The 10 Most Underrated Disney Movies of All Time

If you’re not looking for something quite as cute and fluffy, you’re probably better off with Chip ‘n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers. Don’t be fooled by the playful animation style or what you thought you knew about these characters; this is a crime-comedy laced with adult humour and references that will permanently alter your innocent perceptions of the likes of Peter Pan and the Seven Dwarves.

It’s not wholly inappropriate for younger viewers by any means – more like Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and The Mask than it is your standard family flick. All I’m saying is, get ready to answer a few questions, and I’m not talking about murder mystery-related queries… This film was chucked straight on Disney+ and consequently, forgotten about pretty quickly, but it deserves more attention for boldly going where very few Disney movies dare to venture.

Winnie the Pooh has always been a firm favourite in my family for generations. My brothers and I grew up loving the A. A. Milne tales, and I’ve been lucky enough to pass that on to my children now. I may be too old now to truly appreciate the original stories, but that’s where Christopher Robin comes in.

Ewan McGregor stars as the grown-up version of the iconic character, but Christopher has now lost sight of the magical childhood he once had. Thankfully, Pooh and the gang pay him a visit for one last whimsical adventure. It’s such an endearing story that feels like a big, warm hug to the heart, and the fantastic visual effects to bring the characters into the real world add another brilliant layer to the appeal.

From dark and brooding to bright and beautiful, this modern and unfairly forgotten remake of Pete’s Dragon is utterly delightful. There’s a lot less singing and dancing compared to the 1977 version, but that’s definitely a good thing. Make no mistake, though, this David Lowery effort is brimming with heart and charm. Very few films can make me cry, but I’m not ashamed to admit that this one does.

The cast for Pete’s Dragon is fantastic, with Robert Redford the shining light, obviously. Bryce Dallas Howard and the young Oakes Fegley are sublime in support, too. Of all the live-action Disney movies in the last decade, Pete’s Dragon is head and shoulders above the rest. If you or the children in your home can’t get enough of dragons and mythical creatures, this is a must-watch.

As far as Disney princesses go, Tiana is so often overlooked, and it’s really not fair. I’m not about to say that The Princess and the Frog is a masterpiece or anything, but it’s a wonderfully dark and quirky tale that, at the very least, tries something out of the ordinary. Gone are the bright, poppy visuals we usually get from Disney movies, replaced with a more dusky, mysterious vibe. 

It’s more akin to films like Pan’s Labyrinth, The Black Cauldron, or Coraline, so if you’re into spooky stories dealing with magic and the occult, The Princess and the Frog will be right up your alley. What’s interesting is that this is pretty much the only Disney princess movie my young sons want to watch, and that’s because they’re obsessed with Halloween – read into that what you will.

If you’ve ever read or watched a Sherlock Holmes story and been hooked by the mystery and sharpness of the titular character, you simply have to give The Great Mouse Detective a go. It’s a quaint little animated movie with all the intrigue of an Arthur Conan Doyle novel, only this time, the master sleuth is a mouse. Sounds perfect, right?

I remember my daughter being obsessed with this movie when she was little. We’d watch it every weekend, and yet somehow she never got tired of the mystery despite knowing exactly how it was going to play out. It’s another 74-minute blast of fun, though, so who could blame her? Again, this one has its fans, but not nearly enough of them.

I could sell this one to you with just two words: Robin Williams. The late, great, legendary comedian stars in Flubber as madcap scientist Phillip Brainard, who spends most of his time obsessing over new inventions in his lab while life passes him by. He’s a bit like Tony Stark, but less rich and obnoxious. When Phillip stumbles upon a groundbreaking discovery, the titular green goo, his life will change forever.

As you may have guessed, this movie is a laugh riot thanks to the physical comedy and sharp wit of Robin Williams. And, like most of the family movies he worked on, there’s so much tomfoolery for young viewers to enjoy, while double entendre jokes lurk in every scene. Millennials will likely have fond memories of it – I spent most of 1997 wishing I could have my own Flubber, and I’d still give anything for a little slice of that green slime now – but younger generations may have yet to discover it.

Yes, Tarzan is great, but there’s something really charming and eccentric about this live-action version of that iconic story. It’s wild to think that Brendan Fraser went from this to becoming an Oscar-winning actor, but I’ll tell you what… I would much rather watch George of the Jungle than The Whale. 

This flick, which is overshadowed by Fraser’s iconic Mummy movies around the same time, has a similarly wonderful cast, with the likes of Leslie Mann, Thomas Haden Church, and John Cleese in support. I’d also like to give a shout-out to the fact that the props, costumes, and fake gorillas are so unashamedly cheap and simple, but it really doesn’t matter when everything is this fun. If you like slightly surreal family movies like Stuart Little, Dr Dolittle, and Babe, you’ll buy into George of the Jungle.

Incredibly, two movies about talking bugs came out at the same time back in 1998, but only one is worthy of standing the test of time. A Bug’s Life wipes the floor with Antz, honestly, and that’s largely down to the brilliant array of quirky characters assembled by the hero, Flik, as he looks to take down Hopper, one of the greatest animated villains of all time.

It’s not like this early Pixar-helmed movie is a hidden secret or anything, but it really does feel like A Bug’s Life is slept on when it comes to Disney movies from that golden period. Granted, there were some outstanding releases around that time, but this film has it all really: colourful, poppy visuals, fantastic humour, and a thrilling story of the masses rising to topple evil dictators. If you love the kind of rebellious spirit you find in films like Chicken Run and Fantastic Mr Fox, you’ll definitely vibe with A Bug’s Life.

Thinking about this movie always hits me with a big wave of nostalgia. I remember watching Oliver & Company on repeat as a kid, getting all the toys of the cats and dogs and even the taxi from the film. And I definitely remember being terrified of the villain, Bill Sykes, and his scary hounds. Yes, this is an anthropomorphic adaptation of the classic tale of Oliver Twist, and it’s one of the best versions of that Charles Dickens story.

The beauty of this one is it’s only 74 minutes long, so it’s a nice, easy watc

The Walt Disney Company owes everything to Mickey Mouse. But it’s one of his best buddies, Goofy, that makes it onto our list here, in a film that has plenty of ardent supporters, but still gets lost in the shuffle of the tail end of the studio’s Renaissance period. 

The big dog is usually associated with silliness and slapstick humour, and there’s plenty of that in A Goofy Movie. What makes this flick so special, though, is the deep emotional core that runs through the father-son story. Part-road trip movie, part-coming of age tale, A Goofy Movie is the perfect film to satisfy both younger viewers and their parents. Just be prepared to get a little bit teary as Goof and his son, Max, open up to one another. If you’re into the likes of Finding Nemo or even The Pursuit of Happyness, you’ll love this one.