Ke Huy Quan is in the midst of a powerful career renaissance. Winning the Best Supporting Oscar for his remarkable turn in Everything Everywhere All At Once has opened the door to some great opportunities – a list not limited to a major role in the second season of the acclaimed Marvel Cinematic Universe series Loki and voicing a key character in the new Walt Disney Animation studios movie Zootopia 2. It’s a very cool comeback for the actor who began his career as a child star… but I have also picked up on a funny irony in his project choices.

While Ke Huy Quan’s breakout role was as Indiana Jones’ buddy Short Round in Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom, his aforementioned recent project choices have seen him playing parts that recall Indy’s greatest fear: snakes. In Loki, he plays Ouroboros, who is named after an image of a serpent eating its own tail, and Zootopia 2 features him voicing a pit viper named Gary Da’Snake. I mentioned this irony when I had the chance to speak with Quan and co-star Ginnifer Goodwin at the Zootopia 2 press day earlier this month, and he laughed while acknowledging it’s a connection he himself has made. Said the actor,

To be totally fair, Indiana Jones’ fear of snakes is most prominently featured in Raiders Of The Lost Ark, but the coincidence is still fun.

And while Quan had put those pieces together, Goodwin said that she hadn’t made the connection and didn’t get it until I had brought it up:

As a bonus, Quan also made note of another special string in this fun web. In totality, this has been a great year for the Academy Award-winning actor, as in addition to Zootopia 2 arriving in theaters, he was featured in his first lead role back in February with the release of the action/romance Love Hurts. And where does the year 2025 fall in the Chinese zodiac? He told me,

Snakes are very much a big deal in Zootopia 2, as the sequel digs into the mystery of why reptiles aren’t part of the city population. The movie picks up in the immediate aftermath of the first film and sees officers Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) digging into a conspiracy that dates back to Zootopia’s foundation. With a terrific cast that also includes Andy Samberg, David Strathairn, Patrick Warburton, Fortune Feimster, and Idris Elba, the sequel arrives in cinemas everywhere tomorrow, November 26.

Some of the most amusing and iconic characters in cinematic history happen to show up the least in their respective films. Even more disappointing is when an already popular character’s involvement in a film is significantly reduced from their previous appearances.

And, then, there are those characters whose opportunity to become something special is ruined by, not just a lack of screen time but a lack of anything to substantially serve the story with. We cover them all in this list of movie roles who deserved more.

Boba Fett (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back)

It is a wonder how this galactic bounty hunter (originally portrayed by Jeremy Bulloch and voiced by Jason Wingreen) became such a wildly revered Star Wars character as he does very little in his appearances in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Even when Temeura Morrison inherited the character for Disney+'s miniseries, The Book of Boba Fett, he was upstaged by Pedro Pascal's title character of the show it was spun off from, The Mandalorian.

Raoul Silva (Skyfall)

Academy Award winner Javier Bardem’s brilliant performance as elusive cyber-terrorist Raoul Silva in 2012's Skyfall comes in pretty late into the plot. While the payoff to the preceding buildup is effective, the otherwise acclaimed Daniel Craig-era James Bond film could have potentially benefitted from more of his cat-and-mouse game with 007.

Beth March (Little Women)

Writer and director Greta Gerwig's Oscar-nominated Little Women is considered one of the strongest adaptations yet of Louis May Alcott’s celebrated 1868 novel. However, even its most adoring fans may agree that the March Sister who gets the least time to shine in the 2019 period drama is Beth, portrayed by Eliza Scanlen.

Clubber Lang (Rocky III)

With all the great characters who would recur in the Rocky movies, it is hard to believe that Clubber Lang is not one of them. Mr. T gives such an intense and mesmerizing performance as Sylvester Stallone's onscreen opponent in the 1982 sequel that deserved a later reprise in some way, shape, or form.

Frozone (The Incredibles)

Bob "Mr. Incredible" Parr’s (Craig T. Nelson) best friend and former partner-in-crimefighting, Lucius, better known as Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson), is given the chance to show off his abilities in a few memorable moments from 2004’s The Incredibles. However, the ice-powered superhero deserved a more integral role in the acclaimed Pixar movie that could have provided a more solid and justified build-up toward his return from retirement in the final showdown.

Donny Kerabatsos (The Big Lebowski)

The joke about Steve Buscemi’s character in Joel and Ethan Coen’s beloved cult favorite comedy, 1998’s The Big Lebowski, is that he is rarely given a chance to speak by Walter Sobchak (John Goodman) for mysterious reasons. However, after finally learning more about Donny after his death from Walter’s impassioned eulogy, we wish we could have seen just a little bit more of his life.

The Five Wives (Mad Max: Fury Road)

One thing that makes George Miller’s 2015 post-apocalyptic thriller one of the best action movies of all time is what it consciously chooses to remain a mystery. However, what actually could have used more exposition in Mad Max: Fury Road is the group of young women (played by Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Zoë Kravitz, Riley Keough, Abbey Lee, and Courtney Eaton) whom Tom Hardy’s title role and Furiosa (Charlize Theron) are racing to protect from Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne).

Batman (The Dark Knight)

Ironically, the most acclaimed installment of Christopher Nolan’s trilogy of live-action Batman movies, 2008’s The Dark Knight, is the one that makes Bruce Wayne’s alter ego (Christian Bale) the least interesting character. Actually, one could argue the same thing about Tim Burton’s DC films, 1989’s Batman and 1992’s Batman Returns, despite many believing that Michael Keaton is the best Batman actor yet.

Sloane Peterson (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off)

The core and most important relationship in John Hughes’ hilarious 1986 high school movie, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, is undeniably that of the eponymous troublemaker (Matthew Broderick) and his best friend, Cameron Fry (Alan Ruck). However, we should still know a little more about Ferris' girlfriend, Sloane Peterson (Mia Sara), than we do, which is not much at all.

Darth Maul (Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace)

Even the most casual fans of the Star Wars movies would likely agree that Ray Park's Sith Lord was killed off way too soon and should have appeared in at least one follow-up to 1999's Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. Thus, Darth Maul's return in subsequent animated series and a scene from 2018's Solo: A Star Wars Story is one of the few widely accepted retcons in pop culture history.

Charon (John Wick)

It is the late Lance Reddick's performance as Charon that made the minor role in 2014's John Wick so intriguing. However, it was not until 2019's Chapter 3 - Parabellum that we finally got just how hard-boiled the Continental's loyal concierge can be.

The Joker (Suicide Squad)

Many audiences might argue that Jared Leto’s iteration of The Clown Prince of Crime could have used even less screen time in 2016’s Suicide Squad. However, there are a few DC fans who believe the Oscar winner had the potential to make a better impression than he did – as evidenced by his appearance in the recut Zack Snyder’s Justice League – and, perhaps, should have been the main villain instead of a wasted B-plot.

Michael Myers (Halloween Ends)

While marketed as an epic final showdown between the quintessential horror movie Final Girl, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Michael Myers (James Jude Courtney), 2022's Halloween Ends instead focused largely on the tarnished reputation of a new character named Corey Cunningham (Rohan Campbell) and his ill-fated romance with Laurie granddaughter, Allyson (Andi Matichak). With very little screentime for the aging masked boogeyman, the finale to director David Gordon Green’s requel trilogy ended on a severely divisive note.

Boo (Monsters, Inc.)

Much of Boo's backstory is left a mystery, which is why it would have been appreciated to see her return in a sequel to Monsters Inc. instead of the otherwise well-received prequel, Monsters University. Not to mention, what happened to the adorable interdimensional traveler after she returned to her world? There had to have been an intense search for her during the many hours she was gone.

Ned Ryerson (Groundhog Day)

Stephen Tobolowsky’s annoying insurance agent deserved more to do than, essentially, repeat the exact same thing in his brief appearances in the hilarious 1993 time loop movie, Groundhog Day. On the other hand, the popular, bizarre fan theory that Ned Ryerson is really the Devil in disguise and the orchestrator of Phil Connors’ (Bill Murray) insane predicament is proof that the character has achieved icon status.

The Salesman (Sin City)

Perhaps Josh Hartnett’s contract killer, who seems to specialize in assisted suicide, is used the right amount in directors Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller's visually astonishing comic book thriller, Sin City. Then again, the 2005 film noir favorite could have dropped a couple more hints and teases to his story to give "The Salesman" an even more memorable role.

Blanche (Drive)

Considering she was played by an actor who resembles a sultry, Silver Age femme fatale, Christina Hendricks’ role in Nicolas Winding Refn’s 2011 neo-noir thriller could have been iconic. Perhaps she could have if Blanche was given more than a page’s worth of dialogue in her three scenes from Drive.

Kaecilius (Doctor Strange)

When you cast an actor who has absolutely mastered the art of portraying villainy like Mads Mikkelsen as your antagonist, you better give him enough material to deliver. Unfortunately, the vengeful sorcerer Kaecilius is mostly an afterthought in the MCU’s Doctor Strange – the origin story of Benedict Cumberbatch’s surgeon-turned-Sorcerer Supreme – and is an even less memorable villain than Dormammu, who only shows up for one fun scene.

Scrat (Ice Age)

He was the face of the marketing for, arguably, Blue Sky Studios’ best-animated movie but is treated as an afterthought, appearing in funny interstitial bits outside of the main storyline. At least Scrat (whose name, a combination of “squirrel” and “rat,” is never even explicitly mentioned in any of the Ice Age movies) got to be the star of his own short spin-offs.

Dracula (Renfield)

Obviously, the star of director Chris McKay's 2022 horror-comedy movie is Dracula’s eponymous familiar, Renfield (Nicholas Hoult). However, the film does not spend quite enough time exploring his one-sided, abusive relationship with the ruthless vampire, who is portrayed brilliantly by Nicolas Cage.

Emma Watson (This Is The End)

A fictionalized version of the Harry Potter movies’ Hermione Granger actor only shows up for one scene in This is the End, in which she assumes a house full of male celebrities have ill intentions for her. Yet, it would have been fun to see much more of Emma Watson and her skills with an axe against the nightmarish circumstances outside in Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s 2014 post-apocalyptic comedy.

Gorr The Godbutcher (Thor: Love And Thunder)

Some fans of the Marvel movies might say that Christian Bale’s vengeful antagonist is the best thing about Taika Waititi’s follow-up to Thor: Ragnarok. Unfortunately, Gorr the Godbutcher's screentime in 2022's Thor: Love and Thunder is, much like the tragic deaths of his family, not justified.

Helga Sinclair (Atlantis: The Lost Empire)

In one of the best Disney animated movies from the 2000s, 2001's Atlantis: The Lost Empire, ambitious linguist Milo Thatch (voiced by Michael J. Fox) is recruited onto an expedition to find the eponymous fabled kingdom by the wealthy Preston Whitmore (John Mahoney). His personal assistant, the attractive Lt. Helga Sinclair (Claudia Christian) is considered the secondary antagonist of the story but boasts far more charisma than the main villain, Commander Lyle Tiberius Rourke (James Garner).

Sandman (Spider-Man 3)

The final installment of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Trilogy is one of the most essential examples of the superhero movie genre's “too many villains” trope, with three villains fighting for screen time. The one with the most engaging and sympathetic arc – and, thus, the one who, arguably, should have been the only antagonist – is Flint "Sandman" Marko (Thomas Haden Church), whose biological makeup becomes bonded with sand after a bizarre accident.

Wizard (Taxi Driver)

The most deeply underrated character in director Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver is easily Peter Boyle's Wizard. The wise veteran cabbie is one of the few characters in the bleak 1976 drama whom Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro) could genuinely call a friend and, perhaps, if he was around more, he could have helped steer the disturbed former marine in a more favorable direction.

Boris Podgorny (The Fabelmans)

Judd Hirsch’s Academy Award nomination for portraying a fictionalized version of director Steven Spielberg’s granduncle in 2022's The Fabelmans was well deserved. What the character, Boris Podgorny, really deserved, however, was to play a larger role in the story, as long as it would be accurate to the semi-autobiographical story that the esteemed filmmaker was crafting.

Luna Lovegood (The Harry Potter Movies)

Evanna Lynch portrays Luna Lovegood – a refreshingly positive fan-favorite character from J.K. Rowling’s magical Harry Potter novels. However, most fans of the Wizarding World would argue that the Ravenclaw was significantly underutilized in the blockbuster film adaptations.

Jeff Portnoy (Tropic Thunder)

The famously animated Jack Black has higher billing than Robert Downey Jr.'s Academy Award-nominated role in the cast of 2008's Tropic Thunder. Yet, his role as Jeff Portnoy – an unhinged comedian attempting a serious war movie – gets the least amount of screentime or material to work with in star and director Ben Stiller’s hilarious Hollywood satire.

Lady Sif (Thor)

One of the most heavily underrated MCU characters is Lady Sif, who has appeared in every one of Thor's solo movies but only briefly. We might go so far as to say that Jaimie Alexander’s portrayal of the Asgardian Goddess of War should have her own solo movie, or at least deserves a more substantial role in the franchise.

Rhino (The Amazing Spider-Man 2)

Paul Giamatti’s cinematic iteration of the Spider-Man villain, Rhino, makes his grand entrance at the end of the widely reviled sequel, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and was supposed to have a bigger role in a third installment starring Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker. Of course, the poor reception to the 2014 film led to the cancellation of the follow-up before Tom Holland stepped in to play the MCU-canon webslinger.

Officer Benjamin Clawhauser (Zootopia)

Voiced by Nate Torrence, the doughnut-chomping Officer Benjamin Clawhauser is about the funniest character from 2016's Zootopia. For that reason alone, the tiger deserves a more integral role in the family-friendly police dramedy about anthropomorphic animals.

Garraka (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire)

The fifth installment of the Ghostbusters franchise gets its subtitle (Frozen Empire) from the main antagonist's power to create a second Ice Age. However, said malevolent entity, Garraka, officially shows up far too late in the 2024 sequel's runtime.

Have you ever found yourself watching one of the best Disney movies out there and saying, “Whoa, I did not see that coming!” Well, that’s what this list is about today – the best twists that you have probably seen from Disney, which includes the Disney film collection, Pixar movies, and even the Disney Channel. Let’s get into it.

And obviously, spoiler alert!

The Truth Behind Hector And Ernesto (Coco)

In terms of the best Pixar films, Coco ranks high on that list for me, and one of the biggest reasons is because of this fantastic twist that happens. Coco spends the entire movie thinking Ernesto is his biological father. Still, it’s revealed that it’s actually Hector and that Ernesto killed Hector by poison to steal his songs and earn fame for himself. I mean, come on. That’s a good twist.

Lightning McQueen Doesn’t Get The Piston Cup (Cars)

While I’m personally not the biggest fan of the Cars franchise, I can at least say that the twist at the end of the first Cars was spectacular. In the entire movie, we see Lightning trying to train as best he can to win the Piston Cup, and when it looks like he will, he instead turns back to help an injured car across the line and let his opponent win. Talk about a mindset change.

When Cruella Discovers Who Baroness Is To Her (Cruella)

Some Disney live-action remakes or reboots are great, and I really liked Cruella and the changes it made to the iconic Disney villain’s story. In this live-action film, Cruella finds out her biological mother is the person she’s been trying to impress – and then takes it upon herself to try and beat her in the fashion industry.

The Mayor Is Behind It All (Halloweentown)

Disney Channel movies can sometimes be corny, but every once in a while, you’ll get a twist that shakes you to your core, and that was in Halloweentown. The entire city had been under some strange evil force, causing people to turn to mean, but it turns out it was the mayor who was trying to gain more power the whole time.

Hans’ Truth To Anna (Frozen)

I think we all know that Hans’ quote – “Oh, Anna, if only there were someone out there who loved you.” – is pretty much one of the biggest line drops of Frozen. We’ve been watching Hans the entire movie, thinking he’s the perfect prince for Anna, and then he pulls this out from under us, saying that it was all a ploy.

King Triton Lets Ariel Be With Prince Eric (The Little Mermaid)

I know that The Little Mermaid is part of the Disney Renaissance, which usually means that most of those princesses got their happy endings, but it still shocked me that Triton let Ariel be with Eric in a twisty way. If anything, I thought Triton would be more inclined to keep his daughter close to him after what happens, but he lets her go to Eric—which is sweet but also surprising.

Quasimodo Doesn’t Get The Girl (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)

You might wonder why I put this here, and really, it’s because it defies the Disney formula. Quasimodo is the hero of The Hunchback of Notre Dame and is clearly interested in Esmerelda. It seems set up for a happy ending, but instead, Disney decides to give her to someone different, leaving Quasi all alone, which is actually a pretty surprising and sad twist.

When It’s Revealed Who Syndrome Really Is (Incredibles)

Incredibles is hands down one of the best Pixar movies out there. While I could go on forever about how amazing the movie is, I think this twist is one of the best—when we find out that the villain they are facing is the same little boy Mr. Incredible shunned years ago. That’s the epitome of karma biting back.

Meg Sacrifices Herself (Hercules)

Hercules is an underrated Pixar film, so I’m not sure how many people remember this twist. Meg tries to save Hercules during a battle but ends up dying from her injuries. However, it was all to push him out of the way of a falling pillar. While the ending leads to them being together, Meg sacrificing her life for Hercules was not something anyone expected.

Eugene Cutting Off Rapunzel’s Hair (Tangled)

Tangled is undoubtedly one of the best 2000-2010 Disney movies, and the most significant part of it is when Eugene sacrifices his life for Rapunzel to be free of Mother Gothal. It seems Rapunzel will be able to heal him in order for him to live and for her to go with Gothal, but he suddenly lunges up and cuts her hair at the last second to make sure Gothal can never use her again.

Thantos Controls The Darkness (Twitches)

While this reveal comes pretty early in the Twitches film, it’s still surprising. The Darkness is pretty much the villain that these two witches must take on, an evil entity that is killing people, but they find out soon enough that it’s actually their Uncle Thantos who is controlling it for the sake of finding power.

Vanelleope Stays Behind (Ralph Breaks The Internet)

After finding her place in Wreck-It Ralph, it was shocking that Vanelleope decided to find her own path in Ralph Breaks the Internet. While there was an option for her to come back to the arcade at the end of the movie, she chose to stay online with Slaughter Race.

Bowler Hat Guy’s True Identity (Meet The Robinsons)

Meet the Robinsons is such an underrated Disney film, and I think it gets a bad rep for the earlier usage of CGI. The twist is even better—for the entire movie, Bowler Hat Guy is the main villain we follow, but later, we find out that he’s the older version of Lewis’ roommate, Goob, meaning that he was created from Lewis’ interactions with the younger version.

Hades Is Mal’s Father (Descendents 3)

All right, so Descendents 3 is undoubtedly the least-best Descendents movie, but I will say that the fact that we find out Mal’s father is Hades of all people is something I never expected. I mean, her mother is Maleficent, and somehow, she was procreated by someone like the God of the Underworld. How does that even happen?

When We See What Kind Of True Love Is Needed (Frozen)

I think, at the time, the idea that true love doesn’t need to be romantic but can also be familial was an excellent way for Disney to step into the 21st century. I will say, however, that I do miss the days of an evil villain and a romance to root for. Even so, there is no denying that the twist of Elsa and Anna saving each other through sisterly love is a great one.

Stinky Pete Is Actually The Villain (Toy Story 2)

Many regarded Toy Story 2 as one of the best Pixar movies – that is until the third one came around. And there are plenty of great reasons for that. But one of the biggest is the twist villain. Out of all the bad things happening to Woody, none of us ever would have expected it had something to do with Stinky Pete – but it’s revealed towards the end that he planned everything.

That Mike Won The Scare Competition Because Of Sully (Monsters University)

As someone who was genuinely rooting for Mike to win that scare competition, this twist broke my heart. When Mike and Sully are conversing after their win in the scare competition, he fake tries to scare the dummy there, only for the meter to charge up completely. He snaps his fingers, and it does the same thing. Then, after that, he looks under the bed and finds the machine has been tampered with – that Sully cheated to make sure they’d win. So sad.

Troy Decides To Follow Both Passions (High School Musical 3: Senior Year)

Okay, I still love all of the High School Musical movies. Still, one of the funniest and best moments was this twist – where the entirety of the third movie was Troy trying to figure out what to do in college, and then he realized at the end, “Oh wait, I can do both theatre and basketball,” Wow, who would have thought? I think it just shocks me because it’s such a simple solution.

Callaghan’s True Intentions (Big Hero 6)

I feel like so many people forget about Big Hero 6 so often because it came out post-Frozen, and people were still riding Elsa’s ice powers and all that. But Big Hero 6 is a great superhero movie with a great villain twist when Callaghan reveals he’s the man who has been making a mess of everything and blew up the lab Tadashi was in because he wants revenge for losing his daughter in an experiment.

Charles Is Actually Evil (Up)

Up is one of those films that the moment you watch it, you probably will end up crying and feeling all kinds of things, but you never expect a twist so dark as this one. Charles Muntz was an idol of Carl’s, and when he finds out that Charles is actually a horrible person who is enslaving dogs to try and hunt down an age-old bird that Carl and Russell have taken a liking to, it causes nothing but trouble and pain.

The Waternoose Expose (Monsters Inc.)

I think everyone my age was terrified of Waternoose in Monsters Inc., but one of the biggest things that ended up being the best twist ever was how Sully somehow lured him into a scare simulation room and got him to reveal the entire conspiracy that he was doing to keep this company going—before the conversation is recorded and shown to the CDA. Beautiful, no notes.

Mason Reveals His Feelings For Juliette (Wizards Of Waverly Place)

As someone who stands by the fact that Wizards of Waverly Place is just as good as an adult, I believe this scene is still dramatic. Out of nowhere, Mason, who is a werewolf, sees his former flame Juliette for the first time in several years, and he openly admits in front of his girlfriend, Alex, that he has never stopped loving her. WHAT? As a child, this was the most shocking twist in the world for me.

King Candy’s True Identity (Wreck-It-Ralph)

Personally, I think Wreck-It Ralph is way better than the sequel, and this twist is just proof of that. King Candy seemed like a nice guy for the majority of this movie, but towards the end, we find out he is the one responsible for the messed-up code and that he is also Turbo, the character who was knocked out of his own game. It’s a huge twist.

Lotso Is Not A Nice Bear (Toy Story 3)

Another excellent example of a twist straight from the beginning is Lotso in Toy Story 3. I mean, how could a teddy bear who smells like strawberries be bad? But it turns out Lotso is king of the daycare, and if the toys don’t follow what he says, well, that’s too dang bad. It’s a toy again, toy, once again.

When It’s Revealed Who Screen Slaver Really Is (Incredibles 2)

While there are plenty of people who say that Incredibles 2 isn’t as incredible as the first, I’ll be honest and say I still enjoy the heck out of it, and I seriously love this twist. Finding out Evelyn, who has been working alongside Elastagirl this whole time, is actually the person behind everything, which is a great twist. I wish it had been executed a little better in the back half, but the twist itself is excellent.

Jake Reveals His True Feelings About Miley (Hannah Montana)

Okay, okay, don’t you remember when there were all these love triangles in Hannah Montana? I think everyone and their mother gasped when the celebrity, Jake Ryan, fully expressed his feelings for Miley Stewart on national television – not Hannah, her alter ego, but Miley. Like, stop. My heart.

When We Find Out Who Te Fiti Is (Moana)

As someone who has rewatched Moana, I find this twist to be beautiful inside and out. Moana has sailed the entire ocean to restore the heart of Te Fiti, an island, only to find out that Te Ka is actually Te Fiti – just a cold and cruel version who doesn’t have her heart anymore and is instantly turned into a green island once Moana restores it. Amazing.

Dawn Bellwether Is Actually An Evil Genius (Zootopia)

I still can’t help but snicker at this twist. In the entire movie, Mayor Bellwether is this sheep who doesn’t seem like she’s the person behind the animals going rogue, but it turns out she is—a sheep who wanted to gain more power and decided to take out predators to do that.

Bing-Bong’s Fate (Inside Out)

When Bing-Bong died, America mourned, and I did as well. In Inside Out, we see Bing-Bong, a forgotten imaginary friend of Riley’s who travels with Joy and gets stuck with her in Riley’s subconscious. Still, in order to get Joy out, he sacrifices himself by throwing him off their little rocket so Riley can be happy again – even if he gets forgotten. Ugh. Stop.

