Just because you're diving into the warm, fluffy nostalgia trip that is Disney+ doesn't mean you can't add a little prestige to your night. Thanks to Disney's long-established dominance, the streaming service has no shortage of impressive Oscar winners, dating all the way back to the 1930s. (That would be Flowers and Trees, Best Animated Short winner of 1932). We've whittled down the list to bring you the very best, which you can scroll through below.
Coco (2017)
- Run Time: 1 hr 45 min | Genre: Animated Fantasy | Director: Lee Unkrich
- Cast: Anthony Gonzalez, Gael García Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, Alanna Ubach, Renée Victor, Ana Ofelia Murguía, Edward James Olmos
- Oscars Won: Best Animated Feature Film of the Year, Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song)
Coco is the kind of film that can connect with almost any viewer, no matter who they are or where they come from. Emotional and dazzling, Coco delights with beautiful animation and color, as well as a profound and beautiful score; the main character Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez) is as endearing as he is talented, and his journey to not only understand his family history but also passion that lies within him, is one that almost everyone can relate to. This is a classic coming-of-age story given a level of detail and care very rarely seen; the attention and respect given to the main characters’ culture and history breathe life into an already vivacious story, and the twists and turns that the viewers are privy to create a wonderful and heart-wrenching ride. - Olivia Fitzpatrick
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
- Run Time: 2 hrs 41 min | Director: Ryan Coogler
- Cast: Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Angela Bassett, Tenoch Huerta
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a stunning and heartfelt tribute to the late star of Black Panther, Chadwick Boseman. Stars Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong'o, and Danai Gurira, as well as Oscar nominee Angela Bassett, return for the second film in the franchise. The film explores how the fictional country of Wakanda protects itself from intervening world powers — particularly the new threat from the water: Namor (Tenoch Huerta). Uniquely tackling the devastating loss of its star, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever allows writer/director Ryan Coogler to infuse Black Panther’s next chapter with grief, resilience, and new hope. – Yael Tygiel
Tarzan (1999)
- Run Time: 1 hr 28 min | Genre: Animated Adventure Musical | Director: Chris Buck, Kevin Lima
- Cast: Tony Goldwyn, Minnie Driver, Brian Blessed, Glenn Close
- Oscars Won: Best Original Song
Based on Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan of the Apes, Tarzan serves as the first animated adaptation of the story. Directed by Chris Buck and Kevin Lima, Tarzan features the voice of Tony Goldwyn in the titular role. Set in the 1880s, Tarzan is the story of an English man who was raised in the African jungle by gorillas after his parents were killed. Co-starring icons Minnie Driver and Glenn Close, Tarzan was praised for its cast and intricately detailed animation. With a universal message and themes of blood-related family versus chosen family, as well as finding one’s place in the world and belonging, the story of Tarzan continues to be shared with all generations. – Yael Tygiel
Brave (2012)
- Run Time: 1 hr 33 min | Genre: Animated Fantasy | Director: Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman, Steve Purcell
- Cast: Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson
- Oscars Won: Best Animated Feature
Brave is a delightfully relatable animated film for women of all ages. Highlighted by a Scottish cast of voices, including Kelly Macdonald (Boardwalk Empire), Billy Connolly, Kevin McKidd, and Craig Ferguson (How to Train Your Dragon), Brave reveals a tale of magic, courage, and perseverance. Introducing audiences to a new Disney princess, Merida (Macdonald) is a headstrong young woman who intends to prove her worth and strength, defying the traditional structures imposed upon her. After a wish goes awry, Merida is forced to face her fears and confront her mistakes to save her family and her kingdom. – Yael Tygiel
Cruella (2021)
- Run Time: 2 hrs 14 min | Genre: Crime Comedy Family | Director: Craig Gillespie
- Cast: Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry
- Oscars Won: Best Costume Design
Cruella is the untold prequel chronicling the beginnings of 101 Dalmatians villain Cruella DeVil. Starring Emma Stone and Emma Thompson, Cruella is a visually stunning cinematic story that follows an aspiring fashion designer and the lengths to which she’ll go to achieve her dreams while also seeking revenge for her mother’s murder. Director Craig Gillespie brings to life the bold new origin tale, capturing the 1970s London punk movement and emphasizing the daring colors and fashion of that particular period. With two prodigious actresses at the forefront, Cruella glorifies Stone and Thompson in their element. – Yael Tygiel
