In Clueless, the audience gets an awesome makeover scene in the now iconic 1990s film starring Alicia Silverstone and Brittany Murphy. Murphy's character goes from looking like a stoner skater chic to a "total betty" as Cher would say.
There's nothing like watching a person on the big screen go from zero to hero or from rags to riches. Makeovers are a great way to fulfill this trope, (and they're also incredibly fun to watch). So without further ado, here are ten amazing movies to watch that include jaw-dropping makeovers!
Updated on September 11th, 2022 by Amanda Bruce: The idea of just what constitutes a good makeover movie has changed over the years. It’s not just about cool new clothes; it’s about confidence and a character being comfortable in their own skin - and just how drastic the makeover is. These movies involve the character learning a lesson as a result of the events stemming from their makeover, or the lessons along the way lead to the makeover in the end. With so many of these movies available on popular streaming sites, like Clueless on Netflix, there’s no shortage of makeover movies for fans.
CAN’T BUY ME LOVE (1987)
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Available to stream on Prime Video.
While the late ‘90s and early 2000s are often thought of as the golden age of teen movies, fans wouldn’t have had all of those movies without the foundation of tropes laid out in the 1980s. It was the 80s when teen movies - and the movie makeover - really started to flourish.
In Can’t Buy Me Love, the unpopular Ronald is paid by the most popular boy in school to pretend to be her boyfriend to make others jealous. She gives him a wardrobe upgrade, and his newfound popularity goes a bit to his head. Ronald keeps most of his new clothes, but he learns that he doesn’t have to completely change who he is in order for people to like him.
MEAN GIRLS (2004)
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Available to stream on Netflix.
Mean Girls might be the teen makeover movie. It hits most of the tropes of the teen rom-coms, but it also takes some of those tropes to the extreme in order to tell its story. Cady Heron goes from a girl who couldn’t care less about status and appearance to someone who is practically leading the Plastics.
Cady gains a lot of confidence as a result of her makeover, which of course, includes plenty of pink, which is really a good thing for her. There’s a period of time when she’s afraid to let people see just how great she is at math, but she learns to just be who she is. She and Janet both learn to let things go after becoming consumed with the idea of getting revenge as well.
LAST HOLIDAY (2006)
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Available to stream on Prime Video.
Stepping away from the genre of teen rom-coms, there is the dramedy Last Holiday. Queen Latifah stars in the movie in which a woman who works hard and holds herself back from enjoying life finally allows herself to let loose and experience everything she wants.
When discovering that she has a terminal illness, Latifah’s character decides to take herself on a lavish “last holiday,” complete with all the luxury apparel she wouldn’t let herself have before. The movie is all about living life to the fullest and making the most of experiences before it’s too late.
THE HUNGER GAMES QUARTET (2012-2015)
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Available to stream on EPIX.
The Hunger Games isn’t thought of as a classic makeover movie. A makeover, however, plays a huge part in Katniss’ story. In fact, the idea of Katniss having to project a particular image of herself to an audience is a large part of teenagers surviving the Hunger Games in each of the four movies in the series.
Katniss gets a makeover complete with glitter and feathers in both The Hunger Games and in Catching Fire. While she might not be willing to change to fit in with other tributes, Katniss does allow herself to make a statement with her wardrobe, understanding that Cinna wants to make a statement too. Those initial makeovers are what help turn her into the symbol of a revolution.
GREASE (1978)
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Available to stream on Paramount Plus.
Grease’s makeovers don’t truly happen until the final act of the story even though one of the characters goes to cosmetology school and dreams of being a beautician. The makeovers come when Danny and Sandy, after struggling for the entire movie to fit into one another’s worlds, decide to change their images to be with the other person.
Of course, neither of them really changes. Sandy gets black clothing and a perm while Danny takes a gym class and gets a letterman’s sweater. They’re both still the same people they were at the start of the movie, just with a better understanding of how the other person lives.
LEGALLY BLONDE (2001)
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Available to stream on Hulu.
Legally Blonde isn’t what makeover movie fans typically think of when they discuss the makeover trope. It does, however, have a pseudo makeover when Elle Woods first makes her way to Harvard Law.
Elle decides to make over her image in what she thinks a law student should be during her first days at Harvard. She dons a smoking jacket and glasses at one point, but it’s only once she actually experiences a class and interacts with other students that she realizes her perception of other students - and their perception of her - isn’t entirely accurate. Not judging a book by its cover is a big theme for the movie, and the movie also reminds the audience to not judge all makeovers the same way.
THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA (2006)
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Available to stream on Hulu.
