Maid in Manhattan is a 2002 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Wayne Wang and based on a story by John Hughes, who is credited using a pseudonym. It stars Jennifer Lopez, Ralph Fiennes, and Natasha Richardson. In the film, a hotel maid and a high-profile politician fall in love. The film was released on December 13, 2002, by Columbia Pictures and was a box office success, grossing $154 million against its $55 million budget.

Plot

Marisa Ventura, a single mother raising her 10-year-old son Ty, works as a maid at the Beresford Hotel in the heart of Manhattan. When not in school, Ty spends time with Marisa s fellow hotel workers, who think she can be promoted to management.

While Marisa and her co-worker Stephanie are cleaning the room of socialite Caroline Lane, Stephanie convinces Marisa to try on a Dolce & Gabbana coat. Lane had previously asked for it to be returned to the store, and Stephanie argues that it technically does not belong to anyone at the moment. Elsewhere in the hotel, Ty befriends hotel guest and senatorial candidate Christopher Chris Marshall, whom Ty learns has an interest in Richard Nixon, the subject of his school presentation. Ty wants to go with Chris to walk his dog and the pair go to Caroline s room to ask Marisa for permission. Chris meets Marisa, who is wearing the designer coat, and is instantly smitten with her. He assumes that she is Caroline. The trio spend some time together at the park. Though Marisa and Chris are attracted to each other, Marisa is terrified that management will find out about the ruse and makes it a point to avoid Chris afterwards.

Chris asks the hotel s head butler, Lionel Bloch, to invite Caroline Lane to lunch, but is confused when the real Caroline shows up instead of Marisa. Marisa was present when she received the invitation and even offered Caroline advice on what to wear for their lunch à deux . When the real Caroline shows up, Chris asks his assistant Jerry Siegal to find the other Caroline Lane , promising that he will attend an important dinner and wishes her to go with him. Jerry asks Lionel to find her. Lionel, who has figured out that Marisa is the woman Chris has been looking for, tells her to go to the dinner and end the affair swiftly if she wants a future in hotel management. Stephanie and the hotel staff assist her in preparing for the evening by styling her hair and loaning her an expensive dress and spectacular necklace.

Marisa is unable to end the affair, and she spends the night in Chris hotel room. The next morning, Marisa is spotted by the real Caroline and her friend leaving Chris room. Caroline blurts out the truth to the hotel management and Marisa is fired in front of Chris in Lane s hotel suite. Both Marisa and Chris spend time apart with him still thinking about her. Marisa is also hounded by the media and her disapproving mother Veronica.

Some time later, Marisa secures another job as a maid at another hotel. Chris is giving a news conference at the same hotel. Ty attends it and asks Chris whether people should be forgiven if they make mistakes, referencing former President of the United States Richard Nixon. Ty leads him to the staff room where Marisa is having her break. Chris and Marisa are reunited, and the film ends with images of publications showing that Chris has been elected, he and Marisa are still together after a year, and Marisa and her maid friends have been promoted to management.

Cast

• Jennifer Lopez as Marisa Ventura
• Ralph Fiennes as Christopher Chris Marshall
• Natasha Richardson as Caroline Lane
• Stanley Tucci as Jerry Siegal
• Tyler Posey as Ty Ventura
• Frances Conroy as Paula Burns
• Chris Eigeman as John Bextrum
• Amy Sedaris as Rachel Hoffberg
• Marissa Matrone as Stephanie Kehoe
• Priscilla Lopez as Veronica Ventura
• Bob Hoskins as Lionel Bloch
• Lisa Roberts Gillan as Cora
• Maddie Corman as Leezette
• Sharon Wilkins as Clarice
• Jeffrey Dinowitz as Congressman Grey
• D Quion as Lily Kim
• Marilyn Torres as Barb
• Lou Ferguson as Keef Townsend

Production

The film was originally titled The Chambermaid and then Uptown Girl. It was described as a Cinderella-type story. John Hughes was initially announced as the film s director, with Hilary Swank set to star as the lead. Variety confirmed in July 2001 that Jennifer Lopez was in negotiations to star in The Chambermaid, with Hughes no longer directing the project. Swank was no longer involved in the film. Ralph Fiennes signed on to star in the film in February 2002. Natasha Richardson joined the cast in April 2002. The film s title was confirmed as Maid in Manhattan in August 2002. Describing the character of Marisa, Lopez said: She s Puerto Rican. She s from the Bronx. She has this young son and she s just trying to make ends meet. Every day she gets on the train to work. She goes to this big city of dreams and she wants more. She has aspirations in that way. Fiennes character was originally a wealthy British guest.

