Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
  • TotalFilm
  • Edge
  • Newsarama
  • Retrogamer
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Best Netflix Shows
Don't miss these
Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides in Dune 3
Movies Upcoming movies: The most exciting new movies coming in 2026 and beyond
Dune
Movies Movie release dates 2026: Every major film coming to cinemas and streaming
Cillian Murphy as Tommy in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man.
Movies The 25 best movies on Netflix to watch right now
(L to R) Steven Yeun as Detective Mike Ro, Matt Damon as Lieutenant Dane Dumars, Ben Affleck as Detective Sergeant J.D. Byrne, and Kyle Chandler as DEA Agent Mateo 'Matty' Nix in The Rip.
Action Movies The 25 best Netflix action movies to watch right now
The Lion King is undoubtedly one of the best movies on Disney Plus
Movies The 30 best movies on Disney Plus to watch right now
Princess Peach and Toad in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Animated Movies The Super Mario Galaxy Movie might actually be making a years-long fan theory about Rosalina and Princess Peach canon
Harry Potter
Fantasy Movies The best Harry Potter movies ranked from worst to wand-erful
Maui (Dwayne Johnson) in Moana (2026)
Live Action Movies Moana director Thomas Kail on bringing Dwayne Johnson's demigod to life for the live-action remake's new trailer
Catherine Laga'aia in the live-action Moana movie
Animated Movies New Disney movies 2026 and beyond
Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone in The Godfather.
Streaming Services The 20 best movies on Paramount Plus to watch right now
Princess Rosalina in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie trailer
Animated Movies Brie Larson says it's "time for us in cinema to recognize what we can take from video games"
Shadow (Keanu Reeves) in Sonic 3
Movies Every upcoming video game movie you need to know about in 2026 and beyond
Link in The Legend of Zelda movie
Live Action Movies The Legend of Zelda movie: Everything we know so far about the live-action movie
Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles in Sonic 3
Amazon Prime Video The 25 best movies on Prime Video to watch right now
Best anime movies: Chihiro and No-Face sitting in a train carriage during Spirited Away.
Anime Movies The 30 best anime movies to watch right now
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies

21 Kick-Ass Disney Princesses

Features
By Joshua Winning published 29 March 2011

Fairytale beauties turned fist-bruising babes

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

A Bugs Life (1998)

The Princess: Princess Atta, pompous, snooty and scarily aware of her responsibility as the royal daughter of the ant kingdom.

Coolest Moment: When evil grasshopper, uh, Hopper kidnaps young Flik, Atta is the one who rescues him, and lures the mean bully to his bird’s nest doom.

If She Was In An Action Flick: She’d be Ant-Man's sidekick, so strong that she can bring down grown men with a single kick. Considering her miniscule size, she quickly becomes known as an expert assassin.

Tarzan (1999)

The Princess: Jane, the inquisitive daughter of a professor. When she travels with him to the rainforests of West Africa, she discovers a feral man living there and befriends him.

Coolest Moment: She may not be as physically capable as Tarzan, but Jane manages not to vom when he’s flipping her through the trees with him, which must count for something.

If She Was In An Action Flick:
She’d intimidate her enemies with her considerable knowledge, hurling massive words at them until they back away in terror.

Hercules (1997)

The Princess: Megara, who bargained with Hades to get her dead lover back. In the deal, she sold Hades her soul. Now she works for him trying to bring down Hercules, but secretly falling for the demi-God.

Coolest Moment: Meg sacrifices herself to save Hercules, pushing him out of the path of a collapsing column and instead getting crushed herself.

If She Was In An Action Flick: She'd be dead in 10 minutes - there's heroic, and then there's just plain suicidal.

You may like
  • The Lion King is undoubtedly one of the best movies on Disney Plus The 30 best movies on Disney Plus to watch right now
  • Catherine Laga'aia in the live-action Moana movie New Disney movies 2026 and beyond
  • Diego Luna as Cassian Andor in Andor season 2 The 30 best shows on Disney Plus to watch right now

The Princess Diaries (2001)

The Princess: Unwittingly the heir to Genovia, Mia Thermopolis has been brought up just like any other American teen – until fate comes calling in the form of her grandmother, Queen dowager Clarisse Renaldi (Julie Andrews).

