27 of the Best Disney Movies of All Time
27 of the Best Disney Movies of All Time
The Magic Kingdom has no shortage of shining stars, whether they’re classic film actors in the live-action favorites that raised us—like Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins and Angela Lansbury in Bedknobs and Broomsticks—or modern crossover leads that turned animated characters into pop culture phenoms—as Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell so brilliantly did with Elsa and Anna.
And that makes our job of curating a list of the studio's best releases a very difficult one. So instead of playing critic, we took a more sentimental route with the following criteria: The greatest Disney movies of all times should a) tickle a nostalgic bone, b) be linked to a powerful childhood memory, c) entertain and empower, or d) all of the above. Ahead, our noblest effort to offer a mix of classic hand-drawn animation, 3D computer-generated gems, live-action favorites both old and newer, and, of course, visionary jewels from the Pixar wizards. So go ahead, be our guest, and flip through these favorites.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
The first fully animated Disney feature film, Snow White and Seven Dwarfs sees a lovely princess exiled by her evil stepmother to the woods where she meets a band of archetyped miners who invite her to live in their abode. There are wicked forces, poisoned fruits, and true love’s kisses—every trope that both gives the House of Mouse its praise and its criticism. But, hey, it was 1937, and outdated happily ever after or not, this superb animated feat is a cornerstone picture for Disney.
One Hundred and One Dalmatians
Our favorite part of Disney’s 1961 doggie delight comes early when the skilled animators pair pup breeds with look-alike owners—because it’s so true. The similarities between canines and their owners can’t be denied. The best part of Dalmatians, however, has to be the villainess. Cruella de Vil, a monster dog-napper who turns adorable critters into outerwear, is what nightmares are made of. Can’t wait to see what Emma Stone does with her origin story.
Fantasia
Not so much a winner with the little ones, Fantasia is an orchestral treat for their parents and anyone who appreciates the works of virtuoso composers including Bach, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky. A euphonic cartoon starring, of course, Disney’s most famous mouse, it blends classic music with eight sequences of innovative animation, concluding with a moody Chernabog in “Night on Bald Mountain”—who, by the way, has his own live-action adaptation in the works.
Cinderella
No matter how many decades or feminist values we put between ourselves and the fairytales brimming with antiquated ideologies, we can’t help but remain under the spell of the centuries-old tale of Cinderella and the bibbidi-bobbidi-boo enchantment of Disney’s animated masterpiece. A three-time Oscar nominee in 1950, it’s only about an hour long and stars some of the Walt’s most adorable creatures akin to Mickey and Minnie.
Beauty and the Beast
We could get all technical and speak to the game-changing ballroom feat, blending hand-drawn animation with computer-generated technology as seamlessly as our storied heroine glides through the scene with her petulant man-beast, as the reason for this 1992 Best Picture nominee making it onto our list. But, really, the vocational accomplishments take a backseat to the grandeur sing-alongs and inner-beauty love story that bolster this tale as old as time.
The Lion King
Mel Gibson, Kenneth Branagh, Simba: When it comes to celebrated Hamlet adaptations, we’ll take our Shakespearean tragedy served by a cartoon lion and his jocular warthog and meerkat buddies. Voiced by vocal duo Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Matthew Broderick, Simba comes of age and kinghood in the African Pride Lands after learning his Uncle Scar killed his father to obtain the proverbial throne. A two-time Oscar winner for its original music and score, the film still has The Best opening sequence of any Disney film.
The Little Mermaid
Disney music writing duo Alan Menkin and Howard Ashman secured a pair of Academy statues for their work on the underwater fairy tale about an unapologetic, rebellious mermaid named Ariel who not only has the most beautiful singing voice, but also is willing to trade it for a pair of legs to walk on land with the prince she’s loved from below sea level. Conflict comes courtesy of Ursula, an evil sea witch who imprisons merfolk in a polyps garden, and who has cast a spell we’re still under today. We can’t not watch it if it’s on.
The Princess and the Frog
In a departure from the computer-generated animation our senses have been conditioned to perk up to, the 2009 production of The Princess and the Frog saw Disney revert back to its time-tested 2D hand-drawn technique, and with an African-American princess for the first time ever. A twist on the Brothers Grimm’s The Frog Prince, it follows Tiana, an aspiring New Orleans chef who kisses a frog and becomes one herself, and has more flavor in a single scene than some movies have in their entire reels.
