Ten Alternatives to Disney's Live-Action Remakes

Disney's live-action remakes have become a problem over the past decade that have cheapened the classic status of their animated princess movies. The recent announcement of adding Tangled to the roster further solidifies their status as a has-been company trying to bank off its former glory. If you prefer live-action movies over animation, there is nothing wrong with that. However, wouldn't you want to watch a live-action movie that does something new and original rather than a lifeless carbon copy of a previously animated story? If so, this is the post for you. Here are ten suggestions for alternative movies that are comparable to the live-action remakes current and upcoming Disney Princess movies that are more original and visually engaging than their copycat counterparts.


Alternative to Once Upon a Time: The 10th Kingdom

Once Upon a Time started out as an intriguing concept that introduced original fairy tale characters who were trapped in the real world, but it devolved into a marketing ploy for Disney to show off as many watered-down counterparts of well-known Disney characters as possible. Over a decade earlier, NBC used the same concept for their five-part TV miniseries, The 10th Kingdom, combining public domain fairy tale characters with engaging protagonists from modern-day New York City for all kinds of adventures, romance, and magical mayhem.


Alternative to Alice in Wonderland: Enchanted

Enchanted also featured fairy tales merging with modern-day New York City, but in this case, Giselle, from the fairy tale kingdom of Andalasia, falls down the metaphorical "rabbit hole" into the real world. Although both Alice in Wonderland and Enchanted were produced by Disney, Enchanted tells an original story inspired by classic Disney Princess characters of the past. It drew inspiration from the animation and music of these stories and gave the characters a chance to grow in the real world instead of turning them into two-dimensional archetypes.


Alternative to Cinderella: Ever After

This classic live-action "Cinderella" retelling is famous for adapting the story in a unique way that doesn't use magic to get the princess to the ball. Instead of a Fairy Godmother, Danielle wins over the prince with her wit and charm. She also gets some help from a famous historical artist, Leonardo da Vinci. The scene where she says "Just breathe" in her fairy princess costume is one of the most iconic in cinematic history. This beloved film even inspired a short-lived musical that could have been fierce competition for the other Cinderella musicals that flopped last year if had made it to Broadway.


Alternative to Tangled: Princess

Disney has not remade Tangled yet, but they are in talks to do so soon. Before the iconic Rapunzel discovered the magical healing properties of her hair, Disney released a made-for-TV movie about another princess with mysterious healing powers. Princess served as an homage to the classic feminine archetype with some subtle Disney-inspired gowns and featured a girl who was chosen to heal fantastical beings from another world. Although it suffered from some of the usual TV movie issues, it had a lot more heart than the average Disney remake.


Alternative to Beauty and the Beast: Pan's Labyrinth

Fans of "Beauty and the Beast" love gothic fantasy, and Pan's Labyrinth has it in droves. A little girl named Ofelia discovers an enchanted realm where she is given a magic storybook to after learning that she might be their lost princess. This movie is not for the faint of heart as it contains some dark and disturbing imagery, but it is wholly unique and does not feel derivative in any aspect. The ending is bittersweet in the style of the original fairy tales really makes you think. It makes a lot of bold moves that, while not necessarily appropriate for kids, can be appreciated by older fairy tale fans.


Alternative to Snow White: Mirror Mirror

With all the controversy surrounding the remake of the first animated feature of all time, many are opting not to bother seeing it in theaters. A viable alternative for a creative retelling of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" is Mirror Mirror, a romantic comedy that remains true to the story's essence. Snow White has a "meet cute" with the prince after a robbery. The "cougar" queen has a magic mirror that doubles as a portal to another world, and the dwarfs teach Snow self defense. In a bold twist, the infamous apple doesn't even appear until after the events of the story have already been resolved.


Alternative to The Little Mermaid: The King's Daughter

The year before Halle Bailey took on the role of Ariel, another mermaid-themed fairy tale quietly completed its long journey the big screen. The King's Daughter tells an original story about a headstrong young woman whose world turns upside-down when she receives an invitation from the King of Versailles to move into the castle where she discovers a mermaid prisoner in its dungeon. Beautifully shot on location, this movie is filled with romance enchantment. Though it is not a literal retelling of "The Little Mermaid," it contains similar themes of freedom and sacrifice.


Alternative to Aladdin: A Little Princess

This one may be a bit of a stretch, but the 1995 classic, A Little Princess, contains similar themes to Aladdin. Both protagonists struggle through difficult times after losing their parents. However, they never allow these hardships to deter their confidence in themselves, and good fortune eventually finds them again. A Little Princess also contains footage of middle eastern fantasy kingdoms that are revealed through the stories that Sara tells to the other girls at the school. Although Sara is too young for romance, it is a wonderful representation of father/daughter love.


Alternative to Maleficent: The Curse of Sleeping Beauty

Maleficent is, in  my opinion, the only remake that Disney actually got right. By reimagining the story from a new perspective, they managed to create something refreshing and new while still drawing inspiration from their animated film. That said, if this villainous adaptation is still not dark enough for you, there is The Curse of Sleeping Beauty, a horror movie that subverts expectations and twists the classic tale into a nightmare from which there is no waking up. This niche trend of horror fairy tale adaptations also inspired a twisted version of The Little Mermaid that came out last year.


Alternative to Mulan: The Princess

Looking for a princess who kicks butt? Look no further than Hulu's The Princess, which embodies the same themes as Disney's Mulan remake with actors who can actually act and writing that packs a punch. Joey King stars as a young monarch who wishes to bring her family honor by taking back her father's kingdom after it was stolen by a brutal tyrant who forced her hand in marriage. She desires to prove to her father that she can be just as useful as any knight and trains in secret under the guidance of a female warrior who works at the castle.

I have always dreamed of being a writer and creating the next great fairy tale princess heroine. Princesses inspire us to be our best selves. While you're here, feel free to follow my page on Facebook, subscribe to my YouTube channel, and check out my books. I'm also on Instagram and Twitter.

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