Maleficent Isn’t As Evil As Everyone Paints Her To Be (Maleficent)

I have to say that for live-action Disney villains, Angelina Jolie knocks it out of the park as Maleficent, and finding out her story in this really is the big twist we all didn’t expect. In this version, Maleficent wasn’t born evil – she was the victim of a cruel society and jokes that slowly tore her down into the woman she became later. That’s a great way to take her story.

When We Find Out Who Mor’du Really Is (Brave)

It felt like Mor’du wasn’t really that intense of a villain in Brave, considering he was just a demon bear. Still, it turns out he’s NOT just a demon bear – Mor’du is actually the prince from an old family legend who was turned into a demon bear after not following his father’s wishes.

Woody Wants To Stay Behind (Toy Story 4)

You know, I still wonder about this twist. Woody, for nearly every Toy Story movie, has always been about staying together, staying with his human, the entire time. But, at the end of Toy Story 4, he decides to become a free toy and stay with Bo-Peep while the others leave him behind. It’s a surprising twist, nonetheless.

These are just some of my favorite Disney twists, and now I want to rewatch them all to see if I can spot them early on. I think it’s time for another movie marathon.

Frozen fans already had a lot to look forward to with Frozen 3 recently getting a release date in 2027 and the confirmation that Frozen 4 is also in development. However, one big question was just who would direct the new Frozen films. Jennifer Lee had indicated that her duties as Chief Creative Officer at Walt Disney Animation Studios meant she wouldn’t be able to do it. But apparently, when forced to choose between running the studio and Frozen, Lee has chosen Anna and Elsa.

In a huge and completely unexpected movie, Disney has announced that effective immediately Jennifer Lee is stepping down as CCO of Walt Disney Animation Studios. She will return to filmmaking as the writer and director of Frozen 3 and will co-write Frozen 4. In her place will be Disney Animation veteran Jared Bush, the director of Encanto and Zootopia who has been part of Disney’s Creative Leadership team for many years.

Jennifer Lee’s Return To The Frozen Franchise Is Great News For Fans

This is great news if you’re a fan of Frozen. While there may have been others quite capable of making great Frozen movies, the franchise was created by Jennifer Lee, so the fact that she’ll be returning to the franchise is exciting. Anna and Elsa are in the best hands they could possibly be in.

Lee will essentially run the Frozen franchise going forward, which has grown far beyond films in recent years. World of Frozen opened at Hong Kong Disneyland last year and a second version of the land is set to open at Disneyland Paris in 2026.

Lee took over as CCO of Disney Animation in 2017 following the unceremonious exit of John Lasseter from the post following allegations of misconduct within the company. For the first two years, she split her time between that role and the director of Frozen II. Once the movie was released Lee focused full-time on the CCO role.

Lee is quoted in the announcement from Disney that the decision to step down was hers, but CEO Bob Iger and Disney Studios chief Alan Bergman supported the decision. It’s not surprising that they would. Frozen is a massively important franchise to Disney, and any step that’s going to help ensure that the upcoming Frozen sequels succeed is good news.

Disney Animation’s New CCO Takes Over At A Key Time

Frozen II was the last big hit that Disney Animation had. The pandemic would follow shortly after its release. Raya and the Last Dragon was released while many theaters were still closed. Encanto, Strange World, and Wish were all disappointments at the box office, though Encanto would find new life on Disney+.

Jared Bush now finds himself in a similar situation that Lee was in when she took on the CCO role. Bush is directing Zootopia 2 which will hit theaters in November 2025. He’ll have to take on his new executive roles while still shepherding the film through its completion. Considering the first Zootopia's billion-dollar box office, a lot is riding on the sequel as well as Moana 2 which will hit theaters this November.

Disney has created some of the greatest characters in movie history. The Disney Princesses are a brand unto themselves and Disney Villains include some of the most iconic characters ever conceived. However, there are also those other characters. Sometimes the characters you remember most coming out of the best animated Disney movies aren't the heroes or the villains.

Sometimes the character that steals a scene, or even an entire movie, are the sidekicks. Sometimes it's the characters that are barely in the movie at all, but are so memorable in their few moments of screen time that you want to see an entirely new movie based on them. Here are some of the best Disney side characters who have stolen scenes in our favorite films.

The Genie - Aladdin

There may be no Disney character who stole the show, who was designed to steal the show, like Aladdin's Genie. Voiced by the incomparable Robin Williams, the Genie owns every scene he's in even though the movie is never really about him.

Sebastian - The Little Mermaid

There's no better way to steal a scene in an animated Disney movie than with a great song, and Sebastian gets a great one in The Little Mermaid. "Under the Sea" won the Oscar for Best Original Song in 1990 and it's not hard to see why. Considering songwriter Howard Ashman specifically designed Sebastian with a Jamaican accent so that he could write a calypso song, clearly he knew this little crab would be one of the highlights of the film.

HeiHei - Moana

It takes a certain skill to steal a scene when you can't actually speak, and yet Moana's chicken HeiHei is somehow able to do exactly that. Alan Tudyk's great voice acting (voice clucking?) combined with perfect animation make Heihei unforgettable. It's a good thing Maui didn't eat him or we would have been robbed of some hilarious moments.

Maximus -Tangled

From sword-fighting Flynn Rider to breaking him out of prison, few horses are quite as capable as Maximus. Not simply a mount for the captain of the guard, Maximus himself ultimately becomes the captain of the guard, which is only fitting considering his importance. This horse deserves all the apples.

Kronk - The Emperor's New Groove

The Emperor's New Groove is one of Disney's funniest movies, and Kronk is absolutely the funniest part of it. The sidekick to villain Yzma, Kronk is big and dumb but it's impossible not to love him. He's just so earnest, and he tries so hard, how can you not love Kronk?

Lumiere - Beauty And The Beast

Even as a candelabra, there's something irresistible about Lumiere. Nothing phases him and he can get an entire dining room dancing. He's always sure that everything will work out in Beauty and the Beast, and he does eventually turn out to be right. Clearly, he knew something the rest of us did not.

Mr. Pleakly - Lilo & Stitch

Mr. Pleakly is the last alien who should be sent after experiment 626, but he certainly does give it his all in attempting to recapture the mischievous monster. From his numerous costume changes to his perpetual fear of basically everything, Pleakly is the perfect comic sidekick.

Rutt And Tuke - Brother Bear

Rutt and Tuke are minor characters in Brother Bear but of course, they steal every scene they're in. Why? They're voiced by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas, and are basically just animated versions of The McKenzie Brothers, the hilariously Canadian duo of SCTV fame that the two played in live-action. Their appearance is almost more of an easter egg than anything else, but it's a welcome one.

Louis - The Princess And The Frog

Louis is a friendly alligator who plays the trumpet in a movie where jazz music plays a pivotal role. Of course, he's going to steal the show. He leads one of the best songs and gets some of the best jokes in The Princess and the Frog.

Vincenzo “Vinny” Santorini - Atlantis: The Lost Empire

Atlantis: The Lost Empire isn't a movie that a lot of people remember, but it had an incredible voice cast including Michael J. Fox, James Garner, and Leonard Nimoy. However, the character you likely remember most is explosives expert Vinny Santorini, who was voiced by Don Novello, best known for his character Father Guido Sarducci who would appear on SNL from time to time. Vinny is a simple man who just wants to blow things up. Is that too much to ask?

Tigger - The Many Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is made up of three different stories, one of which doesn't even include the character of Tigger. And yet, today most people don't even realize that there was a time when there was no Tigger in Disney's Winnie the Pooh. He basically takes over the movie from the title bear from the moment he arrives and never gives it back.

Cheshire Cat - Alice In Wonderland

Wonderland is a strange place full of all sorts of strange characters, but the Cheshire Cat may be one of the weirdest of them all and one of the few who seems well aware of how strange he is. This makes him instantly memorable.

Scuttle - The Little Mermaid

Buddy Hackett was a great comic talent and he brings that incredible ability to the role of Scuttle in The Little Mermaid perfectly. The seagull's cluelessness is quite endearing, making every moment the bird is on screen hilarious.

Valentino - Wish

Alan Tudyk has voiced numerous Disney characters over the last several years, but one of his best is also one of his most recent. Valentino, the goat who gains the ability to speak in Wish does not let his new gift go to waste. He embraces his new speech and every line he speaks is another scene-stealing moment.

Rhino - Bolt

Disney movies teach us that we can do anything and one has to assume that Rhino, the hamster stuck in a ball from Bolt has seen more than his share of Disney movies. Rhino never lets his small stature stand in the way of whatever he believes he can accomplish, and while what he believes he can do is a great deal more than what's actually possible, you have to love the enthusiasm.

Archimedes - The Sword In The Stone

Sometimes in the middle of a bright and happy Disney movie, what you need is an angry curmudgeon who has no patience for any of it. That's the owl Archimedes in The Sword in the Stone. He doesn't like anybody or anything, and honestly, we've all been there.

Iago - Alddin

Voiced by the great Gilbert Gottfried it's literally impossible for Iago not to steal any scene he's in. How could you possibly ignore that voice? Still, Iago is hilariously fun with his endlessly sarcastic quips.

Sgt. Calhoun - Wreck-It Ralph

Most of Wreck-It Ralph takes place inside bright and colorful video games where the characters are all pretty laid back and fun. And then there's Sgt. Calhoun, the no-nonsense hardcore leader of Hero's Duty. She's so different than everything else in the movie that she instantly draws your attention whenever she's on screen.

Meg - Hercules

Oh all Disney heroines, Megara is one of the most overlooked. While she does eventually need rescuing from the hero, she never asks for help and spends a not insignificant amount of her time making fun of Hercules. She's such a shift from what we're used to it that you can't help but want more.

Allan-a-Dale - Robin Hood

Robin Hood isn't one of Disney's musicals, but it still has some great music thanks to Alan-A-Dale, the rooster minstrel voiced by the late great Roger Miller. He's the narrator of our story, but more than once his music becomes the story.

Boun - Raya And The Last Dragon

Raya and the Last Dragon is not lacking for memorable side characters, they're all quite impressive, but restaurant owner Boun, a kid pretending to be a businessman is the best of them. He commands the screen when he's being hilarious as much as when he's being vulnerable.

Olaf - Frozen

Olaf is one of those great Disney sidekicks that could have gone terribly wrong, but great writing and solid work from Josh Gad have continued to make Olaf incredible. There's a reason the little snowman has received his own holiday specials and animated short. The Frozen movies alone can't contain him.

Duke Weaselton - Zootopia

Duke Weaselton only appears in a couple of scenes in Zootopia but they're both quite memorable, with the first being one of the movie's great action sequences, and the second being one of the funniest parts of the film, where Weaselton is selling bootleg DVDs of animal-influenced Disney films.

Bruno - Encanto

They don't talk about Bruno, but after seeing Encanto Bruno was all most people could talk about. He may have gone slightly bonkers living in the walls of his house but the love he has for his family is palpable, making his brief appearance key to the story and the movie's emotional core.

Rafiki - The Lion King

Timon and Pumbaa often get all the credit for being scene-stealing sidekicks in The Lion King but Rafiki is the one who ultimately teaches Simba the lesson that he needs to understand, and he does it in a way that is equal parts magical and ridiculous. He has less screen time than almost any other voiced character in the film, but Rafiki makes it count.

Flora, Fauna And Merriweather - Sleeping Beauty

The master plan of the three fairies to keep Aurora safe for 16 years in Sleeping Beauty doesn't exactly work, but you certainly can't say that Flora, Fauna, and Meriweather don't give it their all. Even if they can't make a decent cake or decide what color to make a dress, these three are the aunts we all would be lucky if we had.

Jock And Trusty - Lady And The Tramp

Many Disney movies deal with incredible friendships but one of the best is happening on the sidelines of Lady and the Tramp. Trusty is an old bloodhound who has lost his ability to smell and Jock is his dear friend who will never tell him that he can't smell anything because Jock knows how heartbreaking that would be for his friend.

Jasper And Horace - 101 Dalmatians

Yes, Jasper and Horace are technically bad guys, but they're hilariously incompetent bad guys, and that makes them a great deal more fun and easier to love. If Cruela deVil had been able to hire anybody smarter she might have actually been dangerous.

Jaq And Gus - Cinderella

Cinderella's little mice friends are small but they are actually a big part of her movie. Jaq is (allegedly) the brains of the operation, but Gus is too cute to ignore. They are able to get the better of Lucifer the cat in a pair of sequences that are among the best in Cinderella.

Baymax - Big Hero 6

In a movie full of superheroes, the real hero is the one who would rather heal than hurt. Baymax is just so innocent and kind that it's impossible not to love him. Eventually, it's the robot who shows the biggest heart.

Scat Cat - The Aristocats

The Aristocats is not one of Walt Disney Animation's best movies, but it does have its moments. Or at least its moment. "Everybody Wants To Be A Cat" is a classic Disney song, even if it's in a largely forgotten movie. Scatman Cruthers is the voice of his namesake kitty, and he rocks the song and steals the show.

Dodger - Oliver And Company

How do you not steal the scene when you're literally Billy Joel? Dodger in Oliver and Company is the cool dog that everybody else wants to be, and he's got the best song in the movie. If you've ever seen this movie you probably don't remember anything else.

There are movies out there that will surprise you to learn they earned over that magic number of $1 billion. No one is shocked to see Avatar: Way of the Water or Titanic on the list, those movies are well known for their monster success, but then there are dozens of movies who have hit that number, mostly in the 21st Century, and some of them are really surprising. So here is our list of those, with the numbers reported by Box Office Mojo.

Zootopia

Disney's Zootopia didn't feel like it was going to be a billion-dollar franchise. Sure, the trailer was great and the movie was fantastic, but if you were placing bets on which Disney movies released in 2016 would earn more, Zootopia or Moana, most people would have guessed the latter. But it's the former that far outearned Moana, bringing in just over a billion dollars.

Aladdin

Disney has taken a lot of grief from some of the movie-going public for their live-action remakes, but the House of Mouse has consistently proven their critics wrong, at least in terms of box office revenue. Will Smith's Aladdin is one such example, as it brought in just north of a cool billion upon release in 2019. 

Finding Dory

Say what you want about Disney, but they are good at building many of their franchises. Finding Nemo was a huge hit, but its sequel, Finding Dory, smashed Nemo's box office numbers, bringing in more than a billion, beating its big brother by more than $500 million. 

Joker

Oppenheimer took the world by storm in the summer of 2023 and quickly became the second-highest-grossing rated R movie at the time. As well as it did at the box office, it couldn't top Todd Phillips' Joker. Joker became the first adult-only movie to top $1 billion in 2019.

Toy Story 3

It's probably not all that surprising that a Toy Story movie made a billion bucks. What is a little surprising is that it took until the 3rd installment of the franchise to become the first to do it. After nearly a decade since Toy Story 2 Pixar hit it big, both critically and financially, with 2010's Toy Story 3. Good things come to those who wait. 

Transformers: Dark Of The Moon

There are probably still people out there that are surprised by the monster success of the Michael Bay Transformers movies. Critics loathe them, but fans can't get enough, and that shows when they earn over a billion despite terrible reviews, like Transformers: Dark Of The Moon.

The Lion King

A year after releasing the hugely successful Aladdin live-action remake, Disney followed up with another live-action remake of one of their beloved '90s cartoons, The Lion King and it too went wild at the box office, earning more than $1.6 billion. 

Jurassic Park

This is arguably the most surprising on the list. No, not that a Jurassic Park movie raked in over a billion, each of the three released between 2015 and 2022 did that. No, what makes this entry so surprising is that it came out in 1993! It's by far the oldest movie on this list and it's astounding that it's earned over a billion. It was all earned in the '90s, of course, it's been re-released multiple times, but it just keeps crushing it whenever it is. 

Skyfall

Amazingly, it took 23 movies before the James Bond franchise had its first billion-dollar+ release. 2012's Skyfall, which CinemaBlend ranks in the middle of the pack of the Daniel Craig era was the first movie about the super spy to bring in over a billion. 

The Fate Of The Furious

Sometimes franchises just prove the critics wrong over and over. The Fast franchise is the poster child of this. While film reviewers and movie snobs often scoff at the franchise, the fans keep flocking, and The Fate Of The Furious is one huge example, as it earned more than $1.2 billion at the box office. 

Aquaman

Never underestimate the power of Jason Momoa. While it's never surprising to see superhero movies earn tons of money, the DCEU never quite kept up with its rival, Marvel. Despite mixed reviews and some bad press, 2018's Aquaman still crushed at the box office, raking in more than $1.1 billion. 

Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone

No one is surprised by the success of the Harry Potter movies. Most of the series earned just under a billion, but only just. It's also not surprising to learn that the highest-grossing movie of the franchise was the final one, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, released in 2010. What is very surprising is that number two on the list is the oldest, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, released way back in 2001. It has benefitted from re-releases, but it's still pretty shocking. 

Minions

One could argue that Minions is really a spinoff more than a prequel to the original Despicable Me and as such, you wouldn't expect it to be one of the most successful releases in the very popular series. the 2015 release earned over $1.1 billion, far out earning the main installments in the franchise. 

Alice In Wonderland

This may be the most surprising movie on the list. Tim Burton's 2010 release, Alice in Wonderland earned just over a billion dollars at the box office, which is more than all but two of Johnny Depp's Pirates of the Caribbean movies. It's just remarkable. How did this oddball movie earn so much? Well, Johnny Depp was one of the biggest stars in the world at the time, but that still doesn't fully explain it. We may never know. 

Inside Out 2

In 2024 Pixar proved it's still a force to be reckoned with when Inside Out 2 earned over $1.2 billion at the box office. Released nine years after the first movie, Inside Out 2 crushed at the box office and proved the Disney animation studio has more up its sleeve than we ever realized. 

Beauty And The Beast

Beauty And The Beast was the first '90s Disney animated movie to get the live-action remake treatment. Released in 2017, it was an instant success, packing theaters and printing money to the tune of over $1.2 billion. It paved the way for later success like Aladdin and The Lion King. 

Incredibles 2

it's never really a huge surprise when a Disney-animated movie makes a ton of dough. What makes Incredibles 2 so surprising is just how much that was. The 2018 sequel made more than $1.2 billion, ranking only below Frozen as Disney's most successful animated movie at the time. 

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

2023's The Super Mario Bros. Movie got crushed by many critics. Audiences completely ignored them, however, and generally loved it. That paid off at the box office in a big way, to the tune of more than $1.3 billion. Huge numbers. 

Despicable Me 3

After the huge success of Minions, Despicable Me 3 was released in 2016 and followed the success of its spinoff, earning just over a billion at the box office. It was followed up 8 years later with Despicable Me 4 in 2024 which wasn't a hit with critics, but still made a ton of money. 

Top Gun: Maverick

1986's Top Gun is a cultural touchstone to anyone who grew up in the '80s. It was wildly popular, and while people were skeptical of a sequel getting released almost 40 years later, the movie makers proved it was the correct decision. Top Gun: Maverick "saved" cinema, according to some, as it was the first monster release after the pandemic, bringing in almost $1.5 billion. Just incredible. 

Captain Marvel

It might not be surprising that an MCU movie would earn over a billion, lots of them have. Captain Marvel, however, was a bit of a surprise. Not only did some overzealous fans scoff at a female lead in a superhero movie, it came sandwiched between the two monster Avengers movies. Brie Larson and Marvel proved their critics wrong when the movie brought in $1.1 billion and change. 

Frozen II

Anyone who has had a kid in the last 20 years knows how huge Frozen was. Its sequel, however, was less well-received by fans and critics alike. That didn't stop fans from flocking to theaters to see it, however. It made an amazing $1.4 billion. 

Rogue One

A few Star Wars movies have made over a billion, but Rogue One is the only one outside of the main trilogy of trilogies to earn that distinction. It's also one of the best Star Wars movies since the original three. 

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy was a monster success. His follow-up, the Hobbit trilogy wasn't as successful, but the first one, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, still managed to crack the billion-dollar mark. The only one of the three to do so. 

The Dark Knight

Okay, we'll be honest, this one isn't all that surprising. Not only is The Dark Knight arguably the best superhero movie ever made, it marked Heath Ledger's most electrifying performance before we lost him far too soon. Still, for a movie as dark as it is, it's surprising it was as successful in theaters as it was. 

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

By the time Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, the fourth movie in the Pirates of the Caribbean series was released, it seemed like the franchise was running on borrowed time. The box office receipts proved that wrong in a big way when it earned more than a billion and became the second most successful movie in the Johnny Depp-led series at the time. 

The Dark Knight Rises

Another dark entry in the superhero genre is the third film in the Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy. It did not have auspicious opening weekend when a gunman killed 12 people at a midnight screening of the movie. It was a tragic moment, but the box office rebounded and The Dark Knight Rises still earned over a billion.  

Barbie

While it wasn't a surprise that the Margot Robbie-led Barbie became a hit, but the absolutely huge impact of the movie took almost everyone by surprise. When it was all said and done, Barbie was the highest-grossing movie of 2023, earning more than $1.4 billion. 

Toy Story 4

It's always risky to release a sequel a decade after the previous installment of a franchise, much less decades after the original, but Toy Story 4 proved that the world truly loves the franchise as much as any other Disney has ever created. It just topped its predecessor with over a billion dollars earned in 2019. 

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Everyone knows that The Lord of the Rings trilogy was a massive success, but still, the fact that a movie released in 2003 earned north of a billion is very surprising. That's exactly what The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King did when it was released, right before it cleaned up at the Oscars. 

Transformers: Age of Extinction

Critics continue to slam the Transformers franchise, but fans don't care. The 2014 release, Transformers: Age of Extinction, proves just how much the fans don't care as they flocked to the theater, handing over a collective $1.1 billion. 

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

Only three movies released in the 1990s have ever earned over a billion dollars. Titanic, of course, is the top earner. Jurassic Park is the second. The third, is maybe not as surprising, as it's a Star Wars movie and it was the first one in almost two decades. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace may not be a fan favorite today, but in 1999 fans couldn't wait. It destroyed box offices all over the work, raking in an impressive one billion dollars. It far outpaced its sequels and that mark was not reached by the franchise again until 2015's Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens.

The best kids movies appeal to both older and younger audiences, assuring an enjoyable experience for the whole family. However, to achieve this, sometimes Hollywood incorporates certain jokes, themes, or even entire plot lines that are not appealing to kids at all and might leave them speaking with a colorful new vocabulary, making jokes way above their age level, or even traumatized for life. The following are a few examples of some notable, beloved children’s movies that, looking back, we might have been too young for.

The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1996)

Had it existed back then, The Hunchback of Notre Dame could have won the Best Animated Feature Oscar for being a very compelling period drama set in 15th-Century Paris. However, the story of the Disney classic — based on Victor Hugo’s dark novel involving an anomalous man nearly killed as an infant and an elderly priest (reimagined as a judge in the film) uncomfortably and passionately obsessed with a young dancer — is not particularly ideal for children’s entertainment at its core.

Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory (1971) 

For years, fans have been re-analyzing Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and coming up with wild fan theories to darken the scrumdiddlyumptious classic, but why bother? The film’s dark themes are spelled out for us pretty clearly, especially in the infamous tunnel sequence when the titular chocolatier (played by Gene Wilder) recites a foreboding poem as unsettling images appear around the boat full of passengers.

The Brave Little Toaster (1987)

Before there was Toy Story, the ultimate animated adventure about sentient inanimate objects was The Brave Little Toaster, in which a group of old appliances set out to find their “master” after being left at a woodland cabin. The great thing about this classic is that it teaches children to be more compassionate and sentimental, but it does so through very upsetting means, depicting the cruel treatment of our innocent protagonists.

Labyrinth (1986)

Director Jim Henson’s cult favorite fantasy, Labyrinth, is already pretty dark with its creepy puppetry and plot involving a kidnapped infant. However, it is the predatory undertones of David Bowie's character, Goblin King Jareth, when interacting with Jennifer Conolly's young protagonist, Sarah, that really makes it hard to recommend to anyone under 13.

Pinocchio (1940)

Because most fairy tales are also cautionary tales, the sight of Pinocchio smoking a cigar after running away to Pleasure Island does not bother us too much. It is the way the titular, enchanted puppet from the Disney classic learns his lesson — seeing other runaway children transformed into donkeys — that leaves us wondering if this story takes its teachable moment a little too far.

