{{Short description|2010 film by Thor Freudenthal}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2013}} {{Use American English|date=November 2023}} {{Infobox film | image = Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010 film) poster.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | alt = Greg Heffley stands next to a shadow of himself on a wall. | director = Thor Freudenthal | producer = {{plainlist| * Nina Jacobson * Brad Simpson }} | screenplay = {{plainlist| * Jackie Filgo<br>Jeff Filgo * Jeff Judah * Gabe Sachs }} | based_on = {{Based on|''Diary of a Wimpy Kid''|Jeff Kinney}} | starring = {{plainlist|<!-- per poster billing block --> * Zachary Gordon * Robert Capron * Rachael Harris * Steve Zahn }} | music = Theodore Shapiro | cinematography = Jack Green | editing = Wendy Greene Bricmont | studio = {{Plainlist| * Fox 2000 Pictures * Color Force<ref name="bfi">{{Cite web |title=Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010) |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8dd04d74 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127043034/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8dd04d74 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 27, 2021 |access-date=December 11, 2020 |website=British Film Institute}}</ref> }} | distributor = 20th Century Fox<ref name="afi">{{Cite web |title=Diary of a Wimpy Kid |url=http://www.afi.com/members//catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=66475 |access-date=July 23, 2017 |website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films}}{{dead link|date=March 2026}}</ref> | released = {{Film date|2010|3|19}} | runtime = 92 minutes<ref name=afi/> | country = United States | language = English | budget = $15 million<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 18, 2010 |title=Movie Projector: No 'Bounty Hunter,' 'Repo Men' or 'Wimpy Kid' can upstage 'Alice' (updated) |work=Los Angeles Times |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/03/alice-in-wonderland-doesnt-have-to-worry-this-weekend-about-getting-taken-down-by-a-the-bounty-hunter-repo.html |url-status=dead |access-date=March 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120809003119/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/03/alice-in-wonderland-doesnt-have-to-worry-this-weekend-about-getting-taken-down-by-a-the-bounty-hunter-repo.html |archive-date=August 9, 2012 |quote=The modestly budgeted picture cost 20th Century Fox's movie label Fox 2000 only about $15 million to produce |df=mdy}}</ref> | gross = $76.2 million<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010) |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=diaryofawimpykid.htm |access-date=April 13, 2013 |publisher=Box Office Mojo}}</ref> }} '''''Diary of a Wimpy Kid''''' is a 2010 American comedy film directed by Thor Freudenthal, based on the 2007 novel. The film stars Zachary Gordon, Robert Capron, Rachael Harris and Steve Zahn.
The film was released in the United States on March 19, 2010, by 20th Century Fox. It received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $76 million against a $15 million budget.
The film spawned a franchise, including three live-action sequels and five animated features. A book detailing the film's creation process, ''The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary'', was released in 2010.
==Plot== <!--Per WP:FILMPLOT, film plot summaries are to be between 400 and 700 words.-->Preteen Greg Heffley illustrates his daily life in a diary for when he is "rich and famous". On Greg's first day of middle school, he quickly discovers the ups and downs, such as the missing stall doors in the boys' bathroom and the difficulties of obtaining a seat during lunch. During physical education, Greg and his best friend, Rowley Jefferson, escape from a game of shirts-and-skins-based flag football and meet Angie Steadman, a seventh-grader who isolates herself from the other students to "survive". They notice a rotting, moldy piece of cheese, and are told by their classmate Chirag Gupta to not touch it, as this would result in acquiring the "Cheese Touch", a social curse. The only way to get rid of it is by tapping someone, thereby passing the curse on to them. Greg states his intentions of becoming the most popular student in school and earning a place in the school yearbook as "Class Clown".
When Greg and Rowley go out trick-or-treating on Halloween, a group of teenage boys in a pickup truck spray a fire extinguisher at them and chase them to Greg's grandmother's house. They escape after Greg threatens, but accidentally damages their truck with a weed eater.
