After fifteen years, Disenchanted, the long-awaited sequel to the hit fairy tale parody, Enchanted, is set to premiere on Disney+ on November 18th. With the entire all-star cast from the original film set to return for the second film, fans are getting excited to revisit the iconic fairy tale/real-world mash-up.

While Enchanted brilliantly adds its own unique perspective on fairy tales, it is far from the first film to provide a fresh new take on the classic genre. In fact, there are many other films in a similar category, taking audiences into a world of fantasy unlike any they have ever seen before.

Enchanted (2007)

Available On Disney+

Enchanted DVD Cover Amy Adams

Released in 2007, Enchanted tells the story of Giselle (Amy Adams), a young princess-to-be who is tricked into departing her magical fairy tale kingdom of Andalasia and entering the frightful land of modern-day New York City. There, she meets a single father (Patrick Dempsey) and his daughter, who unintentionally teach her the meaning of true love.

Enchanted is a brilliant parody of the classic fairy tale genre, taking the best-known tropes from similar tales and bending them just enough to craft a story unlike anything that viewers have ever seen before. The film mashes together the harsh realities of the real world with the playful fantasies of a Disney movie, creating a wonderfully unique story in the process.

Shrek (2001)

Available On Peacock

Shrek and Donkey confused in Duloc in Shrek (2001)

Shrek is a 2001 animated comedy following the exploits of the eponymous ogre (Mike Myers), who embarks on a journey, alongside his wise-cracking donkey sidekick (Eddie Murphy) to save the lovely Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) from a lair guarded by a fire-breathing dragon. The film quickly became a hit, giving birth to an entire franchise of films set in the same fairy tale world.

Shrek features a world that is home to the creatures and characters from every well-known fairy tale, forcing them all to live together in one messy hodgepodge of a community. The beloved film also contributes solid commentary regarding the genre as a whole, flipping tropes on their heads by making the "monster" the true hero of the story. Shrek's hilarious gags, talented voice cast, and timeless story are all part of what makes it one of the best fairy tale movies of all time.

The Princess Bride (1987)

Available On Disney+

Wesley and Buttercup gazing into each other's eyes in The Princess Bride.

The Princess Bride is a classic fairy tale about the lovers Westley (Cary Elwes) and Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright). Framed as a story told by a grandfather to his grandson, this beloved film follows Westley's exploits as he tries to make it back to his lover after he is presumed dead.

This film has stood the test of time as one of the best-loved fantasy films of all time. While it endeavors into the realm of fairy tales, The Princess Bride is much more in line with a well-written romantic comedy, with a solid love story at its center. With the addition of several iconic performances from its supporting cast, The Princess Bride seems incapable of losing its grasp on viewers of all generations.

Ella Enchanted (2004)

Available On HBO Max

Ella Enchanted Cover with Anne Hathaway

Ella Enchanted is a retelling of the classic Cinderella fairy tale, with Anne Hathaway portraying the title character, who was cursed at a young age to always obey the commands given to her by others. When she is ordered to murder the kingdom's beloved prince, Ella goes on a heart-pounding mission to break her curse and save the prince's life.

While Ella Enchanted plays into many of the known tropes in the fairy tale genre, the film mixes elements of modern storytelling to craft a surprisingly unique retelling of the classic story it is based on. Infused with energy by its winning soundtrack of well-known songs, Ella Enchanted presents a new, fresh take on a well-loved story.

Maleficent (2014)

Available On Disney+

When Maleficent curses Aurora

Maleficent is a 2014 retelling of the story of Disney's Sleeping Beauty from the perspective of its principal antagonist. The film portrayed Maleficent in a much more positive light than the original story did, receiving praise for its new direction for the character, including its brilliant performance by Angelina Jolie in the eponymous role.

Maleficent challenges the viewer to identify with a character who has always been portrayed as a villain. Adding new plot points to make Maleficent a more sympathetic character, the film achieves its main purpose of redeeming its protagonist, proving to be quite successful with general audiences, causing a sequel and several similar films to be greenlit by Disney.

Hansel And Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013)

Available On Paramount+

hansel and gretel witch hunters gemma arterton jeremy renner

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters retells the classic German fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel, with a much darker turn. In this story, the two protagonists (Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton) are, as the title suggests, witch hunters, rather than the witches' quarry, as in the original story. Faced with the threat of Muriel (Famke Janssen), the grand witch, Hansel and Gretel vow to exterminate the threat before them.

This film takes a surprisingly violent turn in comparison to other fairy tale retellings, proving to be quite controversial to fans of the genre. Nevertheless, for viewers tired of the typical tropes of fairy tales, Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters is certainly different from anything one has seen before.

Avalon High (2010)

Available On Disney+

A promo image for the teens of Avalon High on Disney

Avalon High is a little-known Disney Channel Original movie that acts as a retelling of the classic story of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Throughout the film, a group of high school students, led by Allie Pennington (Britt Robertson), discover that they are the modern reincarnations of Arthur and his knights just in time to combat a rising evil in the return of Mordred.

While this film does have some undesirable trademarks of a Disney Channel Original movie, including some painfully obvious twists at the end of the film, it nevertheless manages to add a new perspective to the story of King Arthur and the knights of Camelot, mixed with a 2010s high school aesthetic, making it a film that is impossible to replicate.

Hoodwinked (2005)

Not Available For Streaming

The characters of Hoodwinked in a police lineup

Hoodwinked is an animated film set in a fantastical kingdom in which all fairy tales and fables live together in harmony. The movie retells the story of Little Red Riding Hood through the perspective of a crime drama, as its classic characters are questioned by police regarding the events of the film.

While not a critical darling by any means, there are few fairy tale parodies as bold as Hoodwinked, which is certainly a unique entry in its genre. The film frames the classic tale of Little Red Riding Hood as a police procedural, even including a surprising twist in the end.

Freeway (1996)

Available On The Roku Channel

Vanessa with a gun in Freeway

Freeway is a 1996 horror-fueled retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, with Reese Witherspoon's character filling the role of the classic fairy tale protagonist. The film replaces the notable fairy tale elements of the original story with gritty realism, making for a surprisingly well-crafted dark comedy.

Freeway ditches fantastical elements like the villainous wolf, replacing such things with surprisingly real elements, such as serial killers and sex offenders. For viewers who are tired of the often toothless nature of fairy tale retellings, Freeway certainly doesn't fall under any such category.

The School For Good And Evil (2022)

Available On Netflix

the school for good and evil teaser trailer

The School for Good and Evil is a Netflix original film based on the Soman Chainani novel of the same name. Intended to launch a franchise for the streaming giant, this film features a school set up to train the next generation of fairy tale heroes and villains concurrently.

While The School for Good and Evil hasn't received particularly positive reviews, it nevertheless offers a perspective on fairy tales that viewers have likely never witnessed before. Many of the archetypes, tropes and clichés common in the genre are absent in this film, for better or for worse. If the title does indeed receive its planned sequels, viewers can be sure that the franchise will stretch its adherence to the classic fairy tales even further.NEXT: 10 Best Parodies That Are Just As Good As The Real Thing, According To Ranker