This week is World Princess Week, so I’m celebrating by ranking the official princesses’ films.
For this list, I am only taking the original films that official Disney Princesses are in. There are currently 13 official princesses, and Ana and Elsa are not included in case you were wondering.
13. Snow White
I respect Snow White for being our first princess ever along with our first Disney full-length animation. But I simply do not enjoy it and find it very dated.
12. The Sleeping Beauty
Aurora is asleep for more than half of the movie, so it isn’t the most princess of Disney films. I also don’t remember much about it, to be honest, so it ranks low for me because of that.
11. Pocahontas
Pocahontas is right where my Disney nostalgia lies, but as I’ve gotten older I’ve learned how problematic this movie really is. The last remaining redeeming factor for me is the music, which is what nudges it up a little bit.
10. Raya and the Last Dragon
Raya is the newest inductee to the official princess club, having formally been announced as one this week actually. In general, I like Raya and the Last Dragon and Raya in particular. But this isn’t Disney’s best by a long shot.
9. Cinderella
I originally had Cinderella lower, but I moved it higher with more thought because I consider Cinderella the quintessential classic princess. She is the rags-to-riches princess and is easily one of Disney’s most iconic. And the movie is pretty good as well and probably the best of the classics in my opinion.
8. The Princess and the Frog
I like Tiana, but Princess and the Frog suffers from the same flaw that Sleeping Beauty does for me, which is I barely remember it. It’s a shame to put the first Black princess this low, but her movie just isn’t up to par with the following films.
7. Aladdin
Jasmine is one of my favorite princesses and Aladdin is a great movie, but when viewing it as a princess movie it is lower for me since it is the only one of these films that does not focus on the princess.
6. The Little Mermaid
As I have gotten older, I have enjoyed The Little Mermaid less, Ariel in particular. I still have nice nostalgia for it and the overall film is a good one, but it has dropped from where it could have been in my youth.
5. Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast is a wonderful film and I like Belle a lot. The main reason it isn’t higher on this list is simply because I like the following films more.
4. Brave
I will die on the hill of reminding everyone that Brave was the first Disney film that focused on familial love, not Frozen. Yes, it is Pixar, but it is all Disney nonetheless. I also think Brave is a more enjoyable movie than Frozen. It doesn’t need the Disney princess formula to be a good princess film, and I greatly appreciate the deviance.
3. Mulan
Mulan is my favorite Disney film and character of them all. So now you’re probably wondering why it isn’t in the number one spot. Well, that is because to me she isn’t a princess. Is she part of Disney’s princess brand? Yes, but in her lore, she is not and is never a princess. That is another hill I’ll die on honestly.
2. Tangled
Tangled gets the award for being the first Disney princess movie to make me cry (happy tears!). I enjoy how this movie plays with the usual tropes, like how Rapunzel doesn’t marry into her princessdom but was actually born in it. We still get a love story, but Flynn isn’t the personality-less Prince Charming. The movie has one of the best villains and some of the best songs. It is the best blend of classic Disney princess and modern sentimentalities.
1. Moana
Moana is a great movie with an amazing female lead that really takes her role as the future chief seriously while also wanting to follow her heart. She re-defined what being a princess means within the Disney canon, and I applaud her for that.
Who is your favorite princess, Disney or otherwise? Tell me who in a comment!
I was very pleased to see Tangled in the top 3 choices. I believe that it truly deserved that spot. I LOVE sitting down after a rough day at work and de-stressing by watching Tangled with my little kiddos.
The GENUINE shock I felt at Mulan being number 3. However, I accept your reasoning. And yes, Moana is a fantastic film.