Ten Live-Action Cinderella Movies Ranked
If there's one fairy tale that's been adapted more times than most people can count, it's "Cinderella." This timeless rags-to-riches story has even more film adaptations than "Snow White," and that's not even counting books, musicals, television, and other media! Therefore, I thought it would be fun to rank ten different movie interpretations of the beloved tale, including some you might not be familiar with. In fact, I just learned about my number ten spot earlier this week! As always, my rankings are subjective and may change based on my mood, so don't take them too seriously if you don't agree with all of them.
10. The Glass Slipper (1955)
The Glass Slipper is a lesser-known Cinderella adaptation, and for a good reason. This film lacks many of the qualities that make Cinderella movies great. There's one mediocre song, and the main actress was cast more for her ballet abilities than for her acting. This version of Ella is not very likable. She's rebellious, flighty, and self-centered. She is most similar to the Andrew Lloyd Webber version of the character, but even that one came off as more sympathetic. The movie doesn't have any magic outside of a cheap special effect at the end, making the stakes of leaving the ball by midnight much lower. It has a couple of vintage fantasy sequences showing off the actress's ballet skills, which are nice, but don't add much to the main plot. The only truly remarkable thing about this adaptation is the gorgeous white gown covered in pink rosettes and crystals.
9. Russian Cinderella (1947)
The Russian version of Cinderella is possibly the most generic by-the-book adaptation out there. However, having been made in 1947, it does predate most of the more popular versions, including Disney's, so it wouldn't be fair to deduct points for lack of originality. Still, nothing about this movie particularly stands out from any other Cinderella film. All the classic elements are there. She does chores for her step-family, meets a fairy godmother, gets a magic dress, dances with a prince, and runs away before midnight. It just feels like you're going through the motions if you've already seen the adaptations that came later.
8. A Cinderella Story (2004)
Hilary Duff's Cinderella romcom came out at just the right time for the influx of romantic comedies released in 2004, including the next movie on this list. It stands out from other Cinderella films due to the modern setting and the alteration of losing a cell phone at the ball instead of a glass slipper. Aside from that, the movie is somewhat forgettable with generic characters and bland acting that blends in with many similar films from the time period. Still, it launched an impressive franchise of follow-up successors that helped boost the careers of many other teen pop stars, so you have to give it some props for that.
7. Ella Enchanted (2004)
Girls who grew up in the '90s don't always agree on everything, but those of us who read Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine can agree that the film adaptation with Anne Hathaway was a disappointment. It isn't that it was a bad movie. It's just that it changed so many of the things we loved about the book that it was difficult to look past it. The decision to add plot points from Hamlet seemed out of place when there was already so much to work with in the novel, and the pop song interludes were a bit awkward. Still, this film stands out on account of being based on a novel that was already quite different from the original fairy tale. The fantasy world where it takes place is a lot of fun and contains more magic than most Cinderella adaptations. Plus, the acting is phenomenal, and it's a cute romcom if you don't try to compare it to the book.
6. Disney's Live-Action Cinderella (2015)
A lot of people think that Disney's live-action remake is the best adaptation out there, and I can't help but disagree with that. It's a good movie, sure, but the best? For one thing, it isn't a musical. I think Cinderella is always the strongest when it includes songs. The dress is lovely, but without the iconic peplums from Disney's animated adaptation, it looks like it's missing something, no matter how many hundreds of layers of fabric they added to the skirt. Lily James was the perfect choice for this beloved character, and her performance is outstanding. This version also does a good job at developing her relationship with the prince before the ball, but then again, so did many others on this list.
5. Amazon Prime's Cinderella (2021)
Some might think it's criminal to rank Amazon Prime's Cinderella above the Disney one, but I have to give it props for being a musical, even if they went the lazy route of using pop songs instead of original ones. This movie also has a lot of unique things going for it and feels like something that could have only been made in the 2020s. By giving her a motivation to become a fashion designer, Cinderella's desire to attend the ball becomes more of a personal ambition rather than a desire for a night off. I liked how supportive the prince was of her dreams and that he had a sister who wanted to improve the kingdom. The addition of a nonbinary fairy godmother was also one-of-a-kind.
4. Ever After (1998)
Ever After is such a staple of the '90s. Drew Barrymore brought something authentic and unique to the Cinderella archetype in her role as Danielle. Her forthright nature helped the prince see through stereotypes and classism, and the movie's lack of fantasy worked for it rather than against it because the historical world was so grounded. The iconic winged dress is so memorable that no other Cinderella dress has ever tried to compete with it. The movie even inspired a short-lived musical that hasn't gotten much public attention. It's also the only one to use a famous historical figure as the Fairy Godmother character by having Danielle form an unlikely friendship with the legendary Leonardo da Vinci.
3. Three Wishes for Cinderella (1973)
Three Wishes for Cinderella was part of Czechoslovakia's massive fairy tale era in the '60s and '70s and is probably their strongest film from that era. This adaptation stands apart from other versions of "Cinderella" with a magic branch containing three wish-granting acorns and a unique setting for the ball. This is the only adaptation where Cinderella gets to know the prince before the ball by disguising herself as a man and joining him on a hunting trip. Her playful nature at the end of the film, by requiring the prince to solve a riddle, was an inspired twist. An attempt was made to remake the film in 2021 in Scandinavia, but it couldn't compare to the original.
2. The Slipper and the Rose (1970)
The Slipper and the Rose is a lesser-known Cinderella movie, which is a shame because it's one of the best ones out there. A lengthy musical with tons of original songs, this British adaptation takes no shortcuts with its extravagant colonial fashions and inspired plot twists. The most notable part of the film is its surprising break into the third act, in which Cinderella is sent away due to being a commoner and hidden from the prince so he can find a more suitable candidate for the throne. This leads to the gorgeous and haunting melody of "Tell Him Anything," a tragic ballad in which Cinderella attempts to protect the prince's heart by painting herself as the villain, which quickly became a staple of the film.
1. Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella (1957, 1965, and 1997)
Do you have a favorite Cinderella adaptation? Let me know in the comments!
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