 burn books. Her makeover made for a cute, Y2K moment. In the end, though, she realizes it’s all so superficial, and she embraces her inner mathlete by showing up to prom in a letterman jacket. The premise: Jennifer Lopez portrays a hotel maid who falls in love with a wealthy senatorial candidate who is staying at her hotel. He mistakes her for being a socialite, and she must then keep up the scheme by continuing to dress fancy.
The execution: Lopez serves some delicious looks, including
The execution: Lopez serves some delicious looks, including an all-white look with a trench coat. But it’s the ending, where she shows up to the Met in a strapless chiffon gown and hefty jewels, that continues to take my breath away. Final rating: 4 out of 5 hotel keys. It’s definitely a stereotype to declare that all maids have no style, but Lopez’s transformation into a glamorous Upper East Side socialite—with the closet to match—is entertainment at its finest.
Hang that dress in the Met! The premise: Viey fall for each other. Trying to bridge the gap between their two very different worlds, Vishopping trip scene—“Big mistake, huge!”). The execution: Vied, off-the-shoulder evening dress designed by costume designer Marilyn Vance
Edward then places some spellbinding jewels around her neck. It’s a far cry from the thigh-high boots and denim cut-offs we first meet Viclassic makeover if I ever saw one—a true rags-to-riches story. Plus, when Vihat’s delicious revenge right there: She gets bonus points for that
The premise: After learning she has a terminal
The premise: After learning she has a terminal illness (which she eventually finds out she does not have), Georgia Byrd heads out on the trip of a lifetime. Having spent her whole life living frugally, she decides to blow all her hard-earned cash. Her spending spree includes a makeover with tons of fancy clothes, duh! The execution: Georgia heads into a snobby boutique near her hotel and says, “Make me international.” They dress her in splashy fur coats, elegant evening gowns, and Gucci-monogrammed shades.
Georgia transforms from a wallflower to a red-hot siren. Final rating: 4.5 out of 5 fur coats. This movie makeover is about more than just aesthetics. It’s about Georgia finally giving herself what she deserves, and owning the confidence—and style—she never had. I still get teary-eyed when I see her show up to the hotel restaurant in her red gown. Chic! The premise Joanna, a New York TV executive, moves to the Connecticut suburb of Stepford, where the housewives are perfectly manicured and completely devoted to their husbands.
(Spoiler: She soon finds out all the wives are robots, programmed to be enslaved to their men.) At the end of the film, Joanna undergoes the classic Stepford makeover—pretty dresses, big hair, bigger heels—to trick them all. The execution: Joanna, who at first wears all black like a true New Yorker, plays the part of a Stepford wife well. We see her emerge in a grocery store with coiffed blonde hair, a strapless evening gown, and heels.
I know she’s meant to look like
I know she’s meant to look like a superficial Barbie, but we have to admit, she looks good. Final rating: 3.5 out of 5 egg cartons. Listen, I get it: Her makeover is more of a statement on how Stepford women are treated like dolls. Her new look is not true to who she is—blah, blah, blah. She simply gets bonus points for making buying milk look glamorous. The premise: It’s the classic Disney tale we all know and love: Hua Mulan steps in to take the place of her ailing father, an honored warrior, by masquerading as a man.
(Spoiler alert: she totally kicks butt as a warrior). Consider this one more of a make-under, in the best way possible. The execution: When we first meet Mulan, she’s in traditional, feminine-presenting attire with heavy makeup. But when she “becomes” the male warrior, her look is rougher and raw: her battle attire includes a red robe, and her hair is pulled back in a bun underneath a head wrap.
Final rating: 4 out of 5 swords. Mulan must do what is necessary to save her family and country. Her transformation is necessary. Is it sad she has to pretend to be a man in order to fight and be taken seriously? Absolutely. But she does so with extreme flair, and that’s badass. The premise: A phonetics professor decides to take it upon himself to transform a Cockney, working-class woman into a fabulous high-society girl (an easy feat considering she’s played by Audrey Hepburn).
This comes with speaking lessons and elaborate costumes,
This comes with speaking lessons and elaborate costumes, of course. The execution: This is one of the earliest—and best—movie makeovers on the list. Hepburn trades in her rugged top hat and scrubs for giant feathered hats and elaborate gowns. The transformation is one of the movie’s best moments—it’s dramatic, over-the-top, and absurd. Final rating: 4 out of 5 top hats.
