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Disney has made some of the best movies of all time, but with such an extensive catalog of movies, some great ones have been forgotten with time. Disney is best known for its family-friendly stories and animated movies, but the Mouse House has done a bit of everything, and for viewers of all ages.
With so many hit movies across different decades and genres, it’s not surprising that some great movies, both live-action and animated, have gotten lost in the vast Disney catalog. Whether they weren’t well-received during their initial release, they were different from what’s expected from Disney, or they were released at the wrong time, these movies are great, even if not everyone remembers them.
Brother Bear (2003)
Brother Bear is an animated movie directed by Aaron Blaise and Robert Walker. Brother Bear takes viewers to post-ice age Alaska to meet Kenai (voiced by Joaquin Phoenix), who, after his oldest brother dies after sacrificing himself to save Kenai and his brother from a bear, goes after the animal, killing it.
Kenai is then turned into a bear by the Great Spirits to teach him a lesson, and he must travel to a faraway mountain to become human again. In the process, he befriends a bear cub named Koda, with whom he forms a special bond.
Brother Bear is a story of grief, redemption, and brotherhood, and though it was too “simple” for some, it has more depth than many popular animated Disney movies.
Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983)
Something Wicked This Way Comes is a dark fantasy horror movie directed by Jack Clayton and based on Ray Bradbury’s 1962 novel of the same name (with Bradbury writing the screenplay for the movie). Something Wicked This Way Comes follows best friends Will and Jim, who come across a sinister carnival that arrives just before Halloween.
The carnival is led by Mr. Dark, who turns the town’s people into carnival freaks, as the carnival feeds on their fears. Something Wicked This Way Comes is unlike most Disney movies, as it’s much darker and explores themes like mortality, temptation, and fear, which is exactly why it has been pushed aside for years, but it’s also what makes it so good.
Treasure Planet (2002)
Treasure Planet is an animated sci-fi adventure movie directed by John Musker and Ron Clements. Based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1883 novel of the same name, Treasure Planet follows Jim Hawkins (voiced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a rebellious teen who finds a holographic map to a legendary pirate hoard.
Treasure Planet has a steampunk style and a blend of animation styles that make it quite unique, but also alienated the audience. Treasure Planet has become a Disney cult classic, but it still doesn’t get the recognition it deserves for its creativity, story, and character development.
Tru Confessions (2002)
Tru Confessions is a comedy drama movie directed by Paul Hoen and based on Janet Tashjian’s 1997 book of the same name. Tru Confessions is the story of Tru Walker (Clara Bryant), an aspiring filmmaker who enters a film contest. Tru makes a documentary on her twin brother Eddie (Shia LaBeouf), who is developmentally disabled due to oxygen deprivation at birth.
Through her project, Tru learns more about how her brother sees the world and exposes the discrimination he faces every day, as well as her family dynamic that isn’t always perfect. Tru Confessions was released as a Disney Channel Original Movie, which is why it didn’t get the recognition it deserves.
Tru Confessions is an exploration of family, sibling bonds, and the inner struggles of a teenager, with an incredible and respectful performance by LaBeouf.
Sky High (2005)
Sky High is a superhero comedy movie directed by Mike Mitchell. Sky High is the story of Will Stronghold (Michael Angarano), the son of two superheroes who is enrolled in a special high school for teenage superheroes. Will initially believed he had no powers, but these manifest at school just as he struggles to keep his old friendships, make new ones, and faces a mysterious supervillain.
Despite being well-received by critics, Sky High became a forgotten Disney movie. However, it’s now regarded as a cult film, and with good reason, as it’s a different type of superhero movie, with a fun and heartfelt high school story with memorable and relatable characters (despite their superpowers) with a touch of action and fantasy.
Meet the Robinsons (2007)
Meet the Robinsons is an animated sci-fi comedy movie based on William Joyce’s 1990 children’s book A Day with Wilbur Robinson. Directed by Stephen Anderson, Meet the Robinsons follows orphan boy genius and inventor Lewis, who travels to the future with a boy named Wilbur to stop villain Bowler Hat Guy from stealing one of his inventions.
Meet the Robinsons was well-received by critics but didn’t do well at the box office, leading to it falling into the category of great but forgotten Disney movies. Meet the Robinsons has charming characters, a heartfelt story, and explores themes like family, trauma, adoption, and love, with some great twists in a complex but engaging story.
A Goofy Movie (1995)
A Goofy Movie is an animated road comedy directed by Kevin Lima. As the title says, it’s centered on Goofy, who, worried about his teenage son, Max, decides to take him on a father-and-son fishing trip across the country. Of course, as this is Goofy, things don’t go as planned, and Max had different, secret plans, too.
A Goofy Movie has all the elements of a great Disney movie: fun and relatable characters, great jokes, catchy songs, and a heartfelt message (this one being a family one). A Goofy Movie didn’t succeed as it should have due to poor marketing and bad timing, but it’s one of Disney’s best underrated gems.
The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
The Great Mouse Detective is an animated mystery adventure movie based on Eve Titus and Paul Galdone’s book series Basil of Baker Street. The Great Mouse Detective follows the title mouse detective, Basil, who investigates the kidnapping of a toymaker. Despite being a critical and commercial success, The Great Mouse Detective has become forgotten.
The Great Mouse Detective is a fun and original take on Sherlock Holmes, with a fast-paced and engaging plot and charming characters, as well as an animation style that is now quite nostalgic.
Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (2004)
Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen is a teen comedy movie directed by Sara Sugarman, based on Dyan Sheldon’s 1999 novel of the same name. Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen follows Mary a.k.a. Lola (Lindsay Lohan), a 15-year-old girl who dreams of becoming an actress.
When she moves from New York City to New Jersey, Lola is determined to be the most popular girl at school and get the main role in the school play, but her imaginative mind gets out of hand. Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen is relatable, fun, with catchy songs, and one of Lohan’s most charming performances.
The Black Cauldron (1985)
The Black Cauldron is a dark fantasy animated movie loosely based on the first two books of Lloyd Alexander’s The Chronicles of Prydain novel series. Set in the land of Prydain, The Black Cauldron follows Taran, a teenage pig-keeper who goes on a quest to stop the evil Horned King from using the ancient Black Cauldron.
The King intends to use the cauldron to raise an army of the undead and conquer the world. The Black Cauldron is now a cult classic, but it was a forgotten Disney movie for a long time due to its darker tone that was labeled unsuitable for children, its story, and characters, which many found “unlikable”, compared to those in Disney’s biggest hits.
The Black Cauldron is definitely darker, but that doesn’t make it a bad movie, and it’s actually its biggest strength, along with its unique characters and differences from traditional Disney movies.
