Pretty Woman

Originally meant to be a serious drama (called $3,000) about a man buying a prostitute for the night, this turned into a delightful romantic comedy in the hands of Garry Marshall and sent the career of star Julia Roberts into the stratosphere. Co-star Richard Gere didn’t do too badly either — he’d been on a downward spiral before the role of tycoon Edward Lewis came along. On screen they make the “hooker falls for a millionaire in Beverly Hills” tale completely plausible, aided by Marshall’s glossy direction, the hit-filled soundtrack, a perky screenplay from JF Lawton (who also scripted the thriller Under Siege) and hilarious support from Marshall stalwart Hector Elizondo.