Box Office Theory Forum’s Top 100 Disney Movies

[Eric the Fall Guy]

#4

Ratatouille

2,463 points, 34 lists

"Not everyone can become a great artist; but a great artist *can* come from *anywhere*."

 

Box Office: 623.7M

Rotten Tomatoes: 96%

Metacritic: 96

Awards: 1 Academy Award and 4 nominations, 9 Annie Awards and 4 nominations, 1 BAFTA Award, 1 Golden Globe Award, 2 Empire Award nominations

 

Roger Ebert's Review: "A lot of animated movies have inspired sequels, notably "Shrek," but Brad Bird's "Ratatouille" is the first one that made me positively desire one. Remy, the earnest little rat who is its hero, is such a lovable, determined, gifted rodent that I want to know happens to him next, now that he has conquered the summit of French cuisine. I think running for office might not be beyond his reach, and there's certainly something de Gaullean about his snout.

"

 

Its Legacy: Considered one of the greatest animated movies of all time. One of the most successful animated movies in France. One of the final films of Peter O'Toole. Earned a popular ride at the Disney theme parks. Earned a fan musical created by TikTokers. Referenced in numerous movies and shows. A major plot point for the Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once. Gave Ian Holm a paycheck.

 

Commentary: Even by Pixar standards, Ratatouille is an odd duck of a feature. A talking rat who yearns to be a fancy French chef is a very silly premise once you think about it. But leave it to Brad Bird and company to make something so delightful and awe-inspiring.

 

It’s a movie made for the loners, the outcasts, the ones who feel out of place in the world. Those who yearn to create incredible works but can’t do it, whether it be for socioeconomic reasons, family reasons, or because they feel they just can’t do it. This is the film that smartly shows the struggling artists out there that there is hope for you. That anyone can cook and you deserve to be up there, even if you are seen as “lesser” by society. And it’s all perfectly shown in an iconic ending that deconstructs what it means to be an artist, a critic, and a person in and of itself. A film that reminds many of us why we love the things we love and what we can do if we set our minds to it.

 

It’s a message that clearly struck a chord with countless others, and we are only now seeing its imprint on today’s artists. An unofficial musical was made by TikTokers who just wanted to celebrate the movie they love. It’s been referenced and parodied in tons of movies and TV shows, all in adoration. So much so, last year’s Best Picture winner, Everything Everywhere All at Once, featured a Ratatouille parody as a major subplot. You can even notice parallels in the themes of both movies from this Pixar classic. And sure enough, it symbolizes a film that will always be popular, loved, and cherished for generations to come, inspiring artists the world over for decades. Maybe even centuries. And really, that’s what we want a movie to do, no?

 

[Eric the Fall Guy]

It is time.

[Eric the Fall Guy]

#3

The Lion King

2,477 points, 34 lists

"I'm surrounded by idiots."

 

Box Office: 968.4M

Rotten Tomatoes: 93%

Metacritic: 88

Awards: 2 Academy Awards and 2 nominations, 3 Annie Awards and 3 nominations, 2 BAFTA Award nominations, 3 Golden Globe Awards and 1 nomination, 4 Grammy Awards and 5 nominations

 

Roger Ebert's Review: "My generation grew up mourning the death of Bambi's mother. Now comes "The Lion King," with the death of Mufasa, the father of the lion cub who will someday be king. The Disney animators know that cute little cartoon characters are not sufficient to manufacture dreams. There have to be dark corners, frightening moments, and ancient archetypes like the crime of regicide. "The Lion King," which is a superbly drawn animated feature, is surprisingly solemn in its subject matter, and may even be too intense for very young children."

 

Its Legacy: The second highest-grossing movie of all time on its release. Still one of the highest-grossing animated movies ever made. The peak of the Disney Renaissance. Arguably the first movie people think of when they hear the term "Disney movie." The highest-selling film ever on home video at 55 million copies sold worldwide. One of the largest Disney franchises ever, with several sequels, TV shows, a live-action remake, and upcoming prequel to said remake. Disney Animation's first wholly original film. Earned a 1997 Broadway show, a still ongoing production that would become the third-longest running show on Broadway and the highest-grossing Broadway production in history. Might have ripped off an old anime from the 60s. Turned millions of children into furries...I am one of them. Joined the National Film Registry in 2016. Gave Nathan Lane a paycheck.

 

Commentary: Well...what the fuck do you want me to say?

