Disney Plus is allowing people to go through their archive. So while you can watch old superhero films, animated classics and Star Wars movies, there’s also a number of hidden gems that you may not have ever come across before.
Of course, there are some amazing films available from Disney and some really terrible ones. Rotten Tomatoes is brilliant at finding out what the critics love and hate, so here’s some of the 5 best and 5 worst Disney films according to the review site (excluding Marvel, FOX, Pixar and LucasFilm).
WORST: CINDERELLA II: DREAMS COME TRUE: 11%
The original Cinderella is of course an absolute classic and has managed to adapt one of the most famous fairy tales in the world. It was one of Disney’s earliest animated adventures and has really put the studio and its brand on the map.
The early 2000s saw many different animated classics receive sub par sequels. In fact the first couple of films reflect that. With 11% on the site, the multiple stories of the happy endings of these characters was a terrible follow up to such a great first movie.
BEST: 101 DALMATIANS: 98%
We’re going to be seeing an origin story in live action very soon for this famous Dalmation killing villain, but the original movie stands up today as one of the golden classics of the Walt Disney animation department.
The story is a simple one but it’s also one that has resonated throughout time. It’s a much needed success for Disney for that period and they’ve got a 98% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes which of course gives them a fresh certification.
WORST: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: THE ENCHANTED CHRISTMAS: 13%
The Beauty and the Beast mythos was recently revived with a live action film that managed to win over critics overall. Nothing can beat the original animated version though which is still a beloved film amongst fans and those reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.
However, this also received a sequel, this time with a Christmas twist. Like our first inclusion in this list, it was featuring a couple of different stories throughout and the direct to DVD movie certainly would not have performed well in cinemas, at 13% on RT.
BEST: DUMBO: 98%
We’ve also seen a live action version of Dumbo very recently but that did less well on the RT website. The original film is a story about a young elephant with huge ears. An outcast and an animal experiencing cruelty, this ends up being an inspirational story.
While there’s a few elements in this old film that are slightly controversial, the film is actually very brisk and extremely heart warming. The film has 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and its longevity showcases its power amongst viewers.
WORST: ALADDIN AND THE KIND OF THIEVES: 27%
The final sequel of an animated film on this list continued to showcase why direct to DVD versions of these characters just don’t work. Like the first two on the list, this film lacked any of the character and charm that the original Aladdin mustered.
A live action film has shown that they could have developed upon that world slightly and we hope that we see a sequel to that film that doesn’t play off of what we saw in this animated version. The film garnered a measly 27%.
BEST: SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS: 98%
Speaking of longevity it makes sense that Snow White is high on this list because it was the first full length feature animated film that Walt Disney ever produced. The story of a young girl and the many dwarfs is one that’s replayed constantly.
This is a film that has also come under fire for the lack of consent surrounding that famous kiss. However, the princess is a beloved member of the Disney family and the film itself currently holds a fresh 98% on the site we are discussing.
WORST: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: A DEAD MAN TELLS NO TALES: 30%
We’re onto some of the blockbuster franchises now and unfortunately the final film in the Pirates brand definitely didn’t go as Disney execs would have hoped. It seems that fans are really over Captain Jack Sparrow with the movie really financially under-performing.
With 30% on Rotten Tomatoes it’s obvious that critics weren’t loving the action adventure either. The film was not necessary for the overall story and it’s a shame that this franchise has been dragged out for so long. We now may be looking at a female led reboot though.
BEST: THE MANY ADVENTURES OF WINNIE THE POOH: 100%
This film really is about the many adventures as it contains a number of different stories linked together by the amazing character that is Pooh Bear. Critics have suggested that this is the most faithful adaptation of the source material you will ever see.
It uses the animation style that we also see in the TV series and the quality of the story telling is second to none. It holds a rare 100% on Rotten Tomatoes because how can you really criticise such an amazing film.
WORST: THE LONE RANGER: 31%
The final part of the worst section of this list is also part of a recent flop involving Johnny Depp. The reboot of the classic western adventurer was not the massive success that Disney was trying to achieve, considering they wanted this to be their next big franchise.
The film was convoluted and audiences didn’t exactly have fun with it. The critics agreed with this assessment and labelled the film with a 31% on the aggregate system. This has completely killed this franchise so we won’t be seeing anymore Lone Rangers in the old west anytime soon.
BEST: PINOCCHIO: 100%
The story about a wooden toy that wants to become a real boy has been a classic in the Disney archive since it’s very inception. It is by far one of the best Disney films ever created and represents everything that the company wants to portray about their films.
In fact, the Disney theme is taken directly from this film, the song ‘When you wish upon a star’ usually playing as a jingle as the brand logo plays. The film also has 100% on the website and it’s something that every generation has to watch.