Principal photography commenced in New York City in April, just months after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in which the towers of the World Trade Center (visible in some unused pre-production footage) were destroyed, and concluded by June 2002. Filming was carried out at both New York s Roosevelt Hotel and the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Filming also took place in the Morris Heights section of the Bronx on E 175 Street between the Grand Concourse and on Jerome Avenue. John Hughes wrote the story, but was credited as Edmond Dantes. On the film s first day of production in The Bronx, paparazzi and spectators forced filming to stop, and police were called as a result of the pandemonium. Wayne Wang said No one in the production was prepared for it.

Soundtrack

The film features Paul Simon s Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard in the opening credits, Lovergirl sung by Teena Marie, Train on a Track sung by Kelly Rowland, Come Away with Me and Don t Know Why sung by Norah Jones, Michael Jackson s Fall Again sung by Glenn Lewis, Paul Simon s Kathy s Song sung by Eva Cassidy and I m Coming Out sung by Amerie.

Reception

Box office

Maid in Manhattan opened at 2,838 theaters in the United States, reaching number one at the box office in its opening weekend with $18.7 million, beating out Star Trek: Nemesis, by less than $200,000. It earned a total of $94 million domestically, and $60.9 million in other countries, for a total gross of $154.8 million worldwide.

Critical response

Maid in Manhattan received mixed reviews from film critics. On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a rating of 38% based on 151 reviews, with an average rating of 5.10/10. The website s critics consensus reads: Too blandly generic, Maid in Manhattan also suffers from a lack of chemistry between Lopez and Fiennes. Metacritic assigned the film a weighted average score of 45 out of 100, based on 32 critics, indicating mixed or average reviews . Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of B+ on an A+ to F scale.

Time magazine named it one of the top 10 worst chick flicks. According to Anna Smith of the magazine Empire: the film constantly falls back on its staple fairy-tale plotline, which is so resolutely traditional it should succeed in charming its target audience . Nell Minow of Common Sense Media wrote positively, stating: is as careful a combination of ingredients as it is possible to package Everything is at the fairy tale level, which means we never dwell on troubling realities . Paul Byrnes of the Sydney Morning Herald said: The script is so lazy it snores, and Wayne Wang directs like he walked onto the wrong set – true enough, in its way. Rich Cline of the webzine Film Threat reviewed Maid in Manhattan positively. Cline wrote: When we catch ourselves sighing at the end, we get mad that we ve fallen for this same old formula all over again. But mad in a nice way. Roger Ebert wrote that the film is a skillful, glossy, formula picture, given life by the appeal of its stars .

Charles Passy of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution gave it a negative review, writing: Instead of a fairy tale, we have a tale told without imagination. It s Cinderella gone stale. Andrew Chase of Killer Movie Reviews, however, was more positive. Chase wrote: Leave reality at the concession stand along with your $20 for popcorn, candy and a large drink . Derek Adams of Time Out wrote: Talented individuals labour over the contrivances in this lightweight romance, and if the result s fluff, at least it s painless.

Lopez s casting in the film sparked some debate. Variety commented that aking the maid a Latina is certainly realistic but never quite avoids the suggestion that upward mobility is best achieved through marriage into Anglo society . Fade to Black and White: Interracial Images in Popular Culture (2009) author Erica Chito Childs noted aspects of the film to expose the objective sides of a biracial relationship using the symbolic roles of maid and politician . Writer Betty Kaklamanidou praised Lopez s casting in the film which proved that a Latin actress can move away from stereotypical supporting roles and effectively become the center of a romantic narrative .

Accolades

Year	Award	Category	Recipient(s)	Result	Ref
2003	NAACP Image Award	Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture	Jennifer Lopez	Nominated
2003	Teen Choice Award	Choice Movie Actress – Comedy	Jennifer Lopez	Nominated
2003	Teen Choice Award	Choice Movie Liar	Jennifer Lopez	Nominated
2003	Teen Choice Award	Choice Movie Lip lock	Jennifer Lopez and Ralph Fiennes	Nominated
2003	Golden Raspberry Award	Worst Actress	Jennifer Lopez	Nominated

Spin-off

ABC announced in August 2008 that it would be adapting the film to a television series, with Lopez producing. Chad Hodge was hired as a script writer. In 2009, Sony Pictures Television indicated the spiff-off as a put pilot.