One Hundred And One Dalmatians (1961)

Watching dogs save the day in One Hundred and One Dalmatians is what makes the animated film such a rewarding and joyful experience. However, when you consider the fact that these Dalmatians are forced to spring into action because Cruella de Vil wants to skin the spotted puppies for her own fur coat, it makes one hesitant to show it to any younger canine lovers.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)

It would be childish of us to think that this musical adaptation of Ian Fleming’s children's novel, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, is inappropriate because of the title alone. Our concern is the fact that it takes place in a land called "Vulgaria" and one of its extremely discomforting main villains is literally referred to as the "Child Catcher.”

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)

There is an argument to be made that Who Framed Roger Rabbit was never even intended for children in the first place and only earned its PG rating because they were more common at the time, let alone the fact that many of the characters are animated. Even then, this murder mystery story featuring a cigar-smoking baby with racy dialogue, a hard-drinking protagonist, and a sultry femme fatale (Kathleen Turner's Jessica Rabbit) would have never been PG in this day and age.

The Goonies (1985)

Director Richard Donner and producer Steven Spielberg’s enduring cult favorite, The Goonies, offer a relatively accurate depiction of what might happen if a group of children tried to live out their adventurous fantasies for real. The result includes a great deal of swearing, violence, innuendoes, and constant peril that younger viewers should find distressing.

The Incredibles (2004)

Because it is an animated Disney property and one of Pixar’s best films, we often forget that Brad Bird’s The Incredibles is one of the darkest superhero movies of its time. If the action thriller was not animated, its violence (which involves children) and other various adult elements would have surely cost it its PG rating. 

How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

Ron Howard’s big-screen attempt at adapting a Dr. Seuss book into a live-action feature, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, has quite a bit of crude humor and a certain mean-spirited tone that the author is certainly not known for. One particular moment that surely went over younger viewers' heads is the scene when the infant Grinch (played as an adult by Jim Carrey) lands at the home of his adoptive mothers, where they are clearly throwing a swingers' party.

The Shrek Movies (2001-2010)

Watching all the Shrek movies is an almost entirely different experience for grown-ups than it is for children with mature jokes and references throughout. For instance, the first installment features Shrek’s (Mike Myers) comment about Lord Farquaad “compensating for something” with his large castle or a fairy tale-style recreation of O.J. Simpson's low-speed chase in 2004’s Shrek 2.

Mulan (1998)

As a film that takes place during a war, violence is to be expected, but is also handled in an impressively tame manner in Mulan. However, what people often tend to forget is how much partial nudity is in this animated Disney classic, particularly when the titular hero (voiced by Ming-Na Wen), posing as a man, is bathing in a lake and his suddenly joined by her fellow, male soldiers.

Ratatouille (2007)

Brad Bird’s Ratatouille is a delicious family treat, but not without its indulgences in adult humor. One notable scene from Pixar's culinary comedy sees Alfredo Linguini (Lou Romano) begin to confess about Remy (Patton Oswalt) to Colette (Janeane Garofalo), he begins by saying, "I have a tiny, little…,” at which point she darts her eyes below his belt.

The LEGO Batman Movie (2017)

Honestly, we believe that one of the things that makes The LEGO Batman Movie just as good as any live-action Batman movie is its more mature, but very clever, jokes. For instance, when Bruce Wayne (Will Arnett) first meets the young man who will be his ward and sidekick, the boy (voiced by Michael Cera) says his name is Richard Grayson, but most people call him "Dick," to which the aristocrat replies, "Well, children can be cruel."

Hocus Pocus (1993)

While certainly one of the more lighthearted movies about witches ever made, because of wall-to-wall innuendos and themes of child murder, calling Hocus Pocus a family movie is a bit of a stretch. Constant mentions of Max Dennison’s (Omri Katz) innocence (the reason why the Black Flame Candle successfully brings back the Sanderson Sisters) and a suggestive exchange between the witches and a bus driver are just a few notable examples.

Monster House (2006)

With a title like Monster House, you’d assume children should not be admitted anyway, but the horror elements are not really anything to be concerned by. However, the not-so-scary favorite does include moments of underage drinking, a reference to Chowder's mother's potential infidelity with her "personal trainer," and Chowder asking if they are in a "girl house" after Jenny calls a chandelier its "uvula."

Bee Movie (2007)

We suppose we should have realized that an animated movie co-written by and starring Jerry Seinfeld was not going to be just for the children. However, who could have expected that Seinfeld’s Bee Movie character — an insect named Barry B. Barrington — would have a crush on a human named Vanessa (Renée Zellweger) and that this strange interspecies romance would be expressed through many bizarre innuendoes?

Scooby-Doo (2002)

Writer James Gunn has said there exists an R-rated cut of Scooby-Doo — the live-action adaptation of the classic cartoon — and signs of that can be found throughout. Among them is the moment when Shaggy (Matthew Lillard) tells Mary-Jane (Isla Fisher) that she has his "favorite name" and when Freddy (Freddie Prinze Jr.), accidentally inhabiting Daphne's (Sarah Michelle Gellar) body, relishes in the ability to look at himself without clothing.

The Road To El Dorado (2000)

The influence of Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and Dorothy Lamour’s Road to… franchise in DreamWorks’ The Road to El Dorado is clear, right down to the off-beat and often suggestive humor. The most significant and often debated example from the animated film is when Chel (Rosie Perez) seduces Tulio (Kevin Kline), leading to a love scene that is offscreen, but easily heard.

Tarzan (1999)

It is pretty surprising when you remember that Disney’s animated version of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan is rated G as the violence is actually quite visceral. It is even more disturbing when it is subtle, such as in Clayton’s death scene, when the silhouette of him being hung by the neck with vines can be spotted.

All Dogs Go To Heaven (1989)

The movie may be called All Dogs Go to Heaven, but there is one scene when Charlie (voiced by Burt Reynolds) visits the opposite end of the afterlife. That is only one pivotal, disturbing moment from the fantasy classic by animation legend Don Bluth, whose entire filmography has its fair share of nightmare fuel. 

Zootopia (2016)

There is a pretty funny and cleverly subtle adult joke from Zootopia that both kids and grown-ups may have missed. At one point, Judy (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) says, "I am just a dumb bunny, but we are good at multiplying.”

The Witches (1990)

One of the most sinister and truly grotesque depictions of witches — especially Anjelica Huston’s Eva Ernst — comes from a film intended as a “family picture.” Roald Dahl himself even agreed that director Nicolas Roeg’s adaptation of his 1983 novel, The Witches, was a little too scary for his taste.

Antz (1998)

DreamWorks' Antz is often considered the unintentional twin of Pixar's A Bugs Life, but the latter is far different, especially in terms of its genuine appeal to younger audiences. If it were not an animated film about insects, its innuendos, swearing, and plot involving a genocidal conspiracy would have easily earned it a PG-13 rating, at least.

The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie (2004)

The beloved animated TV show SpongeBob Squarepants has been criticized for a number of mature jokes and its 2004 movie spin-off is absolutely no exception and, in fact, far clearer to detect. To name just a few notable examples, SpongeBob (voiced by Tom Kenny) and Patrick (Bill Fagerbakke) get hammered from ice cream at a bar,  the duo later gets launched back to Bikini Bottom by David Hasselhoff's pectorals, and Patrick dons fish nets during SpongeBob's performance of "Goofy Goober Rock."

Rango (2011)

There are plenty of jokes aimed toward the parents who took their children to the Oscar-winning Rango. For instance, when Johnny Depp's titular chameleon introduces his gang as a troupe of "thespians," one of the prairie dogs says, "That's illegal in seven states,” obviously confusing the word for, “lesbians.”

Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014)

Based on special segments from the original animated series, The Adventures of Rocky and Bulwinkle and Friends, Mr. Peabody & Sherman sees the titular duo — a highly intelligent dog (voiced by Ty Burrell) and his adoptive human son (voiced by Max Charles) — accidentally cause a rip in the space-time continuum, which lands them in trouble. Luckily, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln agree to pardon Mr. Peabody, at which point — in the animated family film’s racist joke — Bill Clinton shows up to say, "I've done worse."

The Aristocats (1970)

When Disney+ started putting a content warning in front of older movies that contained insensitive or negatively stereotypical content, one such title was The Aristocrats. The animated film — which some still believe deserves a live-action remake — does, indeed, contain some insensitive racial stereotypes, as evident by how East Asian culture is depicted in “The Siamese Cat Song.”

Inside Out (2015)

There are many mature themes throughout Inside Out that are important for younger viewers to witness, but then there are some more humorous moments that likely go over their heads. For instance, when Fear wonders if Riley saw a bear and Disgust assures none in exist in San Francisco, Anger recalls seeing a hairy man who resembled a bear, in reference to a term from LGBTQ+ culture.

The Cat In The Hat (2003)

About 99.9 percent of the humor in star Mike Myers’ almost universally reviled adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat — following two siblings’ (played by Spencer Breslin and Dakota Fanning) adventures with a giant feline — is of the crudest, most crass, and most inappropriate kind. We could fill this entire list with examples, but we’ll just settle for the moment when The Cat calls a gardening tool a “dirty hoe.”

Cars (2006)

There are a quite a few overtly mature references in Pixar's Cars, such as when Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) gets “flashed” by a couple of fans who put on their high beams. Or, what about when Lightning walks in on Doc Hudson's (Paul Newman) surgery on the Sheriff or when he tells everyone Doc Hudson has three Piston Cups, to which Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) asks, "He did what in his cup?"

If you see no harm in showing these films to your children, we will not stop nor judge you. All we are asking is that you give it a little thought before you.

The following contains SPOILERS for Disney’s Wish.

Wish is the newest musical adventure from Walt Disney Animation Studios. Coming as it does in this 100th year of The Walt Disney Company, it’s maybe not surprising that Wish is a movie very much following in the footsteps of classic Disney, as it features a female protagonist, a magical villain and incredible music.

Easter Eggs and fun references are nothing new in Disney movies, but Wish takes things to quite another level. The movie celebrates the Disney anniversary by making a lot of nods to the best Disney animated movies. There are too many to list them all, and I won’t pretend I’ve even caught every one, but here are a few of the best. 

Storybook Opening 

Wish isn’t based on a classic fairy tale like so many of Disney’s animated films from its golden age, but it does open the same way. Snow White, Cinderella and even The Jungle Book include an opening shot of a storybook opening as the story begins, and Wish does the same. 

 Asha’s Friends Are The Seven Dwarfs 

There are a lot of characters in Wish, as Asha has no fewer than seven close friends. The number is significant because each one of Asha’s friends is modeled on the Seven Dwarfs from Snow White. Each character in Wish has a name that shares a first letter with their dwarf counterpart, as well as sharing physical and personality traits with each one. Dario has Dopey’s big ears, Simon is perpetually sleepy, Bazeema is a bashful introvert, Dahlia wears Doc’s trademark glasses, Hal is always smiling, Safi has terrible allergies and Gabo is perpetually angry. 

 Aurora’s Dress 

Many of the classic Disney references come in the form of wishes that the various townspeople of Rosas have. One of the characters wishes to be an incredible dressmaker, and when we see her wish, she is creating a dress that looks like the ones the fairies make for Aurora in Sleeping Beauty.

Snow White Wishing Well & The Poison Apple

The Dwarfs are far from the only references to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs found in Wish. A couple of background easter eggs are also on display for fans. Shortly after Asha makes her wish that brings down Star, she walks past a well in the forest that is modeled after the one that Snow uses during the “I’m Wishing” song. Later, while Disney's newest villain, Magnifico, is working on his magic, an apple covered in green goo, the classic Snow White poison apple, can be seen on the table next to him. 

"We Love Crazy"

As the magic of Star begins to fill Rosas animals, trees, and even mushrooms gain the ability to talk. At one point Asha wonders if she’s going crazy, to which one of the mushrooms (potentially an Alice in Wonderland reference in itself) says “We love crazy,” a callback to the same line that was spoken by Hans in Frozen.  

Bambi, Thumper And (Maybe) Humphrey 

If there is one Disney reference you will absolutely notice in Wish, it’s following the song “You’re A Star” when a talking bear named John talks to a deer whose name, we learn, is Bambi. We don’t get the name of the rabbit who thumps his foot against the ground, but he’s clearly a reference to Bambi’s friend Thumper. The bear might also be a Disney reference, as he dances around at one point in a way that is reminiscent of Humphrey the Bear in the classic Disney short In the Bag.  

Mary Poppins, Peter Pan, And Other Destroyed Wishes 

When Magnifico discovers he can gain power from his wishes, he destroys several of them. In one scene alone he destroys the wish of somebody who wants to be able to fly, which shows an actual clip from Disney’s Peter Pan. Following that, he destroys the wish of somebody looking for the perfect nanny, a Mary Poppins reference, which Magnifico pops. Then he takes the wish of somebody looking for true love, which, to be honest, could be a reference to any of a dozen Disney movies. The Peter Pan reference comes back around at the end, when we meet a character named Peter, dressed very much like the Disney version of Peter Pan, who is paired up with a woman who wants to fly, whose clothing is similar to that of Wendy Darling.

“Knowing What I Know Now” Is An Homage To Tarzan’s Trashin’ The Camp 

One of the last songs in Wish, “Knowing What I Know Now,” sees Asha and her friends together trying to figure out what to do about Magnifico, it leads into the song, where the group begins to sing and play music, using whatever they find lying around. Wish co-director Chris Buck told CinemaBlend’s Sarah El-Mahmoud that the visuals are an homage to Tarzan where the apes do the same thing in the “Trashin’ the Camp” sequence. He explained… 

Magnifico Is The Magic Mirror 

The mirror is a recurring symbol throughout Wish that is key to Magnifico as a character. He loves his reflection and we see his face in mirrors often. As such, there are multiple connections between himself and the Magic Mirror from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. At one point, Magnifico actually says the classic “Magic mirror on the wall” line. Later, when he is pulled into his own magic staff, we actually get a few quick frames of Magnifico’s face replaced with that of the Magic Mirror. The queen decides to leave him behind the glass hanging on the wall.

Valentino Wants To Live In Zootopia 

As the movie comes to a close there is much discussion of the wishes various people have. Valentino the talking goat admits that would like to live in a utopian community where animals live together and also wear clothes. It sounds like a lovely dream, and it also sounds exactly like Zootopia. 

Asha Becomes A Fairy Godmother 

Before Star returns to the sky, the little guy bestows upon Asha a magic wand. While she’s not sure she knows what to do with magic, her friends say she can be their fairy godmother. Asha's clothes, especially when she's wearing her hood, also strongly resemble the robe of Cinderella's fairy godmother.

So Many Mickey Mouse References 

If you’re going to use your movie to celebrate 100 years of Disney, you have to include the guy who started it all, and Mickey Mouse is all over Wish. There are several “hidden Mickeys,” i.e. where the classic three-circle design is hidden in the background, but that’s far from all. Producer Juan Pablo Reyes Lancaster-Jones told CinemaBlend’s Sarah El-Mahmoud that Star itself was significantly influenced by Mickey. He said… 

In addition to that, during a scene in Magnifico’s lab, Star accidentally enchants a quill pen, which begins to write on its own. Before it stops, it has drawn a partial image of Mickey that resembles the Disney Channel logo. Then, in the movie’s closing moments, fireworks are going off over the castle, with the final shot being three exploding fireworks making one last, not-so-hidden Mickey.

Critics are split on Wish, but the real question is what the audience thinks. Wish is a love letter to Disney fans in every conceivable way. It has all the elements that made Disney the king of animation in the first place. Fans will almost certainly love the movie and the references it makes to Disney's history. Perhaps they’ll love the movie enough to want to see it again, and maybe that way they’ll actually be able to catch all the easter eggs they missed.  

Walt Disney World’s multiyear project to update half of Epcot is almost complete, and once that happens, odds are the focus at the resort is going to shift over to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. That park has a long-ignored area, Dinoland U.S.A., that we’ve already been told is slated for replacement. What we don’t know for sure is just what we’ll get, though at this point it seems like the smart money is on a Zootopia-themed land.

On its face, a Zootopia Land may seem like it makes a lot of sense. It’s a movie about animals, and this is inside Disney’s Animal Kingdom. However, I’d argue that the movie doesn’t lend itself to that park nearly as well as it may seem. There’s a pretty good chance that we’ll be getting a definitive answer to the future of Animal Kingdom very soon, and it will probably be Zootopia, even though it really shouldn’t be.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Is Getting Ready To Replace A Whole Land 

Dinoland U.S.A. has been a strange part of Disney’s Animal Kingdom since the park’s inception. While the rest of the theme park was inspired by living animals of today, Dinoland was inspired by those that were extinct. While the Countdown to Extinction attraction, simply called Dinosaur today, is still one of the best rides at Animal Kingdom, the rest of the area was given over to midway-style games that have never felt at home at Disney Parks.

Replacing Dinoland U.S.A. with something a bit more fitting is the right move. The area needs something to breathe new life into it, and while losing Dinosaur would be unfortunate, it’s the price that we may need to pay so that we get something new here. We know that something new is coming, we just don't know when it will be here or what exactly it will be. 

Zootopia Is One Of The Ideas Being Considered To Replace Dinoland 

At the D23 Expo in 2022, Disney did something a bit unusual at the panel dedicated to news about the Parks. The final portion of the presentation wasn’t about what was coming to Disney Parks, but what might come to them. A discussion of Dinoland U.S.A. did take place, but rather than simply announcing a new plan for the area, two different ideas were suggested: one was Zootopia, the other was Moana.

Of the two, Zootopia already seemed like the more likely scenario. Moana was already in line to get an attraction at Epcot, while there was not yet anything related to Zootopia at Walt Disney World, or Disneyland Resort for that matter. 

Disney's Animal Kingdom’s Theme Is Conservation, Not Animal Life 

The problem with Zootopia at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is that while the park is full of animals, and so is Zootopia, that’s not really what Animal Kingdom is ultimately about. The ethos of Animal Kingdom is one of conservation of nature, and while Zootopia is a fantastic movie with a core story that is absolutely worth celebrating, the story is about human issues of systemic inequality, not conservation.

While there is a predator/prey dynamic in Zootopia, the film is an allegory for humanity's problems with itself, not humanity’s interactions with the animal kingdom. The mere idea of building a Zootopia land, when Zootopia is a city that would encroach on the animals that exist at Animal Kingdom, goes largely against the concepts of the park as conceived.

There's a place for Zootopia at Disney Parks, even someplace at Walt Disney World, but Animal Kingdom is the wrong place for it. Even Pandora: The World of Avatar, as much as it may seem out of place with its alien creatures, is ultimately telling a story about conservation and why it's important to protect nature. That's why it works. The previously mentioned Moana idea is at least closer to the mark, as that is a movie that deals with a threat to the natural world.

 A Zootopia Land Is Already On The Way In One Disney Park

And yet, it seems like a pretty sure bet that a Zootopia land could be coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The best evidence of this is the fact that a Zootopia land is already in development at Shanghai Disney Resort. 

We recently got a glimpse of what is coming to the new land, including a Zootopia attraction, Hot Pursuit, that appears to use a Rise of the Resistance-style ride system for a trackless dark ride. While the current Dinosaur attraction uses a traditional track, it’s not hard to imagine the Dinosaur building being upgraded and retrofitted for something like this, even if it ends up being a smaller version of the attraction.

At the end of the day, building the same land twice is cheaper than building new lands everywhere. In just the past five years, we’ve seen two versions of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and two versions of Avengers Campus, as well as two planned World of Frozen lands, all planned at different parks. It’s becoming more rare to see unique lands appear in one park that don’t appear anywhere else. 

We also know that Disney has big plans for Zootopia as a franchise. Another Zootopia movie is in development, which isn't a shock considering the first one made $1 billion. Zootopia was a massive hit, especially overseas, and you can’t discount the importance of overseas tourism to Walt Disney World when it comes to what Disney Parks may be considering for the future. 

On Saturday morning at the Destination D23 event, there will be a presentation from Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products, and it will be an absolute shock if we don’t hear more about the plans for Dinoland U.S.A. At this point, it seems like almost a foregone conclusion that Zootopiua will be the new land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. As a fan of the movie and somebody who believes it’s a truly special film that deals with real issues in a way few animated Disney films do, I would love to visit Zootopia. I just feel like it belongs in another park.

Who would have thought animated movies geared towards the young and young at heart would be massive hits? Sarcasm aside, some of the most popular movies of all time are animated features. In fact, quite a few of them even made more than $1 billion at the box office, be it a surprise hit like 2013’s Frozen, a highly anticipated sequel like its follow-up, Frozen II, or a video game adaptation like The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which had a little something for everyone.

But what are the most successful animated movies of all time and how did they become such box office juggernauts? Well, we’re about to break down the 10 highest-grossing animated movies and the various ways they eclipsed $1 billion at the global box office.

Frozen II ($1.453 Billion)

Before Frozen II was even released in November 2019, there were estimates that the Disney animated fantasy musical would make a ton of cash at the box office, and it did just that. According to Box Office Mojo, the sequel hit the ground running with a $130 million opening weekend in the United States. The movie made a staggering $358.2 million globally during its first few weeks, per Deadline. 

By the time its theatrical run concluded in March 2020, Frozen II made $1.453 billion worldwide, with $477 million of that in the United States. And it wasn’t just because of the massive opening weekend, as the movie continued to bring in seven-figure daily totals more than two months after its debut. 

The Super Mario Bros. Movie ($1.355 Billion)

It wasn’t hard to imagine a world in which The Super Mario Bros. Movie would make money hand-over-fist, considering Illumination was making a movie about the most iconic video game character of all time. However, what the movie was able to achieve in no time at all was nothing short of impressive. According to Deadline, the Chris Pratt-led animated movie made at least $377 million during its opening five-day weekend (Easter holiday), with more than $204 million of that here in the States.

The movie would eclipse the $1 billion-mark not even a month into its theatrical run, one that totals $1.356 billion ($547 million domestically), per Box Office Mojo, and it’s still in theaters at the time of this writing in August 2023. Also of note, Mario didn’t experience a weekend dropoff of more than 50% until nearly a month into its run. 

Frozen ($1.284 Billion)

Disney’s Frozen brought in a total of $1.284 billion worldwide through its initial release in November 2013 and several re-releases in subsequent years, per Box Office Mojo. Though its sequel would have a better opening weekend six years later, Frozen drew in around $93.5 million during its first few days, and it would just continue to build up steam from there.

Be it the massive popularity of its signature song, “Let it Go,” charming story, or word of mouth, the all-time great Disney animated movie continued to be a massive hit in the United States, with eight-digit daily box office totals a common occurrence more than a month after its release; it finally left theaters (for the first time) in May 2014.

Incredibles 2 ($1.243 Billion)

Released in 2018, Pixar’s Incredibles 2 quickly became the studio’s most successful movie, pulling in an impressive $1.243 billion worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo. Just like how it shattered trailer records in late 2017, the sequel to 2004’s The Incredibles became the first animated film to cross the $500 million-mark domestically (it would end up making $608.5 in North America; $1.243 billion worldwide).

Though there was a 53.7% dropoff between the first and second weeks, the movie wouldn’t dip more than 45% again until September, nearly three months after its initial release. Even more impressive is the fact it stayed in the top ten domestically for nearly two months.

Minions ($1.159 Billion)

The Despicable Me franchise was already a massive property by the time the Minions movie came out in July 2015, but it reached new heights (which haven’t been surpassed) with the animated prequel. Per Box Office Mojo, the movie brought in a stupendous $1.159 billion worldwide, with the vast majority of it, $823 million, coming from international audiences.

This isn’t to say Minions wasn’t a hit domestically, because it still made an impressive $336 million during its initial run back home. Its opening weekend alone made up $115.7 million of that total draw. 

Toy Story 4 ($1.073 Billion)

Though not the best movie in the franchise, Toy Story 4 was still a massive hit with audiences and critics upon its release in June 2019, and its massive box office numbers are proof of that. According to Box Office Mojo, the Pixar movie made a total of $1.073 billion worldwide, with $434 million of that coming domestically. Interestingly enough, the spread between domestic and international is only about $200 million in this case, unlike other movies on this list.

Also of note, Toy Story 4 had a $120.9 million opening in North America and continued to bring in a ton of cash throughout its run, which didn’t come to an end until that December.  

Toy Story 3 ($1.067 Billion)

Though released nine years before its slightly more successful sequel, Toy Story 3 was a booming success on multiple levels, and is still considered one of the top-tier Pixar movies more than a decade after the fact. Per Box Office Mojo, the third movie in the series brought in $1.067 billion worldwide, which was a lot of money back in 2010.

