The 36 Best Animated Disney Movies Ever

When it comes to the medium of animation, one name stands boldly and brightly above all others: Walt Disney Animation Studios. Ever since "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" was released in 1937, the studio has remained at the forefront of animation, whether it be traditionally hand-drawn or CGI animation. Though the studio has struggled throughout its many decades, it always manages to come out on top. It's hard to quickly summarize what makes a classic Disney film, but you can always count on a combination of beautiful animation, impactful characters, and memorable songs.

What then, makes for the very best Disney movies? There's no special formula to figure it all out, but we're going to try. These films have characters you'll always remember, songs you listen to over and over again, and some are massively underrated classics you'll be discovering for the first time. Here are the 36 best animated Disney movies ever.

"I can show you the world," Aladdin sings to Jasmine, and we believe it. "Aladdin" is a spectacular romp and a fantastic action-adventure movie. The film follows a commoner who gets embroiled in a scheme to obtain a magic lamp that contains a genie with unlimited power who will change his life forever. The film is a constant joy, largely thanks to the magnificent Robin Williams, who helped make the Genie one of the greatest characters in Disney's history. Throw in a dastardly villain and wonderful songs from Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, and you have one of the finest Disney films.

• Starring: Robin Williams, Scott Wenger, Linda Larkin

• Director(s): Ron Clements, John Musker

• Year: 1992

• Runtime: 90 minutes

• Rating: G

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%

An extraordinary coming-of-age story, "Bambi" follows a young deer growing up in the forest alongside his friends, Flower the skunk and Thumper the rabbit. Thanks to extraordinary artistry from people like lead illustrator Tyrus Wong, "Bambi" is one of the most visually sumptuous animated films ever made. It's every bit as heartwarming as it is devastating, and while it is largely remembered for its soul-crushing death sequence, the movie is a powerful story of bravery, resilience, and figuring out who you are. "Bambi" is Disney animation at its finest: bold, visionary, unexpected, memorable songs, great characters, and an unforgettable story.

• Starring: Hardie Albright, Stan Alexander, Peter Behn

• Director(s): David Hand

• Year: 1942

• Runtime: 70 minutes

• Rating: G

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%

The ultimate rags to riches fairytale, "Cinderella" finds a young woman transforming from an overworked and poorly treated servant into an elegant princess. Working off concept art from the tremendous talent of Mary Blair, the film is full of incredible details. Just watch the astonishing "Sing Sweet Nightingale" scene. It's also one of the most visually luscious films the studio has ever made. Cinderella is also a deeply underrated character and is far from the passive woman many imagine her to be. The story has been told countless times over the last century, but it's never been done better than in Disney's animated iteration.

• Starring: Eleanor Audley, Ilene Woods, Verna Felton

• Director(s): Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske

• Year: 1950

• Runtime: 74 minutes

• Rating: G

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%

Disney's 2000 classic, "The Emperor's New Groove," has an unbelievable history, and it's something of a miracle that it even exists. It's an even bigger miracle that the film ended up being sensational. Beat for beat, it may just be Disney's funniest movie, with an ingenious script that has as much fun making fun of itself as it does telling an engaging story. The adventure of Kuzco, a spoiled Emperor who is transformed into a llama and seeks to reclaim his spot on the throne with the help of villager Pacha, is wonderfully off-kilter. "The Emperor's New Groove" may have the single best villain-henchman duo in Yzma and Kuzco, and if you like your films with their tongue planted firmly in cheek, this is the one for you.

• Starring: David Spade, John Goodman, Eartha Kitt

• Director(s): Mark Dindal

• Year: 2000

• Runtime: 79 minutes

• Rating: G

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86%

While not technically a sequel, "Fantasia 2000" is a sort of spiritual successor to the original "Fantasia" and even includes the original's most famous sequence, "The Sorcerer's Apprentice." That said, there's no requirement to watch the original (though you should), as "Fantasia 2000" is another beautiful celebration of classical music, and it features some of Disney's most visually adventurous work. "The Firebird Suite" is the definition of jaw-dropping, while Eric Goldberg's exquisite "Rhapsody in Blue" is truly the cream of the very rich crop.

• Starring: Steve Martin, Itzhak Perlman, Bette Midler

• Director(s): James Algar, Gaëtan Brizzi, Paul Brizzi, Hendel Butoy, Francis Glebas, Eric Goldberg, Don Hahn, Pixote Hunt

• Year: 1999

• Runtime: 75 minutes

• Rating: G

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 81%

The very definition of underappreciated, "The Great Mouse Detective" marked the directorial debut of Disney legends Ron Clements and John Musker. Inspired by fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, the movie finds mouse detective Basil of Baker Street taking up a peculiar case of a missing mouse, which sets him on a collision course with his sworn enemy, Professor Ratigan. The film is a delicious crime caper, featuring a hugely committed Vincent Price, who makes the debonair villain Ratigan come to life with the terrific musical number "The World's Greatest Criminal Mind.