Telenovela version

Telemundo and Sony Pictures Television were co-producing a telenovela based on the movie called Una Maid en Manhattan, starring Litzy and Eugenio Siller. As of November 29, 2011, the telenovela was airing in Telemundo weeknights at 8pm/7pm central.

Year	2002
ReleaseDate	2002-12-13
RuntimeMins	105
RuntimeStr	1h 45min
Plot	A Senatorial candidate falls for a hotel maid, thinking she is a socialite, when he sees her trying on a wealthy woman’s dress.
Awards	Awards, 1 win & 8 nominations
Directors	Wayne Wang
Writers	John Hughes, Kevin Wade
Stars	Jennifer Lopez, Ralph Fiennes, Natasha Richardson
Produced by	Richard Baratta,Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas,Benny Medina,Charles Newirth,Paul Schiff,Deborah Schindler
Music by	Alan Silvestri
Cinematography by	Karl Walter Lindenlaub
Film Editing by	Craig McKay
Casting By	Jonathan Strauss,Todd Thaler
Production Design by	Jane Musky
Art Direction by	Patricia Woodbridge
Set Decoration by	Susan Bode
Costume Design by	Albert Wolsky
Makeup Department	Margot Boccia,Francesca Buccellato,Milton Buras,Nathan J. Busch II,Carol Ci Ci Campbell,Anita Gibson,Gloria Grant,Jackie Payne,Mary Anne Spano,Melissa Yonkey,Mary Cooke,Suzy Mazzarese-Allison
Production Management	Richard Baratta,Ruth Hasty
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director	Joseph Aspromonti,Dean Garvin,Paul Schiff,Noelle Stehman,Glen Trotiner,Murphy Occhino,Richard Patrick
Art Department	Joseph Alfieri,Henry Antonacchio,Stephen Barth,Wayne Brackett,Damian J. Costa,Joseph Deluca,Ann Edgeworth,Greco,Denise Gurkas,Sandy Hamilton,Kevin J. Hammond Jr.,Sean Hawk,Darrell K. Keister,Marion Kolsby,Eric Lewin,Brick Mason,Kris Moran,Jeff Naparstek,Addison Pettit,Brett Pransky,Gennaro Proscia,Michael Scarola,Joseph Michael Tenga,Jonathan Tessler,Chris Vogt,Robert Vogt,Patricia Walker,Dave Weinman,Thomas White,Alyssa Winter,Peter Allburn,Ann Marie Auricchio,Robert Blasi,Sarah Dennis,Michael Kall,Charles E. McCarry,John Victor Patterson,Gerarda Pizzarello,Paul Robotti,Jessie Walker,Joan Winters
Sound Department	Andy Aaron,Christopher Barron,Brad Bergbom,George Berndt,Steve Bissinger,Tim Burby,Allan Byer,Brian Chumney,David A. Cohen,Ben Conrad,John Countryman,Pam DeMetruis-Thomas,Joel Dougherty,Sean England,Jonathan Greber,Lora Hirschberg,Larry Hoff,Tom Johnson,Michael Kirchberger,Brian Magerkurth,Jeremy Molod,Everett Moore,Marnie Moore,Eva Napolean,Margie O Malley,Bill Orrico,Mathew Price,Mark Purcell,Ronald G. Roumas,Jurgen Scharpf,Peter Staubli,Alfredo Viteri,Deborah Wallach,Karl Wasserman,James Willetts,Christopher Barnett,Mark Eshelman,Bill Orrico,Gene Radzik,Alex Raspa,Ronald G. Roumas,Peter Schneider,Kent Sparling,Greg Steele,Scott Waz
Special Effects by	J.C. Brotherhood,Johann Kunz
Visual Effects by	Elika Burns,Sarah Coatts,Robert Cribbett,Conny Fauser,Adam Frazier,Scott Gastellu,Greg Hanigan,Petra Holtorf,Dartayous Hunter,Travis Kelly,Tom Lamb,Steve Miller,Sheila Molnar,Eusebio Perez,Cristin Pescosolido,Kosta Saric,Sharmishtha Sohoni,Natalia Zoubtsova,Steven Seed
Stunts	Tim Gallin,Janet Paparazzo,Gary Tacon
