9 Most Iconic Disney Princes

Princes in Disney movies are the most popular characters after their princesses. Disney princes have all types of personalities and while they can be funny, courageous, or extremely intelligent. But there is one quality that all of them have in common, kindness. Even when a prince starts out in the story rather grumpy or spoiled they’re always good at heart. Thanks to these beloved princes, Disney fans can also meet hilarious sidekicks and the best dogs in Disney movies.

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Disney princes are beloved because they are brave, loyal, and supportive of strong Disney princesses. The list of Disney princes is constantly growing and fans can get to know a whole set of new, fascinating, and more diverse characters. Most of the Disney princes are born into royalty, some became royalty by marriage, and there are a few who became official Disney princes thanks to their impeccable characters and not because of blood or marriage.

Updated on May 8, 2024, by Mara Cowley: Disney movies remain a favorite among adults and children worldwide, with their fairytale stories and their fairytale romances between a Disney princess and her Disney prince. They are usually as well-written as their princess counterparts, albeit less popular, but that is not to say there is no love for these valiant, chivalrous heroes always ready to rush in defense of their beloved. By now, the Disney catalog spans an impressive amount of movies, which can cause some movies and their subsequent cast to be lost to time. This article is dedicated to highlighting the best Disney prince characters and has been updated to include even more.

9 Prince Phillip – Sleeping Beauty

One of the Bravest Princes

• Release Date: January 29th, 1959
• Runtime: 1hr 15m
• Director: Clyde Geromini, Wolfgang Reitherman, Eric Larson, Les Clark

One of Disney’s oldest movies is home to one of their bravest princes. Sleeping Beauty is based on the ballet performance of the titular heroine falling to a sleeping spell on her sixteenth birthday, and her entire Kingdom succumbing along with her. The brave Prince Phillip awakens her and the kingdom, but there are more acts of chivalry by his hand.

Brandishing steel, Phillip challenges Maleficent and her malignant forces to save Aurora, showing he is a ruler capable of more than sitting atop a throne and guiding his kingdom with very distant reach. Instead, he is proactive in saving the land and his beloved princess.

8 John Smith – Pocahontas

A Prince by Nature if Not by Name

• Release Date: June 23rd, 1995
• Runtime: 1hr 21m
• Director: Mike Gabriel, Eric Goldberg

games-inspired-real-life-stories/”>Based on real historical figures, Pocahontas is a more romanticized and child-friendly version of the story about the titular heroine and her love interest, John Smith. Though his official title is Captain, John has earned his place as an honorary Prince thanks to his actions in the movie.

John Smith acts as a peacemaker between the colonists and tribes, advocating for peace between the two groups, even taking a bullet for Powhatan. His bravery and selfless nature are inspiring, as is his love for Pocahontas. Even though the two separate at the film’s end, their bond is undeniable.

7 Prince Eric – The Little Mermaid

Courageous, Kind, and Romantic, Eric is a Classic Prince

• Release Date: November 17th, 1989
• Runtime: 1hr 23m
• Director: John Musker, Ron Clements

Prince Eric is a beloved classic Disney prince who showed his courage and kindness many times. He’s also one of the most romantic princes in Disney movies who is a hopeless romantic and believes in true love. Prince Eric is also an adventurous character who despite his good looks and charm never shows any vanity or acts self-centered.

The Little Mermaid is a magical animated Disney movie set between the underwater realm of mermaids and the human realm. The story follows Ariel’s adventures as the young mermaid decides to give up her life as a princess to become human and be with the prince she fell in love with.

6 Prince Naveen – The Princess And The Frog

His Flaws Make Him a More Realistic and Relatable Character

• Release Date: December 11th, 2009
• Runtime: 1hr 37m
• Director: John Musker, Ron Clements

Prince Naveen is a charismatic and fairly selfish prince who changes for the better thanks to Tiana. Even though he starts out in the story rather vain and irresponsible, the eldest prince of Maldonia soon shows that he can use his free-spirited thinking and massive amounts of energy to better himself and help the people around him.

