The most popular Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen movies, ranked
Frank Olito
- Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, who turn 35 on June 13, made over 30 films in the '90s and 2000s.
- We ranked their most popular films based on Rotten Tomatoes' audience scores.
- Their most popular film with audiences is "It Takes Two," which was their first theatrical release.
Note: Rotten Tomatoes' audience scores are subject to change - the scores in this story were accurate as of June 2021. Critics scores were included when available.
"When in Rome" from 2002 is one of Mary-Kate and Ashley's least popular films with audiences.
Audience score on Rotten Tomatoes: 46%
Summary: When two sisters get a summer internship in the fashion industry in Rome, they head off to Italy, where they find romance and adventure.
Reviews: "Despite its over-the-top zaniness, this romantic comedy manages to keep us entertained with its starry cast and a nutty plot," critic Rich Cline at Shadows on the Wall wrote in 2010. "If only the filmmakers had resisted the urge to exaggerate both the humor and the sentimentality."
Audience member Jack H. wrote on Rotten Tomatoes in 2012, "This movie was beyond terrible but the charm of the Olsen twins somehow makes me want to watch this again — I certainly won't but that's why this didn't completely fail."
Their 2004 film, "New York Minute," was their second theatrical release, but it bombed at the box office.
Audience score: 47%
Critics score: 11%
Summary: Mary-Kate and Ashley play twins from Long Island who have opposite personalities. When they decide to sneak into New York City on a school day, they run into a series of obstacles along the way.
Reviews: "New York Minute" earned just $14 million at the box office that year, and Ebert & Roeper declared it one of the worst movies of 2004. Audience members seemed to agree.
"There was no real plot, the entire movie just felt like a really weird dream where everything just happens with no proper link to the next action," Shriya T. wrote on Rotten Tomatoes in 2020. "It was pretty confusing but mainly really cringy and infuriating."
In 1999, the Olsens starred in "Switching Goals," but it didn't connect with audiences.
Audience score: 47%
Critics Score: 0%
Summary: When Sam and Emma — played by the Olsens — get picked to play on separate soccer teams, they decide to switch places so they can play on the team they want. But then their scheme begins to unravel.
Reviews: "The Olsen twins' super-cute franchise is running a bit thin these days, and this formulaic fluff doesn't help matters much," Laura Fries at Variety wrote in 1999. "Writers David Kukoff and Matt Roshkow rely on the old switcheroo routine for the crux of the pic, but that's the least of the tired script devices used in this saccharine, whitebread suburban fairy tale that lowers the bar for kid movies just as Disney's 'Annie' raised it."
"Billboard Dad" also failed to impress audiences and critics in 1998.
Audience score: 48%
Summary: The Olsens play two sisters who put up a billboard on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, advertising a date with their widowed father.
Reviews: "Boring movie, bad acting, and a stupid storyline," Paul A. wrote on Rotten Tomatoes in 2011. "There's a lot better movies out there than this so don't even bother watching this one."
"Getting There" in 2002 revolved around the winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Audience score: 49%
Summary: After getting their driver's licenses, the twins' characters decide to take a road trip to Salt Lake City, Utah, for the Olympics. When their car gets stolen, they have to get creative so they can get to the games on time.
Reviews: "So cheesy," Terri H. wrote on Rotten Tomatoes in 2007. "I admit that I laughed at some bits. Very average acting, but not a completely bad teen movie."
"Passport to Paris" in 1999 was another getaway movie for the Olsen twins.
Audience score: 50%
Summary: In "Passport to Paris," Mary-Kate and Ashley's characters are sent to Paris to spend time with their grandfather. They're surprised to learn they have to follow strict rules when living in his house.
Reviews: "Loved this growing up," Lucy W. wrote on Rotten Tomatoes in 2014. "Can't believe I even watched it again now. So cheesy, but then what would you expect?"
The Olsen twins head to Australia in 2000's "Our Lips Are Sealed."
Audience score: 53%
Summary: After the Olsen twins' characters are witnesses to a crime, the FBI sends them to live in Sydney, Australia, as part of the Witness Protection Program. Down under, the two become targets of assassins.
