The Walt Disney Company is well-known for its enchanting filmography and has left a significant film legacy. There is at least something for everyone in the Disney movie landscape, from famous animated movies to live-action projects that appeal to various audiences. The variety of films available to viewers—young and old—continues to grow as the years go by, introducing them to new narratives they can’t keep up with. Disney has something for practically every taste or genre. Here is the list of the most underrated Disney movies that received so less appreciation and were forgotten with time.
15 Most Underrated Disney Movies:
15. Home on the Range
- Director: Will Finn and John Sanford.
- Writer: Will Finn and John Sanford.
- Cast: Roseanne Barr, Judi Dench, Jennifer Tilly, Cuba Gooding Jr., Randy Quaid, Steve Buscemi, Sam J. Levine, Charles Dennis, G. W. Bailey, Mark Walton, Carole Cook, Richard Riehle, Patrick Warburton, Ann Richards.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 52%
- IMDb: 5.3/10
- Platforms: Disney+ Hotstar and Netflix.
- Year Of Release: 2004
Walt Disney Pictures released the cartoon musical Western feature picture Home on the Range in 2004 (called after the very healthy country song). This underrated Disney film’s weak promotion was astounding when Home on the Range initially emerged.
Home on the Range Review:
The storyline centers on a pair of dairy cows who turn into bounty hunters to prevent their farm from going into foreclosure. The original title of the film was Sweatin’ Bullets. The moving story served as the final Disney animated picture available on VHS.
Disney’s House on the Range appeared to have been destined to fail. Disney failed to properly advertise the animated film when it first came out and has since neglected to integrate it into the greater Disney universe.
14. Mulan
- Director: Niki Caro
- Writer: Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Lauren Hynek, and Elizabeth Martin.
- Cast: Tzi Ma, Yifei Liu, Donnie Yen, Jason Scott Lee, Ron Yuan, Yoson An, Gong Li, and Jet Li.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 73%
- IMDb: 5.7/10
- Platforms: Google Play, Amazon Instant Video, Disney+ Hotstar, and Vudu.
- Year Of Release: 2020
Mulan Plot:
Mulan by Walt Disney Company is another on the list of most underrated Disney films which tells the story of a Chinese woman growing up in a culture where women are viewed as less valuable than males.
She poses as a soldier in the Chinese army deployed to repel the invading Huns out of a need to show her value to her family, her nation, and herself. Fa Mulan infests the military with the help of Presenter, her parent dragon, or Crikee, her lucky cricket. She demonstrates that women can be just as influential as men.
13. Atlantis: The Lost Empire
- Director: Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale.
- Writer: Tab Murphy
- Cast: Kirk Wise, Michael J. Fox, James Garner, Cree Summer, Don Novello, Jacqueline Obradors, Florence Stanley, John Mahoney, Phil Moris, Leonard Nimoy, James Newton, Jim Varney, Claudia Christian, Corey Burton, David Ogden Stiers, Natalie Strom, and Jim Cummings.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 49%
- IMDB: 6.9/10
- Platforms: Disney+ Hotstar, Netflix, and Hulu.
- Year Of Release: 2001
Atlantis: The Lost Empire Plot
When he teams up with a crew of daredevil adventurers to search for the fabled lost civilization of Atlantis, a young adventurer with little prior expertise turns out to be the key to solving a long-standing riddle.
About Atlantis: The Lost Empire
There’s no disputing that “Atlantis: The Lost Empire” is a film that needs to be viewed by more people even though it was great at the box office. The movie “Atlantis” has numerous characteristics to be admired, including its collection of language suitable for memes and fantastic art direction.
Anime and “Hellboy” creator, Mike Mignola’s work greatly influenced its unique visual style. “Atlantis: The Lost Empire” is a Disney film that shines out in the greatest possible way.
What a movie… #Atlantis #thelostempire pic.twitter.com/Rw5ZqH9nzF
— The †æßarian (@PeterMacCleod) April 26, 2022
12. The Hunchback of Notre Dame
- Director: Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise
- Writer: Tab Murphy, Irene Mecchi, Bob Tzudiker, Noni White, and Jonathan Roberts.
