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From glass slippers to sneakers, fairy tales never go out of style! Join us as we count down our picks for the greatest Cinderella movie adaptations, reworkings, and loosely inspired takes on the beloved fairy tale! Which version of the classic story is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!
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00:00First day in Castle!
00:01Oh yeah, that is a good one.
00:05I'd love to hear all about it.
00:08Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the best adaptations,
00:13reworkings, and loosely inspired takes on the famous fairy tale, Cinderella.
00:19So, without further ado...
00:21Breathe. Just breathe.
00:25Number 20. The Glass Slipper
00:28We haven't met before, my dear.
00:32You, uh, you don't live in this region?
00:39I think you and I should meet.
00:41Long before Disney's live-action remake, MGM put its own unique spin on the classic fairy tale with The Glass
00:47Slipper.
00:48Starring Leslie Caron as a more spirited and emotionally vulnerable Cinderella,
00:53the film trades some of the fantasy for a more psychological approach.
00:57I don't care. I don't care one bit.
01:01Because, because one day I'm going to live in the palace.
01:05What will you do in the palace?
01:07I don't know.
01:09But one day, I'm going to live in the palace.
01:12Caron's Cinderella isn't simply waiting to be rescued.
01:15She's lonely, misunderstood, and eager to find where she belongs.
01:20All the worst of me, too, eh?
01:27Tell me what you think about that when I don't have any thoughts of my own, I can think of
01:34yours.
01:34Gorgeous, colorful cinematography, lavish musical numbers, and charming performances help elevate this often-overlooked adaptation.
01:43It may take a few creative liberties with the familiar story,
01:46but its warmth and elegance make it a fascinating Cinderella for classic Hollywood fans.
01:51Number 19, Descendants, The Rise of Red.
01:54Can you not?
01:56You know, this is the first song your mom and I ever danced to back when we were in school.
02:02We fell in love at Castle Cumming.
02:05Yeah, I know. You tell me every time.
02:07The Cinderella myth gets a mischievous makeover in the fourth movie in the Descendants franchise.
02:12Rather than focusing solely on Cinderella herself,
02:16this sequel explores the next generation through the children of Disney heroes and villains.
02:21If you want to roll together, it could be a vibe.
02:27Okay.
02:28That's my dad.
02:30Oh.
02:31The story follows Red, daughter of the Queen of Hearts,
02:34and Chloe, Cinderella's ambitious daughter,
02:37as they travel through time to prevent a royal disaster.
02:40Packed with energetic musical numbers,
02:42colorful costumes,
02:43and plenty of Disney Easter eggs,
02:45the movie expands Cinderella's legacy in surprising ways.
02:49It's a fun reminder that happily ever after doesn't mean life stops getting complicated,
02:53and sometimes the next generation has to save the fairy tale.
02:58Gotta get your hands dirty
03:00Just jump headfirst into the mess
03:02Gotta get your hands dirty
03:04Give it your worst, give it your best
03:07Bad and good
03:09Should and and should
03:10Isn't always black and white
03:12Gotta get your hands dirty
03:14To get it right
03:16Number 18, Cinderella, 1965
03:20Fairy Godmother, I have only one wish just now
03:24To go to the boss?
03:26Yes
03:26And that's why you were weeping?
03:30Yes
03:30Leslie Ann Warren enchanted audiences in the 1965 restaging of Rodgers and Hammerstein's original Cinderella musical devised for TV.
03:39Featuring unforgettable songs like In My Own Little Corner, Impossible, and Ten Minutes Ago,
03:45the production captures the warmth and optimism that made the musical an instant classic.
03:57Warren brings warmth, humor, and quiet determination to Cinderella, while the colorful sets and theatrical staging give the film a
04:05timeless storybook quality.
04:06Though later adaptations would become more elaborate, this charming version remains a beloved favorite thanks to its memorable performances, beautiful
04:14score, and heartfelt sense of magic.
04:16We have spoken these words before.
04:20Yes, Your Highness.
04:32Not only here, but in a moonlit garden.
04:36Number 17, The Prince and Me
04:38What if the fantasy actually became true, and...
04:44What if there really is a handsome prince?
04:46Miss Morgan
04:47But he's a really good kisser.
04:49While not an official adaptation, this 2004 movie follows many of the same fairy tale beats that have made the
04:55story so enduring.
