24 Classic Movie Makeovers That Impress

The Hollywood makeover montage is a classic for a reason. Audiences watch a character transform with into something stunning alongside clever cinematography, upbeat tunes, and a satisfying before-and-after. 

However, I want to add the disclaimer that many of the following makeovers may have led girls and women to feel pressure to change what they looked like as if their appearance was some moral failing. Encouraging women to dress for the male gaze is a terrible message. Nevertheless, these montages are still cheeky and fun to watch.

1. Miss Congeniality (2000)

Undeniably one of the best movie makeovers to ever happen, the makeover scene in Miss Congeniality is sensational.

We get to see everything from the teeth whitening to the eyebrow plucking, and it all ends with Sandra Bullock strutting out in that to-die-for purple dress as “Mustang Sally” plays in the background.

2. The House Bunny (2008)

The House Bunny is an underrated movie that deserves more love. Viewers are rewarded with not one, but half a dozen makeovers, and all characters come out feeling more confident.

I love that, in the end, they all adjust their new looks to express themselves more, finding a balance between societal pressures and their true identity.

3. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)

The makeover in My Big Fat Greek Wedding is adorable because she’s not forced to change. Instead, she slowly works on her look to feel more confident.

Its montage scene is subtle, but we get to watch her work on her hair and play with makeup until she feels more beautiful.

4. The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

The Devil Wears Prada makeover montage is one of the best of all time. While her hair becomes shinier and sleeker and her makeup improves, the true transformation is in her clothes, as she ditches the off-the-rack Gap skirts for some stunning Chanel pieces.

I could watch this montage on a loop for hours and still be enamored.

5. Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

Another fabulous makeover we love to watch is in Crazy Rich Asians. Rachel is already a gorgeous woman, but her style isn’t exactly up to par with her boyfriend’s wealthy friends and family.

Watching Awkwafina critique the different outfits and plaster her with fancy facial masks is a blast.

6. Last Holiday (2006)

It’s funny that they try to pretend Queen Latifah isn’t the most beautiful woman on the planet, even when she’s wearing a dowdy sweater.

Her transformation from frumpy lady to ravishing temptress always gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling because watching her step out in that red dress is simply magical.

7. Cinderella (1997)

Speaking of magic, Cinderella’s makeover, courtesy of her Fairy Godmother, will always be the OG makeover. There is no eyebrow-plucking or leg-shaving here. Instead, Whitney Houston waves her wand, and Brandy turns into a glittery princess right before our eyes.

Yes, I chose the Brandy version because it’s undeniably the best.

8. The Princess Diaries (2001)

The Princess Diaries makeover montage is questionable, as Mia was adorable with curly hair and glasses.

Nevertheless, Hollywood still hates girls in glasses. The royal makeover montage is magnificent, captivating us commoners with the soundtrack, the chair spinning, and the cucumber slices.

9. Pretty Woman (1990)

I love the makeover in Pretty Woman – Vivian gets to spoil herself, which she’s never been able to do before.

It’s vindicating to watch after she’s treated so poorly by the snooty sales ladies in the first store she tries to visit.

10. She’s All That (1999)

Okay, here’s a makeover that’s not so great because it’s all about catering to the male gaze.

However, putting that aside for now, it’s a fun makeover scene. Implying Rachel Leigh Cook is anything other than gorgeous is absurd. At least the girl who does the makeover isn’t evil, like in many other films.

11. Clueless (1995)

Another questionable makeover scene, Tai’s makeover montage, is fun to watch, and Brittany Murphy is adorable, as always, but the intentions are less than desirable.

Tai wants to be herself, but Cher wants to morph her into a stereotypical hottie for superficial reasons.

12. Jawbreaker (1999)

Fern is a bit of a disaster at the beginning, and after her makeover, she’s a total bombshell. If you’ve seen the movie, you know that that makeover only makes her a cold-hearted person.

So, while the montage is fun, the outcome is not.

13. Warm Bodies (2002)

Making over a zombie into a normal-looking human is a difficult task, but that’s why the makeover scene in Warm Bodies is so fun.

It has all the best parts of the trope, from fun music to helpful friends who know exactly what they’re doing with foundation and concealer. 

14. The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)

The chest-waxing scene in this movie lives rent-free in my head. Steve Carell is hilarious in this scene, and his pain is palpable.

While I think he could’ve gotten the girl without the waxing, his friends’ hearts were in the right place, and the comedy in this montage is top-notch.

15. Grease (1978)

I always thought Sandy looked better before her makeover, but the reveal is iconic. She goes from cute and preppy to seductive and saucy with one outfit change and some makeup.

In my opinion, she was catering to the male gaze, but she still looked hot at the end!

16. Captain America (2011)

I bet you didn’t expect to see any Marvel men on this list! Captain America is transformed from a skinny, small dude into the ripped hunk we know him as today. Unlike most makeover montages on this list, this scene has no makeup or dresses.

However, his makeover is one of the most drastic. Steve Rogers transformers from a pipsqueak runt to, quite literally, Captain America. 

17. Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)

We love to see another male makeover! In this adorable and quirky rom-com, Ryan Gosling’s Jacob helps Steve Carell’s Cal become a total stud. They shop for new clothes, and he helps Carell’s character refine his appearance to get the girl.

18. White Chicks (2004)

This makeover montage is hilarious. Rather than revamping someone, this makeover turns the two Black male FBI agents into white valley girls with a flirty sense of fashion.

The montage includes prosthetics, lots of makeup, and padding – more than the other makeovers on this list call for.

19. The Breakfast Club (1985)

Again, I thought Allison looked better before her basic makeover, but this was the 80s. Claire, played by Molly Ringwald, gives Allison, played by Ally Sheedy, a head-to-toe makeover, making her substantially softer and more feminine.

I think her original goth look was cool and mysterious.

20. Not Another Teen Movie (2001)

Not Another Teen Movie is a parody of your favorite teen movies, like The Breakfast Club and She’s All That.

In this movie, they spoof the She’s All That makeover scene, except Janey, the leading lady, falls through the floor during her big reveal moment.

21. St. Trinian’s (2007)

In one of the more unusual makeover scenes we’ve viewed, the main character is aggressively pulled from her bed and then given an intense makeover.

It’s a fabulously weird scene that perfectly fits the makeover montage trope, and the upbeat pop song makes it more fun.

22. Freaky Friday (2003)

The makeover montage in Freaky Friday is highly underrated.

Anna is in her mom’s body and doesn’t want to feel frumpy and old, so she executes a rocker and hot makeover, complete with new piercings, shorter hair, and gorgeous knee-high black boots.

23. Encino Man (1992)

This scene is another one that doesn’t feature any makeup or dresses; this primitive makeover is all about personal hygiene.

Brendan Fraser’s character gets his teeth brushed, hair combed, body scrubbed, and more until he is a more hygienic human.

24. Death Becomes Her (1992)

Like the plot of Death Becomes Her, the makeover scene is spooky and full of the supernatural.

When a fading, aging actress hears about an immortality treatment, she decides to take on the strange operation to outlast her long-time rival.