• Starring: Vincent Price, Barrie Ingham, Val Bettin

• Director(s): Ron Clements, John Musker

• Year: 1986

• Runtime: 80 minutes

• Rating: G

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 80%

A charming slice of classic Americana, "Lady and the Tramp" is a romantic and sensitive look at the world of dogs. Lady is a Cocker Spaniel who has an adoring, loving family — until they have a baby, and Lady finds herself no longer the apple of her people's eyes. Through no fault of her own, Lady finds herself out on the streets, and there she meets the scruffy and charming Tramp, who shows her the life of a street dog. The two end up falling for each other, and part of their courtship includes one of Disney's most iconic moments involving an Italian restaurant, a plate of spaghetti, and the song "Bella Notte."

• Starring: Barbara Luddy, Larry Roberts, Peggy Lee

• Director(s): Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske

• Year: 1955

• Runtime: 75 minutes

• Rating: G

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%

Earning just under $1 billion at the global box office, 1994's "The Lion King" is the highest-grossing hand-drawn animation ever (not adjusting for inflation). It boasts incredible animation, great characters, and the most heartbreaking scene in a Disney film since 1942's "Bambi." Hans Zimmer's epic score complements the equally epic story, which follows a young lion forced to flee from his home after the tragic death of his father. The CGI adaptation of the film was an enormous financial success, but it doesn't have anything on the emotional animated epic. If you're going to watch "The Lion King," make it the 1994 masterpiece.

• Starring: Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane

• Director(s): Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff

• Year: 1994

• Runtime: 87 minutes

• Rating: G

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%

This incredibly charming movie is a package of short films, including "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day," which snagged an Oscar for best animated short. The movie follows Winnie the Pooh and the residents of the Hundred Acre Wood as they go about their lives, and it's the perfect film when you need to feel warm and fuzzy inside. Many have given voice to a certain stuffed bear over the years, but Sterling Holloway is the definitive Winnie. There are plenty of fun songs from the Sherman Brothers, including "Up, Down, Touch the Ground," a body-positive anthem in which Pooh proclaims "I'm short, fat, and proud of that."

• Starring: Sterlin Holloway, John Fiedler, Paul Winchell

• Director(s): John Lounsbery, Wolfgang Reithermann

• Year: 1977

• Runtime: 74 minutes

• Rating: G

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%

Like most young women of her time, Mulan was supposed to be preparing for marriage. But when her ailing father is drafted into the war, Mulan disguises herself as a man and secretly joins the army in his place. "Mulan" is a fantastic story of courage in the face of unspeakable terror and is one of Disney's most earnest and effective stories of the power of women. Its large-scale action is remarkable, and it's a legitimately rousing tale, thanks in part to the magnificent musical number "I'll Make A Man Out of You."

• Starring: Ming-Na Wen, Eddie Murphy, BD Wong

• Director(s): Barry Cook, Tony Bancroft

• Year: 1998

• Runtime: 88 minutes

• Rating: G

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86%

The ultimate ode to the power of childhood imagination, "Peter Pan" takes us to the magical island of Neverland. Peter Pan transports the Darling children of London to the island, where they find themselves in a world of joy, and fun, but also of considerable danger, as the maniacal Captain Hook is looking for retribution. The animation is impressive, and watching the children fly around London at night is magical. "Peter Pan" may contain one of the most ill-judged, wildly offensive musical numbers ever, but its overarching sense of whimsy and adventure are delightful.

• Starring: Bobby Driscoll, Kathryn Beaumont, Hans Conried

• Director(s): Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske

• Year: 1953

• Runtime: 76 minutes

• Rating: G

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 79%

Disney aimed for a bold new direction with 1995's "Pocahontas," one of their most serious films about forbidden love. It's also Disney's only film based on a real person, and while the historical accuracy is extremely flaky at best, the movie still succeeds thanks to its excellent protagonist, insightful songs, and jaw-dropping animation. Pocahontas is a terrific addition to the pantheon of Disney princesses. She's strong, smart, independent, and fiercely devoted to following her dreams. While it may not have achieved the Oscar glory they were so clearly hoping for, it did take home two Academy Awards for best musical or comedy score and best song for the phenomenal "Colors of the Wind."