- Cast: Tom Hulce, Demi Moore, Paul Kandel, Tony Jay, Kevin Kline, Jason Alexander, Mary Wickes, and David Ogden Stiers.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 72%
- IMDB: 7/10
- Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, and Netflix.
- Year Of Release: 1996
The Hunchback of Notre Dame Plot:
Quasimodo, a disfigured ring ringer at Notre Dame Cathedral played by Tom Hulce, passes the time imprisoned in a tower in a Disney animated adventure. He yearns to be with people but is only accompanied by gargoyles, which causes him to accidentally run into the beautiful Gypsy Esmeralda (Demi Moore). Quasimodo must assist in preventing his evil guardian Frollo (Tony Jay), from capturing the attractive young woman when he notices her.
About The Hunchback of Notre Dame:
Many viewers still haven’t seen Disney’s 34th animated film, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” even though some may find it absurd to include it on this list. Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale, who previously worked together on “Beauty and the Beast,” adapted the classic Victor Hugo novel into a far more palatable plot in this movie, which drew more inspiration from the 1939 RKO version than any other.
The fact that Disney takes its audience seriously, for the most part, makes this adaptation of Hugo’s story of religion, class, and architecture essential. Certain gargoyle-shaped defects exist in the film, such as the decision to emphasize family-friendly humor in the most challenging circumstances.
The scenes where the movie The Hunchback of Notre Dame concentrates on Quasimodo, Esmeralda, or the emotionally complex villain Frollo, however, distinguish this work of art. It can be simpler to appreciate this animated film for its triumphs rather than its problems when coupled with the fantastic musical composition by Alan Menken and its breathtaking animation (particularly the “Sanctuary” segment).
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is iconic for being one of the most mature #Disney animated features with complex subjects, daring darkness, stunning visuals and sweeping music.
🔔Sing the bells of Notre Dame for its 25th anniversary🔔#TheHunchbackofNotreDame pic.twitter.com/azoQOPMbpM— 🎆MC the Toonster🎆 (@MToonster24) June 21, 2021
11. Treasure Planet
- Director: John Musker and Ron Clements.
- Writer: John Musker, Ron Clements, Terry Rossio, Ted Elliott, and Rob Edwards.
- Cast: John Musker, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Brian Murray, Martin Short, Michael Wincott, Emma Thompson, David Hyde Pierce, Roscoe Lee Browne, Austin Majors, Dane Davis, Laurie Metcalf, Corey Burton, Michael McShane, Tony Jay, Patrick McGoohan, Dee Bradley Baker, and Jennifer Darling.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 69%
- IMDB: 7.1/10
- Platforms: Disney+ Hotstar, Netflix, and Amazon Instant Video.
- Year Of Release: 2002
Treasure Planet Plot:
In the spectacular Disney animated films space adventure “Treasure Planet” from Walt Disney Pictures, 15-year-old Jim Hawkins discovers a map to the enormous pirate hoard in the cosmos, sparking an interplanetary treasure hunt inspired by the fabled “spoil of a thousand worlds.”
Based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island,” one of the best adventure tales ever written, this picture follows Jim on his incredible voyage across a parallel universe as just a cabin boy aboard a gleaming space galleon.
About Treasure Planet:
The Disney Animation project “Treasure Planet,” which was initially regarded as a colossal failure, is fascinating. This sci-fi adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island,” directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, employs gorgeous animation to tell a tale that initially sounds fantastical but is deeply familiar. In contrast to past adaptations, which emphasized the swashbuckling adventure highly, Musker and Clements adopt a more dynamic style.
