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Entertainment • Film

The Parent Trap

The Parent Trap is a 1998 American family romantic comedy film directed by Nancy Meyers.

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

The Parent Trap is a 1998 American family romantic comedy film directed by Nancy Meyers. It stars Lindsay Lohan in her feature film debut as identical twin sisters who switch places in an effort to reunite their divorced parents. The film is a remake of Disney's 1961 film of the same name.

Plot

The film follows identical twins separated at birth who discover each other at summer camp and decide to switch lives. Their goal is to reunite their divorced parents, while dealing with the father's fiancée.

Production

The film was directed by Nancy Meyers and produced by Charles Shyer. It was her feature directorial debut and featured Lindsay Lohan in her first film role.

Release and reception

The Parent Trap premiered in 1998 and performed well with audiences. It has remained widely recognized as a family favourite and is often described as a cult classic.

Relationship to the 1961 film

The 1998 film is a remake of the 1961 Disney film of the same name, which also centered on twins who try to reconcile their divorced parents.

Key facts

  • The 1998 film is a remake of Disney's 1961 The Parent Trap.
  • Lindsay Lohan plays the twin roles of Annie James and Hallie Parker.
  • The plot follows twins who meet at summer camp and switch places to reunite their parents.
  • The film marked Nancy Meyers's feature directorial debut.
  • It became a popular family film and later gained cult-classic status.
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Canadian context

The film has been widely shown on Canadian television and is familiar to Canadian audiences as a Disney family comedy.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Parent Trap about?
It is about identical twins who meet for the first time at summer camp and switch places in an attempt to reunite their divorced parents.
Who directed The Parent Trap?
Nancy Meyers directed the 1998 film.
Who stars in The Parent Trap?
The film stars Lindsay Lohan, Dennis Quaid, Natasha Richardson, and Elaine Hendrix.
Is The Parent Trap a remake?
Yes. The 1998 film is a remake of Disney's 1961 The Parent Trap.
What was notable about Lindsay Lohan's role?
It was her feature film debut, and she played both twin sisters in a dual role.

References

  1. E! Online — https://www.eonline.com/news/950749/20-things-you-never-knew-about-the-parent-trap
    Supports: 1998 release, cast, director, remake status, plot details, cult-classic reception
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Parent_Trap_(1998_film)
    Supports: 1998 film identification, director, cast, feature film debut, plot summary
  3. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/the-parent-trap
    Supports: genre, runtime, director, cast, family-oriented content
  4. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-parent-trap-1998
    Supports: plot framework, remake context, director/producer/screenwriter credits
  5. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120783/
    Supports: plot summary and cast information