Like its sequel, the movie’s success was due to a number of factors including the familiarity of the franchise, that all-star cast, and incredibly emotional story, and the fact that it didn’t experience a dropoff over 60% until nearly three months into its run.

Despicable Me 3 ($1.034 Billion)

A couple of years after Minions became the first film in the franchise to cross the $1 billion-mark, Despicable Me 3 followed suit with an equally impressive box office return. Per Box Office Mojo, the Illumination movie brought in $1.034 billion worldwide, which more than covered its $80 million budget. 

The movie benefited from coming out just before the Fourth of July holiday in 2017, which resulted in a $266 million worldwide gross during its first week, per Deadline. Of that, $98 million was domestic. That trend would continue throughout its run, with $770 million, or 74% coming from the international market. 

Finding Dory ($1.029 Billion)

Released in what could be considered one of the best years for animated movies, Pixar’s Finding Dory had the heart, soul, and charm of its predecessor, Finding Nemo, and also made a ton of cash. At the time of its release, it was the highest grossing animated movie of all time at the domestic box office, and that doesn’t even touch on its international drawing power.

Overall, the movie made $1.029 billion worldwide, per Box Office Mojo. Of that total, $542.9 million, or just shy of 53%, came from theaters outside of North America. Back in the states, the movie just kept crushing at the box office, and it didn’t have its first major dropoff of 54% until nearly two months into its run. 

Zootopia ($1.025 Billion)

Disney’s Zootopia was another massive hit with audiences around the world in Spring 2016. According to Box Office Mojo, the movie brought in a total of $1.025 billion internationally, with $341.2 million of that being domestic. It didn’t have the biggest domestic opening on this list, but a $75 million debut wasn’t all that bad either.

One of the most fascinating things about the movie’s run is the fact that several weekends more than two months after its release saw box office receipts eclipse $1 million, showing that it was a massive hit with its key demographic: kids (and their parents who were dragged along). Zootopia ran wild until early August that year, nearly five months after its debut. 

BONUS: The Lion King (2019 Remake) ($1.663 Billion)

The 2019 remake of The Lion King technically made more money than any other movie on this list with a total take of $1.663 billion worldwide, per Box Office Mojo. However, since the 9th-highest grossing movie of all time blends live-action and CGI elements to tell its story, we’ll just have to leave it as an honorable mention. 

This certainly has been a fun and stat-heavy project to undertake. However, expect to see some major additions to this list in the coming years, especially with upcoming Disney movies like Frozen 3 and Toy Story 5 in the works.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Zootopia is the best recent Disney animated movie.

Hell, I even called it the best Disney animated movie from 2011-2020, a span that included such heavyweights as both Frozens, both Wreck-It Ralphs, and Moana. So, believe me when I say this, but there does NOT need to be a Zootopia 2.   

And yet…I still kind of want one. Sort of like how I have strong emotions about Inside Out 2, I have strong emotions about this sequel, as well. Both negative, and positive. Let's get into them.  

Reason I Don't Want It: The First Movie Is Already Perfect, And A Sequel Could Taint That Legacy 

There are very few films that I would consider “perfect” movies. Marty is one of them, and so is Silver Linings Playbook. But, also on that nigh-impossible list is the original Zootopia. I love everything about it. The characters, the humor, the music, and especially the subtle social commentary that is interlaced throughout the entire story. I legitimately considered putting it on my list of great movies that explore race and social justice, but decided against it since I thought it might feel insulting to put it on a list with movies like Selma, and Do the Right Thing. Honestly, though, I feel like Zootopia fits on that list, since it’s all about race. Just told in a way that kids can understand.    

It’s also, to this day, still a gorgeous film, and one that I feel gets increasingly better the more times I watch it. In that way, I would be perfectly content if it was a Disney one-and-done movie, as I don’t want a Zootopia 2, just like I don’t want Frozen 3, or Toy Story 5. I mean, for crying out loud. I know sequels are profitable, but could we just stop with them already? I find them completely unnecessary. Not only that, but…  

Reason I Don't Want It: Disney's Sequel Track Record Is Pretty Hit Or Miss  

Look, I actually really liked Frozen II, and Ralph Breaks the Internet, but there were a few people who DM'd me on Twitter wondering how it was possible that I preferred Ralph 2 to the original movie. This is a concern I have, because Disney is kind of hit or miss when it comes to its sequels. This problem isn’t exclusive to the studio, either, as it also affects Pixar. 

Sure, Toy Story 3 is probably the best film in the entire series, but the subsequent Cars movies, Finding Dory, and Monsters U all paled in comparison to their original films. You might be wondering why I’m comparing Pixar sequels to Disney sequels, but the one thing I think they have in common (besides Disney owning Pixar) is the fact that none of those sequels feel as fresh as the first movie. The reason I liked Ralph 2 better than the original was because it actually felt bigger than the first film. Much, much bigger, in fact, which is what I’m looking for in a sequel.

That said, how much bigger can you possibly get than an entire city of predators and prey seemingly coexisting together? I know the phrase “go big or go home” gets overused these days, but honestly, if Zootopia 2 doesn’t go bigger, then I struggle to find a reason why such a sequel should even exist. If Disney had a more consistent track record of sequels (remember, most Disney sequels went straight to VHS and DVD before the 2010s), then I might have more faith in Z2, but Disney’s past with sequels doesn’t give me much hope.  

Reason I Don't Want It: Zootopia+ Kind Of Soured My Love For The First Movie 

Lastly, I didn’t think Zootopia+ was as good as it could have been, which was greatly disappointing to me because I was waiting for new Zootopia content for years! Remember, the original came out back in 2016. So, when I heard that there would be a series of shorts on Disney+, I of course waited with bated breath. And…  

It was fine. I mean, it was cute, and cute is good. But, I wasn’t craving cute. Baby Yoda is cute (maybe even too cute). The first movie is also cute. That said, it also has an undercurrent of darkness to it with the whole racism/sexism/classism aspect, and I was really hoping that we’d at least see some of that nuance in the series, but alas, we got none of that, which unfortunately doesn’t raise my hopes for Zootopia 2. That said…   

Reason I Want To See Zootopia 2: Racism Hasn't Changed In America, But It Has Evolved, And I Want To See If The Movie Tackles That

Okay, so I know I just said that Zootopia+ lacked nuance, but that was a series of shorts, and not a full-length movie. I’m hoping that a sequel to what’s arguably Disney’s best animated movie in years would step up its game quite a bit, and, I have hope! 

Yes, I’m upset that Strange World flopped, but what I loved about that movie (besides its amazing story) is its “wokeness.” One of its central characters is a gay teen named Ethan Clade, but him being gay is not some major plot point like it would have been years ago. Instead, he’s just gay, and has a crush on a boy. It’s not subtle in any way. It just is.    

And, I’m actually intrigued with how a Zootopia sequel could tackle racism in 2023, as the conversation around race has changed since 2016. Black Lives Matter was conceptualized back in 2013, so it was undoubtedly considered when it came to the first movie, but now we’re talking about things like Critical Race Theory, and whether it should be taught in classrooms. 

I feel like we wouldn’t be at this point right now if not for the steps taken with the BLM movement, and I’m just wondering if a Zootopia sequel would push the topic of race even further, given that Disney has no problem having gay characters in its films any longer. So, maybe, in that way, it has no problem addressing race in a more direct way, either. 

Reason I Want To See Zootopia 2: I Want To See If A Sequel Incorporates Aspects Of The Me Too Movement In The Film 

Jeez Louise. Have I somehow forgotten that Z2 will be a kid’s movie? No, I have not forgotten. But, at the same time, I can recognize that sexism was a major part of the first movie, as it concerned Judy Hopps being overlooked as a police officer and sent off to do menial work. Yes, the movie explains this away as Judy being a rabbit, and thus, considered prey, but the deeper subtext is of an actual woman being considered prey, and also as being lesser than her male counterparts also wasn’t lost on me. 

So, not only do I want to see race explored much deeper in a sequel, but also sexism, especially under the guise of it actually being a story about the #MeToo movement, which goes back to 2006, but became a hashtag in 2017 (one year after the first movie came out). I think that would be really rad if Z2 was really all about chronicling #MeToo, and how it’s changed things. The first film was a really smart movie, so I don’t see why its sequel can’t be one, too.

But, what do you think? Do we really need Zootopia 2? For more news on all things Disney, make sure to swing by here often.  

Across Walt Disney Studios’ nearly 100-year history of being in the animation industry, the company has continued to build and expand on numerous beloved worlds through its imaginative movies. And looking forward, Disney’s CEO Bob Iger has announced that the House of Mouse is currently working on three new sequels to some of its most beloved properties including Frozen and Toy Story. 

Iger made the announcement during the company’s quarterly earnings call, which CinemaBlend was listening in on. And along with the company’s biggest franchises, Disney Animation’s Frozen and Pixar’s Toy Story set to receive sequels, Zootopia is also set to get a sequel following the success of 2016’s original film. 

Bob Iger’s exciting news was a bright spot that unfortunately came with word that The Walt Disney Company would also be laying off 7,000 jobs in an effort to save $5.5 billion in costs. Also part of the good news from the Disney CEO was the announcement that Disneyland will be getting a new Avatar experience. 

First off, it’s not exactly a surprise that Frozen would receive a third movie following the franchise being such a global phenomenon since Elsa since uttered “Let It Go.” The 2019 sequel earned $1.45 billion at the worldwide box office, becoming the top-grossing animated movie of all time, per Variety. The cast has also shared their interest in reprising their regal characters, including Elsa voice actress, Idina Menzel, in the past. 

However, when it comes to more Toy Story, technically the franchise has had a send off for Woody and Buzz twice already. Though at this point in time, we have no idea whether Tom Hanks and Tim Allen would be back for the sequel. The franchise has a ton of characters and could even explore another corner of the toy box they’ve introduced before, but for the moment, all we can do is speculate. 

Last year, Pixar released a Toy Story spinoff with Lightyear and made the controversial decision to cast Chris Evans as the space cadet to go with the unique story the movie told. However, Lightyear wasn’t nearly as successful as the last Toy Story movie, grossing $226 million worldwide in contrast to 2019’s Toy Story 4 making over $1 billion. Perhaps, Disney realized its spinoff experiment wasn’t as lucrative as forwarding the core Toy Story franchise itself. 

Zootopia was another over-$1 billion box office hit for Walt Disney when it came out back in 2016 to great reviews and later scored the Best Animated Feature Film Oscar, as the original Frozen and Toy Story 3 previously won. The buddy cop comedy that imagines a world where wild animals live in mankind’s society certainly left things open-ended for Jason Bateman’s Nick Wilde and Ginnifer Goodwin’s Judy Hopps to solve more cases together. 

The announcement of these sequels comes over three years since the last Disney animated sequel with Frozen II. The studio has delivered numerous original films as of late, like Soul, Raya and the Last Dragon, Luca, Encanto and Turning Red. This trend will continue with Pixar’s next movie, Elemental, coming to theaters on June 16, along with this fall’s Disney Animation release, Wish and next spring’s Pixar movie, Elio. Check out what other upcoming Disney movies you can look forward to here on CinemaBlend. 

Six years ago, the Disney film Zootopia introduced the world to an ecosystem where a major metropolis became the home of various animals and the biomes they require to exist. Now bringing fans back to that world of excitement, and putting this franchise on the 2022 TV schedule, is the recent Disney+ series  Zootopia+.

As cast members like Bonnie Hunt and Don Lake have reprised their roles of Stu and Bonnie Hopps, the new Disney+ series hasn’t missed a beat with returning to adventures that take place during the events of Zootopia. Just like any good comedy team that’s been in action as long as they have, both Hunt and Lake knew they had the improv juice to make things exciting. However, they got so into the moment that they don’t really remember too much of which ad-libs made it into the show.

During my interview with both Bonnie Hunt and Don Lake during the Zootopia+ press day, I asked if the new format had changed anything about a time honored tradition in comedy and animation: improv. This was an especially interesting question, because in the Zootopia+ trailer, there’s a joke that Stu Hopps gets which sounded like it was an improved gem of a gag. 

When posing the question of whether or not either Don or Bonnie had a favorite joke that came from their improv process, the answers were pretty similar, and in the best way possible. Here’s what Don Lake told CinemaBlend about the improv process in Zootopia+: 

In the adventure, entitled “Hopp On Board,” the parents of soon-to-be Officer Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) are chasing one of their many children, as they’ve hitched a ride on the train bringing Judy to Zootopia’s titular setting. Acting in the Zootopia+ model of stories that take place during the larger context of the 2016 movie, we get a high speed adventure that takes Stu and Bonnie Hopps through various environmental pitfalls, all in the name of a little runaway bunny. 

It’s a simple enough concept that you can very easily throw so many jokes into the pickup, and see what keeps the engine going. One of the best lines that shows how that approach worked comes from the moment when Zootopia+’s rabbit adventure takes Stu and Bonnie through a sheep yoga class. 

Seeing “the one place on a sheep where there isn’t any wool,” Stu’s stunned observation became one of the moments that really sold the concept of these short adventures with very familiar characters. As you’ll read in Bonnie Hunt’s answer to the improv question, the results never deviated from the reality of the characters, and that was thanks to a healthy system of trust:

It’s starting to feel like Disney projects in general are a haven for improv. Sometimes, like in the case of Isla Fisher’s adult ad-libs for Godmothered, those results aren’t meant for the target audience. Thankfully, with Bonnie Hunt and Don Lake’s dedication to their characters, and the world of Zootopia at large, the established comedy team landed some surprises for both children and adults to enjoy. 

Though some fans may argue whether or not Zootopia+ fits the bill, there’s no denying that everyone involved came back to play. With Stu and Bonnie Hopps standing as a case of where the formula works at its strongest, perhaps there’s a case for some characters to get their own continuations in the future of the Zootopia story.  

While it’s not the Zootopia 2 that the original cast dreamed of, you can still return to the magic of this animal world through all of Zootopia+'s episodes. The entire run is currently available, provided, of course, you have a current DIsney+ subscription. If not, then maybe you should “try everything” and sign up, with this bunny bonanza as your test drive.

If I had one word to describe the recent Disney+ show Zootopia+, it would be "cute." Now, don't get me wrong. I have nothing against "cute." In fact, in small doses, I actually really love cute. Like, Bluey, for instance, which teaches me to be a better father. That is a very cute show. 

I’d also call most Disney movies cute. Like The Princess and the Frog, Lilo and Stitch, and hell, pretty much all of the Disney Animation Studio movies from the 2000s, I would consider cute. So no, I am not a cute-hater. I don’t drown kittens or kick puppies. Cute is good!      

Sometimes, you just want something a little bit more than cute, you know? Like 2016’s Zootopia, for instance, which I consider the best recent Disney animated movie. Zootopia is cute, sure, but it’s also so much more than just cute. In fact, it’s pretty deep when you really consider its themes and ideas. So, when I heard that there would be an animated spin-off series, I was over the moon. But then, I watched it, and well, it could have been a lot better, unfortunately, and I have five reasons why.   

Oh, and some spoilers up ahead. 

It Would Rather Be Cute Than Have Anything Meaningful To Say Like The Film Itself 

As I just alluded to in the intro, the new series is content with just being cute, and nothing more, whereas the movie actually had something to say in regards to race, sexism, classism, etc. The 2016 film wasn’t even subtle in its messaging of how judging somebody based on what they look like is a huge, societal problem. Not only that, but if we want a real utopia (or rather, a zootopia), then we have to look beyond what we think we know about people, and really get to know them. Deep stuff, especially for a Disney movie.  

That said, Zootopia+ doesn’t seem to care about messaging. Instead, its six shorts, which range from a musical number to a madcap adventure involving chasing after a baby, don’t have anything to say. Yes, one short that parodies The Godfather, titled “The Godfather of the Bride,” is cute and chuckle worthy, but that’s all it is. Cute. And chuckle worthy.  

I’m not saying that everything has to mean something deeper. This is, after all, a series of shorts on Disney+. But, Zootopa, which I would consider to be even better than Moana, and Frozen when ranking the Disney Animation Studio movies from 2011-2020, was a deeper movie. So, for its long-awaited follow-up to merely be cute and nothing more, well, it’s a disappointment, that’s for sure.   

It Takes Place During The Events Of The Movie, But Doesn't Really Add To The Story 

Here’s another thing that irks me. Zootopia+ explicitly makes a point to have its shorts take place during the events of the movie, but they don’t have any impact on the film whatsoever. For example, in the musical number, “Duke: The Musical,” Duke Weaselton considers his life of crime (through song!), and ultimately decides that he’s going to be better from now on and leave his life of crime behind. But, by the end of the number, he has a change of heart, and goes back to being a rogue.  

So, what was even the point of that short in the first place then? Just think of a show like Better Call Saul in comparison. (Yes, I’m aware that I’m comparing a hard-hitting drama to a Disney+ short. Just work with me here.) In Better Call Saul, which may or may not be better than Breaking Bad, we learn more about the events of the parent show through the events of the prequel. The prequel/sequel even makes you appreciate Breaking Bad more when you see the nuances of Saul Goodman’s character, and why he was the way he was there.    

Look, I’m not saying that Zootopia+ had to be as good as Better Call Saul, but if you’re going to set a series within the events of the movie, then at least have the events feel relevant to the overall film and not like throwaway content.  

It Doesn't Feature Any Of The Main Characters That I Want To See 

Also, as much as I enjoyed characters like the sloth from the DMV, or Gazelle in the movie, I honestly didn’t really think I needed to see them again outside of the film. They were fun characters who really livened up the movie, but they didn’t push the story forward in any meaningful way; they were nice ancillary characters, but nothing more. 

So, why then are they the only characters we really get in the shorts? This would be fine if we maybe got one or two shorts centered around Judy Hopps, or Nick Wilde–you know, the real plot-centric characters–but we don’t. Instead, we get shorts based around background characters that are cute, sure, but did I really wait six years for something new in the Zootopia universe only to get stories about Fru-Fru? Seriously? 

I recently wrote an article on my strong emotions about Inside Out 2, and how instead of a movie, I’d much prefer some Disney+ shorts focused around Riley’s emotions. But, after watching Zootopia+, I think I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want that at all. Not if it’s going to be like this.    

It Somehow Makes Zootopia Feel Small 

Something really cool about Zootopia is just how large it all feels. As soon as Judy Hopps leaves her podunk home to move into the big city, you feel that transition in a major way. It’s that, “I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore,” moment that really sets Zootopia apart from other Disney films.

Sadly, Zootopia+ makes the world feel incredibly small. I know this is to make the stories feel more personal, as we see the city in bite-sized chunks in the six shorts. But in doing so, it kind of robs that universe of the whole aspect that made it unique. It’s not a complete deal-breaker, and if I liked the shorts more, then I might have overlooked it. As it stands, though, it’s just another aspect of this short series that I feel could have been much better.  

In The End, It Feels Pretty Unnecessary 

Lastly, Zootopia+ really feels like it doesn’t need to exist. I hear from some Star Wars fans that shows like Andor (which you should seriously check out), don’t really need to exist, either, since we already know how it’s going to end because of Rogue One. But, Andor is so good, and we’re learning so much about its title character, that I would argue that the show adds a great deal to the lore of the Star Wars universe.   

Not so with Zootopia+, which adds nothing to the movie. When I was finished watching it, I didn’t learn anything I didn’t already know about the characters, and in the end, it all just felt completely unnecessary; like DLC to a video game that was already perfect to begin with. I wish it wasn’t this way, because I was really looking forward to it, but I finished completely unimpressed, which is a bummer, to be sure. 

For more news on all things Disney, make sure to swing by here often. 

Six years ago, Disney introduced the world to Officer Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde, and the rest of the colorful animal characters that inhabited the world known as Zootopia, one of the best Disney Animation films of the past decade. It’s been a while since we’ve returned, though another trip to that metropolis of furry friends has been in the Disney cards since 2020. Well folk, the wait is finally over, as a new trailer has teased the arrival of Disney+’s Zootopia+, which joins the 2022 TV schedule, complete with a pitch perfect Real Housewives parody.

This follow-up to the 2016 movie that inspired its name is actually debuting very soon, which means today’s trailer drop from Walt Disney Animation Studios is perfectly timed. Zootopia+ will consist of six shorts, covering various points in the city’s wildlife adventures. As shown in the trailer above, here’s the full list of stories fans should expect upon this show’s debut: 

• Hopp on Board
• The Real Rodents of Little Rodentia
• Duke the Musical
• The Godfather of the Bride
• So You Think You Can Prance
• Dinner Rush

On top of parodying the Real Housewives franchise that the world knows and loves, there are some other interesting vignettes included in Zootopia+’s full launch. Naturally, So You Think Can Dance and The Godfather are among those tales to be told. So reality TV isn’t the only thing being lovingly skewered in the scheme of things, as classic cinema is also on the menu. 

Not to mention, there’s some action-packed adventure on the horizon, with Judy Hopps’ parents rushing to complete a mission of some sort in “Hopp on Board.” And, of course, what Disney animated project would be complete without a musical, as “Duke the Musical” is set to give us a deeper look at the charming, yet scheming Zootopia easter egg Duke Weaselton.

As far as when these adventures are supposed to take place, it looks like the new show is set during the events of the first film. Clips of moments like that time Judy saved Fru Fru from death by a donut logo, as well as the officer’s first big trip into Zootopia, seem to suggest that reality is in play. Which could be bad news for those of you hoping for further clues towards what Zootopia 2 could be about.

Perhaps a successful launch of the series may put this universe in the Disney animation canon on the fast track to greatness. We won't know until things get underway but, thankfully, you won't have to wait too long for these hijinks to show up on your streaming device of choice.

Zootopia+ opens its doors to the world on November 9th! If you’re ready to enjoy the singing, prancing, and drama these six stories have to offer, you won’t need a passport. However, you will need a current Disney+ subscription, which will also give you a chance to stream the original Zootopia movie all over again!

Ah, Disney movies. The topic that keeps on giving. I’ve already talked about the Disney Renaissance movies from 1989-1999, as well as all of the Walt Disney Animation Studio movies from 2000-2010. Now, I’m going to cover the most recent Disney Animation Studio movies from 2011-2020. Consider this my personal trilogy of articles on the subject. But, also consider that Encanto and Raya and the Last Dragon will not be on this list, since both of those films came out in 2021. 

No matter, since the movies from 2011-2020 are so spectacular that some might even consider it a second renaissance. This was a period where a song like “Let it Go” was actually heard on the radio. The time was a period of new movies, as well as sequels, and it also represents an era where I feel that the company was more cognizant of the messages that it was sending to its younger audiences, which is why I’d much rather my daughter watch recent Disney movies like Moana than classics like The Little Mermaid. But, enough talk, and on with the ranking. Here are all the Disney Animation movies from 2011-2020, ranked.    

Oh, and a few spoilers up ahead. 

7. Big Hero 6 (2014)

Big Hero 6 is set in an alternate, tech-powered universe called San Fransokyo, where a young kid adept at robotics must band with his brother’s healthcare robot and his friends, who become high-tech superheroes, to stop a masked villain. It’s loosely based off of a Marvel comic, and even has a shocking Marvel cameo at the end. It’s so much fun!   

So, then why, pray tell, is at the bottom of this list? Well, I think that’s just a testament to how great the movies were in this period, since Big Hero 6 is an excellent film. In fact, I think the movie is super underappreciated, and I wish more people talked about it. The superhero stuff is amazing, and the story hits all of the right emotional beats. 

But, when we have some of the other movies on this list, well, I just didn’t have the heart to put it above any of those other films. Sucks, but that’s just how lists like this work. Something has got to be on the bottom. 

6. Wreck-It Ralph (2012) 

A “bad guy” video game character is tired of his label, so he wants to do something about it and become a “good guy.” But, in the process, he accidentally sets things in motion that could destroy all of the games in his arcade. Adventure (and heart-warming antics!) ensue. 

Wreck-It Ralph was the first movie in the 2011-2020 era, and it was something totally unique coming after Tangled (which is better than Frozen). But, I digress.   

It’s great to see all of the video game references in Wreck-It Ralph, and I love the third act with the race, but the rest of the film kind of meanders a little bit for me. Yes, all of it is fun, but I feel that some of it isn’t entirely necessary. So, while I do love it, and I’m super happy that it brought Ralph and Vanellope von Schweetz to the Disney universe, I feel like the second act could be a little stronger. The rest totally gives me a sugar rush, though.  

