Ranking the Disney Animated Canon Movies (Worst-to-Best)

Everyone has at one point or another ranked their favourite Disney movies, and this list is no different – well, apart from the fact that all fifty-six movies are being included. The quality of Disney’s animated features can easily reflect the condition of The Walt Disney Company during the period when they were made. Now, this list is just my own personal opinion, but comments on your own favourites are welcome. No Pixar movies are included in the list.

56. Chicken Little (2005)
The end result of the ugly tension between Disney and Pixar in the mid-2000s, Chicken Little feels more like a DreamWorks movie than a Disney picture, with obnoxious characters, an ugly design, and more dedicated to making references to better movies than telling a good story. Bottom of the barrel.

55. Home On the Range (2004)
This might have been Disney’s last hand-drawn movie if Michael Eisner had had his way. Home On the Range is a very silly movie, with a babyish plot, and it feels a lot of the time that it is aimed at preschoolers. It does have some minor positives, like the animation, and songs written by Alan Menken.

54. The Black Cauldron (1985)
The official point where Disney hit rock bottom, beaten by The Care Bears Movie at the box office. That’s just embarrassing. Any yet, The Black Cauldron has some redeeming qualities like the dark, scary tone of the movie, the villain is terrifying, and the visuals are great. Too bad the protagonist is an absolute pain in the ass.

53. Fun & Fancy Free (1947)
One of Disney’s package films during the post-World War II years when the company was facing financial troubles. The film is made up of two animated shorts, which are quite charming (though the “Mickey and the Beanstalk” short is quite freaky at times). It’s not bad, but the live action transitions involving Jiminy Cricket and creepy puppets are bizarre.

52. Melody Time (1948)
The third of the package films in the 1940s, Melody Time is better than Fun & Fancy Free, but lacks the same flair of fun as the next entry on our list.

51. Make Mine Music (1946)
Definitely the most entertaining and fun of the three musical package films, Make Mine Music has a number of great animated sequences like “Peter and the Wolf” and “The Whale Who Wanted To Sing”, offering a variety of different moods and settings through its contemporary music and humour.

50. Meet the Robinsons (2007)
An often forgotten film, Meet the Robinsons is actually good but does have a lot of flaws, like a complicated story involving time travel, and too many characters who have one-note eccentricities and nothing else. On the other hand, the hero Lewis is very likeable, the villain is surprisingly complex, there is a talking dinosaur, and it has a good family theme.

49. Dinosaur (2000)
Disney’s first independent animated movie, just about everyone will remember the spectacular opening sequence promoted with other films. But, that’s about it. While visually amazing, Dinosaur’s story is very bland, feels a bit like a retread of The Land Before Time, and a majority of the characters are uninteresting.

48. The Aristocats (1970)
A childhood favourite of mine, I’m not sure how The Aristocats got so low on the list. It is cute, charming, has some hilarious moments, a lot of memorable characters, and a catchy score. However, The Aristocats lacks any sense of drama to it, and that sense of heart that Walt Disney put in his films is sorely missing.

47. The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)
Another package film and a particularly unusual combo of horror and family fun, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow has a great spooky atmosphere, the Headless Horseman is terrifying, but Ichabod Crane is not a particularly likeable or engaging hero. The Wind in the Willows is the complete opposite, relying on slapstick and wacky shenanigans. Plus, who doesn’t love Mr. Toad. The film is good, but there are better ones.

46. Bolt (2008)
A very different idea of a superhero film, with enticing themes discussing the difference between fantasy and reality. Bolt makes for an interesting hero in the literal sense, deluded into thinking he is an actual superpowered dog, though I wish his journey didn’t rely so much on jokes. I suppose the film is meant to double as a take that to the entertainment industry, which feels a little hypocritical considering how big a media conglomerate Disney is. But, wow, that third act climax is pretty intense.

45. The Rescuers (1977)
Arguably a victim of the “what would Walt do” years following his death, The Rescuers has likeable characters, good voice acting by Eva Gabor and Bob Newhart, and a tearjerking opening number, but its drama is strangely down key, dull, and distilled.

44. Saludos Amigos (1942)
The first of Disney’s numerous package films during the 1940s, Saludos Amigos dedicates itself to celebrating the people, culture, and music of Latin America, led by Donald Duck and Jose Carioca. Still remain surprisingly popular to this day, but remains low on the list.

43. The Three Caballeros (1944)
The sequel to Saludos Amigos, this film has a bit more of a flowing narrative, the introduction of Panchito Pistoles, and continues the same musical sense of fun from its predecessor.