The Mighty Ducks
Something happened in 1992 when Emilio Estevez signed on to play Coach Bombay, the crabby leader of a peewee ice hockey team that included a young Josh Jackson. And that something is: magic. Though this underdog tale about a crew of shabby misfits who quack-attack their opponents with flying V formations and other slick tricks is arguably derivative, the instant classic struck a chord with audiences and remains a bona fide addition to the canon of sports films.
Queen of Katwe
Ten years old and already a vital member of her family, helping her mother (Lupita Nyong’o) care for their kin in the slums of Kampala, Uganda, Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga) finds her release when she’s making moves on the chess board. Convinced by her coach (David Oyelowo) that she’s good enough to be a champion, she just may be able to call checkmate on a life of poverty for her and her family. It’s beautiful and touching addition to director Mira Nair’s film trove.
Remember the Titans
Denzel Washington stars as Coach Herman Boone in this true-story sports flick about football, unity, and racial harmony. The drama follows the T.C. Williams Titans over the course of their first season as an integrated squad in 1970s Virginia, with stars including Ryan Gosling, Donald Faison, and Wood Harris suiting up to play. Hayden Panettiere, Kate Bosworth, and Will Patton round out the starry cast. Also worth noting: the triumphant soundtrack bopping to The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, and more.
The Parent Trap
The original Parent Trap, a rosy rom-com about reconciliation after divorce, stars Hayley Mills as unknowing twin sisters Susan and Sharon. And though the bright-eyed, blonde-topped actress who we’ll forever be grateful to for giving us Pollyanna is fantastic in the dual role, we can’t help but divert our appreciation to Maureen O’Hara, who plays the girls’ mother, when viewing the 1961 film in adulthood. O’Hara’s crazy, sexy, cool performance just gets better with age.
Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins trumps every queen, king, princess, and Prince Charming in Disney’s magical kingdom. She can fly, do spells, and dance with cartoon penguins—no true love’s kiss necessary. A timeless classic about an enchanting nanny adored by critics and fans alike, it stars Julie Andrews in an inimitable performance only Emily Blunt could complement, and Dick Van Dyke in a role that’s comfort food for the soul.
Old Yeller
To us, Old Yeller—Disney’s family frontier classic that packs an emotional wallop of a climax—conjures memories of hiding a tear-stained face from classmates in grade school on movie day. Perhaps, it reminds you of childhood movie nights spent nuzzling with your parents. But no matter how old we get and no matter how many times we watch the tale about a teen and the stray yellow pup he grows to love, based on the seminal novel by Fred Gipson, Old Yeller just. Destroys. Us.
Ratatouille
Look, no one asked for rats playing with their food, but the animators at Pixar know what they’re doing. Skilled manipulators of the head and heart, the clever animation studio known for stunning toons ingrained with a depth of humor and emotion delivered on both fronts with Ratatouille. A Parisian feast for the senses, it’s a *chef’s kiss* of a watch about a vermin named Remy who lends his foodie talents to a cook trying to impress a girl and a food critic. Pop open a bottle of Bordeaux with this one.
Inside Out
An impressive addition in the Cannes Film Festival in 2015 (read: pompous critics in tears), Inside Out is every parent’s portal into a preteen’s brain. Through anthropomorphized feelings—Joy (voiced by a brilliant Amy Poehler), Fear, Anger, Disgust, and Sadness (voiced by an also brilliant Phyllis Smith of The Office fame)—we learn what makes 11-year-old Riley tick and what makes her shut down. It’s hilarious, it’s heartbreaking, and it’s all the feels of a pre-teenaged girl in the throes of life-changing transition.
Finding Nemo
Pixar goes under the sea for a missing-fish story about a dry-humored clown fish and the forgetful blue tang sidekick on a mission to find the titular little swimmer. But just lending a description to its synopsis doesn’t do the charm and pleasure of this 2004 Oscar winner justice. Ellen DeGeneres makes waves as the delightful Dory, Marlin is all of us trying to adult with a scatterbrained pal, and every single side character is marine humor at its finest.
Toy Story
We all had favorite toys and stuffies we loved growing up. Well, the storytellers at Disney/Pixar confirmed with their debut film what we had all been wondering: Those playthings indeed come to life when we’re not around, but more importantly, yes, they loved us back. The first in a franchise that would rip even its principal voice actor, Tom Hanks, to shreds, Toy Story kicks off the adventures of a pull-string cowboy named Woody and his friends who occupy his human’s toy box.
