I can’t think about my childhood without thinking about Disney movies. They are a core memory of my past because I watched them on repeat for years. I never thought of them as cartoons; instead, those movies were my first lessons in love, loss, bravery, and what it feels like to dream about something bigger than yourself. I would sit cross-legged on my living room floor and rewind all the scenes of The Lion King on my PC because I couldn’t get over the stampede scene, even though it broke me every single time.
I remember humming A Whole New World years ago and still today in front of the mirror, pretending that I was flying with Aladdin. I’ve gone back to them again and again because there’s something new that speaks to me, a song that hits differently when you are older, a line that hits harder, and suddenly you realize that these films never left you. So, that’s why I have made a list of the 10 great Disney movies that still bring me comfort on bad days and the ones that I know I’ll keep passing down for as long as I live.
‘The Lion King’ (1994)
For many of us, The Lion King wasn’t just a movie; it was our childhood. Something that stayed with us and would shatter our hearts as kids over and over again. It was the story of Simba (Matthew Broderick), a young lion who loses his father, runs away in fury, and then eventually has to face his past to claim his place as a king. He was an inspiration to fight back, remain hopeful, and a kind of hero for children.
Disney had never been this bold before, as well. Mufasa’s (James Earl Jones) death shocked children everywhere and forced us to deal with grief in a way no kids’ movie had ever done before. Every rewatch will evoke the same shock, heartbreak, and ultimately, happiness. Especially Simba’s temptation to hide from his responsibilities and then return to Pride Rock is an extremely powerful scene. His last fight with Scar shows how he is finally stepping into his father’s shoes and the role he was running away from. In one way or another, it taught so many life lessons to people of all ages.
‘Beauty and the Beast’ (1991)
Belle (Paige O’Hara) was my favorite princess among all other Disney princesses. Because she was studious, used to read books (which I would relate to), and didn’t need a prince to make her feel special. She was special in her own way. And whenever I think of Beauty and the Beast, I always go back to that ballroom scene with the gold dress, the sweeping staircase, and the chandeliers that glowed brighter than anything I’d ever seen on screen.
As a kid, it felt like magic was actually possible, but as I got older, I realized that the film wasn’t just about spells or castles; it was about learning to look past fear and pride and to see the humanity in someone you’d been told to hate. Belle was unlike any other Disney heroine, and on the other hand, the Beast (Robby Benson) was also a much powerful character. He carried a story about anger, shame, and the possibility of redemption. Their relationship didn’t happen instantly, but it grew in small, awkward, and sometimes funny moments, and that slow build is what made it feel real. This was also the first animated film to ever be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, which says a lot about how groundbreaking it was at that time.
‘Aladdin’ (1992)
Another one of childhood’s core memories, Aladdin. The flying carpets, the endless stars over Agrabah, the music that just makes you want to hum along for days. It was pure wonder. But looking back now, it’s Robin Williams as the Genie that makes the film unforgettable. His voice added joy, and whenever it exploded with energy, Genie would feel like the most alive character in the room, even if it was animated.
Aladdin (Scott Weinger) himself was a street-smart kid just trying to survive, and Jasmine (Linda Larkin) wasn’t content being a silent princess locked away in a palace. Together, their bond spurred romance and centered on breaking out of (literal and metaphorical) cages, and chasing freedom. That theme song of wanting “ A Whole New World” also connected deeply with the audience. The 2019 live-action remake reminded everyone how much love people still had for the story, but the 1992 version remains untouchable.
‘Mulan’ (1998)
When Mulan came out, it was completely different from any other Disney movie. Here was a heroine (Ming-Na Wen), who wasn’t dreaming of ballrooms or waiting for a kiss at all. She was disguising herself as a soldier and marching off to war in her father’s place. For a lot of girls, especially in the late 90s, that was a groundbreaking move and a different kind of inspiration than what they had grown up with. The movie showed bravery and proved that women could carry the weight of honor and family, too.
Not only girls,but Mulan also gave boys a new kind of hero to admire. Shang (BD Wong) respected Mulan not because she was a woman hiding in plain sight, but because she earned it through discipline and courage. That subtle shift that respect is earned and not inherited made the story even more layered than most Disney films of its era. Rewatching it, it still feels even more important and how Disney stories should be in order to inspire young girls and boys.
‘Frozen’ (2013)
Frozen completely rewrote what a Disney fairy tale could be. It was about a bond between two sisters, Elsa (Idina Menzel) and Anna (Kristen Bell). For once, the story wasn’t about a princess waiting for love. It was about family, fear, and the courage to be yourself, even when the world might not accept it. Elsa’s struggle with her powers is one of the most relatable arcs Disney has ever created. She fears hurting others and has an instinct to isolate herself. But as the story moves forward, she slowly accepts who she really is, which gives the kids and adults a hero who feels human under all the ice and magic.
