Break out your chokers and chunky blonde hair streaks: Y2K is so back. And along with it? The 2000s cult classic Freaky Friday, making a triumphant return in a sequel nobody expected to work… but totally does.
In her silver-screen comeback, Lindsay Lohan returns to her (dyed blonde) roots, reprising her role as Anna in Freakier Friday alongside Jamie Lee Curtis, once again playing her no-nonsense mother, Tess.
If you missed the original (where were you?), here’s the crash course: Anna is your classic early-2000s teen rebel—more interested in rock music, eyeliner, and bad-boy Jake (Chad Michael Murray) than school or her mom’s rules. Tess is a therapist and single mom, trying her best but constantly clashing with her daughter. Thanks to a mysterious spell, they end up switching bodies, literally forced to live each other’s lives—and chaos, of course, ensues. By the end, they understand each other better and switch back with a whole lot more love and empathy in tow.
Now, I don’t usually expect much from sequels, especially decades-later sequels. More often than not, they’re nostalgia-fueled cash grabs that try to revive a moment long since passed. The magic is usually gone, and what’s left is a hollow shell of what once was.
But Freakier Friday is not one of those films.
I walked in skeptical (okay, maybe a little excited, too) rocking the friendship bracelet handed out at the early screening and bracing myself for disappointment. It never came. In fact, I left the theater grinning like my 13-year-old self had just found out Pink Slip was going on tour.
The sequel smartly flips the script: this time, it’s not Anna and Tess who swap bodies—it’s the next generation. Anna’s teenage daughter, Harper (Julia Butters), and her soon-to-be stepsister/rival, Lily (Sophia Hammons), are the ones caught in the magical mess. But the twist? They don’t swap with each other—they swap with Anna and Tess.
Cue chaos.
Watching the younger girls wake up in “ancient,” “wrinkly” bodies, their skin looking like “a Birkin bag that’s been left out in the sun” (their words, not mine), is hilarious. They aren’t exactly panicked about the whole body-swap situation; it’s the appearances that are totally killing their vibe. But the real challenge? Navigating the unexpected responsibilities of adulthood. Suddenly, they’re expected to show up to work, manage family drama, and drive a car well before they’ve received their licenses.
As for Tess & Anna, they are loving their younger bodies (eating unlimited amounts of sugar and waking up without any strange pains? Sign me up), but the fun doesn’t last long. Reality hits when they realize they’ve only got two days to fix the magical mess—just in time for Anna’s wedding to Lily’s father, Eric (Manny Jacinto). And yes, for Mean Girls fans paying close attention: the wedding date is October 3rd.
As the clock ticks down, the generations have their own separate missions: the younger girls want to stop their parents’ wedding and prevent the family from moving to London. They make a pit stop in Jake’s record store, trying to convince him that Anna still harbors feelings for him from their high school days. Jake, however, couldn’t be any less interested; he has his sights set on Tess. As he starts to flirt, Tess scrambles for an escape, awkwardly insisting she’s just browsing for “music for old people. Really old. Like Coldplay.”
Meanwhile, Tess and Anna, stuck in teenage bodies, just want their lives (and IDs) back before their daughters completely derail everything…that is, after they go on a sugar high and ride bikes recklessly throughout the city.
What begins as chaos slowly unravels into clarity. Through a series of missteps, meltdowns, and laugh-out-loud moments, each of them begins to understand the others in a deeper way. The girls see how complicated adulthood really is, seeing just how much their parents love them – and how far they’re willing to go to prove that love. Tess and Anna find new ways to bond with the girls in their lives, proving that love between mother and daughter, biological or not, is unconditional.
By the time the magic wears off and everyone returns to their rightful bodies, one thing becomes clear: they’re all exactly where they’re meant to be. Anna and Eric get married, and embrace their beautiful, complicated, chaotic life in Los Angeles—together. The wedding goes on, the family blends, and while things may never be “normal,” they finally feel right.
Freakier Friday is more than just a nostalgic reboot—it’s funny, fresh, and surprisingly full of heart. It honors the original without being trapped by it, and gives the next generation a seat at the table (or, more accurately, the body). Whether you grew up quoting every line of Pink Slip lyrics or you’re just now stepping into the chaos, this sequel delivers.
So yes, break out your low-rise jeans, blast some early-2000s pop-punk, and run, don’t walk, to see Freakier Friday. You totally don’t want to miss it.
Nicole Speros holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications & Media Studies and is currently diving deeper into the industry at Berklee College of Music, where she’s studying Music Business. A passionate storyteller with an eye for what’s next, Nicole brings a sharp, curious voice to her work as a music journalist. She covers emerging artists, shifting trends, and the ever-evolving intersection of music and media—with a focus on authenticity, accessibility, and the songs that connect us all.
She’s an active member of GRAMMY U/The Recording Academy and Women in Music, always looking for ways to support and amplify voices in the industry. When she’s not in class or writing, you’ll probably find her stage-side at a local Boston show or hopping on a plane for her next adventure.