A real industry of dreams, Walt Disney Pictures has accompanied us for almost a century with animated feature films that have always been loved and appreciated for better or for worse. In more recent years, the birth of the parallel studio Pixar, focused on products in digital technology, showed how much the Casa del Topo was also interested in keeping up with the times as regards the technological avant-garde, but this certainly did not harm the content quality of the films, which instead did nothing else than to increase.
Aware that selecting only twenty films among the infinite wonders of Disney filmography does not do it justice, we offer you our list of the best Disney and Pixar films, the most representative animated titles of the two production companies, the ones that have most marked the history of cinema and kidnapped the imagination of young and old.
Fantasy, colors, animation, mixed media and live action. What are the best Disney films and which are the best Pixar films? In this article we wanted to combine the best products of the two production houses that have always been in union.
The best Disney movies to watch
With the advent of Disney Plus, the latest and most pleasant novelty among online streaming platforms, adults and children have once again discovered the great classic protagonists of their childhood. From Cinderella to Snow White, through Rebel and the Lion King, the catalog includes the best Disney films from start to finish.
Because let’s face it: despite being cartoons it is always a pleasure to see them again, even if you are an adult by now and this type of product is generally considered by children. The Disney classics are so well done and so engaging that the story of Beauty and the Beast is moving at ten as well as at forty.
1. Shang-Chi
The latest Marvel Studios blockbuster stars Simu Liu in the role of Shang-Chi, a young superhero who has to deal with the past he thought he had left behind and with his father, leader of the dangerous organization of the Ten Rings. Also starring Awkwafina as Katy, Meng’er Zhang, Fala Chen and Florian Munteanu, with Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan and Tony Leung as Xu Wenwu.
2. Jungle Cruise
Inspired by the famous Disneyland attraction, “Jungle Cruise” tells the reckless adventures on the Amazon River of researcher Lily Houghton (Emily Blunt), accompanied by Captain Frank Wolff (Dwayne Johnson). Determined to discover an ancient tree with extraordinary healing abilities, Lily embarks on a mission that will lead her to encounter dangers and supernatural forces hidden in the rainforest.
3. Luca
This time Pixar takes us to the Ligurian Riviera in the 60s with “Luca”, a film that tells the story of a young sea monster who, together with his new best friend, goes to the mainland to try to experience an Italian summer, pretending to being a normal human being. Days full of misadventures, ice cream and scooter rides await him.
4. Cruella
Set during the punk rock revolution in 1970s London, “Cruella” tells the origins of Crudela De Mon and follows the story of Estella (Emma Stone), an intelligent and creative girl determined to make a name for herself in the fashion world with her creations. He befriends a couple of young thieves who appreciate his penchant for meanness and together manage to build a life on the streets of London. One day, her talent catches the attention of Baroness von Hellman, an incredibly chic and refined fashion legend (Emma Thompson). But their relationship sets in motion a series of events and revelations that lead Estella to embrace her evil side and become the irrepressible and vengeful Cruella.
5. Raya and the last dragon
Available for a fee only, “Raya and the Last Dragon” is set in the world of Kumandra, where humans and dragons once lived in harmony before dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity from a terrible threat. Five hundred years later, that same threat has returned and it must be the warrior Raya who finds the last dragon to reunite her divided people.
6. Onward – Beyond the magic
“Onward – Beyond the Magic” is a 2020 Disney-Pixar film that tells the journey of two brothers, Barley and Ian, two elves who embark on an adventure in search of a magical artifact that can bring back to life for twenty-four their daddy hours. In the original version, the two brothers have the voices of Chris Pratt and Tom Holland.
7. Coco
Choosing among the many Pixar films available in the catalog is not trivial. We chose Coco for various reasons. For starters it is among the most recent Disney Pixar productions and you may not have seen it yet. In fact, we too took advantage of Disney Plus to see it for the first time, being struck as usual by the quality of the animation, by the explosion of colors, also justified by the particular theater of the events of the story, and by that musical touch so special that it moves the reins of the whole film.