Encanto (2021)
- Run Time: 1 hr 49 min | Genre: Animated Musical Fantasy | Director: Jared Bush, Byron Howard
- Cast: Stephanie Beatriz, María Cecilia Botero, John Leguizamo, Wilmer Valderrama, Jessica Darrow
- Oscars Won: Best Animated Feature
Set in Colombia, the Oscar-winning Encanto tells the story of Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz) and her magical family, the Madrigals. When the magic that’s blessed her family starts to fade away, it’s up to Mirabel to save the family miracle. With all of its catchy music, courtesy of Lin-Manuel Miranda, and beautiful animation, Encanto also explores family dynamics, generational trauma, and the crushing weight of anxiety. Though Mirabel is the only one in her family without a special power, she discovers that her superpower is bringing her family together through healing and understanding. So yes, we do talk about Bruno! - Meredith Loftus
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)
- Run Time: 2 h 31 min | Genre: Fantasy Swashbuckler | Director: Gore Verbinski
- Cast: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy, Jack Davenport, Tom Hollander, Stellan Skarsgård, Kevin McNally, and Jonathan Pryce
- Oscars Won: Best Visual Effects
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest is the sequel to Disney’s ambitious live-action adaptation of their ever-popular Walt Disney World and Disneyland ride by the same name. Following the events of the first film, Dead Man’s Chest opens on Will Turner's (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann’s (Keira Knightley) ill-fated wedding day, as Lord Cutler Beckett (Tom Hollander) arrives with arrest warrants for the nearly-wedded couple and their compatriot Jack Norrington (Jack Davenport) who allowed Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) to escape capture.
From there, things get pretty daunting as the trio reunites with Sparrow and finds themselves caught in the path of the legendary pirate Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) of The Flying Dutchman. While the plot of the film is as equally heavy as the first, there are moments of levity, such as the iconic “I’ve got a jar of dirt” scene that has been named and remixed for years now. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest is undoubtedly the best out of the franchise, particularly in the visual effects department which is exactly why it won an Oscar. — Maggie Lovitt
Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
- Run Time: 2 hr 1 min | Genre: Epic Space Opera | Director: George Lucas
- Cast: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Peter Cushing, Alec Guinness, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker
- Oscars Won: Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Costume Design, Best Sound, Best Film Editing, Best Effects, Visual Effects, Best Music, and Original Score
Star Wars: A New Hope was the start of a vast and wonderful universe, where people and creatures of all kinds could make their mark. Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford remain iconic for their roles, setting a standard for Star Wars’ future leads and bringing to life a galaxy that few could have imagined prior. While the story itself is classic at this point, the art and creativity that went into making the movie feel truly real and believable remain some of the most masterfully done in film history; even as time continues forward and technology advances, the rush of adrenaline when that first starship appears on screen can rarely be overstated. Even now, years later, the practical effects and costume design only add to this movie’s appeal. — Olivia Fitzpatrick
The Sound of Music (1965)
- Run Time: 2 hr 54 min | Genre: Musical | Director: Robert Wise
- Cast: Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Richard Haydn, Peggy Wood, Charmian Carr, Eleanor Parker
- Oscars Won: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Film Score, and Best Sound
The hills are alive with the sound of music! The Sound of Music is the 1965 Oscar-winning musical about love and music in a time of war. Maria (Julie Andrews), a carefree nun, gets more than she bargains for when she’s sent off from the abbey to become a governess to a retired naval captain’s seven children. She wins over the children through the power of music, and in the process, she and Captain Von Trapp (Christopher Plummer) fall in love. Set at the onset of the Nazi invasion of Austria, the family learns how to love again and how to survive after leaving their home. Directed by Robert Wise, this movie musical will charm you with its infectious songs yet ground you with its serious themes of choosing between complicity versus standing for what’s right. — Meredith Loftus
