Without Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic, where would Disney+ be? Those are definitely strong brands, but one of the biggest draws for Disney+ is Disney itself. Next year marks the 100th anniversary of Walt Disney Studios, and the House of Mouse has come a long way in the last century. Disney was the first studio to produce a feature-length animated movie, a tradition that continues to this day. Additionally, Disney has released hundreds of live-action flicks, in addition to branching out into documentaries. Pixar is also at the forefront of Disney, with some of the most dazzling and innovative animated flicks to date. Taken all together, Disney is truly something special. And we celebrate that legacy each month by rounding up the best Disney movies on Disney+.
Editor’s note: With Disney owning so many different properties these days, we’ve excluded newer acquisitions like the Star Wars and Marvel franchises.
Recently added to Disney+
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Enchanted2007 -
The Mighty Ducks1992
Enchanted (2007) new
107m
Genre
Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Romance
Stars
Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden
Directed by
Kevin Lima
It’s no small thing to say that Enchanted may be one of the most charming Disney movies created in this century. And since the sequel, Disenchanted, is just around the corner, it’s a great time to revisit the story of Giselle (Amy Adams), an animated heroine who is destined to marry Prince Edward (James Marsden). Edward’s evil stepmother, Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon), can’t let that happen, so she uses dark magic to banish Giselle to a world where happy endings don’t come true: a live-action New York City. There, Giselle’s overpowering optimism and heart win over a single father, Robert Phillip (Patrick Dempsey), and his daughter, Morgan (Rachel Covey).
The Mighty Ducks (1992) new
101m
Genre
Comedy, Family, Drama
Stars
Emilio Estevez, Joss Ackland, Lane Smith
Directed by
Stephen Herek
The Mighty Ducks is a movie that not only launched a franchise, it led to an actual NHL hockey team. But taken on its own merits, the first film has a very strong underdog story that doubles as a redemption tale for Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez). After being sentenced to community service for drunk driving, Gordon slowly rediscovers his passion for hockey while coaching the Ducks, a youth hockey team. Although Gordon quickly realizes that Charlie Conway (Joshua Jackson) has the most potential on the team, winning the kids’ trust proves to be much harder than Gordon anticipated.
Moana (2016)
107m
Genre
Adventure, Comedy, Family, Animation
Stars
Auli'i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House
Directed by
Ron Clements, John Musker
There’s a new sing-along version of Moana on Disney+, and fans of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s catchy songs will love any excuse to revisit those. Auliʻi Cravalho headlines the movie as Moana, a teenager who lives on the Polynesian island of Motunui. Thousands of years before Moana was born, the demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) stole the heart of the goddess Te Fiti and inadvertently cured the oceans. With the survival of her tribe at stake, Moana takes on the task to find Maui and return the heart to Te Fiti. But whether Moana can trust Maui to help her remains to be seen.
Polar Bear (2022)
84m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Catherine Keener
Directed by
Alastair Fothergill, Jeff Wilson
Polar Bear is one of the most recent films under the Disneynature banner, and it takes some creative liberties while creating its narrative. The nature footage is stunning, and narrator Catherine Keener tells the story of a mother polar bear and her young daughter. The childhood of the mother is also explored. Although the mother and daughter pair do have some good times, the challenges in their daily lives makes survival a constant struggle.
