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Disney is one of the largest and most beloved film studios in history, and even some of their most forgotten films are worth remembering. As a studio, Disney needs little introduction, and the company has been pioneering family-friendly entertainment for over 100 years. They broke new ground with their first feature-length animated film, and haven’t looked back since.
Whether their films are live-action or animated, Disney’s output is almost guaranteed to be a hit with audiences. They have developed their own signature style, and set the standard by which all family-oriented movies are judged. Despite that, Disney has had their fair share of forgotten films over the years, and some of their films have even outright bombed.
Many of those cinematic failures were actually bad films that are best left in the past, but others have something to offer modern viewers. Whether they were released at the wrong time, were too scary for kids, or simply didn’t click with contemporary audiences, some of Disney’s best films are ones that slipped through the cracks.
The Black Hole (1979)
Decades before Disney would own the Star Wars franchise, they tried to ape its success with 1979’s The Black Hole. The epic space adventure concerns the discovery of a long-lost ship that is controlled by a mad scientist. With its impressive (for the time) effects and ambitious production, The Black Hole was the biggest Disney film to date.
Unlike other Star Wars cash-ins which copied the franchise’s sci-fi/fantasy approach, The Black Hole leaned more toward traditional sci-fi. It was darker than anything Disney had made up to that point, thus it scored the studio’s first PG rating. The Black Hole pales in comparison to many sci-fi classics, but it has value as one of Disney’s greatest experiments.
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1969)
Perhaps the most famous film Kurt Russell made at Disney, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes was a cute slice of late-’60s cheese. Russell plays a college student who is suddenly zapped with the power of a computer, making him a genius. The cheeky comedy was a big enough hit to spawn two sequels and a remake in the 1990s.
Though it holds a less-than-stellar 57% on Rotten Tomatoes, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes has merits beyond its critical reception. It stands as a time capsule to the bygone era of Disney’s live-action period, and is a quaint and light-hearted viewing experience. Also, it’s worth watching to see a young Kurt Russell break out as a movie star.
The Rocketeer (1991)
Hoping to launch their own superhero craze, Disney’s The Rocketeer couldn’t stick the landing. Set in the 1930s, the film follows a stunt pilot who finds a jetpack that allows him to take on Nazis in Los Angeles. Though it’s become something of a cult classic in recent years, The Rocketeer was a rare Disney flop during their 1990’s heyday.
Playful, fast-paced, and made with a beautiful Art Deco style, The Rocketeer should never have been overlooked in the first place. It has an idealized approach that hearkens back to the Golden Age of Hollywood, and features impressive effects for the early 1990s. Thankfully, The Rocketeer isn’t nearly as forgotten as it used to be.
Tuck Everlasting (2002)
Though it’s beloved by many millennials, Tuck Everlasting isn’t nearly as well-remembered as it should be. The Natalie Babbitt adaptation concerns a teen who falls for a member of the Tuck family, a clan who holds the secret of immortality. With its complex themes about love and death, Tuck Everlasting was so much more than the average teen flick.
It’s one of Alexis Bledel’s best movies, and one of the most underrated Disney films of the early Aughts. It subverts romance tropes without abandoning them altogether, and it shows that Disney is capable of going outside their comfort zone on occasion. It isn’t a perfect adaptation of the book, but remains a stellar piece of early 2000s media.
Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983)
Ray Bradbury’s creepy novel Something Wicked This Way Comes wasn’t the usual Disney fare, but the studio tried its best to adapt the book. In an idyllic small town, two young boys find their lives forever changed when a mysterious dark carnival arrives. The final product was a bit muddled, with Disney refusing to commit to the book’s darkest moments.
The story was somewhat butchered in the edit, and Something Wicked This Way Comes went through a troubled production. While there are reasons the film didn’t do well, namely its frightening tone and jumbled execution, it’s still a Disney gem worth watching. It’s eerie and nostalgic, and blends classic Disney magic with Bradbury’s dreamlike tone.
Bolt (2008)
Animation has always been Disney’s bread and butter, but the studio faltered somewhat in the immediate years following their so-called renaissance. Bolt concerns a dog from a famous TV show who believes he’s actually the superhero he plays on the air. Disney had done talking animal movies on numerous occasions, and Bolt wasn’t different enough to set itself apart.
However, it’s a charming film with strong voice acting and writing. What it lacks in originality, it makes up for with fundamentals that make for an enjoyable viewing experience. Bolt is largely forgotten because it isn’t groundbreaking, but that’s exactly what makes it such a compelling watch. It’s familiar and fun, and doesn’t divert from Disney’s formula.
Return To Oz (1985)
Generally considered one of the scariest children’s movies ever, Return to Oz was a bit too bleak for audiences back in the ’80s. It follows Dorothy as she’s called back to Oz to save the magical land from dark forces who have taken over. Though whimsical and imaginative, it also features terrifying moments ripped straight out of the horror genre.
The film has numerous strong elements, and it’s an excellent dark fantasy. However, its real value comes from just how shocking it still manages to be decades later. The fact that Disney green-lit such a project is still astounding, and it represents the peak of the studio’s adventurous period. Never again will Disney take such big risks.
Meet The Robinsons (2007)
Disney’s 2000s film catalog was jam-packed with oddities, and Meet the Robinsons was one such example. The CGI animated film concerns a young inventor who is brought to the future, where he must stop a mysterious villain from changing the past. Made with a retro-futuristic style, Meet the Robinsons moved away from Disney’s modern aesthetics.
The plot is quite complex, and it sometimes struggles to balance Disney’s penchant for weepy melodrama with its heady concepts. Nevertheless, Meet the Robinsons is so unique that it demands attention and reevaluation. Disney often played things too safely in the Aughts, but Meet the Robinsons showed there was still a bit of imagination left in the studio.
Treasure Planet (2002)
When compared to the Disney Renaissance films, Treasure Planet has mostly been forgotten by casual movie fans. Reinterpreting Treasure Island as a sci-fi/fantasy story, it follows a teen who embarks on a journey for lost treasure with space pirates. It bombed, but is now considered one of the studio’s best.
With gorgeous animation and clever storytelling, Treasure Planet is one of Disney’s most opulent movies, and it paid the price. Because it lacked the wider accessibility of the Disney Renaissance, Treasure Planet was pooh-poohed. Its status as a cult classic has gained the film praise, but it still deserves more acclaim for what it accomplished in the animated medium.
Onward (2020)
The COVID-19 pandemic hit Disney hard, and films like Onward were financial disasters. In a fantasy realm, two brothers set out to find a magical item that will allow them to speak to their late father one last time. Visually splendid and rich in classic Disney story elements, Onward truly represents the studio’s commitment to moving forward.
Because the film never got a proper theatrical release, it didn’t connect with the fanbase as a whole. It was a hit on streaming, but its scope was still limited in a crowded field of competition. While it might have been forgotten in the post-COVID years, there’s still a chance that the underrated Disney film could become a cult classic.
