Box Office Theory Forum’s Top 100 Disney Movies

[4815162342]

Solo deserved better 

[Eric Prime]

#310 - Frida (74 points, 1 list)

 

#309 - Bad Monkey, Blindness (75 points, 1 list)

 

#308 - Fresh (1994), Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin (76 points, 1 list)

 

#307 - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (77 points, 2 lists)

 

#306 - Tsotsi (77 points, 1 list)

#305 - The Kid (78 points, 2 lists)

 

#304 - Iron Monkey (78 points, 1 list)

 

#303 - Arachnophobia (79 points, 1 list)

 

#302 - Cinderella Man (80 points, 3 lists)

 

#301 - Leon: The Professional (80 points, 2 lists)

[Eric Prime]

10 minutes ago, The Panda said:

I assume this just means Air Bud is in the top 75 then 

...keep telling yourself that, honey.

[Morieris]

1 hour ago, Eric Creed said:

Became the second highest-grossing animated film ever made and fifteenth highest-grossing film ever.

 

 

It is? Whoa. This was the one and only time I went to a Thursday showing at 7 PM to a packed house.

[cannastop]

17 minutes ago, Morieris said:

 

 

It is? Whoa. This was the one and only time I went to a Thursday showing at 7 PM to a packed house.

I am pretty sure Incredibles 2 is still the #1 animated movie in the DOM market.

[Tower]

Amsterdam, Frida and Blindness, we have reached the "films that I loved but no one else here did" stage of the list.

[4815162342]

15 hours ago, Eric Creed said:

 

 

#301 - Leon: The Professional (80 points, 2 lists)

 

Now this being this low was pretty surprising

[Reddroast]

Good list so far

[Eric Prime]

#300 - The Castle (80 points, 1 list)

 

#299 - Shanghai Noon, Treasure Island (81 points, 2 lists, avg. ranking #60)

 

#298 - Infernal Affairs (81 points, 2 lists, avg. ranking #39)

 

#297 - Open Range (82 points, 3 lists)

 

#296 - Miracle (82 points, 2 lists)

 

#295 - Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (1997) (82 points, 1 list)

 

#294 - What About Bob? (83 points, 3 lists)

 

#293 - What's Love Got To Do With It? (83 points, 2 lists)

 

#292 - Bandits (83 points, 1 list)

 

#291 - He Got Game, The Lion King 1 1/2 (84 points, 2 lists)

[Eric Prime]

#74

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

698 points, 11 lists

"It would be so nice if something would make sense for a change."

 

 

Box Office: 71.9M

Rotten Tomatoes: 78%

Metacritic: 69

Awards: 2 Academy Award nominations, 3 BAFTA Award nominations, 1 Golden Globe Award and 1 nomination, 2 Grammy Award wins, 2 MTV Movie Award nominations

 

Roger Ebert’s Review: "All of these scenes are wonderful in their different ways, and yet I left the movie uncertain and unsatisfied. I saw it a second time, admired the same parts, left with the same feeling. I do not demand that all movies have a story to pull us from beginning to end, and indeed one of the charms of "The Big Lebowski," the Coens' previous film, is how its stoned hero loses track of the thread of his own life. But with "O Brother, Where Are Thou?" I had the sense of invention set adrift; of a series of bright ideas wondering why they had all been invited to the same film."

 

Its Legacy: Competed for Palme D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Its soundtrack went 8x Platinum. More successful than the film itself. Created the Soggy Bottom Boys and the Down from the Mountain concert tour. Gave the youths a fresh spin on Homer's The Odyssey. The first collaboration between the Coens and T Bone Burnett. Also the first collaboration between the Coens and George Clooney. Gave Charles Durning a paycheck.

 

Commentary: One of the most famous Coen releases ever, it’s also one of the best films that showcase the idiosyncrasies of the two brothers and what make their films so unique and stylish. It’s a hilarious comedy, a fun adventure, a dramatic tale on brotherhood, and a fantastic insight into the strange, yet endearing world of the American South. All the while, having one amazing soundtrack.

