Every Disney Animated Movie, Ranked

When you wish upon a star...

Like it or not, animation in the western hemisphere has been dominated by a Mr. Walt Disney (and, after his death, The Walt Disney Company). Between 1937 and Summer 2024, the animation studio (referred to here as WDAS) has made and released 62 feature-length animated films. Their newest feature, Moana 2, heads to theaters this Thanksgiving.

This list does not include films made by Pixar Animation Studios— that list can be found here.

62. Unfortunately, CHICKEN LITTLE (2005) was dated by the time it hit the screen. The sky is falling, but there’s also baseball and aliens? Pick a lane!

61. Of the six package films (films made up of multiple animated shorts), MAKE MINE MUSIC (1946) is the least memorable. The studio had to cut back on extravagant feature-length narratives due to World War II, and the mediocrity was on full display.

60. FUN & FANCY FREE (1947) takes two merely okay animated shorts (Mickey and the Beanstalk, Bongo) and rather lazily shoehorns Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy into them.

59. Fun fact: SALUDOS AMIGOS (1943) was commissioned by the United States government to foster good will with Latin American countries during World War II. But if I were a Brazilian subjected to this odd propaganda, hey, maybe I would have sided with the Germans too.

58. STRANGE WORLD (2022) is an unimaginative misfire that trades pathos for plot holes at every turn.

57. The majority of the WDAS canon is mightier than THE SWORD IN THE STONE (1963).

56. There’s nothing necessarily horrendous about THE ARISTOCATS (1970); however, most of its components have been utilized to greater success in other Disney movies.

55. MELODY TIME (1948)’s greatest asset is being slightly more memorable than Make Mine Music.

54. I love a big swing, but THE BLACK CAULDRON (1985) swings more like a pendulum.

53. Just what everyone wanted, a sequel to The Rescuers! THE RESCUERS DOWN UNDER (1990) looks beautiful— especially its flight sequences— but lacks the compelling story needed.

52. It has aged like milk, but the characters of OLIVER & COMPANY (1988) just look so dang cute!

51. WINNIE THE POOH (2011) doesn’t feel like a real movie; at just an hour long, it feels more like a calculated use of IP.

50. Frustratingly, WISH (2023) has all the elements of a modern Disney classic, but they are lured away by its weak soundtrack and a focus on fan service.

49. THE RESCUERS (1977) may have been a hit during a time when Disney needed rescuing, but these heroic mice did not save my day.

48. Only 10 minutes into the film, HOME ON THE RANGE (2004) begins to curdle. But its music? All underrated bops (by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater) that, along with Judi Dench, make this film tolerable.

47. Call me a hater, but I never understood the hype around ALICE IN WONDERLAND (1951), although I will admit that its surrealist and bonkers climax is unlike anything else in the canon.

46. Isn’t it interesting that, despite being in less than a third of 101 DALMATIANS (1961), Cruella de Vil is the only aspect most people can remember?

45. ROBIN HOOD (1973) is a fine film with a creative use of anthropomorphism, but I frankly expected that the film that inspired a furry subculture would be… better.

44. If nothing else, THE GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE (1986) features the best mouse burlesque I’ve ever seen.

43. Disney’s expensive sci-fi retelling of the classic Treasure Island takes some big risks with fantastical visuals and a brooding male teenager, but TREASURE PLANET (2002) lacks some of the classic Disney charm.

42. A bittersweet tale of friendship, THE FOX AND THE HOUND (1981) does not spend nearly enough time exploring its interesting themes.

41. There’s flashes of greatness in the ambitious ATLANTIS: THE LOST EMPIRE (2001), even if they come at the expense of plot.

40. Living up to the success of Frozen was nearly impossible. FROZEN II (2019) has great ideas and wonderful music, but never quite coheres enough as a singular story. This would have been better as a series.

39. Despite being gorgeous, SLEEPING BEAUTY (1959) lacks pathos. If I wanted to watch 75 minutes of older women arguing over the color of a dress, I’d watch TLC.

38. Perhaps a slightly more successful version of South American goodwill propaganda, THE THREE CABALLEROS (1944) is a kooky, psychadelic fever dream.

