10 Forgotten Disney Movies That Are Worth Remembering

Disney is a hugely popular and influential film studio with a history stretching back over a century. They’ve been leaders in family entertainment since the very beginning, famously creating the first full-length animated feature film and continuing to innovate ever since. Even some of their lesser-known movies are worth revisiting.

Disney movies, whether they’re traditionally filmed or animated, almost always succeed with viewers. They’ve created a recognizable style and are often used as the benchmark for all family films. However, Disney hasn’t always been successful, and some of their movies have been forgotten or even failed completely.

While many Disney movies that didn’t do well were simply poor quality, others still have value today. Some great Disney films didn’t find an audience when they were first released – maybe they came out at the wrong time, were too frightening for children, or just didn’t connect with viewers then. These are the hidden gems worth rediscovering.

The Black Hole (1979)

Long before Disney acquired Star Wars, they attempted to create their own space epic with the 1979 film The Black Hole. This movie follows the discovery of a forgotten spaceship commanded by a scientist who has gone insane. The Black Hole was Disney’s most ambitious and visually impressive film up to that point, and it was also their biggest box office success.

While many other films tried to imitate the style of Star Wars, The Black Hole was more of a classic science fiction story. It was notably more mature and darker than previous Disney films, earning it the studio’s first PG rating. Though it doesn’t quite reach the level of many sci-fi masterpieces, The Black Hole remains an important and ambitious experiment for Disney.

The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1969)

Kurt Russell is well-known for his Disney films, and The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes is a particularly memorable one. This lighthearted movie from the late 1960s features Russell as a college student who unexpectedly gains computer-like intelligence. The funny film was popular enough to lead to two follow-up movies and even a remake in the 1990s.

Despite receiving only a 57% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes still has a lot to offer. It’s a fun look back at Disney’s live-action films from that time, and it’s just a charming, feel-good movie. Plus, it’s a great early film to see a young Kurt Russell starting his career.

The Rocketeer (1991)

Disney’s The Rocketeer aimed to start a new wave of superhero films, but it wasn’t a success when it was first released. The movie, set in the 1930s, tells the story of a stunt pilot who discovers a jetpack and fights Nazis in Los Angeles. While it’s gained a dedicated following over time, The Rocketeer stands out as one of the few Disney films to underperform during the company’s successful period in the 1990s.

With its fun, energetic story and gorgeous Art Deco visuals, The Rocketeer was unfairly overlooked when it first came out. It captures the optimistic spirit of classic Hollywood and boasts surprisingly good special effects for a film made in the early 1990s. Luckily, The Rocketeer is gaining the recognition it deserves.

Tuck Everlasting (2002)

Despite being a favorite among many millennials, Tuck Everlasting hasn’t achieved the lasting recognition it deserves. Based on Natalie Babbitt’s novel, the story centers on a teenage girl who falls in love with a member of the Tuck family, who possess the secret to eternal life. With its thoughtful exploration of love and mortality, Tuck Everlasting offered much more depth than typical teen movies.

Many consider this to be one of Alexis Bledel’s strongest performances, and it’s a surprisingly overlooked gem from Disney in the early 2000s. The movie cleverly plays with typical romantic storylines while still delivering a satisfying story, proving Disney could take creative risks. Though not a completely faithful adaptation of the original book, it’s still a standout film from that era.

Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983)

Ray Bradbury’s unsettling novel, Something Wicked This Way Comes, wasn’t typical Disney material, but the studio attempted to bring it to the screen. The story follows two boys in a peaceful small town whose lives are disrupted by the arrival of a strange and ominous carnival. However, the resulting movie felt somewhat confused, as Disney shied away from the book’s more frightening elements.

The movie suffered through some editing issues and a difficult production process. While it wasn’t a box office success – likely due to its scary elements and confusing plot – Something Wicked This Way Comes remains a worthwhile Disney film. It’s both spooky and sweetly reminiscent of the past, successfully combining classic Disney charm with the fantastical style of Ray Bradbury.

Bolt (2008)

Disney is known for its animated films, but after a period of success, they struggled for a while. Bolt tells the story of a dog who stars in a popular TV show and genuinely believes he has superpowers. Disney had made many movies featuring talking animals before, and Bolt didn’t really offer anything new or different to stand out from the rest.

Despite not being particularly original, Bolt is a delightful film with excellent voice performances and a well-written story. While it might not break new ground, it delivers a genuinely enjoyable experience thanks to its solid storytelling and classic Disney charm. In fact, its familiarity is a big part of what makes it so appealing – it’s fun, comforting, and stays true to the Disney formula, which is perhaps why it’s often overlooked but still worth watching.

Return To Oz (1985)

Many consider Return to Oz to be one of the most frightening movies made for children. Released in the 1980s, it was a little too dark and unsettling for some viewers. The film brings Dorothy back to Oz, where she must rescue the land from evil forces that have seized control. While it’s full of creativity and wonder, it also includes genuinely scary scenes reminiscent of horror movies.

This film is a strong dark fantasy, but what really makes it special is how impactful it remains even after all these years. It’s amazing that Disney allowed such a daring project to be made, and it stands as the high point of a time when the studio was willing to take chances. Disney hasn’t been so bold since.

Meet The Robinsons (2007)

Disney made a lot of unusual movies in the 2000s, and Meet the Robinsons was definitely one of them. This animated film tells the story of a young inventor who travels to the future and has to stop a villain from altering the past. With its unique, old-fashioned vision of the future, Meet the Robinsons stood out from other Disney films of the time.

The story is pretty complicated, and the movie sometimes has trouble blending Disney’s tendency towards overly emotional scenes with its ambitious ideas. However, Meet the Robinsons is so original that it’s worth watching and revisiting. While Disney often stuck to safe formulas in the 2000s, Meet the Robinsons proved the studio could still be creative and imaginative.

Treasure Planet (2002)

While films from the Disney Renaissance are still widely remembered, Treasure Planet has largely faded from public awareness. This sci-fi reimagining of Treasure Island tells the story of a teenager’s treasure hunt with space pirates. Though it wasn’t successful when it was released, many now consider it to be one of Disney’s finest films.

Treasure Planet is a visually stunning and smartly written Disney film, but its ambitious style unfortunately limited its initial success. While it wasn’t as widely popular as other Disney movies from that era, it has since gained a dedicated fanbase. Despite this, Treasure Planet still deserves greater recognition for its impressive achievements in animation.

Onward (2020)

Man, the pandemic really hurt Disney, and Onward unfortunately flopped at the box office. It’s a really sweet story about two brothers on a quest in a fantasy world to find a way to talk to their dad again, even after he’s gone. Visually, it’s gorgeous, and it just feels like a classic Disney movie. To me, Onward really showed that Disney was trying to evolve and keep making these heartfelt stories, even when things were tough.

The movie didn’t reach its full potential because it skipped theaters and went straight to streaming. Though popular with those who found it online, it faced a lot of competition and could have been easily overlooked. Despite this, there’s still hope that this hidden gem from Disney might gain a dedicated following and become a beloved cult classic.

2025-12-07 01:13