The Ultimate Disney Animated Movie Tier List, Part 1

From Pinocchio to Beauty and the Beast, Frozen, Aladdin, Encanto, and more, the stories that the Disney Animation Studios have told over the years are some of the most memorable and impactful that anyone has ever told. Their movies have reshaped how we think about and experience stories.
But along the way, they've also created their fair share of duds, so it's time to rank all 60 feature-length Disney animated films from worst to best in my ultimate Disney Movie Tier List.
Ready For Part 2?: • The Ultimate Disney An...
Where does your favorite Disney movie rank? Let's find out!
Chapters:
0:00 Intro and Tier List Explanation
3:46 Snow White
5:22 Pinocchio
7:18 Dumbo
8:54 Bambi
10:16 Collected Shorts
12:17 The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr Toad
12:58 Cinderella
15:09 Alice in Wonderland
17:11 Classic Disney Period
17:58 Peter Pan
21:12 Lady and the Tramp
22:26 Sleeping Beauty
23:57 101 Dalmations
26:07 The Sword In The Stone
26:36 The Jungle Book
28:00 The Aristocats
29:36 Robin Hood
31:35 The Many Adventures of Whinnie the Pooh
32:36 The Rescuers
33:39 The Fox and the Hound
34:32 The Black Cauldron
35:49 The Great Mouse Detective
38:12 Oliver and Company
39:15 Peak Disney Period
40:37 Fantasia and Fantasia 2000
41:36 The Little Mermaid
46:30 The Rescuers Down Under
48:35 Beauty and the Beast
51:37 Aladdin
53:03 The Lion King
54:12 Pocahontas
55:27 The Hunchback of Notre Dame
56:22 Hercules
59:32 Mulan
60:41 Tarzan
61:51 To Be Continued...
#disney #tierlist #cinderella #thelionking #aladdin #mulan #hercules #peterpan #waltdisney #waltdisneyworld #storytelling

[@InksDoesArts]

36:47 Thank youuuu! The Basil is my favorite Disney protagonist! He is really eccentric and flawed but you can see he has a heart and just seeing him untangle the mystery makes you route for him ahhh he so great!

[@justinfikestorycastle]

He really is an underrated Disney hero

[@Beati3]

I watched both your Disney tier lists on the weekend. I have many thoughts, I was going to keep them to myself, but ... as these films are all from different sources, they should really be in subcategories that acknowledge that. As an author, would you like to see Disney congratulated for their fine depiction of your creation with no acknowledgement? Seriously, Carlo Collodi deserves a mention for originally writing "The Adventures of Pinocchio." Perhaps breaking them into Disney originals and adaptions would provide a deeper insight.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

That’s certainly fair since the films were created by different artists, authors and teams over such a long period of time. It would be interesting to organize and compare them in sets based on who created them.

[@nickdesoto9059]

It's so refreshing to see someone put Little Mermaid in the same spot I would. I really don't like it, either, and to be honest, it's genuinely one of the very few movies I really struggle to understand why people love it so much. The music, maybe, and Ursula. But I just don't love it... at all. But then you had to go and break my heart by putting Hunchback in 'it's fine'. Hunchback is my favourite Disney movie by far.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

To be fair it’s been many years since I’ve seen it, and given that it’s one of Disney’s more mature movies I’m guessing I’d appreciate it a lot more now than when I was a kid.

[@nickdesoto9059]

That's fair. I mean, there's as many choices for favourite Disney movie out there as there are Disney movies themselves (that is, a lot). That's why I love these types of videos, because there's so many different ways people approach them. Loved your take on a lot of these.

[@dannyjorde2677]

It's not refreshing, it's dumb. The Little Mermaid is a masterpiece of animation

[@PeanutsAndSanrioFan]

Not a Snow White fan either. I didn’t liked her that much, nor did I like the 7 Dwarves (other than Grumpy, he’s the only one I liked). Pinocchio is a film that has grown on me. It’s not one of my favorites but it’s a good movie and much better than Snow White. Snow White felt like just a tempo, while Pinocchio felt more like the first TRUE Movie they did with its message. Also Dumbo is my favorite of the golden era. It’s just so cozy in my eyes. The Little Mermaid is my favorite Disney movie btw. Totally respect your thoughts. Maybe it’s just because I love the music because I can see what your saying about the story. I kinda brush that off though because I adore the music so much!

