15 Disney Movies That Are Amazing From Start to Finish

Disney is the most impactful and popular media company of all time and one of the biggest companies in America. They’ve been around making movies since even the early days of 1928, and in the numerous movies that they’ve released since then, there are far more amazing ones than not. It’s incredible how great their batting average has consistently been.

Whether they’re produced by Walt Disney Animation or in partnership with Pixar, almost every movie put out under the Disney brand has been one for the ages. The company hasn’t gotten a reputation like this with simply alright movies, though. Almost every animated project they’ve made has, at the very least, been pretty dang good from the ground up. There are many that can be considered pretty much perfect from start to finish, too.

15

‘Mulan’ (1998)

Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

There are plenty of Disney movies that are considered absolute classics, and one of those is none other than Mulan. Disney has been known for taking old fairy tales and making them kid-friendly and animated. Mulan is originally based on a poem from somewhere between the 5th and 6th centuries.

Disney takes this story and turns it into a musical—one that is inspiring, beloved, and enjoyable all around. Not to mention, it adds characters like a talking dragon, Mushu (Eddie Murphy), and, in general, makes the story a bit more lighthearted. It’s hard not to love this 1998 animated film, and from start to finish, it is an extremely memorable project.

14

‘Encanto’ (2021)

Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

One of Disney’s more recent hits is the family-driven film Encanto. Directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard, this project focuses on family dynamics through the lens of the lesser-appreciated Mirabel Madrigal (Stephanie Beatriz)—the only powerless person in a family filled with people who have extraordinary abilities.

Encanto has extremely raw emotions and messaging behind it, as almost everyone can relate to it. Familial struggles are tough, and this film manages to capture said struggles with grace and love. With a pure-hearted message about generational trauma, this one is unforgettable. Not to mention, the music is spectacular.

13

‘Moana’ (2016)

Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

2016 was a genuinely phenomenal year for Disney films. They had two absolute smash hits this year, and one of them is the one and only Moana. Typical princess romance and sap are absent from this flick, which allows the movie to focus on the character arcs. Said arcs are unbelievably well-written and executed with prowess.

Moana features some of the best animation Disney has ever put on the screen. It’s hard to describe what exactly it is about Moana‘s animation that is so phenomenal, but it’s undeniable. Just as importantly, the music in Moana is some of the best in modern Disney, thanks to the works of Lin-Manuel Miranda.

12

‘Bolt’ (2008)

Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Bolt is a movie unlike any other. Some would even argue that it’s incredibly underrated in comparison to other 2000s and even 2010s Disney films—as well as animated films as a whole. Bolt is very character-driven, focusing on the development of the protagonists and their journey, rather than spectacle.

The comedy in this project is very well-written, and the voice actors behind all of these characters give such great performances that they sell the humor even more. They also allow the protagonists to truly come to life on screen better than they could if they’d been played by anyone else. Bolt is unforgettable and needs more recognition.

11

‘Zootopia’ (2016)

Image via Walt Disney Animation Studios

If there’s a Disney film that has gone down in history as the best of the best, it’s the likes of 2016’s Zootopia. Jason Bateman, Ginnifer Goodwin, and the rest of the cast make this screenplay shine. The screenplay, written by Jared Bush and Phil Johnston, delivers a thought-provoking, important, and meaningful story that has gone down in history as one of the best they’ve ever put out.

Zootopia brings forth a project that genuinely changed the lives of many, and, alongside Moana (releasing the same year), helped put Disney back on the map (as if they’d ever left). Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde are excellently written protagonists who are super memorable, and unlike any of the others.

10

‘Lilo & Stitch’ (2002)

Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

With the really rough live-action remake having just come out, audiences find themselves looking back on the original Lilo & Stitch from 2002. The viewers who grew up on this movie hold it in very high regard for its gorgeous animation, love for Elvis Presley, heartwarming story about family, and its incredibly lovable characters.

The iconic quote, “Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten,” describes the message of the movie perfectly, and the message describes why this movie is so special. It is so iconic to this very day, and it is the best example of why Disney needs to stop making live-action remakes. Sure, the new one may have made a lot of money, but it acts as a total antithesis to the original, which means it’s a far better decision to watch this film instead—a movie whose quality is consistent throughout the entire runtime.

9

‘A Goofy Movie’ (1995)

image via Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

A Goofy Movie is, to this day, one of the most iconic Disney flicks and is still celebrated. The movie even recently had its 30th anniversary, which Disney made a huge deal about, going as far as to ship online personalities some promo boxes. The Disney social media pages also posted about it a ton. This is because this goofy film’s heart, soul, and hilarity make it something worth watching to the very end.

When Max (Jason Marsden) is forced to go on a road trip with his “embarrassing” father, Goofy (Bill Farmer), he stresses about a girl he has a crush on, unsure if he can live up to a promise he made to her. It’s a wonderful coming-of-age tale that never loses its charm even for a second, and that makes it something truly worth remembering.

8

‘Toy Story’ (1995)

Image via Pixar Animation Studios

It’s more than clear that Toy Story created a franchise that is incredibly popular. Toy Story is the very first fully computer-generated movie ever made, which makes it monumental for the film industry. That alone couldn’t have made it as popular as it is today, though. A lot of its fame comes from the quality.

Not only does it have a great reputation in media history, but it also tells one of the most emotionally compelling Disney/Pixar stories of all time. It also, in general, is a genuinely very unique and original idea that immediately hooks whoever is watching it. The character arcs between Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) are exceptionally well-written.

7

‘Up’ (2009)

Image via Pixar Animation Studios

It’s commonly agreed upon that no animated movie makes audiences cry as early in the runtime as Up. The opening of this movie depicts the love life of Carl Fredricksen (Edward Asner) and his wife, Ellie Fredricksen (Elie Docter). While it starts happily as can be, it quickly becomes absurdly heartbreaking as Ellie unfortunately passes away from sickness, leaving Carl alone and angry.

However, when he finally accomplishes his goal of making his house fly so he can bring his house all the way to a place in South America called Paradise Falls, he finds a stowaway named Russell (Jordan Nagai). This young scout and old man go on an adventure together that gets them into all sorts of trouble and turns the heartbreak at the beginning of the movie into a beautifully heartwarming ending.

6

‘Aladdin’ (1992)

Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

When asked about the greatest Disney animated films of all time, most people have Aladdin come to their minds within the group. There’s a certain charm about Aladdin that makes it unforgettable. Everyone loves an underdog story, and there are few that live up to the likes of Aladdin.

The young and down-on-his-luck Aladdin (Scott Weinger) must go on a journey with a magical Genie (Robin Williams) to put a stop to the evil Jafar’s (Jonathan Freeman) plans and protect Princess Jasmine (Linda Larkin). It’s a story about how one doesn’t need to be special or powerful to make a change and be a hero, and that appealed very well to audiences, who want to see the underdog take home a win.