For decades, the fantasy film genre has been littered with beautiful princesses closely followed by a handsome prince who is after her heart. Whilst some princesses fit the stereotypical “damsel in distress”role, others are tough, fiercely independent and don’t take things lying down. How a princess is seen and perceived may have changed throughout the years, but it doesn’t change the fact that they are all wonderfully unique in their own ways and helped capture the hearts of audiences all around the world. Without further ado, this is a quick look at some of the best princess-based movies that we’ve seen over the years.
Brave
When it comes to strong, independent princesses who can more than handle themselves, Merida is right at the top of the list. Her archery skills are unmatched and with a tongue as sharp as one of her arrows, she has been touted as an excellent role model for young girls. The film itself is wonderful and has an uplifting message that champions improving communication between mothers and daughters (although we would advise against transforming your mum into a bear). All in all, Brave is a fine Disney effort and Merida is the princess we probably didn’t know we needed but the one we definitely deserved.
Maleficent
Maleficent is proof that not all of the greatest princess films are animated and Angelina Jolie certainly shines as a quite horrible witch. Essentially, the film is a reimagining of Disney’s 1959 animated Sleeping Beauty and the success of Maleficent proves that the classic tale surrounding princess Aurora is alive and well. The film rekindled the nation’s love of Sleeping Beauty and catapulted Aurora back into the pop culture scene. Case in point – there’s even a slot game loosely based on the film; users can play Enchanted Prince slot ready for Maleficent 2, which is slated for release in October of this year.
Tangled
In our opinion, we’ve saved the best until last here. The film is action-packed, the plot is pleasantly surprising and, well, it’s a visual masterpiece. From the passive-aggressive Mother Gothel to Maximus, the horse who somehow thinks he is a bloodhound, Tangled will go down as one of Disney’s funniest ever films. In terms of the soundtrack, Mandy Moore knocks it out of the park as Rapunzel and by the second or third watch, we can guarantee you’ll be belting out “Mother Knows Best” and “When Will My Life Begin?”.
We All Want To Be Saved
Maybe not by some strapping prince, but the point still stands. We are looking for that special someone to save us in some way and this is undoubtedly why the aforementioned films are so relatable and successful. Over the years, we’ve seen the dynamic of the princess change dramatically and we can’t wait to see how they will appear on screen 50 years from now.