 

The songs in here, both from our Soggy Bottom Boys and not from them, is full of great bangers, highlighting the charms of folk and bluegrass music, while setting up the quirky tone of the feature perfectly. The songs here would soon take a life of their own, winning Album of the Year at the Grammys among other accolades, and is still a hit decades later, with nearly 9 million copies sold and many young folk knowing who Ralph Stanley and Haywire Mac thanks to this film.

 

And while the soundtrack plays a big part in what makes the film so good, it’s also very funny, very well-paced, full of great twists and turns, and a tone and scale that feels loopy and silly, yet also grand and exciting. It’s an odyssey that’s as good as...well, as good as The Odyssey.

 

[Eric Prime]

#73

Hercules

708 points, 19 lists

"Honey, you mean Hunk-ules."

Box Office: 252.7M

Rotten Tomatoes: 82%

Metacritic: 74

Awards: 1 Academy Award nomination, 4 Annie Awards and 2 nominations, 1 Golden Globe Award nomination

 

Roger Ebert’s Review: "The movie has been directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, who inaugurated the modern era of Disney animation with the inspired "Little Mermaid" (1989) and also made "Aladdin" (1992). The look of their animation has a new freshness because of the style of Scarfe, famous in England for his sharp-penned caricatures of politicians and celebrities; the characters here are edgier and less rounded than your usual Disney heroes (although the cuddly Pegasus is in the traditional mode). The color palette too, makes less use of basic colors and stirs in more luminous shades, giving the picture a subtly different look that suggests it is different in geography and history from most Disney pictures."

 

Its Legacy: Earned a strong fanbase despite underperforming at the box office. Brought Gerald Scarfe to Disney. Features a banging soundtrack. Oft-considered one of Musker and Clements' more underappreciated titles. Spawned a television series. Appeared in Kingdom Hearts. Given a musical stage show in 2019. A live-action remake is in development. Gave Bobcat Goldthwait a paycheck.

 

Commentary: The big follow-up from Little Mermaid/Aladdin directors Ron Clements and John Musker, Hercules is a very odd duck when you get around to it. More of a Caesar’s Palace-style rendition of Greek mythology, we have a lot of the darker, sexual elements removed (for obvious reasons of course), Hercules acts more like Superman, there’s gospel music for almost all the numbers, there’s a lot of satire of merchandising and product placement that was common in the 90s, and our villain Hades was more like a shady car salesman than a booming threat.

 

Still, it was a film that captured a lot of unique charms that, while reminiscent of other Musker/Clements features, also allowed the film to have a unique personality and style to it. This resulted in good songs, great characters, a fun and inspirational story about a misfit discovering himself and what it means to be a hero, and slick, stylized animation courtesy of Gerald Scarfe, who you may best know for his work with Pink Floyd.

 

The film’s eccentricities meant it did underperform at the box office, but the movie’s unique identity, fun universe, and memorable sequences meant it was destined to get a strong audience. An audience that’s still enamored by the feature and still finds themselves singing its praises. And singing its catchy gospel songs.

 

 

[Eric Prime]

#72

Encanto

727 points, 17 lists

"Maybe your gift is being in denial."

Box Office: 256.8M

Rotten Tomatoes: 92%

Metacritic: 75

Awards: 1 Academy Award and 2 nominations, 3 Annie Awards and 6 nominations, 1 Golden Globe Award and 2 nominations, 3 Grammy Awards, 4 Imagen Awards and 2 nominations

 

Roger Ebert’s Review: N/A

 

Its Legacy: Became a massive phenomenon in 2022. Inspired debates on mental health and family dynamics. The most-viewed film on streaming in 2022. The second-most viewed film on streaming in 2023. 27.7 billion views on Tiktok. "We Don't Talk About Bruno" became the first Disney song to hit #1 on Billboard since "A Whole New World". Expected to be one of Disney's biggest new franchises. Gave Stephanie Beatriz a paycheck.

 

Commentary: It’s here we have one of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ more recent hits. This film became a worldwide phenomenon once it reached Disney+ for very good reasons. The directors Jared Bush and Bryon Howard, the duo who helped bring Zootopia to life, crafted a story that lovingly pays tribute to the beauty, the wonder, and the people of Colombia. It’s a story that isn’t about a princess finding love or talking animals discovering who they are. This is a very personal, family-driven story about the frustrations of expectations and generational divides that many empathize and relate to, regardless of your background.

