(Photo by Disney/Courtesy Everett Collection. SNOW WHITE.)
The latest: Disney draws from its deepest feature-length well with Snow White, starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot.
Disney Princesses! The stars of many Disney animated and live-action films, and the characters that many children want to dress up as for Halloween and want to meet at Disney theme parks and on Disney cruises. Who wouldn’t want to aspire to that fairy tale life and either get swept away by a handsome prince or stay defiantly single? These princesses make a difference in the lives of children and provide excellent parent-approved role models.
Before we dive into our Tomatometer rankings of all the Disney Princess films (including those that had theatrical releases and those that went straight to video) it’s important to define who Disney considers to be an official Disney Princess, at least for now. New princesses get added once every several years, sometimes even with an official coronation ceremony.
To be a Disney Princess, the character must be female, a human, and be a lead or co-lead in their own Disney film that isn’t a sequel. A Disney Princess must be heroic, but does not actually have to be royalty, as Mulan is not (she has her eye on Captain Li Shang of the common soldiery).
As of now, there are 13 official Disney princesses:
You’ll notice that the first 12 of these had several memorable and very funny scenes with Vanellope von Schweetz in Ralph Breaks the Internet, plus Anna and Elsa from Frozen, who are honorary but not official Disney Princesses. Ralph Breaks the Internet precedes Raya and the Last Dragon, so Raya was not among this group. Also, Vanellope herself, though she rules Sugar Rush, is not considered an official Disney Princess.
Also missing from this official list are characters like Mirabel Madrigal from Encanto, Giselle from Enchanted, and Jane from Tarzan. Many jokesters out there will point out that since Disney’s acquisition of Fox, characters ranging from Deadpool to Dr. Frank-n-Furter should count in this list, but so far, Disney does not agree.
Here, then, are the Disney Princess films, ranked by Tomatometer, in descending order of critical acclaim. No surprise that Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs leads things off, as it’s considered one of the greatest animated movies ever created, nearly a century later. Aladdin follows Snow White, though its co-star Jasmine would get more agency, and a song to herself, in the live-action remake. Closely behind is Moana, the first CGI animated film on the list and the first one buoyed by Lin-Manuel Miranda music.
Two more after Moana: Beauty and the Beast, part of the Disney animated renaissance of the 1990s, and another classic Golden Age Disney animated feature, Cinderella.
Rounding out the top 10 are the rousing and adventurous Raya and the Last Dragon, featuring the newest Disney Princess and one of the only non-musicals on the list; the dramatic and historical Mulan; the instant classic The Little Mermaid, and a pair of underrated classics from different eras: Sleeping Beauty and Tangled.–Steve Horton
#1
Critics Consensus: With its involving story and characters, vibrant art, and memorable songs, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs set the animation standard for decades to come.
#2
Critics Consensus: A highly entertaining entry in Disney’s renaissance era,” Aladdin is beautifully drawn, with near-classic songs and a cast of scene-stealing characters.
#3
Critics Consensus: With a title character as three-dimensional as its lush animation and a story that adds fresh depth to Disney’s time-tested formula, Moana is truly a family-friendly adventure for the ages.
#4
Critics Consensus: Enchanting, sweepingly romantic, and featuring plenty of wonderful musical numbers, Beauty and the Beast is one of Disney’s most elegant animated offerings.
#5
Critics Consensus: The rich colors, sweet songs, adorable mice and endearing (if suffering) heroine make Cinderella a nostalgically lovely charmer.
#6
Critics Consensus: Another gorgeously animated, skillfully voiced entry in the Disney canon, Raya and the Last Dragon continues the studio’s increased representation while reaffirming that its classic formula is just as reliable as ever.
#7
Critics Consensus: Exploring themes of family duty and honor, Mulan breaks new ground as a Disney film while still bringing vibrant animation and sprightly characters to the screen.
#8
Critics Consensus: The Little Mermaid ushered in a new golden era for Disney animation with warm and charming hand-drawn characters and catchy musical sequences.
#9
Critics Consensus: This Disney dreamscape contains moments of grandeur, with its lush colors, magical air, one of the most menacing villains in the Disney canon.
#10
Critics Consensus: While far from Disney’s greatest film, Tangled is a visually stunning, thoroughly entertaining addition to the studio’s classic animated canon.
#11
Critics Consensus: The warmth of traditional Disney animation makes this occasionally lightweight fairy-tale update a lively and captivating confection for the holidays.
#12
Critics Consensus: Refreshingly traditional in a revisionist era, Kenneth Branagh’s Cinderella proves Disney hasn’t lost any of its old-fashioned magic.
#13
Critics Consensus: Brave offers young audiences and fairy tale fans a rousing, funny fantasy adventure with a distaff twist and surprising depth.
#14
Critics Consensus: It could have told its classic story with greater depth, but the live-action Mulan is a visual marvel that serves as a stirring update to its animated predecessor.
#15
Critics Consensus: With an enchanting cast, beautifully crafted songs, and a painterly eye for detail, Beauty and the Beast offers a faithful yet fresh retelling that honors its beloved source material.
#16
Critics Consensus: With Halle Bailey making a major splash in the title role, Disney’s live-action Little Mermaid ranks among the studio’s most enjoyable reimaginings.
#17
Critics Consensus: Riding high on a wave of stunning animation even when its story runs adrift, Moana 2 isn’t as inspired as the original but still delights as a colorful adventure.
#18
Critics Consensus: Pocahontas means well, and has moments of startling beauty, but it’s largely a bland, uninspired effort, with uneven plotting and an unfortunate lack of fun.
#19
Critics Consensus: Aladdin retells its classic source material’s story with sufficient spectacle and skill, even if it never approaches the dazzling splendor of the animated original.
#20
Critics Consensus: Snow White is hardly a grumpy time at the movies thanks to Rachel Zegler’s luminous star turn, but its bashful treatment of the source material along with some dopey stylistic choices won’t make everyone happy, either.
#21
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#22
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#23
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#24
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#25
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.