My Not So Definitive Ranking of Disney's Animated Movies
Like most kids, Disney was a huge part of growing up, and still very much is to this day. DisneyWorld is still this magical place that I want to go to. Disney also owns everything so channels like ESPN and ABC have also forever been essential to my family. But one of the best parts of everything Disney is their movies, specifically their animated films. With this ranking, I want to take a look at every theatrical release from Walt Disney Animated Studios and Disneytoon Studios. These two studios account for an impressive collection of films that date back forever. By my count, there are 67 films between the two studios that have been released. These are the only 67 that I will be focusing on, so no direct-to-video movies or sequels on the list. For context, there are 58 total films from WDAS and 9 theatrical releases from Disneytoon Studios.
For starters, this is really going to be a Top 45 since I can honestly say I haven't seen every single one of the 67 films. There are 18 films between the two studios that I have not seen yet. This leaves four movies unaccounted for that are going to be just off the list because I don't remember them that well or I simply don't think they are that memorable.
This is the list of 18 films I have not seen yet:
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Now for the four films that don't quite make my rankings because I either don't remember them well or because I just don't think they are as good as the others.
- The Sword in the Stone
- The Rescuers Down Under
- Bolt
- Fantasia
Now onto the rankings:
Lower Tier
45. Piglet's Big Movie
This is admittedly a little self-fan service because of how much I've loved Winnie the Pooh since I was a baby. Piglet, though not my favorite character amongst the entire group of animals, deserved to have his own movie since he is often overshadowed and underappreciated. The movie isn't great, but that's to be expected from a movie with these characters.
44. The Rescuers
I was never really into either of the Rescuers movies, but this is marginally better than the first one. When the most well-known thing about your movie is a "nudity scandal" that caused a massive recall of 3.4 million VHS tapes, then it just wasn't meant to be.
43. The Jungle Book 2
It had insanely huge shoes to fill since the first movie did so well and was so good (as my list will show later), but it was pretty good something that was supposed to go straight to video. I don't hate the movie, it is just hard for me to separate my feelings for the original when looking at this sequel.
42. One Hundred and One Dalmatians
This is likely to be surprising since it is often high on many people's lists, but I don't like it as much as others do. Cruella de Vil is a good villain, but she is way too over the top for me. I don't think it's a complete dumpster fire of a movie, I just don't look back on it as fondly as some of the other films.
41. Lady and the Tramp
This film certainly has its charms and the spaghetti scene is one of the more iconic scenes in all of Disney lore. I just never felt an honest connection with the movie. It is charming and I don't doubt some people find this film amazing, I'm just not one of them.
40. The Aristocats
Outside of the song "Ev'rybody Wants to Be a Cat", there isn't too much I have to say about the film. That one song alone may be the only thing I truly love about this movie. If not for that song, I would have it lower on the list.
39. Robin Hood
The story is Robin Hood is a fascinating one to me. He is a perfect example of what an anti-hero should be. The only problem is I don't like this movie all that much. I was also confused as to why Baloo was also in this movie too when I was younger.
38. The Fox and the Hound
It is a good movie with a cute story of a friendship between a fox and a hunting dog, a hound if you will. I just don't have too much of a connection to the movie. I admit it is worthy of viewing or two, but I am not going out of my way to watch this on any given night.
37. Chicken Little
I used to watch this movie almost daily when I was younger so I have seen this about a billion times. This is one of those that I feel actually gets worse the more you watch it. Despite this, I have a small soft spot. I don't think any of the characters, Chicken Little included, are all that redeemable so it ranks low.
36. Treasure Planet
There are some details I can't quite remember about the film, but I don't think it gets all the credit it deserves. I know it is ranked lower on my list, but that is just how I view them when looking back at them. This is actually a pretty underrated film and deserves a view.
35. The Great Mouse Detective
This film help to spur the Disney Renaissance so that has to mean something. Professor Ratigan is a decent villain by Disney's standards, with a pretty good villain song to boot. I don't go out of my way to watch it, but it is decent and deserves some respect.
34. Return to Never Land
This is leaps and bounds away from the original movie, but I didn't hate it. It's hard to believe this was made in my life since the original feels so old. It doesn't do anything groundbreaking in terms of something new, but I did enjoy it as a kid.
Lower-Mid Tier
33. Ralph Breaks the Internet
This is the newest film on my list since I haven't seen Frozen II yet and I don't think it is all that much better than the first film, which I really liked. It taps deep into the consumer culture and the idiocy of trends in today's world, but that doesn't help me like it at all. All in all, you should watch it, but don't expect to be blown away by it.