Up (2009)
- Run Time: 1 hr 36 min | Genre: Animated Comedy-Drama Adventure | Director: Pete Docter, Bob Peterson
- Cast: Ed Asner, Jordan Nagai, Christopher Plummer, John Ratzenberger, Delroy Lindo
- Oscars Won: Best Animated Feature, Best Original Score
There’s nowhere to go but up (literally) for 78-year-old Carl Fredericksen (Ed Asner), a retired balloon salesman whose inner adventurer is shrouded by his curmudgeonly demeanor and reclusive lifestyle. Knowing that he isn’t getting any younger, Carl decides to fulfill his childhood dream of visiting Paradise Falls by tying thousands of balloons to his home in the hopes of whisking away. He doesn’t realize that Russell (Jordan Nagai), the wide-eyed 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer looking to fulfill his badge requirements that Carl shooed away, is still on his front porch…also airborne. The Oscar-winning film Up puts these two on an unplanned and emotional adventure fueled by reflection, retrospection, and friendship. Pack your tissues! — Emily Bernard
Inside Out (2015)
- Run Time: 1 hr 35 min | Genre: Animated Adventure Comedy-Drama | Director: Pete Docter
- Cast: Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Richard Kind, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling, Kaitlyn Dias
- Oscar Won: Best Animated Feature
Inside Out is a deeply thoughtful, emotional movie about the complexities of change told through the playful lens of a child’s internal emotions. When Riley’s (Kaitlyn Dias) world turns upside down after she and her parents move across the country, Riley’s emotions try their best to guide her through this time; Joy (Amy Poehler) tries her best to keep Riley happy but Sadness (Phyllis Smith) starts to take the forefront. Joy and Sadness get swept away from Riley’s mind, it’s up to Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling), and Fear (Bill Hader) to keep things afloat while Joy and Sadness journey back. In true Pixar fashion, the animation of Inside Out is gorgeous, expanding the imagination of our minds; meanwhile, the story balances humor and introspection, taking audiences young and old on a truly emotional journey about what it means to grow up. — Meredith Loftus
Finding Nemo (2003)
- Run Time: 1 hr 40 min | Genre: Animated Adventure Comedy-Drama | Director: Andrew Stanton
- Cast: Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould, Willem Dafoe
- Oscar Won: Best Animated Feature
Finding Nemo is arguably Pixar’s best film to date, and there are many reasons for that. By faithfully reproducing the underwater fauna and flora of the ocean, Finding Nemo remains one of Pixar’s most visually stunning works, even after almost two decades since it was first released. On top of that, the film explores the generational conflict between overprotective parents and young people eager to explore the world, showing how it’s possible to maintain a loving family when both parties learn to trust and support each other. Finding Nemo is also a story about moving past our traumas, learning to live with our disabilities, and letting people we love help us in our darkest moments. It’s a fun film that the whole family can enjoy, but it has enough layers to leave an emotional impact long after the credits roll. — Marco Vito Oddo
Avatar (2009)
- Run Time: 2 hr 40 min | Genre: Epic Sci-Fi | Director: James Cameron
- Cast: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Sigourney Weaver
- Oscars Won: Best Visual Effects, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction
It’s easy to look back at Avatar now and complain that it’s left no cultural landmark, but you can’t overstate what a game changer James Cameron’s passion project was. Even if the story beats are familiar to anyone who has seen Dances With Wolves, Cameron’s dedication to worldbuilding is just as jaw-dropping now as it was back in 2009. It will be fascinating to see what Disney does with the Avatar property when Cameron’s long-awaited sequels finally hit theaters. Avatar is also unforgettable for Oscar fans, as Cameron’s mega-budget sci-fi epic was in close competition for the Best Picture and Best Director prizes against Cameron’s ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker. — Liam Gaughan
Jungle Book (2016)
- Run Time: 1 hr 29 min | Genre: Adventure Drama | Director: Jon Favreau
- Cast: Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong'o, Scarlett Johansson, Giancarlo Esposito, Christopher Walken, Neel Sethi
- Oscar Won: Best Achievement in Visual Effects
