The 40 Best Disney Movies of All Time
We ranked the top films, from beloved classics to modern phenomena.
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From princess movies and major fantasies to Pixar classics, Walt Disney Studios has released some of the most memorable animated and live-action movies of all time. And for many of us, when we see the famous Disney castle appear on our screen, accompanied by the familiar tune of "When You Wish Upon a Star," childhood memories come flooding back.
Now, when we set out to pick 40 of our favorite Disney movies (in no particular order!), we knew it would be hard—but we didn't expect it to be this hard. Narrowing down this list, when there are nearly a hundred years of films to choose from, felt impossible in every way. (Even Mary Poppins would have a hard time fitting all the iconic Disney characters in her bag!) Setting aside the more recently acquired Marvel and Star Wars films (that list is for another day), even some childhood faves had to be cut to make room for more recent adventures (sorry, Peter Pan). And as iconic as "Colors of the Wind" is, Pocahontas didn't quite make the cut. (But we'll give her honorary mention here!)
While most classics are worth a watch (you'll find so many on Disney+), we picked ones that we feel sprinkle a little extra Disney magic—and they'll have the whole family under their spell from the moment you press play.
More to watch: Top Netflix movies for kids | Funniest kids movies | Best kids movies on Disney+
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Heigh-Ho! This first full-length Disney film kicked off the long-running princess legacy. Snow White is nearly killed by her jealous wicked stepmother, but she finds the charming personality-filled seven dwarfs and dreams of a day when her prince will come.
Finding Nemo (2003)
Duuuudeeeee...this undersea adventure is totally a sweet ride. It follows Marlin and the forgetful Dory as they attempt to rescue Marlin's son, Nemo, from aquarium life and the terrifying Darla. The lifelike water visuals will captivate you—and if you're fluent in whale, you'll also want to add the sequel, Finding Dory, to your must-watch list.
Beauty and the Beast (1991)
This tale as old as time finds Belle going to rescue her father from an enchanted castle owned by a beast and under a spell that can only be broken by true love. The pompous Gaston and the entertaining antics of Lumiere and Cogsworth make this much more well-rounded than many other classic princess films.
Moana (2016)
If you haven't seen this one yet, what can we say except...you're welcome? Moana is a determined princess who leaves the confines of her island to save her people and meets a Demigod with an inflated ego—voiced by none other than Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson—along the way.
The Parent Trap (1998)
Disney has released two versions of this film—and in a rare turn of events, the remake is slightly better than the original (thanks to the charm of Lindsay Lohan in her dual role). Lohan plays twins that were separated after their parents divorced. After one went to live in London with their mother and the other in California with their father, they are reunited by chance at summer camp and scheme to bring their parents back together.
Coco (2017)
Have some tissues on hand for this Pixar gem that follows Miguel as he travels into the Land of the Dead to find his long-lost grandfather. The vivid visuals and the tear-jerking song "Remember Me" make this an unforgettable watch.
Cars (2006)
If you've got kids who feel the need for speed, this hot-wheeling film follows race car Lightning McQueen as he ends up in the small town of Radiator Springs, making friends with the locals and learning about life. Ka-Chow!
Lilo & Stitch (2002)
This Hawaiian roller coaster ride follows alien experiment 626 (a.k.a. Stitch) as he crash lands on Earth, gets adopted by the plucky Lilo, and learns the meaning of Ohana. ("Ohana means family," of course.) There are a few sequels and an entire TV series if you want to keep riding this wave.
Cinderella (1950)
One of the most legendary princess movies features an iconic wicked stepmother (and some nasty stepsisters), talking mice, a fairy godmother, a pumpkin carriage, glass slippers, a makeover scene—and, of course, Prince Charming. The timeless tale has resonated for decades and shows no signs of stopping.
The Emperor's New Groove (2000)
This film might not have made a splash at the box office when it was released, but this is, hands down, one of the funniest Disney movies ever. You have to laugh when an emperor gets turned into a llama, and Eartha Kitt is perfection as the voice of the villainous Yzma. Make it a double feature with Kronk's New Groove to keep the giggles going.
Remember the Titans (2000)
You might not expect a serious biographical sports movie from the studio that released The Mighty Ducks, but this dramatic and important movie follows football coach Herman Boone (played by Denzel Washington) as he tries to integrate the T. C. Williams High School in 1971.
Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Released under Disney's Touchstone Studios banner, this stop-motion fantasy is perfect fall viewing (though it might be a little spooky for really young kids). It tells the tale of Jack Skellington, the pumpkin king who longs to learn about holidays other than Halloween.
Mulan (1998)
Disney has some seriously strong princesses, like Moana, Merida, and Rapunzel—but if you ask us, Mulan is the toughest of them all. She joins the army disguised as a man to keep her father from going to war and ends up becoming a powerful warrior. Plus, the movie gifted us with classic songs, like "Reflection" and "I'll Make a Man Out of You."
Toy Story 3 (2010)
We only had room for one Toy Story film on this list, and Toy Story 3 just really hit a new level, as the beloved toys are accidentally donated to a daycare when Andy goes off to college. Don't get us wrong, the first two Toy Story films are also excellent—the original truly put Pixar on the map and the second has the heartbreaking and Grammy-winning song "When She Loved Me."
Pinocchio (1940)
There are so many beloved faves from the early days of Disney, like Dumbo, Peter Pan, Bambi, Alice in Wonderland, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, and Lady in the Tramp—but we went with Pinocchio, which really stands the test of time. It tells the story of a puppet that wants to be a real boy, features the wise Jiminy Cricket, and gives us the song that is synonymous with Disney movies: "When You Wish Upon a Star."
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Turning Disney theme park rides into movies has had varying degrees of success, with the likes of the Haunted Mansion, Country Bears, and Jungle Cruise. However, the first Pirates of the Caribbean film launched an entire franchise, featuring Johnny Depp as the charismatic swashbuckler Jack Sparrow. The star-studded cast also includes Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, and Geoffrey Rush going to battle on the open seas.
WALL-E (2008)
This trash-compacting robot will steal your heart every time he whirrs out the name Eve in his mechanical voice. Set to clean up Earth after humans turned it into a wasteland, lonely Wall-E finds love with the mysterious Eve and ends up in space, trying to save the human race.
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)
With special effects that were impressive for 1989, a quirky scientist accidentally shrinks his kids down to the size of a quarter. The kids then have to fight off oversized hazards as they work their way back to his lab. It's a comedy the kids will love, along with the sequels. And if they like those, check out other Disney comedies, like Flubber, George of the Jungle, and The Mighty Ducks.
Maleficent (2014)
Sleeping Beauty is a classic, but Angelina Jolie as the dark fairy Maleficent is a fine example of perfect casting, which makes this version a fave. This retelling of the classic tale, focusing on the "villain" seeking revenge against a former love, offers a whole new perspective on what exactly makes someone evil.
Fantasia (1940)
This visual symphony is a great way to introduce the entire family to classical music. Plus, the "Sorcerer's Apprentice" segment features one of Mickey Mouse's rare feature film appearances, as he attempts magic, brings mops to life, and creates general chaos.
Angel Madison is a shopping editor at Hearst Magazines with over 25 years of editorial experience. She writes about parenting, toys, plus-size fashion, sneakers, and more for brands like Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Prevention, and Esquire. Before her time at Hearst, Angel worked as a parenting editor for New Jersey Family and covered entertainment for NBC Universal, AOL, and TV Guide. When she’s not testing the latest footwear trends, adding to her collection of over 100 LEGO sets, or scouting for the hottest new toys, you can find Angel walking long distances (either in the woods or in New York City) and spending time with her daughter.
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