Disney’s Freakier Friday is already charming early viewers, with first reactions praising the sequel as a wildly entertaining and unexpectedly emotional return to the beloved 2003 hit. Critics and journalists alike are calling the film a “great feel-good film,” applauding its mix of nostalgia, chaos, and genuine heart.
Variety’s Jazz Tangcay called the film “an absolute riot,” noting, “I laughed out loud and cried during the tender family moments.” She added that the film delivers “hilarity and emotion” and described it as a “funtastic sequel” she never knew she needed. “Oh, and Manny Jacinto, I love him,” she added.
Entertainment journalist Brandon Davis echoed the excitement, calling the premiere screening “absolutely some of the most fun I’ve had watching a movie this year.” While admitting it can be “silly and sometimes confusing,” he said the film was “hilarious throughout, even touching at times,” and that “Jamie Lee Curtis is having the time of her life, and it’s a blast to watch.”
TV host Jeff Conway also took to X to heap praise on the film. “Double the fun, twice the heart,” he wrote, declaring that “Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis haven’t missed a beat” and calling their chemistry “truly something special.” His verdict: “A true delight that the entire family will enjoy.”
Set years after the original, Freakier Friday sees Lohan’s Anna navigating life as a mom herself, with both a daughter and a soon-to-be stepdaughter. When a mysterious mishap leads to a four-way body swap involving three generations of women, the result is equal parts chaos and growth.
The cast reunites Lohan and Curtis in their iconic roles, with new additions including Julia Butters, Sophia Hammons, Manny Jacinto, Mark Harmon, Chad Michael Murray, and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan.
Directed by Nisha Ganatra, Freakier Friday is a sequel to the hit film inspired by Mary Rodgers’ novel. The original followed a mother and daughter who magically switched bodies and found deeper understanding in the process. This time, the magic returns with more complexity and a whole lot of heart.