Anna, meanwhile, is a loyal and resilient sister who charges headfirst into danger, not for a prince but for her sister. Their relationship is the true core of the story. Of course, the film is endlessly rewatchable because of its world-building and music. Arendelle feels like a real kingdom, and every song serves the story, instead of being just a distraction. For instance, the “Let It Go” song became an anthem for people all over the world.
‘Moana’ (2016)
Moana was also way ahead of its time. The movie was released at a time when Disney finally listened to a new generation. Moana (Auliʻi Cravalho) had no prince, no romance, and no interest in being rescued. Her entire journey was about finding her own path and proving that women can also get leadership based on their heart and courage. For young girls especially, it was a rare Disney story where the ultimate reward wasn’t marriage but self-discovery.
And then there was Maui (Dwayne Johnson). He was not a perfect mentor; rather, he was selfish, flawed, and arrogant, but that’s what made him a perfect balance to Moana’s selflessness. We watched her hold her ground against the literal demigod, which gave the film its humor as well as weight. The movie, to date, is so easy to return to because of how it celebrates Polynesian culture while also telling a story that every kid and adult can relate to. All in all, it was only about listening to the voice inside you when no one else believes in you, and that message will never get old.
‘Zootopia’ (2016)
Zootopia was a talking animal movie. But when you watch it, you get to know that it’s so much more than that. Beneath the colorful fur, the clever buddy-cop setup, and the city full of quirky animal puns, there was a sharp story about bias, discrimination, and the way fear can be used to divide people. For a so-called kids’ movie, it had the nerve to dig into themes most animated films wouldn’t touch.
The movie pairs Judy Hopps (Jennifer Goodwin), an optimistic rabbit who refuses to let her size or species define her, with Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), a sly fox who’s learned to weaponize the world’s prejudice against him. This is one of the most unusual and also the best dynamics. The relationship between a rabbit and a fox, both suffering from different kinds of prejudices, but coming together against something and forging a real bond, shows how trust is built across differences. Also, the world-building in the movie was just as thoughtful. There was a fully realized metropolis where predators and prey lived side by side. Even the infamous DMV sloth scene, hilarious as it was, doubled as a critique of how bureaucracy grinds people down.
‘Tangled’ (2010)
Tangled was just as dreamy as any other Disney princess movie, but it had a modern and contemporary touch to it. Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) wasn’t shown as the kind of princess who sits and waits to be saved. She’s curious, restless, and funny in ways that make her feel like someone you could actually know. She was just a girl next door, special in her own way, stuck in a tower by her own stepmother.
What really made the film shine was the bond between Rapunzel and Flynn Rider (Zachary Levi). He is charming, adventurous, and extremely caring towards Rapunzel. The way both of them come together, share a beautiful relationship, where Flynn also encourages her to step out into the world that matters, is beautiful to watch. The famous lantern scene with its breathtaking animation, and Alan Menken’s soaring song, “I See the Light”, is still one of the most unforgettable sequences Disney has ever created.
‘Nemo’ (2003)
Finding Nemo was an underwater adventure, but also one of the most heartfelt movies I’ve ever seen. At its core, it’s the story of a father’s desperate love for his son and how that love sometimes suffocates more than it protects. Anyone who has ever had a parent hold on too tightly can feel the truth in the movie deeply. Marlon (Albert Brooks) is terrified of losing Nemo (Alexander Gould), after the tragedy that took the rest of his family, and that fear shapes every choice he makes. Alongside its emotional core, the movie also drops in humor and fun. Every stop on Marlon and Dory’s (Ellen DeGeneres) journey feels like its own little story.
Together, they move to find Nemo and give us moments of comic relief in between. Nemo’s side of the story is just as important. He’s trapped in a dentist’s fish tank in Sydney and has to prove to himself and his dad that he’s capable of surviving on his own, without being shielded. The fact that this kid’s movie shows a child asserting independence while the parent learns to let go is exactly why it resonates with both kids and adults.
‘Coco’ (2017)
Coco is the best Disney movie ever created, and it is one of those real films that feel like it was made with love in every frame. The crux of it was how we carry memories of those who came before us. Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez) just wants to play music, but his family’s generational ban on it pushes him toward a journey that literally takes him into the Land of the Dead. This fantastical premise is actually a deeply personal story about how traditions can both protect us and hold us back.
The plot of the Land of the Dead is itself a marvel. It is bright, sprawling, and layered with tiny details that look beautiful and feel like a world built from the memories of countless lives. The idea that the dead only continue to exist as long as the living remember them hits hard. It’s clever storytelling of a painful truth dressed in animation, and that makes the film far more poignant than most live-action dramas. It’s a movie that I love to watch over and over again because it’s a perfect reminder as to why remembering matters.
Coco
- Release Date
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October 27, 2017
- Runtime
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105 minutes
- Director
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Adrian Molina, Lee Unkrich
- Writers
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Lee Unkrich, Jason Katz, Matthew Aldrich