 

The film not only talks about familial pressures and the fears of not stacking up to what your loved ones wanted, but plays it smart by making all parties relatable and understandable and full of depth. Our protagonist Mirabel Madrigal is a quirky, yet kind-hearted and determined figure who just wants the best for her house and family, even if she’s the odd one out from all the powerful, more lauded members of her family. The abuela of the family could have easily been a one-dimensional and cruel matriarch, but her feelings and insecurities found in the film make sense, with a good sense of tragedy and a good sense of pathos, grounding the film in an emotional sincerity that anybody can enjoy and identify with.

 

But of course, the real star of the show is America’s Sweetheart Lin-Manuel Miranda, who produced an absolutely incredible soundtrack full of catchy melodies, creative lyrics, and complex yet engaging compositions. It’s a soundtrack that is impossible to get out of your head and has of course become a sensation on Spotify and TikTok even now as we speak. The film has almost immediately become a staple of the Disney empire in the same way films like The Lion King and Frozen has and will likely become a huge franchise over the next few years. How big will the movie be? How much will its popularity transcend the decades? Well, it’s just getting started. But I have faith. A lot of good faith.

 

 

[Eric Prime]

#290 - The BFG (85 points, 4 lists)

 

#289 - Angels in the Outfield (85 points, 2 lists)

 

#288 - Scary Movie 3 (85 points, 1 list)

 

#287 - High School Musical (86 points, 3 lists)

 

#286 - Scream 3 (86 points, 1 list)

 

#285 - Insomnia (87 points, 3 lists)

 

#284 - Adventures in Babysitting (87 points, 1 list)

 

#283 - The Crow (88 points, 3 lists)

 

#282 - Old Yeller (89 points, 4 lists)

 

#281 - Beloved (89 points, 1 list)

[cannastop]

33 minutes ago, Eric Creed said:

More of a Caesar’s Palace-style rendition of Greek mythology

So it DOES look like Vegas!

[DAR]

12 hours ago, 4815162342 said:

 

Now this being this low was pretty surprising

There’s a lot of movies I’ve forgotten that have been release by the Mouse.

[Morieris]

8 hours ago, Eric Creed said:

#295 - Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (1997) (82 points, 1 list)

 

Can't believe I forgot this.

[Arlborn]

9 hours ago, Eric Creed said:

#292 - Bandits (83 points, 1 list)

This right here was the start of my first and biggest Hollywood crush. She was incredible (and stunning) on this.

[Eric Prime]

#280 - Heavenly Creatures (90 points, 2 lists)

 

#279 - Three Colours: White (90 points, 1 list, avg. ranking #11)

 

#278 - Lemonade Mouth (90 points, 1 list, avg. ranking #3)

 

#277 - Captain Marvel (92 points, 5 lists)

 

#276 - Nomadland (93 points, 2 lists)

 

#275 - The Cat Returns (94 points, 5 lists)

 

#274 - Citizen Ruth (94 points, 1 list)

 

#273 - Equilibrium (95 points, 2 lists)

 

#272 - Three Men and a Baby (95 points, 1 list)

 

#271 - The Empty Man (96 points, 2 lists)

[Eric Prime]

#71

Spider-Man: No Way Home

730 points, 13 lists

"You have a gift. You have power. And with great power, there must also come great responsibility."

Box Office: 1.922B

Rotten Tomatoes: 93%

Metacritic: 71

Awards: 1 Academy Award nomination, 1 BET Award, 2 MTV Movie Awards and 5 nominations, 3 Kids Choice Awards, 1 Saturn Award and 8 nominations

 

Roger Ebert’s Review: N/A

 

Its Legacy: The highest-grossing film of 2021 and of Phase 4 of the MCU. Wrapped up the character arcs of Maguire!Peter and Garfield!Peter. The highest-grossing Spider-Man movie of all time and sixth-highest grossing movie of all time. Perfectly ended the Holland!Spider-Man trilogy and set the future for more to come. A sequel is in development. Gave Marisa Tomei a paycheck.

