Best Movies like Brave (2012)

Moana and Brave both center on a courageous young woman who defies expectations to protect her homeland and loved ones. Each features a heroine embarking on a quest that intertwines with the mystical and the fate of her people, using adventure and fantastical elements in a family-friendly animation.

In Ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by Maui reaches an impetuous Chieftain's daughter's island, she answers the Ocean's call to seek out the demigod to set things right. Moana is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 47m runtime, released in 2016 with an average rating of 7.6 by 13,894 people. The movie made an estimated total of $690,860,472 in the box office.

Mulan, like Brave, follows a young woman challenging traditional roles and seeking agency within her family and society. Both animated films depict a heroine taking bold action to shape her own destiny and protect those she cares about, set against a backdrop of cultural expectations.

When Imperial China calls one man from every family to defend the empire from invading Huns, a young woman disguises herself as a soldier to take her ailing father’s place. Facing ruthless invaders, brutal training, and the risk of execution if discovered, she must decide who she truly is— and what she’s willing to fight for. Mulan is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 28m runtime, released in 1998 with an average rating of 7.9 by 10,575 people. The movie made an estimated total of $304,320,254 in the box office.

The Secret of Kells and Brave share roots in Celtic-inspired myth and legend, combining animated fantasy with a rich folkloric atmosphere. Each follows a youthful protagonist venturing into the mystical, highlighting themes of courage, tradition, and coming of age in a magical land.

Adventure awaits 12 year old Brendan who must fight Vikings and a serpent god to find a crystal and complete the legendary Book of Kells. In order to finish Brother Aiden's book, Brendan must overcome his deepest fears on a secret quest that will take him beyond the abbey walls and into the enchanted forest where dangerous mythical creatures hide. Will Brendan succeed in his quest? The Secret of Kells is a movie from Ireland in English, with a total 1h 19m runtime, released in 2009 with an average rating of 7.4 by 800 people. The movie made an estimated total of $1,803,412 in the box office.

Wolfwalkers and Brave both present stories of young protagonists in mystical, nature-rich settings who confront transformative magic and generational expectations. These animated adventures weave folklore and fantastical elements with themes of personal growth, family, and the wildness of the natural world.

In a time of superstition and magic, when wolves are seen as demonic and nature an evil to be tamed, a young apprentice hunter comes to Ireland with her father to wipe out the last pack. But when she saves a wild native girl, their friendship leads her to discover the world of the Wolfwalkers and transform her into the very thing her father is tasked to destroy. Wolfwalkers is a movie from Ireland in English, with a total 1h 42m runtime, released in 2020 with an average rating of 8.2 by 1,424 people. The movie made an estimated total of $1,310,720 in the box office.

Kiki's Delivery Service, like Brave, features an animated young female protagonist venturing out on her own, navigating magical elements, and discovering independence and identity. Both films focus on self-discovery against the backdrop of lushly animated landscapes and subtle humor.

A young witch, on her mandatory year of independent life, finds fitting into a new community difficult while she supports herself by running an air courier service. Kiki's Delivery Service is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 1h 43m runtime, released in 1989 with an average rating of 7.8 by 4,654 people. The movie made an estimated total of $4,493,017 in the box office.

Song of the Sea mirrors Brave’s use of Celtic myths and coastal landscapes, placing a young protagonist at the heart of a magical family adventure. Each animated film weaves themes of heritage, transformation, and the power of familial bonds within a beautifully realized folkloric world.

The story of the last Seal Child’s journey home. After their mother’s disappearance, Ben and Saoirse are sent to live with Granny in the city. When they resolve to return to their home by the sea, their journey becomes a race against time as they are drawn into a world Ben knows only from his mother’s folktales. But this is no bedtime story; these fairy folk have been in our world far too long. It soon becomes clear to Ben that Saoirse is the key to their survival. Song of the Sea is a movie from Ireland in English, with a total 1h 34m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 8.0 by 1,604 people. The movie made an estimated total of $857,522 in the box office.

Frozen and Brave both revolve around royal daughters confronting personal challenges and family dynamics in animated fantasy settings. Themes of self-determination, sibling and parent–child relationships, and the transformative impact of magic are at the forefront of compelling, visually rich stories.