The Devil Wears Prada is one of the best makeover movies out there. The audience gets to watch Anne Hathaway's character Andy go from a timid woman with no sense of style to someone more like a model that readers could expect to find on the cover of Vogue magazine.
Unfortunately, Andy lets her makeover go to her head a bit, so it takes some unfortunate situations in order to bring her back down to earth and make her humble again. But she can still be humble in Prada pumps, right?
MISS CONGENIALITY (2000)
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Available to stream on Netflix.
Miss Congeniality has one of the most memorable makeover scenes in movie history. Sandra Bullock's character starts off as an unkempt FBI agent with absolutely no sense of style whatsoever. She abhors makeup, styling her hair, and cannot walk in high heels. It takes a full team of professionals to get her ready for a beauty contest.
She looks absolutely gorgeous after her makeover, which is no surprise because Sandra Bullock is a lovely actress. Yet despite her beautiful and newly elegant appearance, she still maintains her Jersey toughness throughout, never truly changing who she is while she makes friends with the women in the contest and protects them from a killer.
THE LITTLE MERMAID (1989)
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Available to stream on Disney Plus.
One of the most iconic moments from The Little Mermaid was when Ariel transformed from a mermaid to a human. What made this scene so great was the fact that she was finally getting what she has always wanted- to be on land.
She can't do this unless she has legs, so she makes a deal with Ursula the sea witch. If she can have legs, Ursula can have her voice. Ariel is willing to make that sacrifice just so she can spend time on land with the love of her life. The animation is breathtaking when she transitions from a mermaid to a beautiful human.
PRETTY WOMAN (1990)
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Available to stream on Peacock.
Pretty Woman is a classic story of rags to riches. In the film, Julia Roberts plays a prostitute who forms a strong connection with Richard Gere's character, a wealthy businessman.
Although Roberts is a gorgeous actress already, she goes from looking a bit unkempt to classy and elegant after she goes through with the makeover. Even though her outfits drastically change throughout the film, she still remains incredibly strong throughout.
HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE (2005)
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Available to stream on Peacock.
One of the most unforgettable moments in the entire Harry Potter series was when Hermione Granger walks down the staircase in her ball attire during Goblet of Fire. Emma Watson has always looked gorgeous on screen, but fans were used to seeing her hair unstyled while she wore school robes.
Fans weren't used to seeing her in a gorgeous flowing ball gown with her hair elegantly styled. She looked so beautiful that Harry, Ron, and even Draco Malfoy were at a loss for words.
MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING (2002)
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Available to stream on Hulu.
This beautiful romantic comedy has the main character Toula go through a drastic makeover. Toula is so miserable and lonely at the beginning of the film, so the audience can't help but be happy for her when she starts to get her act together after she meets the love of her life.
This includes her going from a woman who couldn't care less about personal style or anything of the sort, to a beautiful lady who is ready to take the world by storm. It isn't until after her makeover that her radiance and confidence shine.
SHE'S ALL THAT (1999)
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Available to stream on HBO Max.
She's All That has all the clichés expected in a teen romantic comedy from the 90s. This includes, of course, the classic makeover scene where the girl goes from dorky-looking to absolutely stunning.
This movie really goes full out with the makeover scene and the payoff is well worth it when she walks down the staircase in a beautiful red dress. What's interesting here is that it's one of the rare movies where the makeover isn't treated as the most important thing about the main character either. She's touted as the "new, not improved" Laney Boggs. The movie might have some flaws, but it's still self-aware enough to know that Laney is still Laney.
THE PRINCESS DIARIES (2001)
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Available to stream on Disney Plus.
The Princess Diaries has one of the greatest and most memorable makeover scenes of all time because out of all the films listed here, the main protagonist in this film arguably has the most drastic transitions from bland to fab.
Although it is a genuine challenge to make Anne Hathaway look even remotely average, the movie makes her character look like quite the mess at the beginning of the film. This is what makes the makeover scene so great because we get to see how beautiful Hathaway really is. Because this was her debut movie, the audience didn't know how she looked when her hair and eyebrows weren't a total disaster.
CINDERELLA (1950)
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Available to stream on Disney Plus.
Any list of makeovers in film history has to include Disney's Cinderella. It's inspired many romantic comedies since its inception, makeover scenes becoming "Cinderella moments" for characters. One of the most magical moments in cinema history is when the princess's fairy godmother transforms her from a maid with torn-up clothing to a beautiful young woman in a sparkling ball gown.
All the fairy godmother needs to say is the magical spell, and suddenly Cinderella is all glammed up. It's certainly the simplest makeover, but it required quite a bit of work on the part of the animators.