Most live-action adaptations of Disney classics copy the original film scene by scene or get lost with the addition of new moments that add little to the plot. 2016’s Jungle Book is Disney’s only live-action adaptation that surpasses the original in every aspect. First, Jungle Book is beautiful, and the ultra-realistic animals Disney was capable of conjuring with digital magic opened a new door for VFX in cinema. Secondly, Jungle Book improves on the original movie's message by allowing protagonist Mowgli (Neel Sethi) to find his purpose in the jungle, instead of just leaving everything behind in favor of humans. Finally, the film has a beautiful message about community and teaches a new generation that if we stick together, we are stronger than the vilest of tyrants. — Marco Vito Oddo
Soul (2020)
- Run Time: 1 hr 40 min | Genre: Animated Comedy-Drama | Director: Pete Docter
- Cast: Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Graham Norton, Rachel House, Alice Braga, Richard Ayoade, Phylicia Rashad, Donnell Rawlings, Questlove, Angela Bassett
- Oscars Won: Best Animated Feature, Best Original Score
It’s a cliche at this point to say that Pixar films force us to cry, but Pete Docter actually made a movie centered around soul-searching. While Inside Out focuses on the nature of emotions, Soul asks questions about purpose, success, and dreams. The heavy material is brought to life thanks to Jamie Foxx’s outstanding voice work, but Tina Fey’s comic relief adds an appropriate amount of levity. In addition to the animated feature prize, Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, and Jon Batiste picked up the Oscar for Best Original Score in the same year that Reznor and Ross had also been nominated for Mank. - Liam Gaughan
Big Hero 6 (2014)
- Run Time: 1 hr 42 min | Genre: Animated Superhero | Director: Don Hall, Chris Williams
- Cast: Ryan Potter (voice), Scott Adsit (voice), Jamie Chung (voice)
- Oscar Won: Best Animated Feature
Superhero films have become a genre unto themselves, but each film adds its own unique signature to the landscape. Case in point—Big Hero 6. Loosely (very loosely) based on the Marvel Comics of the same name, this animated adventure follows robotics prodigy Hira Hamada (Ryan Potter) who finally discovers his passion before losing it all. He has to find a way to pull himself back up with the help of his friends and a lovable robot named Baymax. This is an incredible, heart-warming film with probably one of the most devastating on-screen deaths on Disney’s roster. You will be bawling your eyes out, so be prepared. However, Big Hero 6 rises above the doom and gloom to construct believable—and adorable—character dynamics and an enthralling story. The voice cast is stellar, adding so much depth to their performances. But nothing quite prepares you for the beauty of San Fransokyo. Every frame of this film is a work of art and the central city is a glorious masterclass in animation. You will want to move to this fictional city because it is unparalleled in design! – Monita Mohan
Toy Story 3 (2010)
- Run Time: 1 hr 43 min | Genre: Animated Comedy-Drama | Director: Lee Unkrich
- Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Michael Keaton
- Oscars Won: Best Animated Feature, Best Original Song
Nobody wanted Toy Story 3. Pixar got lucky enough with Toy Story 2, so there was no need to tempt fate. But against all odds, Toy Story 3 is a wonderful, necessary sequel. The brilliance of the film was how it mirrored the audience that had grown up with these movies. Whereas they were kids when the first two films came out, most were now heading off to/in college and were leaving their child's life behind. The themes of letting go and moving on in healthy ways are beautifully illustrated in the story of these compassionate toys, and you won’t find a more iconically emotional moment in the medium of animation than when these characters all hold hands in the incinerator. So that when they face death, they’ll do so together. Just heartbreaking. – Adam Chitwood
Toy Story 4 (2019)
- Run Time: 1 hr 40 min | Genre: Animated Comedy-Drama | Director: Josh Cooley
- Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts, Tony Hale
- Oscars Won: Best Animated Feature
It was a preposterous idea to even think about following up that perfectly heartwrenching ending to Toy Story 3. But Pixar pulled off another magic trick with Toy Story 4, which feels more like an adventure tale than any other entry in the franchise. The film also puts a whole new focus on Bo Peep, voiced by the imitable Annie Potts, as a rogue toy living without an owner. Toy Story 4 might not be the best of the various Toy Stories, but it did introduce a whole batch of instantly iconic characters, like Tony Hale's motor-mouthed junk-turned-toy Forky—who got his own spinoff!—and Keanu Reeves' aggressively Canadian stunt-cycle driver, Duke Caboom. —Vinnie Mancuso
Black Panther (2018)
- Run Time: 2 hr 15 min | Genre: Superhero | Director: Ryan Coogler
