There is absolutely nothing on earth like Disney. From the theme parks to the films, the merchandise to the music, anything Disney creates seemingly turns to gold. The first Disney film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, debuted back in 1937, close to a century ago, and boy, how things have changed since then...
We've ranked the top 50 Disney films...
Does your favorite make the cut?
Present-day, Disney has grown into a multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate. The company is most known for its film studio division, but Disney also owns and operates ABC broadcast network; cable television networks such as Disney Channel, ESPN, Freeform, FX, and National Geographic; publishing, merchandising, music, and theater divisions; direct-to-consumer streaming services such as Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, and Hotstar; and a group of 14 theme parks, resort hotels, and cruise lines around the world. Disney truly does it all.
Follow along and see how your favorite stacks up against the greats...
Use this handy bracket to see how your favorite Disney productions stack up against the classics and the Pixar greats. So, without further ado, let's get started!
50. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
This beloved C. S. Lewis classic tells the story of four children who discover a portal to a magical world in the back of an old wardrobe. They become the princes and princesses of Narnia after defeating the evil snow queen and rule alongside the lion, Aslan. It's a "generation-spanning journey" that nearly everyone loves.
A Reboot
The 2005 Disney version is a remake of the original BBC Chronicles of Narnia from 1988. That was a mini-series that follows the Pevensie children through all of the C.S. Lewis "Narnia" novels. The lion in this version looks a lot less realistic, though, and the woodland creatures are exceptionally creepy.
49. Frozen
The icy musical flick was an instant hit among young children. Who could forget "Let It Go"? Certainly no parent... The story of two sisters overcoming their differences and learning to love each other because of them will melt anyone's heart.
A Sequel Just As Popular
"Frozen 2" cleaned up at the box offices just like the first movie did. Though there's no musical number quite as iconic as "Let It Go," "Into the Unknown" is pretty great. Maybe there will even be a third movie if we're lucky.
48. The Muppets
Did you know star Jason Segel co-wrote "The Muppets" script? The film even won the Oscar for Original Song: "Man or Muppet." This is the seventh theatrical film that the Muppets characters star in. Disney acquired the Muppets property from Henson for $75 million on February 17, 2004. The acquisition consisted of most of the Muppets film and television library, as well as the Bear in the Big Blue House television series.
Dynamic Duo Jason Segel and Amy Adams
Did you know that Jason Segel loved the muppets so much? He and Amy Adams star in this flick and they're responsible for Kermit and the gang as they have adventures in LA. Even more fun fact — Walter the Muppet and Jason Segel are brothers in the film.
47. Enchanted
Amy Adams plays Giselle, a wonderstruck princess who finds herself in the real world of New York City after being put under a spell. She falls in love with Patrick Dempsey's character and decides to live a normal life away from her enchanted storybook home. Susan Sarandon plays the wickedest evil queen.
Disenchanted
That's right, there's an "Enchanted" sequel in the works. It's been nearly a decade since the first movie came out, and now Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey are reprising their roles as Giselle and Robert. How will the evil queen try to foil them this time?
46. Peter Pan
The original animated "Peter Pan" is a classic. If you've ever needed a pick-me-up, this tale about Wendy, Peter, and the Lost Boys will help you rediscover your childlike sense of whimsy in no time. The film has been reimagined dozens of times since its release.
Forever a Lost Boy
The 2003 adaptation of "Peter Pan" starring Jeremy Sumpter is arguably the most acclaimed live-action version of the tale. It's a sweet coming-of-age love story, and it launched Sumpter into fame. This take on Neverland and The Lost Boys is arguably a fan favorite.
45. The Personal History of David Copperfield
Dev Patel stars in this classic Charles Dickens story. The "rags to riches hero" brings the film to life in a "souped-up, trimmed-down adaptation so fleet and entertaining that its cleverness doesn't immediately register." It's one of Disney's newest classic adaptations.
