Though Disney is known for its pretty and poignant animated features, not every film can be a success.
The 2000s were especially filled with strong releases like The Incredibles, The Emperor’s New Groove, and Lilo & Stitch. For every great movie, however, there is one that isn’t so great. Because we already looked at the best, we decided it was time to look at the lowest-rated animated Disney films to be released between 2000 and 2009. To do this, we’ll be turning to the scores on IMDb.
The popular entertainment website has assigned every Disney movie a rating based on the votes of registered users on a scale of 1 to 10. This is what we’ll be using to stack it all up.
With the logistics out of the way, it’s time to hit rewind and head to the theaters. Here are the worst animated Walt Disney Pictures films of the 2000s, according to IMDb.
Pooh’s Heffalump Movie (2005) - 6.4
This 2005 musical comedy was the third adaption of Winnie the Pooh by Disneytoon Studios. Unfortunately, none of the adaptions fared well with audiences.
In Pooh’s Heffalump Movie, the gang sets out to trap a scary Heffalump. Meanwhile, Roo befriends the creature that the Hundred Acres Woods residents are so fearful of. It’s up to the young kangaroo to restore the peace.
The film received positive critical reviews, and though many general audiences liked it, some felt that the story had become overrun with bright colors and punchy characters that distracted from the simple charm of early Pooh stories.
The Tigger Movie (2000) - 6.3
This Pooh adaption saw Tigger interrupting the gang’s attempt to find a place for Eeyore to live. Though Tigger is confident he is the only one of his kind, he soon sets out on a journey to track down his relatives.
The movie was fun and sweet, but the songs were weak and yet again, critics thought the movie might impress younger audiences but disappoint longtime viewers.
Piglet’s Big Movie (2003) - 6.1
The last Pooh movie to make this list, Piglet’s Big Movie, has the titular character setting out on an adventure to prove that he’s more than just the tiniest of the bunch. After realizing he’s gone missing, however, the rest of the animals decide to search him out.
Most viewers found that the movie failed to stand out among the earlier Winnie the Pooh classics. Though it was cute, it felt largely unnecessary and unimaginative. While it entered theaters, it felt like more of a small screen addition than a big screen necessity.
Peter Pan 2: Return To Never Land (2002) - 5.8
The sequel to Peter Pan had Captain Hook mistakenly taking Wendy’s headstrong daughter Jane to Neverland during World War II. Though the boy who wouldn’t grow up comes to her rescue, she soon learns that she will be trapped in Neverland forever unless she believes in magic. Unfortunately for Peter and the lost boys, she’s not easy to convince.
Though the film was successful at the box office, its worn-out story and short runtime made viewers feel like something was missing.
Teacher’s Pet (2004) - 5.8
This musical comedy film continued the 2000s television series of the same name on the big screen.
Spot, a dog who wishes he could become a human, thinks he’s found a way to make his dream come true after he sees a commercial on TV advertising this possibility. After being turned into a man instead of a boy, however, Spot realizes that his goal is in need of some readjusting.
Though the quirky story received decent audience reviews, moviegoers pointed out that the film was best suited for those who were familiar with the television show. That being said, the plot holes and busyness of the film was a turn-off to some.
Chicken Little (2005) - 5.7
The sky is falling! And yes, the film in which this happens also fell hard.
Chicken Little tells of the titular character who is hit by a piece of a UFO that has dropped from space. Though he is an outcast on the baseball team, Chicken Little must find a way to gain the respect of the town before it becomes inhabited by aliens.
The film was fairly successful at the box office, but reviewers were not as generous. Though the film was bright and energetic, its storyline was bland, its voice cast was forgettable, and its humor was trying too hard.
Valiant (2005) - 5.5
This 2005 adventure-comedy tells of a pigeon who hopes to help out with the war effort during World War II. His mission: to rescue a messenger bird who has been captured by the Nazis.
Though not every critic’s review came in negative, there were a lot that did. Though the voice cast was praised, the pop culture humor felt uncharacteristic for a Disney film. Additionally, the story felt dry compared to the studio’s more imaginative efforts of the past.
The Jungle Book 2 (2003) - 5.4
Though the original Jungle Book received high reviews, its theatrical sequel was not as applauded.
The Jungle Book 2 saw Mowgli itching to sneak back into the jungle and visit his friends while growing up among the people in the village. After Mowgli decides to do just that, his sister Shanti decides to chase after him. With the evil tiger Shere Khan setting out to capture the boy, however, Mowgli’s adventure through the trees doesn’t end as well as he expects.
The film was originally designed as a direct-to-video installment, and it showed. Critics felt that the overall quality of the film, from the animation to the script, was far too weak for theaters.
Home On The Range (2004) - 5.3
The first of Disney’s two films to receive a low score of 5.3 is Home on the Range. This 2004 Western comedy focuses on a group of dairy cows who team together with the other farm animals to save their soon-to-be-foreclosed farm. Their plan: to collect the ransom of an outlawed cattle rustler.
The film received mixed reviews. While the entertaining visuals might capture the attention of younger audiences, the bland plot failed to hold seasoned viewers’ interests. The comedic writing additionally received its fair share of criticism.
The Wild (2006) - 5.3
The second 5.3-rated animated Disney feature from the 2000s is The Wild. This computer-animated comedy tells of a Central Park Zoo lion who accidentally takes a trip to Africa. It’s up to his father and a few of his friends to hunt down his son and get back to civilization.
The adventure received bad reviews for featuring poorly animated characters that fell into the uncanny valley. The unoriginal plot, which was eerily similar to that of DreamWorks’ Madagascar, also failed to impress critics.