 

This movie’s the Beyonce of animation. It walks into the room, says “y’all know who I am”, and we all shower praise on them like no tomorrow. And like...yeah, I guess I’ll do the same here. Though frankly, I don’t know what other angle I can really give to a movie we’ve all seen and we all love everything about...well, I guess there’s one way I can do it.

 

The funniest thing about Lion King, and this is a story that has been shared many times, was that there was weirdly little confidence going into it. This blend of Bambi, Shakespeare, and Africa with Elton John tunes seemed like an oddball experiment going in, and even Disney’s animation division had higher expectations over the next Disney film Pocahontas, which was designed as their big slam dunk. So the B-team were signed to this weird movie about lion murder that probably was gonna flop, while the all-star animators were on Pocahontas, the sure to be huge masterpiece loved by all.

 

And in a way, it’s kind of understandable. It was a bit more mature than other Disney films, it wasn’t based on a fairytale or popular book. It was actually the first Disney animated film to not be an adaptation of another work. The songs weren’t being done by Alan Menken, they got some pop star to do the musical numbers, the story was kind of weird in certain spots. But perhaps because this team wanted to prove themselves, or because of just how good the original germ of an idea was, people turned up for this. Big time. In what quickly became not just Disney’s biggest hit, but I’d argue the first thing people think of when they hear the term “Disney movie.”

 

It broke all the box office records, sold more toys and video games than you can count, became the biggest animated movie ever for nearly a decade, has too many crappy sequels and remakes to count, inspired the most successful theater stage show in history, and turned millions of millennials into furries...and that includes me, because holy fucking shit did they make those lions sexy.

 

And like...well, you've seen the movie. You know why. It’s utterly gorgeous, it has incredible songs one after the other, every character is full of life and vibrance and personality, the story is engrossing regardless of your age, it gives incredible life lessons you typically don’t see even in today’s modern animated movies, and it has so many striking images and sequences that are jaw-dropping and mind-blowing. It’s one of those films that I wish I was alive to see when it first came out, be sucked up into the hype, experience the shock and awe millions of others in 1994 experienced back then.

 

While they didn’t realize it at the time, this was the movie that Eisner and the Disney animators were building up to way back when at that 1984 regime change. A film that takes everything we love from Disney and evolves it to something that feels modern and fresh. And since then, very few have matched its success, popularity, and quality. The Lion King would live on as an evergreen franchise that is still intensely popular with the kids of today. And with an upcoming prequel movie courtesy of Moonlight director Barry Jenkins, as well as the Broadway show still packing in crowds, that does not look like it will change any time soon. Good for it.

 

[Eric the Fall Guy]

#2

The Incredibles

2,543 points, 37 lists

"WHERE. IS. MY. SUPER SUIT!"

 

Box Office: 631.6M

Rotten Tomatoes: 97%

Metacritic: 90

Awards: 2 Academy Awards and 2 nominations, 10 Annie Awards and 6 nominations, 1 BAFTA Award, 1 Golden Globe Award nomination, 1 Hugo Award

 

Roger Ebert's Review: "Brad Bird's previous film was "The Iron Giant" (1999), about a misunderstood robot from outer space, and the little boy who becomes his friend. It had a charm and delicacy that was unique in the genre, and "The Incredibles," too, has special qualities, especially in the subtle ways it observes its gifted characters trying to dumb down and join the crowd. Kids in the audience will likely miss that level, but will like the exuberance of characters like Dash. Grown-ups are likely to be surprised by how smart the movie is, and how sneakily perceptive."

 

Its Legacy: Considered one of, if not the greatest superhero movie of all time. Considered one of the greatest animated movies of all time. One of the biggest box office and critical hits in Pixar history. Brought Michael Giacchino to the Pixar family. Broke numerous innovations in Pixar when it came to special effects and human character designs. The highest-selling DVD of 2005. The only Fantastic Four movie that matters (including the new one). The first fully aniamted movie to win the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation. #48 on WGA's Top 101 Screenplays of the 21st Century. One of Pixar's biggest franchises. Gave Holly Hunter a paycheck.

 

Commentary: The beginning of the 2000s superhero boom was pretty crazy looking back on it, with a lot of hits, misses, and crazy experiments before we became inundated with cinematic universes and comic book gobbledygook. But even the best films of that era don’t hold a candle to what Pixar and Brad Bird created back in 2004 with The Incredibles.

