Disney has evolved over the years. Walt Disney started by making and selling live-action films, but now, the multinational company produces all sorts of movies and TV shows that we’ve all grown to love.
We spent 72 hours researching and compiling the best Disney movies of all time!
Top 35 Disney Movies For Family Night
1. Avengers: Endgame
From comics to the big screen, Avengers has been in the hearts of Marvel fans from all generations. The film became a box office hit and is considered one of the best Disney films of all time. During Endgame, we saw many of our favorite MCU characters come together and fight alongside each other to save the world. Every scene is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat!
2. Black Panther
Black Panther first appeared in Captain America: Civil War, and since then, he was included as one of the main characters of the Avengers movie franchise. He’s a strong-willed king that will do everything to keep Wakanda safe.
Played by the late Chadwick Boseman, it’s no surprise that the King of Wakanda will get a standalone film of his own. The third installment of this flick may come out in 2022. Who’ll be the new Black Panther?
3. The Lion King
We’re not talking about the newest CGI film - we’re talking about the 1994 classic. There’s something about The Lion King that will always have a place in our hearts and will forever be considered as one of the best Disney movies of all time.
The beautiful artwork of the Lion King is paired with amazing music, combined with the memorable voices of James Earl Jones as Mufasa (Simba’s father), and James Iron as Simba’s evil uncle Scar. This Disney movie even received an Academy Award for Best Music!
4. Coco
From one Award-winning Academy film to another, Coco received the Best Animated Feature at the 90th Academy Awards. This Disney film follows the story of a young boy named Miguel and his dream to become a musician despite his family’s generations-old ban on anything related to music. Follow his journey to the Land of the Dead, where he meets all sorts of colorful characters and uncovers the secret of his family’s history!
5. Mary Poppins
The movie that popularized the word “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” Mary Poppins, is another classic on our list of best Disney movies of all time. She’s a nanny we all love (except for nasty spoiled brats), and her character was played by the talented Julie Andrews, who won an Academy Award for Best Actress [1].
A sequel came out in 2018 called Mary Poppins Returns starring Emily Blunt, who has truly given justice to the well-loved character.
6. Mulan
Mulan is an animated flick that had a live-action adaptation in 2020. Though both movies were stunning and deserve applause, the 1998 Disney film truly deserves recognition.
This is one of the best Disney movies of its era that promotes girl power (or women empowerment) as this princess didn’t need much saving. Instead, she was the one who protected her ailing father and saved China! Both Ming-Na Wen and Lui Yifei did stunning jobs bringing Mulan to life on screen.
7. Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs
Poisoned apples, dwarves, and magic mirrors – hearing these words will immediately make you think about Snow White! Despised by the Evil Queen because of Snow White’s beauty and kindness, she escapes to the forest where seven dwarves take her in.
It turns out that the queen is an evil witch who will do everything to put Snow White in peril. The story may not seem too “child-friendly,” so when watching this with your little ones, make sure to supervise them accordingly.
8. Ratatouille
There are animated movies about rats, including An American Tail and Stuart Little. Still, Ratatouille will always have a special place in our hearts and rank on our list of the greatest Disney movies. The story reminds us that while people may try to prevent you from chasing your dreams, nothing is impossible if you hold on to your passions.
9. The Parent Trap
Aside from animated films, Disney has a comedy film about mischievous twins who only found out about each other when they met at summer camp. Though the 1961 Parent Trap was a masterpiece of its own, we have included the 1998 film in this list instead. If you haven’t seen this yet, you’ll certainly enjoy watching a young Lindsay Lohan play tricks on Meredith Blake (nicknamed Cruella de Vil!)
10. Cinderella
Cinderella is one of the best Disney movies of all time that will make you feel all sorts of emotions - amazement, pity, sadness, and eventually, happiness. We all know her from the iconic glass slipper, the pumpkin carriage, up to her fairy godmother. Every moment is truly a work of art.
This classic is the 12th feature in the Disney Canon. Cinderella also had a live-action remake in 2015 starring the beautiful Lily James as the classic Disney Princess.
11. Toy Story
Who thought a story about toys could make us cry? Well, Toy Story was able to achieve just that. There are currently four Toy Story Disney films, and there’s a possibility for a fifth installment!
It follows the story of Andy’s toys in their adventure of friendship and loyalty. The movie franchise ends with a young girl inheriting Andy’s toys, including Buzz Lightyear and his favorite sheriff, Woody.
12. Inside Out
If you loved Tinkerbell from Peter Pan, then you’d like the fairy-like characters of this film that’s set in the modern era. Inside Out is a unique concept based on a deep look into emotional psychology.