32. Sleeping Beauty
This is the first of the Disney princess movies and it features my least "favorite" of the Disney Princesses. I'll admit that I believed in the idea that these movies were for girls growing up since they were about princesses. Having grown up a little, I can appreciate these films, but this is the one that I appreciate the least of all of them.
31. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Again I reiterate that I loved Winnie the Pooh as a young child. Singing the theme song was the only way my mom could calm me down during my first haircut. This is really three small stories wrapped into a feature film. It features the classic bits Winnie the Pooh is known for and is a nice time capsule for a younger child.
30. Bambi
The only real takeaway from this film is how sad Bambi's mom's death was. That is usually the first thing people think of when they talk about Bambi. Personally, my favorite part of this film is Thumper, the rabbit. Everyone has that one friend that is almost exactly like him so it is easy to relate to the film in that way.
29. Pocahontas
I feel like people either really like or really hate this movie, which is probably the case for a lot of Disney films. I certainly don't hate it, in fact, I think the songs are pretty good. This is a weird thing to complain about since Disney is known for this, but the historical inaccuracy of it puts me off quite a bit. I get it is meant for kids so the material needs to be watered-down, but it isn't for me.
28. Hercules
The voice-acting is great and I like they somewhat stuck to the mythology, but this was one I didn't care for too much. James Woods is the film's MVP as Hades because he is the best part of the movie. Susan Egan as Megara is a close second but there is no competing with Hades. Hercules doesn't move the needle for me, either as a character or a film.
27. Tarzan
Phil Collin's music is what I remember the most from Tarzan. It was so good he won an Academy Award. I don't find the film all that great outside of that. It's good but I don't really like any of the protagonists all that much. Clayton's death scene might be one of the most graphic deaths not actually shown.
26. Dumbo
The racist undertones of this film do not help its ranking on this list, but a movie about a baby elephant with giant ears that can help him fly sounds like it was created at the end of a three-week bender. Jumbo Jr., because that is his actual name, doesn't actually speak in the movie but you can't help but feel for him. Also props to a kids' movie that is willing to show two anthropomorphic animals get drunk.
25. Tangled
A more modern take on the story of Rapunzel, this is another movie I think music is the best part of it. Mother Gothel's song is especially a high note for an otherwise "meh" film. Flynn Rider's arc helps make him look good in the end, but I think he drags the film down personally. Mandy Moore is great as Rapunzel though.
24. The Princess and the Frog
Another modern Disney princess film, this would probably be ranked higher if I had watched it more times than I have. I've only seen it all the way through once, so I don't feel comfortable moving it much higher than this. I think Dr. Facilier is one of the best modern villains in Disney history and easily one of the most unique.
Mid Tier
23. Pinocchio
This is widely regarded as one of the greatest animated films of all time, so to have it placed here would be a gross decision on my part. It can't be overstated how much this movie terrified me as a child. The part with kids becoming donkeys is horrifying and hearing it was even worse. The movie is good and deserves all the recognition and every accolade it has earned. I just don't look back at it as fondly as the rest of the world might.
22. The Little Mermaid
One thing that may be evident about me is my love for the villain. I'm usually cheering for the good guys or women but the films that make the best impression on me are the ones with the best villains. Ursula is an awesome villain in a world where I don't feel like female villains are all that present in animated films. She has an awesome song and the end battle was pretty cool. I don't dislike Ariel but she certainly isn't my favorite of the Disney princesses.
21. Cinderella
The story of Cinderella is fairly well-known so I won't hark on the small details, but overall it's a good film considering it helped drag Disney from the gutter. It's easy to sympathize with her story, My favorite parts of the film were Jaq and Gus, the mice. They help to bring out the comedic levels in an otherwise sad story. The stepmother is a decent villain, but there are far better, or worse I should say, in Disney lore.
20. A Goofy Movie
This movie is not a cinematic masterpiece but if Goofy were going to get his own movie, this is exactly what it should look like. It is a mess of a film that is hit or miss with some of its comedy and lacks a clear villain. Max certainly isn't the best of characters, but I can sympathize a little with him since his dad doesn't understand him. My only real knock is I felt there was too much Pete in the movie. Not to mention Roxanne was probably many kids' first crushes at the time.
19. The Jungle Book
Baloo is one of the best supporting characters in any Disney movie, period. He's funny, has an extremely soothing voice, and sings an absolutely amazing song. King Louie's song is the best in the movie, but Baloo is close behind. What knocks it for me is the villains. I don't think they are the strongest Disney has to offer, especially since there is no way I'm buying a kid outsmarts a tiger and a python. I know I shouldn't find logic in the illogical but that's what I'm doing.