04:56Julia Stiles stars as Paige, an ambitious pre-med student whose carefully planned future is turned upside down after falling
05:03for a charming classmate who secretly happens to be the crown prince of Denmark.
05:07What? That's crazy! You're a prince, and that's why they were taking photos of us?
05:12Yes.
05:15Are there a lot of princes where you're from, or are you kind of it?
05:20I'm it.
05:21Their romance balances genuine chemistry with plenty of fish-out-of-water comedy, as Paige weighs true love against her
05:28own ambitions.
05:29More grounded than many royal romances, the film succeeds because it asks whether happily ever after should mean giving up
05:35your dreams,
05:36or finding someone who supports them.
05:40I'll wait.
05:43Denmark isn't ready for a queen like me.
05:47Well, then they'll have to be.
05:52Because I am.
05:53Number 16. Sneakerella
05:55You can tell a lot about me by the way I wear my kicks, kicks, kicks, kicks, in the profession,
06:02no one's touching on my kicks.
06:03Who says Cinderella needs glass slippers?
06:06Sneakerella gives the timeless fairy tale a stylish streetwear makeover, replacing the royal ball with the world of exclusive sneakers
06:12and urban fashion.
06:14Wait a second.
06:15You're him!
06:17You're the guy!
06:19The guy?
06:19Yeah, yeah, the guy. The guy with the secret celebrity collab.
06:24What?
06:25The guy that everybody's been talking about tonight.
06:27Sister Liv was going on and on about it.
06:29I mean, why didn't you tell me the other day that you were a designer?
06:31And a phenomenal one at that level.
06:33Chosen Jacobs stars as Elle, an aspiring sneaker designer whose dreams take flight after meeting Keira King, the daughter of
06:40a legendary basketball icon.
06:41The movie flips traditional gender roles while embracing energetic musical numbers, colorful choreography, and a modern message about believing in
06:50your creativity.
06:50It's a fresh take that feels inspired rather than gimmicky.
06:54Proving the Cinderella formula can still work when paired with contemporary culture, catchy songs, and plenty of fashionable kicks.
07:01Stand up, yeah, put yourself on the line.
07:06No one else has made me feel like this.
07:10Me and you could be the perfect fit.
07:12Number 15.
07:14Cinderella 3, A Twist in Time.
07:16I'm sorry, have we met?
07:20I believe we danced last night at the ball.
07:26Well, maybe you've mistaken me for some other prince.
07:30Direct-to-video Disney sequels don't usually earn rave reviews, but Cinderella 3, A Twist in Time, is a delightful
07:37exception.
07:38When Lady Tremaine steals the fairy godmother's wand and magically rewrites history so one of the stepsisters marries the prince
07:45instead,
07:45Cinderella has to fight for her own happily ever after.
07:49You're far more persistent than I thought.
07:51I am not going to let you get away with this.
07:53We already have.
07:55I don't think so.
07:56Chuck! Gus!
08:00The wand!
08:02The alternate timeline raises the stakes while giving familiar characters room to grow,
08:06especially Prince Charming, who becomes far more proactive than in the original film.
08:11Packed with humor, action, and surprisingly emotional moments,
08:15the movie proves that even the most iconic fairy tales can benefit from a clever what-if twist.
08:21Would you like me to return you to your former lives?
08:26Former lives?
08:27Why, yes.
08:28You see, you too.
08:30Well, you were already...
08:33Oh, never mind.
08:35Number 14.
08:37Three wishes for Cinderella.
08:54Ask fans of fairy tales to name the definitive live-action Cinderella,
08:58and many will point to this beloved Czech-Norwegian classic.
09:01It swaps the usual fairy godmother for three magical hazelnuts that each grant Cinderella
09:06a different disguise and opportunity.
09:09Rather than waiting to be rescued, this Cinderella is clever, adventurous,
09:13and an expert horseback rider as well as archer,
09:16making her one of the most capable versions of the character ever put to screen.
09:40Filmed against breathtaking snowy landscapes,
09:43the movie has an enchanting storybook atmosphere
09:45that has made it a beloved Christmas tradition across much of Europe.
09:49Nearly 50 years later, its timeless charm remains completely irresistible.
10:05Number 13.
10:07The Ugly Stepsister.
10:17One of the boldest Cinderella reinterpretations ever made.
10:21This 2025 horror movie completely flips the perspective
10:24by telling the story through the eyes of Cinderella's overlooked sibling.