Disney did a great job making an animated feature about a difficult topic seem easy for the younger viewers. It’s colorful, magical, and a great family film fit for all ages. We’d definitely love to see a sequel to Inside Out!
Read: Our Favorite Disney Quotes
13. Fantasia
Fantasia is an instant classic. It’s not your typical Disney animated film - it’s a sort of experiment of mixing classical music and Disney animation imagery. It doesn’t have a clear story. Instead, each classical masterpiece is paired with a short story without any dialogue. Our favorite part would have to be the Sorcerer’s Apprentice accompanied by Igor Stravinsky’s The Firebird.
Shop The Disney Collection Now14. Aladdin
We’d definitely want to fly on a magic carpet with Aladdin any time of the day! Aladdin 1992 is one of the best Disney movies of all time. The story is based on a well-known story from Arabian Nights. Paired with a song and some great humor from the late Robin Williams, it’s hard not to like this classic movie. A live-action remake starring Will Smith as Genie was also released in 2019.
15. The Little Mermaid
Did you know that the creators of The Little Mermaid modeled Ariel after a young Alyssa Milano? However, she was clueless about it at that time! If we had a chance, we’d love to be a part of Ariel’s world for sure. This is another classic with a heartwarming story of a young mermaid who fell in love and sacrificed a lot to follow her heart.
16. Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast is not your typical “prince charming meets princess.” Be our guest and rewatch this classic over and over again, or you can do a marathon with the 1991 classic and 2017 live-action adaptation. Beauty and the Beast (1991) is the first animated movie nominated for Best Picture in the Oscars, making it one of Disney’s prized treasures!
17. Finding Nemo
Finding Nemo features gorgeous animation from Disney showcasing life underwater. Follow the adventures of Marlin and Dory in search of Nemo, who got kidnapped by divers. Marlin has PTSD because of the traumatic event that happens in the movie. Still, he faces his fears and goes into the unknown to find his son.
Somehow, Nemo and Pinocchio share the same youthful ignorance. One thinks that he can handle everything by himself, while the other who wants to be a real boy falls victim to worldly evils.
18. Moana
If you haven’t seen Moana yet, what can I say except, “You’re welcome” because you found out about it in this list. Another princess that doesn’t need saving or true love’s kiss to wake her up, Moana is a great representation of women’s strength. She embarks on a journey to save her village and ends up saving the world while at it.
19. Queen of Katwe
Queen of Katwe is a drama film based on the real-life story of a 10-year-old Phiona Mutesi - a young woman who escapes poverty in Uganda. A missionary taught her how to play chess, and to their surprise, Phiona showed great promise and skill in playing chess which led her to win local competitions and eventually, is known worldwide. Disney certainly did a good job casting the young Nikita Pearl Waligwa for the main role.
20. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids is a sci-fi film where four kids accidentally get shrunk by an inventor’s machine. The idea of everyday objects and scenarios being dangerous and terrifying is a great concept that all ages and genders have accepted. They could’ve gone for an animated film for this, but it being a live-action film makes it even more amazing.
21. The Princess and the Frog
Everyone was excited when Disney made a movie adaptation of the story of the princess who kissed the frog. The twist on this classic tale is what we would all expect from Disney’s creative writers.
What’s more, Disney finally created the first African American princess from New Orleans, which paved the way for more diverse Disney characters in their movies and shows. We do want to see the interpretation of Tim Burton of this story - that’ll surely be something to watch!
22. One Hundred & One Dalmatians
Who doesn’t want a hundred and one cute dogs running around the house? Probably pet owners who know how hard this task actually is.
We find it really amusing to see all these adorable puppies in one place in this classic story. Of course, we can’t ignore the villain Cruella de Vil who tries to kidnap the puppies to turn them into coats! She definitely deserved what she got in the movie!
23. The Mighty Ducks
Love hockey? Then you’ll love Disney’s The Mighty Ducks as well! This film has been received greatly all over the world (even where hockey isn’t a famous sport). The elements of comedy and inspirational moments make this a one-of-a-kind movie trilogy that’s also fitting for sports fans.
24. Frozen
We all know the song. Reading this title already made you sing “Let It Go” in your head. The story of Elsa and Anna (voiced by Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell) made waves all around the globe. The songs and the film have been translated into several languages. This led to Disney creating a sequel to the flick and some short films surrounding the lives of these two sisters.
25. Remember the Titans
Disney has produced many sports movies, including the drama Remember the Titans starring the very talented Denzel Washington, among all the other casts. It’s going to take you on an emotional ride, especially if you’re someone who’s been experiencing racial discrimination. This high school football flick doesn’t only reach teens but viewers of all ages as well.
