Highlights
- Disney’s success can be attributed to its long history of phenomenal animated films, with classics like 101 Dalmatians, Cinderella, and The Lion King receiving high praise from fans and critics.
- Coco stands out as a modern masterpiece for its unapologetic commentary on culture, family, and death, as well as its portrayal of Mexican culture. It has garnered both commercial success and critical acclaim.
- Zootopia is hailed as the best animated Disney film due to its combination of classic Disney elements with a powerful message about fighting against systemic racism and white supremacy. It is enjoyable on the surface, but has deeper layers worth exploring.
Few companies can completely monopolize their field, like The Walt Disney Company did. From their humble beginnings in 1923 to their monumental success today, Disney has gone from a household name to a lifestyle. The success of Disney has many sources. Many argue that it was branding. Some believe that it was their aggressive acquisition tactics that caused them to buy anything that even remotely resembled a threat.
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But those with a finger on the pulse of the culture know that Disney’s success is tied to its long resume of phenomenal animated films. With an immaculate catalog like Disney’s, certain films tend to dominate the conversation as the undisputed best Disney movie of all time.
10 101 Dalmatians
Rotten Tomatoes – 98%
- Release Date: January 25, 1961
A love letter to all dog lovers. It’s hard to talk about classic Disney without bringing up 101 Dalmatians. A truly timeless film that is a window into the aesthetic of 1960s animation.
Disney fans praise it for its nostalgic feel and believable villain, Cruella de Vil. The film tells a beautiful story with themes of family love and the bonds between humans and dogs. The 101 Dalmatians film has grossed 900 million dollars across its lifetime and will continue to entertain adults and children alike for years to come.
9 Cinderella
Rotten Tomatoes – 98%
- Release Date: February 15, 1950
Arguably one of the most recognizable Disney films ever, Cinderella saved Disney from financial troubles in the late 1940s. Cinderella is a perfect blend of fantasy and reality that tells a beautiful tale of hope, human perseverance, and love. On top of its story and animation, it has 6 original songs that uplift the experience even further.
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While Cinderella as a character received criticism on release, it is still a masterful retelling of the original fairy tale. Throughout its lifetime, Cinderella has made 565 million dollars.
8 Coco
Rotten Tomatoes – 97%
- Release Date – November 22, 2017
Moving briefly into the modern era, Coco is an emotional masterpiece. It is praised by Disney fans for its unapologetic commentary on culture, family, and death. Finding a way to package a topic as dark as death for children is no easy feat, but Coco succeeds with flying colors. Its presentation of Mexican culture is also something to be praised.
Coco has not only grossed 814 million since release but has also won multiple Academy Awards, including Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song.
7 Moana
Rotten Tomatoes – 95%
- Release Date – November 23, 2016
Moana is a masterclass in color and vibrant animation. Easily one of Disney’s prettiest movies to date and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is in it. Moana is a fresh take on the Disney formula while not being afraid to be different. Fans and critics alike love Moana for being a story about a strong young woman that doesn’t revolve around her finding a man.
Its ability to break the mold and pull from the barely tapped well that is Polynesian culture is to be celebrated. Moana was able to gross 690 million since its release even while debuting alongside some of Disney’s most successful movies ever.
6 Frozen
Rotten Tomatoes – 90%
- Release Date – November 27, 2013
Frozen is considered by many fans to be Disney’s magnum opus. On release, people could not escape the influence and marketing of Frozen. It was everywhere and with good reason too. The film was not only amazing, but the soundtrack is some of the best Disney music to date. The plot is fresh with a killer villain twist.
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It’s a no-brainer for this film to be one of Disney’s highest-grossing and most popular. The accolades don’t stop there either. Frozen was the fifth highest-grossing film ever after its release and even spawned a sequel that went on to also be in the top ten highest-grossing films ever. Calling it good would be an understatement.
5 Finding Nemo
Rotten Tomatoes – 99%
- Release Date – May 30, 2003
“Just keep swimming,” is some of the best advice of all time. Finding Nemo has one of the most loving and grounded narratives in animation, and it was able to carve an identity alongside SpongeBob SquarePants in its prime. A rotten tomato score of 99% is very impressive, as Finding Nemo is praised for its portrayal of humanity despite the fact its characters are sea creatures.
In the following decades of its release, the film is consistently remembered as one of the greatest animated films of the twenty-first century. Finding Nemo always finds its way on a best-of list.
4 Aladdin
Rotten Tomatoes – 95%
- Release Date – November 11, 1992
As good as Aladdin is, it would be nothing without the late great Robin Williams’ performance as the Genie. His performance made the film enjoyable for Disney fans of all ages and was a fun experience to return to. While the film has faced its fair share of criticism from some people who found its use of stereotypes, Aladdin received a lot of praise as well.
The film won Academy Awards for Best Original Score as well as Best Original Song. It might not have aged as well as other Disney films, but it has been cemented as a classic in the eyes of Disney fans.
3 Beauty And The Beast
Rotten Tomatoes – 93%
- Release Date – November 22, 1991
Where Moana was able to flip the Disney female lead formula on its head, Beauty and the Beast did the same for its male lead. Beauty and the Best arrived to universal acclaim for all of its components. The animation, story, acting, and music have been praised time and time again since its debut.
Something else worth mentioning is Belle being relatable. Many girls can relate to her as she isn’t mystical or fantastical in any way. She’s a normal girl with dreams and ambitions who also likes to read.
2 The Lion King
Rotten Tomatoes – 93%
- Release Date – June 15, 1994
The Lion King was the highest-grossing animated feature film for nearly a decade. Even though Disney released many great successful films after it, nothing came close until Finding Nemo. The Lion King is closer to a Shakespearean tragedy than a children’s film, which makes sense since it’s heavily inspired by Hamlet.
Among the Disney collection of films, The Lion King is one of the most mature narratives, making it easy to recommend to adults. But at this point, who hasn’t seen The Lion King?
1 Zootopia
Rotten Tomatoes – 98%
- Release Date – March 4, 2016
Zootopia is classic Disney reborn in modern times. Common Disney tropes of anthropomorphic animals, comedy, and great animation are present in full force, but what makes Zootopia the best animated Disney film is its message.
A message that was delivered haphazardly to some critics, but one that acknowledges the fight against systemic racism and white supremacy. It’s a film that is enjoyable on a surface level and only gets better when digging a little deeper and embracing what it’s trying to say.