Pinocchio (2022)
105m
Genre
Fantasy, Adventure, Family
Stars
Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Tom Hanks, Luke Evans
Directed by
Robert Zemeckis
Do you think you know the story of Pinocchio? Well, you probably do if you’ve seen the 1940 animated film by Disney. Director Robert Zemeckis isn’t exactly looking to reinvent the wheel with this live-action remake. But Zemeckis has added a few fresh details to the story of the puppet, Pinocchio (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth), who came to life thanks to a wish from his adoptive father, Geppetto (Tom Hanks). Since Pinocchio isn’t a real boy, Jiminy Cricket (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) tags along as his conscience. Unfortunately, Jimmy’s got his work cut out for him because Pinocchio never stays out of trouble for long.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1938)
83m
Genre
Fantasy, Animation, Family
Stars
Adriana Caselotti, Lucille La Verne, Harry Stockwell
Directed by
David Hand
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first-ever full-length animated feature film in 1937, and we’re still in awe of its artistry in 2022. Adriana Caselotti lends her voice to Snow White, the most beautiful woman in the kingdom. That fact doesn’t sit well with Snow White’s stepmother, the Evil Queen (Lucille La Verne). The Evil Queen wants Snow White dead, and she won’t stop until she is once again the fairest in the land. Fortunately for Snow White, she finds sanctuary with Doc (Roy Atwell) and six of his closest Dwarf friends. They’ll do anything to protect Snow White, but it may not be enough to stop the Evil Queen.
Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022)
99m
Genre
Animation, Family, Comedy, Adventure, Mystery
Stars
Andy Samberg, John Mulaney, KiKi Layne
Directed by
Akiva Schaffer
Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers has cemented its status as a modern classic with an Emmy win for Best TV movie. This Disney+ original starts with the premise that Rescue Rangers was just a TV show that Chip (John Mulaney) and Dale (Andy Samberg) co-headlined three decades ago. Miscommunication and jealousy prematurely end the series and leave the two animated chipmunks estranged for thirty years. However, they reunite in the present when one of their old friends goes missing; which forces them to team up to bring down some evil toon smugglers. It’s not exactly a sequel to Who Framed Roger Rabbit, but it captures a lot of the tone from that movie with some surprising animated guest stars.
Rise (2022)
113m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Uche Agada, Dayo Okeniyi, Yetide Badaki
Directed by
Akin Omotoso
Just because Disney puts a lot of its focus on animation doesn’t mean that the studio can’t deliver great live-action flicks. Rise is one of the best Disney+ originals of the year, and a moving biopic about NBA player Giannis Antetokounmpo (Uche Agada), and his brothers Athanasios “Thanasis” Antetokounmpo (Ral Agada), Alexandros “Alex” Antetokounmpo (Elijah Shomanke), and Kostantinos “Kostas” Antetokounmpo (Jaden Osimuwa). After fleeing their native country, Nigeria, Charles (Dayo Okeniyi) and Vera Antetokounmpo (Yetide Badaki) struggle to provide for their sons. But when Giannis and Thanasis show NBA potential, it offers their family a potential path out of poverty. However, the path to a professional career isn’t easy, which forces Giannis to make some hard choices.
Encanto (2021)
102m
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Stars
Stephanie Beatriz, María Cecilia Botero, John Leguizamo
Directed by
Byron Howard, Jared Bush
Cover your ears, folks, because we are gonna talk about Bruno. Disney+ has figured out a way to breathe new life into last year’s hit animated film, Encanto, by releasing a sing-along version. So if you haven’t already memorized Lin-Manuel Miranda’s amazing songs from the movie, this is your chance to get some practice in. Of course, the story is very enjoyable on its own merits. Stephanie Beatriz stars as Mirabel Madrigal, the only “normal” member of the magically empowered Madrigal family in Colombia. But she’s not the black sheep of the family. That “honor” falls to her uncle Bruno, and his unfortunate gift to predict the future. Yet when the family’s magic is threatened, it falls upon Mirabel to find a way to save them all.
Lilo & Stitch (2002)
85m
Genre
Animation, Family
Stars
Daveigh Chase, Chris Sanders, Tia Carrere
Directed by
Chris Sanders, Dean DeBlois
Are you familiar with the concept of ohana? It’s the Hawaiian word for family, and as defined by Lilo & Stitch, it means that no one in the family gets left behind or forgotten. This sentiment deeply touches Stitch (Chris Sanders), a rogue alien experiment hiding out on Earth by pretending to be the dog of a troubled young girl named Lilo Pelekai (Daveigh Chase). While living with Lilo and her older sister, Nani (Tia Carrere), Stitch not only comes to understand the value of family, he realizes that he can be more than just a biological weapon of mass destruction. Unfortunately, the Galactic Federation doesn’t see it that way, and they send operatives to capture and destroy Stitch.