There is a lot of emotion in “Treasure Planet,” from Johnny Rzeznik’s catchy songs for the Goo Goo Dolls to Joseph Gordon-Levitt with Brian Murray’s moving performances as Jim Hawkins & John Silver, correspondingly. This movie has never seemed to get the attention it deserves, even though its speed and humor don’t land quite as well as a few of Musker and Clement’s last Disney movies. It’s about time it did, given the extraordinary amount of effort and detail that went into “Treasure Planet.”
I’m Still Here:
10. Brother Bear
- Director: Aaron Blaise and Robert Walker.
- Writer: Tab Murphy, Lome Cameron, David Hoselton, and Ron J. Friedman.
- Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Rick Moranis, Jeremy Suarez, Dave Thomas, and D.B. Sweeney.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 37%
- IMDB: 6.8/10
- Platforms: Amazon Instant Video, Hulu, Netflix, and Disney+ Hotstar.
- Year Of Release: 2003
Although it has several strange narrative problems and strange pacing decisions, the underrated Disney animated film “Brother Bear” is a hidden gem.
Brother Bear Plot:
Young Indian brave Kenai (Joaquin Phoenix) has a particular dislike for bears. After killing the bear that killed his brother Sitka (D.B. Sweeney), Kenai mysteriously transforms into a bear. Even worse, his other brother Denahi (Jason Raize) makes a death warrant for the bear-like Kenai.
Kenai takes the help of a real bear cub named Koda to guide them to a mythical mountain where he can be turned back into a human.
9. James and The Giant Peach
- Director: Henry Selick
- Writer: Author Roald Dahl
- Cast: Paul Terry, Susan Sarandon, Miriam Margolyes, Richard Dreyfuss, Simon Callow, David Thewlis, Joanna Lumley, David Thewley, Jane Leeves.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
- IMDB: 6.7/10
- Platforms: Disney+ Hotstar and Netflix.
- Year Of Release: 1996
About James and The Giant Peach:
This Underrated Disney movie having a live-action/stop-motion animation when first debuted, seemed a sure thing. This version of Roald Dahl’s story, helmed by The Nightmare Before Christmas director Henry Selick, has all the shooting of a hit, yet it never caught on with moviegoers.
The adventures of James, an impoverished young British boy, are followed in this creative version of Roald Dahl’s renowned children’s story, which combines stop-motion animation and live-action.
8. Bedknobs and Broomsticks
- Director: Robert Stevenson
- Writer: Bill Walsh and Don DaGradi.
- Cast: Angela Lansbury, David Tomlinson, John Ericson, Ian Weighill, Cindy O’Callaghan, and Roy Snart.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 67%
- IMDB: 7/10
- Platforms: Disney+ Hotstar.
- Year Of Release: 1971
Disney enjoyed fantastic success with the 1964 movie Mary Poppins, so it only made sense that the Company would try to tap into that same again for a subsequent live action/animation hybrid with great songs, a lengthy epic, and a sweeping and fanciful plot. Due to this, there is Bedknobs and Broomsticks, a film about an enigmatic, erratic witch (Angela Lansbury).
About Bedknobs and Broomsticks:
She is compelled to take in three British youngsters amid England’s World War II effort. She leads them on a wild and woolly excursion comparable to anything in Mary Books. Even if Bedknobs is not quite as brilliant as Mary Poppins, Lansbury and Tomlinson make an excellent acting duo, and the tunes are rather good. There isn’t a better Mary Poppins remake out there.
7. Oliver and Company
- Director: George Scribner
- Writer: Jim Cox, Timothy J. Disney, and James Mangold.
- Cast: Joey Lawrence, Billy Joel, Natalie Gregory, Cheech Marin, Bette Midler, Robert Loggia, Richard Mulligan, Roscoe Lee Browne, and Sheryl Lee Ralph.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 50%
- IMDB: 6.6/10
- Platforms: Disney+ Hotstar
- Year Of Release: 1988
Oliver and Company Plot:
Oliver (Joey Lawrence) is an abandoned kitten adopted by a pack of thieves in this animated adaptation of the classic “Oliver Twist” story. The gang is headed by cavalier dog Dodger (Billy Joel) and is owned by destitute pickpocket Fagin (Dom DeLuise).
