The Freaky Friday franchise consists of American family comedies, including the original film, a television film adaptation, the film remake and a sequel to that film, and a stage musical and a film adaptation of that stage production. The franchise as a whole centers around body swapping between parents and their children, who initially find they cannot agree on anything. Over the course of each respective installment, they individually find that they have respect for each other and they gain a better understanding of the other person.

The original 1976 film was met with mixed reviews. The 1995 television film adaptation was poorly received, by critics and viewers alike. The 2003 theatrical remake and its 2025 sequel were met with positive reviews. Despite the negative reception to the stage musical, its 2018 Disney Channel movie adaptation received positive reviews from critics. The theatrical installments fared well at the box office, earning a profit for Disney.

The 1972 American children's book authored by Mary Rodgers was released by Harper & Row publishing. A hardheaded teenage girl named Annabel Andrews who is often misaligned with her mother, believes that her mother has the most ideal life. She frequently wishes she had as much freedom. One morning she awakens to find that she is now her mom. In her new role, she must handle the peskiness of her younger brother Benjamin, and complete the daily responsibilities as matriarch of the family. Though she searches for her own body, she cannot find her. Through the events of the day, to her surprise she learns that her brother actually idolizes her. Soon she becomes overwhelmed with responsibility and discovers that Ben has gone missing. While in the body of her mother, she also learns that Boris Harris, the handsome and charming young gentleman she has a crush on, likes her back. Frantically she begins looking for her brother, with neighbors reporting that he left the house to get ice cream with a "teenage beauty".

By the end of the day, her mother returns in the body of Annabel—albeit with a makeover—and reveals that she inexplicably caused the body-swapping scenario. She hadn't really been missing, as she had gone to her scheduled orthodontics appointment to have her braces removed, an event that had slipped Annabel's own mind, while Ben followed along with her. Annabel learns that her mother cherishes their relationship, sees her as beautiful (as evidenced by the makeover), and learns that she needs to be more punctual and responsible than she has been.

The author wrote two direct sequels titled A Freaky Friday Story: A Billion for Boris (Also Known as ESP TV) published in 1974, and Summer Switch: A Freaky Friday Story published in 1982. In A Billion for Boris, things are back to normal for the Andrews family. After Ben repairs a used television that he purchased from Boris, it inexplicably begins showing footage from the future. As Anabel discovers this anomaly she ventures to use its new abilities similar to ESP to help other people, while Boris seeks to use it for personal gain. In Summer Switch, the Anders family once again finds themselves in a body-swap situation. Years later when Ben is a young teenager, he offhandedly wishes he could live life like his business executive father, while begrudgingly getting on a school bus headed for summer camp. As he struggles through a day at the office, his dad is forced to be involved with the camp activities. The duo work through their days, all while hoping to regain their natural bodies. Additionally, Rogers co-wrote a thematic sequel novel with the 2003 feature film screenwriter Heather Hach titled Freaky Monday published in 2009 by HarperCollins Publishers LLC. The premise though similar, follows different characters: a schedule and order-oriented student named Hadley, and a spontaneous laid-back teacher named Ms. Pitt. When the pair of them inexplicably switch bodies they seek for an instant resolution, but through the process acquire a respect for each other, and an understanding that change is progress.

Ellen and Annabel Andrews are a mother-daughter duo that are constantly at odds with each other. After a particular quarrel, Annabel heads out for a Thursday night with her friends. As they go about their respective evenings, and with a Friday the 13th beginning in frustration they both vocalize: "I wish I could switch places with her for just one day." By inexplicable magic, the conscious personalities of each swaps bodies.

Ellen, now in Annabel's teenage body, attends high school trying her best to imitate her daughter. Over the course of the day she feigns at marching band practice, struggles through the classes, is unsuccessful at waterskiing, and contributes to her field hockey team's loss. As she struggles through the day, she begins to realize that there's more to the student life than she had remembered. Meanwhile, Annabel spending the day in Ellen's middle-aged body, proceeds to try her hand at mimicking the everyday housewife responsibilities of her mom's including laundry, car repairs, grocery shopping, carpet cleaning, dry cleaning, and taking care of her younger brother Ben. As they begin to interact more often, she comes to realize that he has always looked up to her as his sister. When she is tasked by Bill, Ellen's husband and Annabel's father, with cooking a meal for a large formal dinner she begins to realize how much she appreciates her mother. Together they search for a way to reverse the effects of their wish.

Ellen Andrews and her daughter Annabelle have differing opinions on everything. They seldom get along, and find that they are often at odds with each other. When they both receive antique amulets, unbeknownst to them the objects have mystic properties and cause their conscious-selves to trade bodies. Ellen now in her teenage daughter's body, navigates the difficulties peers at high school. As she lives through the day as Annabelle, she comes to find that her daughter's life isn't as simple as it seemed. Meanwhile, Annabelle assumes the role of her mother as a successful business woman at a clothing design company, as well as enduring the romantic gestures of her mother's fiancé. As the pair come to a mutual understanding and respect for each other, they work to regain their true bodies.