Black Beauty (2020)
110m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Kate Winslet, Mackenzie Foy, Iain Glen
Directed by
Ashley Avis
In the Disney+ adaptation of Anna Sewell’s Black Beauty, Kate Winslet provides the inner voice of the wild mustang who refuses to be tamed after she is captured by humans. However, Beauty finds a kindred soul in Jo Green (Mackenzie Foy), a young orphan who is under the care of her uncle, John Manly (Iain Glen). Although Beauty is treated well by both Jo and John, their diminished financial prospects force John to sell Beauty to a new owner. Regardless of how long it takes, Jo resolves to find and recover Beauty while the horse contends with some truly terrible owners.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
143m
Genre
Adventure, Fantasy, Action
Stars
Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley
Directed by
Gore Verbinski
“This is the day you will always remember as the day you almost caught Captain Jack Sparrow.” Disney hasn’t had as much luck in live-action as it has with its animated flicks, but the original Pirates of the Caribbean film is just a blast even two decades after its release. Johnny Depp gives a charismatic (and Oscar-nominated!) performance as Captain Jack Sparrow, an eccentric pirate who is out for revenge on his former crew for betraying him. When Jack’s rival, Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), kidnaps Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) to free himself from a curse, Jack joins forces with a young blacksmith named Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) to save Elizabeth and reclaim his ship, the Black Pearl.
Toy Story (1995)
81m
Genre
Animation, Adventure, Family, Comedy
Stars
Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles
Directed by
John Lasseter
With Lightyear out in theaters this summer, it’s worth revisiting the Pixar film that started it all: Toy Story. This was the first fully CGI-animated movie, and it was breathtaking for the time. The story also really holds up even decades later. Tom Hanks stars as Woody, the favorite toy of his owner, Andy Davis (John Morris). Woody’s position is challenged by the arrival of Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), a sci-fi hero who doesn’t realize that he’s an action figure. Woody’s attempt to get rid of his rival leaves Buzz and himself in some dangerous situations. In order to get home, Woody and Buzz will have to team up.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (2014)
81m
Genre
Family, Comedy
Stars
Kerris Dorsey, Jennifer Garner, Dylan Minnette
Directed by
Miguel Arteta
No one could ever accuse Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day of false advertising. It is indeed a terrible day, thanks to Alexander Cooper (Ed Oxenbould). After suffering a series of misfortunates, Alexander wishes that his family could relate to his problems. The next day, Alexander’s parents, Ben (Steve Carell) and Kelly Cooper (Jennifer Garner), face professional ruin. Not even Alexander’s siblings, Anthony (Dylan Minnette) and Emily (Kerris Dorsey), are immune to Alexander’s misguided birthday wish. The only way that the Coopers can counter this bad fortune is by relying on each other.
Iron Will (1994)
108m
Genre
Adventure, Family
Stars
Mackenzie Astin, Kevin Spacey, Brian Cox
Directed by
Charles Haid
Iron Will is the nickname given to Will Stoneman (Mackenzie Astin) in this film, which is based on the true story of a 1917 dogsled race from Winnipeg, Manitoba, to Saint Paul, Minnesota. Will is just a teenager whose college dreams are in jeopardy because his family farm faces financial ruin. Winning the race is Will’s only hope for a future. Newspaper reporter Harry Kingsley (Kevin Spacey) selfishly sees Will’s plight as an excuse to further his career, while the race’s promoter, J.W. Harper (David Ogden Stiers), quickly gains respect for the young man. However, Angus McTeague (Brian Cox) will do almost anything to prevent Will from winning. That includes hiring another competitor, Borg Guillarson (George Gerdes), to sabotage Will.
