Julia Roberts Reflects on Pretty Woman 36 Years Later: A Look Back at the Classic Rom-Com

Over three decades later, Julia Roberts opened up about how time and cultural shifts have changed the way audiences — and she herself — view the romantic comedy today.

It’s been 36 years since Pretty Woman hit theaters, turning Julia Roberts into a household name and redefining the romantic comedy genre for the ’90s. Today, Roberts is looking back on the film with fresh eyes — and acknowledging how cultural shifts have changed how audiences interpret it.

A Defining Rom‑Com of Its Time

Released in 1990, "Pretty Woman" became the fourth-highest grossing domestic film of the year (EW). The modern-day Cinderella story followed Vivian Ward (Roberts), a Hollywood Boulevard sex worker, and Edward Lewis (Richard Gere), a wealthy businessman who hires her to accompany him to social events. Over a week, their relationship evolves from transactional to romantic.

For Roberts, the role was career-defining. Her performance as Vivian Ward combined charm, confidence, and vulnerability, making her instantly appealing to audiences and setting the stage for her rise as a major movie star. But her casting nearly didn’t happen.

In a 1991 interview, Roberts said that when Disney took over the project, she was almost out of the picture. “Garry [Marshall] said to me that half the people at Disney were concerned that you couldn’t dress me up… and the other half were saying the opposite,” she recalled.

She ultimately proved them wrong — "Pretty Woman" earned her a second Oscar nomination and launched a run of box office hits throughout the ’90s.

How Time Has Changed the View

In a recent interview with Deadline, Roberts spoke candidly about how she sees the film now, decades later. Asked if she could play the same role today, she replied, “Oh, it’s impossible. I have too many years of the weight of the world inside of me now that I wouldn’t be able to kind of levitate in a movie like that, right?”

She continued, “It would be impossible to play someone who was really innocent, in a way. I mean, it’s a funny thing to say about a hooker, but I do think that there was an innocence to her… I guess it’s just being young.”

Roberts also reflected on how much social context affects how older films are perceived. “Anytime you have a huge passage of time and cultural shifts… Think about all the movies and plays of the ’20s and ’30s and ’40s — you would look at them now and just be like, ‘How are people saying these things, doing these things?’”

A Fantasy — Then and Now

In 2020, a feature on "Pretty Woman" described it as a “fantasy rooted in conservatism and materialism,” where upward mobility is tied to makeover sequences and luxury shopping.

While the romance made the film a classic, the article noted that the story softens the reality of sex work and places it in a glossy, fairy-tale frame — something modern audiences might view more critically.

Still a Classic

Despite shifting perspectives, "Pretty Woman" remains one of the most iconic rom-coms of all time. For many, it’s still a comfort watch. And for Roberts, it’s clear the film continues to matter — even as both she and her audience continue to grow with it.