In other efforts to become popular, the boys join the Safety Patrol team and a contest to become the school paper's cartoonist. After Greg accidentally breaks Rowley's arm during a game they invented, Rowley becomes popular and wins the cartoonist contest. During a Safety Patrol assignment, Greg walks kindergartners down a neighborhood street without Rowley. He encounters a truck identical to the teenagers' from Halloween and hides the kids in a construction zone. Having borrowed Rowley's coat, he is confronted by a neighbor who mistakes him for Rowley. He flees, abandoning the kindergarteners. Rowley is bewildered to be suspended from Safety Patrol, until Greg confesses. Greg is fired from the service, while Rowley is reinstated as captain and ends their friendship. Greg tries to reconcile with Rowley at the Mother and Son Sweetheart Dance until he sees that Rowley has befriended Collin Lee instead.
Greg and Rowley get into a heated argument after Greg refuses to return a video game he borrowed from Rowley. A circle of students encourages them to fight before the teenagers from Halloween arrive and, having chased the other students into the school, hold the two boys captive for destroying their truck. They force Rowley to eat some of the cheese, but before Greg is forced to eat the rest of it, the teenagers flee when physical education teacher Coach Eduardo Malone arrives. When the other students come back out and notice the cheese has been eaten, Greg takes the blame to save Rowley's reputation, and they reconcile. At the end of the school year, Greg and Rowley make the yearbook class favorites page as "Cutest Friends".
==Cast== {{Main|List of Diary of a Wimpy Kid characters|l1=List of ''Diary of a Wimpy Kid'' characters}} {{cast listing| *Zachary Gordon as Greg Heffley *Robert Capron as Rowley Jefferson, Greg's best friend *Rachael Harris as Susan Heffley, Greg's mother *Steve Zahn as Frank Heffley, Greg's father *Devon Bostick as Rodrick Heffley, Greg's older brother *Chloë Grace Moretz as Angie Steadman, a seventh-grader at Greg's school *Grayson Russell as Fregley, Greg's classmate *Laine MacNeil as Patty Farrell, Greg's arch-enemy *Karan Brar as Chirag Gupta, Greg's friend *Connor and Owen Fielding as Manny Heffley, Greg's little brother *Alex Ferris as Collin Lee *Andrew McNee as Coach Malone, Greg's gym teacher *Belita Moreno as Mrs. Norton, Greg's acting teacher *Alf Humphreys as Mr. Jefferson, Rowley's father *Kaye Capron as Mrs. Jefferson, Rowley's mother }}
== Production == An adaptation of the first ''Diary of a Wimpy Kid'' novel was announced in 2008, with Thor Freudenthal signing on as director in December 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diary of a Wimpy Kid to be Directed by Freudenthal |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/51233-diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-to-be-directed-by-freudenthal |access-date=August 14, 2024 |website=ComingSoon.net|date=December 11, 2008 }}</ref> In July 2009, Zachary Gordon was cast in the lead role of Greg Heffley. Rachael Harris also signed on for the role of Susan Heffley, Greg's mother.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fox 2000 finds its 'Wimpy Kid' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/fox-2000-finds-wimpy-kid-86770/ |access-date=August 14, 2024 |website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=July 21, 2009 }}</ref> In August 2009, Steve Zahn was cast as Frank Heffley, Greg's father.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Steve Zahn in the Diary Of A Wimpy Kid |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/steve-zahn-diary-wimpy-kid/ |access-date=August 14, 2024 |website=Empire|date=April 8, 2009 }}</ref>
=== Visual effects === The mold for the Cheese was completely digital. Filmmakers left a real square of cheese outside for a few days inside a wire cage to keep animals out and sunlight in, and after this, a piece of cheese was made out of silicone and had mold effects added using CGI.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |title=The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary: How Greg went Hollywood |publisher=Jeff Kinney}}</ref>
The animated sequences were not 2D animated, but in fact made with 3D animation. The animated sequences were first animated in 3D, and then rendered in a rough sketch shader to make them look 2D.<ref name=":1" />
==Release== ===Tie-in book=== {{Main|The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary|l1 = ''The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary''}}
