There are few things more nostalgic than a Disney movie night. The biggest question isn’t “should we watch three Disney movies in a row,” it’s “which three (or five) movies should we watch?” To help with that latter question, we pulled together 35 of the all-time top Disney movies — most of which you can stream on Disney+.
But make sure and take a minute to fully appreciate the wide expanse that is the Disney universe. What started out as a focus on heartwarming animated films has grown into a collection of beautifully complex movies tackling some of life's toughest moments... while still keeping it cute (Turning Red, anyone?).
Our recommendation? Pick a classic and then pair it with something a bit more modern starring one of your favorite Disney stars (maybe one of the Disney Channel original movies) for the best of both worlds. And when you’re done with these, check out our favorite Disney Channel shows.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (1937)
We love a story with a villain, a poisoned apple, and a friendship between a woman and seven dwarves who all live in the forest together. While there are newer remakes of the original, we recommend watching the first animated film.
Pinocchio (1940)
This classic is a story between Gepetto, an older Italian woodcarver, and his deep hope for a wooden puppet named Pinocchio to turn into a real boy. Spoiler: It happens.
Fantasia (1940)
Fantasia is a total trip. Here’s the general idea: Mickey Mouse makes his way through eight musical scores, transforming from a sorcerer’s apprentice to an observer as mythologies play out right before his eyes. It’s an animated masterpiece, one that’s best watched with the sound all the way up.
Bambi (1942)
Bambi follows the story of a young deer (named Bambi) who grows up in the forest among his friends: a rabbit named Thumper, Friend Owl, a skunk named Flower, and more. In this film, watch along as Bambi learns the ins and outs of growing up — and avoiding the hunters who frequent the area.
Alice in Wonderland (1951)
Fall down into the rabbit hole with Alice, as she stumbles through fantastical lands filled with cheshire cats, stressful games, and the Queen of Hearts. Her goal of staying on the ruler’s good side is a tricky one that’s worth watching (and re-watching).
Peter Pan (1953)
Surprise! Peter Pan flies into the room of Wendy and her brothers one random night, on the hunt for his shadow. He shares tales of Neverland along with his partner, Tinkerbell. The kids follow him back to Neverland and go head-to-head with Peter Pan’s rival, pirate Captain Hook. There’s a lot of adventure between the time the kids leave and when they make their way back to their beds.
The Lady and the Tramp (1955)
Lady, a cocker spaniel leading a life of luxury, has her life turned upside down when her owners have a baby. In an instant, Lady finds herself fending for herself and loose on the sidewalks. She meets Tramp, a rough stray mutt, who introduces her to his life. Eventually, they fall in love… but not without a few obstacles trying to keep them apart.
Cinderella (1955)
Another classic, this musical gives life to a beloved fairytale. Cinderella is a nice gal with a horrible stepmother and equally rude — if not worse — stepsisters. One thing she does have: a fairy godmother who is set on helping her attend a local ball to win over the prince’s heart.
101 Dalmatians (1961)
Cruella De Vil may be one of the most evil Disney villains of all time. After two dogs in love — Pongo and Perdita — have a litter of 15 puppies, De Vil goes on a mission to steal them all so she can make a fur coat.
The Little Mermaid (1989)
Sixteen-year-old Ariel dreams of living among the people on land, a huge change from her underwater life as a mermaid. After making a deal with a sea witch named Ursula, she gets her wish — for three days. Of course, there’s a prince charming and lots of internal conflict; the perfect making of a Disney movie night.
Honey, I Shrunk The Kids (1989)
This is a fun one. Wayne Szalinkski (Rick Moranis) is a scientist and one fateful day his kids decide to sneak into his lab to get a baseball. Of course, he’s working on a shrink-ray that minimizes anything placed inside and, well, the kids embark on a pint-sized adventure. What lies ahead is an obstacle course from the garbage, where Wayne drops what he thinks is a failed experiment, through the yard, and back inside to catch dad’s attention. While this one doesn’t often top the list of “Best Disney Movies of All Time,” we think it should.
Beauty and the Beast (1991)
After a village girl named Belle stumbles into the Beast’s castle searching for her father Maurice, she discovers that the hideous monster is actually a big-hearted human who was put under a spell with the rest of the castle’s inhabitants. She befriends everyone, and eventually falls in love with the beast, waking up his cold heart once again.
Aladdin (1992)
It’s a tale as old as (Disney) time: a man falls in love with a princess, but her family doesn’t approve of the match. Aladdin (the guy) fights for Jasmine (the gal) by using his new friend (a magic genie) to help keep the evil sorcerer Jafar from taking over Jasmine’s family’s kingdom. This one has some great musical moments.
The Mighty Ducks (1992)
We all love an underdog story and The Mighty Ducks is certainly that. Forced into community service for a drunk driving change, lawyer Gordon Bombay decides to coach the local kids hockey team. The coach and the team slowly bond as they lose and learn together, eventually building a strong team ready to take on Bombay’s old hockey rival. If you’re looking for feel-good movies on Disney Plus, you’ll like this one.
The Lion King (1994)
Viewers follow along as young Simba, a young lion who is the sitting heir to his father’s kingdom, deals with the tragedy of his father’s murder. His evil uncle, Scar, lured Simba and his father Mufasa into a stampede of wildebeests, with only Simba escaping. When he returns as an adult, he takes on his uncle to reclaim the kingdom with a few new friends.
