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She's the Man

She's the Man is a 2006 American teen romantic comedy film directed by Andy Fickman and loosely based on William Shakespeare’s *Twelfth Night*.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

She's the Man is a 2006 American teen romantic comedy film directed by Andy Fickman. It is loosely based on William Shakespeare’s *Twelfth Night* and stars Amanda Bynes as Viola Hastings, a teenager who disguises herself as her twin brother to join a boys’ soccer team at his boarding school. The film was released by DreamWorks and is rated PG-13.

Plot

The film centers on Viola Hastings after her school cuts the girls’ soccer team. She impersonates her twin brother Sebastian at his boarding school so she can keep playing, leading to romantic confusion and mistaken identities.

Production and release

She's the Man was directed by Andy Fickman and produced in the United States. Released by DreamWorks, it premiered in 2006 and runs for 105 minutes.

Adaptation of Shakespeare

The film is a contemporary reworking of *Twelfth Night*, using the play’s themes of disguise, mistaken identity, and romantic complication in a modern teen setting.

Cast

The principal cast includes Amanda Bynes as Viola, Channing Tatum as Duke, Laura Ramsey as Olivia, Vinnie Jones as the coach, and Robert Hoffman as Justin.

Key facts

  • The story follows Viola Hastings, who disguises herself as her twin brother Sebastian to play on a boys’ soccer team.
  • The film is a modernized, loose adaptation of Shakespeare’s *Twelfth Night*.
  • Amanda Bynes plays the lead role of Viola.
  • Channing Tatum plays Duke Orsino, one of Viola’s teammates and love interests.
  • It was released in 2006 and received a PG-13 rating for some sexual material.
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Canadian context

The film was released in Canada and has been widely available to Canadian audiences through home video and streaming platforms.

Frequently asked questions

What is She's the Man about?
It follows a teenager who disguises herself as her twin brother to join a boys’ soccer team after her school cuts the girls’ team.
Is She's the Man based on Shakespeare?
Yes. It is a loose modern adaptation of William Shakespeare’s *Twelfth Night*.
Who directed She's the Man?
The film was directed by Andy Fickman.
Who stars in She's the Man?
The film stars Amanda Bynes, Channing Tatum, Laura Ramsey, Vinnie Jones, and Robert Hoffman.
When was She's the Man released?
It was released in 2006.

References

  1. IMDbhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt0454945/
    Supports: Title, year, premise, cast, genre, runtime, director
  2. Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shes_the_man
    Supports: Synopsis, rating, genre
  3. Common Sense Mediahttps://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/shes-the-man
    Supports: Release year, director, cast, runtime, MPAA rating, plot overview
  4. Apple TVhttps://www.tv.apple.com/us/movie/shes-the-man/umc.cmc.1q51sppm2r8ugzyexrm0ge22b
    Supports: Year, runtime, cast, director, plot overview
  5. Netflixhttps://www.netflix.com/title/70044873
    Supports: Year, genre, plot overview, cast