Oliver gets adopted by Jenny (Natalie Gregory), a wealthy girl named Jenny who works on New York City’s streets and ends up on an easy road. However, a loan shark endangers the tranquil new arrangement through several incidents.
6. The Great Mouse Detective
- Director: Ron Clements, John Musker, Burny Mattinson, and David Michener.
- Writer: Ron Clements, John Musker, Burny Mattinson, and David Michener.
- Cast: Val Bettin, Vincent Price, Barrie Ingham, Susanne Pollatschek, Basil Rathbone, Candy Candido, Alan Young, Eve Brenner, Laurie Main, Diana Chesney, Wayne Allwine, Walker Edmiston, Tony Anselmo, Ellen Fitzhugh, and Melissa Manchester.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 79%
- IMDB: 7.2/10
- Platforms: Disney+ Hotstar and Netflix.
- Year Of Release: 1986
Saying that The Little Mermaid marked the start of the Disney Renaissance is a tired meme. It is widely believed that this movie, influenced by Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes writings, marked the beginning of Disney Animation’s modern era of success. The Disney Renaissance’s Oregano of London and his dependable new helper Dawson story is far from its best work.
The Great Mouse Detective Plot:
This underrated Disney film is based on the “Basil of Baker Street” book series by Eve Titus, which follows the deeds of the main character, a mouse detective named Basil, as he attempts to solve a mystery involving London’s master toymaker.
The Great Mouse Detective is a comfort film, or an exciting adventure all rolled into one, with endearing characters, scenes, and images of delicious crumpets.
When Disney Animation was at stake during the years following Walt’s death, #TheGreatMouseDetective was released to ensure success of its unmatchable quality of storytelling, character wit, and technical innovations.
Happy 35th anniversary! 🐭🕵️♂️🐀⚙️@DisneyAnimation pic.twitter.com/68mUujBoFb— 🎆MC the Toonster🎆 (@MToonster24) July 2, 2021
5. John Carter
- Director: Andrew Stanton
- Writer: Edgar Rice Burroughs
- Cast: Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Willem Dafoe, Mark Strong, Thomas Haden Church, Dominic West, Samantha Morton, Bryan Cranston, James Purefoy, and Polly Walker.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 52%
- IMDB: 6.6/10
- Platforms: Disney+ Hotstar, Netflix.
- Year Of Release: 2012
About John Carter:
Disney‘s attempt to adapt the “John Carter of Mars” series, which was a failure at its initial release, can now be enjoyed by a wider audience who recognizes the film’s strengths rather than its problems. Taylor Kitsch plays Civil War veteran John Carter, who is dispatched to the mysterious planet of Barsoom in the adaption.
John Carter Best Moments:
4. The Black Cauldron
- Director: Ted Berman and Richard Rich
- Writer: Lloyd Alexander
- Cast: Grant Bardsley, John Byner, John Hurt, Susan, Sheridan, Nigel Hawthorne, Billie Hayes, Lindsay Rich, Peter Renaday, Phil Fondacaro, Eda Reiss Merin, Freddie Jones, Arthur Malet, Wayne Allwine, Brandon Call, James Almanzar.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 55%
- IMDb: 6.3/10
- Platforms: Disney+ Hotstar, Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, and Apple TV.
- Year Of Release: 1985
Walt Disney Pictures released the American animation dark fantasy adventure film The Black Cauldron in 1985. Walt Disney Feature Animation made it in collaboration with Silver Screen Partners II.
It is the 25th Disney animated film and is partially modeled on the first two books of Lloyd Alexander’s five-book series, The Chronicles of Prydain, based on Welsh mythology. But unfortunately became one of the most underrated movies.
The Black Cauldron Plot:
When the evil Horned King (John Hurt), who had been given the prophesying pig Hen-Wren by Taran, abducts her, young Taran is called to heroic duty. Taran must now find the mysterious black cauldron with the aid of Princess Eilonwy and his furry companion Gurgi first before Horned King can use it to conjure an army of the damned.
