Choose the Top Ten Disney movies? Can it even be done? Can ten animated Disney movies be set aside as the ten best? By any objective standard, it’d be impossible for a person to rank the top ten Disney movies of all time. But in a totally subjective manner, I am going to do so right now, keeping in mind that there are probably hundreds of Disney movies I have never even heard of. But there are my choices. I am rating them on the criteria of quality of story, beauty of animation, quality of songs, historical significance and how much I personally just like ’em.
You sort of have to list the first full length Disney animated movie as your number one. When you think of it though, it’s really a classic: beautiful, suspenseful (scary witch), plenty of songs that kids still hum. Or whistle. It’s a classic.
In the 90s, Disney began releasing what seemed at the time like a non-stop slate of musical films that were crazy successful and included songs that went straight to pop radio. Of those, The Little Mermaid doesn’t have the cartoon gravitas of Lion King or the quick banter of Aladdin. But with its cute calypso songs, its plucky heroine and its timeless “ocean mouse, land mouse” tale, Little Mermaid became an instant classic. And thanks to the marketing genius of Disney, Ariel has become a household name for many families with small kids. A fun, sweet movie.
3. The Lion King
Elton John-Tim Rice ballads power this movie, but you can’t underestimate the fun appeal of songs like Hakuna Matata either. There’s also a serious story here about the journey of Simba, the cub who would be king, and plenty of action and tons of comic relief. Who can’t feel the love for The Lion King?
4. Peter Pan
Georgous animation of Neverland and iconic characters like Tinker Bell and Captain Hook make this a Disney top ten. You also have that classic Victorian era backdrop that you see in some of Disney’s live action movies like Mary Poppins and their version of Pollyanna. And then you have the fantasyland of lost boys (and a few dated and very insensitive racially stereotyped characters, one has to admit…) A good movie for boys and girls, Peter Pan is a movie that’s stayed fresh over the years, just like its title character.
5. Cinderella
Of all the fairy tales Disney retells, this may be the most classic . A good introduction to Disney for the littlest viewers, Cinderella is a gentle story, complete with helpful singing mice, and a rags to riches story that puts a premium on being nice. You don’t quite get the fiestyness you find in contemporary Disney princesses, but you can’t beat that ball gown or that pumpkin coach.
Something of a Cinderella for a slightly older crowd, Sleeping Beauty has three tiny fair godmothers instead of one boisterous one. They’re really the stars of the show. The beauty here could be referring to the animation as much as Briar rose, as the forest scenes and even the scary ending are stunning to look at. And you can’t beat that dance in the woods for romance.
7. Lady And The Tramp
This is an under appreciated film best known for its share-meat-ball-with-nose scene. But with a lovely story, Lady And The Tramp is also elegantly illustrated and includes two endearing star-crossed doggies and thematic accents about finding a home and being yourself. You also get some funny songs and sidekick characters.
Based on the Ruyard Kipling work, this movie boasts some great swing jazz songs like Bare Necessities and I Wanna Be Like You. There’s also some good scary animal villains, like Shere Kahn and Kaa the hypnotizing snake. Baloo is maybe the most fun mentor of all time to Mowgli. There’s a sort of sad ending, but also a good message about taking life in stride.
9. Aladdin & Beauty And The Beast
These two movies are ver different. Aladdin features a frenetic pace, one often maintained by the crazy genie voiced by Robin Williams. There’s great music – including the pop hit Whole New World – a winning romance, magic, and adventure. Total Disney. Beauty and The Beast is a darker, more serious film in some ways- the tragic story of the Beast, the witch hunt at the end, stuff like that. But there’s also talking clocks and clocks, romance galore, and Gaston. These two were, along with The Little Mermaid, classics of the 90s “new wave” of Disney.
10. Mulan
Mulan, the character, doesn’t get the same props as her fairy tale counterparts like Ariel, Jasmine and Cinderella. But while she does get some cool songs and a cool guy, Mulan is the ultimate butt-kicking Disney female. Her story isn’t one of using brute force either, but courage, ingenuity and teamwork . Mulan is an ancient Chinese tale and the Disney movie provides a new generation of viewers with a great heroine.