5. Frozen (2013) 

A princess must help end the perpetual winter that her sister accidentally created in order to unfreeze their kingdom. There’s also a loveable snowman, a moose, and a mountaineer who loves ice. But, why am I explaining the plot of Frozen to you? You’ve already seen it. And, if you’re a parent, possibly multiple times. 

Look, I dig Frozen. It’s a good movie, and nothing I’m about to say will take away from its cultural impact or significance, but…Frozen is kind of overrated. I like the story, as well as the message that sisterly love is more powerful than any love from a male suitor, but “Let It Be,” while a showstopper, kind of breaks up the flow of the film, and the other songs aren’t nearly as good. Plus, the story kind of hits a standstill when the trolls come out. 

Honestly, I’m putting it at this number since I understand just how much people love this film, and I know the shot in the arm it gave Disney that led it on to a successful string of years to come after its monumental success, but the first Frozen is just okay for me. It is what it is.  

4. Ralph Breaks The Internet (2018) 

After Ralph and Vanellope accidentally break Vanellope’s game, they have to go on the internet to get enough money to purchase a new part. Along the way, Vanellope learns that maybe she belongs elsewhere, and Ralph has to deal with that.  

Okay, so I KNOW most people prefer the first Wreck-It Ralph to the second (even though the sequel has a slightly higher critical score, but a MUCH lower audience score), however, I just think the second movie is better in every way. The first film felt a little disjointed. I mean, you had these older arcade games like Street Fighter II, and Q-Bert, but the world of Sugar Rush felt super modern. I know that’s part of the story – the old vs. the new – but the modernism of the sequel feels much more consistent and enjoyable.    

I also love the emotions that we get more in the sequel, giving Vanellope more to do and consider, and how Ralph feels left out in the cold. Finally, having all of the Disney princesses was the icing on the cake for Wreck-It Ralph 2. So, while I greatly enjoy the first movie, I LOVE the second one. It’s just a better film, overall. I think so, at least.   

3. Frozen II (2019) 

Elsa hears a voice from off yonder, and follows it, only to find out that the voice is coming from within. Whoa, trippy.  

Okay, so I’m well aware that this choice might be even more controversial than putting Wreck-It Ralph 2 over the first one, but hear me out. Frozen II is the better movie since it has much more depth. We learn that the ancestors of Arendelle actually had a really dark past, and the overall tone of this sequel is just darker, overall. Olaf dies (DIES! - but he’s brought back, of course), Anna is struggling to hold on to the newly formed relationship with her sister, and poor Kristoff keeps trying to marry Anna, only to be thwarted at every occasion.  

I also like the music a lot more in this one, as it feels more organic to the overall story. The setting is also more interesting. In every way, I think Frozen II is the better movie, and you’ll never convince me otherwise. It’s simply the superior film.  

2. Moana (2016) 

A teenager who has a calling for the sea, sets out on an adventure with a demigod (and a chicken) to bring the heart of the ocean back to its rightful place. 

Moana freaking has it all. The songs are magnificent, the story moves at such a brisk pace, that it’s almost a little too fast, Moana is a phenomenal protagonist, and it has The Rock giving the people’s eyebrow. I mean, Moana would far and away be my pick for the best movie in this time period if not for one other...  

1. Zootopia

A city where the predators and the prey live together in harmony have that harmony disrupted when certain citizens start turning savage. We soon learn that the peace the citizens thought they knew may have never even existed in the first place. 

I’ve actually already discussed why I think Zootopia is the best recent Disney animated movie, but, in a nutshell, Zootopia is the best since it genuinely feels like it has something important to say on many different topics, such as race, identity, bigotry, and class. Zootopia is not just fun (even though it is that), nor is it just a beautiful movie to look at (it’s that, too). Zootopia is both those things, and so much more, making it the best movie of this era. Seriously, I LOVE this film!

Disney doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon with their animation division, and I’m looking forward to its future. For more news on everything from the company, make sure to swing by here often.  

I know most people would point to Frozen (or Tangled if you're one of the cool kids, since Tangled is better than Frozen) as the movie that jump started Disney's most recent animation Renaissance, and that's fine. I won't disagree with you on that. But, when it comes to Disney's best animated movie in the past 15 years or so, I'm going to have to go with Zootopia, 100%.    

Because unlike musicals such as Encanto, or Moana, or Frozen, which have excellent soundtracks to sing-along to, Zootopia is more in the Big Hero 6/Raya and the Last Dragon/Wreck-It-Ralph category in that they mostly have to stand on their stories alone. That said, unlike those aforementioned non-musical animated films, Zootopia stands the tallest out of all of Disney's animated outputs, both musical and non-musical alike, and I have five reasons why.  

It Deals With Race Relations And Sexism In A Way That Is Digestible For Children 

I once helped write an article about 15 movies that explore race and social justice for this website, and while I didn't include Zootopia (it would have felt out of place considering the other films I wrote about), I do genuinely feel that Zootopia tackles biting issues like racism and sexism in a way that is actually digestible for children.

Let me explain. Our heroine is Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), a rabbit who dreams of one day becoming a police officer. That said, even though she graduates at the top of her class in police academy, due to her small size and the fact that she's a woman, she is assigned to menial work because the powers that be think she's too fragile to handle dangerous assignments. There's more. In the society of Zootopia, you have the so-called predators living with the prey, which is pretty much a shorthand description of every major city in America.

But, because conflict is necessary in all stories, Judy, who would be deemed as prey, finds herself paired up with a "predator" named Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) who's a con-artist fox. In Zootopia, all foxes are seen as thieves, and Nick fits the description since he is, in fact, a fox. But, we learn in a flashback that Nick only takes on that con-artist role since society has already assigned it to him since childhood, and in that way, he's become sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy. 

As a black man who has gotten "You don't act like other Black people" practically all my life (as if all Black people are supposed to act a certain way), stuff like that resonates with me in a BIG way, and kudos to Disney for even daring to tackle something as touchy as race relations in a children's movie. Bravo. 

It Also Deals With The Effects Of Drugs On A Community 

It doesn't stop with race relations or sexism, though, since Zootopia also shows the effects of drugs on a community. I'm of course talking about the night howler serum that actually turns animals savage. Don't believe me that Disney would blatantly reference drug use in their children's movie? Well, then what do you make of the Breaking Bad homage in Zootopia's many pop culture references?  

In the film, we see a society that is actually falling apart at the seams due to this drug problem, which nobody (including the audience) really knows about until about midway through the film when we find out that the predator mammals aren't just suddenly turning savage out of nowhere, but are instead being drugged and sent into a frenzy. In this way, we're actually getting commentary on how the police force is losing in its battle against drugs, and if that's not smart writing, then I don't know what is.  

Its World Is Fully Fleshed Out In A Way That Could Lead To Several Stories

The world of Zootopia is just that - a world. I've discussed how I think Pixar is currently in its golden age with films like Turning Red, and Soul, but Zootopia is that rare Disney Animated film that I actually think goes toe-to-toe with the likes of the expansive world-building of Pixar, as the city of Zootopia truly feels lived in and alive. 

And, isn't that what every Pixar movie manages to do? Create life out of the seemingly mundane? Well, Zootopia took something as common as anthropomorphic animals, threw them into a city together, and somehow, they made it feel so alive and fresh that I could envision seeing several different stories being told in this universe. Seriously, I've seen animals walking and talking in cartoons my entire life, but none of them feel as fleshed-out and alive as they do in Zootopia, and that is truly saying something.   

And Yet, It Never Got A Sequel, Which Actually Benefits The Film 

Unlike Frozen II, or Ralph Breaks the Internet, we only got one Zootopia movie, and I think that makes it feel especially unique. Because, as I mentioned in the last section, the world of Zootopia is vast, and I feel like multiple stories could be told in this universe.  

And yet, they weren't. Instead, we got a buddy cop story with an unlikely pairing (as all good buddy cop narratives should be) that is told in one concise story. I've mentioned it before on this site, but Dredd is my favorite comic book movie, and it's mostly because it's just a day-in-the-life tale with little pomp and circumstance, and I feel the same way about Zootopia. Disney could probably milk several more movies out of this universe, and yet, they didn't.   

I think that's really great. We're supposed to be getting some Disney+ series called Zootopia+ in the near-future, which I'll definitely check out, but I feel like Disney really could have overdone it with another movie, and I'm glad that they didn't. That makes this single story even stronger because it was just one-and-done.   

It's Just An Overall Excellent Story With A Phenomenal Cast 

Lastly, Zootopia is just an excellent story, with a phenomenal cast of voice actors, which, aside from Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman, also includes Idris Elba, J.K. Simmons, and Shakira, just to name a few.  

As I already mentioned, the story is just top notch. I love Raya and the Last Dragon and its message that we need to stop judging people by misconceptions that we've already formed about them, but I feel like Zootopia captured a similar message in a way that was actually fun. In comparison, look at a movie like the recent Bad Guys, which our very own Eric Eisenberg called "Zootopia without the nuance." By looking at that review, I think you can ascertain just why Zootopia is so great - it actually has nuance! Which is more than I can say for most movies coming out these days, both animated and non-animated alike. 

What do you think is the greatest recent Disney animated film? For more news on all things Disney, make sure to swing by here often.  

I often like to use the term “Geek God” or “Geek Goddess” to describe an actor who has made an impressive impact on the sci-fi genre, superhero movies, etc., and earned a devoted fanbase in the process. One of the quintessential names that falls under this category is Alan Tudyk, although his eclectic filmography is not limited to great sci-fi TV shows and comic book adaptations. See for yourself by taking a look at our picks for some of the best Alan Tudyk movies and TV shows and where to find them on streaming, for digital rental, or on physical media - starting with…well, a sci-fi TV show.

Firefly (2002-2003)

An eclectic crew of outlaws travel between the terraformed planets of their galaxy in search of whatever work they can find while also steering clear of government detection in the 26th Century.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk TV shows: The heart and soul of the Firefly cast just might be Alan Tudyk’s performance as Serenity’s ace pilot, Hoban “Wash” Washburne, on this short-lived, but much-loved futuristic take on the Western genre and its 2005 feature-length follow-up named after the ship the crew called home.

Stream Firefly on Hulu.
Buy Firefly digitally on Amazon.
Buy Firefly on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Con Man (2015-2017)

An actor (Alan Tudyk) who is best known for a short-lived cult TV series struggles to achieve the success he believes he deserves while navigating the world of sci-fi conventions.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk TV shows: Tudyk’s career following the cancellation of Firefly served as a loose inspiration for Con Man - an often dark satire on Hollywood and geekdom from an actor’s perspective that he also created and which earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series.

Stream Con Man on Freevee through Amazon Prime.
Buy Con Man digitally on Amazon.

A Knight’s Tale (2001)

A peasant (Heath Ledger) poses as a knight to participate in a jousting tournament to achieve the fortune and glory he has long desired.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk movies: One of Alan Tudyk’s most beloved films from before he starred on Firefly is A Knight’s Tale, in which he plays a friend-turned-faux royal servant to Ledger, who also gives one of his best and most underrated performances in Oscar winner Brian Helgeland’s unique medieval drama.

Stream A Knight’s Tale on Starz.
Rent/buy A Knight’s Tale digitally on Amazon.
Buy A Knight’s Tale on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Death At A Funeral (2007)

The gathering of an English family to pay their respects to their recently passed patriarch takes a few unexpected and disastrous turns.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk movies: Just like in A Knight’s Tale, the Texas-born Alan Tudyk blends in perfectly among his predominantly U.K.-based co-stars when giving an uproarious, scene-stealing performance with a faux British accent in the original Death at a Funeral - a wonderfully chaotic dark comedy from director Frank Oz.

Stream Death At A Funeral on Hulu.
Stream Death At A Funeral on Tubi.

Rent/buy Death At A Funeral digitally on Amazon.
Buy Death At A Funeral on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)

The owner of a rundown gym (Vince Vaughn) tries to save it from being acquired by an eccentric fitness guru (Ben Stiller) by entering himself and his friends and colleagues into an elaborate dodgeball tournament in Las Vegas.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk movies: Three years before Death at a Funeral, Alan Tudyk stole the show with another bizarre performance as a man who thinks he is a pirate in  Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story - a laugh-filled sports comedy from director Rawson Marshall Thurber.

Stream Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story on Hulu.
Stream Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story on Amazon Prime.

Rent/buy Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story digitally on Amazon.
Buy Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Tucker And Dale Vs. Evil (2010)

An innocent hillbilly (Alan Tudyk) and his best friend (Tyler Labine) become victims of a horrifying misunderstanding when their plans to clean up his new cabin intersect with some college students’ vacation.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk movies: Alan Tudyk puts on another convincing faux accent as one-half of the titular duo in Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil - one of the most clever, refreshing, inventively gory, and simple best horror-comedy movies of its time.

Stream Tucker And Dale Vs. Evil on Tubi.
Rent/buy Tucker And Dale Vs. Evil digitally on Amazon.
Buy Tucker And Dale Vs. Evil on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Suburgatory (2011-2014)

For the first time in her life, a cynical teenage girl (Jane Levy) begrudgingly leaves the city with her single father (Jeremy Sisto) to live in a quaint suburb with an eccentric population.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk TV shows: After sending up the horror genre in Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil, Alan Tudyk shared the screen with future Scream Queen Levy on the cast of Suburgatory - a fun, short-lived ABC sitcom - as an ordinary suburban dad who undergoes an extraordinarily painful mid-life crisis.

Stream Suburgatory on CW Seed.
Buy Suburgatory digitally on Amazon.
Buy Suburgatory on DVD on Amazon.

I, Robot (2004)

A technophobic detective (Will Smith) suspects that a revolutionary robotics engineer’s own creation is responsible for his death in 2035 Chicago.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk movies: Alan Tudyk proved himself to be a talented motion capture performer when playing cybernetic murder suspect Sonny in I, Robot - director Alex Proyas’ clever, visually stunning, Oscar-nominated dystopian crime thriller inspired by a collection of short stories by Isaac Asimov.

Stream I, Robot on HBO Max.
Rent/buy I, Robot digitally on Amazon.
Buy I, Robot on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

A mismatched, ragtag crew of rebel forces conspire to steal the plans for the Galactic Empire’s moon-sized, planet-destroying weapon known as the Death Star.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk movies: Another time Alan Tudyk gave an inspired motion capture performance as a robot (and got to use his British accent again) was in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story - a direct prequel to 1977's original Star Wars - as reprogrammed imperial droid K2-SO.

Stream Rogue One: A Star Wars Story on Disney+.
Rent/buy Rogue One: A Star Wars Story digitally on Amazon.
Buy Rogue One: A Star Wars Story on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Wreck-It Ralph Movies (2012, 2018)

A video game villain (John C. Reilly) aspires to abandon his destructive reputation, only to nearly cause the destruction of the World Wide Web itself years later.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk movies: One of Alan Tudyk’s earlier collaborations with Disney is when he voiced King Candy, the main villain of the heartwarming animated redemption story, Wreck-It Ralph, before later appearing in the hilarious sequel, Ralph Breaks the Internet, as KnowsMore - the personification of a search engine.

Stream the Wreck-It Ralph Movies on Disney+.

Rent/buy Wreck-It Ralph digitally on Amazon.
Buy Wreck-It Ralph on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Rent/buy Ralph Breaks the Internet digitally on Amazon.
Buy Ralph Breaks the Internet on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Frozen Movies (2014-2019)

The adventures of a red-headed princess (Kristen Bell) and her older sister (Idina Menzel) who is gifted with a mysterious ability to alter the weather to cold temperatures and freeze things at will.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk movies: Alan Tudyk also leant his voice to multiple characters for Disney’s most successful animated franchise, most notably as the Duke of Weselton in both Frozen and in the sequel, Frozen II.

Stream the Frozen movies on Disney+.
Buy the Frozen movies digitally on Amazon.
Buy the Frozen movies on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Doom Patrol (2019)

A group of people, each made superhuman by traumatic circumstances, are given a home by a mad scientist (Timothy Dalton) and a chance to save the world from a man of nigh-omnipotence and malicious intent.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk movies: Alan Tudyk has starred in countless comic book adaptations, including Marvel movies (namely Big Hero 6) and various DC TV shows - such as the refreshingly unique Doom Patrol, in which he chews the scenery as the reality-warping main antagonist of Season 1, Eric “Mr. Nobody” Morden. 

Stream Doom Patrol on HBO Max.

Resident Alien (2021-Present)

An extra-terrestrial (Alan Tudyk) begins to question the malicious nature of his initial reason for coming to Earth (to destroy it) after disguising himself as a human doctor and establishing trust with the citizens of a small Colorado town he became stranded in.

Why it is one of the best Alan Tudyk TV shows: A more recent example of Alan Tudyk’s talent for also playing a good villain (of sorts) can currently be seen on the Syfy original series, Resident Alien - developer Chris Sheridan’s considerably lighter and much funnier take on Peter Hogan’s Dark Horse comic book series 

Stream Resident Alien on Peacock Premium.
Buy Resident Alien digitally on Amazon.
Buy Resident Alien on Blu-ray on Amazon.

These cult favorites and new classics alike just barely scratch the surface of what makes Alan Tudyk an undeniable “Geek God” to so many of his fans.

Disney, Marvel and Star Wars fanatics, as well as fans of new movies and television series in general, were given an early Christmas present on Thursday, when the House of Mouse provided updates for a number of previously announced titles and revealed dozens more during the 2020 Investor Day event and subsequent barrage of posts on its various social media outlets. With new movies, scripted shows, and all sorts of other programs coming to Disney+ in the coming months and years, the news proved to be a bright spot in a year that hasn't seen too many happy stories in terms of releases.

But with so much (like an insane number of projects) being announced over the course of a few hours, making sense of it all can be a little daunting to say the least. Fear not, pop culture fans, as we have put together a list of all the new shows announced for Disney+ this week, including various Marvel and Star Wars that we will be talking about for years to come. There's a lot to breakdown, so let's get started…

Ahsoka

Those who loved Rosario Dawson's portrayal of Ahsoka Tano in The Mandalorian Season 2 but wanted to see more of the character were given some great news when Disney announced that she will be given her own live-action spinoff series. Not much is known about Ashoka at this time, but with The Mandalorian's Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni serving as executive producers (Filoni is also writing the series), this new and exciting series has a lot of potential.

Rangers Of The New Republic

Ahsoka Tano isn't the only character from The Mandalorian getting their own Disney+ spinoff in the future, as it was announced on Thursday that there will soon be a show by the name of Rangers of the New Republic. Although nothing was revealed besides the show's title and flashy title card, the series will presumably focus on the New Republic enforcers introduced in The Mandalorian Season 2. The show, like Ahsoka, will be set within the timeline of the current adventures of Mando and Baby Yoda, I mean Grogu.

Star Wars: Visions

One of the most unique titles announced by Disney is Star Wars: Visions, a series of 10 animated short films from leading Japanese anime studios that will offer not only engaging stories but also a fresh and diverse perspective of the galaxy far, far away. Not much is known about the project at this time, but the concept sounds amazing.

Lando

Lando Calrissian, the smooth-talking, cape-wearing, and all around scoundrel you just can't help but love will soon get his own Disney+ series appropriately titled Lando. Created by Justin Simien, the writer and director of Dear White People and Bad Hair, the mysterious project will focus on the enemy-turned-friend of Han Solo, but it remains to be see when in the character's storyline it will take place. It also remains to be seen as to whether Donald Glover will be reprising his Solo role, but fingers crossed…

The Acolyte

Leslye Headland's Star Wars show has been rumored for some time now, but it was officially announced by Disney on Thursday with the title The Acolyte. The upcoming series from the Russian Doll creator will be a mystery-thriller set during the final days of the High Republic era and will welcome audiences into a galaxy filled with secrets and the emerging dark-side in a period rarely discussed.

Willow

After more than 30 years after the release of Ron Howard's Willow, Warwick Davis will return as the lovable sorcerer in Jon Chu's (Crazy Rich Asians) upcoming Disney+ series of the same name. This new Willow will be set decades after the events of the original film but will continue the same spirit and sense of adventure from the 1988 classic.

Secret Invasion

The partnership formed by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Talos (Ben Mendelsohn) in Captain Marvel and then shown again in post-credits scenes in Spider-Man: Far From Home later in 2019 will be the subject of the new Disney+ live-action series Secret Invasion. Based on the epic crossover comic event, the new series will showcase a faction of the Skrulls who have been secretly on Earth for decades.

Ironheart

Dominque Thorne, who made her acting debut in 2018's If Beale Street Could Talk, has landed her first television gig with the upcoming Disney+ Ironheart. Based on the Marvel comics title of the same name, the show will follow genius inventor Riri Williams as creates the most sophisticated suit of armor since the creation of Iron Man.

Armor Wars

There isn't just one upcoming Disney+ about a famous set of armor from the pages of Marvel Comics now that Armor Wars has been announced. This new series starring Don Cheadle as James Rhodes, aka War Machine, follows Tony Stark's best friend as he deals with the fallout of Stark's tech falling into the wrong hands.

I Am Groot

There's no such thing as too much Baby Groot and Disney+ aims to prove that with the upcoming series of animated shorts following the cutest and dirtiest member of the Guardians of the Galaxy with I Am Groot. Whether or not Vin Diesel returns to voice the adorable character remains to be seen, however.

Baymax

Walt Disney Animation Studios will make its first foray into the world of television with the 2022 release of Baymax, which takes place in the imaginative and fantastical city of San Fransokyo from the Oscar-winning Big Hero Six. Besides the title, involvement of director Don Hall, and an early 2022 release window, not much is known about the upcoming series at this time.

Zootopia+

Another recent Disney animated hit, Zootopia, will soon get the short-form television treatment when Disney+ releases Zootopia+, a series that will dive into the intriguing city and its diverse inhabitants. With returning characters and new additions taking up residence in massive city, expect to see all sorts of adventures when the show debuts in spring 2022.

Iwájú

Disney+ will also be the exclusive home to the original animation series Iwájú when the show premieres at some point in 2022. Created through a partnership between Disney and Pan-African comic book entertainment group Kugali, the science-fiction series will take place in Lagos, Nigeria, and will explore themes like class, innocence, and going against the grain.

Tiana

At long last, The Princess and the Frog will be getting its own Disney+ series. Titled Tiana, the show will focus on the new princess of Maldonia as she balances her life in her new kingdom and her hometown of New Orleans. When the series premieres in 2023, it will be the first time a Disney princess will have her own Walt Disney Animation Studios series.

Moana, The Series

Also premiering in 2023 will be Moana, The Series, which will bring the music, heart, and breathtaking art from the 2016 animation sensation. The series will follow the adventurous Moana as she ventures beyond the reef and connects with the world beyond.

Beauty And The Best Prequel

Those how loved Luke Evans' Gaston and Josh Gad's LeFou in the 2017 live-action Beauty and the Beast adaptation will be glad to hear that a Disney+ prequel series based on the villain and his loyal best friend is in the works.

Swiss Family Robinson

The classic tale of Swiss Family Robinson will soon get a new lease with the debut of the Disney+ series based on the classic 19th Century novel and Disney film adaptation of the same name. This modern reimagining of the timeless story of a family shipwrecked on a deserted island will be spearheaded by Ron Moore (Outlander) and Jon Chu (Crazy Rich Asians).

Pixar Popcorn

One of the best things about seeing a Pixar movie in the theaters is getting to enjoy one of the animation studio's charming shorts before the main feature. In January 2021, Disney+ will release a new collection of shorts called Pixar Popcorn, which will feature various Pixar characters in short, bite-size stories from some of the studio's brightest and most inventive animators.

Dug Days

Dug, the lovable dog from Pixar's Up will get his own collection of animated shorts starting in Fall 2021 with the introduction of Dug Days. These short films will follow the lovable talking dog as he deals with events that happen in his backyard each day.

Cars

Another Pixar classic will be getting its own spinoff series in the coming years, as Disney announced the Cars animated series that will call Disney+ home starting in Fall 2022. The series will follow Lightening McQueen and Tater as they embark upon a cross-country road trip. They will come across new friends and those from the past as they visit imaginative destinations filled with adventure.

Win Or Lose

Disney+ will be the home to the first original Pixar animated series when Win or Lose debuts in 2023. The series will follow a coed middle school softball team as they prepare for a championship game. Each episode will be told from the perspective of a different player and will explore drama both on and off the field. In typical Pixar fashion, Win or Lose will blend comedy, drama, friendships, and rivalries along the way.