8. The Lion King
The Lion King is perhaps one of the most spectacular of these live-action reboot (English big words to say makeover “live” instead of cartoon). It is also strange to actually call it live action, since it’s all done on the computer, but it must also be said that the crew spent 2 weeks in Africa photographing and filming the animals and places that inspired the film. In any case, it can be the right starting point to understand if these new Disney productions are for you or not. However, Mufasa’s death is still an open wound after 26 years, and seeing her in CGI certainly won’t heal her. If you take a peek at the extras you will also find the karaoke version of the film.
9. John Carter
The film is inspired by the first science fiction novel in the cycle of Mars (or Barsoom) entitled Under the Moons of Mars which dates back, think, to 1911. It is from the 1930s that the rights for film adaptation bounce from a studio to other. Over the years, no one felt like reproducing the fictional scenes imagined by author Edgar Rice Burroughs. Around 2000 even Paramount was interested. None other than Jon Favreau (The Mandalorian, yeah?) Was about to be involved, but the production house decided not to renew the film rights and preferred to focus on Star Trek, while Favreau started working on Iron Man.
10. Togo
“Oh no, another story of heroic dogs!”: Yes, well … Togo is just that. It is the story of Leonhard Seppala and the leader dog of his sled, Togo. Together they will face an adventure that will test strength, courage and determination. That you may have already heard the plot: “When a deadly epidemic erupts in the small Alaska town of Nome, and the only cure, a serum, is nearly a thousand kilometers away, citizens turn to the award-winning trainer of sled dogs Leonhard Seppala (Willem Dafoe). Seppala chooses as leader his Siberian husky, Togo. “
11. Taron and the Magic Pot
Among the many great Disney classics, Taron and the magic pot? Well yes, and the choice is not at all casual. It is, to be precise, the 25th Disney classic according to the official canon, and is based on the first two books of the series The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander. The director is the same duo that takes care of Red and Toby. We chose it because of several particularities that characterize it. It was the Disney classic that had less critical and public acclaim. Its fantasy and in some ways even too much horror, made it an animated film more for adults than for children, so much so that it was even a source of inspiration for directors such as Tim Burton.
12. Saving Mr. Banks
Among the many films available on Disney Plus we have chosen a very particular one. The protagonist of this story is PL Travers, historical author of Mary Poppins and all the various books dedicated to her. But the film is not so much focused on the writing of the first novel, but more on the historic “battle” that took place between Travers herself and Walt Disney for the sale of the rights and the consequent realization of the film. A poignant story, which explores the writer’s past, the character of Walt Disney and also that of some of the most famous “dream creators” of the Disney stable of the time.
13. Inside Out
What if your emotions were little beings inside of you? That’s the question Pixar answers in Inside Out, a funny and beautiful story about Riley, a teenage girl who moves to a new city and finds a way to cope with the process. Joy, Fear, Anger and Sadness, the young girl’s emotions, aren’t used to working together, but they will have to if they are to help Riley get through this crucial time in her life.
When Joy and Sadness disappear, it’s up to the rest of the team to bring them together so that Riley doesn’t fall victim to a total emotional breakdown. With the voices of Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Richard King, Mindy Kaling and Phyllis Smith, Inside Out is an emotional roller coaster with everything one would expect from a Pixar movie.
14. Big Hero 6
Set in the fictional town of San Fransokyo, the story follows a boy with exceptional robotics skills, who tracks down the masked villain who killed his brother and stole one of his unique inventions. With his android protector Baymax, Hiro Hamada assembles a team of students turned superheroes to defeat the villain. Based on the Marvel Comics story of the same name, Big Hero 6 won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature and is one of the best superhero offerings in history.
15. Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
The first film in this blockbuster franchise stars Johnny Depp as pirate Jack Sparrow, an iconic performance that not only spawned multiple sequels, but also brought attention to the pirate movie genre. It also allowed Hollywood to have a successful production with each release of a new installment. In this dark fantasy film, Depp is joined by Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom, and Geoffrey Rush.
16. The nightmare before Christmas
By all accounts this is a stop motion film that excels in more than one way, from the music to the storytelling. This 1993 film tells the story of Jack Skellington – the king of a colorful village where every day is Halloween – who discovers a Christmas village that fascinates him and offers him an escape from his “spooky” routine. Suddenly, he is forced to replace Santa Claus so as not to compromise the two holidays. It is the first animated film to be nominated for an Oscar in the category of best visual effects.
17. Christopher Robin
A live-action take on the popular Winnie the Pooh story, Christopher Robin (Ewan McGregor) is now an adult who, full of problems at work and with his family, is revisited by his childhood friends, including Pooh , Eeyore, Piglet and Tigger. As they embark on a series of adventures that bring Robin’s vivid imagination and innocence back to life, the group of friends help him overcome his difficulties and bring him closer to his family, in particular of his daughter Madeline. It’s a sweet story for the whole family, with a talented cast.
18. Toy Story
A world where toys come to life as soon as humans don’t pay attention to them? Seemingly unappealing, this 1995 film turned out to be a phenomenon, so much so that its story was followed by three other installments, which also generated a solid fan base. Tom Hanks plays Woody, a cowboy who is little Andy’s favorite toy, while Tim Allen plays Buzz Lightyear, a space traveler who will give a new rhythm to the boy’s current toys. Toy Story is a thoughtful exploration of adolescence, friendship, acceptance, and all that we leave behind growing up. The animated film was entered in the National Film Registry in its first year of eligibility.
19. Zootopia
The movie portrays the New York of animals, so there are all kinds of politics, crime, and mischief. When Judy Hopps becomes the first police rabbit, she is determined to make a name for herself and put an end to the doubts of her colleagues. At one point, she’s forced to team up with fox Nick Wilde, who doesn’t have the best reputation, but they turn out to be a great team. More provocative and controversial than the typical Disney movie, Zootopia is fun for young people and food for thought for their parents.
20. Black Panther
Filmmaker Ryan Coogler and star Chadwick Boseman brought Marvel’s most famous African superhero to the screen in 2018, and the film broke a long list of box office records and became the one of the most critically acclaimed shutters. Boseman stars as T’Challa, the newly crowned king of the secret African nation of Wakanda, who is both the leader of his country and the hero of Black Panther. When Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) challenges his authority, T’Challa must reconnect with the origins of his power and heritage to save his kingdom. Black Panther became the first superhero film to be nominated for an Oscar in the “Best Picture” category, and the first Marvel film to win an Oscar, and one of the movies you should see at least once in lifetime. Black Panther 2 is slated to hit theaters in 2022.
21. The Princess and the Frog
Though often overlooked due to the excessive attention given to Disney and Pixar animated blockbusters, The Princess and the Frog of 2009 was nominated for three Oscars and received critical acclaim, proving that it exists still a market for “traditional” animated films. The Little Mermaid and Aladdin directors Ron Clements and John Musker are back for the film, which follows a young boy from 1926 New Orleans who finds himself trapped in the body of a frog after concluding a deal with a prince who was cursed by a voodoo wizard. The film is also a throwback to the traditional Broadway-style musical for Disney, which served the studio so well in the 1990s. Anika Noni Rose, Bruno Campos and Keith David are the main actors in the film.
22. Moana
Tell the story of a young girl raised to become the next chief of her village. However, she embarks on a journey to save her village from disappearance, with the help of the demigod Maui. With stunning animation and a vocal cast led by Dwayne Johnson, Jemaine Clement and Auliʻi Cravalho (Moana), the film also features original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda (the creator of the musical Hamilton).