The Little Mermaid (1989)
83m
Genre
Animation, Family, Fantasy
Stars
Jodi Benson, Samuel E. Wright, Pat Carroll
Directed by
Ron Clements, John Musker
The Little Mermaid was an instant classic upon its release, thanks to its dazzling animation, incredible songs, and a wonderful heroine in Princess Ariel (Jodi Benson). By today’s standards, Ariel’s pining for Prince Eric (Christopher Daniel Barnes) might be frowned upon. But Ariel is so joyous and endearing that even her crush on Eric is charming. To be with the man she loves, Ariel makes a deal with the sea witch, Ursula (Pat Carroll), to get three days as a human if she gives up her voice. If Ariel can get Eric to give her true love’s kiss, it will spare her an eternity as Ursula’s plaything. And just to ensure that Ariel fails, Ursula assumes human form and courts Eric by using Ariel’s voice for herself.
One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)
79m
Genre
Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family
Stars
Rod Taylor, J. Pat O'Malley, Betty Lou Gerson
Directed by
Hamilton Luske, Wolfgang Reitherman, Clyde Geronimi
101 Dalmatians was one of the last Disney animated movies produced during the life of Walt Disney himself. The story follows two adult Dalmatians, Pongo (Rod Taylor) and Perdita (Lisa Daniels and Cate Bauer), both of whom conspire to have their respective owners, Roger (Ben Wright) and Anita (Lisa Davis), fall in love. When Anita’s “friend,” Cruella de Vil (Betty Lou Gerson) desires the fur of Pongo and Perdita’s children, she hires criminals to kidnap the pups. With the help of some animal friends, Pongo and Perdita reunite with their pups only to find that Cruella has also taken 84 orphaned Dalmatian pups. Pongo and Perdita decide to adopt the rest into the family. But the journey home becomes incredibly dangerous when Cruella personally hunts them down.
George of the Jungle (1997)
93m
Genre
Adventure, Comedy, Family, Romance
Stars
Brendan Fraser, Leslie Mann, Thomas Haden Church
Directed by
Sam Weisman
George of the Jungle is an obvious parody of Tarzan, although Brendan Fraser probably could have played either role. As George, Fraser is charming as the young man who was raised by apes. He also wins the heart of heiress Ursula Stanhope (Leslie Mann), much to the annoyance of her fiancé, Lyle van de Groot (Thomas Haden Church). The bond between George and Ursula is so strong that he even accompanies her to America for a glimpse of a life he could have had. George may be extraordinary clumsy when swinging from vine to vine, but his heart is always in the right place. Just watch out for that tree!
Clouds (2020)
121m
Genre
Music, Drama, Romance
Stars
Steffan Argus, Sabrina Carpenter, Madison Iseman
Directed by
Justin Baldoni
Clouds is based on the true story of Zach Sobiech (Fin Argus), a teenager who suffered from a terminal form of cancer. With just months left to live, Zach struggles to find some meaning for his life and a musical legacy to leave behind. He forms a band with his best friend, Sammy Brown (Sabrina Carpenter), and works up the courage to ask Amy Adamie (Madison Iseman) to be his girlfriend. But as Zach’s illness worsens, he pushes Amy away and fears that he will fall far short of his dreams. Fortunately for Zach, his family and friends refuse to give up on him.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
91m
Genre
Drama, Animation, Family
Stars
Tom Hulce, Demi Moore, Heidi Mollenhauer
Directed by
Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise
Disney took more than a few liberties with Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and yet it’s still one of the darkest animated films that the studio has ever produced. Judge Claude Frollo (Tony Jay) literally sings about his sinful lust for Esmeralda (Demi Moore)! But the music and the visuals are dazzling, and the movie has a very moving portrayal of Quasimodo (Tom Hulce), a deformed young man whose appearance hides the heart of a romantic, even if the love of his life doesn’t return his affections. This is the kind of sweeping musical epic that rarely gets made anymore, and it has earned its place among Disney’s greatest flicks.