Genius: Martin Luther King Jr.

The scripted National Geographic series Genius from Brian Grazer and Ron Howard has previously explored the lives of Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso, and Aretha Franklin, and the fourth season will focus on American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. The upcoming installment will follow King as he sets out to change the world in the mid-20th Century and how he became the icon we know him as today.

A Real Bug's Life

Not to be confused with the 1998 Pixar film with a very similar name, the upcoming Disney+/National Geographic Channel series A Real Bug's Life will show viewers the microsized creatures that call New York's Central Park and our own backyard home through inventive and technologically-advanced filming techniques.

America The Beautiful

The upcoming Disney+/National Geographic series America the Beautiful will follow in the footsteps of programs like Planet Earth, Frozen Planet, and the various Disneynature films and tell a gripping story of the American landscape. Regions like the Frozen North, the Wild West, the Grassy Heartland, the Deep South, and the Mountainous High Wilderness will be explored in beautiful detail when this series lands on the streamer.

Welcome To Earth (Working Title)

With a combination of Jane Root, Darren Aronofsky and Will Smith, the upcoming Disney+ docuseries Welcome to Earth (Working Title) will take viewers on an unparalleled journey around the globe. Through the use of cutting-edge technology, Smith will explore the highest highs, the deepest depths, and the hidden worlds around the globe.

These are just all the new shows that will call Disney+ home in the coming months and years. There are also a ton of already announced Star Wars movies and shows, Marvel adventures, and all other stories that will be available on the streaming service in the years to come.

You know who’s a real gem of an actress? Octavia Spencer. It might be unfair to say this, but if acting was basketball, then Octavia Spencer would probably be the industry’s MVP when it comes to assists. That’s because when you typically think of Octavia Spencer movies, you probably think about how she’s often the most shining performance in a supporting role. That’s not to say that she doesn’t take on lead roles, as she had an important one just recently in HBO Max's The Witches. That said, most of her most memorable performances are usually of her giving a helping hand.

But support is so, so important, and it can make or break a story. That's likely why Ms. Spencer won a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for The Help, and was also nominated two other times for Hidden Figures and The Shape of Water. But if there is any one truth about Octavia Spencer, it’s that she’s an impeccable actress and we’re lucky to have her. Now on with the list.

10. Zootopia (Mrs. Otterton)

Voice acting is no easy feat, especially when you’re playing the diminutive Mrs. Otterton in Disney’s hit movie, Zootopia. Emotions run high in this film, and Octavia Spencer’s performance as a woman looking for her missing husband is a shining moment in a movie just brimming with shining moments. It's such a little role, but Octavia Spencer manages to get us all emotionally invested in the search for her husband, and we’re rooting for Lt. Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde to find him.

But what really makes this performance special is just how well Octavia Spencer’s voice disappears into the character. Sure, if you know it’s her, then you’ll hear her. But if you don’t know it’s her, then you’ll just get fully invested in this character’s plight and sadness and will most likely say, “That was Octavia Spencer?” once you read the closing credits. She’s just too good. Even as an otter.

9. Snowpiercer (Tanya)

With such massive and memorable performances by Tilda Swinton, Ed Harris, and Chris Evans, it’s often easy to forget that Octavia Spencer is even in Bong Joon-ho’s Snowpiercer. But once you watch it again, you’ll remember her since she plays such an important but subtle role as Tanya, a mother who is determined to get her son back from authoritarian forces. She has a voice and she uses it to motivate people, much to great effect.

And while I won’t spoil the movie for you in case you haven’t seen it yet (and if you haven’t, it’s currently on Netflix) what ultimately happens to her will make you pound the armrest of your seat once you get invested in her character. Which is why Snowpiercer is a good movie on your first watch, but a great movie on your second or third viewings. And Octavia Spencer is just one of the reasons why. She's acting her butt off without you really even noticing it. Because that’s just how great she is.

8. Onward (The Manticore)

I love Onward. In fact, it’s actually my new favorite Pixar movie, despite its lackluster performance at the box office. But as much as I love the overall story of two sons trying to bring back their father, what I love just as much is the characters. And Octavia Spencer comes in the blow us all away again as the once fierce, but now family-friendly, Manticore.

Octavia Spencer is hilarious since she has to withhold the seething, relentless rage that her species is known for, but also keep it all under wraps so that she can run a fantasy-themed restaurant. Of course she can’t hold it all together for too long, nor would we ever want her to.

7. Divergent (Johanna)

I’m going to be honest with you. I don’t like the Divergent series. It came out in that really awful period following The Hunger Games where it seemed like every somewhat popular YA series (think The Maze Runner, The 5th Wave, The Mortal Instruments… or don’t think of them) was getting greenlit for a movie. So, um, yeah. I kind of hate Divergent. But of the two movies I’ve seen in the series, she was the best part in both of them.

Octavia Spencer plays a former speaker of one of the factions who then started her own Allegiant group. I always found the series to be too loud and obnoxious, but in comes Octavia Spencer, speaking softly but with authority as a leader. She shines a bright light on a series that didn’t deserve her talent but somehow got it anyway. In other words, Octavia Spencer made a series that I would consider intolerable actually watchable, which is no small feat.

6. Fruitvale Station (Wanda)

Do you want to cry your eyes out? No? Then don’t watch Fruitvale Station, because you will cry your eyes out. Michael B. Jordan delivers a knock-out performance as real-life victim, Oscar Grant III, but it’s Octavia Spencer who does most of the heavy lifting as his mother in the film, Wanda Johnson.

Octavia Spencer’s performance will tear you apart when she cries about how she should have told her son to drive into the city rather than take the BART train where he lost his life at the station after being shot by a BART police officer. Octavia Spencer won a Best Supporting Actress award at the National Board of Review and deserved it. And if you ask me, she should have won the Oscar, too.

5. Self Made: Inspired By The Life Of Madam C.J. Walker (Madam C.J. Walker)

True story: While talking to a colleague of mine last year at the school I work at, she asked me, the resident movie nerd, if there was a film based on the life of Madam C.J. Walker. I told her I didn’t think there was, but if they ever made one, they should cast Octavia Spencer. And lo and behold, Netflix made a fictionalized miniseries about Madam C.J. Walker starring Octavia Spencer. Am I good, or what?

Actually, it’s pretty obvious that Octavia Spencer should take on the role, and she’s great in it. We see her ultra-humble beginnings as a washerwoman, to the discrimination she faces, and ultimately as she creates a hair empire. The series itself is the only thing sort of holding it back more, as it could be a tad more interesting. But there’s no denying how great Octavia Spencer is in it. She knocks it out of the park, as always.

4. The Shape of Water (Zelda Delilah Fuller)

If you read my list of the best Best Picture winners of the 2010’s, then you’ll know that I’m not a fan of The Shape of Water. I mean, it’s fine, but it’s a bit too artsy fartsy for my tastes. But once again, in for the save comes Octavia Spencer who plays the protagonist’s good friend and interpreter.

Again nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, I kind of get bored watching The Shape of Water. But every time Octavia Spencer’s on the screen to prevent Sally Hawkins’ character from doing something she’ll regret, she somehow pulls me through a story that I know I’m supposed to like, but don’t.

3. The Help (Minerva “Minny” Jackson)

Winning her only Oscar (Criminal!) for her role as a maid who is fired for using a guest bathroom but then tells her story to a young journalist, The Help is an extremely enjoyable film that unfortunately hasn’t aged well since its 2011 release.

But Octavia Spencer’s performance is still aces. She’s sympathetic, but also probably the only actress who could make taking a dump in somebody’s pie feel like righteous justice. The Help itself will probably not be remembered all too fondly in the next few years, but that certainly shouldn’t take away from Spencer’s Oscar-winning performance.

2. Ma (Sue Ann “Ma” Ellington)

Okay, honestly, I want to call Octavia Spencer’s performance in Ma her best. It’s definitely my favorite. In the recent horror movie, Ms. Spencer plays a deranged woman who invites teenagers to her house, and then terrorizes them because of a long lost crush she had and… I’m going to just leave it there.

But Ma is crazy! This is one messed up movie, and Octavia Spencer's character in this film is like nothing else she’s ever played. There is no wholesomeness here. There is no nice best friend. Instead, we get a woman who stabs and drugs people. I never thought Octavia Spencer would actually be scary, but she is. She's terrifying! And I love her for it.

1. Hidden Figures (Dorothy Vaughan)

But you know what? Years from now, I’m pretty sure Octavia Spencer’s most remembered performance will be as real-life smarty pants, Dorothy Vaughan, in Hidden Figures. She plays a mathematician and supervisor, and daggum, I never for a second didn't believe a single word that came out of her mouth. She is Dorothy Vaughan, which is even more special since I never even heard of Dorothy Vaughan until I saw this movie.

Which is kind of the point of the film, right? Giving voices to the oft-ignored? But the fact that Octavia Spencer gives so much life and power to this character in the racist 1960s, well, it just makes this performance all the more special. Years from now, kids will be inspired by Octavia Spencer’s acting and will want to learn more about this exceptional woman, and it’s all because of this exceptional performance.

Octavia Spencer may not specialize in powerhouse leading roles like Viola Davis, but her performances are just as vital when elevating a movie from being just good to being fantastic. That’s the power of an Octavia Spencer performance!

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In recent years, Jenny Slate has propelled herself into a dependable comedic talent and an indie darling, on screens both big and small. Notably with the release of this month's The Sunlit Night, Slate only continues to demonstrate her expendable and trustworthy star talents while also showcasing her dramatic range. When it comes to her growing film career, Slate is constantly establishing herself and making a name for herself through a variety of likable, enjoyable new film roles. With that said, let's celebrate just a few great Jenny Slate movie performances from the multi-talented actress/comedian.

The Sunlit Night (2020)

The Sunlit Night is a prime example of when a leading performance outshines a movie. Please pardon the pun. Though it's bolstered by nice cinematography and lovely Norwegian landscapes, this Sundance indie falls into too many tropes and cliches, while also suffering from several oddly wavering subplots and diverting attentiveness to side characters who don't add much focus. As a result, it becomes yet another coming-of-age story about a character finding themselves that ironically never finds itself. Yet, Jenny Slate's vulnerable, and, yes, radiant screen presence lifts this movie up and brings some emotional sincerity that isn't found in its paint-by-numbers narrative.

It's such a gently captivating performance that it almost makes the movie work. Slate's clear star power cannot be dismissed; it's a shame that she brings such vibrant engagement to this lacking and noticeably edited-down misfire. But she burns bright.

My Blind Brother (2016)

While it doesn't land on sure footing, My Blind Brother is nicely elevated by its central trio of performances from Nick Kroll, Adam Scott, and Jenny Slate. The easy, enjoyable chemistry shared between the former and the latter, especially, helps the movie work past its tonal inconsistencies and its insecurities regarding its darkly comedic subject matter. 

Centered around an unaccomplished brother (Kroll) who must constantly live in the shadow of his arrogant, demanding, overachieving blind brother (Scott), particularly when they compete for the same woman (Slate), My Blind Brother takes a premise that could've easily landed sideways and finds some nice, winning moments of humanity and surprising laughs — notably through its charming turn from Slate, who brings dynamism to a character who might've been two dimensional from a less talented performer. Particularly when the actress shares the screen with Kroll, this movie sparks.

The Secret Life Of Pets (2016) & The Secret Life Of Pets 2 (2019)

As the lovable personality behind Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, it became apparent early into Jenny Slate's career that, in addition to all her other talents, she's also a great, extremely funny voice actress. She has continued to prove her vocal talents in a number of movies and shows, but The Secret Life of Pets 1 & 2 remains one of her most recognizable roles. 

As the voice of Gidget, the fluffy white Pomeranian with a big heart and a sunny disposition, Slate is a lot of fun in this spunky, outspoken character, providing a sweet, infectiously charming energy to this good-hearted pet. Though the movies themselves don't necessarily reach the top tiers of CG animation, Slate's vocal performance remains a highlight, and her high-pitch voice matches the character well.

Zootopia (2016)

Likewise, Jenny Slate found a great avenue for her versatile voice talents with Disney's acclaimed Zootopia. As the literally sheepish Assistant Mayor Bellwether, Slate was able to play the character's seemingly good-natured sweet side only to later unveil the character's true dark side to great effect. 

In this multi-layered role, Slate allowed audiences to believe both the character's harmless demeanor and her calculating interior without ever making it too jarring, forced, or unbelievable. That's certainly a great credit to this burgeoning voice star, one who only continues to impress inside the voice booth. It helps to sell the Oscar-winning Disney film's thematically dense second half, and this lucrative hit ultimately contains one of Slate's finest vocal performances.

Joshy (2016)

In an ensemble that includes Thomas Middleditch, Adam Pally, Alex Ross Perry, Nick Kroll, Brett Gelman, Aubrey Plaza, Alison Brie, and more, Jenny Slate is only one piece in the finely-casted 2016's sleeper, Joshy, though she is certainly a highlight. As Jodi, a bachelorette who joins along for an extremely unconventional bachelor party, Slate takes what might've been an unremarkable role in a weaker performer's hands and brings her usual brand of sweet sincerity and gentle warmth, bringing out the likable emotional side of this darkly probing dramedy. 

It's a performance that ultimately helps the movie reach its goal rather than fully stands out on its own, but Slate brings her own individual charms anyway, making for another likable, appealing performance from the dependable comedic/dramatic star. Even in a cast this stacked, Slate is a bright spot.

Landline (2017)

Reuniting with her Obvious Child collaborator Gillian Robespierre, Landline is a sophomore feature that doesn't exactly reach the same heights as its predecessor but it recaptures a lot of its appealing comfortable, and believable sensibilities. Focused on the interconnected lives of a multi-generational family (John Turturro, Edie Falco, Jenny Slate, Abby Quinn) and the two sisters who find themselves connected whenever they suspect that their dad might be having an affair, this familiar-but-easygoing '90s period piece doesn't break too many new grounds when it comes to Sundance dramedies, but the cast helps it shine, particularly with Slate providing another star-worthy turn. 

As the eldest sister, Slate brings her typical brand of emotional searching and mature instability to good effect, providing another winning, enjoyable performance in this emotional, potentially autobiographical tale.

Obvious Child (2014)

Though Jenny Slate found fame through Saturday Night Live and the aforementioned Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, 2014's off-kilter rom-com, Obvious Child, truly became the star's breakout role. Based on the short film of the same name, Gillian Robespierre's first feature was an exceptional star vehicle for Slate, who brings her typical heart and sincerity to this personal and authentic feature. 

Plus, as a film that's made with the intention of removing the stigma surrounding abortion, there is a purposefulness to the movie's punchy presentation that gives it weight and clear focus. But Slate is the key to the introductory movie's success, particularly through her relatable humor and sparkling personality which feels unabashedly true to her voice and character. This is also accomplished by incorporating Slate's actual stand-up, which blends realism and believable fiction to this personable directorial debut.

Do you love Jenny Slate? What's your favorite performance? Please let us know in the comment section below!

Recently, it was suggested that Splash Mountain, the popular attraction found at three different Disney theme parks around the world, could perhaps use a bit of an update. The log flume ride uses the controversial Disney movie Song of the South as its theme, and while choices were made at the time to avoid the overt racial problems that the movie suffers from, in today's day and age, there are those who don't think that's enough anymore, and that Splash Mountain could use a new theme.

One particular new idea has picked up a lot of support among those who want, or at least are accepting of, a new theme, but that one idea is by no means the only potential concept for a Splash Mountain redesign. In fact, with multiple Splash Mountain attractions, the opportunity for multiple redesigns is technically possible. Here are a few possible suggestions that could work for a brand new Splash Mountain.

The Princess and the Frog

It makes the most sense to start off with the really popular idea. The Princess and the Frog is an exciting idea for a lot of reasons. First off, it would give Tiana, an underrepresented Disney Princess, her own attraction, and it would be the first Princess attraction to be a thrill ride. Beyond that, the fact that much of the movie involves the main characters floating down a river means that the structure of Splash Mountain isn't out of place with this new theme.

But even beyond that, there's the fact that Splash Mountain resides at Disneyland on the edge of New Orleans Square, and The Princess and the Frog takes place in New Orleans. You could easily make the new version of the attraction part of New Orleans Square, or some sort of transition space between the Square and Critter Country. Walt Disney World and Tokyo Disneyland don't have this same built-in opportunity, but that's why we might want to consider a different redesign for them.

The Emperor's New Groove

If we're going to consider retheming Splash Mountain with a franchise that is underutilized in the parks, then how about we give some love to Kuzco? The Emperor's New Groove is one of Disney's most unique films. It's a straight up animated buddy comedy, and a legitimately hilarious one. David Spade and John Goodman are the perfect pair in this film that wasn't a massive hit in its day, but has built up an audience in the years since.

And the best part? The Emperor's New Groove actually contains a scene where the characters go off a massive waterfall, so the whole point of Splash Mountain, the big drop at the end, is built into the story. Building the rest of the attraction around that might take some work, but it's not like it would be the first time Walt Disney Imagineering had to do something similar. It could certainly work, and any excuse to get Kuzco and Pacha in the parks is a worthy one. This ride could be hilarious.

Zootopia

Zootopia was a massive success at the box office, and while a new land is currently under construction at Shanghai Disneyland, the domestic parks have had little from the film beyond character appearances. Zootopia maybe isn't the most obvious choice for a new Splash Mountain, as there's no real connection to the ride concept, but there are other reasons that this could potentially work. First and foremost, at Disneyland in both Anaheim and Tokyo, Splash Mountain is located in the land called Critter Country, and so having the anthropomorphic animal characters both in the land and on the attraction would make a lot of sense.

There's also a lot about the world of Zootopia that we don't know which could be useful for the attraction. In the movie, we're told the town has 12 districts, but we see fewer than half of them over the course of the story. So perhaps a place like Splash Mountain could fit in perfectly with a part of Zootopia we've never seen. This would allow Imagineers to create an entirely new story for the attraction, using characters that people love, but without being tied to a specific plot. We could follow Judy and Nick on a new case that takes them to a part of the city filled with water, and eventually down a massive waterfall.

Moana

If we're talking about a water-based ride, it's difficult to not think about Moana. Water is sort of her thing. Moana's first theme park attraction is currently in the middle of construction at Epcot, so this would feel like a less likely choice, especially at Walt Disney World, but that doesn't make it any less fitting. Just change the log flume ride vehicles into canoes, and give us an adventure that has us sailing alongside Moana's quest for a new island, that will, of course, include some very rough seas at one point, resulting in us dropping down from a huge wave.

The biggest hurdle to this idea would be the placement. A Moana attraction certainly doesn't fit well in Critter Country. There's an argument that it fits in Walt Disney World's Frontierland, where Magic Kingdom's Splash Mountain is found. The oceans are Moana's frontie after all, but at the same time, it's not the same wild west frontier that Frontierland is supposed to represent, so even that is a bit of a stretch.

Pocahontas

We'll end where we started, with a Disney heroine who doesn't get as much love inside the parks as she probably should. Pocahontas wasn't the revolutionary game-changer of a movie that many within Disney apparently thought it would be, but that doesn't make it a bad movie. The movie is fairly popular and the character certainly doesn't get a lot of love, and a Pocahontas-themed attraction certainly would fit in quite well inside Walt Disney World's Frontierland.

Having said that, one of the major dings against Pocahontas is that it maybe isn't quite as enlightened a film as it probably should be, which makes it potentially not the right choice to fix an attraction that already has that problem. But that doesn't mean that the ride can't fix some of the issues that the movie has. Perhaps by bringing in the right voices to assist in the design, we can get a Disney attraction that is able to balance respect for Native American cultures with a fun and thrilling ride. It's a nice thought anyway.

At this point, it's impossible to know whether a retheme of Splash Mountain will ever happen. The theme parks have much more immediate concerns with the parks reopening and several other construction projects half-done. It will likely be some time before the parks would have a chance to change anything, and by then, the demand might not be around anymore.

Would you like to see Splash Mountain changed? Let us know which idea you prefer in the poll below.

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Recently, Disney+ started streaming Frozen 2 a little earlier than expected. In the latest Frozen movie, Elsa (Idina Menzel) and Anna (Kristen Bell) continue their adventures together and apart. The film gives fans more Elsa, Anna, Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), and Olaf (Josh Gad), and it introduces a handful of new Disney characters, including a lizard-like salamander named Bruni.

Bruni’s adorableness only graces our screen for a few minutes, which is unfortunate. Bruni is just one in a long line of Disney characters denied their spotlight. I say no more. It’s time to take these delightful creatures from the sidelines and make them the main attraction.

Bruni (Frozen II)

Bruni is a fire salamander who can turn his whole body into flames as well as shoot them out. He meets Elsa when he attacks the Enchanted Forest out of fear. She uses her ice powers to try to stop the spread of his fire. Once both learn that the other is harmless, they bond.

Bruni has a very small role in Frozen II. I was actually a little surprised with how little the film used this character, considering he was one of the new characters promoted during the marketing process. His backstory or origin also wasn’t introduced in Frozen II. Maybe Disney has plans to tell us more about Bruni in future spin-offs and movies, but for now, we want to learn much more about this fire spirit creature. Not just because he’s adorable, but because we’re sure he has many great stories to tell.

Gus (Cinderella)

Octavius, Gus for short, is one of Cinderella’s many trusted mouse friends. In Cinderella, she rescues Gus and introduces him to the other mice that keep her company. Gus becomes part of a duo with Jaq the mouse. The chubby little cheese lover often finds himself in danger from cats and other bigger creatures.

Gus is curious and spunky. Normally, I’m not a fan of mice (sorry Mickey) but this little dude is just so freaking cuddly. You want to put him in your hand and snuggle close, diseases be damned! Gus and Jaq appear quite a bit in Cinderella and many other Cinderella spin-offs. They also have a cameo in Ralph Breaks the Internet.Though there are plenty of Gus and Jaq appearances, we want more. I prefer Gus to Jaq, but seems like you can’t have one without the other, so I would love to see a full-feature about Gus and Jaq, even if it’s just about them outsmarting Lucifer the cat.

Pua (Moana)

In Moana, Pua has been one of Moana’s pets and friends since infancy. This adorable pig has been a loyal companion for Moana through her journeys on the island and beyond, but she excludes Pua from joining her on the boat. Pua is a pig of very few words, mainly being an actual pig and oinking.

This adorable Moana creature only makes a brief appearance in the film, but I wanted to see more of Pua, especially after the film established a close bond between her and Moana. I understand that taking Pua on the journey put the pig at risk of dying, and this was a journey Moana needed to take on her own, but I think we missed out on some great storytelling and moments with Pua. Heihei was fine, but we may have missed out on great comedic moments from the pair and just sweet moments between Moana and Pua.

Pascal (Tangled)

Tangled’s Pascal is a Rapunzel’s pet chameleon. He lives in isolation with her. Pascal is a little afraid of the outside world, but he is always by Rapunzel’s side to encourage and support her. Pascal doesn’t speak but he often expresses his emotions through his expressive personality and face. Once Rapunzel and him meet Flynn Ryder (Zachary Levi) and Maximus (the horse), the two creatures become an unlikely duo.

Pascal and Maximus become instant scene-stealers and comic reliefs. The two have appeared in many Tangled related shows, games, and had cameos in Ralph Breaks the Internet and Zootopia. Though they’ve had quite a bit of screen time, Pascal is such a fascinating, cute, and funny character that I would enjoy seeing more of him in any Disney content.

Squirt (Finding Nemo)

Squirt is the young child of Crush. He only appears briefly with his dad in a few scenes of Finding Nemo and Finding Dory. The adorable turtle has a baby voice, which makes him hard to understand, but adds to his cuteness. Squirt has a similar chill-vibe as his dad.

I just think the turtles’ world, especially involving Squirt and Crush could be an interesting storyline to explore. How does Squirt’s life differ from Nemo’s? Is it all fun all the time? Does Crush have any strict parenting bones in his body? I want to know more about the turtles family.

Ducky and Bunny (Toy Story 4)

Ducky and Bunny are two stuffed animals that were available to win during a carnival in Toy Story 4. Comedy duo Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele voice these adorable creatures, so they take a bit of a comedic duo persona in Toy Story 4.

One of the funniest scenes from Toy Story 4 involves Ducky and Bunny imagining different scenarios to get the key away from the antique shop owner. No spoilers, but these stuffed animals don’t have the warm and fuzzy imagination that one would expect. I would love to see more of that dark humor from this pair in more Toy Story 4 scenes or in a few Pixar shorts.