A True Rags to Riches Story
The film follows Copperfield from birth until the present day, describing his "charmed" life until his mother marries a cruel factory owner who abuses him. Eventually, he runs away from home and finds shelter with an eccentric couple who help him realize his dreams of becoming an author. Dev Patel is completely captivating in the lead role.
44. Finding Dory
Fans waited a decade for a sequel to "Finding Nemo." The plot followed Dory's journey to find her parents and try to remember her past. Along the way, she makes more sea creature friends and even ends up living in an aquarium.
An Aquatic Classic
Few movies have made an impact like "Finding Nemo" did. Recalling the adventures of Marlin and Dory to rescue a lost Nemo are some of our generation's favorite memories. And who could forget those adorable sea turtles?
43. The Jungle Book
The iconic story of Mowgli's life in the jungle with Baloo and Bagheera came to life once again in 2016 thanks to a star-studded cast. With voices from Idris Elba, Scarlett Johansson, Christopher Walken, and Lupita Nyong'o, "The Jungle Book" swept up the box office.
A Rudyard Kiping Classic
The original musical cartoon version of "The Jungle Book" stole hearts back in 1967 when it was first released. Baloo's mission to get "the man-cub" back to his village along with Bagheera goes amiss when the tiger Shere Kahn is on the prowl.
42. A Bug's Life
"A Bug's Life" was a weird one, but the production at the time was pretty top-notch. The animation style was new to viewers and fans were absolutely blown away. This story about a particularly savvy little ant was Pixar's second film.
Defending the Colony
Flik the ant has to recruit a bunch of his insect friends to help him save his colony from the invasive grasshoppers. Luckily, he comes across of band of circus bugs and they help Flik save the day. He even falls in love with the princess ant along the way.
41. James and the Giant Peach
This claymation adaptation of the heartwarmingly fantastical Roald Dahl story is always a fan favorite. James finds himself stuck inside an enormous peach, and befriends the insects who have made their home there. The journeys they take are nothing short of amazing.
40. Lady and the Tramp
That scene where these two star-crossed pooches share a plate of spaghetti has gone down in history as one of Disney's finest moments. The story has been heralded as the most "quintessential American love story," even though the protagonists walk on four legs.
39. Zootopia
Amy Poehler lends her voice to Judy Hops, the law-abiding Bunny working to protect the town of Zootopia against a string of mysterious crimes. She and Jason Bateman's sly fox character end up making a great crime-solving team.
38. Tarzan
Arguably the most iconic soundtrack to ever come out of a Disney film is from "Tarzan." Phil Collins didn't have to go so hard with "You'll Be In My Heart," but he did. What a better backdrop for this unsuspecting love story than that.
37. Monsters Inc.
The song "If I Don't Have You" by Randy Newman won the singer his first career Oscar. The movie follows two Monsters Inc. employees, Mike and Sully, as they try to return a lost human girl back to the door portal she came from. It's a unique spin on a buddy comedy that's warmed the hearts of generations of children.
36. The Incredibles 2
The sequel to the smash-hit "The Incredibles" follows the Parr family as they defeat a new villain on the block, Screenslaver. That, and Jack Jack is finally coming into his powers, making things extra difficult on the family. Don't worry, there's even an appearance from Edna Mode.
35. The Secret World of Arrietty
Disney has had a hand in various Japanese animations in the past, and this one is one of their best. "The Secret World of Arrietty" follows the story of a boy who finds tiny little people living in his garden. It's a sweet take on a fairytale for all ages.
34. Moana
Lin-Manuel Miranda took the lead on the "Moana" soundtrack, and those island songs are so great. Dwayne Johnson voices Maui alongside Auli'i Cravalho's title character, and the two must return the heart of the ocean to its rightful place in order to restore peace to the islands.