 

Because of the limitless medium of animation, this boasts some of the craziest, most exciting showcase and sequences of action and superheroics. Every single setpiece is dynamic, memorable, epic, and creative, as the animators had no worries about whether or not these powers can look believable or realistic. And even with technology’s advancements and live-action superhero films can show super speed and elasticity, they never hit as hard as what The Incredibles was able to do.

 

But even with the snazzy animation and fun characters, it is also a movie that tackles so many powerful themes and subjects about life, society, and deconstructing the concept of superheroes itself. Within all the explosions, retrofuturist designs, and James Bond villainy is a film that tackles infidelity, mid-life crisis, leaving behind the glory days, bitter fan entitlement, and trying to deal with a public who don’t want you around anymore. It’s harsh and mean, but also poppy and exciting in the best ways that only those Pixar animators can truly pull off.

 

The Incredibles continues to endure as a one-of-a-kind movie, solidified Brad Bird as an animation god, and is still considered one of Pixar’s bests. A classic that many have come close to matching, including its hugely successful sequel, but can never match...though I guess there is one movie that is better than this.

 

[Eric the Fall Guy]

#1

Wall-E

2,579 points, 36 lists

"Dancing: A series of movements involving two partners, where speed and rhythm match harmoniously with music."

 

Box Office: 631.6M

Rotten Tomatoes: 95%

Metacritic: 95

Awards: 1 Academy Award and 5 nominations, 7 Annie Award nominations, 1 BAFTA Award and 2 nominations, 2 Golden Globe Award nominations, 2 Grammy Awards and 1 nomination

 

Roger Ebert's Review: "Pixar’s “WALL-E” succeeds at being three things at once: an enthralling animated film, a visual wonderment and a decent science-fiction story. After “Kung Fu Panda,” I thought I had just about exhausted my emergency supply of childlike credulity, but here is a film, like “Finding Nemo,” that you can enjoy even if you’ve grown up. That it works largely without spoken dialogue is all the more astonishing; it can easily cross language barriers, which is all the better, considering that it tells a planetary story."

 

Its Legacy: Considered one of the greatest animated movies of all time. The ninth-biggest film of 2008. A story over a decade in the making. Made AMPAS expand their Best Picture category the following year. Made Hello, Dolly! relevant to a whole new generation. Considered one of the best environmentalist tales of all time. Wall-E was later turned into an actual robot in 2012. Joined the Criterion Collection in 2022. Joined the National Film Registry in 2021. Gave Jeff Garlin a paycheck.

 

Commentary: This 2008 sensation, despite coming out only two years after An Inconvenient Truth, feels even more powerful in 2024. A film about evil megacorps destroying our world? Making us dumber, mindless sheep consumed by technology, to the point we don’t even walk or think anymore? I mean...this is a Disney movie that is anti-Disney. A film that tells us that AI tech is evil, controlling our lives, and turning us into slaves.

 

Yet within all the biting satire and commentary, we also have amazing animation, gorgeous music, and a sweet, but powerful romance that the kiddies can understand and get behind. Wall-E and Eve, characters who barely speak a word, serve as dynamic, engaging, memorable characters solely through their body language and Charlie Chaplin-style humor. It creates something engrossing, powerful, and even an interesting lesson for young viewers that movies don’t need fast dialogue or catchphrases. Just some wacky robots learning love is all you need to make a good movie.

 

It's a film that tells us that, above all else, love is the most powerful, most incredible thing in this world. Love creates connection. And connection gives us life. Gives us our foot on the ground, an understanding of self, and a reason of being. Makes us feel happiness, excitement, and joy. And if artificial beings can figure that out, surely we can too. It's a movie that is as much an indictment of modern times, including the company it was released under, as well as an optimistic beacon about love and connection and intimacy, and how powerful and necessary it is to make our world happier and brighter.

 

While the state of the world has largely changed for the worse since its release, this movie will always endure as a beacon. A beacon that love is real and that we can make things better if we just make some true, human connection and enjoy what life gives us. And that’s something we can all get behind.

 

And in a way, it's the perfect #1 for this countdown. Above all else, Wall-E is the most quintessential Disney movie there is. This is a company found upon dreams, on wishes, and on hope. A hope for us to find ourselves enchanted by love. A hope that good can and will triumph over evil. A hope that within our darkest of days, light can shine through. And that by facing through our struggles, whatever they may be, that they can result in us all living our own happily ever after. And it's through movies that are bold, daring, imaginative, heartfelt, and, perhaps most importantly, can be cherished whether you are young or old.

