The 20 Greatest Disney Movie Masterpieces of All Time, Ranked

It may seem strange to credit a film only released within the past 20 years as the absolute greatest film of a studio's over 100-year stature, yet the emotional highs and narrative strengths of WALL·E easily make it the greatest work of cinematic art that Disney has ever released. This vast, expansive story of unlikely love amidst destruction and decay and the vast cosmos of space thrives off of its masterful worldbuilding and character, all while keeping dialogue at an absolute minimum.

It calls back to Disney's earliest days with their exceptional silent films, while also forging a path towards the future with its powerful warning message of environmentalism and widespread acceptance of our own demise. Its message of being willing to do what's difficult for the betterment of those around us is about as timeless yet brilliantly relevant as Disney movie messages get. It's a beautiful, emotionally varied film that only continues to grow more beloved with age and wholly embodies the magic and wonder of Disney storytelling.

As far as the golden age era of Disney is concerned, it's difficult to find a cinematic experience more awe-inspiring and breathtaking than the musical animated anthology masterpiece, Fantasia. The film, at its essence, is everything that makes Disney as a studio so magical in the eyes of the audience, creating vast, unbelievable worlds and pushing animation to its absolute limits with mesmerizing and powerful visuals. It has stood as the defining masterpiece of the Disney catalog for 86 years, still feeling just as effective today as it was when it first released.

Each distinct story and musical segment in the anthology proves to provide their own distinct flavor of mastery and brilliance, taking hold of the medium of animation firsthand and showing exactly what could be done at the absolute height of talent of the era. Fantasia's animation still manages to be impressive after decades of growth and evolution of the medium, while the very industry as a whole arguably wouldn't exist without its continued influence and impact.

Among the consistent masterclass and brilliance that took place within Disney's legendary Renaissance era, The Lion King stands tall as Disney's absolute best cinematic achievement from this period and still one of their greatest artistic works to date. The distinct mixture of fun, inviting songs with breathtaking animation and powerful emotional storytelling that defined Disney during this era is perfected within The Lion King, relating the classic story of Hamlet to its most accessible iteration to date.

It has a sense of prowess and strength to its filmmaking that simply isn't felt by most other Disney films, as it is aware of its own awe and the gravitas of its narrative impact. The film is still among Disney's most acclaimed and successful films that they have ever released, largely defining their cinematic output in the 90s and still feeling groundbreaking to this day.

Whether it is celebrated as a Halloween film or a Christmas film, there will always be an ingrained audience that will rewatch the stop-motion mastery of The Nightmare Before Christmas every year. The visual mastery and distinct gothic style have helped make it an exceptional 90s cult classic and one of the greatest claymation films ever made. It's unfiltered in its wild vision of holiday madness, blending sweetness and spookiness to create an infectious tone and style.

Love and praise for the film have only multiplied in the years following its release, as die-hard fans who watch it every holiday season have transformed it into Disney's signature holiday movie experience. No other Disney film has so distinctly ingrained itself into the culture of multiple holidays at once, to the point where many people simply won't go through either holiday without experiencing the film at least once.

While the film may not be as vastly marketable or recognizable as some of Pixar's other impactful masterpieces of the 2000s, Ratatouille has established itself as a distinct niche as one of the most prolific and well-crafted messages that have ever been put in a Disney film. It's a simple yet endlessly compelling message of going against the grain and following your dreams even when nobody else believes in you, which has continued to stick with audiences and made the film a timeless classic.

The film knows exactly how to tug at not only the heartstrings of its audience with its emotional and personable story, but lights a fire in their soul and reminds them of the passions that fuel their daily life. Ratatouille's fundamental love for the experiences that make us human, while ironically being a movie about a rat wanting to cook, has helped transform it from the quaintly underrated Pixar film into one of their most acclaimed and appreciated films.

The absolute heights of what is possible in terms of the Disney princess formula, Beauty and the Beast builds upon the masterful princess films of the past while also transforming and evolving the concept for the modern era of animation and storytelling. It's an exceptional combination of top-notch visuals, magnificent musical numbers, and a compelling love story that still holds as one of Disney's best romances to date.

The film combines distinct strengths from across all of Disney history to create the quintessential Disney experience and the defining example of what a masterpiece Disney film should look like. It instantaneously became a classic for both the studio and the medium of animation as a whole, becoming the first animated film to be nominated for Best Picture and still standing as one of the greatest animated musicals ever made. Disney as a brand simply wouldn't be where it is today without the impact and strength of Beauty and the Beast.

An exceptional blending of animation and live-action that has stood as Disney's premiere live-action musical masterpiece, Mary Poppins is about as sweet and delightful as a family movie can get. The quaint story of a lovable nanny using music and imagination-fueled adventures to help out a duo of neglected children utilizes Disney's multitude of strengths in a fresh and distinctly original cinematic outing. Few other films have so seamlessly utilized the combination of live action with 2D animation, complementing each other perfectly and bringing out the best in one another.

