Light-hearted Movies That Are Just Like The Princess Bride

If you are like me, and the thought of a remake of the timeless classic makes you a little nervous to down-right in denial, then you might have continuously binge-watched the movie lately to the point where your family, friends, or significant other are ready to take control of the remote forever. To give them a break while still getting the same feelings or style that the Princess Bride will always have, here are a few other movies that you can check out that have similar plots, styles, and even the same actors!

1. Stardust

Just like the Princess Bride, Stardust is based on a book that is next to nothing like the movie version. While I still haven’t had the chance to read The Princess Bride, I can say that I absolutely love both the book and the movie version of Stardust. Both have their own uniqueness, but keep in mind the movie is far more kid-friendly than the book.

Synopsis of Stardust (the movie): Tristan Thorn, an 18-year-old from a small English village called “Wall”, tries to woo one of the village’s most beautiful bachelorette, Victoria, with the promise of a fallen star that the two see in exchange for her hand in marriage. However, he is not the only one, and he is for far more than a stroll through the woods, for the wall that is between the village and the star is a barrier between the magical world from the ordinary one. Once he’s crossed it, Tristan finds himself trying to overcome witches, power-hungry princes, and pirates in order to get the star to his beloved, but what could be harder than that? How about trying to persuade the star to willingly go with him? That’s right, the star is actually a young woman called Yvaine, and she too gives Tristan more than he anticipates.

2. Ella Enchanted

Another movie that is loosely based on a novel of the same name, this is a not-so-classic Cinderella story that has Cary Elwes as the villain. That’s right. The same man who plays as the ever-dreamy Westly from the Princess Bride is an evil King Regent in this movie, but you might not recognize him right away. I know I didn’t because, in the movie, the character has a classic evil-sounding voice and tends to be a little goofy at certain parts; rightfully so since the movie was made to be kid-friendly; it’s somewhat of a musical with the occasional musical number (not as many as most other musicals in my opinion).

Synopsis of Ella Enchanted (the movie): In a medieval and magical kingdom called Lamia, every baby, shortly after their birth, is given a gift by their fairy godmother, and Ella of Frell is no different. Unfortunately, her fairy godmother was short of patience and ‘gifted’ Ella with obedience, causing her to obey every order from anyone, regardless of how ridiculous or unfair. After her mother passes away and her father remarries, Ella’s new stepsisters discover her secret and abuse it, Ella runs away to find her fairy godmother to get her to remove the gift. She’ll have to go against Giants, Ogres, and an evil King Regent who also learns about her gift and plans to use it for dark purposes. Oh, and she does all of this while trying to fight her developing feelings for a certain prince, too.

3. Enchanted

Strangely, you might find opinions of this movie are split completely in two. Many of my fellow Disney lovers either hate or love this movie for various reasons; usually because of the cast or music. Still, this movie has such a similar feel to it where the princess falls for someone else besides the prince. Admittedly, the love interest isn’t an attractive pirate who is brave and devoted to their true love, but there still is quite a bit of comedy and realism throughout the movie. It seems a lot like Snow White with a few twists.

Synopsis of Enchanted: In the magical 2D kingdom of Andalasia, Giselle, a young woman who has recently found their prince charming, or rather a prince Edward, but before her wedding, she was pushed into a magical well by her prince’s stepmother, Narissa, as she was disguised as an old hag. The well brought her to our world, more specifically, Times Square, New York. As Edward looks for his bride, Giselle befriends a pessimistic/realist divorce lawyer, Robert, and he allows her to stay at his home with his young daughter. Although things become even more tense and confusing when Robert’s fiance, Narissa’s assassin, and even Narissa herself get involved. Will Giselle ever return to Andalasia, and if not, will she ever be able to survive in the real world?

4. Labyrinth (1986)

While this doesn’t have the classical romance that the Princess Bride has, there is certainly enough fantasy, drama, and life lessons in the 1986 musical, Labyrinth. While it didn’t do well at the box office, the film, like the Princess Bride, has a strong cult fan-base that has even held an annual ball where the attendants dress up in heavily-inspired formal wear; in recent years, the ball’s attire has expanded far beyond just the movie as well. While it is somewhat kid-friendly, with some debate given the hidden themes of the movie, the forever heart-throb David Bowie will always be enjoyable to watch and fall in love with again and again for teenagers and adults alike.

Synopsis of Labyrinth (1986): Sarah, a 16-year-old girl, is still fairly immature for her age; bordering on childish. One day, her father and step-mother make her watch over her infant half-brother, Toby. She becomes even more upset after discovering that they were giving him her toys and, as she half-heartedly tries to console him while he has a fit, she tells him the same story that she was reading earlier: the story of the goblin king who fulfills his love’s wish of taking their younger sibling away. Sarah makes this same wish and, surprisingly, it comes true. Jareth arrives, and, after being rejected by Sarah, makes a deal with her that if she can reach her brother by going through his Labyrinth within 13 hours, he’ll return her brother to her. But the Labyrinth is more than just a maze, and Sarah will have to grow and learn from her mistakes if she is to have any hope of saving Toby.

5. Big Fish

Like the Princess Bride, Big Fish is another story of love and adventure with crazy characters, insane plot twists. The more unique aspect of this movie is that it takes place over the span of an entire man’s life, and Ewan McGregor delivers the main character’s younger years in the most emotional and under-rated roles of his career, in my opinion. I say underrated because while the movie and its other cast/crew were nominated for dozens of roles, he was not a part of those nominations. Out of all of the others on this list, this is the movie that will probably have you in tears by the end of it. It was for me from the bittersweet feels that punch you straight in the gut. Then again, Tim Burton has that skill for most of the movies he’s directed.

Synopsis of Big Fish: Will and Edward Bloom are a son and father who have always had a difficult relationship. Will is upset that his father constantly lies or exaggerates every story of his life, even at his own wedding party. However, when Edward is dying of cancer, Will returns to his side, both of them recalling Edwards’s life and all of the unbelievable adventures he’s been on since he was a child. From being attacked by a werewolf to befriending a giant to robbing a bank, there is hardly a dull moment in Edward’s life. However, Will has had enough and starts his own adventure to discover the truth for himself. What will it take for him to find out just what happened to his father and the things he’s seen and done?

Conclusion

Some of these movies come close, but for me, nothing will beat the epic-ness that is the Princess Bride. It can fill in almost every genre category there is in the movie industry. It’s kid and adult-friendly, and it’s next to impossible to recreate the magic that it spreads with every view. Still, I will try to keep an open mind when it comes to any possible remakes or sequels...try being the operative word. What about you?

What did you think about the list? Did I forget another movie that’s like The Princess Bride? Leave a comment on my Twitter post or Tweet at me.

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