Sex and the City (advertised as Sex and the City: The Movie) is a 2008 American romantic comedy film written and directed by Michael Patrick King in his feature film directorial debut, and a sequel to the 1998–2004 HBO comedy-drama series of the same name (itself based on the 1997 book of the same name by Candace Bushnell) about four female friends: Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker), Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall), Charlotte York Goldenblatt (Kristin Davis), and Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon), dealing with their lives as single women in New York City. The series often featured frank discussions about romance and sexuality.
The world premiere took place at Leicester Square in London on May 15, 2008, and premiered on May 28, 2008, in the United Kingdom and on May 30, 2008, in the United States. Despite mixed reviews from critics, calling the film an extended episode of the series, it was a commercial success, grossing over $415 million worldwide from a $65 million budget.
A sequel to the film, titled Sex and the City 2, was released in 2010 to similar commercial success but even larger critical failure. A third film was announced in December 2016, but in September 2017, Parker confirmed that it was not going to happen.
Plot[]
Taking place a few years after the events of the television series, Carrie Bradshawand Mr. Big are in a committed relationship. Meanwhile, Charlotte York is happily married to Harry, and the couple have adopted a Chinese girl named Lily, Miranda Hobbes has settled down in Brooklyn with Steve to raise their son Brady together, and Samantha Jones has moved to Los Angeles to be close with Smith, but returns to New York as much as possible to spend time with Carrie, Charlotte and Miranda.
Carrie and Mr. Big plan to move in together, and find an idyllic and expensive penthouse, which Big declares that he will purchase for them. Concerned that she would have no legal rights to their home if they separate, Carrie offers to sell her own apartment to help pay for the penthouse. Big suggests that they get married to assuage her concerns, and Carrie accepts.
Carrie's Vogue editor Enid invites her to be featured in the magazine's annual "Age Issue" in bridal couture, as Carrie (at 40) is considered the oldest possible age to wear a bridal gown. She poses in numerous couture bridal gowns for the spread, including one she especially adores by Vivienne Westwood. Westwood sees the photos and gifts Carrie the dress for her wedding. As a result of the extravagant dress, Carrie begins to expand the size and grandiosity of the wedding, which begins to give the twice-divorced Big anxiety.
Meanwhile, Miranda and Steve's sex life has declined as a result of pressures from work and family life. They have not had sex for months, and eventually Steve confesses to having cheated on her. A heartbroken Miranda leaves him.
At Carrie and Big's rehearsal dinner, Steve tries to reconcile with Miranda, who remains upset and tells Big that marriage ruins everything. On the wedding day, Big's doubts get the better of him and he calls Carrie to tell her he cannot go forward with the wedding. Carrie, devastated, flees the venue. Big realizes his mistake and catches up with Carrie, but she furiously attacks him with the bouquet in the middle of the street.
Miranda tells Charlotte she may have upset Big, but Charlotte dissuades her from telling Carrie, as Big has always had doubts about marriage. The girls accompany Carrie on her Mexican honeymoon, where they de-stress and help Carrie overcome the pain of being jilted at the altar. Upon returning to New York City, Carrie hires an assistant, Louise, who helps Carrie "rejoin the world" and overcome her broken heart. Louise ultimately rekindles her relationship with her ex-boyfriend and moves home to St. Louis to marry him.
Charlotte learns that she is pregnant, despite years of fertility problems, and is overjoyed. Miranda confesses to Carrie what she told Big, and Carrie accuses her of ruining her wedding. Days later, Miranda visits Carrie and asks for forgiveness. Carrie relents and suggests that she consider forgiving Steve. Miranda attends couples counseling with Steve, wherein they address their trust issues and reconcile.
In L.A., Samantha struggles with her lust for her sexually voracious neighbor, Dante, while Smith works long hours shooting a popular T.V. show. The girls help her realize that she is no longer happy in her relationship with Smith. Samantha eventually admits to him that while she loves him, she needs to move on and returns to New York.
Charlotte encounters Big at a restaurant and confronts him, which causes her water to break. He takes her to the hospital and stays, hoping to see Carrie. When Carrie arrives, Harry tells her that Big had mentioned that he had written to her repeatedly but never received a reply. She goes home to find numerous emails from him, which Louise had hidden at Carrie's request, all famous love letters. In his final message, Big apologizes and promises to love her forever.
Carrie goes to their penthouse to collect a pair of brand new Manolo Blahnik shoes she had left behind. She finds Big there and, overcome by love for him, embraces him. They reconcile and marry alone in a simple wedding in New York City Hall. Miranda, Samantha, and Charlotte turn up to surprise her, arranged by Big. The girls later toast with Cosmopolitans to Samantha's 50th birthday, "and the next 50."
Cast[]
- Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw
- Kim Cattrall as Samantha Jones
- Kristin Davis as Charlotte York Goldenblatt
- Cynthia Nixon as Miranda Hobbes
- Chris Noth as John James "Mr. Big" Preston
- Jennifer Hudson as Louise, Carrie's Assistant
- David Eigenberg as Steve Brady
- Jason Lewis as Jerry "Smith" Jerrod
- Evan Handler as Harry Goldenblatt
- Willie Garson as Stanford Blatch
- Mario Cantone as Anthony Marentino
- Lynn Cohen as Magda
- Candice Bergen as Enid Frick
- Annaleigh Ashford as Spoiled Label Queen
- André Leon Talley (cameo) as Vogue Magazine Executive
- Joseph Pupo as Brady Hobbes, Miranda and Steve's Son
- Alexandra and Parker Fong as Lily Goldenblatt, Charlotte and Harry's Daughter
- Gilles Marini as Dante
- Monica Mayhem as Dante's Lover #1
- Julie Halston as Bitsy Von Muffling
- Daphne Rubin-Vega as Baby-Voiced Girl
- Ben Rindner as The Waiter
- Bridget Everett as Drunk Party Girl
- Veanne Cox as Halloween Woman #1
- Joshua Henry as Will
- Kim Shaw as Valentines Day Waitress
- Philipp Christopher as Married Man