Coolest Moment: Mia gets given a makeover that transforms her from a bushy-haired freakazoid into a stylish lady with all the elegance of a member of the royal house.

If She Was In An Action Flick: She’d be in an action comedy as an adorably klutzy heroine who gets herself into tight squeezes, but through sheer chance (and clumsiness) always comes out on top.

The Princess And The Frog (2009)

The Princess: Tiana is a waitress who dreams of one day opening her own restaurant in New Orleans. When she dresses up as a princess at a ball, Tiana kisses a frog and is turned into one herself.

Coolest Moment: Sassy and independent, Tiana saves the day by smashing evil Facilier’s charm, ensuring his doom as he’s dragged by voodoo spirits into their world.

If She Was In An Action Flick: Tiana would be known as Frog-Girrrl (finger click), a sassy, sexy scientist who's versed in all things amphibian, and uses their deadly poisons to ward off enemies. She hates toads, though.

The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1996)

The Princess: Esmeralda is a beautiful gypsy girl who likes nothing better than to perform a good jig. Headstrong and wilful, she befriends Quasimodo, a hunchback who lives in Notre Dame.

Coolest Moment: Esmeralda proves she’s not just all talk when she saves Captain Phoebus from the evil Judge Frollo.

If She Was In An Action Flick: Esmeralda would lure her prey in by performing a seductive dance routine before going in for the kill. In other words, she's perfect for Bond 23 .

Pocahontas (1995)

The Princess: Daughter of the Chieg Powhatan, Pocahontas is a Native American woman who possesses an adventurous spirit, and an uncommonly open mind when it comes to the foreign white man.

Coolest Moment: Pocahontas shows just how fearless she is by launching herself off the top of a waterfall and diving perfectly into the water way below.

If She Was In An Action Flick: She’d work with Greenpeace in order to protect the wildlife of the world - no matter what it takes. Greenpeace: The Movie . It could work...

Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Tangled (2010)

The Princess: Rapunzel, the daughter of a queen, is kidnapped by wise woman Gothel and incarcerated in a tower. Her hair has healing properties, see, and greedy Gothel wants them for herself.

Coolest Moment: When the dashing Flynn Rider discovers Rapunzel in her tower, she shows him who’s boss by knocking him unconscious and hiding him in her wardrobe.

If She Was In An Action Flick: She’d be feared as a deadly hair-artist - get within ten paces of Rapunzel's lovely locks, and she'll use them against you in completely unexpected ways. She's a nightmare to share a flat with, though - ew, drain hair.

Alice In Wonderland (2010)

The Princess: Alice, faced with the prospect of marrying a man she does not love, escapes into the land she once visited as a child, learning its real name – Underland – and finding it's now under the rule of the Red Queen.

Coolest Moment: Alice confronts the fearsome Jabberwocky and emerges victorious.

If She Was In An Action Flick: She’d be an armour-wearing, living ode to Joan d’Arc, picking up where that doomed saint left off to fight devil worshippers and end their sickening ways.

Peter Pan (1953)

The Princess: Tiger Lily, the daughter of an Indian Chief and good friends with Peter Pan. When she's kidnapped by the evil Captain Hook, Pan comes to her rescue.

Coolest Moment: When Pan saves Tiger Lily and returns her to her tribe, he's celebrated as a hero - and she gives him a charming nose kiss.

If She Was In An Action Flick: She'd have to grow up a bit first (do Indian children grow up in Never Never Land?), but then she'd become the formidable leader of her father's Indian tribe after his death. Indians vs Aliens anyone?