A tie-in book, written by Kinney, called ''The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary'', was published on March 16, 2010, by Amulet Books (an imprint of Abrams Books). It includes film stills, storyboards, preliminary concept drawings and also behind-the-scenes information to humorously chronicle the making of ''Diary of a Wimpy Kid'', ''Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules'', and ''Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days''. It also includes some new illustrations.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Jeff Kinney to make ''The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary'' |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/Jeff-Kinney-to-Write-and-bw-2885089598.html?x=0&.v=1}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100121100845/http://www.abramsbooks.com/Books/The_Wimpy_Kid_Movie_Diary-9780810996168.html The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary, Book Details] Retrieved August 11, 2017.{{incomplete short citation|date=July 2025}}{{better source needed|date=July 2025}}</ref>
===Home media=== The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray on August 3, 2010. The DVD bonus features include a comentary track from director Thor Freudenthal and co-writer Gabe Sachs, deleted scenes called “diary pages” and the film's theatrical trailer. The Blu-ray version features six pages from Rowley's diary, ''Diary of an Awesome, Friendly Kid''. It was released on the streaming service Disney+ on November 12, 2019; its launch date.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Julia |date=2019-10-14 |title=Disney+ launch lineup: Every movie and TV show available to stream on day one |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/14/20913417/disney-plus-launch-lineup-marvel-star-wars-pixar-tv-shows-movies-simpsons-national-geographic |access-date=2020-03-06 |website=The Verge |language=en}}</ref>
==Reception== ===Critical response=== {{Rotten Tomatoes prose|54|5.5|107|Unlike its bestselling source material, ''Diary of a Wimpy Kid'' fails to place a likable protagonist at the center of its middle-school humor – and its underlying message is drowned out as a result.}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010) |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/diary_of_a_wimpy_kid/ |access-date=April 15, 2025 |website=Rotten Tomatoes |publisher=Fandango Media}}</ref> {{Metacritic film prose|56|26|ref=yes|access-date=9 July 2025}} Audience surveyed by CinemaScore gave this film an "A-."<ref name="CinemaScore">{{Cite magazine |last=Serrao |first=Nivea |date=May 21, 2017 |title=Box office report: Alien: Covenant edges out Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 for No.1 spot |url=https://ew.com/movies/2017/05/21/box-office-report-alien-covenant-no-1/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=May 28, 2022 |quote=having earned a consistent A- on CinemaScore for the first three movies.}}</ref>
Roger Ebert gave the film three-and-a-half stars out of four, writing "It's nimble, bright and funny. It doesn't dumb down. It doesn't patronize. It knows something about human nature."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |title=Diary of a Wimpy Kid review |work=Chicago Sun-Times |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-2010}}</ref> Glenn Whipp of the ''Associated Press'' was less positive, saying, "In transferring the clean, precise humor of Kinney's illustrations and prose to the big-screen, the material loses just a bit of its charm."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Glenn Whipp |date=19 March 2010 |title=Should you go see 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid'? |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/From-the-news-wires/2010/0319/Should-you-go-see-Diary-of-a-Wimpy-Kid |website=Christian Science Monitor |publisher=Associated Press}}</ref> ''At the Movies'' host David Stratton gave the film one star while co-host Margaret Pomeranz gave it half a star. Stratton called the film "tiresome" and said there was "nothing remotely interesting in Thor Freudenthal's direction or the screenplay." Pomeranz disliked the character of Greg Heffley, saying "I really thought he was unpleasant. I did not want to spend time with him. I could not wait for the end of this film."<ref>{{Cite episode |title=29 September 2010 |series=At the Movies |series-link=At the Movies (Australian TV series) |network=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=September 29, 2010 |transcript=September 29, 2010 |transcript-url=http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s3005044.htm |credits=David Stratton, Margaret Pomeranz}}</ref>
''OregonLive.com'' gave the film a C+ grade, criticizing it for being "too often dull, unappealing and clumsy, hobbled by unnecessary changes and inventions that add no charm, energy or, truly, point."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-03-18 |title=Review: 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' isn't 'Wimpy' enough |url=http://blog.oregonlive.com/madaboutmovies/2010/03/review_--_diary_of_a_wimpy_kid.html |access-date=2022-03-18 |publisher=OregonLive.com}}</ref>