It helps that the wild, colorful performances from Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke manage to be just as expressive and wild as the cartoons that surround them, amplifying the already sky-high charm that Mary Poppins was offering in every second of its filmmaking. It will continue to be the standout example of Disney's mastery on display in live action, as well as easily being their best cinematic outing of the 1960s.

With so many different, wildly compelling adaptations of the classic fantasy story having been released over the years, it speaks volumes that Disney's 86-year-old classic is still often considered the greatest version of Pinocchio to date. The film has, in a sens,e become synonymous with great Pinocchio adaptations as a whole, with the signature charm and magic of Disney's animation style perfectly fitting the tone and style of the classic fantasy novel.

Disney's classic 2D animation style bursts off the screen and continues to mesmerize and enchant in a modern-day context, as it has been delighting countless generations since its release and will continue to delight the generations of the future. Its continued influence and strength within the culture of 2D animation as a whole is also widely felt in the vast majority of Disney's catalog, as it homes in on what worked in previous films and perfects the strengths of Disney's classic charm.

Combining the exceptional talents of director Brad Bird and the groundbreaking technology and capabilities of Pixar at their apex, The Incredibles is a glorious combination of talents to create one of Pixar's best original outings and one of the all-time greatest superhero movies ever made. The film is as much a widely accessible and family-friendly superhero movie as it is a brilliantly mature look at a world impacted by superheroes and how said heroes adapt in a world that no longer wants them.

This mixture of distinct family movie charm with layered and exceptional worldbuilding and storytelling makes The Incredibles an exceptional watch filled with narrative depth for children and adults alike, easily standing as Pixar's greatest storytelling to date. The film has managed to have an impressive staying power, even among Pixar's lofty filmography, as it still stands as an absolute fan-favorite of both Pixar and Disney alike.

The first feature-length animated film released by Disney, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is often attributed to being one of the most important achievements in animation history. The music and distinct animation style still hold up tremendously today, with the film laying the groundwork for every animated masterpiece Disney would release in the generations since its release. Disney, as a brand, simply wouldn't be the same without the influence and impact of their legendary initial outing.

The animated masterpiece has a long-lasting legacy and impact even beyond the confines of Disney itself, as the entire animation industry owes it to its revolutionary usage of 2D animation and engaging fantasy storytelling. Few other movies from the 30s, animated or otherwise, have had such a substantial staying power and recognition among modern audiences, saying a lot about not only the film's classic status but how it has been largely ingrained within pop culture.

While the Disney name is more often than not associated and utilized for family filmmaking and experiences for all ages, Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl stands as one of the few times the Disney brand has been used for a true blockbuster action experience. Featuring a top-notch combination of practical and computer-generated effects and a wildly entertaining combination of action and comedy, Curse of the Black Pearl sees crowd-pleasing blockbusters at their absolute best.

While this inherent style and approach to widely accessible comedic action films are all the rage in blockbusters nowadays, the formula is at its best in Curse of the Black Pearl. The charm and wit of Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow and Gore Verbinski's directing style go a long way in terms of giving the film oodles of personality and a continued legacy long after its groundbreaking revelations have become the norm.

While certainly leaning much more comedically charged than many of Disney's previous films, the wild sci-fi adventure and personality of Lilo & Stitch has made it Walt Disney Animation Studio's defining 21st century masterpiece. While the manic hijinks and goofy comedy do a great job of getting audiences invested in its story, the realistic and grounded portrayal of an impoverished family skirting the line helps give the film an exceptional emotional core.

Few animated Disney characters have had such instant icon status quite like Stitch, who has such a brilliant blend of manic chaos and inherent charm that instantly made him one of Disney's most beloved characters. The friendship and bond between Lilo and Stitch themselves also makes for one of Disney's most timeless and electrifying pairings, showing that friendship can come from anywhere and even the most unlikely of places.

Few trilogies are as overwhelmingly beloved and acclaimed as Pixar's Toy Story trilogy, and while the initial two films are undeniable classics and pillarstones of 3D animation, Toy Story 3 evolves the concept into the modern era with flying colors and masterful storytelling. It acts as a culmination of over a decade of masterful filmmaking from Pixar, going back to their roots and evolving their original masterpiece with the then-latest technology and after a multitude of experience that have made their films better than ever.

The humor is more striking and memorable, the animation is more fluid and lively, and the emotional moments hit like a freight train that left audiences in a puddle of their own tears. Few trilogies in cinematic history can lay claim to such an exceptional finale experience, building upon the characters and story with such care and craft while also standing tall as its own standalone experience.

While The Straight Story may be relatively obscure and unknown compared to many of the other films on this list, this somber, small-scale retired farmer drama from director David Lynch genuinely deserves its spot among the all-time Disney greats. The exceptionally underrated film follows Alvin Straight (Richard Farnsworth), a retired farmer determined to make things right with his brother when learning that they may not have much time left together. However, stuck without a car or to make it back home, Alvin decides to make the trip on his old lawnmower, starting a wild unlikely adventure across the country.