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Yes, that’s the really tricky part about discussing musicals, because I agree the Little Mermaid music and animation are wonderful.

[@PeanutsAndSanrioFan]

@@justinfikestorycastle yeah. I was in the little mermaid musical at my school so that elevated it lol

[@ShadowWizard224]

This is my top 10 all time: #10 Snow White #9 Winnie The Pooh #8 Toy Story #7 Little Mermaid #6 Lion King #5 Lady And The Tramp #4 Dumbo #3 Fox And The Hound #2 Bambi #1 Pinocchio Honorable mentions: Hunchback of Notre Dame, Beauty and the Beast, 101 Dalmatians, Fantasia

[@justinfikestorycastle]

A good list! I can tell you go for the more heartfelt and slow paced stories, which is awesome. Thanks for sharing!

[@tammyhewitt3288]

Beautiful Work ✨

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@akrzton1]

@@justinfikestorycastle Are you a city guy or a country guy? The Little Mermaid corresponds to the Red Belt in the Allegheny County Belt System going from Beaver County to Westmoreland County. Well, actually… Leetsdale to Tarentum.

[@albacharles4704]

Remarkable job !! Thank you

[@justinfikestorycastle]

And thank you right back :)

[@santajackfan101]

​@@justinfikestorycastleI know it's not on here but Nightmare before Christmas is my All time, favorite.

[@verliejaeger2371]

Wonderful Morning :) waiting for next one

[@justinfikestorycastle]

So glad you enjoyed it! Part 2 should be up in a day or two

[@akrzton1]

Beauty and the Beast’s belt, the Orange Belt, goes through all of the county parks and the airport. It goes from Bethel Park to Elizabeth Township. This belt also goes through New Kensington in Westmoreland County for a bit.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

I'm not really sure what you mean by "belts" related to movies

[@akrzton1]

@@justinfikestorycastle These are just beltways around the city of Pittsburgh.

[@eugenetatum4910]

Hi, just wanted to tell you, I Like this 👍Snapshot.It was Great Keep on videoing

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Thanks, will do! I appreciate the encouragement

[@akrzton1]

I used to think that The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Hercules were good movies until I found out that they premiered in “blackhole” years, meaning uninteresting weather years. LOL! Hercules and Frozen premiering in twin “blackhole” years.

[@hannahbrennan2131]

What does the weather have to do with the quality of the movies?

[@akrzton1]

@@hannahbrennan2131 It makes the years forgettable, overall.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Haha I’m not sure I get what you mean here

[@akrzton1]

@@justinfikestorycastle I am referring to years with uninteresting weather patterns, of course.

[@akrzton1]

I absolutely love Aladdin! It corresponds to the Yellow Belt in the Allegheny County Belt System, the first complete circle around the city crossing all of the Pittsburgh rivers.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

It's such a fun one!

[@akrzton1]

@@justinfikestorycastle I made a video on the movie and the Yellow Belt during Halloween of 2021. My friend, Alex from Wizards of Waverly Place has written about her love for Aladdin in so many journal entries, and I brought up this movie on the Wizards of Waverly Pod channel. I also posted a forum on my channel about this movie’s belt being home to locations like Goodwill in Penn Hills where I work at, Zone 28 on Freeport Road in Harmar Township, and the Oakmont Bakery near the Hulton Bridge in Oakmont, also crossing the Pennsylvania Turnpike 6 times.

[@ellatetrault7704]

I really recommend you watch Cinderella: Stop Blaming the Victim by The Take. It might make you change your opinion on her.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Thanks I’ll check that out! I’m always open to seeing story aspects from a different perspective. It’s interesting, we watched one of the Cinderella sequels (I think it was #3) with our daughter the other day and I actually thought it was a great story that did her character justice. It still had the same core elements and themes but did a better job that the original of giving her more initiative and drive as a character.

[@ellatetrault7704]

@@justinfikestorycastle the third one is great, glad you enjoyed it as well. Even though I think Cinderella is a great character in all the movies, I agree that she got more character development in the third one.

