Let’s be real for a second. There is something uniquely satisfying about watching a girl who can’t walk in heels suddenly get told she’s the heir to a European throne. We’ve all been there—not the throne part, obviously, but that feeling of being a "work in progress" waiting for the world to notice. When The Princess Diaries dropped in 2001, it didn't just give us Anne Hathaway; it gave us a blueprint for the "ugly duckling" trope that we still can’t stop watching. But when you’ve seen Mia Thermopolis trip over her own feet for the hundredth time, you start hunting for Princess Diaries similar movies to keep that specific dopamine hit going.
Finding that exact vibe is harder than it looks. You need the perfect cocktail of awkwardness, a glow-up montage (mandatory, honestly), and a love interest who sees the protagonist before the hair straightener comes out.
The High School Hierarchy and the "Secret" Royal
Most people think movies like this are just about the clothes. They aren't. They’re about the sheer, terrifying anxiety of being seen. If you’re looking for the closest spiritual successor, you have to talk about What a Girl Wants (2003). Amanda Bynes plays Daphne, an American teen who flies to London to find her father, only to realize he’s a massive deal in the British aristocracy.
It’s got everything. The stuffy etiquette lessons? Check. The "evil" stepmother-to-be? Absolutely. The scene where she breaks a priceless chandelier? It’s basically a requirement. But where The Princess Diaries is about duty, What a Girl Wants is about identity. Daphne tries to squeeze herself into a pearl-wearing mold before realizing—spoiler alert—that being herself is actually the point. It’s a bit cheesier than Genovia, sure, but it hits the same notes of fish-out-of-water comedy that made us love Mia.
Then there’s Ella Enchanted. Also starring Anne Hathaway. It’s a bit of a meta-choice, but it works because it leans into the fairy-tale absurdity. Instead of a makeover involving tweezers and a brush, Ella is literally cursed with obedience. It’s a darker concept if you actually think about it for more than five seconds, but the movie keeps it light with a giant snake and a Prince Charmont who is, frankly, peak early-2000s heartthrob.
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Why We Are Still Obsessed With the Makeover Trope
We have to address the elephant in the room: the makeover. Critics today love to tear into the idea that a girl needs to take off her glasses to be pretty. They’re not wrong! But Princess Diaries similar movies aren't usually suggesting the protagonist was "ugly" before. They’re about the transition from being invisible to being unavoidable.
She’s All That is the quintessential example here. Laney Boggs is an artist, she’s "quirky," and she wears overalls covered in paint. Freddie Prinze Jr. makes a bet he can turn her into the prom queen. It’s a problematic premise by modern standards, but the core appeal remains the same as Mia's transformation. It’s the fantasy of the "reveal." We love the moment the doors open and the person who was ignored by the "cool kids" suddenly commands the entire room.
If you want something that feels a bit more grounded (and way funnier), The Duff is the modern answer. It deconstructs the hierarchy of high school without needing a literal crown. Mae Whitman is incredible as Bianca, who realizes she’s the "Designated Ugly Fat Friend"—which, for the record, she isn't, but that’s the label high school gives her. It captures that same "I don’t belong here" energy that Mia Thermopolis radiated in her combat boots.
The "Royal Adjacent" Classics You Might Have Missed
Sometimes you don't need a literal princess. You just need the feeling of a secret world. First Daughter (2004) and Chasing Liberty (2004) are basically the same movie released months apart, and honestly, they both deserve a spot on your watchlist.
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In First Daughter, Katie Holmes is the President’s daughter trying to have a normal college experience. In Chasing Liberty, Mandy Moore is the President’s daughter trying to have a normal European vacation. Both involve secret service agents masquerading as "normal guys" and the inevitable heartbreak when the lie is revealed. These movies tap into the "golden cage" theme that made the Genovia palace feel both magical and like a prison. You want the crown, but you also want to be able to eat a corndog at a carnival without a security detail.
