They Can’t All Be Blockbusters
When we think of Disney, we think of iconic animation, superhero shenanigans, and oodles of streaming content. But being produced by the House of Mouse doesn’t guarantee that a film will become a cultural touchstone. Read on for some examples of Disney films that were good, but not great.
Dinosaur (2000)
One of Disney’s earliest CGI-driven films, Dinosaur was hyped up on its release for its cutting-edge effects. Computer-animated films have evolved rapidly over the ensuing quarter century, so the film looks a little dated to modern viewers. Telling the tale of an orphaned dinosaur and his adopted lemur family, this forgotten film treads familiar Disney territory.
Condorman (1981)
These days, Disney is well-known for its superhero output, thanks to the acquisition of Marvel Studios in 2012. Condorman was one of the studio’s first forays into superhero films but pales compared to the effects-driven comic book extravaganzas we’ve come to expect.
Home On The Range (2004)
When you think Disney animation, is Judi Dench the first name that comes to mind? You would be forgiven for answering, “No”. But the dame of British film starred in this feature that scores the lowest rating for any Disney animated movie on IMDB. Three cows try to save their ranch and their tale is less than memorable.
Walt Disney, Home On The Range (2004)
The Watcher In The Woods (1980)
This creepy film is notorious for having been pulled from theaters 10 days before its world premiere to undergo reshoots. Although it stars screen legend Bette Davis, the film has fallen out of view, with no wide-scale home media release and no presence on Disney+.
Walt Disney, The Watcher In The Woods (1980)
Brother Bear (2003)
Featuring a cast led by critically acclaimed actor Joaquin Phoenix, Brother Bear tells a tale of revenge and emotional growth after a fatal bear attack. Perhaps the mature and deep themes of this animated feature kept it from attaining the same heights as other Disney films. This is a hidden gem in the Disney catalog that’s worth checking out.
Walt Disney, Brother Bear (2003)
Dragonslayer (1981)
This tale of an unlikely hero and a dragon was meant to be a big deal on its first release. It likely languishes in the forgotten films of the Disney catalog because its special effects leave it looking a little dated. However, it’s now a cult classic for those who want to investigate Disney’s early ‘80s foray into live-action features.
Walt Disney, Dragonslayer (1981)
Strange World (2022)
Many films fall into obscurity these days not because they’re bad, but because they were poorly promoted. Such is the case with Strange World, a smart, fun tale of explorers that was a box office failure. Despite being only two years old, few have heard of this recent Disney film.
Walt Disney, Strange World (2022)
The Black Cauldron (1985)
Adapted from Lloyd Alexander’s novel series based on Welsh mythology, The Black Cauldron boasts a classic Disney animation look. It, unfortunately, failed at the box office, which has led it to being mostly ignored by Disney, though villain The Horned King made a brief appearance in a Disneyland Tokyo attraction.
Walt Disney, The Black Cauldron (1985)
Darby O’Gill And The Little People (1959)
The presence of a young Sean Connery hasn’t kept this old Disney film about a man’s adventures with the King of the Leprechauns from falling into obscurity. Despite an intriguing premise, the film is probably a bit too politically incorrect for it to be a hit with contemporary viewers.
Walt Disney, Darby O’Gill And The Little People (1959)
Meet The Robinsons (2007)
This whimsical and heartfelt time-travel adventure seems to have all the hallmarks of a Disney hit, but never really made any waves in the crowded waters of animated features. Celebrating the love and strangeness of family, Meet the Robinsons is an underrated entry in Disney’s animated catalog.
Walt Disney, Meet The Robinsons (2007)
Hercules (1997)
There may be some argument as to whether or not this is a “forgotten” Disney film. While many viewers hold fond memories of the film, it did not perform well at the box office on its release. Considering the films that had come before it, this made Hercules a disappointment for the Disney company.
Chip’n’Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022)
If you were a fan of the acclaimed television series from the late ‘80s, you probably loved seeing the two rascally chipmunks returning to the screen as comedic action heroes. But waiting 30 years to make a sequel to a short-lived cartoon may have doomed this movie from the beginning. That said, the Rescue Rangers film is a smart one, and worth a viewing.