10:27Agnes Franot.
10:31Again.
10:34Hmm?
10:37Bakot!
10:43My position, my head, you know everything.
10:46I'm sorry.
10:47Rather than portraying the stepsister as a one-dimensional villain,
10:51the film explores beauty standards, jealousy, family pressure,
10:54and the desperate pursuit of acceptance.
10:56It also throws in some biting dark humor and unsettling body horror.
11:01Its period production design, Oscar-nominated makeup,
11:04and fearless storytelling transform a familiar fairy tale
11:08into something shocking, tragic, and unexpectedly sympathetic.
11:11By asking audiences to reconsider one of literature's most infamous antagonists,
11:16The Ugly Stepsister proves there's still plenty of room
11:19to reinvent one of our most beloved stories.
11:28Number 12. Rags
11:40Nickelodeon turned the Cinderella story upside down with this TV movie,
11:44swapping the classic princess tale for a modern musical about chasing your dreams.
11:49Instead of Cinderella, Charlie Prince is an aspiring singer
11:52forced to work for his cruel stepfamily.
11:54Until he crosses paths with pop superstar Katie Wirth.
12:08Featuring catchy original songs, energetic dance numbers, and plenty of youthful charm,
12:14the film embraces familiar fairy tale beats while giving them a contemporary music industry twist.
12:19Max Schneider and Kiki Palmer make for an engaging pair,
12:22helping transform a familiar story into an upbeat celebration of confidence,
12:27perseverance, and following your passion.
12:40Number 11. Ella Enchanted
12:43Ella, friend, I give you the gift of obedience.
12:49Now go to sleep.
12:51What if Cinderella's biggest obstacle wasn't her stepfamily,
12:55but an enchanted curse that forced her to obey every command?
12:58That's the clever premise behind Ella Enchanted,
13:01a witty fantasy that puts a fresh spin on familiar fairy tale conventions.
13:05Anne Hathaway is endlessly charming as Ella,
13:08whose magical quote-unquote gift of obedience leads to one hilarious predicament after another.
13:13Freeze!
13:19Uh, put your hands together.
13:29You're under arrest.
13:33Blending romance, adventure, comedy, and even a few memorable musical moments,
13:39the film refuses to take itself too seriously.
13:42Hathaway's winning performance and the movie's playful sense of humor
13:46make it one of the most inventive fairy tale adaptations of the 2000s,
13:50a cult favorite that has only grown in popularity.
13:53Just admit you're stupid and don't know what you're talking about.
13:56I'm stupid and I don't know what I'm talking about.
13:58Ella?
14:01Anyway, uh, in conclusion...
14:04Hold your tongue, Ella.
14:09Actress and singer Brandy plays the first on-screen black Cinderella
14:13in this musical with a multiracial and colorblind cast.
14:16Interestingly, Cinderella doesn't have to wait for her prince to sweep her off her feet.
14:20She meets him just minutes into the movie.
14:23Wait, what's your name?
14:26Cinderella.
14:27Beg your pardon?
14:30Cinderella.
14:32He's disguised as a commoner, however,
14:34and the two will have to overcome many obstacles,
14:37including class differences and social expectations to end up together.
14:41May I?
14:48No!
14:51Quiet woman!
14:52With impeccable choreography, playful dialogue, colorful costumes,
14:57and Whitney Houston as the fairy godmother,
15:00this magical sing-along is fairy tale fun.
15:02Impossible.
15:05Impossible.
15:07You're impossible!
15:10Number 9.
15:12Another Cinderella story.
15:13This film takes the fairy tale to the dance floor.
15:16Mary Santiago wants to follow in her mom's footsteps as a dancer,
15:20but slaves away for her legal guardian,
15:22a has-been pop star named Dominique Blatt.
15:24The twins are turning 16 next week.
15:27Didn't they turn 16 last year?
15:29Yes, and they'll keep turning 16 until I tell them to stop.
15:32Still, Mary is determined as ever to follow her heart,
15:35especially since teen heartthrob Joey Parker is back in school.
15:39With her BFF Tammy's help,
15:40Mary and Joey meet at a masquerade ball.
15:43What was that?
15:44I guess the music just speaks to me.
15:52Well, I guess we don't have a language group.
15:54The two make all the right moves without Joey ever recognizing her.
15:58He tracks her down using the Zune she left behind,
16:01and they both realize that following your dreams also means following your heart.