[@williamgardiner5469]

really courageous 💖

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Lol yes kind of taking my life in my own hands here but it was fun

[@BeulahRhode]

Favolosa😍,Tremendously terrific

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Much appreciated :)

[@santajackfan101]

Nice

[@justinfikestorycastle]

🏆

[@petrayogi]

So fun! OK, maybe I will break down and watch Beauty and the Beast. I started it a couple of times, but couldn’t continue. The Cocteau film is still and always remarkable, and one of my top 3 favorites of all time. Since you have very young children now, you might particularly appreciate this story. I took my 2 year old nephew to see it in a cold U of Chicago basement in 1980. Perhaps my 4th viewing. And his first 😂. From the opening music, he sat still, silent and rapt. Keep in mind it is black and white and ALL in French. It is only 90 minutes long, but eons in toddler time. They broke it for an intermission, which irritated me, but I asked if he wanted to go home. “NO!!! I want to see what happens!” I think that is what he said, though his vocalizations were still quite creative. At that point he climbed in my lap, and I assumed he would doze off. Nope, upright, still and silent. No fussing or murmuring. When we walked back to his house, he proceeded to tell them precisely what had occurred from beginning to end. Remember, La Belle et Le Bete is all in french, with no subtitles, not that he could read anyway, black and white, not animated and with a story that is often subtle, emotionally sophisticated and with some big themes of prejudice, compassion, courage, etc. I will always remember that as possibly my greatest lesson in powerful visual storytelling.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

What a great story! It never ceases to amaze me how much the understanding of and desire for story is baked right into our brains and the way we see the world from the very beginning.

[@akrzton1]

@@justinfikestorycastle Because of the dark feature of the movie, I don’t like Beauty and the Beast as much as I do Aladdin and The Lion King. I have KZbin videos of these 2 movies playing in the background while viewing Cruising Pittsburgh’s Allegheny County Belt System videos for their respective belt. Cruising Pittsburgh, get your act together and make more videos!

[@jerryhernandez4479]

So Exited For This 🔝🔝🔝 fab Image

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Thanks! I've been trying to work on making more engaging thumbnails so that's great to hear

[@akrzton1]

The Lion King corresponds to the Green Belt going from Emsworth to McKeesport and you must also love amusement parks and the zoo.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Haha actually yes I do love both

[@akrzton1]

@@justinfikestorycastle The Green Belt goes by the Pittsburgh Zoo and Kennywood Park, which is also a favorite destination for me and my friends from peer shows.

[@julietraynor4930]

Don't move, you're next for hating fox and the hound.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Haha, fair enough. Preference in art is definitely super subjective

[@ThePinkDragon]

I love Aristicats

[@ThePinkDragon]

love fox and Hound

[@williammorris89]

I have friends who love The Aristocats.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

It does have a lot of fun moments and I love the songs :)

[@ThePinkDragon]

@@justinfikestorycastle cool

[@akrzton1]

Pocahontas’s belt corresponds to the Blue Belt which is another complete circle around the city closest to the city of Pittsburgh. This belt also crosses all 3 rivers.

[@williammorris89]

Yes, well, I do need to watch Pocahontas again! I loved it when I saw it!

[@akrzton1]

@@williammorris89 Believe it or not, the Blue Belt is the closest belt that I live near in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Squirrel Hill!

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Interesting!

[@akrzton1]

@@justinfikestorycastle Yes, definitely! That is iCarly’s favorite Disney movie, interestingly enough being near Shady Avenue as that is where the Paramount+ office is located. I can’t wait for season 3 of the iCarly reboot!

[@williammorris89]

@Amelia K Don't worry. I live in Virginia, so I do have a general idea of what you are talking about. I always love going to the Jamestown Museum because it always reminds me of how phenomenal the Pocahontas movie really is.

[@ThePinkDragon]

Yes Fanstansa 2000 is good

[@williammorris89]

I side with that! And that's coming from someone who is a fan of Fantasia for life! Both of them are my favorite!

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Cool I'll have to watch it!

[@williamarbogast5788]

"phenomenal"

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Cheers!

[@Thefoxandthehoundfan2011]

33:41 Not a wise move, I must say... But I will handle your opinion

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Totally fair! This is all super subjective so I definitely get if if you disagree with any of my opinions. Thanks for commenting!

[@hattiebrooks5182]

Wooowww......heart piercing💞..... 👍Wonderful

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Thank you so much 🤗

[@akrzton1]

Mulan corresponds to the Purple Belt which is completely in downtown Pittsburgh and added to the Belt System in 1995. Where do you live by the way?

