Top 20 Greatest Live-Action Disney Couples
#20: George & Ursula “George of the Jungle” (1997)
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Tarzan and Jane may be the original king and queen of the jungle, but in the nineties they had some real competition. “George of the Jungle” first swung onto screens in a 1960s animated series with a super catchy theme song. Three decades later, the character was resurrected by Disney as the star of an irreverent comedy movie. A sendup of the Tarzan character, George is raised by apes. However, when he meets Ursula Stanhope, he gains a newfound interest in the human world. Brendan Fraser is perfectly cast as the loveable George and Leslie Mann charms as the object of his affections. It might not be a serious film, but this couple is seriously sweet.
#19: Miley & Travis “Hannah Montana: The Movie” (2009)
In the seminal Disney Channel series “Hannah Montana,” Miley Stewart found herself torn between two serious love interests. But whether you were team Jesse or team Jake, Travis Brody was arguably the best of the bunch, played by the perfectly cast Lucas Till. The “Hannah Montana” film removed Miley from her day-to-day sitcom shenanigans and slowed things down a little. With the new setting came a new romantic prospect, and Travis understood the assignment. Unimpressed by stardom, but supportive of her hopes and dreams, this laid-back farm boy was just what Miley needed. Plus, you can’t go wrong with a falling in love montage.
#18: Prince Caspian & Susan “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” (2008)
In the C.S. Lewis book this film is based on, Prince Caspian and Susan Pevensie barely interact. However, we can’t help but love the addition of this romantic subplot in the movie. The adaptation makes the most of Susan’s famed archery skills and brings her back into the action. This allows for more time with Caspian, and the attraction between them is there from the beginning. Their romance plays out in a handful of moments and doesn’t take anything away from the main story. But they still make a great couple and their chemistry is undeniable.
#17: Mal & Ben “Descendants” franchise (2015-)
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They say opposites attract, but Maleficent’s daughter and the son of Belle and the Beast? That’s one Disney crossover we didn’t see coming. When we first meet Mal she’s ruthless, manipulative, and striving to prove herself to her villainous mother. But we know that deep down, she’s conflicted. Ben helps bring out her softer side, revealing the compassionate young woman Mal has the potential to become. Their story does begin with a love potion, which is fairly problematic. However, once Ben is freed from the spell it doesn’t take long for real feelings to blossom. The duo fast become the ‘it’ couple of Auradon.
#16: Kate & Sam “Holes” (2003)
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This Disney adaptation of the Louis Sachar novel follows Stanley Yelnats, a good kid sent to a camp for bad boys. The plot is full of twists and turns and Shia Lebeouf’s Stanley is a likable lead. However, it’s the doomed love story between Katherine "Kissin' Kate" Barlow and Sam that lingers longest in our memories. In a series of flashbacks, we learn how the former schoolteacher’s romance with the local onion seller led her to a life of crime. Scenes from the early days of their relationship are tender and heart-wrenching, because we know that it can’t last forever. Torn apart by prejudice, their story ends in tragedy.
#15: Miss Eglantine Price & Mr. Emelius Browne “Bedknobs and Broomsticks” (1971)
Disney romance is usually all about young people, so it’s nice to see a middle-aged couple as the focus of a love story. Miss Price is a trainee witch who’s been taking a course in magic from a mysterious London professor. Emelius Browne turns out to be a scam artist and a hack, but he’s thrilled to meet a student with a genuine gift. Despite their characters’ contrasting personalities, Angela Lansbury and David Tomlinson make a delightful team. They fight Nazis, dance under the sea, and become stand-in parents to three lonely refugees. They’re both reluctant to commit, but it’s clear that they’re meant to be together.
#14: Cinderella & Prince Christopher “Cinderella” (1997)
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Everyone has their favorite version of this classic story. For many nineties kids, Brandy Norwood remains the definitive Cinderella. As the heroine of this made-for-TV movie, Brandy became the first Black actor to portray the iconic character on screen. She starred opposite Filipino-American actor Paolo Montalban as Prince Christopher. The two first meet in the marketplace, where the prince is disguised as a commoner. The spark is there from the start and it’s clear that Christopher and Cinderella are a perfect match. With the help of some beautiful Rodgers and Hammerstein duets, this charming duo made us believe in love.
#13: Queen Clarisse & Joe “The Princess Diaries” Franchise (2001-)
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Whether you’re a Michael Moscovitz fan or you’re partial to Chris Pine’s Lord Devereaux, there’s one “Princess Diaries” couple everyone can get behind. Queen Clarisse and Joe the security chief weren’t originally intended to be endgame. However, Julie Andrews and Héctor Elizondo got on so well that the relationship between their characters was enriched. Queen Clarisse is quite different from her counterpart in the novels and Joe isn’t in the books at all, but we love them nonetheless. Their on-screen chemistry and covert romance help round out both characters and it’s obvious that the actors were having loads of fun.
#12: Nick Parker & Elizabeth James “The Parent Trap” (1998)
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A reimagining of the 1961 classic, the Nancy Meyers take on “The Parent Trap” has something for everyone. For the kids, there’s Hallie and Annie’s fun-filled journey from sparring siblings to partners in crime. For the adults, it’s all about the romance. Strange parental decisions aside, both Nick and Elizabeth are likable characters. In the original movie, we had our doubts about whether Mitch and Maggie were made for each other — despite their chemistry. But the remake builds on the parents’ relationship and convinces us that they should give their marriage a second chance. Natasha Richardson and Dennis Quaid are luminous together and the ending is genuinely swoonworthy.
