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The Proposal

The Proposal

Here comes the bribe...

2009108 minPG-13Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films
Director
Anne Fletcher
Starring
Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Malin Akerman, Craig T. Nelson

When she learns she's in danger of losing her visa status and being deported, overbearing book editor Margaret Tate forces her put-upon assistant, Andrew Paxton, to marry her.

Where to watch

Where can I watch The Proposal?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists The Proposal streaming on Disney+ and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

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Highlights

What stands out about The Proposal?

The Proposal earns 9 badges, led by Cultural touchstone and Guilty pleasure.

Show 1 more
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is The Proposal worth watching?

The Proposal's Midcredits score is the 74th percentile of all films, from 1.5M ratings across 6 sources. 65% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

74th percentile

Better received than 74% of films

82nd percentile among Comedy72nd percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)74th
Approval (how many liked it)72nd

68 /100

74th percentile of all films

82nd percentile among Comedy73rd percentile among 2000s

Critics 48 · Audience 70

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.0 — solid but not unanimous.

65% liked it

72nd percentile of all films

79th percentile among Comedy70th percentile among 2000s
65% rated it 7–1035% rated it 1–6

Critics 45% · Audience 68%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of audiences approved than critics.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 7 wins / 20 noms overall

  • NominatedGolden Globes· Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical

99th percentile

1.5M ratings across platforms

99th percentile among Comedy99th percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 30% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$40M
Opening weekend$34M
Domestic gross$164M
Worldwide gross$317M

Returned 7.9× its budget — 99th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A predictable, formulaic romantic comedy that coasts on its charming leads and Betty White's comic relief.

Fans praised

  • undeniable chemistry and comic timing between Bullock and Reynolds
  • Betty White's scene-stealing, eccentric grandmother
  • sharp, snappy early dialogue and role-reversal premise

Detractors panned

  • completely predictable, cliché-ridden formula
  • unconvincing romance and lack of real chemistry between leads
  • lazy, derivative script with wasted supporting cast

What stands out

ActingDivisive72

Bullock and Reynolds carry the film with comic timing; White steals scenes

DialogueDivisive65

Witty early sparring; later lines feel forced

HumorDivisive60

Slapstick and one-liners land for fans; detractors cite flat jokes and forced scenes

Emotional impactDivisive60

Margaret's vulnerability and family warmth resonate for fans

CharactersDivisive55

Margaret's arc from ice queen to vulnerable; Andrew underdeveloped

PacingDivisive55

First half snappy, second half drags in Alaska

Plot and storyDivisive40

Deportation-marriage premise called contrived and illogical

Originality25

Seen-it-all-before rom-com formula, compared to Devil Wears Prada and Green Card

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Women

Women scored it 13 points higher than men.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Under-30s vs over-30s 3 points apart
  • Critics vs users even
  • US vs non-US 1 point apart

Watch experience

What is The Proposal like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Easy laugh: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something light that makes you laugh and does not take itself seriously.

It is gentle and leaves you feeling good. Skip it when you want something with weight.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Very little.

What it feels like

Easy laugh.

Moods
JoyfulRomanticCathartic
Heaviest: late
Warm humor
Register
WarmPlayful
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film is a romantic comedy that plays its premise straight, with sincere emotional beats beneath the humour.
The rideThe film maintains a consistently light, upbeat mood with a warm romantic resolution.
StructureTold in a linear three-act structure: setup (the fake engagement), middle (Alaska trip), resolution (real love).

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Feeling good.

Feel-goodFun
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves you happy and entertained, a classic feel-good romantic comedy.
How it ends · evidence
Happy ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Comedy
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11% (this title): Romantic comedy 4% (this title) · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Comedy: Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony. · Romantic comedy: Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.

11% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeThe story is driven by a fake marriage scheme to avoid deportation, which follows the classic romantic comedy pattern of a con that becomes real.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfRomanticlove
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27% (this title): Romantic love 15% (this title) · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% (this title) · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% (this title) · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Romantic love · 15% of filmsFamily bondsIdentity · 14% of films
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe film explores how a fake marriage forces both protagonists to confront their true desires for love and belonging.
StanceThe film celebrates romantic love and the warmth of family as transformative forces.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanWildernessDomesticRealistic
Orchestral classicalPopSupportive music · hybrid · Aaron Zigman
SettingNew York publishing office and a wealthy family home in Sitka, Alaska
MusicOrchestral score with upbeat pop songs to underscore the romantic comedy tone.

Content guide

Is The Proposal okay for kids?

PG-13

The Proposal is rated PG-13: “Rated PG-13 for sexual content, nudity and language” (MPAA). As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at mild (21/100), sexual content at moderate (50/100), language at moderate (40/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (34/100) and frightening material at mild (15/100). Overall it is heavier than 26% of PG-13-rated films.

Ratings in 24 other countries
  • UK12
  • CanadaG
  • AustraliaPG
  • Germany0
  • FranceTP
  • IrelandPG
  • South Korea15
  • Brazil12
  • Belgium16
  • BGB
  • Czechia15+
  • DenmarkA
  • FinlandS
  • Greece13
  • Hungary16
  • Israelהותר לכל הגילאים
  • MexicoA
  • Netherlands6
  • Poland16
  • PortugalM/12
  • ROAP
  • SK12
  • SpainA
  • Switzerland12
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 20% of all filmsHeavier than 26% of PG-13-rated films
Violence & Gore
Mild · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
light for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 16%
Sex & Nudity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
heavy for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 90%
Profanity
Moderate
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 45%
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 62%
Frightening / Intense
Mild
light for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 15%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Nothing here is extreme. The strongest element is sexual content, heavier than 90% of PG-13-rated films.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does The Proposal have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in The Proposal?

Cast

2 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Sandra Bullock
as Margaret Tate
Globe nominee: Golden Globe nomination — Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or MusicalTop draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Ryan Reynolds
as Andrew Paxton
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Malin Akerman
as Gertrude
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Craig T. Nelson
as Joe Paxton
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Mary Steenburgen
as Grace Paxton
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Betty White
as Grandma Annie
Career best: Their highest-reaching film role by billing, audience size and rating.
Denis O'Hare
as Mr. Gilbertson
Oscar Nuñez
as Ramone
Breakout: Their highest-reaching film role at the time, and they went on to a career at least 3 times their standing then.
Aasif Mandvi
as Bob Spaulding
Michael Nouri
as Chairman Bergen

Crew

More like this

What are movies like The Proposal?

Movies like The Proposal include Two Weeks Notice (2002), One Fine Day (1996) and Pillow Talk (1959). Of the 12 closest matches, most are enemies-to-lovers stories, and all are romantic comedies.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

11 of these 12 share its subject: romantic love. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with The Proposal?

1.1K other films share the rarest tag below, follows: tycoon. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.