Tier List
Disney Movies Ranked: The Complete Animated Tier List (2026)
The best Walt Disney Animation classics, from Snow White and The Lion King to Frozen, Moana, and Encanto, ranked from S-tier to D-tier. Then build your own Disney tier list with head-to-head comparisons.
The Complete Disney Movie Tier List
For nearly 90 years, Walt Disney Animation Studios has defined what an animated movie can be, from the hand-drawn fairytales of the Golden Age to the Disney Renaissance of the '90s to the CG era of Frozen and Encanto. We've ranked the studio's most beloved animated features into S/A/B/C/D tiers. (Looking for Toy Story and Inside Out? Those are Pixar, see our separate Pixar tier list.) Think Mulan belongs in S-tier? Settle it yourself in minutes with Shortlist.
The Lion King
(1994)The peak of the Disney Renaissance and one of the highest-grossing animated films of all time. A Shakespearean tragedy with songs everyone still knows by heart.
Beauty and the Beast
(1991)The first animated film ever nominated for Best Picture. Flawless songs, a swooning romance, and the gold standard for the Disney fairytale formula.
Aladdin
(1992)Robin Williams' Genie is one of the greatest voice performances ever recorded. A dazzling, fast, funny adventure that defined an era.
The Little Mermaid
(1989)The film that launched the Disney Renaissance. Ariel, Ursula, and "Part of Your World" brought the studio roaring back to life.
Mulan
(1998)A genuine action hero, a killer soundtrack, and real emotional stakes. "I'll Make a Man Out of You" is an all-timer.
Frozen
(2013)A cultural phenomenon. "Let It Go" was inescapable for a reason, and the sisterly-love twist modernized the princess formula.
Encanto
(2021)Lin-Manuel Miranda's songs and a heartfelt story about generational pressure made "We Don't Talk About Bruno" a global smash.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
(1937)The one that started it all, the first full-length animated feature ever made. A landmark of film history that still holds up.
Moana
(2016)Gorgeous ocean animation, a fierce heroine, and one of the studio's best modern soundtracks. "How Far I'll Go" soars.
Tangled
(2010)Disney's switch to CG princesses paid off with warmth, humor, and the dreamy lantern sequence.
Zootopia
(2016)A clever buddy-cop mystery wrapped in sharp social commentary. Smart, funny, and beautifully designed.
The Jungle Book
(1967)The last film Walt Disney personally oversaw. "The Bare Necessities" and "I Wan'na Be Like You" are timeless.
Lilo & Stitch
(2002)A weird, heartfelt story about family ("ohana"). Stitch became one of Disney's most beloved modern characters.
Hercules
(1997)Underrated and hugely fun, with a gospel-choir soundtrack and James Woods' scene-stealing Hades.
The Princess and the Frog
(2009)Disney's gorgeous return to hand-drawn animation, with a jazzy New Orleans setting and Tiana, a long-overdue heroine.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
(1996)Darker and more ambitious than most Disney films. "Hellfire" is one of the most intense songs the studio ever produced.
Pocahontas
(1995)Beautiful animation and "Colors of the Wind," though the historical liberties have aged poorly.
Chicken Little
(2005)Disney's rocky first fully-CG feature, made during a creative low point before the Pixar-led turnaround.
Home on the Range
(2004)A forgettable late-era misfire that marked the temporary end of Disney's hand-drawn era.
Build your own Disney tier list
Compare every Disney classic head-to-head and let the algorithm rank them for you. Free on iOS.
How to Build Your Own Disney Tier List
Disney rankings are deeply personal: they're tangled up with childhood nostalgia, so no two lists agree. Is The Lion King still untouchable? Does Encanto crack the top five? Is Frozen overrated or a masterpiece? The fastest way to settle it is head-to-head:
- Open Shortlist and search for each Disney film by name.
- Add them to a ranking: create a custom "Disney" list so it only contains these movies.
- Compare head-to-head: the app shows you two films at a time. Pick the one you prefer. That's it.
- Watch your tier list form: your complete Disney ranking builds itself in a couple of minutes.
- Share it: every ranking gets a shareable link. Post it, argue about it, send it to the group chat.
Read more about the comparison-based approach in our movie tier list guide.
Disney Tier List FAQ
What is the best Disney movie of all time?
The Lion King (1994) is the most common pick, with Beauty and the Beast (1991) and Aladdin (1992) right behind it. All three came out during the Disney Renaissance, widely considered the studio's creative peak.
What was the first Disney animated movie?
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) was Disney's, and the world's, first full-length animated feature film. It was a massive gamble that paid off and built the studio.
Are Pixar movies Disney movies?
Pixar is owned by Disney, but it's a separate studio with its own films like Toy Story, Up, and Inside Out. This list covers Walt Disney Animation Studios features only. For Pixar, see our dedicated Pixar movies ranked tier list.
What is the Disney Renaissance?
The Disney Renaissance refers to the era from 1989 to 1999 when Disney released a run of acclaimed hits: The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Mulan, and more: that revived the studio commercially and creatively. Most fans' S-tier picks come from this period.
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