33. Coco
"Coco" tells the tale of a young boy who dreams of becoming a classical guitarist. He finds himself on a journey in the afterlife, walking among the skeletons of his ancestors, in order to learn more about his family history. The songs in this movie might even be better than the ones in "Tarzan"...
32. The Nightmare Before Christmas
This Tim Burton holiday treat sheds light on a beleaguered Jack Skellington as he searches for meaning beyond Halloween. He discovers Christmas and decides his town could use some cheer. Unfortunately, things don't really turn out the way he plans.
31. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
This 1954 film has been described as " fabulous and fantastic as anything [Walt Disney] has ever done in cartoons..." Kirk Douglas plays the lead in this slightly comical take on the Jules Verne classic. The film even won Oscars for its art direction and special effects.
30. 101 Dalmatians
There have been countless renditions of "101 Dalmatians," but by far the best is the original. Cruella De Vil is out to get those sweet spotted puppies for her fur coats, and Roger and Anita do whatever they can to get them back. The puppies earned several television show spinoffs and even a live-action movie starring Glen Close.
29. Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Robert Zemeckis broke ground when he merged live-action with animation to create this hit. It's part film noir, part off-kilter comedy, and we even see Mickey Mouse onscreen with Bugs Bunny. It won three Oscar awards, and critics called it "dense, satisfying, feverishly inventive and a technical marvel."
28. Toy Story 4.
The last movie in the "Toy Story" franchise nicely wraps up nearly two decades of tales from Woody and Buzz. "It doesn't put you through the emotional wringer the way its predecessor did," critics said, "but it's consistently inventive, funny, witty, and heartfelt."
27. The Three Caballeros
This one from Disney is a favorite among select fans. This Oscar-nominated flick features Donald Duck and two of his friends as they travel across Latin America. It's a hidden gem from 1940s animators.
26. Cinderella
This is arguably the most impactful Disney flick. There's a whole castle in Disney World dedicated to this princess. The 1950 film kicked off what would be a longstanding franchise the world had never seen the likes of before.
25. Sleeping Beauty
Nine years later, Disney would come out with "Sleeping Beauty," and the world would fear the wrath of Maleficent. Critics called this one "a masterpiece of the Disney Studios' postwar style." The gothic animation style really changed the game.
24. Ponyo
Hayao Miyazaki brought "Ponyo," a little fish, to life. It's best explained like this: "You watch a Miyazaki film with the pie-eyed, gape-mouthed awe of a child being read the most fantastic story and suddenly transported to places previously beyond the limits of imagination," critics praised.
23. The Straight Story
David Lynch directed this oddball. "The Straight Story" follows one man's journey riding his lawnmower from Iowa to Wisconsin The protagonist, played by Richard Farnsworth, earned a Best Actor nomination.
22. Aladdin
There's a whole array of reasons why "Aladdin" is a cult classic. The song "A Whole New World" and the addition of Robin Williams to the cast. The film takes on a new level of zany comedy paired with a serious plot.
21. The Incredible Journey
This sweet story follows the journey of two dogs and a cat. Critics wrote, "[The Incredible Journey] comes from a place that genuinely respects and loves dogs for being dogs and cats for being cats." This is right up there with "Homeward Bound."
20. Homeward Bound
Did you know "Homeward Bound" is actually a remake of "The Incredible Journey"? Michael J. Fox and Sally Field voice two of the pets faced with the task of making their way across the Sierra Nevada mountain range to find their people.
19. The Little Mermaid
"The Little Mermaid" saw a shift in Disney's animation style. The songs, including "Part of Your World" and the Oscar-winning "Under the Sea" have been staples in classic Disney soundtracks. There's a live-action remake currently in the works.
18. Mary Poppins
This Julie Andrews classic features live-action combined with hand-drawn animation. It was Walt Disney's proudest creation. It won five Oscars, 13 nominations, and gave Julie Andrews the award for Best Actress.
