It has been nearly a decade since Disney’s Frozen first hit theaters, and while the movie became an instant hit globally, not every part of the film holds up 10 years later. When Frozen was released in the Fall of 2013 it was a massive success, grossing $1.29 billion worldwide, having several hit songs, and spawning one of Disney’s biggest franchises. Frozen is the fourth highest-grossing animated movie of all time, with its sequel coming in second place, and Frozen 3 currently in the works.
With a sequel, several shorts, two hit soundtracks, and endless merchandise, Frozen has been at the forefront of pop culture since it entered it a decade ago, however, a lot has changed since the first movie premiere. While the Disney animated movie is still a favorite with children and grown-ups all over the world, some parts of it aged poorly, making a rewatch less pleasant and nostalgic than it should be. Some of these problems were in the movie the entire time, while others have been caused by the film’s over-exposure, and changing of the times regarding the Frozen characters.
10 Ana And Elsa’s Parent’s Cruelty Is Never Addressed
The central conflict of Frozen comes from the protagonists’ parents choosing to lock their daughter Elsa away and shield her from the world. They claim to do this out of affection for their daughter, but the film argues that this was a mistake and Elsa should be proud of who she is. It is a positive message for kids, but the parents get off the hook rather easily, considering they die before the main events of the film take place. It is no fun to nitpick a fairytale, but considering the themes of the film, the lack of condemnation of the parent’s decision feels like a cut plot line.
9 Olaf Isn’t As Funny As He Used To Be
Both children and adults alike were smitten with Josh Gad’s wacky snowman Olaf. The snowman who dreamed of summer was a fittingly silly side character for a Disney animated film and one whose antics weren’t too annoying for adults. However, in the decade since the film’s release audiences have been bombarded with Olaf content, making what used to be harmless fun, soul-crushingly repetitive. After having his 21-minute short jammed before Pixar’s Coco, it’s hard to have the same affection for Olaf, as he has become the face of Frozen‘s over-exposure.
8 Frozen’s Second Half Lacks Songs
Part of the reason Frozen became as popular as it did was its soundtrack. Songs like “For the First Time in Forever” and “Love is an Open Door”, rightfully became hits, but now it stands out that all the film’s best songs are in the first 20 minutes. After the show-stopping “Let it Go” the music comes to a halt. The last song in the movie is the troll’s “Fixer Upper”, a fine enough song, but by far the weakest in the movie. It’s an odd decision on the part of the filmmakers to not have a third-act song, and one that throws off the pacing.
7 Disney Has Topped It With Movies Like Moana
Along with Tangled and Wreck-it-Ralph, Frozen kicked off a new wave of CG-animated Disney films. It was refreshing to see the style and tone of Disney renaissance films but with updated technology and stories. That new factor is part of what attracted people to Frozen, but since then Disney has topped themselves with films like Encanto and Moana, that tell equally engaging stories while having better animation, better songs, and a diverse lead. There is a lot to admire about Frozen, but when it comes to 2010s princess films, Moana stands head and shoulders above Elsa.
6 Let It Go Got Over-Played Way Too Much
The highlight of the first Frozen movie is the “Let it Go” musical number. With Idina Menzel’s incredible voice, the beautiful animation, and the satisfaction of seeing Elsa embrace her true self, there is a reason it connected with audiences the way it did. However, in the following months and years “Let it Go” infected not only the pop charts, but Disney parks, school dances, and every child’s bedroom. It was inescapable, and the over-familiarity with the song has devalued the impact of the original scene. It is no longer the stand-out of the film, but now the part everyone knows is coming and can’t wait to get over.
5 Hans Is A Weak Villain Once You Know The Twist
During the first watch of Frozen, it seems as though the film doesn’t have a traditional villain. The conflict comes from the relationship between the two sisters, and it is a refreshing way to structure a Disney film. However, in the third act, it is revealed that Ana’s potential love interest, Hans, has been secretly scheming to rule the kingdom and get rid of Ana. It is a shocking moment for most kids in the audience, but a twist that falls flat on rewatch. The story doesn’t need Hans to operate, and the twist comes so late in the game that he isn’t given enough time to develop.
4 Frozen Subverts The Disney Romance Troupe, But Then Does It Anyway
With the Hans sub-plot, the film seems to be commenting on the way Disney princesses tend to fall in love, a noble effort to update these stories for a modern audience, but the film wants to have its cake and eat it too. Ana is still given a love interest with the character of Christoph, and while they don’t get married in the end, their relationship still follows the Disney formula. There isn’t much of a difference between them and Aladdin and Jasmine, or Flynn and Rapunzel. It is fine that the movie wants to have romantic elements but it is so self-congratulatory on not doing one.
3 Enchanted Did A Similar Commentary On The Disney Princess Better
In 2007 Disney made the live-action/animated hybrid movie Enchanted, and that film did a much better job of parodying the troupes of Disney animated movies, while still being an updated version of one. The film is much more focused on the contrasts between Disney films and real-world romance than Frozen is, but that makes its comedy and commentary sharper and funnier. For all the things that made Frozen “groundbreaking”, Enchanted did them first, and better.
2 CG Animation Ages Worse Than Hand Drawn
Rewatching classic 2D animated Disney films, it’s incredible how beautiful they look decades later. From 1994’sThe Lion King back to 1942’s Bambi, these films hold up visually as works of art. Frozen on the other hand is starting to show its age just 10 years later. From the generic character design to the way the water moves, Frozen just doesn’t look as good as it did in theaters, and it’s only going to age worse. Even in comparison to its sequel, it’s shocking how far the technology has come, making Frozen a product of its time.
1 Elsa Isn’t In Enough Of The Movie
The character of Elsa, and her signature song, is what stood out about Frozen in 2013. She was different from any other Disney princess and a lot of children connected to the character. However, going back to the movie, she is in shockingly little of it. Ana is the film’s true protagonist, and she just isn’t as interesting as her sister, but the movie spends most of its time with her and her problems. Frozen II becomes more Elsa-centric, but that movie has far more problems than the first, doing a disservice to both of them.
