Disneyis one of the biggest studios in the world. It is home to classic animated films from both Walt Disney Animation and Pixar. It has created timeless live-action classics likeMary PoppinsandPirates of the Caribbean,and now, with recent acquisitions, it has both the MCU,Star Wars, andIndiana Jonesunder its belt. The company recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, which culminated in the release ofWish.
Disney films tend to stick in the pop culture zeitgeist and are passed down by parents to their children. Thanksto theme parks, certain films and properties remain always in the public consciousness. Yet for a studio as big as Disney, that also means they have released plenty of films that get lost in the cracks. Some bomb at the box office, while some do decent and are just forgotten about in terms of the company’s wider output. With that in mind, take a look at Disney’s most underrated films.
Update June 09, 2025: This article has bee updated with even more great underrated Disney films that are worth checking out, as well as an update on a film that was almost taken off Disney+ and lost forever.
16Treasure Planet (2002)
Treasure Planetis the most underrated movie on this list. Full of colorful animation,Treasure Planetfollows young Jim Hawkins on his quest to find the elusive Treasure Planet. Backed with an all-star cast ofJoseph Gordon-Levittas Jim Hawkins, Emma Thompson as the daring Captain Amelia, Martin Short as the forgetful robot B.E.N, and David Hyde Pierce as the clumsy Doctor Doppler,Treasure Planetmixed action, comedy, and adventure together to make a perfect movie.
Related:12 Disney Characters You Completely Forgot About
Why It’s Underrated
Treasure Planetis loosely based on the novelTreasure Islandby Robert Louis Stevenson, but this time, it is drastically reworked in a sci-fi story. This film was truly innovative for its time as it introduced a process called Virtual Scenarios, where a 360-degree environment was generated for the animated character to interact. With this process, the film took 10 years to complete. Despite having flopped in theaters,Treasure Planetwas nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Feature and has since gone on to acquire a new appreciation from audiences.
15John Carter (2012)
John Carter
The live-action adaptation of the Edgar Rice Burroughs book series was notable for being one of the biggest flops of all time. Yet for audiences that saw it, it delivered an old-school pulpy science fiction epic that harkened back to the good old days of adventure serials. The story of a man lost from his Earth and finds himself on Mars and caught in the middle of a giant planetary war, and featured a dynamic ensemble cast led by Taylor Kitsch, Mark Strong, and Willem Dafoe.
John Carterperfectly captures the tone and spirit of old adventure stories that inspired many projects likeStar WarsandIndiana Jones, yet by extension,John Carterseemed derivative of those to audiences at the time. Though the box office receipts may not reflect it (heavily due to poor marketing), the exciting flick transported moviegoers to a wondrous world and touted stunning visuals and charismatic performances, and it truly did not deserve the hate it received upon its initial release.
14Oliver & Company (1988)
A wholesome retelling of theCharles Dickens classic,Oliver & Companycenters on the titular orphaned kitten as he takes to the streets of New York City in search of a new home, where he meets the cool and carefree pooch Dodger and other quirky members of Fagin’s thieving dog gang. When Oliver is adopted by the kind-hearted and wealthy Jenny, he must fight to keep his peaceful and comfortable new life when a cruel loan shark causes trouble for the feline.
Music legend Billy Joel famously voiced the cocky and street-savvy canine Dodger, performing the toe-tapping tune “Why Should I Worry?” while his equally revered co-star Bette Midler belted out the song “Perfect Isn’t Easy” as the poodle Georgette in the exciting flick.Oliver & Companyis a fun and playful take on the Dickens tale and provides heartwarming entertainment for children of all ages.
13Cool Runnings (1993)
Cool Runnings
Undeniably one of Disney’s often forgotten but nonetheless exceptional ’90s films was hands down the sports comedyCool Runnings, which was inspired by the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in which Jamaica’s national bobsled team famously participated in the prestigious event for the first time and emerged as major underdogs. The ‘93 film adopts a similar premise and features thelate and great John Candyas a former Olympic champion who coaches a novice Jamaican bobsled team and pushes them to make it into the celebrated competition.
Cool Runningsis a wholesome and deeply moving film that beautifully blends humor with a heartfelt message, while celebrating the world of sports and leaving audiences feeling uplifted and inspired. Candy is unsurprisingly fantastic as the team’s disillusioned-yet-determined coach, and he winningly plays off his costars like Leon Robinson and Doug E. Doug with an effortless ease, helping make it both a critical and commercial triumph.
