One of Disney's most profitable brands has been its princess line. It makes sense as Snow White and the Seven Dwarves was the company's first animated feature film and helped build the company into what audiences know today. When audiences think of Disney, they think of princesses and fairy tales. Throughout the company's history, they have continued to introduce new Disney princesses to its lineup, and the brand is so iconic the prospect of them all appearing together was a significant selling point of Ralph Breaks the Internet.
While Disney had experimented with live-action remakes of their animated films in the 1990s, the trend really took off in the 2010s following Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, making $1 billion at the worldwide box office. Since then, the company has remade many of its animated classics, with much emphasis placed on the films of the Disney princess line. This is done both to cash in on audience nostalgia and also for Disney to correct and fix some issues with the films that may not have aged well.
Updated July 28, 2023: In honor of the release of The Little Mermaid, this article has been updated with a new entry and additional info on the live adaptations.
Disney certainly isn't slowing down. In 2024, West Side Story star Rachael Zegler will star in Snow White. Disney also recently announced their plans for a live-action remake of Moana which is set for release on June 27, 2025. It now appears to be only a matter of time until live-action remakes of Tangled, Frozen, and Raya and the Last Dragon are announced. With that in mind, here is every Disney princess live-action movie ranked.
9 Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019)
The follow-up to Maleficent, released a full five years after, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil fails to live up to its predecessor in pretty much every way. Using the technique of making Maleficent, the villain from the original Sleeping Beauty, more relatable and sympathetic, this story sees the eponymous character face the neighboring kingdom's manipulated perception of herself as a villain, in addition to a rather underdeveloped subplot regarding the rise of an endangered, powerful fairy race known as the Dark Fey.
The princess in this movie, Aurora, is now actually a Queen, and although she gets a fair bit of screen time, her character sees very little development from what we already know about her. The plot development of the main villain being a queen who wishes to commit genocide on fairies is certainly a bold take for Disney, yet one that doesn't quite live up to its potential. However, it is visually stunning, and an impressive ensemble cast does make the most of what they've got to work with. It is also worth noting it is probably better than most of the direct-to-video sequels Disney cranked out in the 1990s and 2000s, but at least those had the excuse of a small budget.
As for Maleficent 3, there is no official news regarding a new film. The two stars, Elle Fanning and Angelina Jolie, still seem to be willing to return as their beloved characters and impress their fans with some more magical action.
8 Aladdin (2019)
There is no denying that Aladdin is a beautiful movie; the choreography, set design, and colorful cinematography are stunning. Despite a lot of initial concerns due to early leaked character designs and comparisons to the late Robin Williams' iconic take on the character, Will Smith actually manages to defy expectations and really shines as the Genie, making it his own while still providing fans with exactly what they want from a big blue magic genie.
Unfortunately, much of Aladdin feels more like a stage show version of the classic animated film, with the viewer thinking back to the fond memories of the original. There is a little extra screen time given to Princess Jasmine in an attempt to further develop her character, including an additional but forgettable musical number whose modern sensibilities, trying to be like Frozen's 'Let It Go,' clash with the original film's music.
While the expanded second act playing up the romantic comedy angle is an inspired choice, nothing else really differentiates this version from the original animated feature, which is already a near-perfect film. While it is by no means a bad movie, it just all seems rather pointless, especially to those of us who remember the original Aladdin release in our lifetime. Perhaps Disney would do better remaking some of their animated gems that have gone underappreciated for far too long.
7 Mulan (2020)
Originally intended for theatrical release, Mulan was released on Disney+ due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a retelling of the 1998 animated feature of the same name and takes place in China during the Han dynasty, where Fa Mulan, daughter of aged warrior Fa Zhou, impersonates a man to take her father's place during a general conscription to counter a Hun invasion.
Fans of the animation had high expectations since the original Mulan offers multiple characters or other aspects to fall in love with. Despite being an epic and thrilling romp, Mulan suffers from the exact opposite problem of the 2019 Aladdin — it strays too much from what made the original so enjoyable. By removing the comic relief, which was provided by Eddie Murphy as the petite dragon sidekick Mushu, and iconic songs, it now seems devoid of the humor and fun which made the original so enjoyable. While admirable to aim for a different genre and approach to the story, it feels like a half-measure in some respects. The movie highlights female empowerment and aims to show a woman's success on a battlefield, but Mulan longs for even deeper storytelling and feminist aspects. The foundation for an exciting, vibrant, and entertaining story is there, but Disney has to spend more time on really implementing such emotions.
6 Maleficent (2014)
Maleficent is a live-action retelling of Walt Disney's classic animated film Sleeping Beauty and portrays the story from the perspective of the so-called villain and eponymous antagonist, depicting her conflicted relationship with the king and princess of a corrupt kingdom. It was a fantastically interesting choice to show it from Maleficent's point of view, allowing for greater character development to the rather evil representation of her in the original animation. Here she is given a compelling character arc that humanizes her. While this decision does take away from one element that fans loved about the original character in that she was the Mistress of All Evil, this new telling stands on its own.
The film also shifts the dynamic between Maleficent and Princess Aurora, now played as a more mother/daughter dynamic. While some important themes of family and feminism are touched upon, it doesn't seem like they are ever really fully utilized to their full potential. The relationship between Maleficent and Aurora is what carries the foundation of the adaptation, and further exploration could have provided even stronger emotional confusion as well as distress. The film did receive a little backlash for the overuse of CGI and FX, but the concept was refreshing and paved the way for the (superior) 'villain' focused film Cruella, released seven years later.
