<Tr> <Th> Budget </Th> <Td> $15 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Box office </Th> <Td> $75.7 million </Td> </Tr> <P> Diary of a Wimpy Kid (sometimes known as DOAWK, Diary of a Wimpy Kid 1 or Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Movie) is a 2010 American live - action / animated comedy film directed by Thor Freudenthal and based on Jeff Kinney's book of the same name . The film stars Zachary Gordon and Devon Bostick . Robert Capron, Rachael Harris, Steve Zahn, and Chloë Grace Moretz also have prominent roles . It is the first film in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid film series, and was followed by three sequels, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2011), Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (2012) and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul (2017). The film earned $75.7 million on a $15 million budget . It is the only film in the series to be directed by Freudenthal, who was replaced by David Bowers for the rest of the installments . The film was theatrically released on March 19, 2010 in the United States by 20th Century Fox . </P> <P> The film starts with Rodrick waking up his brother Greg, saying it is time for school . However, Rodrick tricks Greg, as it is already night . After the title sequence, Greg attends his first day at middle school and discovers the ups and downs, such as the missing stall doors in the boys' bathroom and the difficulties of obtaining a seat during lunch break . During P.E. lessons, he and his best friend Rowley escape from a game of Gladiator and learn about the Cheese Touch - a rotten piece of cheese on the basketball court that makes anyone who touches it an outcast . Greg also meets Angie, a girl who isolates herself from the other girls to survive . Greg states his intention of becoming the most popular student in school . </P>

When did the first diary of a wimpy kid movie come out