Walt Disney, Chip’n’Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022)
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (2010)
This film is not quite based on the iconic section of Disney’s Fantasia and suffers for it. Despite big-name stars, including the inimitable Nicholas Cage, the film failed to take off on release and has gone down as one of the bigger failures in the Disney catalog of the 21st century.
Walt Disney, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (2010)
Tomorrowland (2015)
Another example of big-name stars not necessarily guaranteeing success, Tomorrowland featured George Clooney in a tepid and forgettable story. A couple of precocious kids happen upon another dimension and chaos ensues, but audiences and critics did not respond with the curiosity and enthusiasm of the film’s young stars.
Walt Disney, Tomorrowland (2015)
Melody Time (1948)
An anthology of shorts based on the music of the 1940s, Melody Time was released between Bambi and Cinderella and probably suffers as a result. Some of the segments are still well-known and regarded, including “Johnny Appleseed” and “Pecos Bill,” but the film was never as popular as Disney’s other iconic musical anthology, Fantasia.
Walt Disney, Melody Time (1948)
Oliver & Company (1988)
Some films on this list suffer from not being remembered or promoted by the company that owns them. This canine-driven retelling of Charles Dickens’s Oliver Twist is one of them. Although it features classic 2D animation and multiple songs, it’s now a much-overlooked entry in Disney’s IPs.
Walt Disney, Oliver & Company (1988)
Oz: The Great And Powerful (2013)
Despite the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it sometimes seems that Disney should stick to animated films. Their live-action ones never seem to make a real splash. Directed by superstar director Sam Raimi, this prequel to The Wizard of Oz may have looked flashy but suffered from a story that left audiences and critics cold.
Walt Disney, Oz: The Great And Powerful (2013)
Treasure Planet (2002)
A science fiction retelling of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, this film blends the pirate aesthetic with futuristic tech in a tale of the search for a lost treasure. Considered to be one of the better Disney releases of the early 2000s, the film gets little attention outside of a dedicated group of fans.
Walt Disney, Treasure Planet (2002)
Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book (1994)
One of the earliest live-action remakes of a classic Disney movie, this film featured Jason Scott Lee as Mowgli, and actual animals instead of the computer-generated beasts we saw in the more recent remake. More drama and less singing sadly did not resonate with audiences.
Walt Disney, Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book (1994)
Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
The early 2000s were a strange time for animated films. Many studios were attempting to transition to 3D computer-animated films, and the public was far more interested in the cutting-edge than traditional 2D animation. Atlantis suffered from this at the box office, though it is thought to be one of the better films from this era of Disney.
Walt Disney, Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
G-Force (2009)
A live-action/CGI mix featuring heroic spy guinea pigs sounds like a recipe for success! Mix in Nic Cage and Penelope Cruz, and it’s amazing that this film didn’t do much better than it did. But G-Force was widely criticized for having an intriguing concept but a poor execution. Critics called it unfunny and mindless.
Return To Oz (1981)
A direct follow-up to the beloved Wizard of Oz, this film has its fans but was just a bit too dark to capture the magic and popularity of the original. In the wake of her adventure in Oz, Dorothy has been institutionalized, and is only returned to Oz when the hospital is struck by lightning while she is undergoing electro-shock therapy!
Walt Disney, Return to Oz (1985)
John Carter (2012)
Just because something flops at the box office doesn’t mean it’s necessarily a bad film. John Carter, an adaptation of the novel A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs, is a dynamic and captivating science fiction film that just somehow fell between the cracks. Genre fans owe it to themselves to give this underrated movie a look.
Walt Disney, John Carter (2012)
Old Dogs (2009)
5% on Rotten Tomatoes. What more do you need to know? Despite the star power of Robin Williams and John Travolta, a poor script doomed this tale of two business partners who are forced to become caregivers to seven-year-old twins.
Tom & Huck (1995)
Honestly, maybe Disney needs to rethink making adaptations of classic literature. Jonathan Taylor Thomas (JTT to his fans) starred in this Mark Twain adaptation that went nowhere at the box office and has been virtually forgotten by Disney. Twain’s works deal with difficult subject matter that may not have suited Disney’s family-friendly films.
Walt Disney, Tom & Huck (1995)
Bolt (2008)
Another Disney property that has inexplicably fallen into obscurity, this tale of a canine actor who believes he really has superpowers featured John Travolta and Miley Cyrus and was praised by critics on its release. Maybe some films just need a few years—or decades—to find the right audience.
