Released in 1990 and directed by Garry Marshall, Pretty Woman is the quintessential modern fairy tale that catapulted Julia Roberts to global superstardom. The film tells the story of Vivian Ward, a spirited Hollywood sex worker, and Edward Lewis, played by Richard Gere, a wealthy corporate raider who hires her to be his escort for a week of high-society business functions. A reimagining of the Cinderella archetype (and the Pygmalion myth), the movie is celebrated for the electric chemistry between its leads, its iconic fashion moments, and its status as one of the highest-grossing romantic comedies of all time.