- Cast: Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong'o, Michael B. Jordan, Danai Gurira
- Oscars Won: Best Original Score, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design
No Marvel movie has been as overtly political or socially conscious as Ryan Coogler’s thoughtful and thrilling Black Panther. Picking up after the events of Captain America: Civil War, the movie has T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) reckoning with what it means to be a king for Wakanda and if his country’s isolationism is to its benefit or the world’s detriment. His throne and his views are confronted with the arrival of Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan), who sees the solution to Wakanda’s isolationism as imperialism and domination. Coogler skillfully embeds these ideas into a rollicking superhero tale that never loses sight of the humor or set pieces that Marvel has become known for. It’s a rich, exciting movie that’s deserving of its many accolades. – Matt Goldberg
Frozen (2013)
- Run Time: 1 hr 42 min | Genre: Animated Musical Fantasy | Director: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee
- Cast: Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad, Jonathan Groff
- Oscars Won: Best Animated Feature, Best Original Song
Frozen arrived on the scene in 2013 and promptly exploded into superstardom, establishing itself both at the box office and in the brains of parents taking their kids to see it for the fifth time. But unlike a few other phenoms, Frozen pretty much deserves its status, thanks to its simple, genuinely uplifting tale of two sisters: rebellious princess Anna (Kristen Bell) and Queen Elsa (Idina Menzel), who tries and fails to hide her budding powers. It eventually got overplayed, but the soundtrack is a genuine banger, led, of course, by Menzel's famously dynamite pipes. Time and repetition have chilled the perception of Frozen, but give this one another whirl. — Vinnie Mancuso
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
- Run Time: 1 hr 44 min | Genre: Comedy Mystery | Director: Robert Zemeckis
- Cast: Bob Hoskins, Charles Fleischer, Christopher Lloyd
- Oscars Won: Best Sound Editing, Best Visual Effects, Best Film Editing
Who Framed Roger Rabbit is a genuine miracle of a film, given that its seamless blend of animation and live-action is a technical marvel, but it also manages to just be endlessly entertaining from start to finish. Bob Hoskins is a surly blast as Eddie Valiant, a private detective hired to clear the name of the cartoon Roger Rabbit (Charles Fleischer), who has been framed for murder. Featuring a genuinely frightening, childhood-scarring turn from Christopher Lloyd as the villainous Judge Doom, Roger Rabbit is the type of out-there thrill ride we kind of just don't get from Hollywood anymore. As an added bonus, make sure to read up on why it's a miracle this movie is on Disney+ in the first place. — Vinnie Mancuso
Free Solo (2018)
- Run Time: 1 hr 40 min | Genre: Documentary | Director: Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
- Cast: Alex Honnold, Tommy Caldwell, Jimmy Chin
- Oscars Won: Best Documentary Feature
If you love the idea of crazy adventure but prefer to live vicariously through someone, this is the movie to watch. Free Solo follows climber Alex Honnold as he attempts to be the first-ever person to scale 3,200 foot El Capitan inside Yosemite National Park—without a rope. It’s an incredibly dangerous feat and the filmmaking puts you right into Honnold’s shoes, making for an intense watch. The film is made all the more impactful by how Chin and Vasarhelyi try to get to the heart of why someone like Honnold would risk his life for something like this. — Sarah Fielding
The Incredibles (2004)
- Run Time: 1 hr 55 min | Genre: Animated Superhero | Director: Brad Bird
- Cast: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Spencer Fox, Sarah Vowell
- Oscars Won: Best Animated Feature, Best Sound Editing
Where do you start with The Incredibles? The Fantastic Four movie that’s actually good and worth watching, maybe? Brad Bird directs this surprisingly poignant, touching, unsettling yet rousing story about Bob Parr (Nelson) and Helen Parr (Hunter) and their family of superheroes. Bob and Helen aka Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl, have been removed as superheroes by the government after a series of mistakes by their brethren and lawsuits by humans they were trying to save. They are given new identities and lives to blend into regular society. Bob works for an insurance company and is going through a midlife crisis. When Bob is contacted at work by a mysterious woman about a possible superhero mission, he jumps at the chance to do what he loves again, but it sets in motion an adventure that will test his limits and the limits of his family.
