All 3 Legally Blonde Movies in Order
Legally Blonde is a movie that came out in 2001, directed by Robert Luketic and starring Reese Witherspoon. We follow Elle who just got heartbroken and decided to enroll in the same school as her ex to win him back. This movie became an instant classic, an easy-going, inspiring comedy that will put a smile on your face every time.
A fun fact you may not know about this fashionable franchise is that it was based on the book Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown. The book is based on the writer’s experience at Stanford Law School. And it inspired the original movie, its 2 sequels, and a musical adaptation. And is there also a 3rd sequel coming out this year? For all details, read on.
How Many Legally Blond Movies Are There?
There are 3 Legally Blond movies. The original Legally Blonde movie came out in 2001. The first sequel came out in 2003 called Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde. It starred all the original cast, and it was follow Elle as she builds her career in Washington D.C. The second sequel came out in 2009, named Legally Blondes. This movie was a direct-to-DVD and it doesn’t star Reese Witherspoon, but it is co-produced by her so it is part of this pink franchise. It follows Elle’s British cousin as they attend a private boarding school.
Legally Blonde Movies in Order- At a Glance
As of 2022, there are still 3 movies in the Legally Blond franchise. Two movies focus on the adventures of the titular character, Elle Wood as she first struggles in law school and then when she fights to build her career. The third movie follows Elle’s cousins, who are her younger copies; blond, wear pink, and have chihuahuas as pets.
- Legally Blonde (2001)
- Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003)
- Legally Blondes (2009)
This is the order in which the movies were released. But what is the way to watch the movies regarding the timeline and characters?
What Is the Best Way to Watch Legally Blond movies?
The best way to watch Legally Blond movies is in release order. To be more precise, the first two movies starring Reese Witherspoon are connected and the timeline is important. But the 2009 film, has nothing to do with the rest of the franchise, and only mentions the original character by name.
Legally Blonde Movies in Order- By Release Date
1. Legally Blonde (2001)
Director: Robert Luketic
Writer(s): Karen McCullah Lutz, Kirsten Smith, Amanda Brown
Release Date: July 13, 2001
Running Time: 96 minutes
The first movie in the watch order is the original, Legally Blonde.
Synopsis: Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) has it all. She wants nothing more than to be Mrs. Warner Huntington III. But there is one thing stopping him (Matthew Davis) from proposing: She is too blond. Elle rallies all of her resources and gets into Harvard, determined to win him back.
2. Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003)
Director: Charles Herman-Wurmfeld
Writer(s): Kate Kondell, Eve Ahlert, Dennis Drake, Kate Kondell, Amanda Brown
Release Date: July 2, 2003
Running Time: 94 minutes
Synopsis: Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) journeys to Washington, D.C., to have her say about animal rights, but is ignored by every politician she encounters and quickly learns that the White House can be even tougher to navigate than the Ivy League. Finally, Elle makes the acquaintance of sympathetic Rep. Victoria Rudd (Sally Field), who helps the young lawyer get her foot in the door of Congress. Unfortunately, Elle still has to convince the entire legislature to hear her out.
3. Legally Blondes (2009)
Director: Savage Steve Holland
Writer(s): Chad Gomez Creasey, Dara Resnik Creasey
Release Date: Apr 28, 2009
Running Time: 86 minutes
Synopsis: Spin-off family comedy revolving around the two younger cousins of `Legally Blonde’ heroine, Elle Woods. British twin sisters (Milly Rosso, and Becky Rosso) experience culture shock when they attend school in California. There they upset the dominant social set of their exclusive prep school with their fashion tastes.
Where to Watch Legally Blonde Movies?
The original movie, Legally Blonde (2001), and its sequel, Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003) can be found on Netflix. While the third movie, Legally Blondes can be streamed only by renting it from iTunes, Amazon, Instant Video, and Vudu.
Do You Need To Watch Legally Blonde Movies in Order?
Only Legally Blond (2001) and Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003) have to be watched in order by release because their story follows a timeline, and everything that happens in the first one is influenced by situations in the second one. The third movie in the franchise can be watched separately as it has nothing to do with the original plot, but it is best to see it last because they briefly mention that Elle lives in Washington D.C., which is true after the vents of the second movie.
Are Legally Blonde Movies Connected?
The first two installments are closely connected, and the third one isn’t. In Legally Blonde (2001) we follow Elle as she enrolls in Harvard Law School, struggles with the stigma, and tries to win back her ex and find her confidence. Along the way, she becomes the best student in her year and meets her future husband. Then in the sequel Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003) she uses her law degree to help find and rescue her dog’s mother. And she gets married and establishes her career in Washington D.C. But Legally Blondes is a spin-off story not connected in any way, except they use the same premise, blond girls wearing pink getting judged and bullied but in the end proving to everybody they are more than their looks.
Will There Be More Legally Blonde Movies?
Yes, the movie Legally Blonde 3 is currently in production and it will be released eventually. In 2018 the movie was announced for a 2020 release, but after that, it has undergone many changes and it still hasn’t begun filming. As of May 2020, Mindy Kaling and Dan Goor have been announced as screenwriters. And Kaling confirmed Reese Witherspoon is returning as well. When the pandemic hit it was announced that the movie will be pushed back to May of 2022. But in March 2022, Kaling said that they are taking it slow because they don’t want to ruin the legacy of the franchise.
And that the plot of the movie will tackle questions like “What is Elle Woods like at 42? Does she end up becoming all the things she wanted? How does that personality manifest in a grown woman? Has she become more cynical? Her brightness and her cheerfulness really worked when she was 22, but how has life changed her perspective on things?” The only thing we can say is that the movie sounds amazing, but everything else including the release date is TBD.
