Ranking Every Disney Channel Movie I've Seen

The Walt Disney Company is the company that defines the entertainment industry. The owners of Walt Disney Animation Studios, Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars, National Geographic and ESPN. 

​The Walt Disney Company produces many of the greatest films in the world, but many forget their not so great films marketed towards cable owning families. You know what I’m talking about, I’m talking about Disney Channel.

Disney Channel is well known for its teen sitcoms, but it’s even more well known for its original movies that range from awful to iconic. Disney Channel started airing films in the 1980’s, and began producing their own films in the 1990s. 

​The past year or so, thanks to a Disney+ subscription, my friends and I have been able to delve into the deep bank of Disney Channel Original Movies. As of today, I have seen 17 of these films in their entirety and, based on a suggestion from one of my best friends, I am going to embark on ranking them from worst to best. This is a subjective list, so please do not be offended if I don’t like one of your childhood favorites.

So without further ado, I’m Belle, and you’re watching Disney Channel *draws mickey silhouette with a wand*.

17. Can of Worms (1999)

This is one of the earliest Disney Channel Original films, and let me tell you, it shows. It’s about a young boy who is being followed by a bunch of aliens and eventually gets abducted by them. I really don’t remember much of the plot, this may be because I saw it a year ago, or maybe just because it was so awful.
    
​The acting in this movie was not good at all, and the CGI was even worse. Yes, I get it that it was made in the 90’s and by Disney Channel, so I shouldn’t expect good CGI, but still. The human characters in this movie had no personality and I didn't care if they lived or died. It probably would have been a more interesting movie if they died. There were so many times when I wanted to stop watching this movie. I think you can see why it’s in dead last place.

16. Smart House​ (1999)

1999 was apparently not a good year for Disney Channel. Though this movie has a slightly better premise. It’s about a state of the art house that can clean itself, cook, and complete many other tasks. A single dad and his two kids move in, but then the smart house creates a humanoid mother and also locks the entire family in. 
    
​Although the story is good, the acting is not very good, and I remember the videography and the audio being so bad it was distracting. It could have had more to it. 

​It’s the kind of movie that might do really well if it had a remake with better actors, videography and maybe make the kids teenagers and throw in a romance subplot that isn’t between the dad and the realtor.

Here’s when it’s gonna start getting controversial…

15. Teen Beach 2 (2015)

It’s a little weird telling you about a sequel before telling you about the original movie, but whatever, you’ll have to bear with me. In the original Teen Beach movie the main characters Brady and Mac get swept into a movie in the 60’s, and in the sequel, the characters from the movie get brought into the real world (or at least a beachy Disney Channel interpretation of the real world). Lela from the movie Wet Side Story has felt like she doesn't belong in her movie ever since Mac and Brady went home, so with the help of a magic necklace she goes to their world.
    
In the real world Mac and Brady are starting school and finding that maybe their relationship doesn’t work so well when they’re not at school.
    
​The main plot of this movie is the two main characters kinda breaking up but not exactly, and them trying to get the very annoying Tanner and Lela back to the movie they came from. There are some really random songs, and honestly, during the ending scenes, the whole thing just felt like a fever dream. This movie is just not it.

14. Johnny Tsunami (1999)

Gee ‘99 still bringing in the not good movies. This one is definitely an interesting one. We follow a young boy named Johnny (he's actually not the Johnny Tsunami from the title, that’s his grandfather.) Anyways, Johnny lives and surfs in Hawaii, when randomly his parents decide they’re going to move to Vermont and Johnny has to go to a prep school. 

​The first issue he faces is that there is no surfing in Vermont (big surprise).  He also is faced with the issue that private school kids are only allowed to ski, not snowboard, which is what Johnny actually wants to do. There is a lot of animosity between the private school kids and public school kids, they even have slurs to refer to each other - skies and urchins. Then Johnny and his newfound urchin friend run away to Hawaii to learn some valuable life lessons from the real Johnny Tsunami and realize people who ski and snowboard can be friends. Or something like that. 
    
​The acting in this film is so much better than it’s other ‘99 buddies, the plot was more engaging, but it still wasn’t great.