The Incredibles has some fantastic action throughout especially when they come together as a family on the secret island fighting off a deadly attack by the villain of the film, Syndrome (Lee). There’s great character work from Samuel L. Jackson as Frozone and Brad Bird as Edna Mode, but what separates it from most other superhero films are the moving relationship moments between Bob and Helen. When Bob tries to stop Helen from fighting alongside him in the final battle because he can’t stand to lose her again, it will break you up inside. Put your mask on again and find your super suit before you give this one a watch again, people. — John Rocha
Beauty and the Beast (1991)
- Run Time: 1 hr 24 min | Genre: Animated Musical Romantic Fantasy | Director: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise
- Cast: Paige O'Hara, Robby Benson, Richard White
- Oscars Won: Best Original Score, Best Original Song
A tale as old as time, indeed, but time hasn't made the undisputed classic Beauty and the Beast any less gorgeous. The first animated film to be nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award—and with good reason—Beauty and the Beast stars Paige O'Hara as Belle, an intelligent young woman imprisoned by a prince cursed with the body of a monster (Robby Benson). The synopsis alone certainly sounds like something would've aged poorly, but there's just something to Beauty and the Beast that makes it one of Disney's most enduring stories. This is due in no small part to some of the best work ever produced by legendary duo lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken. The magic is still there. — Vinnie Mancuso
Mary Poppins (1964)
- Run Time: 2 hr 19 min | Genre: Musical Fantasy | Director: Robert Stevenson
- Cast: Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson
- Oscars Won: Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Film Editing, Best Visual Effects, Best Score, Best Original Song
Winning five Oscars — Best Film Editing, Best Original Music Score, Best Visual Effects, Best Original Song ("Chim Chim Cher-ee,” though they had their pick of the litter), and of course Best Actress for Julie Andrews -- Mary Poppins plays to this day as a crown jewel not just of Disney’s live-action canon, but of their entire filmography. It boasts a spectacle of the highest craft and execution -- in particular, its fusion of live-action and animation is delightfully charming and impressive, and I would like to be friends with those penguins, please. Its narrative is so deceptively simple -- the best nanny of all time must fix this dang family! -- but so rife with deep emotion and lessons we should all keep applying. Its songs, from the iconic Sherman Brothers, are just slap-a-ronis, and there’s no other way to say it. And its performances, especially from the peerless Andrews, are so in the pocket -- even Dick Van Dyke’s utterly wild cockney accent plays within director Robert Stevenson’s world of joy and love effectively. Watching the film is like watching a live Broadway musical spectacle -- it still manages to impress and astonish while imparting its very necessary morals sneakily. In other words: a spoonful of sugar something something something.
