The Disney Princess movies begin with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) and run through Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) when you follow the original films introducing Disney’s 13 official Princess characters.
This is the Disney Princess movie release order, from oldest to newest. I’ve included the release year, the princess introduced in each film, and a separate section explaining where movies such as Frozen and Moana 2 fit.
What Was the First Disney Princess Movie?
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first Disney Princess movie, released in 1937. The film premiered on December 21, 1937, and was Walt Disney’s first full-length animated feature. Snow White is also the first character in the official Disney Princess lineup.
The next Princess film was Cinderella in 1950, followed by Sleeping Beauty in 1959. After that, nearly three decades passed before Ariel arrived in The Little Mermaid (1989).
Disney Princess Movies in Order: Quick List
Here are the 13 original Disney Princess movies in theatrical release order:
| Order | Disney Princess movie | Release year | Princess |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | 1937 | Snow White |
| 2 | Cinderella | 1950 | Cinderella |
| 3 | Sleeping Beauty | 1959 | Aurora |
| 4 | The Little Mermaid | 1989 | Ariel |
| 5 | Beauty and the Beast | 1991 | Belle |
| 6 | Aladdin | 1992 | Jasmine |
| 7 | Pocahontas | 1995 | Pocahontas |
| 8 | Mulan | 1998 | Mulan |
| 9 | The Princess and the Frog | 2009 | Tiana |
| 10 | Tangled | 2010 | Rapunzel |
| 11 | Brave | 2012 | Merida |
| 12 | Moana | 2016 | Moana |
| 13 | Raya and the Last Dragon | 2021 | Raya |
Important: These are the original movies associated with Disney’s 13 official Princess characters. They’re not every sequel, remake, or Disney movie featuring a royal character. For example, Moana 2 was released in 2024, but Moana had already been introduced in her 2016 film.
The 13 Original Disney Princess Movies in Release Order
Watching these movies in release order gives you a clear view of how Disney animation and its princess characters changed, from the hand-painted fairy tales of the 1930s through the computer-animated adventures of the 2000s and beyond.
1. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Princess: Snow White
Disney’s first animated feature follows Snow White as she escapes the Evil Queen and finds refuge with seven dwarfs. Its fairy-tale storytelling, music, and character animation established many of the techniques Disney would build on for decades.
This is the starting point if you’re watching the Disney Princess movies chronologically by release date.
2. Cinderella (1950)
Princess: Cinderella
After years without a new feature-length Disney Princess fairy tale, Cinderella returned to the familiar world of castles, magical transformations, and romance. The Fairy Godmother, glass slipper, and ballroom sequence became some of Disney’s most recognizable images.
3. Sleeping Beauty (1959)
Princess: Aurora
Sleeping Beauty is especially notable for its visual design. Artist Eyvind Earle’s stylized backgrounds give the film a storybook appearance quite different from the softer look of earlier Disney animated features.
Aurora has less dialogue and screen time than many later princesses, but the film’s artwork, music, and Maleficent make it a memorable part of the lineup.
4. The Little Mermaid (1989)
Princess: Ariel
Thirty years after Sleeping Beauty, Ariel helped launch the Disney Renaissance. The Little Mermaid brought faster storytelling, Broadway-inspired songs, and a more outspoken central character to the Princess films.
This is one of the biggest turning points in the release timeline. The run of animated Disney musicals that followed would introduce several more Princess characters in quick succession.
5. Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Princess: Belle
Belle’s story combines a fairy tale with a romance built around getting to know someone beyond appearances. Beauty and the Beast also made film history as the first animated feature nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.
6. Aladdin (1992)
Princess: Jasmine
Aladdin introduces Princess Jasmine, although Aladdin himself is the film’s main character. Jasmine challenges the expectations placed on her as a royal daughter and wants the freedom to make her own decisions.
7. Pocahontas (1995)
Princess: Pocahontas
Inspired by a historical figure, Pocahontas emphasizes nature, cultural conflict, and personal responsibility. Its sweeping landscapes and music are major parts of the film’s appeal.
The film is a fictionalized interpretation of history, so it shouldn’t be treated as an accurate account of the real Pocahontas’s life.
