There are two released Frozen feature films starring Elsa: Frozen and Frozen II. If you count short films and specials, there are more Elsa stories, but they are not additional feature movies.
This guide separates the two theatrical films from the shorts, television specials, and other appearances that can blur the count. You’ll also find the movies in viewing order, a quick comparison of what each one offers, and what to know about the announced third film. That way, you can answer the question clearly whether you mean movies only or every screen story featuring Elsa.
how many elsa movies are there?
There are two released feature-length Frozen movies featuring Elsa. The first is Frozen (2013), and its sequel is Frozen II (2019). Both are Disney animated films, and both tell stories centered on Elsa and her sister Anna.
The number changes only if you use “movies” to include shorter productions. Elsa also appears in short films and a holiday special connected to the franchise. Those are real screen stories, but they are not two more theatrical feature films. For a straightforward answer, say there are two released Elsa movies, plus several shorts and specials.
A third feature film has been announced, but an announced project is not a released movie. It does not change the count of films audiences can watch today. If you are asking how many movies to stream for the main story, start with the first film and follow it with Frozen II.
The two released feature films, in order
- Frozen (2013): Elsa is the newly crowned queen of Arendelle. After her powers are revealed, she leaves the kingdom, and Anna sets out to find her. The story introduces the sisters, their relationship, and the icy magic that shapes the series.
- Frozen II (2019): Elsa hears a mysterious call and travels beyond Arendelle with Anna, Kristoff, Olaf, and Sven. The sequel builds on the characters and events of the first film while exploring the source of Elsa’s powers and the history of the kingdom.
That is the correct order for a first-time watch. The sequel follows the first film’s events, so watching them out of order can spoil character developments and make some relationships harder to follow. The release order is also the simplest order for families planning a movie night.
| Title | Release year | Format | What it adds | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frozen | 2013 | Feature film | Introduces Elsa, Anna, Arendelle, and the sisters’ central story | Starting the series |
| Frozen II | 2019 | Feature film | Continues the story and investigates Elsa’s powers | Continuing after the first movie |
Both titles count as Elsa movies because Elsa has a major role in each. They are not solo films about Elsa alone: Anna remains a central character, and the story gives substantial attention to their bond. Calling them “Elsa movies” is a convenient way to identify the franchise, not a claim that every scene follows only Elsa.
Why some lists give a higher number
People use “movie” in different ways. Some mean only full-length theatrical releases. Others include short films, holiday specials, and streaming releases. A search result that lists four or five Elsa titles may be counting those shorter productions alongside the feature films.
For a clean count, separate feature films from short-form stories. The former are the two main releases listed above. The latter include productions made for shorter viewing, including a theatrical short shown with another film, a holiday featurette, and a short that revisits events from the original movie. Each can be enjoyable, but none is a third full-length Frozen feature.
There are also cameos and franchise-related productions that can complicate lists. Elsa appears briefly in Ralph Breaks the Internet, for example, but that is not an Elsa movie. A character appearing in another film does not make that title part of the Frozen movie count. Likewise, a documentary about a film’s production is not another animated story in the series.
The common counting mistake is adding every Elsa-related screen appearance to the feature-film total. That mixes different formats and answers a broader question than the one most people intend. If someone asks how many Elsa movies there are, the clearest answer is two released feature films; then mention shorts and specials separately if useful.
Elsa shorts and specials to know about
These extra productions expand the Frozen world, but they are not required to understand the two main films. Their placement in a watch order depends on whether you want every story or only the central feature-length plot.
Frozen Fever
Frozen Fever is a short released in 2015. It takes place after the first film and centers on Anna’s birthday, with Elsa and Kristoff trying to make the day special. Its shorter format makes it an extra story rather than a third feature movie.
Olaf’s Frozen Adventure
Olaf’s Frozen Adventure is a holiday featurette released in 2017. Olaf searches for a holiday tradition for Anna and Elsa. It is longer than a brief short, but it is still a featurette, not a full-length theatrical sequel on the scale of Frozen or Frozen II.
Once Upon a Snowman
Once Upon a Snowman is a 2020 short that follows Olaf during the events around his introduction in the first film. It offers a different view of a familiar part of the story. Since it is short-form, count it among the extras, not among the two feature films.
