Are you secretly a royal waiting to be discovered? Or maybe you just love stories about regular people finding out they’re anything but? If you’re nodding your head, then you’re probably a big fan of The Princess Diaries. Lucky for you, there are tons of movies like The Princess Diaries out there! Get ready to dive into a world of unexpected royalty, heartwarming friendships, and hilarious mishaps. We’ve put together a list of 20 must-watch movies that will give you the same warm, fuzzy feeling as watching Mia Thermopolis stumble her way through princess lessons. So grab your popcorn, settle in, and get ready for some seriously royal entertainment!
What Makes a Movie Like The Princess Diaries?
Before we jump into the list, let’s talk about what makes a movie feel like The Princess Diaries. Usually, these films have a few things in common:
- Unexpected Transformation: A regular person finds out they’re special, often with royal connections.
- Fish-Out-of-Water Story: They have to learn how to navigate a new world, often with hilarious results.
- Heartwarming Relationships: Strong friendships and family connections are key.
- Feel-Good Vibes: These movies are all about making you smile and feel good inside.
- Coming-of-Age Themes: Growing up, finding yourself, and learning to be true to who you are.
- Similar story: A commoner girl entering the world of royalty
20 Movies That Will Make You Feel Like Royalty
Here are 20 movies that capture the magic and charm of The Princess Diaries, offering similar themes of self-discovery, transformation, and heartwarming connections.
1. A Cinderella Story
A modern take on the classic fairytale, A Cinderella Story follows Sam, a high school student living under the thumb of her wicked stepmother. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she connects with her Prince Charming online, unaware that he’s the popular quarterback, Austin.
A Cinderella Story shares The Princess Diaries’ theme of transformation and finding your place in the world. Both Sam and Mia are ordinary girls who discover they’re capable of extraordinary things. They both navigate social challenges and learn to embrace their true selves. The similar plot of a girl, leading a normal life and a boy who’s a Prince Charming makes it one of the best movies similar to the princess diaries.
| Streaming Platform | Availability |
|---|---|
| HBO Max | Subscription |
| Amazon Prime Video | Rent or Buy |
| Apple TV | Rent or Buy |
2. What a Girl Wants
Daphne Reynolds, an American teenager, travels to London to find the father she’s never met. She soon discovers that her dad is a prominent politician with a very proper life, and Daphne’s free-spirited ways clash with his world.
The theme of self-discovery and adapting to a new environment makes What a Girl Wants a great choice for fans of movies like the princess diaries. Like Mia, Daphne has to navigate unfamiliar social circles and learn to balance her own identity with the expectations of her newfound family. This is also a film about a girl discovering who her father is and trying to connect with him.
| Streaming Platform | Availability |
|---|---|
| Amazon Prime Video | Rent or Buy |
| Apple TV | Rent or Buy |
| Hulu | Not Available |
3. Ella Enchanted
Ella lives in a fairytale world where she’s been cursed with obedience – she has to do whatever anyone tells her. Determined to break the curse, Ella embarks on a journey that leads her to a handsome prince and a whole lot of magical adventures.
Like The Princess Diaries, Ella Enchanted features a young woman navigating extraordinary circumstances. Ella, like Mia, needs to learn to stand up for herself and make her own choices, even when faced with powerful forces. The magical world of the film brings an extra layer of enchantment to the story of a girl overcoming obstacles.
| Streaming Platform | Availability |
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| Amazon Prime Video | Rent or Buy |
| Apple TV | Rent or Buy |
| Paramount+ | Subscription |
4. The Prince & Me
Paige, a pre-med student, falls for a charming classmate who turns out to be a Danish prince. As their relationship deepens, Paige has to decide if she’s ready to embrace a life of royalty and leave her old life behind.
The Prince & Me shares the core concept of an ordinary girl falling for royalty, just like The Princess Diaries. Paige, like Mia, faces the challenge of adapting to a royal lifestyle and deciding if it’s the right path for her. It’s a classic romance with a touch of fairytale charm.
| Streaming Platform | Availability |
|---|---|
| Amazon Prime Video | Rent or Buy |
| Apple TV | Rent or Buy |
| Hulu | Not Available |
5. Monte Carlo
Three young women on vacation in Monte Carlo are mistaken for royalty, leading them on a whirlwind adventure filled with glamour, romance, and mistaken identities.
Monte Carlo shares the theme of ordinary girls experiencing a taste of the high life, much like Mia’s journey in The Princess Diaries. The film focuses on friendship and self-discovery as the girls navigate their unexpected royal roles and learn valuable lessons about themselves. The mistaken identity plot device adds an element of fun and excitement, which many movies similar to the princess diaries have.
| Streaming Platform | Availability |
|---|---|
| Amazon Prime Video | Rent or Buy |
| Apple TV | Rent or Buy |
| Disney+ | Not Available |
6. Another Cinderella Story
Another take on the Cinderella story, this time with a focus on dance. Mary is a talented dancer who dreams of making it big, but her stepmother and stepsisters try to hold her back. She meets a famous pop star at a masked ball and they develop a connection.