Young princess Anna of Arendelle dreams about finding true love at her sister Elsa’s coronation. Fate takes her on a dangerous journey in an attempt to end the eternal winter that has fallen over the kingdom. She's accompanied by ice delivery man Kristoff, his reindeer Sven, and snowman Olaf. On an adventure where she will find out what friendship, courage, family, and true love really means. Frozen is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 42m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 7.2 by 17,727 people. The movie made an estimated total of $1,274,219,009 in the box office.

Ponyo matches Brave’s blend of fantasy and adventure within a family-friendly animated format. Both films lead viewers through magical realms with a youthful protagonist who challenges their surroundings, and they celebrate the wonder and unpredictability of worlds rich with magical surprises.

When Sosuke, a young boy who lives on a clifftop overlooking the sea, rescues a stranded goldfish named Ponyo, he discovers more than he bargained for. Ponyo is a curious, energetic young creature who yearns to be human, but even as she causes chaos around the house, her father, a powerful sorcerer, schemes to return Ponyo to the sea. Ponyo is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 1h 40m runtime, released in 2008 with an average rating of 7.8 by 4,894 people. The movie made an estimated total of $202,404,009 in the box office.

How to Train Your Dragon and Brave each unfold in rugged, mythic landscapes where a youthful character challenges traditions and forms unexpected alliances. The animated storytelling explores themes of bravery, parent–child relationships, and changing one’s fate within adventurous, close-knit communities.

As the son of a Viking leader on the cusp of manhood, shy Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III faces a rite of passage: he must kill a dragon to prove his warrior mettle. But after downing a feared dragon, he realizes that he no longer wants to destroy it, and instead befriends the beast – which he names Toothless – much to the chagrin of his warrior father. How to Train Your Dragon is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 38m runtime, released in 2010 with an average rating of 7.9 by 14,563 people. The movie made an estimated total of $495,141,736 in the box office.

The Princess and the Frog, like Brave, is an animated adventure that centers on a determined heroine whose wish sets off an unexpected magical journey. Both films explore themes of transformation, family, and self-discovery through beautifully crafted fairy-tale worlds.

A waitress, desperate to fulfill her dreams as a restaurant owner, is set on a journey to turn a frog prince back into a human being, but she has to face the same problem after she kisses him. The Princess and the Frog is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 38m runtime, released in 2009 with an average rating of 7.2 by 6,215 people. The movie made an estimated total of $270,997,378 in the box office.

The Tale of The Princess Kaguya and Brave both interpret folklore through distinctive animation, featuring a young female protagonist wrestling with family expectations. Themes of fate, freedom, and transformation are explored as each heroine embarks on a path that challenges tradition.

Found inside a shining stalk of bamboo by an old bamboo cutter and his wife, a tiny girl grows rapidly into an exquisite young lady. The mysterious young princess enthrals all who encounter her. But, ultimately, she must confront her fate. The Tale of The Princess Kaguya is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 2h 17m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 8.1 by 2,020 people. The movie made an estimated total of $24,366,656 in the box office.

The Little Prince and Brave present animated tales where a young character is drawn into a magical world that transforms their understanding of family, responsibility, and self. Both explore emotional growth, imagination, and the meaning of home through visually inventive storytelling.

Based on the best-seller book 'The Little Prince', the movie tells the story of a little girl that lives with resignation in a world where efficiency and work are the only dogmas. Everything will change when accidentally she discovers her neighbor that will tell her about the story of the Little Prince that he once met. The Little Prince is a movie from France in English, with a total 1h 46m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 7.6 by 3,007 people. The movie made an estimated total of $101,281,211 in the box office.

Abominable and Brave share the adventures of plucky young leads journeying across visually striking landscapes, motivated by family and personal destiny. Each animated film involves encounters with magical creatures and the importance of courage amidst fantastical challenges.

A group of misfits encounter a young Yeti named Everest, and they set off to reunite the magical creature with his family on the mountain of his namesake. Abominable is a movie from China in English, with a total 1h 37m runtime, released in 2019 with an average rating of 7.5 by 2,204 people. The movie made an estimated total of $190,304,772 in the box office.

The Book of Life and Brave both employ vibrant animation to explore folklore, legacy, and the impact of personal choices on family and tradition. Each film’s journey is rooted in cultural storytelling, blending magical elements with the struggles and joys of youthful protagonists.