13. Let It Shine (2012)

This movie is very different from any other Disney Channel movie I’ve seen. It’s about a Pastor’s kid named Cyrus who dreams of being a rapper. He sneaks out to work a shift at a club to hear rappers. When a girl from third grade who is now a pop star called Roxie, announces a rap competition, he decides to answer as the rapper Truth. But… she mistakes his best friend Chris for him. 
    
Cyrus and Chris have to put on a ruse to convince Roxie that Truth is Chris. But as you can imagine things don’t go exactly as planned. 
    
I feel like Disney was trying to be edgy with this one, “like ooh, let’s do a rap musical.” But instead of feeling cool a lot of it comes off as cringy and seems to push forward racial stereotypes. 
    
​It definitely had a different feel, but it wasn’t different in a good way. The plot itself was quite interesting though, I liked the mix up and I couldn’t really predict how it would be solved.

12. Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure (2011)

I won’t lie, I had decent expectations for this movie. Sharpay who is the main antagonist in the High School Musical series was finally getting her time to shine. The cast of this movie was very small, starring Ashley Tisdale and Austin Butler. 
    
Sharpay decides to move to NYC to try to get a role in a Broadway musical. But nothing in the city is quite up to her standards. She meets an aspiring videographer (played by Austin Butler) who happens to be the son of Sharpay’s mom’s friend. He decides to make a movie about Sharpay because she’s so dramatic (or something like that). 
    
Meanwhile Sharpay and her dog Boi audition for a musical, but it turns out that they don’t want Sharpay, they want the dog. Now she has to compete with a young boy for who’s dog will win. Let me tell you, the pranks and sabotages get wild. 
    
There was a lot less music in this movie than I expected seeing that most of what Sharpay does in HSM is sing. The songs that were there weren’t very good either. We also had no callbacks to her friends from high school or her twin brother Ryan who was supposedly studying at Julliard in the city. I also didn’t really like the romance in this movie. There also was a doggy romance subplot that was very strange.

​I feel bad for Sharpay.

11. Tangled: Before Ever After (2017)

I am a big Tangled fan, so I of course needed to watch this animated special. 

​The movie takes place after the end of the 2010 Walt Disney Animation movie and before the series Tangled Ever After. Late at night some magic entices Rapunzel and Flynn to leave the castle, and Rapunzel’s hair grows back. They go on a cute little adventure, but then they realize they are being chased by some old enemies of Flynn’s. There isn’t a whole lot to say about this. It was kind of pointless, but not awful. It was nice that Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi came back to voice their characters. There were a few songs, but they weren’t anywhere near as good as the Alan Menken songs from the original movie.

10. Descendants (2015)

In the perfect Kingdom of Auradon everyone is always happy. But things aren’t that way on the Isle of the Lost. The Isle is where all of the Disney villains were banished to, but now there is a new generation of villains who are invited to Auradon Prep to learn how to be “good.” The four villain kids selected to go are Mal (daughter of Maleficent), Evie (daughter of Evil Queen), Jay (son of Jafar), and Carlos (son of Cruella De Vil).

They are tasked by Maleficent to steal back her scepter so that she can take over the world.
    
But the kids start getting involved in school life, and start questioning if what their parents want is best. 
    
Then for some reason that I don’t remember, Mal gives King Ben (son of Belle and the Beast) a love potion and he sings a terribly embarrassing song to her. And against her better intentions, Mal starts to fall in love. 
    
​The romance plot in this movie was actually really cute, I also liked the characters. It was pretty cheesy, but not too bad.  The songs, though heavily autotuned, were catchy and the choreography was really good. They did CGI Mal’s eyes to be extra green which was a bit weird. There definitely were some plot holes, but I see why people like this movie. 

9. Teen Beach Movie (2013)

This is the only DCOM from 2013 which was an interesting choice. The plot of this movie is actually really interesting. Brady and his girlfriend Mac get sucked into Brady’s favorite movie - Wet Side Story by using a magical surfboard. It’s a 60’s surf musical. But Brady and Mac get in between the main characters of Wet Side Story who are supposed to fall in love. So they have to 1.) try to get Tanner and Lela together, and 2.) get back to the real world. 
    