Flash (Zootopia)

In Zootopia, Flash is a sloth that works in the DMV with other sloths. As a sloth, he goes very slow, making getting anything done at the DMV nearly impossible.

Flash’s slowness seems to act as commentary on how slow things happen at the DMV. Flash isn’t the typical cute and cuddly animal from Disney, but his Zootopia scene is one of the funniest in the entire movie. I would love to watch the slowest animated film ever about the sloths that work at the DMV in Zootopia.

Baby Pegasus (Hercules)

Baby Pegasus is the baby version of Hercules’ trusted companion. The cute creature only appears at the very beginning of Hercules when he’s given to our hero as a baby. Hades (James Woods) steps in and separates baby Hercules from his family and Pegasus. Hercules and Pegasus reunite later as adults.

In a different world, the viewers would have gotten the chance to watch Hercules and Pegasus grow up together, which would have naturally allowed for more baby Pegasus scenes. Hades really robbed us all.

Chip (Beauty And The Beast)

In Beauty and the Beast, Chip is a boy turned into a chipped teacup by an enchanted curse brought to the Beast’s kingdom. He’s often seen with his mother Mrs. Potts.

Chip is cheerful, curious, and hopeful. He's also one of the leading figures hoping that the Beast and Belle fall in love and break the enchanted curse. Most people associate adorable Disney characters with Chip, because just look at that little cutie. Chip has also appeared in many different Disney productions and Beauty and the Beast sequels, but we can never get enough of Chip’s adorableness.

These are a few of my favorite adorable Disney characters. Now let us know in the comment section what cute Disney characters you think needs more screen time.

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Though arguably better known for his television work in acclaimed shows like Arrested Development, Ozark, and, most recently, HBO's The Outsider, Jason Bateman has starred in several high-profile movies over the past few decades, many of which have earned the actor-director acclaim as both a comedic and dramatic performer. Notably in the past few years, Bateman has really stepped up and continued showing moviegoers his range and skills as an actor, and we'll take this time to rank Jason Bateman's 10 best films yet, looking back at his best leading/supporting roles throughout his career.

10. The Family Fang (2016)

Based on the book of the same name by Kevin Wilson, The Family Fang served as Jason Bateman's sophomore directorial feature where he also starred alongside Nicole Kidman as an adult pair of siblings who were raised quite untraditionally by two free-wielding performance artist parents (Christopher Walken and Maryann Plunkett) who discover that their parents have suddenly gone missing. But they're unsure if this is yet another stunt or if there's something more serious going on. Sharply observed and benefitted by nuanced, layered performances from its talented cast, The Family Fang was yet another demonstration of Bateman's growing talents as both an actor and director, and a dramedy that paved the way for his even more ambitious directorial efforts with Netflix's Ozark and HBO's The Outsider. The Family Fang is a keenly-made, emotionally stirring effort from Bateman.

Where To Rent Or Buy: Amazon

9. Paul (2011)

In Paul, the underrated 2011 science-fiction comedy from Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, we follow two sci-fi-loving dweebs (Pegg and Frost) who find themselves with an alien who might not exactly fit the bill of intelligent new life. The hard-drinking, constantly-smoking man from another planet (voiced by Seth Rogen) is our title character, and he's hunted by FBI agents who want the out-of-this-world character contained as soon as humanly possible.

As Special Agent Lorenzo Zoil, which is a play on Lorenzo's Oil, Bateman's menacing character is a self-described mix of Yaphet Kotto in Midnight Run and Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive. While Bateman has plenty of experience in comedy, this hard-nosed, exaggerated no-nonsense antagonist served as a mild departure from the more well-meaning everyman characters we typically see from the actor. His dry delivery and stern demeanor was an easy fit for the supporting character, though. While Bateman doesn't get the majority of the zingers in the R-rated comedy, it's a badass role for him.

Where To Rent Or Buy: Amazon

8. Bad Words (2014)

In his feature directorial debut, Jason Bateman pulls off double duty and continues to showcase his expansive talents as he provides one of his best performances to date while also proving himself as a burgeoning filmmaker in 2014's dark comedy Bad Words. In the role of Guy Trilby, a 40-year-old eighth grade dropout who enters the National Golden Quill Spelling Bee — a competition meant for young children — due to a loophole, Bateman is at once showing his talents for playing disarmingly cutting characters while also later providing his more soft-sided charm as he becomes endeared by a 10-year-old fellow Spelling Bee contestant named Chaitanya Chopra (Rohan Chand) who helps the man find his humanity amid his hardened exterior.

It falls comfortably into the formula that was established with movies like Bad Santa, making no real bones about it either, and it doesn't quite reach the same acidic-yet-appealing heights of that Billy Bob Thornton-lead R-rated comedy, but at its best, it's a great showcase for Bateman's range as both a rising filmmaker and an established actor. This is the type of role that's not easy to pull off, let alone while you're juggling duties on both sides of the camera, but Bateman's charm seeps through, allowing us to be won over by this hard-edged character who just wants to be accepted. It doesn't break new comedy ground, and some might claim that Bateman found his stride more with his TV work with Netflix's Ozark and HBO's The Outsider, but Bad Words is still a generally pretty good little raunchy comedy, and a lot of credit goes to Bateman.

Where To Rent Or Buy: Amazon

7. Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)

While 2004's Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story isn't exactly Jason Bateman's movie, he arguably stole several scenes in the role of Pepper Brooks, an ESPN commentator who provides lewd, spacey, and just-plain-absurd feedback about the dodgeball games-at-hand alongside Cotton McKnight (Gary Cole). The role is certainly more goofy and rambunctious than the character's we're used to seeing from the actor, but that freedom allows him to be a little looser and, arguably, funnier by fully embodying the sort of wild-and-out side character we rarely get to see him play.

Playing the supporting role back in 2004, when Bateman wasn't a household name yet, despite starring in the beloved, Emmy award-winning dysfunctional family sitcom, Arrested Development, the TV actor provided quotable one-liners like "it's a bold strategy, Cotton, let's see if it pays off for them" and "usually, you pay double for that action, Cotton," among others. While it's ultimately a very brief role in the scheme of things for him, this is also one of Bateman's funniest roles.

Where To Rent Or Buy: Amazon

6. State of Play (2009)

Typically, Jason Bateman is called upon to play one of two types of roles. He can be seen as either the sarcastic-but-good-natured sort of everyman, the type of role he perhaps is best known for thanks to Arrested Development, or he can seen as someone who is more insidious, troubled, calculating and working with some sort of malicious intent. While these aren't always the roles that he portrays, State of Play is a pretty good example of the latter.

As a PR executive who works as a subsidiary for a company with checkered principles, Bateman is more smarmy and cold-cutting than his more, well, affable characters. But he suits the well-suited character well, playing a finely-tuned dramatic role in the well-executed, undervalued 2009 drama. It is a role that works to his dependable strengths, depending on what he's called to do. But as we've noted, Bateman can be relied on to play this mean role.

Where To Rent Or Buy: Amazon

5. Zootopia (2016)

As a sly, sharp-witted fox who finds himself compelled to help bright-eyed Officer Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) in her investigation, Zootopia found Jason Bateman in a rare voice-only role, though the actor fit into the animated role well. Playing up the clever, cunning wit of the character while also showing a good bit of emotional depth as we learned more about the character, Bateman was a charismatic turn for the performer, and one that certainly boosted his resume for younger audiences. The Oscar-winning animated movie became a billion dollar hit for Disney, which is certainly nothing to sneeze at, and it remains the actor's biggest critical and commercial success to date. It's very easy to see why it found so much success.

This inspired, intelligent animated family movie takes big swings with its message and it tells a story that's impactful and relevant in our current media age. Thanks to its sharp animation and winning performances from our lead actors, Zootopia is one of the most beloved animated films of the 2010s.

Where To Rent Or Buy: Amazon

4. The Gift (2015)

Though better known for his comedies, Jason Bateman has a mean streak that really plays to his advantage in the right roles. In 2015's investing The Gift, the feature directorial debut of Joel Edgerton, we start the movie seeing the sort of role we're prone to expect from Jason Bateman. He seems like a sarcastic, well-meaning common man who seems content with his life, until a mysterious figure from his past proves that his darker side lingers on. It is a dynamically layered performance from Bateman, one that serves him well and showcases his range as a performer. While Ozark gave fans a better look at the sort of darker, more menacing roles we could expect from Bateman, The Gift gave Bateman a versatile character that worked to his talents.

Where To Rent Or Buy: Amazon

3. Game Night (2018)

Comedy is a tough game. Particularly when it comes to studio comedies, it's hard to make a truly gut-bustlingly funny romp. Very few movies bring the house down nowadays, but one recent example is 2018's surprisingly clever and enormously funny Game Night. Co-starring Rachel McAdams, the comedic thriller (or thrilling comedy) brings together elements of mystery and suspense into the lighthearted proceedings, but it surprisingly doesn't tip the scales over. Instead, this balance of dark comedy and violent intensity builds up the stakes in a stylish, sophisticated way, while the multi-talented actors bring the laughs in regular rotations. It's a tricky scale to keep even-keeled, but when it works, it works. And Game Night is an absolute winner.

Where To Rent Or Buy: Amazon

2. Juno (2007)

A bright, warmly funny coming-of-age teen pregnancy comedy that's celebrated for its bristling writing, sharp direction, witty humor, folksy soundtrack, and engagingly emotional performances, Juno was a Sundance darling that became one of the biggest critical hits of 2007 and a box office smash to boot before it turned into a major awards season contender, garnering four Oscar nominations in total, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress for Ellen Page, with Diablo Cody walking away with the Best Original Screenplay prize. It was the little movie that could. For good reason, too.

This heartfelt, charming and winning indie dramedy is richly lived-in, wonderfully assured, freshly inspired, and popping with quotable one-liners. While Jason Bateman is just one part of the Juno ensemble, the talented star nevertheless does some of his best work to date in the role of Mark Loring, the protective adoptive father of Juno's soon-to-be-born child. While everyone shines in the sweet-natured film, Bateman only continued to prove himself.

Where To Rent Or Buy: Amazon

1. Up in the Air (2009)

Reunited with his Juno director, Jason Bateman once again worked with Jason Reitman and appeared in one of his best films yet in the filmmaker's acclaimed 2009 follow-up, Up in the Air. In Reitman's third (and arguably best) movie, we follow corporate downsizer Ryan Bingham, a strictly-business man who constantly flies around the country laying folks off from their long-standing office jobs for managers too afraid to do it themselves. But as we follow him throughout the course of the movie, Bingham realizes that living a life without the company of others can, well, leave something left desired.

In another ensemble piece, one that includes possibly career-best performances from co-stars like Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick, Jason Bateman plays Craig Gregory, owner of Career Transition Counseling, which might not constitute as his showiest, most prominent role, but it's another example of Bateman putting his disarmingly good looks and dry wit to good use, in a punchy supporting turn that plays well with the movie's fast pace and stylish delivery. In a career that's filled with many winning titles, notably within the past decade-plus, Up in the Air remains one of his best movies yet.

Where To Rent Or Buy: Amazon

What's your favorite Jason Bateman movie? Let us know in the comment section below!

Shakira played pop star Gazelle in Disney's 2016 movie Zootopia, and fans recognized a very similar look for Shakira's 2020 Super Bowl halftime performance.

Yeah, unlike The Simpsons, Zootopia had an accurate prediction for Super Bowl LIV. Zootopia's "Try Everything" singer wore several looks across her Super Bowl performance, which happened to take place on her 43rd birthday. Amazing. Shakira is ageless and timeless. And you know who's a big fan? Captain Marvel herself. Brie Larson marveled over Shakira seeming to honor her Zootopia character with her Super Bowl outfit:

Apparently there was some backlash to Jennifer Lopez and Shakira's Super Bowl halftime performance. Some people found the costumes too racy or the dancing -- including more JLo pole dancing after Hustlers -- not appropriate for any children who might be watching. To that, some fans pointed out how Shakira basically wore the same outfit as a Disney character most kids watch all the time at home:

Whether fans liked the Super Bowl halftime show's outfits or not, hopefully they appreciated Shakira's musical skills. When not dancing, she broke out her guitar and played drums during the show.

Shakira and Jennifer Lopez put hard work into that performance, but they won't be paid for it. (Not because of any viewer fan backlash, because of this.) They should get a nice boost from music sales, though, and many fans definitely reacted positively to the performance, which also featured Lopez's daughter Emme. JLo may have been "snubbed" for an Oscar but she definitely won Super Bowl Sunday for getting to sing with her girl.

Other Super Bowl wins? Game of Thrones alum Maisie Williams' Frozen commercial, Bill Murray's Groundhog Day return, that surprise Wolf of Wall Street reunion for a Coke ad, Jason Momoa being Jason Momoa, and -- oh the Kansas City Chiefs. Paul Rudd is definitely happy about the Chiefs' win. Wilford Brimely is also happy to be confused with the winning Super Bowl coach.

As for Zootopia? Apparently Disney has plans for more movies. You can stream the first movie now on Disney+ and then wait and see what happens from here. Keep up with everything heading to the big screen this year with our 2020 movie release date schedule.

Shakira and Jennifer Lopez scored the biggest touchdown of Super Bowl Sunday with their mesmerizing halftime performances. The hips definitely didn’t lie as the two singers turned the halftime show into their own mini concert that included guest performers Bad Bunny and J Balvin. Shakira and Jennifer Lopez reminded people why they're two of the greatest modern day performers. Their talents reach further than singing and dancing, as they both had memorable performances in movies.

Jennifer Lopez splits her time between making music, producing movies and shows, and acting. Her movie career has been going strong since it started in 1995 and propelled with her starring role in 1997’s Selena. The “Let’s Get Loud” singer even received a lot of Oscar buzz for her supporting actress performance in Hustlers. Unfortunately, the Academy decided not to grant Jennifer Lopez her first Oscar nomination, but at the Super Bowl, Lopez showed them that she deserved a nomination for core strength in addition to her acting.

While better known for her music, Shakira is also no stranger to the world of film and television. She made brief guest appearances as herself in Ugly Betty and Wizards of Waverly Place. In 1994, teen Shakira appeared in a novela called El Oasis. Shakira’s Ugly Betty episode is available to stream on Hulu, along with the entire series. The entire series of Wizards of Waverly Place is also available to stream on Disney+. Shakira also appeared as a coach on The Voice for a couple of seasons. Her time on The Voice is available to stream on NBC.com.

Jennifer Lopez’s filmography is long, but there is a limited selection of those available to stream through a subscription service. Here are a couple of entertaining Jennifer Lopez and Shakira movies available to stream.

Zootopia (Disney+)

Zootopia is Disney’s Academy Award winning animated movie that features Ginnifer Goodwin as Judy Hopps, a rabbit who wants to join the Zootopia Police Department, and Jason Bateman as Nick Wilde, a con artist fox. The film puts this unlikely duo together to solve a mystery. Zootopia acts as an allegory for serious modern day issues like prejudice and racism.

In Zootopia, Shakira plays a character named Gazelle. Shakira’s Zootopia character has a big performance number, similar to her Super Bowl performance. She sings a song written just for the movie called “Try Everything.” Shakira’s Zootopia performance is brief but the animated gazelle, Gazelle, eloquently exhibits Shakira’s style and flare. Zootopia is available to stream on Disney+. Stream it HERE.

The Wedding Planner (IMDbTV)

Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey fall in love in The Wedding Planner. She plays Mary, the woman hired to plan Steven (Matthew McConaughey) and Fran (Bridgette Wilson-Sampras)’s wedding. As the two work together planning his wedding, they realize that they have an undeniable connection.

The Wedding Planner has all the cheesy goodness of a romantic comedy: it’s sweet, simple, and a solid choice for your romantic movie needs. Jennifer Lopez has a natural charisma that makes her an ideal choice for romantic leading lady roles. The Wedding Planner is available for free with ads on IMDbTV. You can access IMDbTV through Amazon Prime Video or directly on the IMDb site. Stream The Wedding Planner HERE.

Lila & Eve (Netflix)

Viola Davis and Jennifer Lopez star in Lila & Eve. They play Lila (Viola Davis) and Eve (Jennifer Lopez), two people who decide to take justice into their own hands. After both of their children are murdered, they go on a hunt for those responsible for the death of Lila’s son.

Lila & Eve is a thrilling crime drama that involves two powerhouse performers being vigilantes. It also has a major twist that will make your jaw drop. Fans of Viola Davis and Jennifer Lopez may enjoy this intense drama with even more intense performances. Lila & Eve is available to stream on Netflix. Stream it HERE.

Shakira In Concert: El Dorado World Tour (HBO)

Shakira in Concert: El Dorado World Tour follows Shakira’s 2018 tour. The tour comes after the release of her Grammy Award winning El Dorado album. Shakira in Concert: El Dorado World Tour includes live concert footage and a behind the scene look at the process to make the tour a success.

Shakira at her core is a fantastic singer and dancer. She very much earned her global superstar status, and her concert documentary gives fans Shakira at her best. If you haven’t been able to catch Shakira in concert, Shakira in Concert: El Dorado World Tour gives you a snippet of the excitement and joy of the that experience. The film is available to stream with a HBO cable subscription or a HBO Now subscription. Stream Shakira in Concert: El Dorado World Tour HERE.

Second Act (Showtime)

In Second Act, Jennifer Lopez plays a woman who never earned a college degree. The lack of a degree has hurt her career advancement possibilities. One day, her best friend’s son hears her complaining about not getting her dream job, and he  creates fake social media profiles that embellish her career achievements. Jennifer Lopez’s character then gets a job at one of the biggest retail companies.

Second Act is an endearing comedy about regret and second chances. Jennifer Lopez gives a sincere performance as a woman with all the right ideas, but not the background of formal education to back it up. Second Act’s supporting cast includes Vanessa Hudgens, Treat Williams, Leah Remini, and Milo Ventimiglia. Second Act is available to stream through a Showtime subscription. Those who don’t subscribe to Showtime yet can add the channel to their Amazon Prime Video or Hulu subscription. Stream it HERE.

Out Of Sight (HBO)

Jennifer Lopez and George Clooney star in Out of Sight, a sexy crime thriller directed by Steven Soderbergh. This film follows U.S Marshal Karen Sisco (Jennifer Lopez) and bank robber Jack Foley (George Clooney). It’s a cat and mouse chase between Karen and Jack as they try to deny their attraction to each other. The film is a hilarious heist movie that also doubles as an ill-fated romance movie.

George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez bring the heat to Out of Sight. There is no world where Karen and Jack end up together and live happily ever after, but you want them to find a way to make it work. The film is a fun crime movie that is more comedy than drama. It’s one of Jennifer Lopez’s best performances, and one of her most memorable films. Out of Sight is available to stream through a HBO subscription service. Stream it HERE.

Shakira just released a new single called “Me Gusta,” which is available to stream on multiple music streaming services, and available to purchase wherever music is sold. Jennifer Lopez co-stars with Owen Wilson in Marry Me sometime later this year. It looks like the new year will be an exciting one for these global superstars.

Relive their Super Bowl performance by clicking the video below.

With a fresh Coachella set, a Netflix original series and a slew of films on the way, it's a good time to be Idris Elba. The actor is doing a lot these days, so much so that it may be hard to keep track of every franchise he has a hand in at the moment. For that reason, we've compiled a list that highlights what all he has a hand in, and some of the things we'd like to see from him in the future.

Franchises Idris Elba IS In

Let's start off with all the major franchises he's already appeared in or officially has lined up for the future, like this first entry.

The DCEU

Idris Elba has joined the DCEU via James Gunn's The Suicide Squad, and was originally slated to replace Will Smith and play Deadshot. That plan has since changed, and Elba will be playing a different character, although we can only guess who. Hopefully whoever is picked has some crossover potential into other projects, and maybe the ability to get Elba his own spinoff movie.

The MCU

Idris Elba entered The MCU via Thor in the role of Heimdall. After heroically sacrificing his life in Avengers: Infinity War, one would assume his time in the franchise is over, but who can ever know when it comes to superhero features. With that said, Elba's had his complaints about the role as far back as Thor: The Dark World, so don't be surprised if his death tends to stick in the events following Avengers: Endgame.

Pacific Rim

In the role of Stacker Pentacost, Idris Elba delivered one hell of a speech that solidified Pacific Rim's status as a cult classic. Unfortunately, his death meant no future appearances in a sequel, but there are opportunities for Stacker to return should the Pacific Rim franchise venture into the prequel territory. That's a possibility given the amount of source material on the events before Pacific Rim, so fingers crossed Elba's feeling the urge to kick some kaiju ass again.

Disney/Pixar

While it's not necessarily as specific of a franchise as other entries, Idris Elba has done a decent amount of work for Disney and Pixar. Outside of his MCU work, he's exclusively played an animal in The Jungle Book, Finding Dory and Zootopia. That's a crazy coincidence, although maybe not given how many Disney films tend to revolve around animals in general. We're always down to see him in more projects. Perhaps next time in a live-action feature?

Star Trek

For Star Trek Beyond, the third adventure featuring the Kelvin timeline version of the original USS Enterprise crew, Idris Elba hopped in as Krall, an alien warlord who sicced his minions on Captain Kirk’s crew, destroyed their ship and stranded them on his planet. Later revealed to be a Starfleet captain from more than a century ago, Krall nearly succeeded in carrying out his revenge against the organization, but he was defeated and killed before that could happen. So one can logically surmise Elba won’t be popping back up in this franchise.

Fast & Furious

Soon, the world will get to see Idris Elba in the world of Fast & Furious, although probably not in a way some would've thought. Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw features Elba as a villain who has been genetically enhanced and basically has super powers. Somehow we've reached a point where this franchise isn't about fast cars, although there's few people complaining. After seeing Elba in action, it isn't hard to see why.

Alien

This is one of the only roles in which Idris Elba played a character that shared his first name, as the actor portrayed Idris Janek in Prometheus. It was a one and done role, and surprisingly, ended in the way similar to Pacific Rim. Given his character's death and the Alien franchise's massive aversion to Prometheus, it's pretty safe to say that we shouldn't expect any more appearances from Elba in this franchise.

Honorable Mention: Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance

The Ghost Rider movies aren't considered part of the MCU, but we'd be remiss if we didn't mention the other Marvel character he played before the MCU really got legs. Idris Elba played Moreau, who offered to remove the "Spirit of Vengeance" curse from Johnny Blaze. He ended up being unable to fulfill the promise, and ended up dying at the hands of Blackout.

Franchises We'd Love To See Idris Elba In

That concludes the current franchises Idris Elba is/has been involved in, although we're sure he'll be a part of some in the future. With that in mind, here are a handful of film franchises the actor has yet to join that it'd be great to see him in.

James Bond

Was there any doubt this would be on the list? Folks have called for Idris Elba to be cast as James Bond for ages, and his name floated around quite a bit following Daniel Craig's confirmation that he was leaving as Bond. Unfortunately, Elba has been pretty adamant that he won't be replacing him, but there's still hope he could join one day as another character. He'd make a killer Bond villain!

Star Wars

Idris Elba is a bit late to the game to be a part of the Skywalker saga, but there's still a chance he could appear in a Star Wars film in the future. Personally, I think he'd be a great fit for the Game of Thrones showrunners' trilogy, which is rumored to involve The Old Republic. Imagine Elba playing an ancient Jedi, Sith or bounty hunter in an era before the Empire!

Fantastic Beasts

The Harry Potter spinoff series is still rolling strong despite less than favorable reviews of the last film, and why shouldn't it? It'll take more than one bad movie to turn fans off to this franchise, and bringing in someone like Idris Elba could make some forget all about how The Crimes of Grindelwald was a bit of a letdown outside of that one twist. He'd make a great villain or Auror.

Austin Powers

Idris Elba's comedic prowess is a highly underrated aspect of his acting, and one that could really shine in the Austin Powers franchise. With Mike Myers interested in getting a fourth movie made, Elba could appear in a comedic role for some spy-filled adventure. This may be the closest we'll ever get to seeing him play James Bond, so producers should try to get him involved if Austin Powers 4 actually has a shot at happening.

Pirates Of The Caribbean

As Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean reboot continues development, they're going to need a few big names to convince audiences to jump back into this franchise so soon after the the original run. Idris Elba is a name that can put butts in seats, and considering he's already ingratiated within the Disney family, getting in touch with him shouldn't be too hard to do.