The Muppets (2011)
103m
Genre
Family, Comedy, Music
Stars
Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper
Directed by
James Bobin
It took Disney a long time to figure out what to do with Jim Henson’s beloved creations. But The Muppets is arguably the perfect revival film. In addition to getting Kermit and the gang back together to save The Muppet Theater from Tex Richman (Chris Cooper), the movie is the story of two brothers, Gary (Jason Segel) and Walter (Peter Linz). Both are die-hard fans of the Muppets, but only Walter is actually a Muppet himself. Their bond sometimes tests the patience of Gary’s girlfriend, Mary (Amy Adams). And the film’s Oscar-winning song Man or Muppet is also a big reason why this flick deserves to be on the list of Disney’s best movies.
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)
93m
Genre
Adventure, Comedy, Family, Science Fiction
Stars
Rick Moranis, Matt Frewer, Marcia Strassman
Directed by
Joe Johnston
In the ‘90s, Disney went big by going small. Rick Moranis headlined Honey, I Shrunk the Kids as a beleaguered scientist, Wayne Szalinski, who is on the verge of a major discovery about how to enlarge and shrink any object. Unfortunately, Wayne’s kids, Amy (Amy O’Neill) and Nick (Robert Oliveri), are accidentally shrunk alongside Russell Thompson Jr. (Thomas Wilson Brown) and his little brother, Ron (Jared Rushton). While trapped at microscopic sizes, the kids must traverse the Szalinski family’s backyard and somehow communicate with Wayne to get him to reverse the process. However, the journey is even more dangerous than the kids originally suspected.
The Journey of Natty Gann (1985)
101m
Genre
Adventure, Family, Drama
Stars
Meredith Salenger, John Cusack, Ray Wise
Directed by
Jeremy Kagan
Modern Disney has more than its fair share of live-action remakes of animated films. But in the mid-’80s, the studio tried something much bolder with The Journey of Natty Gann. Meredith Salenger stars in this Great Depression-era drama as Natty Gann, a young girl who goes on a cross-country journey to find her father, Sol Gann (Ray Wise). Natty finds companionship in a dog she calls Wolf and a teenager named Harry, played by a young John Cusack. The odds are stacked against Natty’s reunion with her father, especially after he believes that she has been killed. But Natty’s perseverance in the face of adversity is inspiring. She simply never gives up, even when it would have been easy to let it all go.
Fantasia (1940)
124m
Genre
Animation, Family
Stars
Deems Taylor, Walt Disney, Julietta Novis
Directed by
David Hand, James Algar, Samuel Armstrong, Ben Sharpsteen, William Roberts, Paul Satterfield, Hamilton Luske, Jim Handley, Ford Beebe, T. Hee, Wilfred Jackson, Norman Ferguson
In 2022, Fantasia will celebrate its 82nd anniversary. That’s mind-blowing considering that the film is still one of the most visually arresting animated features ever created. It was also a passion project for Walt Disney himself, who conceived an idea to make a film out of eight unrelated animated cartoons set to classical music conducted by Leopold Stokowski. Mickey Mouse’s segment, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, is perhaps the most famous part of the film. But Night on Bald Mountain is right behind it with a truly fearsome collection of monsters and demons, including the massive Chernabog. Now there’s a face you’re going to remember … in your nightmares.
Monsters, Inc. (2001)
92m
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Family
Stars
John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Mary Gibbs
Directed by
Pete Docter
Pixar’s Monsters, Inc. envisions a world where monsters are not only real, they’re surprisingly ordinary and hard-working guys and gals who just want to make a living. And in Monstropolis, only the screams of young human children from Earth can provide the energy they need. Ironically, many monsters are actually scared of the kids. But when Mike (Billy Crystal) and Sully (John Goodman) accidentally bring a human girl named Boo (Mary Gibbs) to their world, all heck breaks loose as they try to minimize the damage and save both their jobs — and Boo.