Oh and I forgot to mention, Tanner and Lela are from different gangs, a surfer “gang” and a motorcycle gang who are fighting to have the diner Big Momma’s as their hangout. Sound familiar? 
    
Meanwhile a fat mad scientist and a businessman who is a fake British guy from Pittsburg (don’t ask) are trying to get Big Mommas. This subplot was a bit stupid. 
    
The songs in this movie were really fun, they had a different feel from other Disney Channel Musicals. I liked the character Mac, but pretty much all the other characters annoyed me. Especially Tanner, do not get me started on Tanner. Tanner stinks.

​I definitely have some questions still from this movie, but ultimately it’s really fun.

8. Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam (2010)

Mitchie (Demi Lovato) and the band Connect 3 (the Jonas Brothers) are back at Camp Rock for the best summer of their lives. At least, that’s what they think until they arrive and find that their camp now has competition. 
    
Almost all of the staff has left for better jobs across the lake, so it’s up to the older campers to run the camp. But they also have to compete with Camp Star across the way. In addition to this, Mitchie and Shane (Joe Jonas) are dealing with strain on their relationship, and Nate (Nick Jonas) is busy stalking - I mean falling - for a girl from Camp Star.
  
 I enjoyed this movie. It wasn’t as good as the first one, but it’s still good. A lot of the songs felt really long, but I like Shane and Mitchie’s duet. Jason, Kevin Jonas’s character who is meant to be comedic relief, actually carries the movie.
  
 In the beginning of the movie there is a really disturbing scene where Connect 3’s tour bus rolls off a hill and their bus driver Oliver disappears with it. There was never any mention of him after this and this has me very concerned for Olvier’s welfare. If any of you know anything about Oliver please let me know, #justiceforoliver. 

7. Geek Charming​ (2011)

This movie is so much fun. It’s about this kid Josh who needs to make a documentary about something to enter into a film festival. He decides to make it about the most popular girl in his school, Dylan. Dylan is campaigning to become the school’s “Blossom Queen,” the perfect subject for Josh’s documentary. 
    
​They of course hate each other at the beginning, but eventually begin hanging out  not just because of the documentary, but just because they want to. Of course Dylan gives Josh a complete makeover and begins showing her non-snobby side to him. 
    
This is your typically cheesy high school romance that was made for middle schoolers, but it’s fun and does have some deeper messages. The main characters are a bit annoying at times, but they grow on you.

6. Lemonade Mouth (2011)

This is like Camp Rock’s school year persona or something. It’s about 5 kids who all get sent to detention the same day. They also all get lemonade from the vending machine outside of the detention room. When the teacher on duty leaves, the five start playing a song and the band Lemonade Mouth begins to form. Each member of the group has to step outside of their comfort zone and the expectations on their life in some form in order to form this band. 
    
Of course, they’re also preparing for the battle of the bands which, of course, is playing against one of Lemonade Mouth member’s ex boyfriend’s band. 
Meanwhile they also protest how so many arts programs at their school are taken away in favor of sports electives. And since they’re already protesting, they protest how the lemonade vending machine is taken away.
    
There totally are some ridiculous things about this movie, but all in all, it’s solid.
    
The music isn’t “rock” like they try to gaslight us into thinking, but it’s good. Bridgit Mendler’s voice is so crystal clear, I love it.
    
One thing that really annoys me about the movie is a relationship thing, how a certain girl turns down a certain guy in favor of giving her ex a second chance. 
    
​But yeah.​

5. Starstruck (2010)

I have to say 2010 and 2011 had some of the best DCOMS. This movie is kind of like if you smushed Camp Rock, Lemonade Mouth, Let it Shine and Geek Charming together. 
    
The main character Jessica absolutely hates teen pop star Christopher Wilde, but that’s until he rams a door into her face (okay maybe she still hates him.) In order to keep himself away from paparazzi, he spends the night in Jessica’s grandma’s garage. This launches a friendship/enemyship/romance. The two characters traipse across Los Angeles trying to evade paparazzi and crazy fans. 
    