23. Soul
The latest installment from animation studio Pixar was set to hit theaters, but it arrived on the streaming service just in time for the holiday season. Co-directed by two-time Oscar winner Pete Docter (Up, Inside Out) and Kemp Powers (One Night in Miami), Soul follows a high school music teacher and aspiring jazz pianist (performed by Jamie Foxx) who, after suffering an accident, embarks on a journey through different planes of existence in order to realize – finally – his musical dreams.
24. Frozen
Disney’s 2013 hit, Frozen, was the highest-grossing animated film of all time until it was surpassed by its 2019 sequel, and remains the highest-grossing original animated film of all times from afar. More than just a movie, the story of an intrepid princess who goes in search of her sister to save her kingdom from her frozen powers became a worldwide phenomenon upon its release.
Along with offering a gripping adventure and plenty of clever comedies, Frozen gave the world one of Disney’s most catchy songs, the uplifting Let It Go. The film’s success earned it not one, but two Oscars, as well as a successful franchise spearheaded by musical actors Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad.
25. Guardians of the Galaxy
Production arrived in 2014, when Marvel’s shutters were never thought to be a blockbuster. This cosmic adventure was led by characters then unknown to the general public, actors relatively little publicized, and co-written and directed by independent filmmaker James Gunn. As if that weren’t enough, the main cast also included a talking raccoon and a sentient tree capable of uttering a single sentence. Even so, it went on to become one of Marvel’s most important and critically acclaimed films.
26. Thor: Ragnarok
This installment of the Thor franchise, directed by Taika Waititi, created a surprise and adopts a different tone from its two predecessors. The God of Thunder is imprisoned on the strange planet of Sakaar. Meanwhile, Hela (Cate Blanchett) returned to Asgard to fulfill her destiny. Thor must leave Sakaar and return in time to save his people before they are wiped out. It sounds dark, but this film is the lightest of the Thor productions, which draws on the charm of current star Chris Hemsworth.
27. Clouds
Based on Laura Sobiech’s memoir, Fly a Little Higher: How God Answers a Mom’s Small Prayer in a Big Way, this musical drama chronicles the life of Zach Sobiech, who wrote a song called Clouds to say goodbye to his friends and to her family after her cancer diagnosis. The song gained international recognition through its playback on YouTube, made it to the Billboard Hot 100, and even reached No. 1 on iTunes in 2013, the year Sobiech died. It’s a sweet story, but keep some handkerchiefs handy, because you’re going to need them.
28. Who set up Roger Rabbit?
A film by Robert Zemeckis that tells a version of Hollywood from 1947, in which humans coexist with animated characters. Bob Hoskins stars as a private investigator investigating the murder of a prominent businessman. He meets Roger Rabbit, the cartoon star and prime crime suspect, who denies the charges all the time. The film ended up winning three golden statuettes for its unique combination.
29. Born to be King
Attack the Block director Joe Cornish wrote and directed this fantastic family adventure in which a 12-year-old boy finds Excalibur, King Arthur’s legendary sword, in a London suburb. However, becoming the new owner of the sword comes at a steep price, and he must rally his friends and classmates to stop the evil witch Morgana from invading the realm. The film stars Louis Ashbourne Serkis (son of actor and filmmaker Andy Serkis), as well as Tom Taylor, Dean Chaumoo, Rhianna Dorris, Angus Imrie, Rebecca Ferguson and Patrick Stewart. This is one of the last films to be released by 20th Century Fox, and the truth is that it went rather unnoticed when it was released, despite receiving good reviews.
30. Stargirl
Musician Grace Vander Waal stars as a new student whose arrival at a high school in New Mexico creates a ripple effect on all students and the surrounding community, challenging the status quo and pushing them. to push the limits of their own expression. Graham Verchere plays the teenager whose relationship with Stargirl pushes him to open up and accept what he wants in life. One of the first original films to air on Disney +, this high school romantic comedy is a story praised for its emotional depth and nostalgic take on teenage relationships.