37. DINOSAUR (2000) is not a bad movie by any means, but its predictable plot struggles to stand out in a canon of so many iconic animated features.

36. THE ADVENTURES OF ICHABOD & MR. TOAD (1949) is made up of two short films packaged together: “The Wind in the Willows” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” The quality makes me think that these stories would have been even better as full-length features.

35. There’s much to admire about the world building of RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON (2021), even as it navigates a plot that gets more and more convoluted with every scene.

34. The legacy of PETER PAN (1953) encompasses everything except its main characters: its racist portrayal of Native Americans, the flamboyant Captain Hook, and the odd popularity of a stone-cold bitch (Tinker Bell).

33. The streak of the 1990s animated musicals ended with TARZAN (1999), a movie that walks the tightrope between two worlds. If nothing else, it’s a great outlet for Phil Collins’ percussive music.

32. Like a BOLT (2008) out of the blue, this buddy roadtrip comedy is surprisingly heartfelt. A MUST for dog people.

31. Somehow, this sweet body-switching tale was widely maligned when it came out. In retrospect, BROTHER BEAR (2003) is plenty engaging, even if it lacks iconic or classic characters.

30. SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937) is one of those movies, like Gone With The Wind, that is more admirable than enjoyable. But the songs? Elite.

29. Sure, some of the segments are a slog to get through, but FANTASIA (1940) remains a hugely ambitious work in the history of cinema, and deserves our respect.

28. FANTASIA 2000 (1999) builds on its predecessor’s ambitious concept with divinely gorgeous animation in a variety of styles. There’s something for everyone here (with my personal favorite segments being Pines of Rome and Rhapsody in Blue).

27. I don’t know that any other movie is as endearingly batshit as DUMBO (1941).

26. Three Pooh short films comprise THE MANY ADVENTURES OF WINNIE THE POOH (1977), each brimming with wit and wonder.

25. BAMBI (1942) is a complete rejection of the cartoon fantasies that defined animation, opting instead for a grim, naturalist depiction of a life in the woods.

24. The plot meanders, but who cares? THE JUNGLE BOOK (1967) has fun characters and catchy songs, which, for Disney, are the bare necessities.

23. Despite its many obvious flaws and historical inaccuracies, POCAHONTAS (1995) is visually stunning, and boasts the best musical score of the WDAS canon.

22. The biggest surprise of MEET THE ROBINSONS (2007) is not merely in its plot twists, but in its depth.

21. Nothing needs fixing here— WRECK-IT RALPH (2012) isn’t bad, and that’s good!

20. LADY AND THE TRAMP (1955) taps into two things that audiences love: romance and dogs. And that’s really all it needed.

19. The mark of an impressive movie is if it keeps you on the edge of your seat during each repeat viewing. CINDERELLA (1950) is a classic story, and a hard one to mess up (and trust me, those mice try).

18. I am satisfied with my care: BIG HERO 6 (2014) takes a Marvel property and gives it the ol’ Disney touch, becoming a heartfelt and action-packed meditation on grief.

17. RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET: WRECK-IT RALPH 2 (2018) isn’t subtle, and its relevance will wear out pretty soon. But for now, it’s the most entertaining indictment of social media and Internet culture that we’ve got.

16. HERCULES (1997) is not your typical Disney movie— its breakneck pacing, pop culture references, and highly-stylized animation are divine.

15. THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG (2009) may take its concept from The Frog Prince, but this movie digs a little deeper. The movie is an original and poignant reflection on achieving one’s dreams, featuring a cast of charismatic characters.

14. Arguably the studio’s most successful movie, THE LION KING (1994) is an impressive Shakespearean epic, bolstered by grand, one-of-a-kind songs from Elton John and Tim Rice.

13. Is ALADDIN (1992) dated? Perhaps it’s not a whole new world anymore, but stellar animation, Robin Williams’ genie, and the decadent, flamboyant Jafar keep this animated musical shining, shimmering, splendid.