Annie (1999)
90m
Genre
Music, Family, Comedy
Stars
Kathy Bates, Victor Garber, Alan Cumming
Directed by
Rob Marshall
There have been several adaptations of the Broadway musical based on the comic strip Little Orphan Annie. However, few can match the star power of Disney’s Annie. Victor Garber, Kathy Bates, Alan Cumming, and Kristin Chenoweth is still a dream cast two decades later! Alicia Morton stars as Annie Bennett, a young orphan who finds a potential adoptive father in Oliver Warbucks (Garber), a world-renowned billionaire with the nickname Daddy Warbucks. Unfortunately, the abusive owner of Annie’s orphanage, Miss Agatha Hannigan (Bates), has a scheme to steal Oliver’s money and prevent Annie’s happy ending from ever coming to pass.
Flubber (1997)
93m
Genre
Comedy, Family, Science Fiction
Stars
Robin Williams, Marcia Gay Harden, Christopher McDonald
Directed by
Les Mayfield
Flubber is Disney’s second remake of The Absent-Minded Professor, but the only one with the late Robin Williams in the leading role as Professor Philip Brainard. The professor loves Dr. Sara Jean Reynolds (Marcia Gay Harden), but he just can’t seem to pull himself away from his experiments long enough to get married to her. After losing Sara, the Professor realizes that he’s discovered flying rubber, or Flubber, an amazing substance that may save the local college and give him a chance to win back Sara’s heart.
The Princess and the Frog (2009)
98m
Genre
Romance, Family, Animation
Stars
Anika Noni Rose, Bruno Campos, Keith David
Directed by
Ron Clements, John Musker
The Princess and the Frog is Disney’s last traditionally animated feature film. It also happens to be a modern classic. Anika Noni Rose stars as Tiana, a young African American woman who dreams of owning her own restaurant in New Orleans during the 1920s. Concurrently, Prince Naveen (Bruno Campos) comes to town to find his fortune, before he is cursed and transformed into a frog by the voodoo-empowered shadow man, Dr. Facilier (Keith David). When Tiana meets and kisses Naveen to break the curse, she is also transformed into a frog. And it’s up to them and a few new friends to stop Facilier before the curse becomes permanent.
Cruella (2021)
134m
Genre
Comedy, Crime
Stars
Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry
Directed by
Craig Gillespie
Behind every Disney villain beats the heart of a potential hero. At least that’s the theory behind many of Disney’s live-action prequels that put the spotlight on the bad boys and girls. Cruella gets points for not entirely whitewashing Estella (Emma Stone) before she becomes Cruella de Vil. In the ’70s, Estella is an ambitious thief with an innate eye for fashion who catches the attention of The Baroness (Emma Thompson). Although Estella soon flourishes under the Baroness’ tutelage, she turns against her mentor when she discovers that she wronged Estella’s mother years before. And that’s something that Estella simply cannot forgive.
A Wrinkle in Time (2018)
109m
Genre
Adventure, Science Fiction, Family, Fantasy
Stars
Storm Reid, Oprah Winfrey, Lyric Wilson
Directed by
Ava DuVernay
Director Ava DuVernay helmed a new adaptation of Madeleine L’Engle’s classic sci-fi novel, A Wrinkle in Time. For this version, Meg Murry (Storm Reid) and her adoptive brother, Charles Wallace Murry (Deric McCabe), are haunted by the disappearance of their father, Dr. Alexander Murry (Chris Pine). Four years later, the cosmic entities Mrs. Which (Oprah Winfrey), Mrs. Whatsit (Reese Witherspoon), and Mrs. Who (Mindy Kaling) offer the Murry siblings and their friend, Calvin O’Keefe (Levi Miller), the chance to travel across the cosmos and rescue Alexander from The IT.