17. Up
Ed Asner's Carl lives out his late-wife's dream to pilot a house tied to balloons. Not only is this a feel-good movie, but it's also guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings a lot. Critics said, "We will be comparing Up with classics like The Wizard of Oz for years to come."
16. Toy Story 2
The "Toy Story" sequel introduced us to Jesse and a whole new cast of characters. The primary plot follows Woody accidentally being sold to a toy collector, and the rest of the gang has to rescue him. Don't worry, Woody and Jesse make it out.
15. The Lion King
"The Lion King" has been a fan favorite for decades, and has earned both a phenomenal Broadway show and a live-action film. "Can You Feel the Love Tonight," written by Elton John and Tim Rice is the standout song aside from the chills-inducing opening number. 2019's remake surprisingly stands up to the original.
14. Treasure Island
The Robert Louis Stevenson novel has been heralded as "the greatest adventure of all time," and for good reason. The film is considered a "tremendous success," and has withstood the test of time.
13. Finding Nemo
"Finding Nemo" is the first Pixar film to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Critics called it "[a]n exhilarating fish story in the perfectly cast comic adventure." There's a reason why they made us wait so long for a sequel. You can't rush perfection!
12. The Incredibles
This Pixar film won Best Animated Feature at the Oscars as well. The Parr family are just regular citizens by day, and superheroes by night. That is until the super name is disgraced and there's a call to have them all wiped out of society...
11. Bambi
Yep, even this one makes the list. That gutwrenching beginning sequence that shows Bambi's mother being killed by a hunter shocks audiences even today. However, the sweet little fawn grows up to make friends with all the woodland creatures and becomes a leader of the forest.
10. Toy Story 3
When Andy leaves for college and decides to give away his toys, the gang is devastated. They spend the movie trying to reunite with him, only to realize that he's really grown up and it's time to make another child happy. If you didn't cry while you watched this, you should have.
9. Inside Out
Amy Poehler spearheads this film about understanding your feelings and the joy of positive mental health. All emotions are present here, and the cast features other voices like Bill Hader and Mindy Kaling. This was one of the most feel-good Pixar films to date.
8. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
This was Disney's first-ever feature-length animation. It was recognized at back-to-back Oscar awards and nearly won Best Score in 1938. Can you believe Disney has been around that long?
7. Beauty and the Beast
Though the Emma Watson live-action adaptation of the classic is good, there's nothing quite like this original. "Tale As Old As Time" is arguably the strongest song to ever come out of a Disney film. Critics say, "With its strong characters and lively storytelling, animated or not, this deserves its place alongside the cinema greats."
6. Wall-E
This absolutely heartwrenching story about a lonely trash picking robot will melt you. Until he finds his robot soulmate, Wall-E's world is pretty empty. Then, he discovers humanity, and things go south.
5. Toy Story
The first "Toy Story" film made waves with its animation technique and ingenious script. When Buzz Lightyear joins the gang, he has no idea he's actually an inanimate object. Woody spends nearly the entirety of the movie trying to help him understand that he's a toy.
4. Dumbo
Tim Burton remade this classic in 2019, but it's just not the same. The original is one of Disney's sweetest stories ever. It's been called "one of Disney's best animated features" by far.
3. Fantasia
"Fantasia" is essentially a music video overlaid with animated scenes of a magical Mickey Mouse. It features songs like "The Nutcracker Suite" and "Toccata," and is regarded as one of Disney's most ambitious productions.
2. Pinocchio
Coming in at number 2 is the appropriately trippy "Pinocchio." The classic story follows Pinocchio's journey to reunite himself with his "father," the man who initially carved him out of wood. The song "When You Wish Upon a Star" comes from this flick.
1. Ratatouille
Pixar's story of a rat who knew how to cook better than most people enamored audiences, making it the leading Disney film! Remy taught us not to be afraid to pursue our passions, and his love for food and culinary arts inspired even the harshest of critics. The movie also taught a lot of people what the actual dish ratatouille is.