For some reason, plots like this just get me. It, in a way, reminds me of Princess Diaries. The romance plot was incredibly sweet. The music was Disney Channel, but I could see myself rocking out to them. 
    
Definitely comfort movie material. The only complaint is Christopher's strange jawline, and how Jessica’s sister seems to be at least 25.

4. High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2009)

I debated whether or not to include this on the list since it’s technically a major motion picture, but at the end of the day, I think it belongs on this list.
    
It’s the last movie in the High School Musical saga. The Wildcats are getting ready to graduate high school and are all having to face the future. 
Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens) leaves East High early to go to an early orientation at Stanford, and Troy (Zac Efron) has to decide if basketball or music is his calling.  
    
The whole Gabriella going to school early thing doesn't make a ton of sense, and the songs in this movie feel a little disconnected, though "Scream" may be the best HSM song ever. The production quality of this movie is very high, but it often feels like all the money was poured into costumes and sets and not creating a good story. The musical numbers are bigger than ever, and like all HSM movies, every character gets a song to shine in.
    
Also can I mention how bizarre "The Boys Are Back" sequence is?
    
But at the end of the day, it’s one of the best.

3. Camp Rock ​(2008)

This movie reminds me of summers at the beginning of high school. No, I never went to music camp, but it still reminds me of those days. The movie stars Demi Lovato and Joe Jonas. Demi is Mitchie, a songwriter who dreams of going to Camp Rock. Joe is Shane Grey, a disgraced boy band star who is spending the summer at Camp Rock to learn some self control. Of course, these two worlds collide and they foster one of the cutest Disney Channel romances.
    
A few other important things, there is a mean girl named Tess who bullies all the girls. Mitchie lies about her parents being famous, and she also smiles really big. Shane has one of the weirdest haircuts I’ve ever seen, and I still don’t see why Tess didn't sing "This is Me" at Final Jam.
  
​ That being said, I sincerely love this movie, and the songs are all great. I’m scared the soundtrack will be on the top of my yearly recap.

2. High School Musical 2 (2007)

The Wildcats are free for the summer! But they need jobs… and they get jobs at the Evan’s family resort. All summer Sharpay is trying to get in between Troy and Gabriella, and stopping the gang from competing for the star dazzle award. But they’re still singing and dancing their way through life no matter what their boss Fulton tries to do to stomp on their fun.
    
The best HSM soundtrack, the most spray tanned Zac Efron I’ve ever seen (he also has CGI blue eyes), and the weirdest musical number I've ever witnessed ("Humuhumunukunukuapua'a").
    
A few things I don’t understand about this movie: Why did the fact that Gabriella quit her job mean that she and Troy had to break up? Why is Sharpay such a baby? 
    
Some things I love about this movie: Ryan gets his moment, all the dance numbers, and just the absolute amazingness that only occurs in High School Musical.

1. High School Musical ​(2006)

I'm sure you guessed it, we all know it, the best Disney Channel movie is High School Musical! The classic story of a sporty boy and nerdy girl bonding over music. It’s the most iconic of the list, and for good reason. I’m sure you know the plot already, so I won't go too deep.

There is just so much about this movie that is great, the chemistry, the star crossed lovers (okay maybe I’m being a bit dramatic - like Ms. Darbus), the new found love for singing. The way they triumph and find that they are truly All In This Together. The way we all realize we are truly Wildcats at heart. 
 
I only have one gripe with this movie, the fact that Zac doesn't sing for himself, and that Vanessa Hudgens low notes are dubbed in.

(as a side note, the Bad Lip Reading and Disney XD collaborative bad lip reading of High School Musical is not to be missed.)
    
Otherwise, 10 out of 10.

So here is my ranking of every Disney Channel Movie I have ever seen. Let me know what you think? Do you agree with my ranking? What are your favorite DCOMS?

Belle Thomas

​Belle is the writer and dreamer behind An Old Fashioned Girl. She is passionate about reminding girls of their identity in Christ, classic books, history, Louisa May Alcott, and earl grey tea.