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How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is a 2003 romantic comedy film directed by Donald Petrie and starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is a 2003 romantic comedy film directed by Donald Petrie and starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey. The plot follows a magazine writer and an advertising executive who enter a relationship while each secretly pursues a separate bet-driven objective. The film was released by Paramount Pictures and became a commercial success.

Plot

The film follows Andie Anderson and Benjamin Barry, who begin dating while hiding opposite ulterior motives. Their competing schemes create the central conflict of the story.

Production and release

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days was directed by Donald Petrie from a screenplay by Kristen Buckley, Brian Regan, and Burr Steers. It was released in U.S. theatres on February 7, 2003.

Source material

The film is loosely based on the picture book How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days: The Universal Don'ts of Dating by Michele Alexander and Jeannie Long.

Reception and box office

The film was a commercial success, earning about $177.5 million worldwide against a $50 million production budget. It has remained a well-known entry in the romantic comedy genre.

Key facts

  • The film was directed by Donald Petrie and released in 2003.
  • Kate Hudson plays Andie Anderson, a magazine writer, and Matthew McConaughey plays Benjamin Barry, an advertising executive.
  • The story centres on two parallel bets: Andie tries to make a man dump her, while Ben tries to make a woman fall in love with him.
  • It was released theatrically in the United States by Paramount Pictures on February 7, 2003.
  • The film grossed about $177.5 million worldwide against a reported $50 million budget.
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Canadian context

The film was widely distributed in North America, including Canada, and remains familiar to Canadian audiences as a mainstream Hollywood romantic comedy.

Frequently asked questions

What is How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days?
It is a 2003 romantic comedy film about a writer and an advertising executive who each pursue secret bets while dating one another.
Who directed How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days?
The film was directed by Donald Petrie.
Who stars in the film?
The lead roles are played by Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey.
Is the film based on a book?
Yes. It is loosely based on the picture book How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days: The Universal Don'ts of Dating.
When was it released?
It was released in U.S. theatres on February 7, 2003.
Was the film commercially successful?
Yes. Reported box office earnings were about $177.5 million worldwide on a $50 million budget.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Lose_a_Guy_in_10_Days
    Supports: Director, cast, release year, release date, budget, box office, and source material
  2. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/how-to-lose-a-guy-in-10-days
    Supports: Plot overview, director, cast, and release date
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/how_to_lose_a_guy_in_10_days
    Supports: Plot synopsis and basic film identification
  4. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/60026122
    Supports: Year, rating, genre, cast, and basic premise
  5. Facts.net — https://facts.net/movie/31-facts-about-the-movie-how-to-lose-a-guy-in-10-days/
    Supports: Statement that the film is fictional and not based on a true story