Another Cinderella Story delivers on the theme of achieving your dreams and believing in yourself. Like Mia in The Princess Diaries, Mary faces obstacles and doubts, but ultimately finds the courage to pursue her passions. The added element of dance brings a fresh and energetic feel to the familiar story.
| Streaming Platform | Availability |
|---|---|
| Amazon Prime Video | Rent or Buy |
| Apple TV | Rent or Buy |
| HBO Max | Subscription |
7. Aquamarine
Two teenage girls discover a mermaid named Aquamarine, who needs their help to find true love in order to avoid an arranged marriage. The girls embark on a summer adventure to help Aquamarine, learning about friendship and love along the way.
While not directly about royalty, Aquamarine shares the theme of friendship and helping someone navigate an unfamiliar world. The girls in the movie, like Mia in The Princess Diaries, learn valuable lessons about themselves and the importance of loyalty and support. The supernatural element adds a unique twist.
| Streaming Platform | Availability |
|---|---|
| Amazon Prime Video | Rent or Buy |
| Apple TV | Rent or Buy |
| Hulu | Not Available |
8. The Lizzie McGuire Movie
Lizzie McGuire’s class trip to Rome turns into a wild adventure when she’s mistaken for an Italian pop star. She embraces the glamorous life, but soon learns that fame isn’t everything it’s cracked up to be.
The Lizzie McGuire Movie embodies the theme of unexpected fame and the challenges that come with it. Like Mia in The Princess Diaries, Lizzie experiences a dramatic change in her life and has to learn how to stay true to herself amidst the chaos. This teen comedy adventure is sure to resonate with those looking for movies like the princess diaries.
| Streaming Platform | Availability |
|---|---|
| Disney+ | Subscription |
| Amazon Prime Video | Rent or Buy |
| Apple TV | Rent or Buy |
9. Princess Protection Program
A princess is hidden away in rural Louisiana as part of a princess protection program. She has to learn to act like a normal teenager, and she develops a close friendship with the girl who’s helping her.
Princess Protection Program features a princess trying to blend in with ordinary people, a theme very similar to The Princess Diaries. The focus on friendship and the challenges of adapting to a new environment make it a heartwarming and relatable story. The difference is that this film shows a princess trying to be normal.
| Streaming Platform | Availability |
|---|---|
| Disney+ | Subscription |
| Amazon Prime Video | Rent or Buy |
| Apple TV | Rent or Buy |
10. Ramona and Beezus
Based on the beloved book series, Ramona and Beezus follows the adventures of the Quimby sisters as they navigate the ups and downs of childhood and family life.
While not about royalty or transformation, Ramona and Beezus shares the theme of family and the importance of staying true to yourself. Ramona, like Mia in The Princess Diaries, is a quirky and unconventional character who learns to embrace her unique personality. The focus on family relationships and growing up makes it a heartwarming choice.
| Streaming Platform | Availability |
|---|---|
| Amazon Prime Video | Rent or Buy |
| Apple TV | Rent or Buy |
| Hulu | Not Available |
11. Freaky Friday (2003)
A mother and daughter who constantly argue magically switch bodies and have to live each other’s lives for a day. They learn to understand each other better and appreciate their relationship.
Although it does not explicitly involve royalty, Freaky Friday’s theme of transformation and understanding is reminiscent of The Princess Diaries. Both movies show characters undergoing significant changes that force them to reconsider their perceptions and values. Like Mia, the characters are thrown into a new world and it is similar to movies like the princess diaries.
| Streaming Platform | Availability |
|---|---|
| Disney+ | Subscription |
| Amazon Prime Video | Rent or Buy |
| Apple TV | Rent or Buy |
12. 13 Going on 30
A young girl makes a wish to be “thirty, flirty, and thriving” and wakes up the next day as a 30-year-old woman. She has to navigate the world of adulthood while still being a kid at heart.
13 Going on 30 has a similar theme of transformation and adapting to a new environment as The Princess Diaries. Both stories involve characters suddenly thrust into unfamiliar situations where they must learn to navigate new social circles and expectations. The protagonist is also entering into a new world she has no idea of.
| Streaming Platform | Availability |
|---|---|
| Amazon Prime Video | Rent or Buy |
| Apple TV | Rent or Buy |
| Hulu | Not Available |
13. Miss Congeniality
An FBI agent goes undercover as a beauty pageant contestant to stop a terrorist plot. She has to learn how to act like a beauty queen, transforming from a tomboy into a glamorous woman.