Fun And Fancy Free (1947)
Although they boast the same quality and star power as feature-length pieces, Disney’s early anthology films just aren’t as memorable as works like Snow White or Alice In Wonderland. Fun and Fancy Free features a retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk starring Mickey, Donald, and Goofy, and is worth a watch for animation fans.
Walt Disney, Fun And Fancy Free (1947)
Bedtime Stories (2008)
The lack of attention paid to this film might have something to do with Adam Sandler being an unlikely Disney star. Better known for his more adult-themed humor, Sandler’s presence as a story-reading handyman may have put audiences off. Really, though, it’s definitely not the worst film Sandler has been involved with.
Walt Disney, Bedtime Stories (2008)
The Country Bears (2002)
Based on a Disney theme park attraction, it could be that the failure of this movie can be attributed to the uncanny valley appearance of the live-action bears. The Country Bear Jamboree is hardly one of the better-known Disney attractions, and critics and audiences alike were left wondering why this film was even made.
Walt Disney, The Country Bears (2002)
Return To Neverland (2002)
Did the Disney classic Peter Pan really need a sequel, 50 years after the original was released? Response to this early 2000s animated feature seems to point to the answer being a resounding “No!” Unlike the original, this film has not remained in the collective consciousness, despite doing moderately well on its release.
Walt Disney, Return To Neverland (2002)
The Wild (2006)
Often considered to be a knock-off of the much more successful Madagascar, Disney’s The Wild is less funny and less technically adept than the Dreamworks hit. The tale of a zoo lion who is accidentally shipped to Africa, you’d be forgiven for even knowing this film exists given the continued success of Madagascar.
Sky High (2005)
Disney has always dabbled in the superhero genre yet only achieved record-breaking success with the films of the MCU. Set in a school for teens with superpowers, Sky High follows William as he navigates being a kid and being a super. Worth a watch for fans of the genre, and of original Wonder Woman actor Lynda Carter, who plays Sky High’s principal.
Ice Princess (2005)
This tale of a young woman caught between dreams of skating and the desires of her mother seems like it should be better known than it is. Kim Cattrall and Michelle Trachtenberg head up the cast of this endearing film, though perhaps it’s a bit too harmless to have really made an impact on viewers.
Walt Disney, Ice Princess (2005)
Teacher’s Pet (2004)
This feature film based on the Disney television series of the same name does not look like a Disney animated film. The movie tells the tale of a dog who wants to become a human in a quirky style that sets it apart from most Disney animated features. Definitely worth a look for those who like to see Disney stretch itself a bit in film.
Walt Disney, Teacher’s Pet (2004)
A Goofy Movie (1995)
A film about the relationship between a father and son, A Goofy Movie is also a showcase for one of Mickey and Donald’s oldest friends. Though not the best-known film in the Disney catalog, A Goofy Movie features humor, songs, and a whole lot of heart, as well as Goofy’s signature chaotic approach to life and the world.
Walt Disney, A Goofy Movie (1995)
Chicken Little (2005)
Some films are huge for just a moment and then fade away. Such is the case of Chicken Little, based on the folk tale of Henny Penny, the chicken who thought the sky was falling. An alien invasion proves Chicken Little right and propels the action of the film, but critics were cool to this movie, and it has fallen into obscurity 20 years later.
Walt Disney, Chicken Little (2005)
My Favorite Martian (1999)
It’s hard to say who this film was meant for. The original 1960s television series was a hit, but perhaps the concept just didn’t hit with audiences who were far more accustomed to tales of aliens and outer space. Critically lambasted, the film is a mostly forgotten part of ‘90s Disney cinema.
Walt Disney, My Favorite Martian (1999)
The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1996)
An attempt to continue the success of Disney adaptations like The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast, The Hunchback of Notre Dame never quite reached the iconic status of those films. This tale of deformity and prejudice might have just been too dark for it to rank among Disney’s most beloved films but is still a beautiful and intriguing watch.
Walt Disney, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1996)
Robin Hood (1973)
There are those who love this film and the wonderful romance between foxes Robin and Marian. Despite having a solid story, critics note that the animation is lazy in places, recycling bits and pieces throughout the film. That said, rumors have swirled of a live-action remake since 2020.
