You know that feeling when you hear a movie title and it just fits? Like, imagine if The Lion King was called King of the Kalahari—it just doesn’t hit the same, right? Well, believe it or not, some of our favorite Disney movies almost had some pretty wild names before they hit the big screen. Some were changed for marketing reasons, some for controversy, and some because, well… they just weren’t that great.
Let’s dive into 10 Disney movies that almost had completely different titles!
1. The Lion King (1994)
Originally titled: King of the Kalahari / King of the Jungle
One of the most iconic Disney movies of all time went through multiple title changes before landing on The Lion King. At first, it was King of the Kalahari, which sounds more like a nature documentary than a coming-of-age epic. Then, it became King of the Jungle—except, plot twist, lions don’t actually live in jungles. Oops! Eventually, Disney went with The Lion King, which perfectly captures the film’s themes of legacy, responsibility, and redemption.
Imagine the iconic opening scene: “Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba…” but instead of The Lion King, the title pops up as King of the Jungle. Nope, doesn’t work.
2. Tangled (2010)
Originally titled: Rapunzel Unbraided
Disney was initially all in on calling this one Rapunzel Unbraided, which… okay, sounds more like a bad hair day than a fun fairy-tale adventure. Then it was shortened to Rapunzel, but executives worried that it would only attract girls. So, in an effort to broaden the audience (and market to everyone), they landed on Tangled. Short, catchy, and way more fun! And let’s be real—Flynn Rider totally deserved some title recognition too.
3. Up (2009)
Originally titled: Heliums
Oh wow, Heliums? Can you imagine? Sounds more like a science experiment than the heartwarming, tear-jerking adventure we got. The title was meant to reference the thousands of helium balloons lifting Carl’s house, but thankfully, Disney went with Up—a simple but powerful name that perfectly represents Carl’s emotional journey.
I mean, would Heliums have made us cry in the first 10 minutes? Probably. But Up just feels right.
4. The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)
Originally titled: Kingdom of the Sun
Now, this one’s wild. Disney originally planned for The Emperor’s New Groove to be a serious musical epic called Kingdom of the Sun. It was going to be a Prince and the Pauper–style story with deep themes and a dramatic score. Then, somewhere along the way, they scrapped everything, turned it into a wacky buddy comedy, and rebranded it as The Emperor’s New Groove.
And honestly? Best decision ever. Can you imagine this movie without its chaotic, meme-worthy energy?
5. Frozen
Originally titled: The Snow Queen
Since Frozen is loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale The Snow Queen, that was the original working title. But Disney decided to take a different spin on the story, making it more about the sisterly bond between Anna and Elsa. The one-word title Frozen fit perfectly—it not only referenced Elsa’s ice powers but also the emotional “frozen” state of their relationship.
Plus, let’s be honest—Frozen just sounds more modern and marketable. And it clearly worked, since the whole world was singing Let It Go for years!
6. The Princess and the Frog (2009)
Originally titled: The Frog Princess
The original title, The Frog Princess, was inspired by the book it’s based on. But the name raised some concerns about negative connotations, so Disney switched it up to The Princess and the Frog. The new title also put Tiana front and center—right where she belongs!
Fun fact: Tiana was originally going to be named “Maddy,” but Disney changed it to avoid stereotypes. We love a studio that listens and adapts!
7. WALL-E (2008)
Originally titled: Trash Planet
Yikes. Trash Planet? Not exactly the cutest name for a heartwarming Pixar film. Sure, Earth in the movie is basically a trash planet, but that title makes it sound depressing instead of hopeful.
Luckily, Pixar went with WALL-E, named after our adorable little cleanup bot. And let’s be real—would we have fallen in love with a movie called Trash Planet? Probably not.
8. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)
Originally titled: Teeny Weenies / The Big Backyard
Okay, Teeny Weenies might be the funniest rejected Disney title ever. Can you imagine going up to a box office and asking for a ticket to Teeny Weenies?
After realizing that maybe that wasn’t the best choice, Disney tried The Big Backyard, which… eh, still kind of boring. Eventually, they landed on Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, a fun and memorable title that became an instant classic.
9. Bolt (2008)
Originally titled: American Dog
Before Bolt became the supercharged, action-packed adventure we know today, it was called American Dog, and the original plot was completely different. The main character wasn’t even named Bolt—he was called Henry. What?!
As the story changed, so did the name. Bolt not only reflected the main character’s lightning bolt marking, but also his fast-paced, heroic personality. Definitely an upgrade!
10. The Princess Diaries (2001)
Originally titled: The Princess of Tribeca
This one’s a small but important change. Since The Princess Diaries is based on Meg Cabot’s novel of the same name, it made sense to stick with the book title. But early on, Disney planned to call it The Princess of Tribeca, because the original story was set in NYC.
Then they moved the setting to San Francisco, and the title got changed back. Thank goodness, because The Princess Diaries just sounds way more royal and dreamy!
Final thoughts
Disney definitely knows what they’re doing when it comes to naming their movies! Some of these original titles were a little meh, while others were downright hilarious (Teeny Weenies—seriously?!). But in the end, every movie got the perfect name to match its magic.
Which of these surprised you the most? And which rejected title do you secretly love? Let me know in the comments!
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