Other short-form releases
Elsa also appears in At Home with Olaf, a collection of short animated pieces made for online viewing, and in LEGO Frozen Northern Lights, a short-form animated miniseries. These are related screen stories, but neither is another theatrical feature film. Some lists may include them when they use “Elsa movies” loosely.
A practical way to sort any list is to check its format label. If it says feature film, short, featurette, special, or miniseries, you can tell what kind of production it is. This prevents a list of all Elsa-related releases from being mistaken for a list of full-length movies.
Recommended viewing order for the full story
If you want the main story without extras, watch the two feature films in release order. If you want the shorter additions as well, place them around the films as follows. This sequence keeps the central plot easy to follow without treating every short as essential viewing.
- Watch Frozen (2013).
- Watch Frozen Fever (2015), which takes place after the first movie.
- Watch Olaf’s Frozen Adventure (2017) as a holiday side story.
- Watch Frozen II (2019) to continue the main narrative.
- Watch Once Upon a Snowman (2020) as an optional retelling of events around Olaf’s introduction.
This is a helpful viewing path, not a strict requirement for understanding the series. The extras add character moments and seasonal fun, while the two feature films carry the main story. If you are watching with young children or have limited time, the first two titles are enough to follow Elsa and Anna’s major narrative.
There is no need to watch Once Upon a Snowman before Frozen, even though its story overlaps with events from the original. It works best as a companion piece after you already know the characters. The same principle applies to other shorts: they can enrich a rewatch, but they do not replace either main film.
Is a third Elsa movie coming?
Disney has announced a third Frozen feature film. That means another Elsa-led movie is planned, but it is important to distinguish an announced project from a movie that has been released. Until viewers can watch it, the released feature-film count remains two.
Plans for films can change during development, including production schedules and release timing. For the most dependable count, base your answer on finished, released feature films rather than trailers, announcements, early artwork, or rumored plot details. An announced sequel belongs in a “planned” category, not in the released-movie total.
When the third film arrives, it will add to the feature-film count. It may also prompt new questions about the story’s timeline and whether to include related shorts. The same distinction will still help: count full-length released films separately from specials and short-form releases.
What counts as an Elsa movie?
There is no complicated official formula needed for a casual answer. A useful definition is a full-length Frozen feature film in which Elsa has a substantial role. By that standard, the current count is two. This is more precise than counting every production where she appears, while still matching the way most viewers use the phrase.
Use the following distinctions when comparing lists:
- Feature film: A full-length movie built around the main Frozen story. The two released examples are Frozen and Frozen II.
- Short or featurette: A shorter story connected to the characters, such as Frozen Fever or Olaf’s Frozen Adventure.
- Special or miniseries: A related production released in a different format, which may be split into short episodes or presented as a seasonal event.
- Cameo: A brief appearance in a movie from another franchise. It does not turn that movie into a Frozen feature.
This also explains why one website might give a broader total than another without either list being entirely wrong. They may be answering different questions. One counts full-length films; another counts every short and special with Elsa in it. Check the formats before comparing the numbers.
Quick answer for parents and first-time viewers
If a child asks how many Elsa movies to watch, the simplest answer is two main movies. Start with Frozen, then watch Frozen II. The shorts and holiday featurette are optional extras, so there is no need to fit them into a first viewing unless your family wants more time with the characters.
If you are choosing a title for a particular mood, the first film introduces the kingdom and the sisters’ story, while the sequel continues it. The holiday featurette suits a seasonal watch, and the Olaf shorts work well when a shorter viewing session is better. This approach makes the format and length matter more than a confusing total.
For a quick answer in conversation, use this wording: “There are two released Elsa feature films, plus several shorts and specials.” It is concise, accurate, and clear about what has been included. If someone asks about future releases, note that a third film has been announced but is not part of the released count yet.
The answer to how many elsa movies are there is two released feature films: Frozen and Frozen II. Shorts and specials add extra stories, but they do not change the feature-film count.
For a first watch, start with Frozen and then play Frozen II. Add the short films or holiday featurette afterward if you want more time with Elsa, Anna, and Olaf.