O, Disney, where would we, as the human race, be without your light-hearted entertainment, animal-clad princesses, charming princes, and anthropomorphic animals? Surely, in some deep gloom, a sunless void, the dark eye of an abyss. In all seriousness, though, without adding much more to the hyperbole at hand, animated Disney films did shape our pop culture a great deal, and 99% of us grew up watching their ingeniously kind-hearted, humorous, and, most importantly, fun animations. That's why we are pretty sure that a list of the best Disney animated movies will forever be relatable and always beloved!
Some of these Disney movies even got nominated as culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant and are forever safeguarded by the Library of Congress! So, by watching one of these animated classics, you just know that you are witnessing a part of our history. Furthermore, the newer additions to the Disney movie library have become real game-changers of animation in their own right, which is equally as important, if you'd ask us! So, from adaptations of old fables and fairy tales to modern and original stories encapsulating our ever-changing times, these Disney cartoons are not just a form of entertainment but also a very important part of our culture.
But, without any more talks, check out our list of the best Disney animated movies of all time! While we are pretty sure you've watched them all already, there's no shame in revisiting your childhood favorites once again. So, don't forget to vote for the iconic movies that changed you forever, and share this deeply nostalgic list with your friends!
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#1 Mulan
1998 | 1 hour 28 minutes | Directed by Tony Bancroft, Barry Cook
Voiced by Ming-Na Wen, Eddie Murphy, BD Wong
Mulan is one of those rare Disney movies that were not based on an existent tale but rather employed an original script. To make it authentic, several artistic supervisors visited various places in China where they found their inspiration for the story of Mulan, a misfit tomboy ready to guard her family's honor at whatever cost. The movie's vibrant characters, impeccable voice acting, and the story itself made Mulan into a hugely successful feature that every '90s kid has watched and loved.
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58points
#2 Aladdin (1992)
1992 | 1 hour 30 minutes | Directed by Ron Clements, John Musker
Voiced by Scott Weinger, Robin Williams, Linda Larkin
Aladdin, an animated musical fantasy comedy, made it into the pages of the history books not only because of its undeniable entertainment value but also by becoming the highest-grossing Disney movie of the time. Based on an Arabic folk tale of the same name from One Thousand And One Nights, the story brings us back to a time when genie-inhabited lamps were a thing and when a street urchin could pretend to be a wealthy prince and marry the beautiful princess in the end. The story is thrilling, the characters are scene-stealing, the music is memorable, and the animation style is impeccable; what's not to love about Aladdin!
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57points
#3 The Lion King (1994)
1994 | 1 hour 28 minutes | Directed by Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff
Voiced by Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, James Earl Jones
Raise your hand if you've not shed a tear while watching this animated musical drama as a kid. If you haven't, then there's probably something very, very wrong with you. In all seriousness, though, however many controversies follow this animated flick, it's still one of the best Disney movies, hands down. From the catchy tunes in the background and the foreground to loveable and diverse characters, The Lion King has all the ingredients to make it a timeless classic.
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56points
#4 Beauty And The Beast (1991)
1991 | 1 hour 24 minutes | Directed by Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise
Voiced by Paige O'Hara, Robby Benson, Jesse Corti
Beauty And The Beast, an animated musical romantic fantasy film, as with most Disney movies, is based on an existent fairy tale. In this case, it's the one by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont, who wrote this Stockholm syndrome exposé way back in 1756. However, if you do not wish to associate Beauty And The Beast with any syndromes, then let's agree that the story is about a love that conquers all, one that doesn't care about the beauty of the outside but rather the beauty within. And while it isn't such a tear-jerker as The Lion King, Beauty And The Beast, however, is probably one of the most elegant and romantic Disney movies.
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55points
#5 Tangled
2010 | 1 hour 40 minutes | Directed by Nathan Greno, Byron Howard
Voiced by Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, Donna Murphy
Tangled is a 3D-computer animated musical adventure comedy film loosely based on the German folk fairy tale Rapunzel collected and published by the Brothers Grimm. The film tells the story of Rapunzel—a young princess with magical blonde hair imprisoned in a tower by her mean stepmother. But when a runaway thief stumbles upon her, she takes the chance to escape and to see the world for the very first time. It's always fun to see a princess story in vivid animated colors, and Tangled does not disappoint!