The journey of Manolo, a young man who is torn between fulfilling the expectations of his family and following his heart. Before choosing which path to follow, he embarks on an incredible adventure that spans fantastical worlds where he must face his greatest fears. The Book of Life is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 35m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 7.5 by 2,978 people. The movie made an estimated total of $97,437,106 in the box office.

Mune: Guardian of the Moon and Brave are animated fantasy adventures that depict a young protagonist thrust into the role of saving their world. Both films blend imaginative magical elements, the burden of responsibility, and the necessity of courage in the face of great odds.

When a faun named Mune becomes the Guardian of the Moon, little did he had unprepared experience with the Moon and an accident that could put both the Moon and the Sun in danger, including a corrupt titan named Necross who wants the Sun for himself and placing the balance of night and day in great peril. Now with the help of a wax-child named Glim and the warrior, Sohone who also became the Sun Guardian, they go out on an exciting journey to get the Sun back and restore the Moon to their rightful place in the sky. Mune: Guardian of the Moon is a movie from France in French, with a total 1h 26m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 7.3 by 613 people. The movie made an estimated total of $15,730,665 in the box office.

Ella Enchanted, similar to Brave, offers a fantasy narrative about a young woman rebelling against magical fate imposed on her. Both films juggle family expectations, individual agency, and humor in enchanted settings where breaking free from destiny is central to the plot.

Ella lives in a magical world in which each child, at the moment of their birth, is given a virtuous "gift" from a fairy godmother. Ella's so-called gift, however, is obedience. This birthright proves itself to be quite the curse once Ella finds herself in the hands of several unscrupulous characters whom she quite literally cannot disobey. Determined to gain control of her life and decisions, Ella sets off on a journey to find her fairy godmother who she hopes will lift the curse. The path, however, isn't easy -- Ella must outwit a slew of unpleasant obstacles including ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters, elves and Prince Charmont's evil uncle, who wants to take over the crown and rule the kingdom. Ella Enchanted is a movie from Ireland in English, with a total 1h 36m runtime, released in 2004 with an average rating of 6.5 by 1,994 people. The movie made an estimated total of $27,400,000 in the box office.

Coraline and Brave feature adventurous young heroines who stumble into supernatural realms and must undo the consequences of their choices. Both animated films explore family, the allure and danger of wishes, and the journey toward maturity within imaginative, beautifully rendered worlds.

Wandering her rambling old house in her boring new town, 11-year-old Coraline discovers a hidden door to a strangely idealized version of her life. In order to stay in the fantasy, she must make a frighteningly real sacrifice. Coraline is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 40m runtime, released in 2009 with an average rating of 7.9 by 9,223 people. The movie made an estimated total of $185,860,104 in the box office.

Ernest & Celestine, while stylistically distinct, shares Brave’s focus on unlikely friendship, community expectations, and resilience in the face of adversity. Both are animated features centering on characters challenging the status quo within gentle, emotionally resonant narratives.

Celestine is a little mouse trying to avoid a dental career while Ernest is a big bear craving an artistic outlet. When Celestine meets Ernest, they overcome their natural enmity by forging a life of crime together. Ernest & Celestine is a movie from France in French, with a total 1h 20m runtime, released in 2012 with an average rating of 7.8 by 701 people. The movie made an estimated total of $8,170,333 in the box office.

The Breadwinner explores the trials of a brave young girl facing family conflict and societal constraints, paralleling Brave’s focus on female empowerment within a richly realized animated setting. Both stories center personal courage and the desire to protect loved ones in challenging environments.

A headstrong young girl in Afghanistan, ruled by the Taliban, disguises herself as a boy in order to provide for her family. The Breadwinner is a movie from Ireland in English, with a total 1h 34m runtime, released in 2017 with an average rating of 7.9 by 938 people. The movie made an estimated total of $2,790,214 in the box office.

Spirited Away and Brave are animated journeys through magical worlds where a young girl must use wit and bravery to reverse a spell affecting her family. Each film blends folklore and transformation, centering on self-discovery amidst fantastical trials.

A young girl, Chihiro, becomes trapped in a strange new world of spirits. When her parents undergo a mysterious transformation, she must call upon the courage she never knew she had to free her family. Spirited Away is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 2h 5m runtime, released in 2001 with an average rating of 8.5 by 18,641 people. The movie made an estimated total of $274,925,095 in the box office.