Frozen (2013)
102m
Genre
Animation, Adventure, Family
Stars
Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff
Directed by
Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee
Frozen is an absolute earworm factory that poured into the zeitgeist like few films before it. You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone today who hasn’t heard Let It Go or Do You Want to Build a Snowman? And while you might have been annoyed by everyone bringing up Frozen once upon a time, you’ll get it when you see it. Elsa (Idina Menzel) is the young princess of Arendelle, forced to pick up the mantle after her parents die in a shipwreck. But Elsa harbors a dark secret that she hasn’t shared with anyone — not even her sister, Anna (Kristen Bell), and it has put a strain on their relationship. When a terrifying magical winter descends on Arendelle, it’s up to Anna to figure out what’s wrong and how her sister is connected.
Inside Out (2015)
95m
Genre
Animation, Family, Adventure, Drama, Comedy
Stars
Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Bill Hader
Directed by
Pete Docter
Everyone has big feelings, but especially children. Inside Out attempts to communicate and examine those feelings in a movie made as much for adults as children. Riley is a happy girl whose life is turned upside down when her family moves to San Francisco. Inside, her emotions — Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust — attempt to handle the change. But when Joy and Sadness are accidentally swept into the furthest reaches of Riley’s mind, Anger, Fear, and Disgust are left to take the wheel.
WALL·E (2008)
98m
Genre
Animation, Family, Science Fiction
Stars
Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, Jeff Garlin
Directed by
Andrew Stanton
One of Disney’s most high-concept and provocative films, WALL-E issues an overt warning about the dangers of mass consumption and is unapologetic in its conservationist message. The anti-corporate, pro-environment film hits the nail hard on the head, and yet it’s still remarkably satisfying and engaging thanks to a satirical sense of humor and an enormous heart. The titular character is an out-of-date robot, out on an adventure with a next-gen companion but it’s the humans who are the target.
Soul (2020)
101m
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Fantasy, Family
Stars
Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Graham Norton
Directed by
Pete Docter
Death is scary, especially when it happens right before your big break. Such is the story of Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx), a music teacher who aspires to be a professional jazz pianist. On the day he finally lands a gig with the renowned Dorothea Williams (Angela Basset), Joe stumbles into a manhole and into a world known as “The Great Before.” Determined to regain his earthly self, Joe teams up with Soul 22 (Tina Fey) — a stubborn entity that has refused to ascend to Earth since the dawn of time. As Soul 22 attempts to help Joe regain his presence on Earth, the two learn more about themselves and one another than they bargained for.
Ratatouille (2007)
111m
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Stars
Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Lou Romano
Directed by
Brad Bird
“Anyone can cook” is the prevailing message from Pixar’s Ratatouille, a movie about a rat chef. Remy (Patton Oswalt) lives in the sewers of Paris, raiding garbage with his family, but he dreams of eating better. Thanks to his sophisticated palate and love of the legendary French chef Gusteau, Remy’s determined to become a chef himself. So when he finds himself in the kitchen of Gusteau’s foundering restaurant, he can’t help but make an improvement on a soup, getting caught by the young custodian, Linguini. When Remy’s soup meets rave reviews, he’s forced to team up with the hapless Linguini to keep cooking since, you know, nobody wants to see a rat cooking in the kitchen.
Pinocchio (1940)
88m
Genre
Animation, Family
Stars
Dickie Jones, Cliff Edwards, Christian Rub
Directed by
Ben Sharpsteen, Hamilton Luske
You’ve got to start with the classics. The tale of a wooden puppet on a journey to becoming a real boy, the story of Pinocchio truly stands the test of time. It’s a thrilling adventure, even if after rewatching it as an adult makes you realize it gets pretty darn real for a second there. If you don’t remember — and don’t worry, we didn’t either at first — a part of this movie takes place in an amusement park where misbehaving causes boys to turn into donkeys. Yeah, it gets bleak for a moment. We won’t spoil the 80-year-old movie for you, but trust us, it gets better.
Mary Poppins (1964)
139m
Genre
Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Stars
Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson
Directed by
Robert Stevenson
Disney isn’t all animated fun! You can’t hide the incomparable Julie Andrews behind a character, after all. Andrews originates the ultimate magical nanny in this classic. The children of the wealthy, uptight Banks family receive a wonderful surprise when their new nanny is the proper, magical, ludicrously fun Mary Poppins. Along with her Cockney friend, Bert (Dick Van Dyke), Mary and the children embark on a series of fantastic adventures that comprise some of the best Disney has to offer.