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54points
#6 The Little Mermaid
1989 | 1 hour 23 minutes | Directed by Ron Clements, John Musker
Voiced by Jodi Benson, Samuel E. Wright, Rene Auberjonois
The Little Mermaid is an animated musical fantasy film based on the 1837 Danish fairytale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen. The film centers around the story of Ariel - a rebellious mermaid princess who's fascinated with life on land. During one of her shore visits, which are strictly forbidden by her father, King Triton, she falls in love with a human prince. For a chance to spend three days as a human and meet him, Ariel makes a deal with an evil witch, Ursula. Unfortunately, the plan goes awry, and now it is King Triton who has to make the ultimate sacrifice for his daughter. The Little Mermaid is crowned as one of the best Disney animations ever, so if you've missed it - check it out now!
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52points
#7 101 Dalmatians
1961 | 1 hour 19 minutes | Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske, Wolfgang Reitherman
Voiced by Rod Taylor, Betty Lou Gerson, J. Pat O'Malley
Although 101 Dalmatians has had plenty of ecranizations throughout the years, the one that we'd like to include in our list is the original Disney animation from 1961. It is based on Dodie Smith's novel The Hundred And One Dalmatians and centers, well, you know it, around Dalmatian puppies. A litter of them is kidnapped by the villainous Cruella de Vil, who wants to turn them into fancy fur coats. The puppies' parents, Pongo and Perdita, set out to rescue their little ones, saving, in addition to their own, 84 more Dalmatian puppies brought from pet stores, bringing the total count to 101. It's a witty, charming, heartwarming animation that proved to be a remarkable success among both the younger and the older audiences.
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52points
#8 Lilo & Stitch
2002 | 1h 25m | Directed by Dean DeBlois and Christopher Sanders
Starring Tia Carrere, Ving Rhames, and Kevin Michael Richardson
Disney's offbeat animated feature begins as a mission of revenge, but it becomes an inspiring story of friendship and family. A Hawaiian orphan girl adopts an unusual pet who is actually a notorious extra-terrestrial fugitive that's taken refuge on Earth and is now hiding from its creator and those who see it as a menace. The famous quote "Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten" brilliantly explains what having a family truly means.
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48points
#9 Lady And The Tramp
1955 | 1 hour 16 minutes | Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske
Voiced by Barbara Luddy, Larry Roberts, Peggy Lee
Lady And The Tramp is an animated musical romance film produced by Walt Disney. And although you might've already known that, you probably didn't know that the movie was based on a 1945 Cosmopolitan magazine story Happy Dan, The Cynical Dog by Ward Greene. The movie centers around a beautiful, odds-defying love story between a pampered American cocker spaniel Lady, who hails from an upper-middle-class family, and a stray mutt called Tramp. When the two of them meet, it's like their romance was written in the stars - if it all starts quite coldly between them, we all know how the story ends! Lady And The Tramp is a delightful fantasy that hasn't lost its charm even after almost 70 years.
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47points
#10 Moana
2016 | 1 hour 47 minutes | Directed by Ron Clements, John Musker, Don Hall
Voiced by Auli'i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House
Moana (also known as Vaiana or Oceania in some markets) is a 3D computer-animated musical adventure film that tells the story of Moana Waialiki. She's a strong-willed daughter of a chief of a Polynesian village who's chosen to reunite a mystical goddess Te Fiti with a lost relic. So she sets sail to find a demigod, Maui, in hopes of finding Te Fiti's relic and saving her people from hunger. And although it is an original story, it is heavily based on various Polynesian myths offering a glimpse into their mythology and culture. Moana is a truly delightful movie praised both by critics and the viewers.
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47points
#11 The Jungle Book
1967 | 1 hour 18 minutes | Directed by Wolfgang Reitherman
Voiced by Phil Harris, Sebastian Cabot, Louis Prima
The Jungle Book is an animated musical comedy film following a story from Rudyard Kipling's 1894 book of the same name. The plot follows Mowgli—a kid accidentally abandoned and left in an Indian jungle. He's raised by wolves there and has wise friends—Bagheera the panther and Baloo the bear—to advise him. They understand that Mowgli has to go back to his kin, especially so before the arrival of human-hating tiger Shere Khan. The Jungle Book is a true Disney classic—uncomplicated, jovial, and absolutely suitable even for the youngest viewers.
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46points
#12 Zootopia
2016 | 1 hour 48 minutes | Directed by Byron Howard, Rich Moore, Jared Bush
Voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba
Zootopia is a computer-animated buddy cop film about anthropomorphic mammals all coexisting in the titular town. In a very unlikely partnership, we have a bunny cop, Judy Hopps, befriending a red fox con artist, Nick Wilde. Now, this dynamic duo will solve a criminal conspiracy involving the disappearance of predators from the town of Zootopia. Zootopia was praised for being a well-rounded animated movie with a thoughtful message and enough laughs to keep the younger audiences entertained. And that's an A+ from us!