===Box office=== Despite a lack of distinctive marketing, ''Diary of a Wimpy Kid'' drew a decent crowd, opening to $22.1 million on approximately 3,400 screens at 3,077 sites, in second place at the weekend box office behind ''Alice in Wonderland'' but beating out the heavily hyped ''The Bounty Hunter''.<ref name="boxofficemojo.com">{{Cite web |date=March 22, 2010 |title=Weekend Report: 'Alice' Tops Again, 'Diary', 'Bounty' Neck-and-Neck |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2688&p=.htm |access-date=October 18, 2012 |publisher=Box Office Mojo}}</ref> It was the biggest start ever for a non-animated, non-fantasy children's book adaptation. ''Diary of a Wimpy Kid'' grossed more in its first three days than other film adaptions to children's novels like ''How to Eat Fried Worms'' and ''Hoot'' grossed in their entire runs.<ref name="boxofficemojo.com" /> The film grossed $64,003,625 in North America and $11,696,873 in other territories for a worldwide total of $75,700,498.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010) |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=diaryofawimpykid.htm |access-date=August 1, 2010 |website=Box Office Mojo |publisher=Internet Movie Database}}</ref>
===Accolades=== {| class="wikitable" rowspan=6; style="text-align: center; background:#ffffff;" ! Year ! Award ! Category ! Recipients ! Result ! {{Ref heading}} |- | rowspan="6" |2011 |Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards |Favorite Movie |''Diary of a Wimpy Kid'' |{{nom}} | |- |rowspan=5|Young Artist Awards |Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actor |Zachary Gordon |{{nom}} |rowspan=5|<ref name="Young Artist Awards 32">{{Cite web |title=32nd Annual Young Artist Awards |url=http://www.youngartistawards.org/noms32.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110320102846/http://www.youngartistawards.org/noms32.html |archive-date=March 20, 2011 |access-date=March 31, 2011 |website=YoungArtistAwards.org |df=mdy-all}}</ref> |- |Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actor |Robert Capron |{{nom}} |- |Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actor |Alex Ferris |{{nom}} |- |Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actress |Laine MacNeil |{{nom}} |- |Best Performance in a Feature Film - Young Ensemble Cast |Zachary Gordon, Robert Capron, Devon Bostick, Chloë Grace Moretz, Laine MacNeil, Grayson Russell, Karan Brar, and Alex Ferris |{{win}} |}
==Expanded franchise== === Sequels === {{Main|Diary of a Wimpy Kid (film series)|l1 = ''Diary of a Wimpy Kid'' (film series)}}
Three sequels were released in 2011, 2012 and 2017 respectively. ''Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules'' was released on March 25, 2011. It was based on the second book in the series, ''Rodrick Rules''. Zachary Gordon reprised his role in the film. ''Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days'' was released on August 3, 2012, and is based on ''The Last Straw'' and ''Dog Days'', including scenes from both books. An animated short film, ''Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Class Clown'', was released along with the DVD of ''Dog Days''. A film based on ''The Long Haul'' was released in May 2017 and features a new cast starring Jason Drucker, Alicia Silverstone, and Tom Everett Scott, but received generally negative reviews.
=== Animated reboot and sequels === {{Main|Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2021 film)|l1 = ''Diary of a Wimpy Kid'' (2021 film)}}
An animated reboot directed by Swinton Scott was released on Disney+ on December 3, 2021. Unlike the other films, this was the first ''Diary of a Wimpy Kid'' film to be animated fully in computer-generated imagery and features Greg and the characters in colors. Originally set as an adaptation of ''Cabin Fever'' by Kinney, it was re-announced in 2018 as an animated series but switched to a CGI movie in 2019. It stars Brady Noon, Ethan William Childress, and Chris Diamantopoulos.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Milligan |first=Mercedes |date=2021-09-02 |title=Animated 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' Movie Hits Disney+ in December |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/streaming/animated-diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-movie-hits-disney-in-december/ |access-date=2021-09-08 |website=Animation Magazine}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.diaryofawimpykidmovie.com/}} * {{IMDb title}} * {{TCMDb title}} {{20th Century Animation}} {{Diary of a Wimpy Kid}} {{Thor Freudenthal}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Diary Of A Wimpy Kid}} Category:2010 comedy films Category:2010 American films Category:2010s children's comedy films Category:2010 English-language films Category:20th Century Fox films Category:American children's comedy films Category:American films with live action and animation Category:Diary of a Wimpy Kid (film series) Category:Dune Entertainment films Category:Films about dysfunctional families Category:Films about school bullying Category:Films directed by Thor Freudenthal Category:Films scored by Theodore Shapiro Category:Films shot in Vancouver Category:Middle school films Category:Color Force films Category:2010 children's films Category:2010 films