- The Prince & Me (2004): Julia Stiles plays a pre-med student who falls for a Danish prince undercover at her Wisconsin college. It’s arguably more "mature" than Princess Diaries but keeps the "oh no, he’s a royal" shock factor.
- Monte Carlo (2011): Selena Gomez plays a girl mistaken for a British socialite. It’s a classic case of mistaken identity in a high-glamour setting.
- A Cinderella Story (2004): Hilary Duff at her peak. The "drought" metaphor is a bit heavy-handed, but the chemistry with Chad Michael Murray is undeniable.
The Complicated Reality of the "New" Princess Movie
The landscape of Princess Diaries similar movies has shifted since 2001. We don’t see as many theatrical releases in this genre anymore; most of them have migrated to Netflix. The Princess Switch franchise is a prime example. Vanessa Hudgens is doing the heavy lifting there, playing multiple characters with varying accents. It’s campy. It’s a bit ridiculous. But it understands the assignment.
The 2026 viewer is a bit more cynical, though. We know that becoming a royal involves a lot of taxes and paparazzi, not just tiaras. This is why Red, White & Royal Blue (though a romance between two men) actually captures the Princess Diaries spirit better than many recent female-led rom-coms. It deals with the clash between private desire and public duty. It’s fast-paced, witty, and acknowledges that being a royal in the 21st century is mostly a PR nightmare.
Beyond the Crown: The "Ordinary Girl, Extraordinary World" Vibes
If the royalty part isn't the main draw for you, but the "awkward girl finds her power" part is, you have to look at Wild Child (2008). Emma Roberts plays a spoiled Malibu brat sent to a strict British boarding school. It flips the Princess Diaries script—instead of an unrefined girl becoming refined, a "perfect" girl is humbled and finds real friendship. The boarding school setting provides that same sense of a "hidden world" with its own rules, uniforms, and social tiers.
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And we can't ignore Clueless. While Cher Horowitz is already at the top of the food chain, her "project" with Tai (Brittany Murphy) is the ultimate makeover subplot. It’s smart, it’s stylish, and it has a heart of gold. It reminds us that these movies work best when the transformation isn't just about hair and makeup, but about character growth.
Navigating the Binge: Your Practical Watchlist
If you're planning a marathon, don't just pick movies at random. You have to curate the vibe. Start with the high-stakes royal stuff, then move into the high school transformations.
- The "Royal Secret" Phase: Watch What a Girl Wants and The Prince & Me. These satisfy the craving for protocol and "secret" identities.
- The "High School Metamorphosis" Phase: Go for She’s All That or The Duff. This is for when you want to see the social hierarchy get flipped on its head.
- The "Modern Twist" Phase: Hit up Monte Carlo or The Princess Switch. These are great for when you want low-stakes, high-glamour escapism.
There’s a reason we keep coming back to these stories. Life is messy and unpredictable. Most of us feel like Mia Thermopolis on a daily basis—frizzy hair, bad timing, and a tendency to say the wrong thing. The "princess movie" is a form of wish fulfillment that says, "Hey, maybe there’s a version of you that is destined for greatness, even if you just tripped over a curb."
Whether it's the 2001 classic or a 2026 streaming equivalent, the core remains the same. We want to believe in the transformation. We want to believe that the awkwardness of youth is just the preamble to something spectacular. So, grab some popcorn, ignore the critics who say these movies are "formulaic," and enjoy the montage. The formula exists because it works.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check Streaming Availability: Most of these titles cycle between Disney+, Netflix, and Max. Set a "Watchlist" alert on JustWatch so you don't miss when What a Girl Wants returns to your favorite platform.
- Look for the "Spiritual Successors": Don't just stick to movies. Shows like Bridgerton or the more comedic The Great offer that same "royal protocol vs. human emotion" conflict, albeit with a lot more spice.
- Host a Theme Night: If you're watching with friends, lean into the Genovia vibe. Get the pear popcorn (it’s a thing, look it up) and maybe avoid the green sorbet unless you want a brain freeze that makes you scream like Mia.