1. The Little Mermaid (1989)
Now revitalized with the most recent live-action remake, The Little Mermaid was one of the first movies part of the Disney Renaissance, a group of films in the late 80s and late 90s that brought back the classic Disney animation feels and quality.
It follows a mermaid named Ariel, who, after seeing what the surface is like, makes a pact with a witch to get human legs in exchange for her voice. Much like Frozen, it’s filled with catchy tunes and a lot of enjoyment for the little ones in the family.
2. Abominable (2019)
Title: “Abominable: A Tale of Friendship”
<strong>In a bustling city, Yi, a spirited </h1>teenager mourning her late father, discovers a young Yeti on her rooftop. She names him Everest, and they embark on a journey to reunite him with his family atop Mount Everest. With the help of her friends, Peng and Jin, they set out on a breathtaking adventure, pursued by a wealthy businessman and zoologist, Dr. Zara.</strong>
As they cross stunning landscapes and face numerous challenges, Yi and her friends form a deep bond with Everest. Along the way, they learn the importance of family, friendship, and protecting the magical creatures that share our world. “Abominable: A Tale of Friendship” is an enchanting blend of heartwarming moments and epic landscapes, celebrating the power of love and understanding across cultures and species.
3. Up (2009)
While it may not include as many sing-and-dance numbers or even similar story elements, we will include Up in our list of similar movies to Frozen just because of the warm feelings that it inspires in us.
The story is about an old man feeling reinvigorated by life after a wild adventure with a young boy who brings back so many memories from growing up beside his recently deceased, lifelong partner.
4. Tangled (2010)
Rapunzel is also sequestered away in her own tower, though it wasn’t her own making like it was for Elsa in Frozen. When she gets a visit by an intruder, she will slowly start to open up and accept that it’s time to go out into the real world, which she has never seen. Oh, and she has magical blonde hair, just like Elsa.
5. Brave (2012)
Merida, daughter of the Scottish King, wants to live a life of adventure and boldness, rejecting the future that awaits her with the throne. To try to appease the lords of the Highlands, who are most disturbed by her attitude, she looks for a witch, who grants her a wish that will ultimately turn down to be her downfall — to defeat the odds, she must now find the true meaning of bravery.
If you are looking for similar movies to Frozen that have strong-minded characters, Brave is definitely for you.
6. Wreck-it Ralph (2012)
Wreck-it Ralph is an arcade game character who has had enough of being the bad guy and always being defeated in the game’s narrative. He now wants to prove to everyone, including himself, that he can be a good guy, for which he will soon have to face consequences.
7. Big Hero 6 (2014)
In the fictional city of San Fransokyo, Hiro develops a deep connection to his brother’s caretaking robot, Baymax. The two will team up with other friends to fight a masked antagonist who may have some personal connections to Hiro.
8. Inside Out (2015)
Inside Out is probably Pixar’s best work in many years, and it features the inner workings of the mind of Riley, an 11-year-old girl who is moving to San Francisco and can’t really adapt to her new city. The main protagonists, though, are the characterizations of her four emotions — Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust, and Fear. It also features one of Michael Giacchino’s best works as a composer.
9. Moana (2016)
When going through a potential list of candidates for similar movies to Frozen, it’s definitely Moana that stands out in the crowd.
Much like Frozen, it’s filled with catchy songs that permeated through the culture, and it has a young protagonist looking at the horizon and finding something that appeals to them (not exactly the story of Frozen, but it definitely shares some themes).
10. Luca (2021)
In this coming-of-age story, Luca experiences an idyllic summer with his two best friends, but it feels like everything is always on the edge of falling apart, as he holds a deep, dark secret: he’s actually a sea monster who assumed human form whenever he’s outside the water.
Bonus.
Encanto (2021)
Encanto was a hit when it came out on Disney Plus, right after a disappointing, month-long box office run. Much like Frozen and Moana before, it was able to have a cultural breakout because of its catchy songs and overall feel-good message.
It focuses on Mirabel, the only non-gifted person in her town, and goes off on a wild adventure through family, history, and a lot of Latino culture.