10 Forgotten Disney Movies That Should Have Been Instant Classics

Disney has created so many timeless classics that there were always going to be a few films that simply slipped through the cracks. While each one has a cult following, it’s fair to say that many of the entries listed below have been largely forgotten by mainstream audiences despite their incredible potential.

Each of these movies contains a gem of an idea, a specific concept, or an animation style that surely should have meant that it would stick around for the ages. Most of these pictures deserve a second look and a chance to shine once more in a new era. Indeed, The Walt Disney Company’s storied history wouldn’t be quite the same without these projects.

10

Chicken Little Boasted a Brilliant Premise

The Film Arrived at the Wrong Time

Chicken Little

After ruining his reputation with the town, a courageous chicken must come to the rescue of his fellow citizens when aliens start an invasion.

Director

Mark Dindal

Release Date

October 6, 2005

Cast

Zach Braff
, Joan Cusack
, Garry Marshall

Writers

Mark Dindal
, Mark Kennedy
, Steve Bencich

Runtime

1 Hour 21 Minutes

Production Company

Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios

• Chicken Little is a character that’s still recognized in Disney parks.

Some of the Disney classics from the ’90s absolutely thrived with a funny comedy character in a supporting role. Chicken Little went all in on that kind of figure for the lead, though, in a break from tradition. Much like the boy who cried wolf, the terrified titular character would share genuine words of warning concerning the sky falling down, but no one believed him.

As a premise, it’s absolutely brilliant, touching upon an age-old fable that still has plenty of relevancy today. Chicken Little has its flaws, but when coming back to that initial concept, it does stick the landing. With some class jokes and evolution in animation, Chicken Little has a lot to offer besides that original idea.

9

Meet the Robinsons Had Real Potential

The Time Travel Plot Was Unique For Disney

Meet the Robinsons

Lewis is a brilliant inventor who meets mysterious stranger named Wilbur Robinson, whisking Lewis away in a time machine and together they team up to track down Bowler Hat Guy in a showdown that ends with an unexpected twist of fate.

Director

Stephen J. Anderson

Release Date

March 30, 2007

Writers

Jon Bernstein
, Don Hall

Runtime

1 Hour 35 Minutes

Production Company

Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures

• Meet the Robinsons was loosely inspired by the Carousel of Progress attraction.

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There are very few Disney films that experiment with time travel. Meet the Robinsons has a lot going on, and while it might be narratively complex on the surface, it is actually very simple when it comes down to those core character arcs. With a few choice twists and plenty of imaginative inventions to showcase, this is a sci-fi film with an edge.

Meet the Robinsons truly stands out in Disney’s filmography as something very different, contrasting greatly to its traditional fantasy films. Perhaps that’s why it has never truly caught on, but this is well worth a revisit for its unique handling of major science fiction tropes.

8

Bolt Started A New Era

A Few Tweaks Would Have Led to Success

• Bolt’s first trailer made it seem like the movie would be an action-adventure story rather than a road trip.

Plenty of old Disney movies have aged poorly, but there’s something timeless about Bolt. The movie came at an interesting time, as the Walt Disney Animation Studio went through an evolutionary period where CGI animation started to dominate the slate.

Bolt was a look at what the studio could achieve, and without it, Tangled might not have developed as it did. The superhero genre is bigger than ever, and with a talented voice cast and strong action sequences, Bolt genuinely lived up to expectations. It’s a film with a great deal of heart and plenty of laughs.

7

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