Anybody who grew up with Disney, which is to say almost everyone, knows that animation is their specialty, with their timeless tales of singing princesses, talking animals, creative worlds, and so on. Not counting their recent live-action remakes obsession, which has arguably produced more misses than hits anyway, Disney's theatrical live-action efforts have produced few notable successes, the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise being one such exception.
However, there is a section of Disney's live-action catalog that probably gets overlooked more often than not, and that is the Disney Channel Original Movies (DCOMs). These made-for-television films have provided kids of varying ages with simple yet charming stories that typically have easy-to-swallow messages. A few animated DCOMs also exist, usually as spin-offs of Disney animated shows. They hold a special place in the hearts of Disney fans, and, according to IMDb, at least, the best of them are as follows:
10) 'Descendants 3' (2019)
In this third part of Disney's wildly popular Descendants film series, Mal, the daughter of Maleficent, grapples with the choice to permanently close off her new home of Auradon from the Isle of the Lost, her old home, to protect it from her father, Hades. Her decision naturally does not sit well with her fellow Disney villain descendants. Meanwhile, Audrey, the daughter of Sleeping Beauty, embraces her dark side and also threatens Auradon.
The story is a bit crowded, and the movie's success could perhaps be attributed somewhat to riding off the coattails of the previous two films. But Dove Cameron and most of the returning cast still deliver solid work, bolstered by catchy tunes and a welcome new addition to the franchise in the form of Cheyenne Jackson as Hades, earning the film a 6.6/10 rating on IMDb.
9) 'Halloweentown' (1998)
Marnie Piper (Kimberly J. Brown) just wants to go out on Halloween, but her mother (Judith Hoag) forbids her for seemingly no reason. Her grandmother (Debbie Reynolds), however, encourages her to embrace the spirit of the holiday. It turns out that Marnie is a witch, whose powers are tied to Halloween. She and her younger siblings soon find themselves on a magical quest to save their grandmother, who is also a witch, and her home, Halloweentown, a wondrous place full of odd beings and creatures, from evil forces that conspire against them.
While certainly cheesy and predictable, this movie still maintains a degree of charm and creativity. Reynolds, Brown, Hoag, and the rest of the cast are wonderful, and at the film's heart, there is a very relatable and dynamic family story: the film sits with a 6.7/10 rating on IMDb.
8) 'Going To The Mat' (2004)
Jace Newfield (Andrew Lawrence) has trouble fitting in as the new kid in school, not the least of which is because he is blind. At first, he tries to be more well-liked by being a jock, but this backfires as he inadvertently paints himself as a jerk. At a friend's suggestion, Jace joins the wrestling team to try once more to fit in. He naturally fights an uphill battle, but he is determined to make this work.
In all honesty, this premise is probably too good for a Disney television movie. Despite what you would expect to be serious subject matter, the film keeps things light while still allowing for some touching and insightful moments. Lawrence does an outstanding job as Jace. Wayne Brady also provides an equally impressive performance as Jace's blind teacher, Mr. Wyatt. The film currently has a score of 6.8/10 on IMDb
7) 'Don't Look Under the Bed' (1999)
Strange happenings have been going on around the town of Middleberg, and they all seem to point to local teen Frances McCausland (Erin Chambers). With the help of an imaginary friend calling himself Larry Houdini (Ty Hodges), Frances learns that she is being framed by a prank-obsessed Boogeyman.
Collider's own Aubrey Page once described this movie as being "scary as hell." If a horror flick coming from a kid-oriented television network can inspire such a reaction from an adult, it is doing something frighteningly right, earning the film a 6.8/10 on IMDb.
6) 'Lemonade Mouth' (2011)
A stellar cast which includes Bridgit Mendler, Naomi Scott, and Christopher McDonald leads this uplifting story about a group of high schoolers who meet in detention and form a band called "Lemonade Mouth," inspired by the vending machine outside the detention room and an incident in which one of the band members stands up to a bully by spitting lemonade at them.
Grown-ups have had That Thing You Do! (1996) and, more recently, Sing Street (2016). But the younger crowd will always have Lemonade Mouth (2011). This movie may not be the most original or subtle of its kind, but it still boasts an endearing ensemble of characters, good music, and surprisingly thoughtful themes, garnering a 6.9/10 rating on IMDb.
5) Brink! (1998)
Andy "Brink" Brinker (Erik von Detten) is a passionate inline skater who, along with his friends and skating crew, "The Soul-Skaters" skate for fun above all else. However, when Brink learns that his family is having money troubles, he joins a rival semi-professional team called Team X-Bladz and finds his values and relationships with friends and family being tested.
While the plot is rather corny and derivative, Brink! remains an adrenaline-fueled, nostalgic, classic with some decent coming-of-age drama and entertainingly dated slang-inflected dialogue. On IMDb, the film has a rating of 7.0/10.
4) Kim Possible Movie: So the Drama (2005)
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The school prom is just around the corner, and teen crime-fighter Kim Possible (Christy Carlson Romano) struggles to find a date while also dealing with the latest nefarious plot of her archenemy, Dr. Drakken (John DiMaggio). When Kim becomes smitten with Eric (Raviv "Ricky" Ullman), a handsome and charming new student, their new relationship causes tension between her and longtime best friend and sidekick, Ron Stoppable (Will Friedle), as they both begin to realize that maybe they could be more than just friends.
This movie spin-off of the acclaimed Kim Possible animated series was meant to be the show's finale. But the reception was so positive that it continued with an additional season that explored Kim and Ron's romance further and their transition into adulthood. That alone should speak to the strength of this film and the fans' love of this franchise: indeed, the film earned a 7.2/10 on IMDb.
3) 'The Color of Friendship' (2000)
This movie tells the complicated tale of the growing friendship between Piper Dellums (Shadia Simmons), an African American girl, and Mahree Bok (Lindsey Haun), a White foreign exchange student from South Africa during the height of apartheid in the 70s.
This is another story Disney had on their hands that, if you heard about it before seeing the film, you would probably think that it deserved better than what the Disney Channel could offer. And yet, the Mouse handles the movie's difficult and sensitive material with a remarkable and unexpected sense of maturity and straightforwardness: on IMDb, the film has a rating of 7.3.
2) Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension (2011)
Brothers Phineas (Vincent Martella) and Ferb (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) discover that their pet platypus, Perry (Dee Bradley Baker), is secretly a super-spy during one of their wild adventures in which Perry's frequent adversary, Dr. Doofenshmirtz (Dan Povenmire), creates a device that opens portals to other dimensions. From one of these dimensions comes a more competent version of Doofenshmirtz who commands his totalitarian regime and who soon gains aspirations for conquering a new world.
The Phineas and Ferb show has always relied on formula, but it also achieved a dedicated fan base through its creative vision and clever writing. The movie succeeds in shaking up the status quo without losing its trademark creativity and humor. Everything is elevated to absurd levels but in the best ways, earning the film a 7.4 on IMDb.
1) 'Tru Confessions' (2002)
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Tru Walker, played by Clara Bryant, is an aspiring filmmaker who finds a subject for her new project in her developmentally disabled twin brother, Eddie, played by Shia LaBeouf. She hopes to win a contest and get her TV show, but finds more than she bargained for as she is forced to confront how Eddie's condition has affected her personally, how other people see him, as well as her relationship with the rest of their family.
It is hard to say how this movie would be received if it was released today, but Disney still took a bold risk in making it, and it worked, getting a rating of 7.5 on IMDb. This movie's place among the best of the DCOMs is owed to its heartfelt and poignant storytelling.