 

For a whole century, Disney has given us incredible tales that have made us fall in love with cinema, fall in love with creativity, fall in love with kindness, and fall in love with the spirit of youth and fall in love with the wonders and importance of imagination. Wall-E's one of just one hundred of these incredible tales. More than one hundred in fact. And it's the best of them all.

 

[Morieris]

1 out of 3 ain't bad!

[cannastop]

Actually kind of surprised that WALL E was #1 but it makes sense 

[Eric the Fall Guy]

And well...that's it. I'm sorry I took longer than I planned to finish this, but I still got it done at a reasonable time and I got to show all of you what this forum considers the best of the best when it comes to one of the greatest movie studios in the entire world.

 

Like so many of you, I love and adore all things Disney. I would not be here today if it weren't for Disney. Ever since I was young, watching my old VHS tapes of Snow White and Peter Pan and The Lion King, to watching Pixar hits when they first debuted, like The Incredibles and Wall-E, to falling in love with the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Star Wars and Avatar. The spirit of Disney, one that combines whimsy and fantasy and heart, crafting powerful fables that still resonate with me decades later, is one that many other studios have tried to copy. Everybody wishes they could have that Disney magic. But no other studio has the artistry, creativity, and soul that Disney possesses.

 

Yes, we all like to make fun of them, call them out for their evil practices, mock their lamer movies, and so on. And yes, it's weird to shower love to a mega conglomerate studio. But it all comes from a place of love. This is a studio that has value, importance, and legacy, and I think we all have a strong appreciation for the films and memories they gave us. And no matter what happens, this is a studio that will always, at the very least, be interesting. Whether it be at their highs or lows, there's always something exciting and thrilling about Disney and what that name really represents. Watching all these movies, tallying up all these votes, and talking about so many movies took a lot of work, but it was also a lot of fun at the same time. This and the Warner Bros. countdowns were some of the most fun I ever had when it came to anything on BOT, or just in my own personal life. I had so much to enjoy when it came to high-quality films, exciting bits of history, and getting to see what you guys think about these two important and amazing studios that have done so much great things to the world of cinema. I loved every single second of this job. Here’s to 100 more towards one of the greatest movie studios of all time.

 

Also of note, as always, a tremendous thank you to all the wonderful people who sent in a list. This includes... @Shanks @wildphantom @WorkingonaName @Flip @AniNate @Brainbug @Morieris @JustLurking @SchumacherFTW @Grebacio @MrPink @Jake Gittes @Bob Train @cannastop @cookie @Reddroast @AN9815 @Jonwo @grey ghost @DetectiveAl @MovieMan89 @Potiki @ListenHunnyUrOver @Kalo @Human @DAR @Rorschach @IdahoJacket @The Panda @Tower @Ezen Baklattan @ZeeSoh @TalismanRing @Cap @Sir Tiki @4815162342 @Arlborn @Fancyarcher @Blankments and @YM! 

 

Literally, this would not have been possible without your contributions, so thank you.

 

Now as for my next countdown...well, I know Sony/Columbia is celebrating their 100th this year, but I think I'm going to pass on the idea, at least for right now. I would love to tackle Sony, as well as the other big studios at some point down the line, but this and the WB countdown were huge time sinks with a lot of lists to look over and a ton of movies to run down. So maybe in a couple years from now, we can look into doing one of the other big studios. But I feel very burnt out and want to avoid going into another huge undertaking like this. I hope you all understand.

 

However, I am hoping to return to my director countdowns that I did before. I don't want to confirm anything will happen this year, but I might squeeze in something this fall for you all to gawk and look over. But again, don't want to say anything that is set in stone. Again, I feel very burnt out, so I hope you understand.

 

Hope you all had just as much fun as I did, and keep that Disney magic alive and soaring.

 

[Morieris]

Also Aladdin higher than BATB? .... Honestly they're neck and neck to me so I accept that.

[Brainbug]

Im sad that Starship Troopers didnt win, but Wall-E is a perfectly acceptable champion!

[WorkingonaName]

West Side Story deserved better then 100th. 

[Tower]

Wall-E is a great choice for number 1, the best of the realistic options.