Maid in Manhattan

Maid in Manhattan is a 2002 American romantic comedy drama film directed by Wayne Wang and based on a story by John Hughes, who is credited using a pseudonym. It stars Jennifer Lopez, Ralph Fiennes, and Natasha Richardson. In the film, a hotel maid and a high-profile politician fall in love. The film was released on December 13, 2002, by Sony Pictures Releasing and was a box office success, grossing $154.9 million against its $55 million budget, while receiving mixed reviews.

Marisa Ventura, a single mother raising her son Ty, works as a maid at the Beresford Hotel in Manhattan. When not in school, Ty spends time with Marisa's fellow hotel workers, who think she can be promoted to management.

While Marisa and her co-worker Stephanie are cleaning the room of socialite Caroline Lane, Stephanie convinces Marisa to try on an expensive Dolce & Gabbana coat. Lane had previously asked for it to be returned to the store, and Stephanie argues that it "technically" does not belong to anyone. Elsewhere in the hotel, Ty befriends senatorial candidate Christopher "Chris" Marshall, who he learns has an interest in Richard Nixon, the subject of his school project.

Ty wants to go with Chris to walk his dog, and the pair go to Caroline's room to ask Marisa for permission. Chris meets Marisa, who is still wearing that designer coat and is instantly smitten with her. Not knowing that she is a maid, he assumes she is Caroline. The trio spend some time together at the park. Though Marisa and Chris are attracted to each other, she is terrified that management will find out about the ruse and makes it a point to avoid him afterward.

Chris asks the hotel's head butler, Lionel Bloch, to invite "Caroline Lane" to lunch but is confused when Caroline shows up instead of Marisa. When she receives the invitation, Marisa is present and even advises Caroline on what to wear for their "lunch à deux." When Caroline shows up, Chris asks his assistant Jerry Siegal to find "the other Caroline Lane." He promises to attend an important dinner and wishes her to accompany him. Jerry asks Lionel to find her.

Lionel, who has figured out that Marisa is the woman Chris has been looking for, tells her to go to the dinner and end the affair swiftly if she wants a future in hotel management. Stephanie and the hotel staff assist her in preparing for the evening by styling her hair and loaning her an expensive dress and a spectacular necklace.

Marisa is unable to end the affair, so she spends the night in Chris's hotel room. The following day, Caroline and her friend spot Marisa leaving his room. Caroline blurts out the truth to the hotel management, and Marisa is fired in front of Chris in Lane's hotel suite. Marisa and Chris spend time apart, with him still thinking about her. Marisa is also hounded by the media and her disapproving mother, Veronica.

Sometime later, Marisa secures another job as a maid at another hotel. Chris is giving a news conference at the same hotel. Ty attends it and asks Chris whether people should be forgiven if they make mistakes, referencing former President of the United States Richard Nixon. Ty leads him to the staff room, where Marisa is having her break. Chris and Marisa are reunited, and the film ends with images of publications showing that Chris has been elected and he and Marisa are still together after a year. Marisa and her maid friends have been promoted to management.