12 Movies Perfect For Grade Schoolers (With Nary a Princess in Sight)

The day my best friend's 5-year-old daughter showed up for her school Halloween costume contest, she was crushed. Lindsay had every intention of showing off how fierce she was as a girl Power Ranger, but came back crying that she didn't want to dress up because every other girl in her class was a princess.

Her mom used all the powers in her arsenal to reassure her daughter that she didn't need to wear a crown or sparkly pink dress to feel special and pretty. But given society's infatuation with princess imagery and feminine ideals, you can bet she'll need to emphasize that message many times during her daughter's grade school years.

Fortunately, not everything fits the princess mold. More and more stories are being developed with complex female characters. Here, we round up the community's favorite movies that portray girls in a more positive and complex light. They're not only entertaining but also can help remind your child that there's no need to wear pink or purple and wait for Prince Charming to have a happy ending.

01
Annie
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Annie

In the beloved Broadway musical Annie, a red-headed orphan girl wins the heart of billionaire "Daddy" Warbucks.

02
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
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Mighty Morphin Power Rangers

While there is fighting in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, girls will see they can be as fierce as the pink character, Kimberly, when there's a good reason.

03
The Rescuers
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The Rescuers

Two mice in the tale of The Rescuers help orphan Penny escape an evil woman who tries to use the girl to retrieve a diamond.

04
The Sound of Music
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The Sound of Music

The winner of five Academy Awards, The Sound of Music will have your kids singing along with Julie Andrews and the rest of the von Trapp family.

05
Brave
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Brave

Don't expect a lot of romance in Brave. The movie broke boundaries with its strong female character, Merida. She spends most of her time trying not to get married before she is ready.

06
Shrek
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Shrek

Shrek pokes fun of nearly every fairy tale as the ogre attempts to rescue feisty princess Fiona.

07
Mary Poppins
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Mary Poppins

A Disney classic, kids will be in awe of Mary Poppins' prowess as a nanny, as she reconnects two kids with their mother and father.

08
Mulan
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Mulan

Mulan shows girls her strong sense of honor as she pretends to be a man to take her father's place in the army.

09
Kiki's Delivery Service
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Kiki's Delivery Service

A Japanese anime, Kiki's Delivery Service shows how headstrong, resourceful, imaginative, and determined the title character is as an apprentice witch.

10
Lilo & Stitch
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Lilo & Stitch

Girls will be amazed at all the adventures a little girl can have after she adopts a puppy that turns out to be a mischievous alien in Lilo & Stitch.

11
Alice in Wonderland
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Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland shows a girl full of curiosity after she tumbles down a rabbit hole and gets caught up in a world of unusual creatures.

12
Imagine That
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Imagine That

Toni J says Imagine That, a movie about a little girl who helps her dad believe in imaginary friends, is a cute movie that her 6-year-old daughter loves.