18. Frozen
Frozen's music is good and the twist villain hits you hard, but this movie suffers too much from being overexposed in my mind. I think the secondary characters, specifically Olaf, are great additions but I don't really care for the main cast besides their singing voices. They aren't sympathetic in my mind, just insanely whiny. Frankly, I think it was able to capitalize on a weak Best Animated Feature group that year in winning the award.
17. Moana
I didn't know what to expect when I first saw this. Ultimately, I enjoyed it, especially the performances of Auli'i Cravalho as Moana and Dwayne Johnson as Maui. I thought the music was well-written which is no surprise coming from songwriters like Lin-Manuel Miranda. I didn't think Te Ka is all that bad as a "villain" and I didn't like the crab as a secondary, side villain so that was disappointing. It's newer so I haven't seen it as much, so this ranking could change upon further viewing.
16. Atlantis: The Lost Empire
I have some bold claims to make about this movie. First, Princess Kida deserves to be amongst the Disney princesses. She's awesome and might be my favorite part of the movie. Second, this is a good way to execute the villain twist. I just hate that it doesn't last all that long. The entire team turns out to be in it for the wrong reasons but within minutes almost all of them are back on the good side. This is a movie that surprises people with how good it really is.
15. Brother Bear
This movie probably shouldn't be this high on the list, especially over well-established giants in Disney lore. I think this movie is so different from the other Disney movies they've made. The setting, the story, etc. It's also an extremely emotional movie, especially when Kenai has to finally come clean to Koda about the true nature of his mother's whereabouts. I was also today years old when I learned that Joaquin Phoenix was the voice of Kenai.
Upper-Mid Tier
14. Alice in Wonderland
This movie is weird, bizarre, and absolutely wonderful. This movie knows it's a mess and totally embraces it with how crazy its characters are. The actress that voices Alice is the same actress that voiced Wendy in Peter Pan. As someone who is supporting his unbirthday today, it surprised me how much I actually liked this movie. I honestly think it is because it is very unorthodox. The Queen of Hearts isn't all that great a villain, though I'm sure she'd disagree. That is the only real knock on the film.
13. Wreck-it Ralph
I think the premise of this film is brilliant. A bad guy just wants to be good to the point he will do everything in his power to do it. John C. Reilly absolutely kills it as Ralph as does most of the voice cast. The film does a good job of making you sympathize with Ralph and his struggles. My only complaint is that Vanellope can be a little whiny at times, but overall she's another one that you can really sympathize with in the end. The villain reveal is a little obvious but the way it happens and the way it's handled make up for it.
12. Meet the Robinsons
I am willing to declare this movie the most underrated Disney film in the library. I can always scale back this claim but I really like this movie a lot. It takes place in the future and has a house that I would love to live in. The people are all crazy and there was a dinosaur with a big head and little arms that isn't sure whether this plan was well thought out. The Bowler Hat reveal to be a grown-up Goob is decent. It also made the standard "machines will soon rule us all" prediction. It has a good story with really likable characters and deserves more respect.
11. Mulan
Fun fact, this was the first animated Disney film made after I was born. Fa Mulan is the best and most awesome of all the Disney princesses and I won't be taking objections at this time. Regardless, I don't like everything about this movie. It is by no means perfect. Eddie Murphy is funny at Mushu, but I can only take him in small doses in this role. Shan Yu is one of the most imposing villains as the leader of the Huns, who historically were known for being imposing. I also wasn't a huge fan of Li Shang though "I'll Make a Man Out of You" is one of the best Disney songs ever.
10. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Of all the movies on my list, this might be the one ranked too high, but there should be some merit in how historically significant this film is. On its own, this is not a great film. But that isn't the complete point of my ranking. This was not only the first animated film from the studio but the first animated feature film period. No one knew what they were doing before this, but this helped to set the standard for animated films. I don't believe this is the greatest animated film ever made but it is the most historically significant of all-time.
9. Zootopia
There are so many red herring villains in this movie that the final payoff when you realize Bellwether is the real villain is worth is. The duo of Goodwin and Bateman work well together and their comedy plays off each other perfectly. There are times where Judy Hopps' enthusiasm is slightly over-bearing and Nick Wilde's turn after they accuse Mayor Lionheart is weird. Another small problem I have is Shakira's song since I don't really like it. But the one character we can all agree is awesome and the best in the movie is Flash, the three-toed sloth at the DMV, which is also a clever nod.