This is a glow-up if I’ve ever seen one. Sure, her new look is totally costume-y and impractical—but it’s a makeover. You simply can’t take your eyes off the new-and-improved Audrey. The premise: Estella is determined to make it in the fashion world and starts working for the fashion legend Baroness von Hellman. Soon, though, she embraces her inner wicked side and becomes the revenge-bent Cruella, who is out for Hellman’s crown.
The execution: Cruella is a notoriously high-fashion character, and Estella’s transformation into her certainly doesn’t let you down. She wears many couture-worthy costumes that she herself has designed, including a cloak that she sets on fire to reveal a gown underneath. Final rating: 5 out of 5 matches. This is the level of drama we expect—no, demand—from a movie makeover.
Each ensemble Cruella wears is more elaborate than
Each ensemble Cruella wears is more elaborate than the next, right down to the two-tone hair and bold makeup. Sorry, Dalmatians, we have to side with Cruella on her new look. The premise: Divorced dad Daniel (the iconic Robin Williams) must pose as an elder granny, Mrs. Doubtfire, in order to spend more time with his kids. Creepy? Yes—but the sentiment is there. The execution: Daniel enlists his brother, who is a makeup artist, to transform him into Mrs.
Doubtfire: the end result includes a hot-roller-curl wig, a prosthetic face and body, fake teeth, stockings, and more. Final rating: 5 out of 5 prosthetic noses. This is pure dedication to the end look. Unlike a She’s All That makeover, where they simply remove a pair of glasses, every inch of Daniel’s look has been made over. And it’s all for a good, heartwarming cause. The premise: Andy, an aspiring serious journalist, takes a job working for Miranda Priestly at the fashion magazine Runway, and must play the part of a fashionista if she wants to excel at work.
This means a classic movie makeover, where she slips into designer clothes, gets a blowout, and loses herself in the process. The execution: Andy emerges in the Runway office in her new look: The iconic Chanel outfit includes a blazer, tweed skirt, and leather thigh-high boots. “Are you wearing the-” asks her snobby co-assistant Emily. “The Chanel boots? Yeah, I am,” Andy quips.
Final rating: 4 out of 5 Chanel boots
Final rating: 4 out of 5 Chanel boots. Andy’s makeover is not only a visual feast, but it moves the plot along and showcases how she begins to lose herself and what she stands for while working at Runway. If you could own those Chanel boots, wouldn’t you risk it all, too? The premise: Gracie, a no-nonsense undercover FBI agent, must pose as a Miss United States pageant contestant when the competition faces a terrorist threat.
Lacking refinement and femininity, she must learn the act of being poised, put together, and dressed up at all times. The execution: The movie features a whole montage in which Grace is plucked, waxed, dyed, and made over by a whole professional glam crew—which, for some reason, is assembled in an airport hangar. She emerges wearing a skin-tight dress, her perfectly coiffed hair blowing in the wind in slow motion.
Final rating: 4 out of 5 wind machines. Even though she trips during her epic slow-motion walk, Gracie still looks totally amazing. We all want to emerge to “Mustang Sally” like her, as a crew of people stares on in awe. The premise: Mia Thermopolis, a shy teen, learns that she is the heir to the throne of Genoself like a princess (it helps when your grandmother is the regal Julie Andrews)
The execution: Mia’s frizzy hair is blown straight,
The execution: Mia’s frizzy hair is blown straight, her eyebrows are plucked, and her glasses are removed (a classic movie makeover detail). She also learns how to sit properly—with the legs crossed in front of her, always—and to stand up straight (walking with books on your head helps). Final rating: 3.5 out of 5 hair brushes. This is an iconic makeover, but if you sit down to think about it, it’s a tad bit lazy, no?
All they did was properly dry her hair and remove her glasses. Though I guess her whole attitude revamp earns her an extra point. She ends up poised and regal, as she should be! WICKED, from left: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, 2024. ph: Giles Keyte /© Universal Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection PRISCILLA, Cailee Spaeny as Priscilla Presley, 2023. ph: Sabrina Lantos / © A24 /Courtesy Everett Collection The Substance DO REVENGE, from left: Camila Mendes, Maya Hawke, 2022.
ph: Kim Simms /© Netflix /Courtesy Everett Collection
Source: www.vogue.com