42. Winnie the Pooh (2011)
Disney’s last hand-drawn film to date, the return to the Hundred Acre Wood is wonderful and pleasant, and a rather nice way for Disney’s most treasured tradition to bow out (hopefully not forever). The characterization of the characters, however, seems a little exaggerated. Pooh is dumber, Rabbit is more neurotic to the point of insanity, Owl is more of a jerk than a windbag, etc.

41. Fantasia 2000 (1999)
The long-anticipated, well-intentioned sequel to Fantasia. Walt Disney had always intended to make a series of Fantasia films, but his nephew, Roy E. Disney, managed to complete his uncle’s aim. Well animated and beautifully scored, Fantasia 2000 has some inspiring musical segments but perhaps isn’t as ambitious as the original film. Also, the celebrity endorsements are completely unnecessary.

40. Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
Just about all of the Disney films between 2000 and 2009, save Lilo & Stitch, are highly underrated and underperformed at the box office due to audiences preferring computer animated films. Atlantis was Disney’s second action-adventure movie after The Rescuers Down Under, having the feel of a classic adventure with some memorable characters (apart from the badguys) and visuals. Admittedly, the actual Atlantis doesn’t come into play until later in the second and I wished we had some more time to explore the city’s lost culture.

39. Oliver & Company (1988)
One of my favourite Disney films as a child, so much so that it was a major victim of the VCR. The film has some lovable characters and a couple of catchy songs, particularly the opening number. The ending chase is just spectacular. But, making it a contemporary take on Oliver Twist with talking animals set in New York City seems a little redundant when the story being told has very little to do with the classic Dickens novel.

38. Robin Hood (1973)
A very merry, fun, and hilarious film, Robin Hood does admittedly have a wandering plot and the romance between Robin and Maid Marian vanishes halfway through the film. But, the sheer sense of enjoyment to be found through the characters makes up for it. Prince John, Sir Hiss, and the Sheriff of Nottingham make the whole film worth while. Also, the film uses a lot of recycled animation from previous films due to budget cuts.

37. Pocahontas (1995)
Pocahontas nowadays is a film that gets pushed and pulled around a lot. While it represents Native Americans in a favourable light, it butchers their history for a West Side Story-esque romance that had unpleasant consequences in real life. Nevertheless, Pocahontas remains a fan favourite, with beautifully animated landscaping and a great soundtrack written by Alan Menken, and admittedly, the romance between Pocahontas and John Smith, historical inaccuracies aside, is actually bittersweet and breaks the mould of Disney’s past romances.

36. Hercules (1997)
Who puts the “glad” in “gladiator”? Hercules! One of my favourite Renaissance films, Hercules does condense and alter Greek mythology (Hercules actually being the Roman name for the hero), but has particularly distinctive art style, some wonderful songs like “Go the Distance”, and a great performance by James Woods as Hades.

35. 101 Dalmatians (1961)
A classic through and through. Cruella De Vil is one of the greatest villains of all time. The first film to adopt the "scratchy" style of animation til The Rescuers. Pongo and Perdita make average protagonists, and the film adopts a very calm and quiet atmosphere in its second half which works very well when building up to the escape from Cruella.

34. Treasure Planet (2002)
Disney’s third adaptation of Treasure Island, following their live action film in the 1950s, and the brilliant take by the Muppets, Treasure Planet takes the classic tale to new heights. Or rather, into outer space. Guided by some particularly impressive, but sometimes overbearing CGI, Treasure Planet’s true heart lies in the swashbuckling action and the fleshed out father-son relationship between a very relatable Jim Hawkins and Long John Silver.

33. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977)
Who doesn't love Winnie the Pooh? The first outing with the cuddly bear and his pals is a fun romp, though it is a compilation film made of previously made short films. Has a great child-like sense of fun and curiosity to it, all of the characters are cute and funny, and even the "scary" part of the film with Pooh's nightmare is quite quirky. Has a surprisingly tearjerker of an ending. One of Disney’s most timeless movies and remains one of their most popular franchises.

32. The Princess and the Frog (2009)
Disney’s alleged second renaissance kicked off with this movie, The Princess and the Frog was a return to form for hand-drawn animation and fairy tales. Has a lot of good points to it, like lovable characters, a great use of jazz and blues music, the setting of New Orleans, and Princess Tiana as Disney’s first African-American heroine and princess. At times there is a lot going on in the plot, but it doesn’t detract from the film.