8. Mulan (1998)
Princess: Mulan
Mulan isn’t born into royalty or married to a prince, but she’s part of Disney’s official Princess franchise. Her film follows her decision to take her father’s place in the army and centers on courage, family, and identity.
9. The Princess and the Frog (2009)
Princess: Tiana
The Princess and the Frog introduces Tiana, Disney’s first Black Princess. Set in New Orleans, the film combines traditional hand-drawn animation, jazz-influenced music, and a story about ambition and hard work.
10. Tangled (2010)
Princess: Rapunzel
Tangled introduces Rapunzel through a computer-animated adventure that balances fairy-tale romance with action and comedy. Its use of light, particularly during the lantern sequence, is one of its visual highlights.
Rapunzel also marks an important change in Disney Princess animation, bringing the classic fairy-tale format into the studio’s modern CGI era.
11. Brave (2012)
Princess: Merida
Produced by Pixar, Brave introduces Merida, a Scottish princess determined to choose her own future. Rather than concentrating on finding a romantic partner, the story focuses on her difficult relationship with her mother.
Merida is also notable because her debut film came from Pixar rather than Walt Disney Animation Studios.
12. Moana (2016)
Princess: Moana
Moana is the daughter of her island’s chief and sets out on an ocean voyage to restore balance to her world. The film draws on Polynesian cultures and seafaring traditions, with music and ocean animation central to its storytelling.
Moana’s story doesn’t revolve around romance. Her journey is about leadership, responsibility, and discovering what she’s capable of doing.
13. Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)
Princess: Raya
Raya and the Last Dragon follows a warrior seeking the last dragon to help reunite the divided land of Kumandra. Its action-driven story focuses on trust, cooperation, and repairing broken relationships.
Raya is the most recent character in Disney’s current official Princess lineup. Her film completes this list of the 13 original movies that introduced those characters.
What About Frozen, Moana 2, and Other Princess Movies?
The official Disney Princess lineup and the broader collection of Disney movies about princesses aren’t exactly the same thing.
For example, Anna and Elsa are major Disney royal characters, but they aren’t included in the current 13-character Disney Princess roster. That doesn’t mean Frozen isn’t a princess movie in the everyday sense. It simply belongs to a different Disney franchise.
There are also sequels and live-action adaptations featuring characters already on the official Princess list.
| Movie | Release year | How it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Frozen | 2013 | Introduces Anna and Elsa, who are outside the official Princess lineup |
| Frozen II | 2019 | Sequel featuring Anna and Elsa |
| Moana 2 | 2024 | Animated sequel featuring an existing official Princess |
| Moana (live action) | 2026 | Live-action adaptation of Moana’s original story |
This is a selection of additional movies, not an exhaustive list of Disney Princess sequels or remakes. Disney has also released live-action versions of stories such as Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Mulan, The Little Mermaid, and Snow White.
If you’re planning a marathon of every movie featuring a favorite princess, you can add those adaptations and sequels after the character’s original film.
For a closer look at the official franchise itself, see how many official Disney Princesses there are.
Disney Princess Chronological Order: Release Dates or Story Timeline?
When people search for the Disney Princess movies in chronological order, they usually mean the order in which the films were released.
That’s different from arranging the stories by when their events supposedly take place. Snow White, Mulan, Pocahontas, and the other characters come from different historical inspirations, fictional settings, and fantasy worlds. Disney hasn’t established one official in-universe timeline connecting all 13 Princess films.
For a Disney Princess movie marathon, release order is the clearest sequence to follow. Start with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), continue through the Renaissance films, and finish the original Princess introductions with Raya and the Last Dragon (2021).
Which Disney Princess Movie Should You Watch First?
If you want to see how Disney animation evolved, I’d watch the movies in their original release order. You can see the transition from traditional fairy tales to musical adventures, hand-drawn animation, Pixar storytelling, and modern CGI.
If you’re watching with younger children and don’t want to commit to all 13 films, you can also start with a familiar favorite. Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Tangled, and Moana each work as standalone stories.
For more about the characters rather than their films, explore our guide to all the Disney Princesses or visit the official Disney Princess website.