5 Disenchanted (2022)
Is adding Disenchanted a cheat? The original Enchanted was a send-up of Disney princess movies and is also on this list, so it makes sense to include its 2022 sequel. Disenchanted may not be as iconic as the original and arrived 15 years later, but it is still an entertaining take on many Disney troupes. This time the emphasis is put on the Wicked Step Mother troupe that is present in Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and Cinderella.
Disenchanted makes for an interesting examination of what happens to a princess after the happily ever after. It also digs into what makes a princess a princess and breaks away from the convention that royal blood determines her status. Amy Adams, who returns as Princess Giselle, manages to spice the movie up with her wit, but the overall lack of magic still slightly disappoints fans. Nevertheless, Disenchanted takes the audience right back into Giselle's action-filled life and allows them to join her on her path once again.
4 Beauty and the Beast (2017)
Like Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast manages to keep most of the original elements that made the classic animated feature so beloved, only this time around, they've stepped up the character development even further. Belle, who has always been among the greatest princesses, as she is smart, loyal, brave, compassionate, and she values education, has finally been fully fleshed out to reach her potential as the iconic princess and role model for young girls she deserves to be. She's a far more empowered heroine here.
The changes are made through a number of subtle and nuanced differences, like how this time round, Belle is the inventor and not merely an assistant to her father. She is portrayed as an innovator and trendsetter and is even shown at one point to be teaching a young girl to read. Then there's the hilarious but poignant end quip, as Belle gazes upon her handsome newly transformed Prince, she asks, “How would you feel about growing a beard?” The cinematography, score, costumes, and performances are all fantastic, and it stands as one of Disney's most successful films at the box office.
3 The Little Mermaid (2023)
Next on the list is Disney's latest and, needless to say, highly anticipated project, The Little Mermaid. The live-action adaptation of the beloved animation had to live up to monumental expectations and huge pressure. The movie tells the story of Princess Ariel, who lives in a vibrant kingdom in the depths of the ocean. While her life there seems colorful and energetic, she wants to experience life outside of her day-to-day restrictions, especially after she rescues a man from drowning. Against her father's approval, she tries everything to fulfill her dream of reuniting with the man from the mainland, Prince Eric.
The movie is very much true to the original story with only minor changes while still allowing for a deeper look into the characters' minds and a meaningful journey of growth. The rather successful implementation of this project was possible thanks to the star-studded and also diverse cast. Starting with the wonderful Halle Bailey, who steps into the role of Ariel and delivers a fantastic performance on screen. She manages to effortlessly portray the princess' spirit and pulls the audience right into the magical waters by soothing their minds with her marvelous singing voice. The actress delivers a young girl's lighthearted curiosity as well as a blossoming woman's confidence, which makes her feel relatable to many viewers. While Bailey plays the protagonist in the movie and really steps up to the task, it is also the cast of side characters that deliver remarkable performances. Reaching from world-famous Melissa McCarthy (Ursula) to Awkwafina (Scuttle) or Javier Bardem (King Triton), each of them adds their familiar spice to their role and elevates it even more.
The Little Mermaid manages to convince its audience with character development and thought-out interactions, but it still lacks in a different aspect. The desire for a successful portrayal of the live adaptation's underwater world wasn't necessarily met, as, for the most part, the visuals of the movie need a lot more authenticity to it. The production fails to truly convey the feeling of being engulfed by the deep ocean and has fans longing for an impressive, visual world such as Pandora in Avatar: The Way of Water.
2 Cinderella (2015)
This 2015 remake of the classic 1950 animated classic really exemplifies what can make these adaptations so enjoyable for audiences of all ages. Cinderella manages to retain all the beauty and magic of the original, and it is faithful enough to the original to flood audiences with feelings of sweet nostalgia. The advancements in technology and film quality are utilized in its presentation to prevent audiences from yearning for that original to the point of ignoring the film they are watching.
The slightly longer run time allows the Prince's character to be further developed and gives the audience a bit of an insight into Cinderella's life before she becomes an orphan. The settings and costumes are beautifully brought to the screen as a storybook comes to life. The cast is perfectly well-suited for their roles. Cate Blanchett and Helena Bonham Carter particularly shine as the Stepmother and the Fairy Godmother, respectively. Lily James truly elevates Cinderella and was an indicator of the strong career she would go on to have. Disney created a beautiful masterpiece that meets the wonders of the original animation and will still be watched many years from now. Overall, the film feels like a Cinderella story without feeling like a copy-and-paste money grab.
1 Enchanted (2007)
Enchanted may be a bit of a cheat, but in all fairness, it is a live-action adaptation that answers the question, "What would happen if you combined all the Disney princesses?" In this fairytale, Giselle (Amy Adams) is a starry-eyed princess who lives in the forest with her animal friends, dreaming that one day her true love will find her. However, when she finds her prince, who she falls in love with after one day (but he is played by James Marsden, so who can blame her?), his evil stepmother is determined to get rid of the princess. She pushes Giselle down a magic well to a place with "no happily ever afters." This place, of course, is New York. Through her journey in New York, she meets Robert (Patrick Dempsey), who is a practical man, but meeting Giselle changes his life and the life of his daughter for the better.
Enchanted features beautiful costumes, energetic performances, and addictive songs that perfectly capture the heart of the Disney Princess movies. It may just hold the answer to fixing Disney's problem with their live-action remakes. The more recent films have acquired much criticism for making the princesses too bland, pessimistic, and flawless. If girls see that they must be perfect to be good, like their favorite princesses, then they will never be good enough. This is where Enchanted succeeds, where the more recent movies have failed. Giselle is flawed, but she learns. She doesn't hate love but learns how to have a healthy relationship. Much of her charm may be because, despite being a mashup of the other princesses, she is an original. No one can go frame by frame to compare her to her previous iteration, so Disney isn't backed into a corner to make her "better" than she was before.