Camera and Electrical Department	Colin Anderson,John J. Begley,Matt Blades,Brian Carmichael,Nicolas L. Charuet,Jack Coffen,Ken Connors,Doug Dalisera,Howard Davidson,Richard Dolan,Sean Donovan,Glen Engels,Russell Engels,Johnny Erbes-Chan,Greg Finkel,Kevin Fitzpatrick,Mara Galus,John Gilgar,Dennis Green,Richard Guinness Jr.,Tony C. Jannelli,Billy Kerwick,Eric Leigh,John Leigh,Neal Luberda,James Mah,Tim McAuliffe,Patrick McGrath,Hollis Meminger,Richard C. Montgomery Jr.,William Moore,Gary Muller,Douglas Pellegrino,George Potter,Adam Snyder,Joseph Trammell,Joseph Viano,Tom Vulliez,James C. Walsh,James F. Walsh,Barry Wetcher,Tim Arasheben,David Flanigan,Raymond Fortune,Tim Guinness,Larry Huston,Kevin McKenna,William Moore,Christopher Murphy,David Norris,Darren Ryan,James Scutakes,John Trapman,Rebecca Venezia,J. Dan Wright
Casting Department	Sylvia Fay,Lee Genick,Rita Harrell,Ali Merhi
Costume and Wardrobe Department	David Davenport,Amy Habacker,Mitzi Haralson,Joni M. Huth,Jennifer Joseph,Pamela Kezal,MJ McGrath,Tom Soluri,Susan J. Wright,Stephanie Biear,Stacy Havens,Debbie Lucas,Nikia Nelson,Christopher Peterson,Meg Thornton
Editorial Department	Megan B. Agosto,El Benebet,Kate Eales,Ben Gold,Dan Greeney,Michael Hatzer,Vivian Hengsteler,Deirdre Slevin,Arturo Sosa,Steve Calalang
Location Management	Patty Carey,Lyn Pinezich,Andrew D. Cooke,Roni Deitz,Jose F. Guerrero,Francis Maiorino,Jonathan Roumie,Robin F. Samson,David Velasco
Music Department	Michael Bearden,David Bifano,Joseph S. DeBeasi,Sandy DeCrescent,Kenneth Karman,Steve Kempster,Mark McKenzie,Adam Michalak,Sandra Park,Randall Poster,Cassandra Richburg,John Rodd,Jacqueline Tager,Tom Boyd,Tom Brown,George Doering,Jim Dunbar,John Finklea,Jim Hoffman,Stewart Lerman,Jason Lloyd,James Thatcher,Pat Weber
Script and Continuity Department	Mary Cybulski,Mary A. Kelly
Transportation Department	Kerry Clark,Edward Fanning,James Fanning,Gary Qualles,David Conelli
Additional Crew	John Acosta,Joan Altman,Cary Anderson,John Andreae,Joseph Aquino,Maureen Beitler,Alison Benson,Adrienne Brown,Al Cerullo,Matt Demier,Sarah Dennis,Deborah Evans,Jason Farrar,Alicen Fonseca,Dan Furst,Marisa Yeres Gill,Erin Goldsmith,P.J. Haines,James Hook,Robert B.O.B. Izzard,Lindsay Jaeger,Adam Kassan,Stacey Kelly,Scott Kordish,Laura H. Kreft,Julie Kuehndorf,Eric Richard Lasko,Gail Laskowski,Maggie Luellen,Kathryn Lynch,Kathryn Malone,Lilene Mansell,David M. McGuire,Kelly Messias,Eddie Micallef,Kathrina Miccio,Tim Monich,Eva Napolean,Tjamal Noni,Greg Outcalt,Sammy Pasha,Shima Razavi,Tiana Rios,Willie Rosario,Raygun Sharpadero,Missy Simms,Ethan Smith,Jillian Stein,Susan Strine,Irapaul Turner,Susan Uriarte,Nick Vanderpool,Becky Veduccio,Andrew Zee,Thomas Ahlers,Randall Balsmeyer,Daniela Barbosa,Brian Cantaldi,Betty Chin,Rebecca Ewing,Kevin A. Howard,Steven Jetton,John Kouromihelakis,Hillary Meyer,Emily Palmer,Daniel M. Rosenberg,Eugene Stamos,Emma Thaler,Justin Thaler,Paul Thornton
Thanks	Albertine Anderson,Scott Barnes,John Battista,Jane P. Brawley,Yvonne de Cock,Sheila Gray,Patricia Kaufman,Andrea Lieberman,Eric Long,Oribe,Alan Savage
Genres	Comedy, Drama, Romance
Companies	Revolution Studios, Red Om Films, Hughes Entertainment
Countries	USA
Languages	English, French, Spanish
ContentRating	PG-13
ImDbRating	5.3
ImDbRatingVotes	89989
MetacriticRating	45
Keywords	brooklyn new york city,ball gown,watching tv,1970s,caught naked