Disney Movies 2023 Top May 2026
The villain, Magnifico (Chris Pine), is the best part. His villain song, "This Is the Thanks I Get?!" is a banger. The callbacks to Snow White , Cinderella , and Pinocchio are charming.
It went directly to Disney+ without a theatrical release, limiting its cultural impact. While critically praised, it lacks the "rewatchability" of other titles. The loss of the "Indian" stereotypes is a welcome update, but the film feels small. disney movies 2023 top
When we look back at the cinematic landscape of 2023, one word defines the House of Mouse: transition . For decades, Disney dominated the global box office with a foolproof formula of live-action remakes, Marvel superheroes, and Pixar tear-jerkers. However, 2023 was a year of seismic shifts. Strikes halted promotion, audiences became pickier about streaming, and several "sure things" underperformed. The villain, Magnifico (Chris Pine), is the best part
It is the sleeper hit of the year on streaming. For fans of the ride, the Easter eggs (the Hatbox Ghost, the busts in the graveyard) are perfection. 7. Wish The 100th Anniversary Misfire How do you rank the movie meant to be the top Disney movie of 2023 —the one celebrating 100 years of Disney—when it lands at #7? Wish tried to blend classic 2D watercolor backgrounds with 3D characters. The result was gorgeous, but the story was paper-thin. It went directly to Disney+ without a theatrical
The protagonist, Asha, is bland. The "wish" logic is confusing. It feels less like a celebratory masterpiece and more like a direct-to-video sequel from 2003.
Kids will like the cute goat (Valentino), but adults hoping for a Frozen or Encanto will walk away shrugging. 8. Peter Pan & Wendy The Straight-to-Streaming Charm Directed by David Lowery ( The Green Knight ), this live-action remake eschewed the Broadway glitz of the animated version for a grounded, gritty look at Neverland. It stars Jude Law as a fascinatingly traumatized Captain Hook.
It is challenging, beautiful, and rewarding. For the discerning Disney fan who loves Spirited Away more than Frozen , this is the top film of the year. 3. The Little Mermaid (Live-Action) A Risky Remake That Paid Off 2023 was the year of the live-action remake. Peter Pan & Wendy landed softly on Disney+, but The Little Mermaid swam into theaters with the weight of nostalgia on its back. Despite a bizarrely loud online backlash, the film succeeded where others failed because of one element: Halle Bailey .