The 13 greatest Disney films of all time

What are one of the best Disney films? Try all our ideas beneath if you wish to snicker, cry, and sing your lungs out.
Few different movies are as private or magical because the greatest Disney films, the place fairy tales, animated mischief, and the greatest musicals come to life. However, regardless of the healthful themes of those household films, when discussions about one of the best films from Disney come up, issues can get heated.
After greater than 80 years, lots of of movies, and heaps of non-public bias from nostalgia, nobody’s high Disney film record is similar (and let’s not even get into one of the best Disney villains or Disney Princesses argument). Nevertheless, we’ve picked the standouts which are ‘must-watches’ for each fan. From the animated classics to the greatest Pixar films, right here is our record of the greatest Disney films.
What are one of the best Disney films of all time?
- Huge Hero 6
- Pinocchio
- Magnificence and The Beast
- Fantasia
- Toy Story
- The Lion King
- Coco
- Wall-E
- Up
- Moana
- The Incredibles
- Sleeping Magnificence
- Frozen
13. Huge Hero 6 (2014)
One which’s prone to have the adults within the room tearing up much more than the children, Huge Hero 6 is a intelligent exploration of friendship and grief. Its snappy course, shifting voice work, and inventive characters are a lovable cocktail.
The story follows Hiro Hamada, a teenage prodigy in San Fransokyo, a metropolis constructed and thriving on know-how. When he suffers a terrific loss, he struggles with overwhelming emotions of anger, not realizing the way to navigate the mounting bottled-up feelings he experiences. Like Inside Out, Huge Hero 6 communicates wholesome coping mechanisms to youngsters in addition to how love and connection may help us work by means of grief.
12. Pinocchio (1940)
Pinocchio is without doubt one of the darkest Disney movies, and chances are high when you watched it as a child, you most likely keep in mind having nightmares about boys turning into donkeys and large whales with razor-sharp tooth.
Based mostly on Carlo Collodi’s unique e book, Pinocchio is a deep story, filled with songs bursting with subtext, and cute characters. It’s a film about rising up and overcoming adversity.
At its coronary heart, we get among the finest and most significant tales to return out of Disney because the puppet Pinocchio goes out and learns the methods of the world. Sure, it might not be for the faint of coronary heart, and it’d offer you dangerous desires, however Pinocchio remains to be one in every of Disney’s biggest accomplishments.

11. Magnificence and the Beast (1991)
A love story so timeless that even essentially the most vocal skeptics can’t deny its genius, Magnificence and the Beast is a real standout from the acclaimed ‘90s film Disney renaissance period. Telling the traditional fairy story of a cursed prince who should discover love earlier than a magical rose withers, it’s most likely one of the best love story and musical to return out of Disney to date.
The expressive animation, wonderful vocals, and vibrant colours are all the pieces you’d need from a princess movie, and also you’ll wrestle to seek out one other that ticks all of the containers in addition to it does. If that wasn’t sufficient, Magnificence and the Beast can also be the primary animated characteristic to be nominated for Finest Image on the Academy Awards, marking a monumental second for animation as a style.
10. Fantasia (1940)
Right here we’ve got Disney’s most experimental film and a movie that was one of many first to focus on a mature viewers. Fantasia is a movie the place Disney got down to show the legitimacy of animation as an artwork kind, and, regardless of an preliminary rocky launch, it’s gone down in historical past as iconic.
Magically drawn scenes set to classical music had been Walt Disney’s solution to present us how sure items of music make us really feel after we take heed to them. It’s a strong piece of cinema and a terrific showcase of animation that also holds up at the moment. From a terrifying demon to Mickey Mouse as a sorcerer’s apprentice battling brooms, Fantasia is a vital a part of Disney’s historical past in addition to an outstanding movie in its personal proper.
9. Toy Story (1995)
Toy Story is just not solely a timeless favourite for Disney and Pixar followers alike, but in addition the movie that paved the best way for contemporary 3D animation. It was the world’s first computer-animated characteristic and remains to be among the finest tales about friendship on the market. The movie focuses on a cowboy doll named Woody (Tom Hanks) who struggles with jealousy after his proprietor will get a brand new favourite toy, a spaceman named Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen).
We get to see resentment, jealousy, and a narrative of non-public progress skilled by charismatic toys that ooze persona. Though it may be argued that the later Toy Story films look loads higher (animation-wise, at the least), the unique exhibits the complexity of relationships in a method few movies can replicate, making it a standout, and giving this movie a agency place on our record.
8. The Lion King (1994)
You’ll discover The Lion King in most individuals’s high Disney picks, and it’s straightforward to see why. It got here proper after the historic Magnificence and the Beast Oscar nomination and, regardless of initially being a deliberate B-movie, shocked everybody by turning into a worldwide phenomenon.
Based mostly on Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, The Lion King tells the story of a younger cub known as Simba, going by means of tragedy and overcoming his previous with a purpose to return dwelling and embrace accountability. At first look, it might simply appear to be one other speaking animal movie, however with its tense plot, fantastically drawn scenes of Africa, and among the greatest Disney songs of all time, it’s earned delight of place on this record.
7. Coco (2017)
Coco is a fantastic sentimental journey about household, music, and following your desires that may have you ever crying like a toddler. Telling the journey of younger Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez) as he travels to the Land of the Useless, Coco is a straightforward however efficient story that feels relatable and otherworldly on the identical time.
With its driving theme of household, which exposes the failings and the compromises all of us need to make, Coco stands as some of the shifting movies on our record and is a strong alternative for any household in search of their subsequent film evening decide.

