Movies Like A Simple Wish (1997)

A Simple Wish is a 1997 adventure, comedy, family, fantasy film from Michael Ritchie with a MovieMagicScore of 5.5/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Maid to Order and Shrek 2.

Adventure Comedy Family Fantasy

Maid to Order

1987

Spoiled Jessie Montgomery, whose wild behavior and spending excesses cause her well-meaning but exasperated millionaire father Charles to wish he never had her, is visited by fairy godmother Stella. In an effort to save Jessie, Stella casts a spell which causes Charles to no longer have a daughter. Jessie, now penniless and without a friend, must take a maid's job to earn a living, and hopefully to learn her lesson.

5.4

MagicScore

Shrek 2

2004

Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey set off to Far, Far Away to meet Fiona's mother and father, the Queen and King. But not everyone is happily ever after. Shrek and the King find it difficult to get along, and there's tension in the marriage. The Fairy Godmother discovers that Fiona has married Shrek instead of her son Prince Charming and plots to destroy their marriage.

7.3

MagicScore

Descendants

2015

A present-day idyllic kingdom where the benevolent teenage son of King Adam and Queen Belle offers a chance of redemption for the troublemaking offspring of Disney's classic villains: Cruella De Vil (Carlos), Maleficent (Mal), the Evil Queen (Evie) and Jafar (Jay).

7.1

MagicScore

Ella Enchanted

2004

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.

6.5

MagicScore

Cinderella III: A Twist in Time

2007

When Lady Tremaine steals the Fairy Godmother's wand and changes history, it's up to Cinderella to restore the timeline and reclaim her prince.

6.5

MagicScore

Cinderella II: Dreams Come True

2002

As a newly crowned princess, Cinderella quickly learns that life at the Palace - and her royal responsibilities - are more challenging than she had imagined. In three heartwarming tales, Cinderella calls on her animal friends and her Fairy Godmother to help as she brings her own grace and charm to her regal role and discovers that being true to yourself is the best way to make your dreams come true.

6.1

MagicScore

In Your Dreams

2025

Stevie and her little brother Elliot journey into the wildly absurd landscape of their own dreams to ask the Sandman to grant them the perfect family.

7.0

MagicScore

Aladdin

1992

In the boorish city of Agrabah, kind-hearted street urchin Aladdin and Princess Jasmine fall in love, although she can only marry a prince. He and power-hungry Grand Vizier Jafar vie for a magic lamp that can fulfill their wishes.

7.7

MagicScore

Disenchanted

2022

Disillusioned with life in the city, feeling out of place in suburbia, and frustrated that her happily ever after hasn’t been so easy to find, Giselle turns to the magic of Andalasia for help. Accidentally transforming the entire town into a real-life fairy tale and placing her family’s future happiness in jeopardy, she must race against time to reverse the spell and determine what happily ever after truly means to her and her family.

6.7

MagicScore

#10

The Santa Clause 2

2002

Better watch out! The big guy in red is coming to town once again. This time, Scott Calvin -- also known as Santa Claus -- finds out there's an obscure clause in his contract requiring him to take on a wife. He has to leave the North Pole to fulfill his obligations, or else he'll be forced to give up his Yuletide gig.

6.0

MagicScore

#11

Pinocchio

1940

A little wooden puppet yearns to become a real boy.

7.1

MagicScore

#12

Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part I: Beginnings

2012

Madoka Kaname, an ordinary middle-schooler, along with her best friend Sayaka Miki, are offered the chance to have any wish they want granted by the mysterious Kyubey, and become magical girls and fight witches. However, fellow magical girl Homura Akemi seems intent on stopping Madoka from becoming a magical girl at any cost. Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part I: Beginnings is a retelling of the first half of the TV anime series.

7.5

MagicScore

#13

Godmothered

2020

A young and unskilled fairy godmother that ventures out on her own to prove her worth by tracking down a young girl whose request for help was ignored. What she discovers is that the girl has now become a grown woman in need of something very different than a "prince charming."

6.7

MagicScore

#14

Cinderella

1947

In the fairy kingdom live stepmother, her evil daughters — Anna and Maryana, a limp husband-forester and his daughter from his first marriage — Cinderella. The stepmother exploits the poor girl as a housekeeper. With the help of her godmother-fairy, Cinderella gets to the royal ball, where a beautiful and very kind prince falls in love with her. At midnight, the magic ends, and poor Cinderella has to return to her former life. But on the crystal shoe that Cinderella lost while fleeing the palace to the battle of the palace chimes, the prince searches for the bride.

6.7

MagicScore

#15

Twice Upon a Time

1983

In the world of the Murkworks where nightmares are made, the evil Synonamess Botch hatches a scheme to make non-stop nightmares. Only Ralph and Mumford, misfits from the cheery land of Frivoli where good dreams are made, can stop him.

6.6

MagicScore

#16

Donkey Skin

1970

A fairy godmother helps a princess disguise herself so she won't have to marry her father.

7.2

MagicScore

#17

Cinderella

1950

Cinderella has faith her dreams of a better life will come true. With help from her loyal mice friends and a wave of her Fairy Godmother's wand, Cinderella's rags are magically turned into a glorious gown and off she goes to the Royal Ball. But when the clock strikes midnight, the spell is broken, leaving a single glass slipper... the only key to the ultimate fairy-tale ending!

7.0

MagicScore

#18

Cinderella

1997

Cinderella chafes under the cruelty of her wicked stepmother and her evil stepsisters, until her Fairy Godmother steps in to change her life for one unforgettable night. At the ball, she falls for handsome Prince Christopher, whose parents, King Maximillian and Queen Constantina, are anxious for him to find a suitable paramour.

6.5

MagicScore

#19

Cinderella

2021

Cinderella, an orphaned girl with an evil stepmother, has big dreams and with the help of her Fabulous Godmother, she perseveres to make them come true.

6.3

MagicScore

#20

Poor Cinderella

1934

In the only Betty Boop color cartoon, Cinderella (Betty) goes to the ball thanks to her fairy godmother. Later, only her foot fits the glass slipper.

6.3

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like A Simple Wish?

The top films similar to A Simple Wish by MovieMagicScore are Maid to Order (5.4), Shrek 2 (7.3), Descendants (7.1). Each shares adventure/comedy/family/fantasy themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is A Simple Wish worth watching?

A Simple Wish holds a MovieMagicScore of 5.5/10 from 168 viewer ratings.

What kind of movie is A Simple Wish?

A Simple Wish (1997) is a adventure, comedy, family, fantasy film directed by Michael Ritchie, starring Martin Short, Kathleen Turner, Mara Wilson.

Where can I find more recommendations like A Simple Wish?

Browse the full ranked list above, or explore more adventure recommendations on MovieMagicScore, where every list is ordered by genuine viewer ratings.

Keep exploring

Movies like Maid to Order Movies like Shrek 2 Movies like Descendants Movies like Ella Enchanted Movies like Cinderella III: A Twist in Time Movies like Cinderella II: Dreams Come True

About movies like A Simple Wish

This ranked list pairs A Simple Wish (1997), a adventure and comedy and family and fantasy film from Michael Ritchie, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Martin Short take note). Unlike critic-driven sites, every position here is ordered by MovieMagicScore — a rating built only from real viewers, with no studio marketing or paid placement. Scores update as more people rate, so the list stays current.

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