Warriors of the Wind shares Brave's use of mythic landscapes, young protagonists, and magical conflict. Both animated adventures unfold in nature-infused settings where familial and societal duty push characters into transformative quests.

After a global war, the seaside kingdom known as the Valley of the Wind remains one of the last strongholds on Earth untouched by a poisonous jungle and the powerful insects that guard it. Led by the courageous Princess Nausicaä, the people of the Valley engage in an epic struggle to restore the bond between humanity and Earth. Warriors of the Wind is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 1h 35m runtime, released in 1984 with an average rating of 7.9 by 4,138 people. The movie made an estimated total of $9,016,411 in the box office.

Tangled offers an animated take on a princess striving for independence, much like Brave. Both films center on a young woman escaping restrictive expectations, embarking on adventure, and asserting her individuality in fantastical, humor-laced worlds with strong parent–child dynamics.

Feisty teenager Rapunzel, who has long and magical hair, wants to go and see sky lanterns on her eighteenth birthday, but she's bound to a tower by her overprotective mother. She strikes a deal with Flynn Rider, a charming wanted thief, and the duo set off on an action-packed escapade. Tangled is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 40m runtime, released in 2010 with an average rating of 7.6 by 12,555 people. The movie made an estimated total of $592,461,732 in the box office.

Princess Mononoke and Brave both unravel in wild, ancient landscapes shaped by myth and nature. The protagonists challenge family and cultural tradition, confronting the dangers and consequences of mystical forces in visually striking animated epics.

Ashitaka, a prince of the disappearing Emishi people, is cursed by a demonized boar god and must journey to the west to find a cure. Along the way, he encounters San, a young human woman fighting to protect the forest, and Lady Eboshi, who is trying to destroy it. Ashitaka must find a way to bring balance to this conflict. Princess Mononoke is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 2h 14m runtime, released in 1997 with an average rating of 8.3 by 9,151 people. The movie made an estimated total of $176,506,186 in the box office.

Enchanted and Brave both subvert and play with traditional fairy-tale conventions, setting heroines on magical journeys where they must change their fates. Each film explores the intersection of reality and enchantment, with strong-willed leads reshaping their destinies.

The beautiful princess Giselle is banished by an evil queen from her magical, musical animated land and finds herself in the gritty reality of the streets of modern-day Manhattan. Shocked by this strange new environment that doesn't operate on a "happily ever after" basis, Giselle is now adrift in a chaotic world badly in need of enchantment. But when Giselle begins to fall in love with a charmingly flawed divorce lawyer who has come to her aid - even though she is already promised to a perfect fairy tale prince back home - she has to wonder: Can a storybook view of romance survive in the real world? Enchanted is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 47m runtime, released in 2007 with an average rating of 6.8 by 5,770 people. The movie made an estimated total of $340,487,652 in the box office.

The Last Unicorn and Brave feature heroines caught up in magical quests, seeking to restore balance to their worlds. Both animated stories employ mythic settings, the importance of courage, and encounters with transformations and fantastical beings on their journey.

A unicorn learns from a riddle-speaking butterfly that she is supposedly the last of her kind, all the others having been herded away by the monstrous Red Bull. The unicorn sets out to discover the truth behind the butterfly's words. She is eventually joined on her quest by Schmendrick, a second-rate magician, and Molly Grue, a middle-aged woman who dreamed all her life of seeing a unicorn. Their journey leads them far from home, all the way to the castle of King Haggard. The Last Unicorn is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 33m runtime, released in 1982 with an average rating of 7.3 by 605 people. The movie made an estimated total of $6,455,530 in the box office.

The Black Cauldron, like Brave, draws on fantasy adventure in a mythic, medieval-inspired land. Each animated film involves the struggle against magical forces threatening their world, led by youthful protagonists willing to risk everything to protect their home and people.

Taran is an assistant pigkeeper with boyish dreams of becoming a great warrior. However, he has to put the daydreaming aside when his charge, an oracular pig named Hen Wen, is kidnapped by an evil lord known as the Horned King. The villain hopes Hen will show him the way to The Black Cauldron, which has the power to create a giant army of unstoppable soldiers. The Black Cauldron is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 20m runtime, released in 1985 with an average rating of 6.4 by 1,459 people. The movie made an estimated total of $21,300,000 in the box office.

