Movies Like Brave
In the mystical Scottish Highlands, Merida is the princess of a kingdom ruled by King Fergus and Queen Elinor. An unruly daughter and an accomplished archer, Merida one day defies a sacred custom of the land and inadvertently brings turmoil to the kingdom. In an attempt to set things right, Merida seeks out an eccentric old Wise Woman and is granted an ill-fated wish. Also figuring into Merida's quest — and serving as comic relief — are the kingdom's three lords: the enormous Lord MacGuffin, the surly Lord Macintosh, and the disagreeable Lord Dingwall.
Ranked by shared directors, cast, themes, genre, and era — not just generic recommendations.
Wolfwalkers
Closest match: Celtic folklore, animated family fantasy with a fierce young female protagonist, mother/parent bond, shapeshifting magic and a green wilderness echoing Brave's Highland myth.
Frozen
Disney princess fantasy centred on a sister/family bond, a curse to undo and a kingdom in turmoil — same emotional template as Brave with magic and reconciliation.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Animated fairy-tale adventure with a witch, a wish gone wrong, and a brave hero facing fear — same fable structure and PG tone as Brave.
Frozen II
Princess sisters venture into an enchanted forest to undo an old kingdom curse — direct peer to Brave's mother-daughter mythic quest.
Spirited Away
Animated family fantasy where a girl's parents are transformed and she must summon courage to break the spell — close thematic cousin to Merida's bear-curse arc.
Hilda and the Mountain King
Adventurous girl trapped in another body (a troll) must find courage to return home and save a kingdom — almost identical premise to Brave's transformation curse.
Wish
Disney fairy-tale fantasy with a sharp-witted young heroine, a wish-magic plot and a wicked king — direct family-fantasy peer.
Puss in Boots
Fairy-tale animated adventure with rebel hero, comedic tone and quest structure that matches Brave's fable register.
The Princess and the Goblin
Animated princess fantasy where a girl uses magic to defend her kingdom — small but very on-theme cousin to Brave.
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure
Family fantasy with a headstrong girl whose mistake threatens her world and who must quest to set it right — same arc as Merida's.
Secret of the Wings
Same-year animated family fantasy with sisterhood, magical worlds and a woman director — close shelf neighbour to Brave.
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole
Animated heroic fantasy quest with bravery, villainy and lush mythic visuals — sits on the same shelf as Brave for older kids.
Dragon Rider
Animated family fantasy quest with friendship and dragon-myth adventure — lighter peer to Brave for younger viewers.
Mia and Me: The Hero of Centopia
Animated family fantasy with a young female hero, magic stone, prophecy and destiny quest — same target audience as Brave.
Wish Dragon
Animated wish-granting fantasy adventure with whimsical tone and a teen protagonist — adjacent fable to Brave's wish-gone-wrong.
Elemental
Pixar animated fantasy with whimsical worldbuilding and a hopeful family-relationship core — adjacent in studio tone.
The Croods: A New Age
Animated family adventure-comedy with parent-daughter friction and a journey to a new world — adjacent family-dynamics cousin.
Nanny McPhee
Family fantasy comedy sharing Emma Thompson and Kelly Macdonald with Brave; whimsical magic-teaches-a-lesson tone.
The Secret of Kells
Outside-pool: same Cartoon Saloon Celtic-myth aesthetic as Wolfwalkers, with a young brave hero and forest magic — strongest on-theme companion to Brave.
How Good Is Brave?
Ratings across IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic, and TMDB, plus our verdict.
Where to Watch Brave
Streaming, rental, and purchase options across 40+ countries.
United States
USStream
1
Disney PlusRent
5
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At HomeBuy
7Google Play MoviesYouTube
Amazon DVD / Blu-rayAmazon VideoApple TV StoreFandango At Home
Barnes & NobleAvailable in 88 countries
Frequently asked about Brave
Common questions people search for, with answers written by us at MoviesPack.
Why does Merida's mother Elinor turn into a bear?
Frustrated by her mother's insistence on an arranged marriage, Merida buys a spell from a witch disguised as a woodcarver, asking for something that will 'change' her mother. The enchanted cake she feeds Elinor transforms her into a bear, mirroring the witch's earlier spell that doomed the ancient prince Mor'du. The curse is meant to force Merida to confront the consequences of refusing to understand her mother's perspective.
What is the meaning of the witch's riddle, 'Fate be changed, look inside, mend the bond torn by pride'?
Merida initially assumes she must literally mend the tapestry she slashed during her argument with Elinor, but the riddle is really about repairing their relationship. The 'bond torn by pride' refers to both Merida's stubbornness and Elinor's rigidity, and only by truly understanding each other can the curse be broken. Stitching the tapestry is symbolic of stitching their bond back together.
Who is Mor'du and how does his story connect to Merida's?
Mor'du was once a prince who, like Merida, sought a spell from the witch to change his fate, asking for the strength of ten men so he could seize his father's kingdom. The spell turned him into a monstrous bear permanently because he refused to mend the bond with his family, splitting the ancient kingdom into four. His fate serves as a warning to Merida of what Elinor could become if the curse isn't lifted by the second sunrise.
How is the curse on Elinor finally broken?
After Mor'du is killed and dawn breaks, Merida wraps the mended tapestry around her mother's bear form, believing the stitching itself is the cure, but Elinor remains a bear. Only when Merida tearfully apologizes and admits her love for her mother does the curse lift. The true key was the emotional reconciliation, with the tapestry serving as a physical symbol of the repaired relationship rather than a literal solution.
What is the significance of the will-o'-the-wisps in the film?
The wisps are blue spirit lights in Scottish folklore said to lead people to their fate, and they appear at key moments to guide Merida — first to the witch's cottage, and later to the ruins where she learns Mor'du's history. They represent destiny offering guidance rather than dictating an outcome, reinforcing the film's theme that fate is shaped by one's choices. They ultimately lead Merida toward the understanding she needs to save her mother.
Recent Updates
New Trailer: Brave
New Teaser: Brave
Brave now streaming on Pathé Home (FR)
Brave now streaming on Premiere Max (FR)
Brave now streaming on VIVA by videofutur (FR)