33 Disney Movies That Are Stories Of Struggles And Success

Nov 13, 2020

17 min read

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The most important thing to remember is the little things we often miss out on. Like being young and carefree, snuggling into a warm blanket and watching the best of Disney movies!

The best place for comfort and joy in this busy life is the time we spend bonding with friends and family. Over generations, Disney has been the highlight of your lives, the inspiring tales of Disney movies aren’t just fairytales but the stories of struggles and success. 

The gift of the classic Disney movies has been passed on as a legacy from one generation to another. Here we have listed out some of the classics to lift up your spirits, bring you joy and instil, humour the loving bond of the family while watching these fantastic Disney movies. 

Happy watchin’

Here we begin with the list of classic Disney movies that are a must-watch:

1. Up

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"Up" is a wonderful Disney film, with characters who are as believable to be spending much of their time floating above the rain forests of Venezuela. They have tempers, problems, and obsessions. They are cute and goofy, 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen travels to Paradise Falls in his house equipped with balloons, inadvertently taking a young stowaway.

2. The Lion King

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“The Lion King” manages to triple underline all of the basic problems with its big idea. “The Circle of Life” is still an absolute banger, and the spectacle of it all hints at what Favreau was hoping to accomplish. 

This is one Disney movie that works best in wide shots when you can almost pretend it’s real. Lion Prince Simba and his father are targeted by his bitter uncle, who wants to ascend the throne himself. A story as realistic as life itself with amusing characters and inspiring quotes that stay with us. 

3. Alladin

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Disney’s new live-action remake of Aladdin are all pretty much unrevised and familiar from the 1992 animated classic. A street urchin named Aladdin steals food and gets chased through the streets by a royal guard; then he saves a princess disguised as a civilian and gets wrapped up in a cute tale of love and loyalty.

He also encounters a treacherous Grand Vizier named Jafar, and a rambunctious blue genie with a few show-stopping tunes up his sleeves. All this together is weaved by Disney into an enchanting love story that stays evergreen in our hearts.

4. Frozen

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Frozen is the tale of two sisters, princesses in the kingdom of Arendelle. The elder, Elsa, has powers to create and control temperature, ice, and snow. After an accident, her powers are hidden away by her parents, however, they return at a very inopportune moment during her coronation. 

In a fearful moment she freezes the entire kingdom and flees to the mountains, with her sister rushing after her to bring her, and summer, back. This wonderful Disney movie about these sisters is more about real love than any love story would ever be. 

The essence, however, remains in the lengths you go for your loved ones and as Olaf very brilliantly said- ‘Some people are worth melting for’. 

5. Dumbo

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Dumbo, the baby elephant with long-lashed goo-goo eyes, a cuddly grin, and ears as long and floppy as wings, to soar around a circus big top, flying over the crowds with freedom as touching as it is inexplicable. It’s one of the purest images in movies. 

“Dumbo” was Disney movie’s fourth animated feature. The magic of Dumbo’s ability to fly comes at the audience like a heavenly afterthought, one that tosses us into the sublime and leaves us there.

6. Wreck-it Ralph

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It’s a poignant buddy movie that’s sincere in all the right places but knows better than to take itself too seriously. Walt Disney Animation Studios has clearly devoted significant resources and talent to Wreck-It Ralph, recruiting a top-notch cast and a diverse array of animation, visual effects, and lighting artists to contribute to the distinct and varied vid-game styles. 

7. Pinocchio

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In 1940, Disney made its second and third cartoon features, "Fantasia" and "Pinocchio," and they are generally considered to this day to be the best of all the studio's animated films. Perhaps they're so good because they came at just the right time in the development of animation. 

This Disney movie bought a dynamic shift in the animation industry however it was not this progress that attracted the media to Pinocchio it was the storyline and the narrative of the characters. The story is just plain wonderful and a must-watch for all. 

8. Snow White and 7 Dwarfs

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“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” was immediately hailed as a masterpiece. It remains the jewel in Disney's crown, and although inflated modern grosses have allowed other titles to pass it in dollar totals, it is likely that more people have seen it than any other animated feature. Snow White remains one of the most beloved Disney movies.

9. 101 Dalmations

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101 Dalmatians remains one of the most beloved of all Disney movies. There’s the great villainess Cruella De Vil, of course — a skull-faced aristo in white fur who’s like the Wicked Witch of the West reborn as a high-fashion dominatrix. 

And there’s the great escape our spotted heroes make to London after being kidnapped by Cruella (who wants to stitch their tender hides into the ultimate fur coat). The cartoon-surrealist image of all those dalmatians flowing together - a sea of white peppered with dots- feeds our investment in their fate.

10. Tangled

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The magically long-haired Rapunzel has spent her entire life in a tower, but now that a runaway thief has stumbled upon her, she is about to discover the world for the first time, and who she really is. 