3. The Rescuers Down Under
- Director: Mike Gabriel
- Writer: Margery Sharp, Jim Cox, Joe Ranft, Byron Simpson, and Karey Kirkpatrick.
- Cast: Eva Gabor, Bob Newhart, John Candy, George C. Scott, Bernard Fox, Adam Ryen, Frank Welker, Tristan Rogers, Carla Meyer, Peter Firth, Billy Barty, Douglas Seale, Russi Taylor, and Ed Gilbert.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 71%
- IMDb: 6.8/10
- Platforms: Disney+ Hotstar, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video.
- Year Of Release: 1990
This underrated Disney film is a romantic subplot involving our brave mice or an Australian mouse is sitcom-like. Still, now this movie’s action-packed opening scene is thrilling, and Scott plays an admirably sleazy antagonist. You ought to look into this.
The Rescuers Down Under Plot:
A rare golden eagle is freed from a trap by Cody (Adam Ryen), a young boy living in the Australian outback. A group of local animals contacts the Rescue Aid Society in New York City when an unscrupulous poacher (George C. Scott) abducts Cody to capture the eagle.
The Rescue Aid Society then assigns two top mice, Bernard and Bianca, to the case. The spies send a bumbling albatross and a resourceful kangaroo rat to Australia to save a boy named Cody and the eagle (Tristan Rogers).
2. The Three Caballeros
- Director: Clyde Geronimi, Jack Kinney, Norm Ferguson, Bill Roberts, and Harold Young.
- Writer: Ralph Wright, Del Connell, Ernest Terrazas, Bill Peet, and James Bodrero.
- Cast: Clarence Nash, Aurora Miranda, Joaquin Garay, Ze Carioca, Carmen Molina, Sterling Holloway, Nestor Amaral, and Frank Graham.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 83%
- IMDB: 7.8/10
- Platforms: Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ Hotstar.
- Year Of Release: 1944
The Seventh Animation Film in the Disney Theme Animated Classics Series is another most underrated movie The Three Caballeros. The major characters are Donald Duck, Panchito Pistoles, and José Carioca. The movie is divided into numerous parts related to a common theme.
The Three Caballeros, the first broadcast in America in 1945 and then again in 1977, is all but forgotten by Disney. The Three Caballeros is the 1940s “package film” by Disney. His animation was produced during World War II, which is also accurate.
The Three Caballeros Plot:
Donald Duck journeys to South America in four comical short stories that combine live action with animation. On the way, Donald runs into Pablo the Penguin, a penguin who despises the cold and is just a flying donkey. Disney’s initial attempt to incorporate live-action and animation received two Academy Award nominations.
1. Meet the Robinsons
- Director: Stephen John Anderson
- Writer: Aurion Redson, Stephen John Anderson, Don Hall, Joseph Mateo, Nathan Greno, Jon Bernstein, and Michelle Bochner Spitz.
- Cast: Stephen John Anderson, Daniel Hansen, Wesley Singerman, Jordan Fry, Tom Selleck, Don Hall, Harland Williams, and Nicole Sullivan.
- Rotten Tomatoes: 67%
- IMDB: 6.8/10
- Platforms: Disney+ Hotstar
- Year Of Release: 2007
American computer-animated science-fiction comedy Meet Walt Disney Pictures released the Robinsons in 2007. Walt Disney Animation Studios developed it. Meet the Robinsons is one of the most underrated Disney movies that received so much appreciation during the time of its release but sadly got lost in time.
It is the studio’s 47th animated movie. It is partially based on William Joyce’s children’s book A Day with Wilbur Robinson from 1990.
Meet the Robinsons Plot:
In the film, Wilbur Robinson, a teenage time-traveler attempting to stop a mystery bowler-hatted man from altering Lewis’ story and, consequently, the entire future, interacts with Lewis, a 12-year-old inventor who is anxious to be adopted.
Little Wonders:
