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With only 12 Disney characters included in the official princess lineup, it’s hard for some fans to choose a favorite. From Beauty and the Beast to Frozen, here’s what we know about Disney’s award-winning princess films and which ones earned Academy Awards and recognition. 

Which is the most popular animated Disney Princess film?

Some princesses are kind and smart, while others are spirited and adventurous. In terms of box office sales for animated movies, Disney’s Frozen and Frozen 2 come out on top. In 2013, the animated movie earned well over a billion dollars in worldwide box office sales. 

The second movie, although it didn’t surpass the sales of the original Frozen, earned over $1 billion, as well. This ranking, provided by Business Insider, does not account for inflation, though. The box office sales also do not take into account the earnings of Disney movies well after their premiere date. 

Thanks to the Disney “vault,” movies like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and The Little Mermaid were reintroduced to fans well after their cinematic debut. Now, most animated features live on Disney’s streaming platform, Disney+.

Multiple Disney (and Pixar) films earned Academy Awards

In 2013, Pixar’s Brave, which features the story of Merida, snagged the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film. The same award was given to Disney movies, including Frozen, which tells the story of sister duo Anna and Elsa.

Prior to the creation of this category, only one animated film was nominated for Best Picture at the award ceremony. That was 1991’s Beauty and the Beast, a movie created and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. Some of these films went on to earn sequels and live-action adaptations. That includes the first Disney Princess live-action film, Cinderella. 

Disney Channel's 'Tangled: The Series'
Disney Channel’s ‘Tangled: The Series’ | Disney Channel via Getty Images
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The live-action Disney Princess movie which earned the most in box-office sales was ‘Beauty and the Beast’

With the success of multiple Disney animated princess movies, the studio decided to remake their famous stories into live-action feature films. That includes movies like Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and Cinderella. Soon, Disney’s reboot of Mulan will hit theaters across the globe. 

According to Business Insider, as of December 2019, the live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, starring Emma Watson is one of the highest-grossing Disney movies of all time. In its theatrical run, this movie earned $1,263,521,126, far surpassing the earnings of live-action adaptations like Dumbo and Jungle Book. 

If you count Nala as a Disney princess, then The Lion King is technically the Disney live-action remake with the highest box office sales. This is primarily, though, a photo-real adaptation, which used CGI technology to bring characters like Nala, Simba, Timon, and Pumbaa to life. 

If you want to binge-watch some of Disney’s most popular princess movies, including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Beauty and the Beast, head to Disney’s streaming platform, titled Disney+. To learn more about Disney+ and to subscribe, visit their website. 

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