31. The Rescuers Down Under (1990)
The sadly forgotten film of the Disney Renaissance thanks to the pulling of all advertising after it underperformed in its opening weekend. The Rescuer Down Under is a thrilling adventure into the outback, bringing back Miss Bianca and Bernard with a new romantic subplot. The film also has a great villain, but the highlight has to be the mindboggling landscapes and use of Pixar’s CAPS system to create the amazing visuals. The best sequence has to be the flight between Cody and Marahuté. Great stuff!

30. The Sword in the Stone (1963)
A bit like Robin Hood in terms of pacing, The Sword in the Stone is a lot of fun with many charming characters and scenes. Arthur is so innocent, despite stumbling through the movie with not much of a character arc, and Merlin and Archimedes are just superb to watch. The story is quite loose, mostly dedicated to having a good time and providing a lot of memorable moments such as the wizard duel between Merlin and Madam Mim.

29. The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)
The Emperor’s New Groove is a very different film from its original concept, mostly thanks to the meddling of Michael Eisner (again!), the end result is in fact a hilarious comedy buddy movie. An absolute hoot from beginning to end. It has a small but memorable cast of characters, and while it doesn’t really go for an emotional story, the humour carries the whole film, and is gut-bustingly hilarious. Yzma and Kronk are just wonderful villains, reminding me of Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale, or Team Rocket.

28. Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
A love letter to arcades and video games alike, Wreck-It Ralph goes above and beyond just being a number of cameos and game references, creating a familiar, sentimental story of trying to find one’s place in the world. The characters are all quite fascinating and well-developed, the world of the arcade is detailed and complex, and each new game is fun to explore. Ralph smashing up Vanellope’s car is one of the most heartbreaking moments ever!

27. Sleepy Beauty (1959)
What makes Sleeping Beauty worth the watch is the wonderful art style designed by Eyvind Earle. The animation and artwork is just beautiful. The rest of the movie is a bit of a mixed bag, but has a memorable score, great characters in the form of the good fairies and Maleficent. And, come on, that dragon battle is spectacular. However, the titular character, Princess Aurora, is a completely flat character and serves more as a plot device than an actual person – and yet she remains one of Disney’s most popular princesses.

26. Big Hero 6 (2014)
Disney’s first official non-Pixar superhero film (if you don’t count Bolt), taking an obscure Marvel property and adapting it into a good film that supports the progress and wonders of science, and a heartfelt story about grief, family, and acceptance. Baymax steals the whole movie, and the rest of the titular team are very likeable, unique characters. If there was one complaint, it is that the plot twists are a little bit predictable.

25. Alice in Wonderland (1951)
The zaniest film in Disney's pantheon, Alice in Wonderland has a wonderful, colourful art style (thanks to Mary Blair), hilarious moments, and some of the wackiest, weirdest characters ever brought to the silver screen. Though it follows the more common tradition of fusing both of Lewis Carroll's books together, the film is very entertaining. Alice is one of Disney's best protagonists, being very innocent but also pragmatic and bugged by the insane antics going on around her. The supporting characters are really fun and memorable - The Mad Hatter, March Hare, Cheshire Cat, and the scene-stealing Queen of Hearts.

24. Cinderella (1950)
The quintessential fairy tale movie after Snow White. The film remains in high regard, thanks to its magical, romantic story, Cinderella refusing to give up in the face of impossible odds, the absolute evil that is Lady Tremaine, and the scenes with the Fairy Godmother and the ball remain the highlights of the movie. Above all else, Cinderella’s story of love, faith, and hope conquering evil and spreading the message of holding on to your dreams makes it a timeless film.

23. The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
The film that saved Disney’s bacon in the 1980s, prior to the Renaissance. Sherlock Holmes with mice, The Great Mouse Detective tells its own crime-thriller in the fashion of Holmes. An absolute gem with fantastic characters - Basil, Dr. Dawson, and Ratigan. A shocking opening, good songs, and they somehow got a bar brawl and Victorian burlesque dance in there too.

22. Tangled (2010)
The princess films will begin to start stacking up now. A solid fairy tale drama with plenty of heart. Rapunzel is a very lovable, wide-eyed and innocent heroine, and Flynn's disinterest in going along with the traditions of a fairy tale are hysterical. Features some of Alan Menken's best songs, particularly “I See the Light”, which is also is played during the film’s most magical sequence.