16:06Okay, I need to find somebody who was at the dance last night.
16:08And if you don't, you'll die.
16:12I think I might.
16:13Number 8.
16:14A Cinderella story, Once Upon a Song.
16:17Aspiring singer Katie Gibbs sneaks her demo tape
16:20into record exec Guy Morgan's briefcase,
16:22hoping to make it big.
16:24Katie's stepsister Bev and stepmom Gail
16:26pretend it's Bev's demo to impress Guy and his son Luke.
16:29Gail is so bent on getting Bev a record deal
16:32that she makes her lip-sync Katie's original songs.
16:35As far as everyone knows, you can't sing.
16:38And no more talking to Luke or Guy.
16:40Are we clear?
16:42Crystal.
16:43As a love triangle develops between the girls and Luke,
16:46Katie's voice becomes the proverbial glass slipper,
16:49exposing Gail for the cruel schemer she is.
16:52I can be what you want me to be
16:55Tonight is the night where I'll make you see
16:58That I can be anything, anything, anything.
17:03A musical rom-com with a hint of Bollywood flair,
17:06this Cinderella story is pitch perfect.
17:08We're making an album.
17:10Okay.
17:11Now we're writing it together.
17:12Number 7.
17:13A Cinderella story.
17:14There's something I've always wanted to tell you,
17:16and I think you're ready to hear it.
17:20You're not very pretty,
17:21and you're not very bright.
17:25I'm so glad we had that talk.
17:28The last two entries would be nothing without the original.
17:32In this teen rom-com,
17:33Hilary Duff plays Sam Montgomery,
17:35a high school student with Ivy League dreams.
17:37While her nasty step-family lives off of her dad's estate,
17:40Sam saves up money to go to Princeton by waitressing.
17:43She also chats online with the mysterious nomad,
17:46who turns out to be her crush,
17:48high school quarterback Austin Ames.
17:50Have you told your dad about Princeton yet?
17:52If only I could.
17:54I haven't even told him I want to be a writer.
17:57My father always encouraged me to pursue my dreams.
18:00Finally meeting at the Halloween dance,
18:02the two realize they're not so different after all.
18:05Given the choice,
18:05would you rather have a rice cake or a Big Mac?
18:08A Big Mac?
18:10When does that matter?
18:11Well, I like a girl with a hearty appetite.
18:13Just like the original cinders,
18:15Sam works her way to love and the crown.
18:18Number 6.
18:19Into the Woods.
18:20Based on the hit Broadway musical,
18:22this movie features an ensemble cast
18:24playing your favorite fairy tale characters.
18:26Anna Kendrick plays Cinderella,
18:28who helps the baker and his wife break a spell.
18:33Thanks for the slipper!
18:35Once the spell is broken,
18:37Cinderella marries her prince and lives happily ever after.
18:40Or does she?
18:41Good friends, we need your help now more than ever.
18:45What if the prince?
18:49That doesn't matter now.
18:51Well, this prince isn't so charming after all,
18:53and cheats on her with the baker's wife.
18:56If you love me,
18:57why did you stray?
19:02I thought that if you were mine,
19:05I would never wish for more.
19:07The royal couple aren't the only ones with an unhappy fate,
19:10and it's up to Cinderella and the baker to make things right.
19:13What happens next?
19:13Let's just say Cinderella's story ends happily,
19:16but not with someone you'd expect.
19:19Number 5.
19:20The Slipper and the Rose.
19:21It's unique.
19:22Like its vanished owner.
19:26Therefore, we must use it.
19:29Whoever fits the slipper must fit the bill!
19:32Clearly, Cinderella makes a great movie musical,
19:36but in this version,
19:37Prince Edward isn't just Cinder's love interest.
19:39While his parents think that an arranged marriage is better than a loving one,
19:43our prince begs to differ.
19:45The typical Cinderella story ensues,
19:47glass slipper and all,
19:48but not so fast.
19:49Edward's parents are still dead set on an arranged marriage to prevent war,
19:54forcing him to choose between tradition and true love.
19:56I'm sure I seem to you the master of my fate.
20:02But until this moment,
20:05I've been a prisoner,
20:07trapped by my birthright.
20:08But with a little help from Cinderella's fairy godmother,
20:11this decision just got easier.
20:13We didn't think fairy tales and royal politics could mix,
20:16but like Cinderella and Edward,
20:18they make a great pair.