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The Princess And The Frog is one of the most complex and underrated Disney movies set in New Orleans during the 1920s. This animated movie not only has memorable characters but also an inspiring and beautiful story about a hardworking young girl, Tiana, who dreams about opening her own restaurant. The story follows her adventures after she turns into a frog because of a witch doctor and a selfish prince.

5 Kristoff Bjorgman – Frozen

One of the Kindest Disney Characters of All Time

• Release Date: November 27th, 2013
• Runtime: 1hr 42m
• Director: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee

Kristoff Bjorgman is one of the most introverted Disney princes who prefers nature over bustling cities. He became the prince of Arendelle thanks to her marriage to princess Anna. Kristoff is a calm and kind character who is always protective of his loved ones and shows kindness toward all living beings.

Frozen is one of Disney’s most iconic animated movies with beautiful songs and one of the best movie queens of all time. The story follows princess Ana’s adventures as she sets out on an epic adventure to find her sister Elsa and finally end the eternal winter in the kingdom of Arendelle.

4 Li Shang – Mulan

A Strong and Capable Warrior

• Release Date: June 19th, 1998
• Runtime: 1hr 27m
• Director: Barry Cook, Tony Bancroft

Li Shang is one of the most beloved Disney princes and is considered the greatest prince of all time by many fans. He is also one of the two Disney characters who became official Disney princes despite not having royal blood or getting married to a royal. Li was a courageous, intelligent, and loyal warrior who supported Mulan even after he found out the truth about her.

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Mulan is a hilarious and thrilling Action-animated movie with one of the best Disney side characters and epic adventures. Its story is about a young girl named Mulan who decides to join the Chinese army to save his elderly father from certain death and becomes China’s greatest warrior.

3 Prince Adam – Beauty And The Beast

His Arc Demonstrates the Power of Unconditional Love

• Release Date: November 22nd, 1991
• Runtime: 1hr 24m
• Director: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise

Prince Adam is one of the most arrogant Disney princes who even got cursed and turned into a literal monster for being so hateful and cruel. However, he’s also one of the Disney characters who changes the most, and thanks to Bell’s selflessness, ingenuity, and kindness he eventually learns that those qualities are the ones that matter the most.

Disney’s Beauty And The Beast is one of the greatest Beauty and The Beast movies of all time with a powerful message about unconditional love and kindness. The story follows Bell’s adventures as the young girl voluntarily becomes the prisoner of a terrifying beast to save his father’s life.

2 Flynn Rider – Tangled

Bold and Amusing, Flynn is One of the Most Charismatic Princes

• Release Date: November 24th, 2010
• Runtime: 1hr 40m
• Director: Nathan Greno, Byron Howard

Flynn Rider is one of the most hilarious and bold Disney princes with a truly unique personality. Tangled‘s brilliant theft was also known as prince Eugene Fitzherbert, the long-lost prince of the Dark Kingdom. Fans fell in love with the courageous and quick-witted young prince who was just as memorable and strong as the movie’s iconic princess, Rapunzel.

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Tangled is a hilarious Disney movie with a beautiful and vibrant world and unforgettable characters. Its story follows the adventures of the young princess Rapunzel who after finally escaping the tower embarks on an epic adventure and finds out who she really is and how to use her magically powerful hair.

1 Aladdin – Aladdin

Despite the Hardships, Aladdin Remains Good and Pure

• Release Date: November 11th, 1992
• Runtime: 1hr 30m
• Director: John Musker, Ron Clements

Aladdin is a selfless, clever, and funny Disney prince who always shows kindness toward others even though he endured a tough life. He always accepted and loved people for who they were, yet he was secretly dealing with insecurities of his own because of his poor upbringing.

Aladdin is one of the most motivational Disney animated movies with relatable and courageous characters and unforgettable songs. The best songs in Aladdin are still some of Disney’s most popular songs ever made. Its story follows Aladdin’s adventures after the young boy finds a magical lamp with a powerful Genie inside who can make his owner’s wishes come true.

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