Tangled is an amazing and magical tale about one of the best Disney princesses we have ever had- Rapunzel. This Disney movie teaches us the value of companionship, love, and the risks that life beholds and we have no control over. 

11. Big Hero 6

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This is a story about robots big and small, but it’s also one about friendship, loss, and trying to fix things that cannot always be mended. It manages to deliver in most of those areas with humor and without being preachy. And yes, there’s a big, rubbery robot that can fly.

The film introduces a number of ideas that don't necessarily move the superhero movie genre forward but do convey some genuinely good ideas about technology, morality, and ambition.

12. Mulan

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Mulan’s story is about a young woman who takes her father's place in a fight against a Hun invasion during the Han dynasty. You won't hear any of the iconic songs, but it's a visual feast with a few new characters and exhilarating action. It should be a good one to pump all the family up. Another Disney movie binding the families like before.

13. Cinderella

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The story of cinderella is seen, read, and adapted in movies all around the globe. The most amazing part is affection media developed for the character and the movie helped in developing empathy among young kids. The story of Cinderella comes with lessons and heartwarming HEA (happily ever after). 

14. Coco

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Disney-Pixar has repeatedly raised the bar of animated movies by telling stories that would appeal to children and adults alike. One of the best Disney movies, ‘Coco’ is colourful and vibrant, blending a number of unique personalities and vivid landscapes. 

‘Coco’ has multiple messages to take home. It’s also a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of being a celebrity, and more importantly an ode to family, especially the ones who aren’t with us anymore.

15. Tinker bell

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Tinker Bell is a stubborn and mischievous young fairy maiden. But the Movie takes place time before Tink met Peter Pan and that makes the movie interesting. Tinker Bell in this newer movie is also a more sympathetic and softer character. ​

Tinker Bell is probably the most famous fairy ever existed. The popularity of Disney’s Tinker Bell and image of her has partially created one-dimensional idealism that modern people have towards fairies.

16. Brave

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Brave is Pixar's first feature Disney movie with a female main character, and Merida isn't your typical princess. Brought up in the Scottish kingdom of DunBroch, Princess Merida would rather sling her arrows than learn the proper etiquette befitting a future queen. 

When the realm's three other clans arrive to present their leaders' firstborn sons as potential suitors for betrothal, Merida rebels against her regal mother, Queen Elinor, and runs away to the forest. The movie then takes us to the adventures of Princess Merida.

17. Moana

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This brilliant Disney movie chugs along with breathtaking animation, adorable interactions between the strong-willed girl and the hilariously self-obsessed demigod, and songs that make you shimmy involuntarily. 

Moana literally means ‘the ocean’ and as the heroine conquers her namesake, she also conquers your heart. You won’t regret setting sail and voyaging with her.

18. Pocahontas

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An English soldier and the daughter of an Algonquin chief share a romance when English colonists invade seventeenth-century Virginia. "Pocahontas" also presents the Virginia woodlands as breathtakingly beautiful and laments the despoiling of such a paradise. 

Only by ageing the brave and precocious Pocahontas from 12 or 13 into the flirty, full-grown vixen, she becomes here, and by making her so concerned with finding Mr Right, does the film send any regrettable message.

19. Inside Out

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A Movie with a unique perspective. Inside out has taken the world of Disney Movies to another level. It is a perfect movie for people of all ages and the moral of the story is an eye-opener. In the movie, each emotion is depicted as a character in Riley’s mind (the protagonist). 

With a series of twists and turns, the movie turns out to one of the best creation by Disney.

20. Beauty and the Beast

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This is a remake of Disney’s classic love story into one of the best Disney movies. ‘Beauty lies within’ is what an enchantress expects a vain and arrogant prince to know. He learns it the hard way when her curse turns him into a terrifying beast. 

Her spell can only be broken if he finds true love. Meanwhile, Belle, the non-conforming daughter of a village inventor and artist, seeks an adventure. She stumbles upon the beast and magic unfolds. The prince cursed to spend his days as a hideous monster sets out to regain his humanity by earning a young woman's love.

21. The Jungle Book

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Bagheera the Panther and Baloo the Bear have a difficult time trying to convince a boy to leave the jungle for human civilization. This collection of stories brings the tale of an orphan boy living with animals in the jungle to life, some of Disney’s finest movies. 

Borrowing elements from the '60s animated movie, The Jungle Book weaves together spectacular visual effects, musical numbers, and a special performance from Elba as Shere Khan, enveloping you in its wondrously vivid world.

22. The Little Mermaid

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A mermaid princess Ariel is fascinated by the lives of those who live on land. One day Ariel saves a man in a broken ship, who turns out to be a prince, Ariel is smitten and she must do whatever it takes to get to Prince Eric. 

When her father disapproves of the idea, she turns to the sea witch who manipulates her to Ariel to the prince. What she doesn’t know is that the danger lurks right in the corner. This Disney movie offers enough entertainment, innocent romance, and low-key humour to keep adults involved. Children, of course, will love it.

