65 years ago on January 29, 1959, Sleeping Beauty became an instant hit. It was the third Disney princess film, and Walt was determined to make it different and better than the previous two (Snow White and Cinderella). It follows Princess Aurora (aka Briar Rose), who was raised by three good fairies to protect her from Maleficent’s curse.
Unsurprisingly, Maleficent’s curse was inevitable. And, as Aurora falls into a deep sleep, the fairies put the rest of the kingdom to sleep so she isn’t alone. She’s also not alone in the world of Disney princess happy endings. Both she and Snow White find their “Happily Ever After” thanks to true love’s kiss.
But before there was Disney’s Sleeping Beauty, Charles Perrault’s fairytale of the same name was a popular story. The earliest known version of the story we know and love today was in the 14th century’s Perceforest. But in the 65 years since the Disney film, many other films, stories, and shows have been inspired by Sleeping Beauty.
‘Some Call It Loving’ (1973)
The 1973 film is a surprising take on the Sleeping Beauty story, featuring comedian Richard Pryor in what’s referred to as a “romantic mystery erotic drama film.” (Note: Not one of the genres listed is comedy.) It is the story of a woman named Jennifer who is sex trafficked in carnivals and branded as “Sleeping Beauty” while she’s kept asleep with a potion of sorts. It’s very different from the Disney version while still inspired by the same tale.
‘The Sleeping Beauty Quartet’ by Anne Rice (1983–2015)
Anne Rice is known best for her gothic and erotic fiction, so we expect her Sleeping Beauty Quartet to be more similar to Some Call It Loving than the Disney film. In this series of four novels, in which Anne uses the pen name, A. N. Roquelaure, Anne explores the underlying themes of passivity and sexuality in the origin story much more overtly. The series includes elements of erotic BDSM as the protagonist, Beauty, explores relationships with three gender-fluid characters, Alexi, Tristan, and Laurent.
‘Alvin and the Chipmunks’ Episode, “The Legend of Sleeping Brittany” (1989)
Luckily, not all Sleeping Beauty stories devolve into eroticism. The children’s series, Alvin and the Chipmunks, retold Aurora’s tale in their episode, “The Legend of Sleeping Brittany.” Chipette Brittany starred as the Princess in the story, which is a humorous and kid-friendly retelling of the original, more closely aligned with the Disney film.
‘Briar Rose’ by Jane Yolen (1992)
Jane Yolen’s young adult novel, Briar Rose, was recognized with the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature and nominated for the Nebula Award. Plus, Kirsten Dunst has said it’s her favorite book! Briar Rose alternates between past and present-day as an elderly woman named Gemma recounts it to her three granddaughters. Gemma’s story takes place at the Chełmno extermination camp during the Holocaust, when a man discovers Gemma still breathing and revives her with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. It’s this act, among other elements in Briar Rose, that was inspired by Sleeping Beauty.
‘Spindle’s End’ by Robin McKinley (2000)
The novel, Spindle’s End, is a much more direct retelling of Sleeping Beauty, likely in the same world as Robin McKinley’s Damar books. The protagonist, Rosie, grows up in a town called Foggy Bottom, adding some humor to a story mostly about family love, magic, and the power of friendship.
‘Once Upon a Time’ (2011)
Once Upon a Time was inspired by several fairytales all tied together, which is what makes it so lovable. Aurora first appears in Season 2, Episode 1, titled “Broken,” during which Prince Philip wakes her up. However, Aurora doesn’t have the same “Happily Ever After” in this version — Prince Philip dies shortly after he wakes her. She continues to have various adventures, including a second slumber, a literal “soul search,” and more.
‘The Sleeper and the Spindle’ by Neil Gaiman (2012)
Neil Gaiman is known for his stories that have transitioned from page to screen, such as American Gods, Coraline, The Sandman, and more. In this tale, he collaborates with artist Chris Riddell to mesh together the stories of Snow White and Sleeping Beauty, but with their own twists. It’s a foray into dark fantasy through the lens of a fairytale.
‘Maleficent’ (2014) and ‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’ (2019)
The Maleficent movies were probably the first property that comes to mind when thinking about what was inspired by Sleeping Beauty. Starring Angelina Jolie, the films are a retelling of the classic tale, but from the villain’s perspective. Maleficent is given a backstory tainted with romantic love, betrayal, and the power of maternal love. The 2019 sequel continues the story beyond the “Happily Ever After” that we’re used to and further blurs the lines between good, evil, and the perceptions of both.
‘Lava Red Feather Blue’ by Molly Ringle (2021)
It’s about time we had a queer take on Sleeping Beauty beyond homoeroticism, and luckily, Molly Ringle’s Lava Red Feather Blue does just that. It’s a fantasy version of the story in which Prince Larkin has remained in a slumber since 1799. When he’s accidentally awakened by Merrick Highvalley, the two must work together to save their island from an evil faery.
Honorable Mentions
While Sleeping Beauty inspired many other stories, there are some stories in which Aurora or Maleficent are significant characters. In Shrek the Third, we meet Fiona’s friend, Sleeping Beauty, who suffers from narcolepsy and is a source of humor for the film. Sleeping Beauty is also a character with superpowers in the 2015 B-movie, Avengers Grimm. Plus, Maleficent is the main villain in Disney’s 2015 Descendants.
Sleeping Beauty has also inspired many gaming characters. The character, Rosamund du Prix, is inspired by Sleeping Beauty in the tabletop role-playing game, Dimension 20, in the “Neverafter” season. Maleficent and Aurora are both characters in the Kingdom Hearts video games. But in actuality, all of these tales aren’t even the tip of the iceberg of what Sleeping Beauty has inspired thus far, and we can be certain that there will be many more.
