Your Guide to Every ‘Cinderella’ Movie Adaptation & Where to Watch Them All
Cinderella has provided inspiration for countless stories across film, TV, and books. Though many became familiar with the Charles Perrault fairy tale through Disney’s 1950 animated film, it’s thought to have origins as far back as the first century BCE. Naturally, Cinderella has taken on many different shapes and forms since then, but most retellings from the past several decades place romance at the forefront.
In movie form, Cinderella and Prince Charming’s love story has been brought to life by the likes of Hilary Duff and Chad Michael Murray (A Cinderella Story), Selena Gomez and Drew Seeley (Another Cinderella Story), Anne Hathaway and Hugh Dancy (Ella Enchanted), and what seems like an endless number of other pairings. We’ve seen their characters’ romance play out in high schools and fairy tale lands alike, with various twists and adjustments, but they always get their happy ending.
With so many options out there, we thought it was about time we created a watch guide for every Cinderella movie. We even went a step further and put them in chronological order. Though we’re sure we’ll have more — likely with “Cinderella Story” in the title — to add to the list in the future, scroll through every single adaptation of note and find out where to stream them.
Walt Disney / Everett Collection
Cinderella (1950)
We have to start off with the (sort of) OG from Disney. It was a staple of our childhoods and the blueprint we compare pretty much every Cinderella adaptation to, with the classic wicked stepmother, evil stepsisters, fairy godmother, and happily ever after. You can’t go wrong with this pick.
Where to watch Cinderella (1950):
If you have a Disney+ subscription, you can watch this classic to your heart’s content. It’s also available to rent or buy on Prime Video and Apple TV.
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (1957)
Before Disney started doing live-action princess remakes, there was Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (1957). Julie Andrews brought the titular princess to life in a live television broadcast. It earned Andrews an Emmy nomination, and the black-and-white recording is one of the most requested programs at the Paley Center in New York City and Los Angeles.
Where to watch Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (1957):
The movie isn’t available to stream anywhere, but you can watch the hour-plus-long rehearsal on YouTube, courtesy of The Julie Andrews Archive.
Cinderella (1965)
No more than a decade later came another live-action take on the fairy tale, once again courtesy of Rodgers & Hammerstein. Cinderella was also broadcast on CBS, like the original, but it was based on a different book by Joseph Schrank and stayed closer to the original story. It stars Lesley Ann Warren and Stuart Damon, with support from Celeste Holm, Walter Pidgeon, and Ginger Rogers.
Where to watch Cinderella (1965):
On Tubi, you can check out this version for free, as well as The Roku Channel. With a subscription to the following streaming services, you can watch it on Disney+, Hulu, and Prime Video.
If the Shoe Fits
Flash forward to 1991, this TV movie might just be the first of the modern, alternate universe Cinderella movies we’ve gotten in recent decades. It follows Kelly Carter (Jennifer Grey), who works for fashion designer (Rob Lowe) in Paris. She dreams of rising the ranks, but she doesn’t have any luck until a magical fairy enchants her shoes to turn her into a supermodel whenever she wears them. She wins the heart of Lowe’s fashion designer, but would he love her true self?
Where to watch If the Shoe Fits:
This retelling is available on The Roku Channel for free, as well as Tubi.
Randee St. Nicholas / ABC / Everett Collection
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (1997)
We’re sure a few would argue that the 1997 version is one of the most iconic of the bunch, and that largely has to do with the people involved — pop stars Brandy Norwood and Whitney Houston appear as Cinderella and the Fairy Godmother. Enough said, right? The movie, which follows the same beats of Cinderella that we all know and love, is the first retelling to feature a racially diverse cast.
Where to watch Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (1997):
Look no further than Disney+ for this beloved remake.
Ever After: A Cinderella Story
Drew Barrymore stars as the lively Danielle, who was forced into servitude by her wicked stepmother after the death of her father. Pretending to be a royal, she falls for Prince Henry (Dougray Scott). The premise is familiar in that way, but it takes a more realistic approach by putting the story in Renaissance-era France.
Where to watch Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998):
You can check out this version on Disney+ or Hulu. If you don’t have a subscription to either of those streamers, you can rent or buy it on YouTube, Prime Video, or Apple TV+.
Cinderella II: Dreams Come True
Over half a century after Disney’s first animated Cinderella came out, its direct sequel arrived. It takes an anthology approach, telling three separate stories as the princess adjusts to her new role. She plans her first royal ball, helps her stepsister find love, and sees Jaq the mouse turn into a human.
Where to watch Cinderella II: Dreams Come True:
To the surprise of no one, this sequel is available on Disney+.
Warner Brothers / Everett Collection
A Cinderella Story
Maybe we’re biased because we grew up in the 2000s, but this is the Cinderella retelling we’ve rewatched the most. Set in the normal world, Hilary Duff stars as teenager Sam, who’s forced to work in her wicked stepmother’s (the ever-hilarious Jennifer Coolidge) diner. She’s not allowed to go to the prom, but manages to sneak out and meet up with the mysterious pen pal she’s been writing to in an internet chat room. He turns out to be the most popular guy in school (Chad Michael Murray), and Sam has to decide whether or not to reveal her identity.