Reviews: "I loved this movie when I was 8, but after watching as an adult the acting is terrible, the storyline has all sorts of holes, and the boy crazy moments are just plain annoying," Sam S. wrote on Rotten Tomatoes in 2012.
In 1994, the Olsens played a couple of cowgirls in "How the West Was Fun."
Audience score: 55%
Summary: The Olsen twins head out west when their late mom's godmother invites them to her dude ranch. When they arrive, they learn the ranch is in danger of being sold, and the twins develop a plan to save it.
Reviews: "Very cute," one person wrote on Amazon in 2006. "Similar to other Olsen movies with a different setting! But still, a great movie to watch."
"Double, Double, Toil and Trouble" is a Halloween-themed movie from 1993.
Audience score: 55%
Summary: In this magical Halloween film, the Olsen twins play sisters who set out to save their family from their evil great aunt.
Reviews: "I enjoyed this as a child and it's an OK kids film," Sophie K. wrote on Rotten Tomatoes in 2011. "Not something amazing or groundbreaking in any way but an easy and love-filled film that tries to teach kids to embrace their differences and celebrate the good points in life."
Audiences also gave 55% to 2001's "Holiday in the Sun."
Audience score: 55%
Summary: When the Olsen twins' characters head to the Bahamas, they are excited to meet friends and enjoy time in the sun. But their beach vacation comes to a halt when they run into artifact smugglers.
Reviews: "This movie is just cute," Michelle F. wrote on Rotten Tomatoes in 2010. "I always loved Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen and I still do. The story of 'Holiday in the Sun' may be a bit silly, but it's fun!"
Audiences think "Winning London" in 2001 is the best Olsen film set in an international country.
Audience score: 56%
Summary: In "Winning London," the twins are sent to London to participate in a Model UN event. Along the way, they make new friends and fall in love.
Reviews: "Mary-Kate and Ashley once again prove that they have what it takes to entertain and win the hearts of viewers of any age," Eric wrote on Amazon in 2001."'Winning London' has a stellar combination of comedy, romance, fun, education, style, and substance. Plus, the scenery is beautiful!"
1992's "To Grandmother's House We Go" was one of the twins' first films together.
Audience score: 59%
Summary: In this movie, the Olsen twins play rambunctious sisters who decide to run away. They accidentally end up in the hands of kidnappers during the holiday season.
Reviews: "Bright colors, silly jokes, and one-dimensional characters inhabit ABC's 'let's put our in-house stars to use' vehicle, 'To Grandmother's House We Go,'" Roberta Bernstein at Variety wrote in 1992. "While somewhat crass for the season, this Christmas spec will amuse the very young."
Audience members seem to agree. "This movie was just as good as I remember, and I still remembered all the words," Tanya wrote on Amazon in 2020. "My 10-year-old son watched it with me, and I was happy that he enjoyed it just as much as I did."
In 2003, the Olsen twins starred in "The Challenge."
Audience score: 60%
Summary: Two estranged sisters accidentally apply for the same TV game show, and a producer takes advantage of the rift.
Reviews: "I'm a huge Mary-Kate and Ashley fan so I loved this movie," Juliana Diaz wrote on Amazon in 2014. "If you like reality TV shows with physically challenging feats then you'll like this."
In 1995, "It Takes Two" was the Olsen twins' first theatrical release, and it has become their top-rated movie.
Audience score: 60%
Critics Score: 8%
Summary: When an orphan meets a rich boarding school girl who looks exactly like her, the two decide to switch places and trick the adults.
Reviews: "There was a germ of a good movie in 'It Takes Two' that simply got bogged down in plot, reducing its cast to predictable caricatures and the movie to forgettable family fodder," Leonard Klady wrote in Variety in 1995, but audiences don't seem to agree with the critique.
"I absolutely love this movie," Morgie P. wrote on Rotten Tomatoes in 2019. "The characters are relatable and funny, and it brings the nostalgia of summer camps for anyone who has ever gone. It even makes you wish you were a child again."
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