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46points
#13 Hercules
1997 | 1 hour 33 minutes | Directed by Ron Clements, John Musker
Voiced by Tate Donovan, Susan Egan, James Woods
Hercules, an animated musical fantasy comedy, is loosely based on the story of the legendary hero Hercules, the son of Zeus in Greek mythology. As we all well know, original Greek myths are most definitely R-rated stories; thus, Hercules, before becoming a kids' animation, had to undergo some treatment. What came out of it is a wonderful, fun, entertaining, and absolutely charming movie!
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46points
#14 Cinderella (1950)
1950 | 1 hour 14 minutes | Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske
Voiced by Ilene Woods, James MacDonald, Eleanor Audley
Cinderella is an animated musical fantasy film based on the fairy tale of the same name by Charles Perrault. We all know the story—Cinderella is a good-hearted girl living with her mean stepmother and three stepsisters. A ball for the prince to meet his wife is announced, but Cinderella has no way of going as her stepmom won't let her. However, the loveable mice Gus and Jaq and her fairy godmother help Cinderella with a makeover and a ticket for the ball. And although the original story then has the three stepsisters chopping off their toes to fit in Cinderella's lost glass slipper, Disney's version is far more beautiful, kid-friendly, and enchanting!
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45points
#15 Robin Hood
1973 | 1 hour 23 minutes | Directed by Wolfgang Retherman, David Hand
Voiced by Brian Bedford, Phil Harris, Roger Miller
Robin Hood is an animated musical adventure comedy film that's based on the English folk tale of the same name with the characters reimagined as anthropomorphic animals. Here the famous swashbuckler and the hero of the poor, Robin Hood, is a red fox. His sidekick, Little John, is a bear, and together with other inhabitants of Sherwood, they try to suppress the rule of greedy Prince John, a lion. Besides being well-animated and highly entertaining, Robin Hood can surely boast about its undeniable wit, one that's intelligent and savory.
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44points
#16 Alice In Wonderland
1951 | 1 hour 15 minutes | Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske
Voiced by Kathryn Beaumont, Ed Wynn, Richard Haydn
Alice In Wonderland is an animated musical fantasy comedy film based on the Alice books by Lewis Carroll. Alice is a daydreamer—she doesn't care much about reading poems and thrives on her own imagination. After such a reading, she sees a white rabbit in the forest one day and decides to follow him. One thing leads to another, and Alice falls into the literal and figurative rabbit hole of weird adventures, extraordinary characters, and character-building events. Although the critics weren't too happy about this adaptation of the iconic books, Alice In Wonderland is nevertheless a through-and-through classic Disney film full of songs, whimsy, and entertainment.
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42points
#17 Wreck-It Ralph
2012 | 1 hour 41 minutes | Directed by Rich Moore
Voiced by John C. Reilly, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch
Wreck-It Ralph is a computer-animated comedy film that tells the story of the eponymous arcade game villain who rebels against his 'bad guy' role. What Wreck-It Ralph truly wants is to be a hero, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he lives. Full of references to the games and pop culture of the olden times, Wreck-It Ralph is a highly entertaining movie for kids and their parents. A rara avis in the world of animated film!
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42points
#18 The Emperor's New Groove
2000 | 1 hour 18 minutes | Directed by Mark Dindal
Voiced by David Spade, John Goodman, Eartha Kitt
The Emperor's New Groove is an animated comedy film with a story set in the Incan empire. It goes like this—a young, self-centered Emperor Kuzco is transformed into a llama by his ex-advisor Yzma and her dim-witted sidekick Kronk. Of course, Kuzco wants to turn back into a human, and for such a quest, he entrusts a village leader, Pacha, to escort him back to the palace before Yzma can finish him off. The Emperor's New Groove was heavily praised for its relentless humor, beautiful animation, and top-notch voice acting. So, if you haven't seen this story of an adventurous llama, you just don't know what you're missing!
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40points
#19 Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs
1937 | 1 hour 23 minutes | Directed by William Cottrell, David Hand, Wilfred Jackson
Voiced by Adriana Caselotti, Harry Stockwell, Lucille La Verne
Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs is an animated musical fantasy film based on the 1812 Brothers Grimm fairy tale. Our main protagonist here is Snow White - a kind-hearted princess capable of charming everyone except her mean stepmother, the Queen. As the magic mirror proclaims Snow White to be the fairest of them all, the Queen banishes her to a dangerous forest only to be warmly taken in by seven dwarf miners into their household. The Queen is still unsatisfied and poisons Snow White with an apple to fall into a deep sleep to be woken up only by true love's kiss. Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs was considered to be a genuine work of art by the critics at the time, so if you haven't seen it already, it's not too late yet!
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38points