6. WALL-E (2008)
Not content material with being among the finest Pixar films, WALL-E can also be among the finest science fiction films of all time too. No, actually. That dialogue-free opening part is without doubt one of the most stunning acts in any animated film ever, and can make you snicker and cry with equal depth.
Wanting previous the charming robots, like so many different Disney films WALL-E can also be thematically wealthy and fairly darkish. The dystopian view of the long run is grim and miserable, and the film is pointed in its criticism of human greed. It’s additionally optimistic, and well timed. A real traditional.
5. Up (2009)
Within the temper for a high-flying journey or a heart-breaking emotional kicker? Properly, the excellent news is that Up is each. Up tells the story of Carl Fredricksen (Edward Asner) an aged man who makes his dwelling right into a DIY plane so he can escape town and stay out the rest of his days in South America (his deceased spouse’s lifelong dream).
Nevertheless, a stowaway boy scout, a uncommon unique hen, and a speaking canine disrupt his plans, forcing Carl to decide on between the current and his previous. Up is a major instance of Pixar and Disney at their best, with a stellar solid, and adrenaline-inducing and emotionally touching animated sequences, all the pieces about this film is ideal.
4. Moana (2016)
Disney Princess movies are virtually all the time dominated by romance, and aside from one or two latest exceptions, ladies’s heroic deeds are sometimes tied to a person. Properly, with Moana, we lastly get a movie that focuses purely on a younger lady’s journey, with no real love kisses or princes in sight.
As an alternative, we get an unforgettable journey that sees Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) crew up with the demigod Maui (The Rock) to save lots of her village from destruction. The film additionally has a stellar soundtrack by Lin-Manuel Miranda of Hamilton fame, some genuinely hilarious jokes, and breathtaking animation.
3. The Incredibles (2004)
Initially launched when superhero films had been simply beginning to make their comeback, The Incredibles nonetheless stands the take a look at of time as one of many best-animated motion films round. With its artistic combating sequences, a mix of spy and superhero film tropes, and hilarious characters, there’s loads to like in The Incredibles.
Even at the moment, when Marvel and the DCU are giving us at the least one movie a 12 months, The Incredibles stands out. The midlife crises, lifelike household bonds, and memorable one-liners make The Incredibles among the finest Pixar and Disney movies that everybody (superhero fan or not) can take pleasure in.
2. Sleeping Magnificence (1959)
The excessive level of the Disney animated classics is Sleeping Magnificence. Sure, it’s a daring assertion, however allow us to clarify why. Visually it’s gorgeous, and one of many final films Walt Disney labored on personally himself. It additionally gave us among the finest film villains in Maleficent, one of many sassiest princesses (who wasn’t fully obsessive about housekeeping), and an epic heart-pounding rating primarily based on Tchaikovsky’s unique ballet.
Lastly, it’s also referred to as one of many best-animated fairy tales usually, because of its incredible artwork fashion primarily based on medieval tapestries that drag you right into a European magical world. With each body a stunning piece of art work in its personal proper, right here is an animation that’ll sweep you away each time you watch it.
1. Frozen (2013)
Disney’s 53rd animated characteristic, Frozen is a magical story stuffed with banging songs, cute character designs, and among the greatest pc animation within the studio’s historical past, interval. It is usually a film that places ladies first, specializing in sisterly bonds in a touching story that’ll make your eyes water and go away you smiling by the point its credit begin to roll.
Tailored from Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy story, The Snow Queen, the film is about Elsa (Idina Menzel), a queen with frosty superpowers who’s scared of her personal skills. Her sister Anna (Kristen Bell) should go on a harmful quest to convey her sister again to the dominion and save herself and Elsa earlier than it’s too late. The artwork is gorgeous, the story is tight and intelligent, and the film additionally options Sven, an cute reindeer.
And there you might have it! One of the best Disney films of all time. For extra healthful enjoyable, right here is our information to one of the best Disney Plus films and greatest cartoon characters. Or, if you’re sequels, right here is all the pieces we all know in regards to the Frozen 3 launch date and Toy Story 5 launch date. We even have a information breaking down one of the best new films 2023 has to supply, or, broaden your horizons with our picks for one of the best films of all time.