Ever since Charles Perrault wrote the fairy tale Cinderella, the story has gone on to be adapted in multiple ways. From Disney’s conventional animated retelling to more modern versions such as the high-school comedy A Cinderella Story, the tale of the orphaned girl turning into a princess has been reinterpreted in wildly innovative ways.
As the latest Disney+ original Sneakerella adds a twist to the tale within New York’s sneaker culture, it is worth looking at some other adaptations of the story such as a World War II-era musical and a serious drama set in Renaissance-era France. Unlike the early reiterations, some of these adaptations have also gone on to incorporate more progressive and post-feminist elements in terms of both the reinterpreted story and the diverse cast.
Sneakerella (2022) – Stream On Disney+
Sneakerella relies on a male protagonist as the Cinderella archetype, a down-on-luck yet promising sneaker designer who falls in love with the daughter of a basketball star and avid sneakerhead. The rags-to-riches story includes musical numbers and insights into the New York sneaker culture with also callbacks to the original Cinderella with the inclusion of the hero’s Fairy Godmother.
1950’s Cinderella was one of the most visionary animated Disney movies of its time, but its 2015 remake didn’t add many new elements, serving as a faithful retelling. However, with Sneakerella, Disney is attempting to go towards a more modernist and teen-centric approach with its live-action Cinderella renditions.
A Cinderella Story (2004) – Stream On Netflix
There was a phase in the 2000s when Hilary Duff’s best characters were dominating the teen rom-com genre. A Cinderella Story serves as one of the several examples of that era. Duff’s heroine is exploited by her stepmother as expected, but this time, she starts to fall for her online friend rather than a literal prince.
It is interesting to see how this pen pal-turned-lover becomes a getaway from the usual monotony of her life. With an ensemble cast including Chad Michael Murray, Regina King, and Jennifer Coolidge, the movie has become a cult classic and spawned multiple DVD sequels.
Cinderella (2021) – Stream On Prime Video
While the Disney Cinderella from 1950 is also a musical, the 2021 movie of the same name serves as a jukebox musical, including both original songs and renditions of pop/rock hits. Using a gifted singer like Camila Cabello in the titular role adds a sense of authenticity to the movie.
Even though the plot elements don’t differ greatly from the source material, it is the diverse cast that is worth noting. For the longest time, the character of Cinderella was typically envisioned as a blonde, white woman. Not only does this Cinderella boast a Hispanic woman at its core, but it also subverts the role of the Godmother with Billy Porter playing the “Fabulous Godmother”.
Into The Woods (2014) – Stream On Disney+
Based on the musical play of the same name, Into The Woods makes allusions to not just Cinderella but the folklore of many other popular characters from the fairy tales of writers such as Perrault and the Grimm Brothers. Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Jack and the Beanstalk are all referenced as a childless couple encounters characters from these stories. Cursed by an evil witch, the couple set out to end the curse by recovering magical items from every fairy tale adventure they have.
Anna Kendrick stars as a very convincing Cinderella, complete with the character’s naivety and wholesomeness. However, an interesting spin is added as Chris Pine’s Prince Charming doesn’t turn out to be that charming. So, instead of blindly relying on the brutish royal, here is a Cinderella who stands out on her own.
Ever After (1998) – Stream On Starz
Starring Drew Barrymore as Danielle (AKA a “Cinder Girl” as mentioned in the movie), Ever After is arguably one of the best post-feminist takes on the character. The period romantic drama is set during the Renaissance with a more humanized version of the tale. There are no fairies or talking mice in this case. Instead, actual historical figures play a crucial role, such as Prince Henry and Leonardo Da Vinci.
Apart from Ever After being one of Drew Barrymore’s best movies, the film also gives enough space for Anjelica Huston to shine as Danielle’s cruel stepmother.
Poor Cinderella (1934) – Stream On Cult Cinema Classics (YouTube)
Max Fleischer’s Fleischer Studios has been a pioneer in the animation industry, especially after he introduced Betty Boop, Koka The Clown, Superman, and Popeye to television. Poor Cinderella features Betty as the titular character in a largely faithful adaptation of the original story.
Still, Boop’s orange hair and general appearance make for a quite unconventional Cinderella, especially because most of the other animated versions of Cinderella seem to be modeled after the Disney animation movie. This is also pretty unique for a Betty Boop short, as it is the only animated movie to feature the character in color.
Three Wishes For Cinderella (1973) – Rent On Apple TV+
In the 19th century, Czech writer Božena Němcová authored a Bohemian variant of the tale of Cinderella. In this version, the heroine doesn’t have a Fairy Godmother turning a pumpkin into a carriage, instead she relies on three magical hazelnuts to make her beautiful for the prince’s ball. These three “wishes” play a major role in the subsequent events, adding a different yet equally mystical twist to the fairy tale.
A Christmas holiday classic in several European countries, Three Wishes For Cinderella also received a remake quite recently in 2021.
Shrek 2 (2004) – Stream On Prime Video
Right from the first of the Shrek movies, the franchise has never shied away from parodying popular European fairy tales and folklore traditions. While Cinderella doesn’t make an appearance in the sequel, the Fairy Godmother and Prince Charming (who is introduced as her son) play the major antagonists.
Both of these aforementioned Cinderella characters seem to have a universally positive reputation in almost all adaptations of Cinderella. However, Shrek’s sophomore outing does add an amusingly negative spin to their persona. And the plot points aside, this is also the only time when viewers would hear the Godmother break into a passionate rendition of I Will Survive!
Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella (2017) – Stream On Kanopy
Cinderella joins the pantheon of movies based on the Second World War with Matthew Bourne’s musical adaptation. Through expressive contemporary dance and the score provided by a 60-piece orchestra, this is a grand retelling of two lovers’ quests of finding each other as they are separated by the horrors of the Blitz.
Much like the night of the ball, Cinderella meets a charming British pilot in this version. However, when the War distances them from each other, Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella provides interesting aftermath and continuation to the original story.
Cinderella (1997) – Stream On Disney+
Even before 2021’s Cinderella dropped, the 1997 Disney TV movie broke racial barriers casting Brandy as Cinderella and Whitney Houston as her Godmother. With such musical talents helming the cast, it is quite normal for the movie to have a fair share of musical numbers.
The first Black actress to play Cinderella on-screen, Brandy’s rendition of the role seemed to be way more independent and relatable. In fact, this can mark a watershed moment in terms of Cinderella’s on-screen portrayal as subsequent adaptations too aimed for a stronger heroine.