23. Finding Nemo

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Finding Nemo takes viewers on an offbeat road trip, like an overprotective clownfish father, Marlin, teams up with a forgetful hippo tang, Dory, to find Marlin's lost son, Nemo. the journey to find and save Nemo has been one hell of a ride for Disney movie viewers. 

While testing his boundaries and defying his father, Nemo wanders too close to a human scuba diving expedition and becomes an aquarium specimen. Meanwhile, Marlin and Dory brave the dangers of the open seas – including a trio of would-be vegetarian sharks, a forest of jellyfish, and the belly of a whale – on their way to Australia, where Nemo is being held captive.

24. Hercules

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The son of Zeus and Hera is stripped of his immortality as an infant and must become a true hero in order to reclaim it. Symbolic for strength, Hercules becomes the saviour of the poor, helpless and weak people.

25. Winnie The Pooh

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Winnie the Pooh is one of Disney’s best movie ever since. One would have to have a heart of cold temperament to find much -- if anything -- wrong with the animated adventure Winnie the Pooh. 

26. Bambie

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A Blissful, playful, moving and inspiring, Disney movie "Bambi" is a precious jewel that will last longer than most of us will. Indeed, it has a timeless quality, matched with a charming music score and wonderful character voices. 

Way to show the passage of time and how it changes everything is just wonderful, even the woodland creatures we take for granted? It's an amazing achievement. The song score never elicited a hit the size of, say, "When You Wish Upon a Star", but it does feature the sprightly "Little April Showers", which underscores the very best sequence.

27. The Princess and The Frog

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A waitress, desperate to fulfil her dreams as a restaurant owner, is set on a journey to turn a frog prince back into a human being, but she has to face the same problem after she kisses him. This movie has been with us from years and ended up being the one most loved by all kids. A story of wit, humour, love and consequences. 

28. Toy story

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Ever wonder what toys do when people aren't around? Disney movie Toy Story answers that question with a fantastic fun-filled journey, viewed mostly through the eyes of two rival toys – Woody, the lanky, likeable cowboy, and Buzz Lightyear, the fearless space ranger.  

Led by Woody, Andy's toys live happily in his room until Andy's birthday brings Buzz Lightyear onto the scene. Afraid of losing his place in Andy's heart, Woody plots against Buzz. But when circumstances separate Buzz and Woody from their owner, the comically-mismatched duo eventually learn to put aside their differences.

And they find themselves on a hilarious adventure-filled mission where the only way they can survive is to form an uneasy alliance.

29. Incredibles

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A family of undercover superheroes, while trying to live the quiet suburban life, are forced into action to save the world. The four superheroes in the Incredibles have made everyone’s childhood awesome. 

We aspire to be like our heroes and keeping that in mind Disney’s characters in this movie are everything a normal person would be. The genuine brush-up of the reality is what makes the movie such an amazing make.  

30. Ratatouille

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This begins as a dubious premise and ends as a triumph of animation, comedy, imagination and, yes, humanity. What is most lovable about Remy is his modesty and shyness, even for a rat. He has body language so expressive than many humans would trade for it. 

Many animated characters seem to communicate with semaphores, but Remy has a repertory of tiny French hand gestures, shrugs and physical expressiveness. It is clearly one of the best of the year's films. 

Every time an animated film is successful, you have to read all over again about how animation isn't "just for children" but "for the whole family," and "even for adults going on their own." No kidding!

31. Peter Pan

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The world of Peter Pan is the one with all the magic. We grew up wanting to be these characters and carry their powers with us. The story of this starts as Wendy and her brothers have whisked away to the magical world of Neverland with the hero of their stories, Peter Pan.

32. Cars

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A Colorful and often charming, this film renders its nostalgia for a mythic past via state-of-the-art technologies. But once Lightning settles into the small town, the door opens for marketing opportunities. Cars reframe many youthful fancies as consumable objects, ensuring that movie and NASCAR tie-in products will be in circulation.

33. Zootopia

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The world of Zootopia is one with no humans. All animals live together in basic tolerance. Predators have had the savagery bred out of them, so a lion can be near a sheep and everyone is chill. This isn’t to say there isn’t residual prejudice. 

“Just because he happened to be a fox” is a phrase a young Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) reminds her provincial bunny parents when they bring up a touchy moment from her childhood.

The collection of Disney movies can also be called a series of amazing and inspiring tales to make anyone’s childhood full of magic and dreams. But Disney is more than just that. It is most important for all, for people of all ages. 

Disney makes the movies, to show us the heroes need not always be prince or princesses. There is a hero within us that we need to nurture and to look back at these movies, there’s a clear picture of who we were back and who we have turned to become. 

In a way, these Disney movies have been our moral compass and our guiding light to show us the good we ought to become in this world.

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