WALL·E (2008)
- Run Time: 1 hr 38 min | Genre: Animated Sci-Fi | Director: Andrew Stanton
- Cast: Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, Jeff Garlin
- Oscars Won: Best Animated Feature
Leave it to the wizards at Pixar to craft one of the best sci-fi movies ever made. Director Andrew Stanton’s WALL-E is a masterpiece, and I’ll hear none of this “It’s only good for the first 20 minutes” nonsense. Indeed the film does open with a truly unforgettable first act, which plays out like a silent film therefore making Stanton and Co.’s artistry that much more impressive, but once the titular robot makes the trek to outer space, the film continues to shine thanks to its beating romantic heart. While sci-fi is WALL-E’s genre, romance is its ambition, and boy does this thing soar. The relationship between WALL-E and EVE is genuinely heartfelt, the romantic tension palpable—which, again, is some kind of dark magic given that this is an animated feature revolving around two robots who don’t speak actual words. Stanton threads a thematic resonance to our world today when it comes to humanity’s dangerous drive to make life easier and easier, but WALL-E simply doesn’t work if you don’t care about WALL-E. And you do. You really, really do. – Adam Chitwood
Aladdin (1992)
- Run Time: 2 hr 8 min | Genre: Animated Musical Fantasy Comedy | Director: Ron Clements, John Musker
- Cast: Scott Weinger, Robin Williams, Linda Larkin, Jonathan Freeman
- Oscars Won: Best Original Score, Best Original Song
Is Aladdin not one of the best Disney films of all time? Like the phrase "street rat," I don't buy that. This 1992 animated feature follows a street urchin named Aladdin (Scott Weinger) who magically rises to the position of prince thanks to a genie (Robin Williams) to win the heart of Princess Jasmine (Linda Larkin). Boasting one of Disney's best soundtracks—"A Whole New World" has been stuck in my head on and off for roughly 27 years—Aladdin also features one of the best-ever roles from the imitable Robin Williams. It's a genuinely magical whirlwind of a performance that basically changed the entire animation landscape for decades. — Vinnie Mancuso
The Lion King (1994)
- Run Time: 1 hr 27 min | Genre: Animated Musical Drama | Director: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff
- Cast: Matthew Broderick, Moira Kelly, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons
- Oscars Won: Best Original Score, Best Original Song
The Lion King is arguably the crowning achievement—pun extremely intended–of the much-heralded Disney Renaissance from 1989 to 1999. Borrowing from Shakespeare's Hamlet, the film follows a young lion named Simba (Matthew Broderick) who returns from exile to reclaim his homeland from villainous Uncle Scar (Jeremy Irons). Everything about this movie not only "holds up", but is wildly impressive to this day, from the gorgeous, vivid animation, to the music from composer Elton John, lyricist Tim Rice, and a score by Hans Zimmer, to the ensemble cast including James Earl Jones, Nathan Lane, and Rowan Atkinson. It's good to be the king.
Ratatouille (2007)
- Run Time: 1 hr 51 min | Genre: Animated Comedy-Drama | Director: Brad Bird
- Cast: Patton Oswalt, Janeane Garofalo, Lou Romano, and Brad Garrett
- Oscars Won: Best Animated Feature
At one point in time, Ratatouille was poised to be Pixar’s first independently released feature, as the studio was fighting with Disney CEO Michael Eisner. When Bob Iger took over, however, he smoothed things over and the rest is history, but perhaps that’s why there’s a certain adult quality to this particular Pixar film as the studio was crafting what would essentially be a calling card for its new, independent direction. The story follows a rat with a passion for cooking who teams up with a human cook with no talent to create truly wondrous meals in the heart of Paris. Writer/director Brad Bird’s infusion of the theme that “anyone can cook” is swell, but it’s the craftsmanship of the film—the beauty dripping off the screen—that makes it stand the test of time. – Adam Chitwood
Pocahontas (1995)
- Run Time: 1 hr 21 min | Genre: Animated Musical Historical Drama | Director: Mike Gabriel and Eric Goldberg
- Cast: Irene Bedard, Mel Gibson, Christian Bale, and David Ogden Stiers
- Oscars Won: Best Original Score, Best Original Song
Controversy aside—and yes, the controversy is warranted—Disney’s 1995 film Pocahontas is a beautiful piece of animated filmmaking. This retelling of the classic story leans far too heavily on the white side of the equation, romanticizing the straight-up invasion, and yet we can’t entirely throw the baby out with the bathwater as the artistry involved in bringing this to the screen is impossible to deny. – Adam Chitwood