How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)
Movie · 2003 · Comedy, Romance · 1h 56m · PG-13 · English
Curator score: 4.8/10 (2.3M ratings)
Tagline: One of them is lying. So is the other.
It's the battle of wills, as Andie needs to prove she can dump a guy in 10 days, whereas Ben needs to prove he can win a girl in 10 days. Now, the clock is ticking—and the wildly entertaining comedy smash is off and running in this irresistible tale of sex, lies and outrageous romantic fireworks!
Ratings:
- Curator score: 4.8/10
- IMDb: 6.5/10
- Letterboxd: 3.78/5
- Rotten Tomatoes: 42%
- Metacritic: 45
- TMDB: 6.9/10
Director: Donald Petrie
Production: Paramount Pictures, Robert Evans Productions, Lynda Obst Productions, Christine Peters Productions
Cast: Kate Hudson, Matthew McConaughey, Kathryn Hahn, Annie Parisse, Adam Goldberg, Thomas Lennon, Michael Michele, Shalom Harlow, Robert Klein, Bebe Neuwirth, Samantha Quan, Justin Peroff, Celia Weston, James Murtaugh, Rebecca Harris, Archie MacGregor, John DiResta, Scott Benes, Zachary Benes, William Hill
Where to watch: Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential
Curator Review
Verdict: A glossy, fast-moving early-2000s rom-com that leans hard into contrived setup, broad comedy, and star chemistry. It’s silly on purpose, but the banter, New York backdrop, and committed performances make it an easy watch for fans of classic studio romance-comedy energy.
Best for: viewers who like big, fizzy rom-coms; fans of enemies-to-lovers setups; people in the mood for light, escapist comedy; audiences who enjoy early-2000s fashion and NYC gloss
Skip if: you want realistic relationship behavior; you dislike broad or formulaic romantic comedy; you are tired of gender-war premise comedies; you prefer subtle humor over high-concept antics
Overview: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is shamelessly engineered, and that’s part of the appeal. It takes a ridiculous premise and runs it all the way to the finish line with confidence, giving the movie a breezy, comic momentum that keeps the contrivances from sinking it.
Worth noting: The film works best as a star vehicle: the leads sell the push-pull, and the supporting ensemble adds a lot of the movie’s bite. It’s also a very specific time capsule of glossy early-2000s rom-com style, from the Manhattan fantasy to the exaggerated workplace and dating-game mechanics.
Bottom line: If you’re in the mood for something clever enough to be self-aware but fluffy enough to stay featherlight, this lands well. It’s not a romance built on realism; it’s built on timing, chemistry, and the pleasure of watching two people weaponize attraction until the movie forces them to admit the obvious.
Top Letterboxd reviews:
- alex: fun fact andi's apartment is across the street from the lady bird church and next to the 13 going on 30 apartment, it's truly a sacred block in ny
- sree: she named his dick princess sophia
- francesca: crying bc I’ll never be a journalist in new york and have matthew mcconaughey chase me on the bridge while riding a motorcycle
- Eli Hauser: is matthew mcconaughey ugly-hot or is he just ugly? or just hot? ugh an enigma
- tasha 🪩: "oh, you are already falling in love with me"
"i'm gonna make you wish you were dead"
Recommended similar titles:
- 10 Things I Hate About You (1999 · Comedy, Romance, Drama · 1h 37m · PG-13 · Curator 7.9/10 (3.9M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus)
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- The Proposal (2009 · Comedy, Romance, Drama · 1h 48m · PG-13 · Curator 3.0/10 (1.2M ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads)
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- 13 Going on 30 (2004 · Comedy, Fantasy, Romance · 1h 38m · PG-13 · Curator 2.0/10 (254.5K ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix)
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Topics: romantic comedy, enemies to lovers, office satire, dating games, lighthearted, early 2000s, New York City, chemistry, farce, mainstream studio
https://watchlist.tannermartz.com/apple/movie/how-to-lose-a-guy-in-10-days/9919
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)
Movie · 2003 · Comedy, Romance · 1h 56m · PG-13 · English
Curator score: 4.8/10 (2.3M ratings)
One of them is lying. So is the other.
Overview It's the battle of wills, as Andie needs to prove she can dump a guy in 10 days, whereas Ben needs to prove he can win a girl in 10 days. Now, the clock is ticking—and the wildly entertaining comedy smash is off and running in this irresistible tale of sex, lies and outrageous romantic fireworks!
Ratings
Curator score: 4.8/10
IMDb: 6.5/10
Letterboxd: 3.78/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 42%
Metacritic: 45
TMDB: 6.9/10
Production Paramount Pictures, Robert Evans Productions, Lynda Obst Productions, Christine Peters Productions
Cast Kate Hudson, Matthew McConaughey, Kathryn Hahn, Annie Parisse, Adam Goldberg, Thomas Lennon, Michael Michele, Shalom Harlow, Robert Klein, Bebe Neuwirth, Samantha Quan, Justin Peroff, Celia Weston, James Murtaugh, Rebecca Harris, Archie MacGregor, John DiResta, Scott Benes, Zachary Benes, William Hill
Where to watch Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential
Curator Review
Verdict
A glossy, fast-moving early-2000s rom-com that leans hard into contrived setup, broad comedy, and star chemistry. It’s silly on purpose, but the banter, New York backdrop, and committed performances make it an easy watch for fans of classic studio romance-comedy energy.