Arthur and the Invisibles parallels Brave’s blend of animation, family-centered adventure, and a quest to reverse trouble through magical intervention. Both stories are set in worlds brimming with mythical creatures and highlight the resilience and resourcefulness of their young leads.

Ten-year-old Arthur, in a bid to save his grandfather's house from being demolished, goes looking for some much-fabled hidden treasure in the land of the Minimoys, tiny people living in harmony with nature. Arthur and the Invisibles is a movie from France in French, with a total 1h 34m runtime, released in 2006 with an average rating of 6.4 by 3,083 people. The movie made an estimated total of $108,605,609 in the box office.

The BFG and Brave are animated or partly animated fantasies where a young protagonist is transported into the world of giants or legends. Both explore magical encounters, the quest to set things right, and the importance of courage in facing extraordinary challenges.

An orphan little girl befriends a benevolent giant who takes her to Giant Country, where they attempt to stop the man-eating giants that are invading the human world. The BFG is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 57m runtime, released in 2016 with an average rating of 6.3 by 3,673 people. The movie made an estimated total of $195,243,411 in the box office.

The Secret Garden and Brave involve a young protagonist who discovers a world of transformation and must nurture healing in their family. While not animated, The Secret Garden’s themes of unlocking change, family bonds, and enchanted landscapes align with Brave.

A young British girl born and reared in India loses her neglectful parents in an earthquake. She is returned to England to live at her uncle's castle. Her uncle is very distant due to the loss of his wife ten years before. Neglected once again, she begins exploring the estate and discovers a garden that has been locked and forgotten. Aided by one of the servants' boys, she begins restoring the garden, and eventually discovers some other secrets of the manor. The Secret Garden is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 41m runtime, released in 1993 with an average rating of 7.4 by 988 people. The movie made an estimated total of $40,000,000 in the box office.

Stardust, like Brave, blends adventure and fantasy with elements of quest and destiny, led by youthful characters traversing magical realms. Both films revolve around setting things right within their family or kingdom, merging myth and wonders in vibrant stories.

In a countryside town bordering on a magical land, a young man makes a promise to his beloved that he'll retrieve a fallen star by venturing into the magical realm. His journey takes him into a world beyond his wildest dreams and reveals his true identity. Stardust is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 2h 7m runtime, released in 2007 with an average rating of 7.3 by 4,521 people. The movie made an estimated total of $137,500,000 in the box office.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Brave feature young protagonists traveling through mystical landscapes on a mission to save their kingdom or family. Both weave magic, ancient legends, and personal responsibility into richly realized adventures.

Four kids travel through a wardrobe to the land of Narnia and learn of their destiny to free it with the guidance of a mystical lion. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 23m runtime, released in 2005 with an average rating of 7.1 by 11,654 people. The movie made an estimated total of $745,013,115 in the box office.

A Monster Calls and Brave explore the intersection of the supernatural and family turmoil as a young protagonist seeks magical aid during a period of personal crisis. Both films entwine emotional family struggles with fantasy elements that reshape the protagonist’s journey.

12-year-old Conor encounters an ancient tree monster who proceeds to help him cope with his mother's terminal illness and being bullied in school. A Monster Calls is a movie from Spain in English, with a total 1h 48m runtime, released in 2016 with an average rating of 7.3 by 3,604 people. The movie made an estimated total of $47,309,313 in the box office.

The Spiderwick Chronicles and Brave pair young leads with magical discoveries in the pursuit of protecting their family from mystical threats. Both are set in vividly imagined worlds blending folklore, adventure, and the importance of bravery and familial bonds.

Upon moving into the run-down Spiderwick Estate with their mother, twin brothers Jared and Simon Grace, along with their sister Mallory, find themselves pulled into an alternate world full of faeries and other creatures. The Spiderwick Chronicles is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 35m runtime, released in 2008 with an average rating of 6.7 by 2,916 people. The movie made an estimated total of $164,200,000 in the box office.

Frozen II and Brave are animated sequels or follow-ups centering on royal sisters or daughters drawn into magical crises affecting their realm. Both films explore ancestral legacy, family dynamics, and the power of choice in beautifully animated fantasy worlds.

Elsa, Anna, Kristoff and Olaf head far into the forest to learn the truth about an ancient mystery of their kingdom. Frozen II is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 43m runtime, released in 2019 with an average rating of 7.2 by 10,384 people. The movie made an estimated total of $1,453,683,476 in the box office.