8. Lilo & Stitch
I was obsessed with the soundtrack of this movie as a child. I had a CD of it and listened to the same several songs a million times to the point it probably drove everyone insane. I think the movie is just as good as the soundtrack. Stitch is awesome and the fact everyone thinks he's a dog is crazy. I also question everyone that bought that Pleakley and Jumba could pass as humans. I sympathize with both Lilo and Nani since they've had a rough past. It should also be known that Daveigh Chase, the voice of Lilo, is the same girl who plays Samara from The Ring.
Best of the Best Tier
7. Beauty and the Beast
Now we move onto the movies that I think are borderline perfect. This is a film that is absolutely crazy when you think about it. A girl in France, whose father was held captive in the castle of a giant beast creature, must rescue him by confronting the Beast who hates outsiders while his assortment of household items try to set them up. Absolutely nuts, right? But man does it work for a killer movie. Gaston isn't a villain that is calculated and all that smart, but he is extremely easy to root against. The story would be so much better in my opinion if the Beast doesn't turn back into a human. For my money, Beauty and the Beast may have the best soundtrack from top to bottom.
6. Aladdin
I may have said that Mulan is the best Disney princess, but Aladdin is the best of all the "Disney Princess movies." Though that isn't how I see it, this movie is propelled by one man and one man alone, Robin Williams. His performance as the Genie might be the single-best performance in a Disney movie ever. This is high praise, but he absolutely deserves it. He has the best song in the movie and the jokes he makes are so witty, albeit outdated now, but it made the live-action performance of Will Smith seem way worse than it might have actually been. There will never be any topping this performance in my mind, no matter who does it.
5. The Emperor's New Groove
This one ranks in the top five simply for being the funniest of all the Disney movies. This is the film I associate with David Spade more than anything else he has done in his career. He plays off John Goodman extremely well and I feel the scene where they are both tied to the log in the river is a perfect example of this. Their dialogue during this brief scene is perfect. But on top of all that, Patrick Warburton puts in the best performance in the film. His performance as Kronk was good enough to spawn a sequel all about him. He delivers the best lines in the film and paired with Eartha Kitt is another interesting duo that works surprisingly well.
4. Peter Pan
Despite all the problems the film has by today's standards (I'm looking at you depiction of Native Americans), this is another movie I couldn't stop watching as a kid. I honestly don't like Peter Pan that much as a character and I don't find Captain Hook to be all that bad either, despite wanting to kill Peter, but for whatever reason, I watched it nonstop. Smee is the best part of the movie for just how clueless he is at almost every turn. I always found his voice to be very funny, adding to his appeal. I also make an embarrassing statement I have never made before. While many were crushing on Roxanne from a Goofy Movie, I always had a tiny crush on Tiger Lily, though she hardly makes a sound in the film.
3. Big Hero 6
This is the best film by a mile that Disney made in the last decade. Go figure that this film borrows characters based on Marvel comics, another part of the Walt Disney family. This doesn't influence my liking of the film, though I absolutely love Marvel movies. What makes me love this film isn't necessarily the good guys, but the villain and the mystery surrounding him throughout most of the movie. They used the patented "red herring" technique, but the reveal of the man behind the mask to be Professor Callaghan is the best reveal in Disney history. Add Baymax, whose comedic timing is perfect, the team of good guys, and the sad sacrifice at the end, and this movie is close to perfect.
2. The Lion King
This movie is probably number one and many people's lists, but to me, it just misses the top spot. There is no denying that there are some pretty good voice performances, namely James Earl Jones as Mufasa and Jeremy Irons as Scar, and the songs are some of the best in any Disney movie. This movie has an impressive voice cast, including the likes of Matthew Broderick and JTT as adult and young Simba, and Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella as the perfect duo of Timon and Pumbaa. The Lion King franchise also has one of my favorite direct-to-video sequels in Lion King 1 1/2, which tells the story of the first film from Timon and Pumbaa's perspective. It is a darn near perfect film.
1. The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Without a doubt, my favorite Disney animated film is about a hunchback who lives amongst the bells of Notre Dame with his gargoyle friends. This film tops my list because it has some of my favorites in all of Disney. First, it features the most sympathetic protagonist in Disney. Quasimodo is hated by everyone that doesn't know the true nature of his character and you can't help but feel so bad for his at the Festival of Fools when the tomatoes are flying at him and how manipulative Frollo is when he talks to Quasimodo. Second, it features the most badass non-Disney princess. Esmeralda is absolutely amazing and I'd be willing to bet the only reason she isn't a Disney princess, despite her lack of a royal connection, is because she's a gypsy and Disney isn't ready to embrace that yet. Lastly, it features my favorite villain with the best Disney villain song. Judge Frollo is a creepy and twisted dude with an amazingly strange song. As Disney's darkest film, I watch this in any situation and that's why it's my favorite Disney film.
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