12James and the Giant Peach (1996)
From the creative and off-the-wall mind of director Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas) comes the criminally underappreciated stop-motion animated fantasyJames and the Giant Peach, a wondrousretelling of the Roald Dahl staplethat focuses on the young orphaned boy James as he is sent to live with his cold and unkind aunts after tragically losing his parents. When he stumbles upon a massive and magical peach, James meets a slew of unforgettable talking insects who take him on an adventure of a lifetime.
Despite earning appreciation for its whimsical visuals and engrossing story,James and the Giant Peachfailed to make a splash at the box office though it did receive seven Annie Award nominations as well as an Oscars’ nod. Dahl’s widowLiccy was thoroughly impressedby the big screen adaptation, declaring at the time that she thought her late husband “would have been delighted with what they did withJames. It is a wonderful film.” Thanks to the overwhelming success of streaming,James and the Giant Peachhas been able to reach new audiences and amass some much-deserved popularity.
11The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
The Great Mouse Detective
The Great Mouse Detectiveis a unique take on Sherlock Holmes, as young mouse Olivia seeks Basil, the famous mouse detective, so he can investigate her father’s kidnapping. The kidnapping was done by Ratigan, Basil’s nemesis, who took Olivia’s father so that he can create a robotic replica of the queen mouse and use it to rule the other mice.
The plot is silly, but it has great characters with brilliant voice performances, including Vincent Price as Ratigan. It’s fun to see classic Holmes elements on a small scale, featuring mice instead of people. Released when Disney was at a low point in the 1980s, its success was a huge turning point for the company, and though it has never met huge popularity, it’s definitely worth a watch. It also was the feature debut of Ron Clements and John Musker, two directors who would have a hand in some of Disney’s biggest films, includingThe Little Mermaid,Aladdin, andMoana.
10The Sword in the Stone (1963)
Considered one ofthe best King Arthur adaptations,The Sword in the Stoneis Disney’s take on the classic myth. Led by the eccentric wizard Merlin, young Arthur is tutored in various subjects that Merlin knows will help Arthur when he eventually becomes King. Through Merlin’s magic, the two transform into fish, squirrels, and birds, before Arthur triumphantly pulls the sword from the stone and is crowned King.
The colorful visuals are excellent and embrace the magic, like Merlin’s dishes putting themselves away. It may not be as deep as some other Disney movies, but it’s classic, silly fun with great designs and a memorable character in Merlin. A live-action remake ofThe Sword in the Stoneis currently in production and will be directed by Michael Matthews (Love and Monsters) after Ridley Scott was forced to back out over scheduling conflicts, though no cast or release date has been announced.
9Christopher Robin (2018)
Christopher Robin
During Disney’s recent boom of live-action remakes, one that seems to have gotten lost in the discussion isChristopher Robin. The movie is not quite a remake but a live-action continuation ofThe Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. It did decent at the box office but did not light up the market the way films likeAlice in Wonderland,Aladdin, andThe Lion Kingdid.
The film is one of the best in the live-action reimaginings as it goes for a quieter, softer, and more sincere approach to the material. Ewan McGregor shines as the grown-up eponymous character, who is reunited with his beloved childhood pal Winnie the Pooh and his other Hundred Acre Wood friends and goes on the ultimate soul-searching journey.Christopher Robinis a perfect addition to the Winnie the Pooh legacy and will leave audiences feeling a pleasant rush of nostalgia and warmth.
8Brother Bear (2003)
Brother Bear
People turning into animals is a common theme in Disney movies, butBrother Beardoes it a little differently. In the engrossing movie, Alaskan boy Kenai kills a mother bear that he blames for his brother’s death. The Great Spirits then turn Kenai into a bear, where he bonds with Koda, the bear cub left behind after the mother’s death.
The colorful animation is impressive and downright jaw-dropping, bringing the Alaska wilderness to life in stunning ways. This tale of appreciating nature and growing up concludes with a different and mature ending, where Kenai chooses to stay a bear to take care of Koda after his own mistake. It’s a deep and wondrous journey of humanity and nature.
7Meet the Robinsons (2007)
Meet the Robinsons
One of the few science fiction-based Disney films,Meet the Robinsonstakes on topics of adoption, depression, and time travel in a lighthearted way. Audiences know Disney is not afraid to kill off one or two of the main character’s parents, but in this film, the Disney team refreshingly allowed viewers to see the character go through the hardships of adoption.
Meet the Robinsonsfollows 12-year-old amateur inventor Lewis, a guy with a robotic bowler hat, and a kid named Wilbur, who is from the future. Lewis and Wilbur team up together to spoil the Bowler hat guy’s scheme and save the future.Meet the Robinsonsis a witty movie that isboth funny and thought-provoking. The dry sense of humor character of Goob helps make the movie better too—who else doesn’t want to leave their bed most days?