A Goofy Movie (1995)
Goofy just wants to take his son, Max, on a vacation. With a full-on fishing trip planned, the duo take off and fall into all kinds of unexpected experiences along the way. And, of course, the plot centers around Max’s crush, Roxanne. Because what’s a Disney movie without a wholesome love story?
Toy Story (1995)
We’ve all wondered: What do our toys do once we leave them alone? Toy Story is one answer to the question, if only a fantasy. Follow along on the adventure of a persistent group of toys as they find out their owner Andy is getting a birthday party before a big move.
Mulan (1998)
Mulan’s ill father is set to be drafted in the Chinese military — instead, she impersonates a man and takes his place. She brings along her dragon (voiced by Eddie Murphy) to help her ward off an invasion. And yes, she finds love, too.
The Parent Trap (1998)
The description for this one may be the most simple, but the result is a chaotic scheme that sparked the imaginations of twins around the world. In this remake, both twins (Annie and Hallie) are played by Lindsay Lohan. Separated at birth, the girls reunite unexpectedly at summer camp where they make a grand plan to lure their parents back together.
Remember the Titans (2000)
The movie covers a lot of ground. When a local school board integrates an all-Black school and an all-white school in 1971, the football team and its leadership is shaken up. Remember the Titans is a tale of overcoming prejudice, friendship, and the ultimate underdog victory.
Monsters, Inc. (2001)
There’s something so cute about monsters having to go to a school to learn how to be scary. And some of said monsters just aren’t cut out for the job — like Sullivan and his scare assistant Mike Wazowski. They get paired with Boo, a young girl who follows them right back to Monster University.
Lilo & Stitch (2002)
Lilo, a Hawaiian girl, adopts Stitch, who she believes is a dog. Fun fact: He’s not. A genetic experiment from an alien planet, Stitch forms a special bond with Lilo, who helps teach him in ohana, the Hawaiian belief in family.
Finding Nemo (2003)
This movie is high on our list of best movies on Disney Plus. After Nemo swims too closely to the surface of the ocean, he’s captured by a diver and his father (Marlin) sets out on a journey to bring him home.
Ratatouille (2007)
Potentially the most endearing Disney movie, Ratatouille follows a rat (Remy) with dreams of becoming a chef. After meeting just the right person — a garbage boy (Alfredo Linguini) who works at a restaurant run by Remy’s idol, Gusteau. Remy gets to cook, Alfredo hides the secret, chaos ensues.
The Princess and the Frog (2009)
This movie features the first Black princess in a Disney film.Tiana, a New Orleans girl with dreams to open a restaurant, meeting prince Naveen, who has been turned into a frog by an evil guy named Dr. Facilier. Thinking a kiss will reverse the spell, the prince kisses Tiana… turning her into a frog, too. Thus begins a journey to find a voodoo priestess to set things right again.
Tangled (2010)
A take on Rapunzel, Tangled follows the princess as she finds herself locked up in a tower that’s protected by an old witch. Rapunzel’s hair has magic powers that give her eternal youth and the witch uses it for her own good. When Rapunzel gets curious about the outside world, she befriends a prince to help her get out.
Brave (2012)
Princess Merida is a Scottish girl with a head of red hair. Set in the Highlands during the Middle Ages, the princess disobeys a custom causing a curse to her mother. To save her, she must lean on her archery skills — and bravery, as the title suggests — to set things right again.
Frozen (2013)
It’s a lot of people’s worst nightmare: A kingdom trapped in perpetual winter. That’s exactly what Anna is faced with, as she and mountaineer Kristoff set off to find her sister Snow Queen Elsa to break the spell. They come across trolls, harsh weather, a snowman, and a whole lot of magic before saving their kingdom.
Inside Out (2015)
This Disney movie is a bit more abstract than others. The main character may be Riley, an 11-year-old Midwestern girl faced with a big move, but her emotions are manifested into characters. It’s a really touching embodiment of what big life changes feel like.
Zootopia (2016)
Zootopia is a land where animals live together in a society not entirely unlike the one humans live in. When Judy Hopps, a rabbit voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin, joins the police force, she is faced with the big task of enforcing the local law. She gets involved in a mysterious case with a tricky partner: Nick Wilde, a fox voiced by Jason Bateman.
Moana (2016)
While on a sailing mission to save her people, Moana — a teenager — meets a demigod named Maui who helps her overcome monsters and other ocean obstacles. It’s a tale of a teen who finds herself while digging into the ancient history of her ancestors, stumbling into her identity in the process.
Coco (2017)
Miguel is part of a family that has had a generations-old ban on music. The catch? He wants to become a musician. After traveling to the Land of the Dead, he sets off to prove his talent and learns a bunch about his family’s history along the way.
Black Panther (2018)
T’Challa is the king of Wakanda after his father passes away and his position is soon challenged by Killmonger, who is set on kicking off a global revolution. There’s a technological superpower involved and an ancient war among African tribes — if you’re in the mood for some adventure, you’ll find it here.
Encanto (2021)
The Madrigal family lives in the mountains of Colombia, a beautiful and magical place called Encanto. Each child born in the city has a magic gift, except Mirabel for some unexplained reason. But she has her moment when she must fight to save Encanto and all of the magic it comes with.
Turning Red (2022)
Whenever 13-year-old Meilin "Mei" Lee gets excited, she turns into a bright-red panda. Yes, it is a visual vehicle for showcasing the trials of puberty, and yes, it is wildly relatable.