Moana
With music composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, a pitch-perfect performance by newcomer Auli'i Cravalho, and an adorable comedic showing from Dwayne Johnson, Moana has been earned critical seals of approval—some even going so far as to call it “perfect.” About the daughter of a Polynesian chief, the inspiring tale of female empowerment sets sail with Moana as she hunts down the demigod who will help her heal her dying island. Watch this one with the volume turned way up loud.
Frozen
We’re not letting go of Anna, Elsa, Olaf, and the rest of the magical cast of characters who made Frozen a pop culture phenomenon in 2013. The second-highest grossing animated feature of all time, this Hans Christian Andersen adaptation is beaten only by its sequel. A sing-along that showcases the tonsils of Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell, it has everything you want in a Disney movie: laughs, love, silly little sidekicks. But where many animated films find comfort in predictability, Frozen warms up to the twist. And we’re so happy it did.
Zootopia
What better way to instill the concepts of inclusivity and acceptance in impressionable minds than with the diversified and dissimilar swath of the animal kingdom? In Zootopia, on the surface, you have Officer Judy Hopps, a female rookie bunny cop (Ginnifer Goodwin), joining forces with Nick Wilde, a con artist fox (Jason Bateman), to uncover a conspiracy. Though, undertones of enforcing equal rights, confronting prejudices, and celebrating female empowerment roar to the forefront.
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
And now for the Disney movie that forever changed the way view the backyard: Rick Moranis stars as the wacky inventor patriarch who builds an electromagnetic shrinking machine that zaps his two kids and their neighbor friends into bits the size of ants, then tosses them out back with the garbage by mistake. A pseudo-horror flick, the movie spends the rest of the reel watching the foursome battle beetles, lawnmowers, and other backyard booby traps on their way back to the house. Keep an out for the Shrunk series reboot starring Moranis and Josh Gad.
Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey
In 1993, Chance the American bulldog, Shadow the golden retriever, and Sassy the Himalayan feline launched a trilogy that would bring families such joy. Not only are the fur buddies, who trek through the Sierra Nevada Mountains to find their humans, one of the most lovable Disney trios, but the actors supplying their quips and cunning dialogue are just as deserving: Michael J. Fox, Don Ameche, and Sally Field are at your service.
Avengers: Endgame
The final showdown to an epic superhero saga picks up where its predecessor, Infinity War, left off: reuniting with the franchise’s beloved characters who weren’t turned to gray dust by Thanos. A massively ambitious undertaking by the Russo brothers, the lengthy wrap-up that begins in a state of mourning transforms into a thrilling display of action while managing to tie up loose ends, tell a great story, and tap into the sentimental touchstones the franchise has become known for. Bravo, Avengers.
Black Panther
“It hasn’t even hit theaters yet and its cultural footprint is already enormous,” a writer for TIME magazine wrote. When the Wakanda phenomenon did release, the first mainstream film to star a Black superhero (Chadwick Boseman) became the highest-grossing of its kind in 2018. But not only did Ryan Coogler’s groundbreaking feat put a Black man in the cat suit, the entire production was also a celebration of Black culture: from the Pan-African soundtrack to the costumes designed from “the sacred geometry of Africa.”
Coco
There are layers upon vibrant layers to Pixar’s visually stunning imagination of Dia de Los Muertos come to life. At face value, it’s a heartwarming story about a young Mexican boy, Miguel, who gets swept into the land of the dead and meets departed relatives while searching for a musical ancestor. But with a deeper look, Coco shows the importance of honoring our loved one’s memories, keeping traditions alive, and unifying families across borders—physical and metaphysical.
Mulan
Mulan is not your classic Disney princess. In fact, she isn’t even one at all. Inspired (albeit loosely) by a Chinese legend, the titular heroine begins her journey as a young woman seeking purpose, who disguises herself as a man to stand in for her weak father in war, and leaves as a fearless warrior who leads to victory over the Huns. It’s an inspiring story with a lucky cricket, spunky pocket-sized dragon, and a killer want song, “Reflection” carried by Lea Salonga’s vocals and Christina Aguilera’s pop rendition. 2020’s long-awaited remake promises to better embrace the legendary heroine’s origin story and native culture while packing a stronger punch.
The studio is brimming with quality fare, but these films are the cream of the happiest crop on earth.