#11: Ariel & Prince Eric “The Little Mermaid” (2023)
Although they barely hold a conversation for most of the film, this couple has a connection built on more than just love at first sight. Even in the animated version, it’s Ariel’s quirky and adventurous personality that charms Eric, not just her looks. In the live-action remake, we’re shown that they share a love of learning and a curiosity about the world around them. Plus, they have so much fun together. They may not be able to express their feelings in words, but Halle Bailey and Jonah Hauer-King make it easy to believe the two are crazy about each other.
#10: Jesse Tuck & Winnie Foster “Tuck Everlasting” (2002)
Winnie is the prim and proper daughter of a wealthy and powerful family. Jesse is a wild, and untamed free spirit. But it’s probably easy to be such a free spirit when you're immortal. When Winnie discovers the secret spring that turned the Tucks immortal, she and Jesse are intertwined forever. She keeps their secret, even at the risk of her own life. Coming from such different walks of life, they changed each other’s views of the world. And though they don’t last forever, what they have together is a beautiful moment in time.
#9: Roger Dearly & Anita Campbell-Green Dearly “101 Dalmatians” (1996)
They were awfully cute all on their own, but then throw in the fact that they are raising 101 dogs together and it's just overwhelmingly adorable. Their first time meeting is the definition of a meet cute. Roger falls into a park pond and Anita must help him when their two dogs show an affinity for each other. Inevitably, both couples fall madly in love. Watching this dynamic duo help Pongo and Perdita keep their puppies safe from the evil Cruella De Ville will make you audibly “awwww”.
#8: Anna & Jake “Freaky Friday” (2003)
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Though he does have that momentary lapse in judgment when he’s crushing on Anna when she looks like her mom, Jake was pretty perfect for the real Anna. He was a bit older, but respected Anna's mom's set limitations. And though Anna was younger she was mature, even more so than her mother at times. They liked all the same music, and he loved and supported her band. Even Tess had to admit they were great for each other.
#7: Belle & the Beast “Beauty and the Beast” (2017)
Admittedly, the way they met is obviously not great. He was holding her captive indefinitely because her father stole a rose from his garden. Not exactly your picture perfect romantic meet cute. However, the way they fell in love? That is pretty magical. There are multiple songs dedicated to showing how Belle and the Beast brought out the best in each other and discovered things in each other that weren’t there before. More than that, they are the personification of the ideal that beauty is only skin deep.
#6: Aladdin & Jasmine “Aladdin” (2017)
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This live-action adaptation of Disney’s award-winning 1992 animated flick follows the titular street rat, who falls in love with a princess. When Aladdin first meets Jasmine, she tells him she’s the princess’ handmaiden; but he soon discovers the truth, obtains a magic lamp that houses a genie and uses his 3 wishes to ultimately marry the woman of his dreams. Okay, so the tale told in the live-action film is quite similar to the animated musical fantasy. However, the reason Aladdin and Jasmine’s relationship makes this list is not only is he a lot more supportive of her political aspirations, but also they work together more as a team, which shows great potential for their life together after the credits roll.
#5: Cinderella & Prince Kit “Cinderella” (2015)
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Like several of the entries on this list, this couple originated from an animated Disney movie, but their live-action re-imagining developed their relationship more deeply. In the more modern incarnation of Cinderella, Prince Kit is a true Prince Charming and Cinderella is much less a damsel in distress. In this one, they actually meet before the ball ever happens, and start falling for each other without the need for any magic, or bippity boppity boo. Though not seen by their society as equals in status, they see each other as equals, which is way more important.
#4: Mia Thermopolis & Nicholas Deveraux “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement” (2004)
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Michael saw her when she was invisible, but Nicholas is Mia’s first love. They start as enemies, then become friends, and then the attraction between them becomes too much to bear. As her coronation approaches, Mia is required to marry to be Queen, so she is arranged to marry Andrew, but Nicholas is who she really loves. Too bad he is out to steal her throne. That is until he falls for her too. He gives up his shot at the throne for her, and doesn't make her choose between the throne and love. Naturally, Mia takes the throne sans husband like a boss, and gets Nicholas in the end anyway, making the two Genovia’s power couple.
#3: Troy Bolton & Gabriella Montez “High School Musical” franchise (2006-)
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Whether you loved or hated these movies, there is no denying that Troy and Gabriella were a great couple. They had their problems like any couple. Troy was occasionally selfish, but they always supported each other, always trusted each other, and had a surprisingly mature relationship for two young people. In the third movie, the cliche thing might have been for Gabriella to follow Troy to school, but that was not even in question. They always knew she would go to her school and he would go to his, and they would just work it out. Oh and their duets were on point.
#2: Will Turner & Elizabeth Swann “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise (2003-)
From the moment we first saw them meet as kids in the first “Pirates” movie Will and Elizabeth were clearly meant to be. One of the best things about this couple is that we got to see them grow over the course of the franchise. They are fun, adventurous, always fight for each other, and are a clever play on the damsel in distress trope. For as many times as Will saved Elizabeth, she saved him too. And they had a super bad ass wedding in the midst of one of many battles to the death. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Lizzie & Gordo, “The Lizzie McGuire Movie” (2003) The Long-Time Friends Finally Got Their Romantic Moment Lori MacGregor & Andrew MacDhui, “The Three Lives of Thomasina” (1963) Romance Blossoms between the Village Vet & the Witch of the Glen Genie & Dalia, “Aladdin” (2019) Genie Meets His Match in the Live-Action Remake
#1: Giselle & Robert Phillip “Enchanted” (2007)
Part of what makes this couple so great is that along with swelling our hearts as we watch them fall in love, they also poke fun at animated Disney couples. But unlike most Disney couples, in this one, it is the Princess who saves her Prince. Giselle is a fairytale character who falls into the real world, which, according to Robert, is a world where happy endings don’t exist. But through her optimistic songs she reminds him of the magic of the real world, and they live happily ever after. Which Disney romances are your couple goals? Let us know in those comments.