Miss Congeniality has a similar theme of transformation and self-discovery as The Princess Diaries. The main character undergoes a dramatic makeover and learns to embrace a new identity while staying true to herself. It’s also about a person going into a world they don’t know about.
| Streaming Platform | Availability |
|---|---|
| Amazon Prime Video | Rent or Buy |
| Apple TV | Rent or Buy |
| HBO Max | Subscription |
14. The Parent Trap (1998)
Identical twins who were separated at birth meet at summer camp and decide to switch places in an attempt to reunite their parents.
The Parent Trap shares the theme of family and the importance of staying true to yourself with The Princess Diaries. The movie is about two twins trying to put their family back together.
| Streaming Platform | Availability |
|---|---|
| Disney+ | Subscription |
| Amazon Prime Video | Rent or Buy |
| Apple TV | Rent or Buy |
15. Legally Blonde
A sorority girl enrolls in Harvard Law School to win back her ex-boyfriend, but she discovers her own intelligence and potential along the way.
Legally Blonde has a similar theme of self-discovery and empowerment as The Princess Diaries. Both stories involve characters who initially try to fit in or impress others, but ultimately learn to embrace their true selves and achieve their goals.
| Streaming Platform | Availability |
|---|---|
| Amazon Prime Video | Rent or Buy |
| Apple TV | Rent or Buy |
| Hulu | Not Available |
16. Maid in Manhattan
A hotel maid is mistaken for a socialite by a wealthy politician, and they begin a romance. She has to balance her true identity with the expectations of her new relationship.
Maid in Manhattan shares the theme of mistaken identity and class differences with The Princess Diaries. The maid in the movie enters into a new world where she must try to be someone she is not.
| Streaming Platform | Availability |
|---|---|
| Amazon Prime Video | Rent or Buy |
| Apple TV | Rent or Buy |
| Hulu | Not Available |
17. A Royal Affair
While not a lighthearted comedy, this historical drama tells the story of a young queen in 18th century Denmark who falls in love with her physician, leading to a revolution.
A Royal Affair shares a theme of royalty and the challenges that come with it, similar to The Princess Diaries. The movie is about love in the world of royalty.
| Streaming Platform | Availability |
|---|---|
| Amazon Prime Video | Rent or Buy |
| Apple TV | Rent or Buy |
| Hulu | Subscription |
18. Becoming Jane
This biographical drama tells the story of a young Jane Austen and her romance with a charming Irishman, exploring the events that may have inspired her novels.
Becoming Jane shares the theme of self-discovery and finding your place in the world with The Princess Diaries. Even if it’s not a story of royalty, the world that the protagonist is evolving in is close to it.
| Streaming Platform | Availability |
|---|---|
| Amazon Prime Video | Rent or Buy |
| Apple TV | Rent or Buy |
| Hulu | Not Available |
19. Ever After: A Cinderella Story
Another retelling of the Cinderella story, this one set in Renaissance France. Danielle is a strong and independent woman who captures the heart of Prince Henry.
Ever After: A Cinderella Story shares a theme of a commoner and royalty with The Princess Diaries. The story is really similar and it’s easy to connect the two movies.
| Streaming Platform | Availability |
|---|---|
| Amazon Prime Video | Rent or Buy |
| Apple TV | Rent or Buy |
| Hulu | Not Available |
20. First Daughter
The daughter of the President of the United States goes to college and tries to experience a normal life, but she struggles with the constant security and attention.
First Daughter shares the theme of royalty and the challenges that come with it, similar to The Princess Diaries. This film is about a girl, daughter of the president who is trying to find her path.
| Streaming Platform | Availability |
|---|---|
| Amazon Prime Video | Rent or Buy |
| Apple TV | Rent or Buy |
| Hulu | Not Available |
FAQ About Movies Like The Princess Diaries
What is it about The Princess Diaries that makes it so popular?The Princess Diaries is popular because it’s a relatable story about a regular girl discovering she’s special. It’s funny, heartwarming, and has a strong message about being true to yourself. It is also a similar story to other movies like the princess diaries.
Are there any sequels to The Princess Diaries?Yes, there’s The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. There are also rumors of a third movie in development!
What age group are these movies suitable for?Most of these movies are family-friendly and suitable for tweens, teens, and adults who enjoy feel-good stories. Check the movie’s rating before watching with younger children.
Where can I find more movies like this?You can search for “teen comedies,” “coming-of-age movies,” or “fairytale adaptations” to find more similar films.
What are the key themes present in similar movies like The Princess Diaries?Key themes include self-discovery, transformation, navigating new social environments, the importance of friendship and family, and learning to embrace one’s true identity amidst unexpected circumstances.
So, there you have it! A list of 20 movies like The Princess Diaries that are sure to bring a smile to your face. From Cinderella stories to mermaid adventures, these films offer heartwarming stories about self-discovery, friendship, and finding your place in the world. So grab your crown (or tiara!), settle in, and enjoy!
