Sneakerella is the latest movie to adapt the classic fairy tale of Cinderella in a modern context. The Disney+ original revolves around a down-on-luck sneaker artist as he struggles with his bullying stepbrothers and plans to impress the daughter of a basketball star-turned-sneakerhead.
After viewers get their fill of the musical comedy, Sneakerella will draw audiences towards more such modern adaptations of fairy tales as well as sports dramas related to basketball. As the lead character immerses himself in the sneaker culture of New York, some documentaries on the very origins of this culture would also make for essential viewing.
A Cinderella Story (2004) - Stream On Netflix
Hilary Duff stars as Cinderella in this high-school rom-com update on Charles Perrault's French story. Instead of finding a Prince Charming for herself, Duff's Cinderella falls in love with an online pen pal while dealing with a miserable stepmother and two stepsisters.
It is pretty much the same tale that everyone has heard before, but it is Duff's charismatic charm that propels it above other live-action Cinderella renditions. Despite a mixed critical reaction, A Cinderella Story and its multiple sequels have become cult favorites in the pantheon of teen comedies.
Unbanned: The Legend Of AJ1 (2018) - Rent On Apple TV+
When it comes to the phenomena that are the Jordans, the original Air Jordan 1 remains a timeless classic. Unbanned takes a deep dive into the origins of the iconic shoe and the controversies associated with its early years. Not only do dedicated sneakerheads offer their insights on AJ1's impact on the culture, but the documentary also explores its connection with socio-political realities.
Delving into different dimensions behind one sneaker, Unbanned is a quintessential pick for anyone who gets interested to know more about sneakers after watching Sneakerella.
Like Mike (2002) - Stream On Disney+
Like Mike is definitely one of the best basketball movies, especially when it comes to the family-friendly options. The general premise is nothing short of a fairytale, as it is centered upon an orphan who finds a magical pair of sneakers that were once Michael Jordan's. Once he dons the shoes, he ends up gaining remarkable basketball skills himself.
The sports comedy's rags-to-riches premise seems like a modern-day Cinderella adaptation, much like Sneakerella. With Like Mike's protagonist also being an orphan and the magical Jordans doubling for the glass slippers, the resemblances are uncanny.
Love & Basketball (2000) - Stream On HBO Max
When it comes to love on the basketball court, Love & Basketball is an incomparable basketball film and a cult classic in its own right. After all, the movie's central themes are in its very name and it nails both of them. The romantic sports drama deals with two next-door neighbors who grow up playing ball together. As romance blossoms between the two, their respective ambitions to become basketball stars also come in the way.
Love & Basketball is a perfect pick if viewers are into any basketball-centric love stories. While Sneakerella also deals with the game, the central perspective is still that of an aspiring sneaker designer. This 2000 favorite on the other hand deals with how love can find its way into the court itself.
Aquamarine (2006) - Stream On Starz
Based on the young adult novel of the same name, Aquamarine deals with two teenage girls befriending a wish-granting mermaid and the misadventures that follow. The movie is a fun spin on the mermaid lore instead of the same old underwater fantasy stories associated with the aquatic creatures.
Further, it shows the knack that director Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum has with teenage-oriented comedy-dramas. Rosenbaum's latest venture Sneakerella is bound to generate interest in her previous work and her debut Aquamarine can be a good place to start with.
Sneakerheadz (2015) - Stream On Knaopy
Designing sneakers is an art and for some, collecting sneakers is of equal worth. Sneakerheadz offers deep insights into the world of sneaker collecting as some people can go to any extent possible to get their hands on such prized footwear.
With celebrity interviews and tours in the closet of some of the biggest sneaker collectors, Sneakerheadz is not only amusing but also educational for those who harbor an interest in the sneaker culture. Away from the musical fiction of Sneakerella, Sneakerheadz makes for a realistic portrayal of avid collectors and designers.
Fresh Dressed (2015) - Stream On Prime Video
Sneakers are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to influential hip-hop fashion. Fresh Dressed is a beginner's guide to the history of urban fashion, right from cotton plantations to modern suburban America. Fashion and politics merge effortlessly in Fresh Dressed which also features personal interviews with hip-hop giants such as Pharell Williams and Kanye West.
The love story and Cinderella references aside, Sneakerella is very much a movie dedicated to the art of fashion design. While the movie explores urban fashion from a teenager's perspective, hip-hop documentaries like Fresh Dressed provide a much-needed history.
Enchanted (2007) - Stream On Disney+
When it comes to modern takes on the Cinderella lore, Enchanted is one of the more acclaimed options. Not only does it incorporate some classic fairytale elements, but it also balances a sense of modernity at the same time. One of Amy Adams' earliest roles, Enchanted features the actress as an animated princess who is banished to the live-action world of modern New York.
As the two mediums merge, the movie serves as a great parody of the Disney animated classics such as Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty.
He Got Game (1998) - Stream On Max Go
One of Spike Lee's best joints is also easily one of the best basketball-centric dramas ever made. Lee's usual collaborator Denzel Washington stars as a convicted killer who is also the father of a top-ranked basketball player. As a governor releases him on parole, he must convince his son to play for the governor's college in exchange for reduced jail time.
Through this premise, He Got Game explores basketball and family ties as the strained father-son relationship is explored in great detail. Sneakerella is obviously way lighter in contrast but its themes of familial pressure and basketball culture are what would impress fans to check out more serious dramas based on the affairs of the court.
Little Manhattan (2005) - Stream On Starz
Featuring a pre-pubescent Josh Hutcherson as a ten-year-old Manhattan dweller, Little Manhattan is an innocent tale of young love. As his parents are going through a divorce, the young boy struggles with his own romantic feelings for a classmate. Written from the perspective of its young protagonist, the movie serves as an interesting exploration of first love.
Sneakerella in itself is a teenage love story and so, it makes sense for the movie's fans to revisit a classic romance like this. Little Manhattan plays out as an honest look at coming of age when children are just starting to explore new emotions.