Whenever anyone talks about Beauty & The Beast, chances are they’re talking about the hit Disney adaptation. This makes sense, especially considering the fact that it’s the Disney version that perhaps popularized the story in popular media. However, it may delight fairy tale fans to know that Beauty & The Beast isn’t just something that existed in the bubble of Disney films.
Rather, it may be in the interest of fairy tale fans that there were actually other films that retell or expand The Beauty & The Beast outside its usual portrayal. However, just what are these versions of Beauty & The Beast, and what makes some of them worth the watch?
10 Beastly (2011)
- Watch it on: Amazon Prime
One could argue that Beastly is far from a “great” film, but its eccentricity and take on the Beauty & The Beast story is something worth exploring if not for the sake of analysis. Set in modern-day New York, the film introduces the arrogant Kyle Kingson bullying schoolmate Kendra Hilferty, who unbeknownst to him is a witch. Cursing him to become scarred and far from his vain appearance, Kendra tells Kyle that he needs to find true love next spring or be doomed to stay in that appearance forever.
Kyle would eventually find solace with Lindy Taylore, a former classmate he initially avoided. Various encounters would have the two develop a friendship, which blossoms into a romance they never got to admit. Due to its narrative take, Beastly is perhaps the “best” bad adaptation of the Beauty & The Beast story. But those planning on binging Beauty & The Beast adaptations may still want to
9 Blood Of Beasts (2005)
- Watch it on: WAT32
Fans looking for a unique take on Beauty & The Beast might appreciate Blood of Beasts, which is a retelling of the story but set in the time of the Vikings. Here, King Thorsson is ill and wants to make a pilgrimage to a cursed island, which is home to a terrible beast. Freya, Thorsson’s daughter, is betrothed to the warrior Sven after her lover Agnar went missing. Hoping to save her father and find her lover, Freya goes to the island.
Much to her surprise, she eventually encounters the Beast on the island and starts a friendship with him. And while viewers already know what would happen in the rest of the story, the unique setting used is a fresh take on the same story, especially if fans want to keep an eye out for changes to the themes and the narrative that the new setting would need.
8 Beauty And The Beast (1976)
- Watch it on: YouTube
The Beauty And The Beast of 1976 served as the Hallmark Channel’s take on the fairy tale, this time starring real-life couple Trish Van Devere and George Scott as Belle and the Beast, respectively.
While the film adapts much of the original story, it’s interesting to see how older films try to have their own take on the appearance of Beast throughout each adaptation. This time around, George Scott’s the Beast has the appearance of a man with a boar’s snout, countering a Belle with a steel-like personality that would eventually soften up to him, and at the same time teaching the Beast to realize that true love is.
7 Beauty And The Beast (1987)
- Watch it on: Hoopla
Disney’s Beauty & The Beast isn’t the only film to be a part of a fairy tale series, as Beauty And The Beast in 1987 also served as part of a series of fairy tale adaptations. The latter, in particular, became the version of Beauty & The Beast for the Cannon Movie Tales series, which also came in the form of a musical.
While the story itself directly lifts from the original material, the 1987 film does have four original songs. And while these songs aren’t as catchy compared to Disney’s film, the 1987 flick features a nostalgic 1980s take on both visuals, soundtrack, and direction that would give fans of the fairy tale a nostalgic ride.
6 La Belle Et La Bete (2014)
- Watch it on: Amazon
Of all Beauty & The Beast adaptations, it’s La Belle Et La Bete of 2014 that could possibly have the most mixed reception. Serving as an adaptation of the original 1740 fairy tale by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villenueve, the film sets itself apart with its stylistic use of contrast and colors, having a more painterly ambiance compared to other adaptations of the film.
While international audiences criticize the story and the overall narrative, a lot of critics from France say La Belle Et La Bete has by far the most differentiating take of the story from the original material. Despite its middling reception, La Belle Et La Bete remains a worthwhile watch for fans looking for a new take on the Beauty & The Beast story that doesn’t stray too much from the core themes of the story.
5 Penelope (2006)
- Watch it on: Amazon Prime
Although not necessarily a direct adaptation of the story, Penelope shares enough elements from Beauty & The Beast that fans could consider it an adaptation, perhaps from the context of its themes. Starring Catherine O’Hara and James McAvoy, Penelope talks of the story of Penelope, a girl cursed by a witch to have a pig’s nose due to the actions of her ancestors. The only way to break the curse is to be loved by someone “of her own kind.”
Interpreting this as being loved by a person of the same social status, Penelope’s parents try to pair her with various individuals. Penelope falls in love with John Martin, a man with a troubling past of his own. The story might be romantic to some extent, but a lot of its themes remain quite important to a young generation of viewers - loving oneself is just as important as loving another person.
4 Jane Eyre (2011)
- Watch it on: Netflix
Fans of Beauty & The Beast could argue that the Jane Eyre novel from Charlotte Bronte is very similar to the aforementioned story. After all, both stories revolve around a young woman who falls in love with a beast and eventually transforms him into a better man. This time around, Jane Eyre talks of how the proverbial protagonist eventually gets to become the governess of the manor belonging to Edward Rochester, a stern man.
Key to Jane Eyre’s story is how the kind-hearted Jane Eyre will eventually change the nature of Rochester, essentially “transforming” him from a sinful man into someone even worthy of the love of Jane. It’s this transformation that remains key to the appeal of Jane Eyre, with the 2011 film being considered one of the best films of the year.
3 The Beautician And The Beast (1997)
- Watch it on: Amazon Prime
Of all adaptations of Beauty & The Beast, none would have the same appeal as The Beautician & The Beast. This alternative take on the Beauty & The Beast formula would have beautician Joy Miller become a tutor to the children of Boris Pochenko, a dictator of an Eastern European country. Despite his bad impressions, Joy would eventually transform the hardened Boris into a more loving man.
What’s perhaps interesting about The Beautician & The Beast is its theme of cultural differences, which it tackles beautifully despite being an old film. Aside from Beauty & The Beast, the film also takes inspiration from The Sound of Music, Evita, and The King and I for its themes and direction.
2 The Scarlet Flower (1952)
- Watch it on: YouTube
Aside from Disney’s Beauty & The Beast, other countries seem to have created animated shorts of their own that could earn praise for smooth visuals and a rather unique take on stories. Such is the case of The Scarlet Flower, a 1952 animated short film that tells a Russian take on the Beauty & The Beast story.
In the story, a girl named Nastenka asks her merchant father to bring her a scarlet flower from his trip overseas. However, a series of events would bring her to a mysterious island with beautiful flowers, and a horrifying tree spirit that served as its guardian. This short love story would have Nastenka discover that the tree spirit was actually a prince, cursed by a witch. Despite its predictable story, it’s such a refreshing sight to see an old animated film with the crisp visuals of hand-drawn images.
1 The Shape Of Water (2017)
Fans of romantic fantasy would appreciate Guillermo del Toro's take on the Beauty & The Beast narrative, courtesy of The Shape of Water. In this 2017 film, viewers get a glimpse of Baltimore in 1962, when a mute cleaner falls for a mysterious humanoid amphibian being observed in a government laboratory.
What perhaps makes this one of the best Beauty & The Beast stories is how the film merges both romance and the uncanny valley. Albeit not mind-blowing as other Del Toro concepts, the sheer compactness of the narrative allows both lead Elisa Esposito and the Amphibian Man to engage in character development unhindered by unnecessary subplots. Fans of romance who want a unique take on the genre can definitely give The Shape of Water a go and end up more than satisfied.