Beauty and the Beast (2017)

The film leans left due to its strong emphasis on female independence and intelligence, its clear critique of toxic masculinity embodied by Gaston, and its central message of overcoming prejudice and judging inner character over superficial appearances.

The movie demonstrates significant DEI through intentional casting of minority actors in prominent roles and a narrative that explicitly critiques traditional male identities through its villain. It also includes subtle LGBTQ+ representation.

The film features LeFou, Disney's first openly gay character, whose attraction to Gaston is subtly portrayed. While a brief 'exclusively gay moment' occurs at the end, his identity is largely incidental to the plot. The portrayal avoids strong arcs of either empowerment or suffering, leading to a neutral overall impact.

The film does not feature any scenes where a female character engages in and wins direct, close-quarters physical combat against one or more male opponents. While female enchanted objects participate in the castle defense, their actions do not constitute hand-to-hand or melee weapon combat.