Where to watch A Cinderella Story:
Catch this early aughts staple on Prime Video with a subscription, or buy/rent it on YouTube, Apple TV, and so on.
Ella Enchanted
Yep, Ella Enchanted adds a few more twists to the classic story, but it is based on Cinderella. Ella’s (Anne Hathaway) fairy godmother grants her the ability to obey every order, but it turns out to be a curse when she’s placed under the care of the evil Dame Olga (Joanna Lumley). With the help of Prince Charmont (Hugh Dancy), Ella sets out to find the fairy and break the spell. Oh, and we can’t forget to mention that this one is a jukebox musical!
Where to watch Ella Enchanted:
Sadly, you can’t stream this gem anywhere at the moment. You can buy or rent it on YouTube, Apple TV, or Prime Video if you don’t want to go without.
Another Cinderella Story
This Cinderella’s got dancing skills rather than singing skills. Mary (Selena Gomez) has to obey her horrible stepmom (Jane Lynch) and cater to her stepsisters’ (Emily Perkins, Katharine Isabelle) every whim. But when her pop idol, Joey (Drew Seeley), takes a break from touring and enrolls at her high school, her world is turned upside down. Joey becomes enamored with Mary after they dance together at a masquerade ball, and he sets out to uncover her identity.
Where to watch Another Cinderella Story:
Unfortunately, we have to report that you can’t stream this one anywhere. What you can do is buy or rent it from the usual culprits: YouTube, Apple TV, and Prime Video.
Cinderella III: A Twist in Time
A follow-up to Disney’s Cinderella sequel, A Twist in Time puts a wrench in the princess’ (Jennifer Hale) perfect life a year into her marriage to Prince Charming (C. D. Barnes). Cinderella’s stepmother (Susanne Blakeslee) reverses time with the Fairy Godmother’s wand, making it so the glass slipper fits on the foot of Cinderella’s stepsister instead.
Where to watch Cinderella 3: A Twist in Time:
All you need is a Disney+ subscription to find out how Disney’s Cinderella trilogy ends.
A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song
Around the same time Pretty Little Liars was taking off, Lucy Hale starred as a teenager trying to make it as a singer in Once Upon a Song. With her stepmother and sister-in-law in her path, Katie sees an opportunity when the son of a record executive, played by Peacemaker‘s Freddie Stroma, becomes a student at her school.
Where to watch A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song:
This retelling doesn’t have a streaming home, but you can buy or rent it on YouTube, Apple TV, and Prime Video.
Rags
Similar to the last one, Rags revolves around a teen trying to make it as a singer — but with a gender-swapped twist. This Nickelodeon movie has Charlie (Max Schneider), an aspiring musician, cross paths with pop superstar Kadee Worth (Keke Palmer).
Where to watch Rags:
A Paramount+ or Prime Video subscription has you covered!
Jonathan Olley / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Everett Collection
Cinderella (2015)
Disney put a non-musical, more realistic spin on Cinderella with its live-action remake. The Kenneth Branagh-directed flick mostly sticks to what we know, but the movie manufactures a chance meeting between Ella (Lily James) and Prince Kit (Richard Madden) in the woods before they ever meet at the ball, though they don’t know each other’s identity.
Where to watch Cinderella (2015):
You guessed it: This one’s on Disney+! You can also buy it from the usual streaming services if you don’t have that one.
A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits
Don’t go mistaking 1990’s If the Shoe Fits for 2016’s A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits. This one features Sofia Carson as Tessa, who has dreams of stardom. She goes with her stepmom and stepsisters to an audition for a new Cinderella musical. After she disguises herself and wins the part, Tessa falls for the pop star (Thomas Law) who’s playing her prince.
Where to watch A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits:
You’ll have to rent or buy this one from YouTube, Apple TV, or Prime Video.
A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish
It’s shocking that no one made a Christmas version of Cinderella until 2019, right? At this point, you can probably guess that A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish is about an aspiring singer (Laura Marano). She starts working at Santa Land in the meantime, where she meets the handsome new Santa (Gregg Sulkin).
Where to watch A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish:
If you want to check out this holiday spin on the fairy tale, you’re going to need to rent or buy it from YouTube, Prime Video, or Apple TV.
Kerry Brown / Amazon Studios / Everett Collection
Cinderella (2021)
Another jukebox musical, this modern Cinderella (Camila Cabello) wants to make a living selling her dresses, and her “Fab G” (Billy Porter) — aka Fairy Godmother — and Prince Robert (Nicholas Galitzine) help make her dreams a reality.
Where to watch Cinderella (2021):
This one’s a Prime Video original, so you can access it there with a subscription.
A Cinderella Story: Starstruck
This retelling switches things up by making Cinderella (Bailee Madison) a small-town farm girl in the modern day. Finley has ambitions of becoming a performer, so when a Hollywood film crew arrives in town, she hatches a plan to get involved in the production.
Where to watch A Cinderella Story: Starstruck:
HBO Max has this one available for subscribers.
Which Cinderella movie is your favorite? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