[@justinfikestorycastle]

We're currently out west in Colorado

[@akrzton1]

@@justinfikestorycastle So then, you don’t know what the Allegheny County Belt System is!

[@matthewyeary3449]

Lord of Social media

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Haha I'm not sure that's true but I'll definitely take it

[@pamelakibildis1177]

Great Video but I respectfully disagree with your ranking of The Little Mermaid 🧜🏻‍♀️ That’s My Favorite Disney Movie Ever!!! But we’ll agree to disagree and the main reason I love it is because I relate to Ariel because she loves collecting and I love collecting a ton of Disney merch including a ton of Little Mermaid 🧜🏻‍♀️ stuff So I’m sorry you didn’t love it but I believe it’s a great movie and it freakin started the Disney Renaissance and actually saved Disney so imho it’s a great film visually and the music is extremely memorable and I love it so much 🧜🏻‍♀️🥰🥰 & R.I.P. Pat Carroll and Samuel E Wright aka Sebastian and Ursula

[@starlover1]

I seriously hate the Ariel slander it seems people are just jumping on the bandwagon. Ariel never wanted to give up her voice for a man she wanted legs. Also people forget she’s 16 yes she’s gonna make mistakes dug that doesn’t mean she deserves the hate. Ariel is really lonely because she is treated as and outcast her father doesn’t accept Ariel for who she is in the beginning and destroyed her entire collection. It’s ignorant to pain Ariel as this spoiled brat for wanting more out off life and not be confined to what society expects of if. Why should Ariel or anyone stay if their parents don’t accept who they are and have a violent outburst destroying all your heard work you put into having a collection why should she stay , because rich and princess? Being rich doesn’t mean your happiness. Just look at celebrities who commit suicide just because you have a nice life and are rich doesn’t equal true happiness. After triton destroyed her collection she was emotionally vulnerable and susceptible to Ursula’s manipulation tactics and Ariel was also hesitant about signing the contract she says “if I become human I’ll never be with my father or sister again.” “But without my voice how can I.” I wish Ariel haters would put themselves in her shoes. A lot of her hate comes off as ignorant also Eric fell in love with her because of her voice not because she changed who she was Eric already loved her for who she was and what is so bad with a woman wanting love Ariel shouldn’t be slut shammed for it. I swear Ariel hate makes me want to punch a wall I’ll leave links to videos in hopes he can watch them they do a better job at explaining my point than me since I’m kind of bad at explaining myself m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5a0gXpppsqiiLc m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIfWqGWbna2mjcU m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4a2f5alg85qrcU m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJaWdZaJiMeaaKM

[@pamelakibildis1177]

@@starlover1 Absolutely agree with this 😊

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Thanks for sharing your perspective! That's the great thing about a super-subjective ranking like this is everyone loves different things for different reasons. I probably should have done a better job explaining that most of my critiques of the story are with the writers not fully developing the character within the story. I think the story issues could have been solved to make it much better, but like you said the visuals and music and core themes are wonderful and I can totally understand why it would be a favorite of yours.

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Hey thanks for sharing your perspective and the great links! It's helpful and you've pushed me to look at Ariel's character in a different light, which is great. One of my favorite things about the way we experience stories is how deeply rooted that is in our own experiences, needs, personality, etc so it's helpful to see her character through your eyes. Cheers!

[@akrzton1]

@@justinfikestorycastle Are you a rural guy, an urban guy, or somewhere in between?

[@ThePinkDragon]

Scar was similar to Hades

[@justinfikestorycastle]

I agree, they both have that "charming villain" vibe

[@gloriahughes135]

Aww🙏 💕💓 so Cute

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Haha thank you!

[@joelschofield7357]

🌟🌟🌟🌜🌜🌜✨✨✨ ❤fabulous

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Thanks very much!

[@ThePinkDragon]

you skiped Fantasia

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Haha yeah I only caught that later on but I did fit it in eventually

[@ThePinkDragon]

@@justinfikestorycastle didn't finsh the video b

[@dannyjorde2677]

Your forgettable list is awful lol, they're all awesome classics

[@CinematicTyler]

come to my house and watch 101 dalmatians today!

[@justinfikestorycastle]

Haha dont tempt me! It’s snowing here and that’s a perfect “blanket and tea” type movie

[@CinematicTyler]

It’s snowing here right now.