The Straight Story may not seem like it, but it's arguably one of the most uplifting and feel-good films that Disney has ever released, touching the heartstrings in the exact right way to leave an undeniable impact on those who experience Alvin's unbelievable true story. While Farnsworth ended up receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his work, the film has sadly been forgotten to time compared to the various other Disney masterpieces of the era.

One of the last films of Disney's renaissance era and a striking story of identity and self-growth amidst the pain and hardships of war, Mulan is the closest that a Disney animation film has gotten to being a vast, large-scale epic. The film's exceptional exploration of gender roles and dynamics make it one of the most prolific and individual princess films that Disney has ever released. On top of the classic standout musical numbers and striking animation, its breathtaking action helps make it a one-of-a-kind Disney experience.

Time has only been kind to Mulan in the decades since its release, with it now widely being celebrated as one of the best films of the renaissance era and a timeless story of identity that has helped a multitude of people get in touch with who they truly are. It really does manage to have the best of both worlds in terms of striking thematic resonance and classic Disney strengths, as no other layered self-identity story has an absolute killer of a song like "I'll Make a Man Out of You."

One of many exceptional masterpieces that made up Pixar's legendary run in the 2000s, Up immediately proves itself as an all-time animation great with what could arguably be considered one of the greatest opening acts in cinema history. The movie cemented Pixar's status as the go-to animation studio for emotional tearjerker masterpieces, with Ellie and Carl's love story still feeling just as powerful today as it did when it released over 15 years ago.

While the vast majority of praise and appreciation revolves around those beautiful initial sequences, the rest of the film does a great job balancing these mature themes with great comedy and a vast spirit of adventure. Even today, Up is still considered to be one of Pixar's greatest achievements and a defining masterpiece of 2000s family movies. The film received so much widespread praise and appreciation that it became the second animated film to ever be nominated for Best Picture.

Yet another widely acclaimed film from Disney's legendary renaissance era, Aladdin sees the studio at its absolute best in terms of wild, unrestrained animation quality mixed with top-notch emotional moments and exceptional musical numbers. It does just about everything right in terms of what someone wants out of a great Disney experience, timeless in its execution while also distinctly oozing with 90s energy throughout.

A lot of the conversation and lasting legacy of the film revolves around the legendary vocal performance by Robin Williams as the genie, one of the first truly great examples of a Hollywood star utilizing their talents in an animated film. However, while many modern films simply use a recognizable name just for the sake of using a name, Williams gives a wild and unrestrained vocal performance that defines and elevates the film as a whole. Even outside of Williams' undeniable influence, the film still has a great deal of iconic moments and exceptional weight to its storytelling.

While princess stories from Disney are often associated with their animated offerings, Enchanted has proven to have unlikely staying power among their princess films despite being a live-action rom-com parody of the genre. The film sees a traditional cartoon princess being banished into the real world by an evil queen, having to deal with the culture shock and difficulties of Manhattan. The film arguably does a better job of satirizing and poking fun at the Disney princess formula than Disney's later attempts like Frozen.

However, satire alone does not make a great fantasy rom-com, as the film also sports some great 2D animated moments and an all-timer comedic performance from Amy Adams. She makes for the perfect fish-out-of-water protagonist in a performance that exudes all the lovable and overly innocent qualities of a true cartoon princess. Time has only continued to be kind to Enchanted, as it is now deservedly in the conversation of Disney's most exceptional princess stories to date.

One of the first films that come to mind for many audiences when considering a classic Disney princess film, The Little Mermaid is the perfect blend of music, slapstick cartoon antics, and breathtaking animation that started Disney's legendary renaissance era. Its simple yet deeply compelling story of wanting to explore the vast unknown world and not be held back by societal standards has struck a chord with many audiences since its release, making it one of Disney's most timeless stories to date.

However, the biggest strength of the film and one of the largest contributors to its staying power is its exceptional array of original songs, with the likes of "Part of Your World", "Under the Sea", and "Poor Unfortunate Souls" being among the most iconic Disney songs of the era. Howard Ashman and Alan Menken's exceptional songs elevate an already great film into a musical masterpiece and one of the all-time great animated films of the 80s.

After an elongated period where Disney had taken a step back from both 2D animation and princess stories in their film, The Princess and the Frog was a glorious breath of fresh air and return to form for the studio that enchanted audiences just like the old days. The fluid animation and wildly entertaining characters bring to life the classic fairy tale of not judging a book by its cover, adding its own layers of personal growth and Southern culture.

The film acts as a great combination of both what worked from previous princess films and a more tongue-in-cheek reflection on the clichés of the genre as a whole. It largely catapulted Walt Disney Animation Studios into its revival era of greatness after a decade of so-so films, as well as still towering high as one of the best films of Disney's modern era.