20:20Your Majesty, this could lead to war.
20:22I know, I know, well, think of something.
20:24We cannot marry her, sire.
20:25The constitution does not allow it.
20:27Well, don't tell me.
20:28I wrote it.
20:29Yes.
20:29Number four, Cinderella, 1957.
20:32Before Julie Andrews sang In the Sound of Music,
20:35she played the title princess in this TV musical.
20:38The song and dance numbers are perfect to sing along,
20:41and pretty funny too.
20:43I'm a huntress on an African safari.
20:53Unlike many other Cinderella stories,
20:56we also see the king and queen having frank discussions
20:58about their son's future wife.
21:01That boy isn't unhappy.
21:03How do you know?
21:05I asked him.
21:06He said he was feeling fine.
21:09Luckily, the hardworking Cinderella is a perfect match.
21:13With her fairy godmother and animal friends on hand,
21:15she becomes the apple of his eye.
21:19Whatever your name is,
21:22I love you.
21:24I will always love you.
21:26Now, if only he could track her down.
21:28But as the song says,
21:29impossible things are happening every day.
21:32Number three, Ever After.
21:34This adaptation is set in Renaissance France.
21:36Danielle de Barbarac may be a servant to her stepfamily,
21:39but she's no damsel in distress.
21:42Check out that fireman's carry.
21:43Danielle is smart, eloquent,
21:45and isn't afraid to defend herself.
21:47All perfect qualities to win Prince Henry's heart.
21:50She even finds a confidant in her stepsister, Jacqueline,
21:53who isn't spared from her mother's cruelty.
21:55And because this is historical fiction,
21:57Leonardo da Vinci steps in as Danielle's godparent,
22:00fashioning wings to make her the belle of the ball.
22:11Danielle isn't just a servant who becomes a princess.
22:14She's also the most badass Cinderella of them all.
22:17You'll produce that gown?
22:19I would rather die a thousand deaths
22:22than to see my mother's dress on that spoiled, selfish girl!
22:27Number two, Cinderella 2015.
22:30You're worried about telling me,
22:33but you mustn't be.
22:36Not if it will lead to your happiness.
22:39Yes.
22:40Happiness.
22:41In this blockbuster remake,
22:44Ella tragically loses both of her parents.
22:46Before she dies,
22:47Ella's mom tells her to have courage and be kind,
22:50a promise she tries to keep
22:51when faced with her awful stepfamily.
22:54You have more kindness in your little finger
22:56than most people possess in their whole body.
22:59And it has power.
23:02More than you know.
23:04Ella's dismal fate is changed
23:05when she unknowingly meets Prince Kit,
23:07who's instantly smitten.
23:09Much to Lady Tremaine's dismay,
23:11the two make a splash at the royal ball.
23:14They're all looking at you.
23:16Believe me.
23:18They're all looking at you.
23:20She finds and breaks Ella's glass slipper,
23:22but her manipulative cruelty can only go so far.
23:25Remembering her mother's dying words,
23:28Ella always stays true to herself
23:29and gets the fairy tale ending that is rightfully hers.
23:35Before we continue,
23:37check out this single from Current,
23:39EDM Transformed.
23:41Check out the full track and album below.
23:49Number 1.
23:51Cinderella, 1950.
23:53There's nothing like a classic.
23:54Decades after its release,
23:56this animated masterpiece is still must-see Disney.
23:59Cinderella's transformation
24:00from neglected servant to beautiful princess
24:03is one of the film's most iconic makeovers.
24:06Why, it's like a dream.
24:08A wonderful dream come true.
24:11With fun comedic relief,
24:12impressive animation sequences,
24:14and just a hint of magic,
24:16this is the gold standard of Cinderella movies.
24:19The film proved so popular
24:20that it even helped save Disney from bankruptcy.
24:23No, nothing can help now.
24:26Nothing.
24:26But you see,
24:27I have the other slipper.
24:28What's more,
24:30Cinderella earned three Oscar nominations,
24:33spawned two official sequels,
24:34and placed ninth on AFI's Top 10 Animated Films list.
24:38The OG Cinderella takes the crown on our list
24:40and reminds viewers everywhere
24:42that dreams do come true.
24:44A dream is a wish
24:57Was our list a perfect fit,
24:59or do you wish the clock had struck midnight?
25:02Let us know in the comments.