Beauty and the Beast (1991)
84m
Genre
Romance, Family, Animation, Fantasy
Stars
Paige O'Hara, Robby Benson, Richard White
Directed by
Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise
A tale as old as time, nobody has done Beauty and the Beast better than Disney’s 1991 animated classic. With some of the most memorable songs, a refreshingly bright protagonist, and an all-time great villain in Gaston, some may argue that Beauty and the Beast is the greatest entry in the Disney Vault. You be the judge.
The Lion King (1994)
89m
Genre
Family, Animation, Drama
Stars
Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons
Directed by
Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff
Disney had been incorporating tear-jerking scenes into the beginning of movies long before 1994, but it’s hard to find a more emotional moment near a movie’s outset than in The Lion King. You know the one we’re talking about. The good news is you’re able to gather yourself just in time for a wonderful coming-of-age story filled with lovable, quotable characters and more than one song that will be stuck in your head for the next week.
Aladdin (1992)
90m
Genre
Animation, Family, Adventure, Fantasy, Romance
Stars
Scott Weinger, Robin Williams, Linda Larkin
Directed by
Ron Clements, John Musker
If you’re like us, watching this just reminds you of how much we all miss Robin Williams. Sure, at its core, Aladdin is an incredible story following forbidden love and what that love will lead you to overcome. But has there been a more hilarious animated character in Disney history than Williams’ Genie? There’s probably an argument to make somewhere, but the big blue wish-granter absolutely stole the show.
Frozen (2013)
102m
Genre
Animation, Family, Adventure, Fantasy
Stars
Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff
Directed by
Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee
Speaking of Frozen, it was only a matter of time before this blockbuster appeared on the list. It sure didn’t seem that long ago that the world was caught up in a Frozen frenzy, and the song that showed up literally everywhere. Now that Disney has brought Frozen II to its platform early, you can get lost in this animated world long enough to take your mind away from the real one.
Bambi (1942)
70m
Genre
Animation, Drama, Family
Stars
Donnie Dunagan, Peter Behn, Stan Alexander
Directed by
David Hand
The original painful moment in animated cinema? We think so. Disney’s fifth animated feature film hit us with a true gut punch, then whisked us along for a compelling story about an orphaned deer. So compelling, in fact, that nearly 80 years after its release, Disney is rumored to be developing a live-action version of the timeless classic.
Finding Nemo (2003)
100m
Genre
Animation, Family
Stars
Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould
Directed by
Andrew Stanton
Can you name a better pairing of animated character and voice actor than Dory the forgetful fish and Ellen DeGeneres? Neither can we. With Dory serving up the right comedy at the right time, Finding Nemo brings us on an extraordinary adventure of a father swimming across the ocean in search of his son. If you’re in the mood for a solid sequel, Finding Dory is streaming on Disney+, too.
Coco (2017)
105m
Genre
Family, Animation, Fantasy, Music, Comedy, Adventure
Stars
Anthony Gonzalez, Gael García Bernal, Benjamin Bratt
Directed by
Lee Unkrich
Coco was a smash hit in 2017, and if you missed out back then, it’s just as good three years later. It’s a story of a boy chasing his passion and searching for answers, told in an incredibly unique way and packed with emotion. It delves into heritages not often represented in Disney movies, and resonates with viewers young and old.
Up (2009)
96m
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Family, Adventure
Stars
Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai
Directed by
Pete Docter
We mentioned one of the more classic emotional moments in Disney movies. Now, Up brings us one of the more modern examples of Disney breaking our heart before slowly repairing it in a feature-length film. Plus, it features one of the more odd duos in a Disney movie in recent memory. And it works so, so flawlessly as we follow the tale of a grumpy old man and a boy scout.
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