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3

Current page: Page 2

Prev Page Page 1 Next Page Page 3
Joshua Winning
Social Links Navigation

Josh Winning has worn a lot of hats over the years. Contributing Editor at Total Film, writer for SFX, and senior film writer at the Radio Times. Josh has also penned a novel about mysteries and monsters, is the co-host of a movie podcast, and has a library of pretty phenomenal stories from visiting some of the biggest TV and film sets in the world. He would also like you to know that he "lives for cat videos..." Don't we all, Josh. Don't we all.  

Read more
The Lion King is undoubtedly one of the best movies on Disney Plus
Movies The 30 best movies on Disney Plus to watch right now
 
 
Catherine Laga'aia in the live-action Moana movie
Animated Movies New Disney movies 2026 and beyond
 
 
Diego Luna as Cassian Andor in Andor season 2
Superhero Shows The 30 best shows on Disney Plus to watch right now
 
 
best Pixar movies
Animated Movies The best Pixar movies, ranked! From Toy Story to Hoppers
 
 
Rumi, Mira, and Zoey in KPop Demon Hunters
Fantasy Movies The 10 best fantasy movies on Netflix to watch right now
 
 
Mother Gothel in Tangled
Live Action Movies Marvel's Agatha star Kathryn Hahn is reportedly in talks to play Mother Gothel in Disney's live-action Tangled remake
 
 
Latest in Movies
Mario riding Yoshi through space with Luigi and Peach flying along beside him
Animated Movies Super Mario Galaxy Movie stars Chris Pratt and Charlie Day won't confirm or deny whether Wario and Waluigi will show up
 
 
Tom Holland and Zendaya in Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Marvel Movies After appearing in 5 projects in 2026, Spider-Man: Brand New Day star Zendaya says she'll be taking a break from acting
 
 
Fox McCloud in the The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Animated Movies Glen Powell goes from Top Gun to space pilot as Fox McCloud in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
 
 
The Serpent's Skin
Horror Movies The Serpent's Skin is the neon-soaked, blood-splattered queer love story I've been waiting for
 
 
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Star Wars Movies Lord and Miller seemingly confirm they were signed on for more than one Han Solo Star Wars movie
 
 
A young girl swaddled in rags awakening from death
Horror Movies If Evil Dead Rise was a "rocket ship fuelled by blood" then Lee Cronin's new Mummy movie is "more of a maze"
 
 
Latest in Features
Arjun shields up as Prophet blasts out a spiral of yellow corrupted bullets in a Saros boss fight, with the GamesRadar+ Big Preview frame
Roguelike Games Saros: The Big Preview – Hands-on and developer access with PS5's roguelike game-changer
 
 
The Serpent's Skin
Horror Movies The Serpent's Skin is the neon-soaked, blood-splattered queer love story I've been waiting for
 
 
Pokemon TCG Perfect Order Elite Trainer Box on a wooden table
Tabletop Gaming Perfect Order introduces a Pokemon card everyone will want to use, and fans are already clamoring for it
 
 
Cyberpunk 2077
RPGs Cyberpunk 2077 is a better role-playing game than The Witcher 3
 
 
Star Fox
Third Person Shooters Star Fox isn't just an iconic retro Nintendo shooter – it paved the road to Super Mario 64
 
 
Jujutsu Kaisen
Anime Shows Jujutsu Kaisen season 4 release date speculation, teaser, cast, and Culling Game Part 2's story
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 lead Gustave faces a gommage
    1
    "You can't build clever little games anymore," says RPG legend, unless you get lucky like Clair Obscur Expedition 33: "That doesn't please the stock market"
  2. 2
    Arc Raiders lead was surprised The Last of Us players really liked the game, "they just didn't like to have PvP all the time"
  3. 3
    Saros aims for bite-sized 30-minute runs, and the cool-off makes you "ready for another", its game designer tells me
  4. 4
    7 reasons why Saros has me hooked on its eclipse-powered roguelike runs, and why it might be PS5's most impressive release of the year
  5. 5
    Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 devs were "experimenting" for the first game, but came armed with knowledge and about 100 more staff members for the sequel: "It had to stand taller"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...