 

Commentary: Portraying Peter Parker a whopping six times, Tom Holland has solidified himself as the definitive Spider-Man to many. Capturing the youthful energy and wit of the character to a tee, as well as having some of the best moments in MCU history, it all culminated in the craziest, most epic Spider-Man story yet. A story so audacious and large that it needed not one, not two, but three Spider-Men to tell the tale properly.

 

Of course, everybody knows this movie these days for the amazing crossover experience of pure nostalgia. The best villains of the Sam Raimi universe and the...villains of the Marc Webb universe are all together causing chaos and mayhem. And of course, seeing Maguire and Garfield and Holland share the same screen as each other leads to great comedy and great closure in particular for two Peter Parkers whose stories were ruined thanks to executive meddling or unresolved sequels.

 

But there’s more to this film than the flash and pomp and circumstance of crossover chaos. Tom Holland’s endearing performance of Peter Parker serves a satisfying story arc where he finally learns to become his own Spider-Man. Embrace who he is, avoid running away from destiny, move on from the past, and wipe the slate clean. Literally. It not only served as a triumphant love letter to the past 20 years of Spider-Man movies, but it has also set Holland’s interpretation of the character towards the future. One where he can carve his own destiny. No Tony, no MJ, no nothing. Can this new era of Tom Holland goodness match up to an exciting and epic adventure like this? Only time will tell, but I have faith.

 

 

 

[Eric Prime]

#70

Captain America: Civil War

736 points, 17 lists

"Okay, anybody on our side hiding any shocking and fantastic abilities they'd like to disclose? I'm open to suggestions."

 

Box Office: 1.153B

Rotten Tomatoes: 91%

Metacritic: 75

Awards: 3 Critics Choice Award nominations, 1 SAG Award nomination, 2 NAACP Image Award nominations, 1 Kids Choice Award and 7 nominations, 4 Empire Award nominations, 1 Saturn Award and 7 nominations

 

Roger Ebert’s Review: N/A

 

Its Legacy: Became the highest-grossing film of 2016. Kickstarted Phase 3 of the MCU. Introduced Tom Holland's Spider-Man and Black Panther to the MCU. Spawned a ton of #TeamCap and #TeamIronMan fights. The first film to use IMAX's digital 2D cameras. Gave Don Cheadle a paycheck.

 

Commentary: Annnnnd just before I go into this movie, remember this detail in the opening post?

 

Quote

“This movie I hate ranked higher than a movie I like? I lost all my respect for this list!” Yes, believe it or not, the general consensus of the forums will not automatically fit your tastes and sensibilities. All I ask is to please try to be respectful and courteous during the duration of this countdown, both to myself and to fellow BOT members. You don't have to agree with this, but you can act like a gentleman.

 

So we’re all going to act cool and reserved over this movie. Okay? Okay. Now. Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, in many people’s opinions at least, was the best of the best. Not only were the films in said phase the biggest of the lot, breaking box office record after box office record, but most of them are considered some of the strongest movies creatively and story-wise. And it all started with the much-anticipated and greatly-delivered Civil War.

 

The film succeeded in giving great action set pieces and utilizing its great cast of characters to their fullest advantage. Yet much of the appeal came to what it set up. What it introduced to the greater story, and how it served well as a great appetizer for the rest of Phase 3. There were the fantastic introductions of T’Challa, whose star-stealing role made millions hyped and ready for his solo adventure in 2018, as well as the exciting debut of Tom Holland’s Peter Parker, after a long series of misfires from Sony Pictures. Both are of course fun and would influence the trajectory for Marvel Studios exponentially.

 

Of course, even if you take them out, you still have a fun story where our Avengers are split into factions, fighting over ideologies and friendships, and dealing with their own demons and struggles. It culminates in an epic final battle between Tony Stark and Steve Rogers, while also showing that there’s a lot of complexities and moral dilemmas that will be handled between this supposedly united team.

 

Sure, we all knew the heroes would get back together at some point, but the drama was expanded, the stakes were raised, and it resulted in a fantastic beginning to a very strong ending.