Chances are, if someone is a fan of one Hilary Duff movie, then they’re fans of them all… are we right? The answer is yes and if this includes any of our Duff-loving readers, we’ve got a surprise in store. It’s time to revisit some of this queen’s best movies and, to add even more interest to intrigue, we’ve ranked them in order of ‘worst’ (a term used loosely because let’s be honest, there weren’t many ‘worst’ movies) to the best. It’s time to take a trip down memory lane to our middle and high school days to give some major love to our favorite teen actor.
Agent Cody Banks
With a combination of I Spy and Spy Kids, it was hard to go wrong with a movie such as this. It had a pretty baller cast, especially with Frankie Muniz as the main protag. As a kid, there was nothing cooler than the idea of being a top secret (junior) agent which is where this movie was off the chain levels of cool. It was made even cooler by the presence of Hilary Duff, who played the uber suave Natalie Connors. In fact, she was almost too cool, which is why we absolutely loved her in this role.
The Perfect Man
Hilary Duff plays Holly Hamilton in this heartwarming film about a daughter who wants nothing more than to make her mother happy. In a bizarre twist of events, Holly seemingly creates the perfect man for her mother but, as well any other feel-good movie, things don’t go exactly as planned. Hilary Duff’s characters always seem to have a warm and fuzzy side to them which, quite honestly, is part of why her acting is so great. This movie is great to watch in your downtime and while it’s not our favorite, it still makes the list.
Cheaper By The Dozen 2
If these movies didn’t inspire just a bit of a laugh then we’re not really sure you’re a true Duff fan. While she wasn’t a major character in these movies (as they focused around the oldest and youngest kids more than the middle generation), she still shone in the only way that Hilary can. With her fashion sense and a knack for makeup and all things beauty, she played her role flawlessly.
We would have loved to see more from Lorraine but hey, it’s Cheaper by the Dozen, not Cheaper by the Duff.
Cheaper By The Dozen
Just as in the second movie, Lorraine was a super loveable character in this movie, the one that started it all. While we didn’t really get a feel for her connection with her siblings until the second movie, Hilary’s character still made enough of an impression that we knew what was important to her: Looking good and making sure everyone knew it. Whether she was hogging the bathroom before school or counting split ends pre-date, she portrayed the perfect girly teenager that this movie needed.
Beauty And The Briefcase
An interesting movie for sure, this rom-com was a bit of a divergence from Hilary Duff’s usual kid-friendly movies. While it was a bit more mature, it was still fun and playful, just as many of her roles are. Playing the role of Lane Daniels, Hilary Duff goes undercover while working for a major beauty magazine in order to get the ultimate scoop. With the expected mistakes that come with a rom-com, she’s still able to save the day despite her utter disaster scenario, with a few laughs and gasp moments along the way.
Casper Meets Wendy
A classic, an original, the movie that started it all! If you don’t remember watching this on weekends in October when it was (constantly) on TV, then we’re not even sure you’re a Casper or a Hilary Duff fan. Casper Meets Wendy is by far the cutest story of a friendly ghost meeting his soon-to-be best witchy best friend who is, of course, played by Hilary Duff. This was an early role for her and one that likely boosted her notoriety in the acting world. She could have remained a child actress but instead, she rose to the challenge and became a full-on actress, singer, and much more.
A Cinderella Story
Now, we’re getting to the good stuff. Not only did she have the chance to act alongside Chad Michael Murray, but she started a film series that would see several reboots with up and coming teen actors.
However, we can never forget the original, which will always hold a special place in our hearts. Hilary Duff plays Sam and if her tomboyish appeal wasn’t enough, this entire movie had a cast worth noting. Each character was flawless, the timeline was beautiful, and the final scene – with background music by Jimmy Eat World – filled our teenage hormonal hearts with unbelievable joy.
The Lizzie McGuire Movie
This list would not be complete without the one and only Lizzie McGuire Movie. Many a fan lost their minds when this premiered and it wasn’t just because we got a chance to see a brunette version of Hilary Duff. Between the music and the entire cast from The Lizzie McGuire Show, it was obvious that this movie was bound to be an instant hit. It’s still talked about and, in fact, was brought back to life when Netflix added it to their list of streamable movies. Don’t deny it – you know you had a little happy dance going on when you found out you could relive your middle school days of drooling over Paolo.
Cadet Kelly
Finally, it’s time for the one, the only, best Hilary Duff movie. What started as a Disney Channel original erupted into a full-on classic for those who remember. Starring alongside Christy Carlson Romano, the two actresses were the embodiment of all that’s great about feminism and girl power. They started out as mortal enemies but, by the end of the movie, were screaming their independence and empowerment from the rooftops. Okay, maybe only from the military school gym floor, but still. This was perhaps the most memorable role for longtime fans of Hilary Duff, and certainly, one that suited her particularly well.