• Starring: Irene Bedard, Linda Hunt, David Ogden Stiers

• Director(s): Mike Gabriel, Eric Goldberg

• Year: 1995

• Runtime: 87 minutes

• Rating: G

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 55%

The sequel to "Wreck-It Ralph" finds our beloved video game characters taking on their biggest challenge yet: the internet. The movie is one of Disney's strangest. It's also by some measure, their most self-referential, featuring an extended scene inside Disney's website, where Vanellope meets all the other Disney princesses. The internet, where much of the film takes place, is rendered in incredible detail, and the use of constant referencing and advertising fits perfectly in its world. "Ralph Breaks the Internet" is frequently confounding, bizarre, and overwhelming, which makes it a brilliant reflection of what surfing the web is actually like.

• Starring: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Gal Gadot

• Director(s): Phil Johnston, Rich Moore

• Year: 2018

• Runtime: 112 minutes

• Rating: PG

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%

Hell hath no fury like a woman who isn't invited to a baby's birthday party. That's the reason Maleficent appears in a smoke cloud of doom to curse Princess Aurora, claiming that on her 16th birthday, she'll prick her finger on a spinning wheel and fall asleep forever. Employing a unique style developed by ingenious artist Eyvind Earle, "Sleeping Beauty" looks different from every other Disney film. It's deeply indebted to medieval art, and its bold, graphic visions are breathtaking. While Aurora may be the least interesting princess, Maleficent makes for one of the all-time great villains, as she's complete with a sharp wit, incredible design, and tremendous power.

• Starring: Eleanor Audley, Mary Costa, Verna Felton

• Director(s): Clyde Geronimi

• Year: 1959

• Runtime: 75 minutes

• Rating: G

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%

Disney's sci-fi adventure "Strange World" landed with a thud, making barely making a dent at the box office before being unceremoniously dumped on Disney+. But don't let that fool you, as "Strange World" is a charming and beautifully animated film that feels like a bold new direction for the studio. The film follows the Clade family, legendary explorers responsible for the discovery of Pando, a plant that's become a vital power source for their community. But when Pando begins to lose its potency, the Clades return to their explorer roots and seek to discover the mystery behind their dwindling energy supply. This is a surprising, exciting film that will get the appreciation it deserves down the line.

• Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jaboukie Young-White, Gabrielle Union

• Directors: Don Hall, Qui Nguyen

• Year: 2022

• Runtime: 105 minutes

• Rating: PG

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 72%

"When will my life begin?" asks Rapunzel in the delightful opening number from "Tangled". It's a fair question. Rapunzel has spent her entire life locked up in a hidden tower by Mother Gothel, who claims to only want to protect her. When the mysterious and rather charming Flynn Rider discovers the tower, it allows Rapunzel to leave her home for the first time, changing her life forever. "Tangled" marked a major milestone for Disney, as it was the studio's 50th animated film. It's a movie worthy of Disney's enormous legacy, and it provides a refreshing update on the familiar princess tale.

• Starring: Mandy Moore, Zachary Levit, Donna Murphy

• Director(s): Ron Clements, John Musker

• Year: 2010

• Runtime: 101 minutes

• Rating: PG.

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%

The final hand-drawn film Disney has made to date, "Winnie the Pooh" is Disney at its most charming. The movie follows Winnie the Pooh and the gang as they set out on a courageous adventure to save Christopher Robin from the vicious Backson, whose name may or may not simply be a spelling error. It has a terrific sense of humor and is as equally entertaining for kids as it is for adults. Clocking in at just under 70 minutes, it's the easiest watch on the list, but still has the transformative power to make you feel as if you're among familiar friends in the Hundred Acre Wood.

• Starring: Jim Cummings, Craig Ferguson, Travis Oates

• Director(s): Stephen J. Anderson, Don Hall

• Year: 2011

• Runtime: 69 minutes

• Rating: G

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

Disney's take on the buddy cop comedy, "Zootopia" is an unexpected delight from the House of Mouse. This sprawling film, which is clearly influenced by noirs, crime capers, comedies, and thrillers, follows Judy Hopps, a rabbit with dreams of being a police officer in the metropolitan city of Zootopia. She manages to get on the force, but it's far more challenging than she ever imagined, but with the help of the hustling fox Nick Wilde, she may be able to solve a major case and bring stability to the city. "Zootopia" proves that Disney still has plenty of creativity in the tank, and while it has many influences, it manages to feel original and different from all other Disney films.

• Starring: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Jenny Slate

• Director(s): Byron Howard, Rich Moore

• Year: 2016

• Runtime: 108 minutes

• Rating: PG

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%