12. Tackling bias in a Disney movie is no easy task, but ZOOTOPIA (2016) manages to weave a buddy cop comedy into its creative animal kingdom parable.

11. A love letter to exploration and a celebration of the sea, everything about MOANA (2016)— the music, the animation, the chicken— will have you hooked.

10. It’s a miracle that we even got THE EMPEROR’S NEW GROOVE (2000), considering its frustrating development and production history. Absurd, zany, and chock full of one-liners, this is the ultimate llam-com (llama comedy).

9. The “animated princess musical” may be Disney’s bread and butter, but the compelling music, visuals, and the “I See The Light” sequence in particular make TANGLED (2010) one of the studio’s most effective uses of the formula.

8. MULAN (1998) is an atypical musical— a patchwork of Chinese legends, a screwball comedy, and Eddie Murphy. But this heroine’s story is vibrant and thrilling, thanks in part to two of the best songs in the WDAS canon (“Reflection” and “I’ll Make A Man Out of You”).

7. When a movie like FROZEN (2013) gets TOO popular, audiences often forget why they all fell in love with this stunner to begin with. Entertaining, heartfelt, and overall stellar, this return to form can thaw any frozen heart.

6. LILO & STITCH (2002) is a weird, wonderful little movie that owes its success to its relatable characters. The budding friendship between a little Hawaiian girl and her blue alien balance an absurd premise with compassion and heart.

5. THE LITTLE MERMAID (1989) is a stealthily subversive film whose influence on animation cannot be overstated. Howard Ashman and Alan Menken rewrote the rules of the animated musical, and nearly 35 years later, few hold up as well as the OG.

4. THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (1996) represents a bold elevation of the animated musical, combining the archetypal Disney whimsy with dark themes and a dramatic, sophisticated score. The balance between levity and seriousness doesn’t always hit the bullseye, but at its best, Hunchback rings my bell.

3. PINOCCHIO (1940) is a daring, groundbreaking feat of cinema— an epic saga that is equally grand and intimate, equally humorous and chilling, and above all, Walt’s masterpiece.

2. No, it’s not recency bias. As the 60th film in the WDAS canon, ENCANTO (2021) stands out as a particularly deep and stunning entry— not even magic can prevent the cycle of generational trauma. This emotionally resonant movie is a gift all its own.

1. The studio’s pièce-de-résistance and unparalleled magnum opus is a tale as old as time: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1991) is an innovative musical that lives up to the hype and dazzles each and every time. It’s the first animated movie to receive a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Picture, and its overall legacy is a testament to the genius and imagination of Howard Ashman.

What do you think? Here’s the full ranking:

1. Beauty and the Beast

2. Encanto

3. Pinocchio

4. The Hunchback of Notre Dame

5. The Little Mermaid

6. Lilo & Stitch

7. Frozen

8. Mulan

9. Tangled

10. The Emperor’s New Groove

11. Moana

12. Zootopia

13. Aladdin

14. The Lion King

15. The Princess and the Frog

16. Hercules

17. Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2

18. Big Hero 6

19. Cinderella

20. Lady and the Tramp

21. Wreck-It Ralph

22. Meet the Robinsons

23. Pocahontas

24. The Jungle Book

25. Bambi

26. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

27. Dumbo

28. Fantasia 2000

29. Fantasia

30. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

31. Brother Bear

32. Bolt

33. Tarzan

34. Peter Pan

35. Raya and the Last Dragon

36. The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad

37. Dinosaur

38. The Three Caballeros

39. Sleeping Beauty

40. Frozen II

41. Atlantis: The Lost Empire

42. The Fox & The Hound

43. Treasure Planet

44. The Great Mouse Detective

45. Robin Hood

46. 101 Dalmatians

47. Alice in Wonderland

48. Home on the Range

49. The Rescuers

50. Wish

51. Winnie the Pooh

52. Oliver & Company

53. The Rescuers Down Under

54. The Black Cauldron

55. Melody Time

56. The Aristocats

57. The Sword in the Stone

58. Strange World

59. Saludos Amigos

60. Fun & Fancy Free

61. Make Mine Music

62. Chicken Little