21. Moana (2017)
Beautifully animated, great music, and honouring the Polynesian culture respectfully, Moana is a very different princess film compared to the more traditional ones. It continues the musical traditions of past classics, and feels a lot like a Renaissance film, possibly due to its directors and animators. Moana and Maui are very likeable characters. Though the story is a little formulaic and sounds like other Disney films, Moana is great stuff, with some of the most mesmerising animation and songs of recent years.

20. The Little Mermaid (1989)
Despite my views on certain elements of the story, The Little Mermaid should be praised as a great movie – kicking off the Disney Renaissance, a lovely mix of animation, music, and characters, a great villain in the form of Ursula, and Ariel remains extremely popular, being a modern, relatable, and very nerdy princess. The story even takes the time for the two romantic leads to get to know each other, even if it is only the space of three days. The songs of Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman helped to modernise the Disney formula.

19. Frozen (2013)
Yes, yes, I think Frozen is better than The Little Mermaid. Though extremely overhyped to the point of irritation, Frozen is a legitimately good film. Great characters, and a very effective, moving relationship between Anna and Elsa. Takes a look at the traditions of Disney films and turn some on their heads in great ways, proving you don't need a prince to find true love as there are other types of love. Topped by lovely animation, and some fantastic songs. People still hateful towards this film’s popularity just need to let it go…

18. Mulan (1998)
Mulan is Disney’s first venture into Chinese culture and, in my opinion, exceeds in portraying the legendary heroine. Mulan remains one of Disney’s best protagonists, saving the whole of China on her own (mostly), and promotes themes of family, honour, and sacrifice. Shan Yu is not the most interesting of villains, but he is pretty badass and ruthless. Even Mushu is pretty fun. Extra points for the fantastic, catchy soundtrack. The scene where the Emperor bows before Mulan is pure brilliance.

17. Lilo & Stitch (2002)
Just about the only film of the post-Renaissance era to become popular before Bob Iger took over as CEO of Disney. Lilo & Stitch tells a strong, heartwarming story on family, a fantastic premise, wonderful characters, and a variety of Elvis Presley’s greatest hits. Lilo is one of Disney’s most realistic, human characters, and Stitch’s character development is both funny and tearful to watch, even if Disney overused him at the theme parks. The Hawaiian setting allows for some beautiful scenery, backed up by the excellent use of watercolours.

16. Brother Bear (2003)
A highly underrated movie, forgotten to time, but deserves some major recognition as a masterpiece. It did the whole “human-into-bear-transformation” plot nearly ten years before Brave did it, Brother Bear telling an enjoyable buddy journey with plenty of laughs, but also has an intimate story about brotherhood, guilt, responsibility, and the consequences of violent actions. The scene where Kenai is transformed into a bear is incredible to watch, and the songs by Phil Collins are wonderful, tying in well with the story.

15. Dumbo (1941)
One of the big five (i.e. the first five Disney films released), Dumbo is a short but sweet and charming film. Dumbo is the cutest elephant ever, and while he never ushers a word, he is an adorable character. The film has good songs, though Pink Elephants On Parade freaks me out, and while there is a lack of a main villain (or is society the villain?), the film is wonderful. Its time length does not really pose much of a problem, but it isn't until the last ten minutes that Dumbo actually flies.

14. The Fox and the Hound (1981)
A poignant and emotional drama about two friends driven apart by natural forces, Todd and Copper’s relationship, the highs and the lows, guides the whole movie. The film has many heartbreaking moments, fine animation despite a tight budget, and an increasingly changing tone from sweet to dramatic. This film is quite significant in the company’s history, with the old guard retiring so the new generation of animators can take the reins, and Don Bluth made his departure from Disney to form his own company. My favourite moment is when Widow Tweed leaves Todd in the wilderness, and the song breaks my heart. Great performances from Mickey Rooney and Kurt Russell.

13. Zootopia (2017)
So much more than a funny animal/buddy cop film. Quite frankly a work of art. Absolutely amazing story wise and has a great dynamic duo of bunny cop Jody Hopps and con-fox Nick Wilde. It is very funny, has a lot of laughs, but offers plenty of moments of pause to think. Zootopia is a very creative setting, lots of great ideas, and has tons of animal gags. Does a surprising job about focusing on themes identity, tolerance, understanding and the like - a thing that is very much needed in this day and age. Love the sloths!

12. Lady and the Tramp (1955)
Perhaps the greatest romance in cinematic history…debatably. Deals with a more realistic sense of romance, with Tramp seeing Lady as another fling while she is entranced by him and learns of his more looser view of love the hard way. The spaghetti scene is cinema's greatest kiss, and the film’s theme that love can be found on both side of the tracks is wonderful.