Best for
viewers who like big, fizzy rom-coms
fans of enemies-to-lovers setups
people in the mood for light, escapist comedy
audiences who enjoy early-2000s fashion and NYC gloss
Skip if
you want realistic relationship behavior
you dislike broad or formulaic romantic comedy
you are tired of gender-war premise comedies
you prefer subtle humor over high-concept antics
Overview
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is shamelessly engineered, and that’s part of the appeal. It takes a ridiculous premise and runs it all the way to the finish line with confidence, giving the movie a breezy, comic momentum that keeps the contrivances from sinking it.
Worth noting
The film works best as a star vehicle: the leads sell the push-pull, and the supporting ensemble adds a lot of the movie’s bite. It’s also a very specific time capsule of glossy early-2000s rom-com style, from the Manhattan fantasy to the exaggerated workplace and dating-game mechanics.
Bottom line
If you’re in the mood for something clever enough to be self-aware but fluffy enough to stay featherlight, this lands well. It’s not a romance built on realism; it’s built on timing, chemistry, and the pleasure of watching two people weaponize attraction until the movie forces them to admit the obvious.
Top Letterboxd reviews
alex (3★) · 21974 likes
fun fact andi's apartment is across the street from the lady bird church and next to the 13 going on 30 apartment, it's truly a sacred block in ny
sree (2★) · 18798 likes
she named his dick princess sophia
francesca (5★) · 16724 likes
crying bc I’ll never be a journalist in new york and have matthew mcconaughey chase me on the bridge while riding a motorcycle
Eli Hauser (3.5★) · 16557 likes
is matthew mcconaughey ugly-hot or is he just ugly? or just hot? ugh an enigma
tasha 🪩 (3.5★) · 15307 likes
"oh, you are already falling in love with me"
"i'm gonna make you wish you were dead"
Recommended similar titles
1999 · Comedy, Romance, Drama · 1h 37m · PG-13 · Curator 7.9/10 (3.9M ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus
A sharper teen-rom-com with the same pleasure of combative chemistry and escalating romantic games.
2009 · Comedy, Romance, Drama · 1h 48m · PG-13 · Curator 3.0/10 (1.2M ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Another high-concept romance built on forced proximity, sparring leads, and polished studio comedy timing.
2004 · Comedy, Fantasy, Romance · 1h 38m · PG-13 · Curator 2.0/10 (254.5K ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix
Shares the same early-2000s glossy charm, NYC fantasy, and buoyant romantic-comedy tone.
2008 · Comedy, Romance · 1h 51m · PG-13 · Curator 0.3/10 (3.4K ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Disney Plus, fuboTV, Netflix Standard with Ads
A breezy, mainstream rom-com with a similar mix of snappy banter, romance, and emotional payoff.
2000 · Comedy, Crime, Action · 1h 50m · PG-13 · Curator 2.9/10 (679.7K ratings)
Not a romance first, but it shares the same era’s breezy, mainstream charm and comic momentum.
2001 · Comedy · 1h 36m · PG-13 · Curator 6.2/10 (1.8M ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
A similarly sunny, high-energy comedy from the same period with a strong sense of style and wit.
1997 · Comedy, Romance · 1h 45m · PG-13 · Curator 2.4/10 (519.5K ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
A classic mainstream rom-com that balances comedy, emotional messiness, and romantic tension.
2001 · Comedy, Romance, Drama · 1h 37m · R · Curator 4.8/10 (1M ratings) · Where to watch: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential
For viewers who like awkward, funny romantic entanglements with a strong central voice.
1995 · Comedy, Romance · 1h 37m · PG-13 · Curator 6.2/10 (2M ratings) · Where to watch: Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Starz, Philo
If the appeal is stylish banter and a light, highly quotable romantic-comedy rhythm, this is a natural fit.
1995 · Romance, Comedy · 1h 43m · PG · Curator 5.7/10 (380.2K ratings) · Where to watch: Disney Plus
A warm, crowd-pleasing romance with mistaken identity and a strong comfort-watch quality.
2009 · Comedy, Romance · 1h 36m · R · Curator 0.0/10 (3.8K ratings)
For viewers who enjoy combative romantic banter and a more openly cynical dating-comedy setup.
2011 · Comedy, Romance · 1h 47m · R · Curator 1.2/10 (501.7K ratings)
A modern studio rom-com that plays with relationship rules and sexual tension in a similarly accessible way.
Topics
romantic comedy, enemies to lovers, office satire, dating games, lighthearted, early 2000s, New York City, chemistry, farce, mainstream studio
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