26. Old Yeller
This one’s a really old classic released in the 50s. Old Yeller is a stray dog that surprisingly comes into the lives of a family with two sons. At first, they didn’t want him, but Old Yeller’s bravery has rewarded him with one of the boy’s trust.
27. Zootopia
Have you ever seen a fox and a rabbit together without the predator harming the prey? You can find them here in Zootopia! It features the adventures of Judy Hopps - the first rabbit to join the police force, and her partner Nick Wilde, a sly fox. Together, they set aside their differences to solve a mysterious crime. You’d surely enjoy this film if you loved Jungle Book as it’s filled with adorable talking animals too!
28. Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey
Ever wonder what your pets are doing while you’re on vacation? Then Homeward Bound might be the flick for you. Their owners left three pets at a friend’s ranch and tried to get back home. They face several challenges along the way while trying to find their way as they fear they’ve been left behind.
29. Wall-E
Way ahead into the future, Earth has become inhabitable. Wall-E is a disposal robot left on Earth that developed a personality and became curious about humans and interacting with other lifeforms. After 700 years, he spots a more advanced robot, EVE.
Wall-E follows EVE while he uncovers the truth of what happened to Earth and humans. We could imagine having the inflatable robot Baymax in this movie - that would’ve been a great watch, too!
30. The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Hunchback of Notre Dame might be one of the most underappreciated Disney movies of all time of its generation. Its story might not be quite suitable for young kids, but we can all agree that it’s a masterpiece.
From the songs to the art to the moral lesson of the story, it’s a great film to watch with the family. Who else agrees that Esmeralda (played by Demi Moore) should be considered a Disney princess?
31. Togo
Here’s another film for dog lovers. Togo is one of the newer Disney movies inspired by a true story from 1925 [2]. It’s about a dog sled training played by Willem Dafoe and his trusty sled dog, Togo. Together, they make their way across the dangerous terrains of Alaska to deliver medicine to a remote town.
32. Pocahontas
Disney’s Pocahontas might not have portrayed the original story in the history books. Still, they made a child-friendly adaptation that made people fall in love with the Native American princess. She falls in love with John Smith, an outsider who also falls in love with her. Despite their differences, they have shown their families and countrymen that love defies all odds.
33. Up
Up will make you cry your eyes out in the first few minutes of the movie but will put a smile on your face after as the film is genuinely entertaining. It showed the colorful life of Carl Fredricksen when he met his wife, Ellie until she fell sick and passed away.
He then meets a boy scout, Russell, and one event leads to another, which ignites his desire to fulfill his promise to his late wife. There’s a flying house, rare extinct birds, and talking dogs, too.
34. Raya and the Last Dragon
Raya and the Last Dragon is another “first” for Disney. It’s the first animated film that showcases Southeast Asian culture. From the characters to the fighting styles up until the lore they have created for the movie, it’s all inspired by the groundbreaking mix of cultures of Southeast Asian countries.
35. Cars
Last but not least, Cars. Our favorite racing animated film makes the list of the best Disney movies of all time. When Lightning McQueen made his way to the silver screen, everyone loved him immediately. He was a race car full of pride that eventually learned about humility, friendship, and teamwork. This movie’s success also led to several more sequels.
FAQS
What is the best Disney movie for kids?
The best Disney movie for kids (as it has been ranked as the #1 Disney flick of all time) is The Lion King. However, the decision still depends on the viewers themselves. Some little girls would say that Sleeping Beauty is their favorite, while boys might say that Cars or Robin Hood is theirs. There’s no doubt that Disney classic movies are still on the top of the list, even for the younger generations.
What is the highest-grossing Disney movie of all time?
The highest-grossing Disney movie of all time is Avengers: Endgame ($2.797B), followed by Star Wars Ep. VII: The Force Awakens ($2.064 B).
Key Takeaways
We know that there are a ton more movies that should be on the list, but we believe that the movies mentioned above deserve the most recognition. Don’t get us wrong - we do love Jack Skellington, Robin Hood and his companion Little John (played by Phil Harris), Tangled (with Mandy Moore), Big Hero 6 (with Ryan Potter), the Greek mythology Hercules (with James Woods), Monsters, Inc. (with Billy Crystal), or The Incredibles (with Holly Hunter). However, some people may find one Disney film more relatable than the other.
At the end of the day, the decision lies on the viewers themselves. The important thing is that we get to embrace a magical world, even just in these iconic films.
For Disney toys and collectibles, check out our listing.
Shop The Disney Collection NowReferences:
- https://www.britannica.com/biography/Julie-Andrews
- https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/togo-siberian-husky-sled-dog-hero-of-1925