11. Tarzan (1999)
The last film of the Renaissance. A very good film. Tarzan is all about the relationships between the characters and finding one's place in the world. Phil Collins' songs are fantastic (“You'll Be In My Heart” in particular), the scenes where Tarzan is vine swinging and leaping around the trees are amazing, and the relationship between Tarzan and Jane is charming. May have the highest body count in a Disney movie (excluding Mulan).

10. Aladdin (1992)
The film I've had trouble placing on this list, Aladdin wound its way up high. Considered one of big four of the Renaissance, Aladdin is a fantastic movie with great humour, a strong sense of adventure, and lovable characters. Aladdin is one of my favourite protagonists, who has a lot of issues with his own self-worth and has to overcome them in the film. Princess Jasmine is a breath of fresh air in the princess category, Jafar and Iago are great villains, and of course, the Genie steals the show, and Robin Williams made the role his.

9. Bambi (1942)
Bambi's coming of age story is well made even if they skip the most important part - dealing with his mother's death as a child (which is wonderfully covered in the direct-to-video midquel). Very artistic and charming, the environment and scenery are rich with detail, and there is a heavy but well-handled sense of drama and realism to it.

8. Pinocchio (1940)
Disney's second film and commonly considered one of the best. Terrified me as a kid and I haven't watched it since then. However, it clearly has a strong narrative, Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket are great protagonists, and the trials they go through are thrilling and frightening at the same time. And who can forget “When You Wish Upon A Star”.

7. Peter Pan (1953)
Walt Disney was apparently not very fond of the film's final form, but I think it is one of the best. It is kind of a coming of age story. Lovely animation and music (particularly in the You Can Fly sequence). All the major characters are very lively and funny. Wendy serves as a good heroine, though Peter often steals the spotlight...along with Tinkerbell, Captain Hook and Mr. Smee.

6. The Jungle Book (1967)
The Jungle Book is another all-time classic, released a year after Walt Disney’s death, it is a bit more light-hearted than the Kipling books, with quirky characters, some of the best songs written by Richard and Robert Sherman, voice acting from many Disney film veterans, and another film was beautifully imagined scenery. If I had one complaint is that Mowgli is a bit of an idiot. What dumb ten-year old tries to stand up to a tiger? Love the 2016 remake too.

5. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
A very unappreciated and underrated fantastic film. Sure it changed the novel's story and made it more for families, it is still one of Disney's adult films featuring an epic villain, dark themes, religion, along with a fantastic soundtrack and some of Disney's best animation. The presence of the gargoyles is both good and bad, bringing some comic relief to the table but also seems out of place in the rest of the film, and whether or not they are alive or not is even more confusing.

4. The Lion King (1994)
From that first moment where the sun rises, you know The Lion King is going to be a fantastic film. The film has its flaws but the whole thing is so awesome it doesn't really matter. I love the characters, love the story, love the songs, the animation is gorgeous. Mufasa's death is heartbreaking, as is Simba's exile, “Be Prepared” is a great villain's song, Timon and Pumbaa are hilarious, and Mufasa's "remember who you are" scene along with “Circle of Life” are fantastic. Though the most important part of Simba’s arc is treated a little trivial, the payoff is epic. The whole film is a thing of beauty and will forever be timeless.

3. Fantasia (1940)
Perhaps Walt Disney's best film, Fantasia is a piece of art. It lacks dialogue but doesn’t need any, having one beautiful musical piece one after the other and never feels slow and boring. The best segments are “The Sorcerer's Apprentice” and “Night On Bald Mountain”, though each piece is wonderful and creative in their own ways.

2. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
The first animated film and a piece of history that put Disney on the map and established cartoons could be works of art. You can comment on it and question its plotholes, etc., but it established many tropes of Disney's films and other movies in general. Snow White is a pure hearted but somewhat naive protagonist, believing the best in everyone. I love the dwarves, and the Evil Queen is perhaps the only Disney villain who checks to see if there is a flaw in her plan. The film has perfect animation, music, songs, and vocal work. Nearly flawless as a movie.

1. Beauty and the Beast (1991)
100% flawless. Hands down the best film Disney has made. Every thing in this film is perfect - the characters, the story, the romance, the animation, the songs (thanks Howard Ashman and Alan Menken). I love the opposing personalities and positions the Beast and Gaston have and how they swap places by the end of the film. Belle is a wonderful protagonist. I love the supporting characters. The story is probably the best fairy tale and romance Disney has done. Definitely Disney's magnum opus!