Those with other wishes for franchises they'd like to see Idris Elba join can share their thoughts in the comments below. Stick with CinemaBlend for updates on the actor, his films and other goings on in the entertainment world.

Snow White is back -- with a vengeance! Once Upon a Time star Ginnifer Goodwin has joined Lucy Liu in the cast of Why Women Kill, which will be premiering on the CBS All Access streaming service. She'll play one of the leads in the drama/comedy from Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry.

Why Women Kill will follow three women in three different decades -- a housewife in the 1960s (that's Ginnifer Goodwin's character), a socialite in the 1980s (to be played by Lucy Liu), and a lawyer in 2018 (star not revealed yet). All of the women will be dealing with infidelity in their marriages. The series will explore how the roles of women may have changed over time, but their reactions to betrayal have not.

Here's the description for Ginnifer Goodwin's 1963 housewife character, Beth Ann (via TheWrap):

Uh oh. This dark look into a marriage sounds very different from the fairy tale love story of Ginnifer Goodwin and former Once Upon a Time co-star Josh Dallas. They met as Snow White and Prince Charming on that ABC series, fell in love on screen and off, and now have two kids together. He's busy keeping us speculating on NBC's Manifest, and she's been busy with several projects.

In addition to this new lead role, Ginnifer Goodwin will be in Netflix’s Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings, and the Big Love alum will also appear in an episode of Jordan Peele's The Twilight Zone. Plus, it's possible she'll be bringing her Judy Hopps back for another Zootopia movie (or two?).

CBS All Access gave Why Women Kill a straight-to-series order back in September. Here's what creator Marc Cherry said about the show at the time (via Deadline):

Here's CBS's description for Lucy Liu's '80s character, Simone (per TVLine):

Sounds intriguing so far. Now we wait to hear who is cast as the lead in the modern timeline, and get a premiere date on CBS All Access. In the meantime, keep up with everything currently airing with our handy midseason 2019 TV guide.

It’s no secret that Disney’s recent releases have largely been sequels and remakes, but Disney Animation Studios’ Ralph Breaks the Internet marked just the third sequel ever to hit theaters among the major studio’s 57 feature films, following 1990’s Rescuers Down Under and Fantasia 2000. The animation studio now seems to be hopping on the trend started by Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar with more sequels. Frozen 2 is coming out later this year, and it would not surprise us if Disney Animation kept the ball rolling with their other big hits. According one of the stars of 2016’s Zootopia, Tommy “Tiny” Lister, we can expect to see more from the bustling metropolitan full of wildlife animals. Here’s what he said:

The actor, also best known for playing Deebo in Friday and President Lindberg in The Fifth Element, mentioned the existence of two in-development Zootopia sequels during a live appearance and Q&A at a Dave and Buster’s Ontario (via RingScoops). “Tiny” Lister played a fox named Finnick, who was Nick Wilde’s popsicle business partner-in-crime before Officer Judy Hopps came along.

It should be noted that Disney hasn’t yet announced plans to continue the Zootopia story. However, just a few days ago, Disney confirmed plans to build a new Zootopia themed-land in its theme park in Shanghai. The 2016 film also hit over $1 billion worldwide and currently sits right below the animation studios’ top earner of all time, Frozen.

Zootopia was warmly received by audiences and critics alike, especially being praised for its apt social commentary, and it took home the Best Animated Feature Oscar in 2017. So for Disney to move forward with more Zootopia movies makes a ton of sense and is not surprising.

The film ended with Nick Wilde joining Judy Hopps ranks as a police officer, and the two became partners on the force. There are a lot of possibilities for the story to continue as the pair deal with crime in the busy city.

Disney Animation has not yet announced its upcoming projects after 2019, though it does have slots for untitled projects in November of 2020, 2021 and 2022. The studio could be holding off on announcing what is in development until the D23 Expo in August. However, with this fox is out of the bag, the studio might decide to make an earlier announcement about Zootopia 2.

You can check back with us as more news develops, and check out our 2019 release date schedule to plan your next trip to the movies.

Last year, Disney's Zootopia was a major Oscar contender. In celebration, it had some fun with some of its fellow nominees. While it may not be up for any awards tonight, Disney is still celebrating those that are with parody movie posters. This year's batch actually includes one film that won't win any awards tonight, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, but also three major contenders in the form of All the Money in the World, Lady Bird, and, The Shape of Water.

While Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle has been racking up the box office dollars since it released in December, it won't be in contention for any awards tonight. However, that didn't stop Disney artists from recreating the film's poster on Twitter with characters from Zootopia. Dwayne Johnson becomes Idris Elba's Chief Bogo, Jack Black is represented by donut-loving cop Clawhouser, Judy Hops stands in for Karen Gillan, and Kevin Hart becomes Fennic the fox, though his name implies he's actually a dog.Zoomanji: We come From the Jungle, is almost certainly a movie that you can see in a Zootpia movie theater.

From there, we get into the actual Oscar nominees. The highlight has to be The Shape of Water Buffalo, which stars chief Bogo once again, with Zootopia villain Bellwether in the female lead role. It's probably the best because Chief Bogo never had a look like that on his face throughout Zootopia. The director of this one is Bullermo Del Toro, which is a perfect, if redundant, name for the director of the actual film, which has a pretty good chance at being named Best Picture.

Lady Herd appears to be a coming of age story that star's popular Zootopia pop singer Giselle, who was voiced by Shakira in the movie. Writer-Director Greta Gerwig (Growling) could have a very big night tonight as she's nominated for both Best Original Screenplay and Best Director.

Finally, we have All the Bunny in the World, directed by Ridley Sloth. This film's real-life counterpart feels like it might be a long shot for a few awards, though Christopher Plummer could see a Best Supporting Actor win.

Last year, Zootopia created similar posters for films such as La La Lamb, Fantastic Cheetahs and Where to Find Them, and Nocturnal Mammals.

Last year Zootopia won its Oscar for Best Animated Feature last year. The fact that we're seeing more fun from the movie before this year's Oscars shows that people are still quite taken with it. One wonders if that interest could eventually transform into a sequel.

Which movie do you think should win Best Picture at the Zootopia Academy Awards? Let us know in the poll below.

This poll is no longer available.

Every month, Netflix does a sort of dance with its subscribers. They add brand new content for the folks at home to enjoy, while at the same time they take away movies that their viewers may want to have watched before they said goodbye. It's a cycle that cannot be stopped, and as such we feel it's part of our job as an entertainment news provider to help you catch the more important films leaving the queue. Which is why we're here yet again with a list of several movies that deserve another watch through, before leaving this digital coil.

If you're curious about our selections for what left us in February, feel free to read them at your leisure. Now though, it's time to see who's March-ing on and out the door through next month's cycle.

Anastasia

While she's not a Disney princess, Anastasia's main character is a figure of historical legend. A musical adventure romp that tells a very fictionalized account of the woman who was claimed to be the last of the Romanov royal family, this one's a cult classic for animation fans. So much so that there's currently a more grounded Broadway musical based off of the film, and the true story, but still using the memorable songs from Anastasia's soundtrack. You should take this journey to the past while you can, without the bother of remembering to keep this clamshell out of your Disney collection.

Jaws

If you're a true Steven Spielberg fan, you're probably hungry for something between his Academy Award nominated picture The Post and his would-be blockbuster Ready Player One. While the latter film won't be out until the end of March, we can definitely recommend Jaws as an appetizer between the director's latest efforts. Though even if you're not a dyed in the wool Spielberg devotee, you can't go wrong with this classic blockbuster as a hint of the summer season, with its big-ticket thrills.

Memento

Before he made a career out of superhero action and IMAX sized thrills, Christopher Nolan shocked the world with his innovative thriller Memento. Told in reverse chronological order, the mystery surrounding the murder of protagonist Leonard's wife unfolds with a backwards motion. All the while Guy Pearce's portrayal of Leonard keeps the audience on its toes, as we know where his character is going, while we don't know where he's been. While only being his second film, Nolan's prowess as a film-maker and storyteller is in full throttle with Memento.

The Craft

After 20 years of casting its spell on the world, The Craft is still light as feather and stiff as a board, which makes the film's departure from the big red queue a little bit bittersweet. While the die-hard fans of this tale of magical power, and both the perks and pitfalls it entails, probably own this film in three different formats, being on a streaming service like Netflix undoubtedly helps win new fans of all sorts. So if you're going to keep spreading the gospel of The Craft after next month's purge, you're probably going to have to part with your own copy more than you would like in the near future.

Disney's The Santa Clause

Ok, so Disney's The Santa Clause isn't exactly in season; so the departure of Tim Allen's trilogy of holiday hijinks isn't an ill-timed affair. That said, there's probably still some folks out there that want to hold onto the Christmas magic, even as February comes to a close and March continues to warm things up. If you're one of those people, we won't judge. Just keep in mind that all three of these films will be leaving before the end of the month, and eggnog only stays fresh for so long.

Zootopia

It used to be that you could count on a Disney movie like Zootopia to hit Netflix's streaming library not too long after it went to home video. All of that is changing though, with Disney's plans to launch their own streaming service in the works, the age of the Disney / Netflix love fest is coming to an end. So with the departure of Nick and Judy's wild adventure in town, you'll probably be in the market for a physical copy in the near future. For now though, you can binge as many viewings of Zootopia as you want before Netflix takes away your toys.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit

As a kid, watching Who Framed Roger Rabbit is an exciting ride of animated thrills, spills, and laughs. After becoming an adult though, the Robert Zemeckis-directed classic is an impressive noir tinged mystery that upholds the genre's tropes to a tee, while seamlessly blending animated characters with human counterparts. No matter how you look at it, it's a timeless film that's earned its reputation of excellence and fandom. Not to mention, you can never go wrong with a murder case that involves a wisecracking rabbit in a bow tie.

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou

Wes Anderson and Bill Murray are like cinematic Peanut Butter and Jelly. Like any good director and their acting muse, the two have gone on to make memorable moments in almost each film of Anderson's filmography. One of the quirkier entries into that canon is The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, in which Murray plays a brash oceanographer who reconnects with his long estranged son, played by Owen Wilson. Throw in some clashes with pirates, sweet acoustic David Bowie covers, and a rather remarkable shark, and you wouldn't even need the role of Jeff Goldblum as a professional rival to spice things up. Seeing as this film has that as well, there's really no reason not to be watching this right now.

In Like Flint

Sometimes Netflix has the slightly annoying habit of having single installments of a multi-entry franchise. In Like Flint is one of those occasions, where the sequel to Our Man Flint is the one that's available for streaming, without its forerunner being given the same treatment. Though thankfully, the two films are as tightly connected as most of the classic James Bond films they're spoofing. So if you're looking for some swinging 60's spy sensations, your mission is clear: watch In Like Flint before March is out, and thank us later for the recommendation!

The Good Son

During their peak as child actors, Elijah Wood and Macaulay Culkin made a thriller that was as chilling as it was fun, and that film is The Good Son. While you'd probably have a hard time making something as dark and R-rated as a young child torturing his family, and in some cases killing certain members who stand in his way. The movie serves not only as an interesting time capsule for Wood and Culkin's early careers, it also stands as an obscure gem of the sorts of twisted thrillers the 90's was really good at providing audiences on a wide scale level.

Walt Disney Animation Studios has existed for over 100 years and from day one it has been a global leader in animation. Disney has produced 62 feature films over the last century, many of which are still considered some of the greatest animated movies of all time. But which one is the best?

With the recent release of Moana 2, we take a fresh look at the history of Disney animation. Where does the studio's newest endeavor rank among the greats? Read on to find out.

63. Home On The Range (2004)

Home on the Range is a movie that there's a very good chance you forget even existed, and there's a reason for that. It's the single most forgettable Disney animated movie. It's an absolute shame that the one time Judi Dench lent her voice to a Disney film, it was this dull and lifeless story. The fact that she plays second fiddle to Roseanne Barr is all the more confusing. Barr's appearance might have made sense if this movie came out in 1992, but in 2004, it's far too late for anything in this film to be relevant.

62. The Black Cauldron (1985)

The Black Cauldron nearly single-handedly killed Disney animation, and that's just the beginning of this one. The story crams together details from several different fantasy novels, and it's clear, as the various bits and pieces of the movie feel crammed together with little to no connective tissue explaining anything that happens. It has a protagonist who is utterly unlikeable from start to finish and side characters that are actually worse. The film had such potential as a more mature Disney feature, and in another era, this would have been handled properly with an eye toward making this a franchise in its own right. Instead, we get an adventure made up of characters you'd never want to go on an adventure with in the first place.

61. The Aristocats (1970)

The Aristocats was the first feature released by the studio without Walt Disney and it shows. It's got quite possibly the most useless villain in Disney history, and that's a fatal flaw when you're talking about films that include some of the best villains in all of cinema. The plot, overall, is utterly nonsensical, with a butler who attempts to kill his employer's cats after he learns they will inherit her fortune before the butler does. Not that the employer expects to be dead anytime soon, making the whole thing bizarre. Frequent Disney voice actor Phil Harris has done better work for the company, and so has Eva Gabor, for that matter.

60. The Fox And The Hound (1981)

The Fox and the Hound isn't a bad movie, but if the idea were proposed today, there's no way it would get the green light. There just isn't enough of a story here. Disney has done small-scale stories before, but the emotional core of those is missing here. There just isn't enough to get a hold of and get invested in with The Fox and the Hound. No characters get fleshed out enough to become liked or hated, and that includes the characters in the title. It's a movie starring cute animals, and that's not nothing, but it's hardly enough.

59. Oliver And Company (1988)

While Disney was trying to find its way in the '80s, the studio released a version of Oliver Twist that saw the characters reimagined as animals in New York City. The premise isn't terrible, but the story gets so reimagined that little of the classic remains. Billy Joel’s inclusion as both the voice of Dodger and part of the ‘80s pop soundtrack is about all you need to know.. The movie desperately wants to be cool, and as is usually the case, when you try too hard, you end up having the opposite impact. There are some fun moments in Oliver and Company, but the film is mostly forgettable overall.

58. Chicken Little (2005)

Chicken Little was one of Disney's early forays into computer animation, and like a lot of animation from that era, it doesn’t hold up the way classically drawn animation does. The story that goes along with it has just enough of a plot to be considered a movie. Much like Oliver and Company, it tries far too hard to be hip, which, especially now, has the effect of dating the material terribly. There's a kernel of a good idea in here, as the first part of the movie focuses on a son trying desperately to be accepted by his father, and that part works, but that story is pretty much over by the midpoint and all you have left are the space aliens.

57. Dinosaur (2000)

Dinosaur was Disney's first foray into a computer-animated movie which opens with a fantastic sequence that sees a dinosaur egg get separated from its nest and go on a silent (except for the score) journey across a beautiful prehistoric Earth. It's quite stunning. And then characters start talking and it all goes to hell. While Dinosaur's animation is clearly dated, it holds up acceptably. What doesn't hold up is the story, which is essentially The Land Before Time, but with less interesting characters.

56. The Sword In The Stone (1963)

The Sword in the Stone is a strange film because one wonders why they bothered to make it a King Arthur story in the first place. The titular object only appears at the tail end of the story and instead, the film focuses on a teenage Arthur and Merlin running around as different animals in some sort of bizarre attempt at educating the future king. Outside of the final moments, this could have been a different story, and probably should have been. It's more like a collection of shorts than a cohesive story. The actor playing Arthur apparently went through puberty during recording as the character's voice changes from high pitched to low and back again throughout the film. Clearly, nobody was paying much attention to this movie.

55. Melody Time (1948)

During World War II, Disney Studios stopped producing the fairy tale films they were known for and instead focused on "package films," collections of shorter animations that were cheaper to produce during what was a lean time in America overall. Melody Time was one of the final films produced like this. While there's nothing wrong with any of the shorts in it — they're all fine — there aren't any that are of particular note either, which makes Melody Time really the least interesting of the package films. There's no cohesive narrative or even theme between the shorts and it feels even more thrown together than the rest of the collections.

54. Meet The Robinsons (2007)

A story that nobody was looking for based on a book that few were familiar with, Meet the Robinsons takes a simple idea from a children's picture book and expands on it to reach a theatrical length. The story we end up with, dealing with time travel, alternate timelines, and other such sci-fi elements — but in only the simplest possible way — feels utterly contrived and not nearly as creative as we know Disney can be. The entire movie feels like a set-up for a big reveal that is telegraphed from the beginning.

53. Brother Bear (2003)

Brother Bear features one of the most irritating Disney sidekicks in history, which is saying something. The heartfelt message at the center of the story is a worthy one, but every time the film gets close to building some real emotion, the Phil Collins soundtrack jumps in to steal all the thunder and kill any feeling that might have been building in the audience. If the music was particularly good that would be one thing, but when it plays over one of the most heartbreaking conversations ever in an animated film, hearing what the characters say could have made Brother Bear one of the all-time greats.

52. Ralph Breaks The Internet (2018)

Ralph Breaks The Internet works as a sort of inverse of Brother Bear. The movie has a solid ending that includes some really emotional moments and some important themes. Unfortunately, it takes a really long time to get there, and doesn’t seem quite sure what to do with itself while it's waiting. There are some great jokes, including a hilarious musical number and a great bit with all the Disney princesses brought together, but it’s such a product of its time, one wonders how long it will be relevant.

51. Make Mine Music (1946)

Make Mine Music was the first short collection released by Disney as a feature film. It's essentially Fantasia, by another name. One of the segments, Blue Bayou, was actually originally created for that film, but with all different sorts of music, not simply classical. There's no connective tissue between the shorts, which Fantasia has, which makes some of the jumps between them feel really disjointed. Shifting from the calm and peaceful Blue Bayou into All the Cats Join In (with music by the Benny Goodman Orchestra) could give you whiplash. Still, it does contain a couple of classics in Disney's version of Peter and the Wolf and Casey at the Bat.

50. Fun And Fancy Free (1947)

Fun and Fancy Free is another package film, only this one contains a pair of longer stories, rather than multiple shorts. First is Little Bear Bongo, about a circus bear that escapes to the wild and falls in love, and second is Mickey and the Beanstalk, about Mickey Mouse...and a beanstalk. It's one you've more than likely seen, though it's less likely you've seen the feature film version that includes narration from ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and his dummy Charlie McCarthy. If their style of humor works for you (and it does for this writer), it's actually pretty great.

49. The Rescuers (1977)

The Rescuers was one of those 1970s Disney films where it was clear the studio wasn't quite sure what to do with itself. The film sees a collection of mice who have made it their job to help out humans, including, in this case, a little orphan girl who has been kidnapped because she's small enough to fit down a hole where the remains of a treasure from a sunken ship can be found. Yeah, the plot is rough. Bob Newhart and Eva Gabor voice Bernard and Miss Bianca, our two rodent leads, and they work well together. Everyone working on this one must have done something right, as they got a sequel.

48. Hercules (1997)

This movie is a beautiful mess. Hercules is about finding your place in the world. Or perhaps it's a movie about the problems with celebrity culture? A classic “chosen one” hero's journey? Hercules doesn't know what it wants to be. Still, there is something oddly charming about everything in the film that isn't Danny DeVito. Amongst the film's issues, there are a couple of standout performances, including an all-time great villain in James Woods' Hades and female lead in Susan Egan's Megara, who will be forever criminally overlooked because she was in a movie that wasn't a smash.

47. Pocahontas (1995)

Once upon a time, Disney believed Pocahontas was the movie that would win the Animation Studio the coveted Best Picture Oscar. Needless to say, that didn't happen. It's clear from the beginning that Pocahontas wants to be something grand and important, but the execution of the idea never quite works. It's false equivalency of both Native Americans and European settlers as "savages" tries desperately to be insightful, but it's not. The music is also off-key, as there's almost nothing memorable about the soundtrack. It's a visually stunning film, but that's about all that makes Pocahontas special.

46. Strange World (2022)

The most recent Disney animated feature, as of this writing in June 2023, Strange World was certainly not one of the studio’s biggest hits. And while the movie does have a lot going for it, including colorful and inventive animation, and a story inspired by classic pulp adventure stories, there’s not a great deal of substance surrounding all that. It’s a fun movie, but not a great one.

45. The Three Caballeros (1944)

The Three Caballeros was the follow up to Saludos Amigos and another Disney package film. It's essentially a sequel to one of the shorts from Amigos (more on that in a moment) that sees Donald Duck receiving birthday gifts, that take the form of animated shorts, from friends in South America. The shorts are fine, and they at least have a related theme. But watching an animated duck lust after human women on a beach is just disconcerting, which is something that occurs multiple times throughout the film. You might learn something here, though, which is always worthwhile, as each short focuses on a different part of Central or South America.

44. Saludos Amigos (1942)

Saludos Amigos was the first Disney package film and it comes out the better for it. This is unique among these collections because in addition to the animated shorts, it includes a look at the animators who created them, in the form of documentary-style footage of Disney animators on a trip to Central and South America so that they can learn about the sorts of things they'll need to animate. This makes Amigos feel a bit more like a coherent feature than most of the other collections.

43. The Many Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh (1977)

As the title implies, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is more a collection of stories than a single film, though there is enough connective tissue to make this feel like a movie. The Heffalumps and Woozles bit is likely what most people remember, if only for the sheer bizarreness of the segment, and from a purely creative standpoint, it is the highlight of the film. Beyond that, we have classic segments like "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day" and "Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree" that have become classics in their own right.

42. The Rescuers Down Under (1990)

The Rescuers Down Under is often overlooked in Disney's canon, as the film was a somewhat surprising sequel to a movie that was a favorite to very few. It exceeds its predecessor by virtue of being beautifully animated, something that can't really be as easily said of the original. The film's setting of the Australian outback is something that's lovely to look at. While the story itself is about on par with the original, this movie does have the benefit of George C. Scott voicing a Disney villain, which means it can't be all bad.

41. The Jungle Book (1967)

The Jungle Book was the last animated Disney feature that Walt was involved with before his death. The movie started a sort of trilogy (which includes the Aristocats and Robin Hood) of animal-focused stories with a similar stable of voice actors and the use of a significant musical act in one of the voice roles. In this case, it was Louie Prima as King Louie. The Jungle Book is a solid story, and the film actually has one of the better soundtracks, as many Disney musicals are lucky to have a single breakout song, and The Jungle Book has three (Bear Necessities, I Wanna Be Like You, and Trust in Me) that have gone down in history.

40. Winnie The Pooh (2011)

The second Winnie the Pooh movie probably wasn't what people were expecting from Disney in 2011, which explains why it wasn't particularly successful, but the film is actually solid. It's silly, to be sure, with the entire plot revolving around a simple misunderstanding of language, but the silliness is part of the charm of Winnie the Pooh as a character, and the more recent film still captures this near perfectly. Add in a perfectly cast John Cleese as the narrator and the songwriting team behind Frozen all before we knew what "Let it Go" was, and this one is worth going back to see.

39. Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)

Atlantis: The Lost Empire was an obvious attempt to try something very new, as the art style and the more action-adventure focus of the plot was not what the studio had been known for up to that point. The film's performance made it clear that this wasn't what audiences were looking for from Disney, but the film makes for an enjoyable enough pulp adventure in its own right. The action works in what is essentially Disney's version of an Indiana Jones movie, and one that's better than Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

38. Bolt (2008)

Bolt's premise is one of the odder ones here. A dog is the star of a TV show, but doesn't know that he doesn't really have superpowers. It's a silly set up, but the movie itself is really just a road trip with a handful of entertaining characters. While it doesn't quite reach the level of some of Disney's more recent films, there's more fun to be had here than you'd expect at first, and it's got surprising heart considering its off-the-wall setup.

37. The Adventures Of Ichabod And Mr. Toad (1949)

The best of Disney's package films is clearly The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad. The movie combines two stories, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and The Wind in the Willows. While this is clearly two separate stories crammed together, they work remarkably well as a unit, with the first being mostly upbeat, with surprising moments of darkness, and the latter being mostly dark with some surprising humor. The fact that the films contain two of the most famous voices ever, Basil Rathbone and Bing Crosby, certainly doesn't hurt. Each of these stories is a classic in its own right; together they're a joy.

36. Robin Hood (1973)

Disney in the 1970s was going through a bit of a rough patch, and the movies were not, overall, fantastic, but there's fun to be had with Robin Hood, even if a lot of the film's animation was recycled from The Jungle Book. This is the classic version of the tale, where Robin robs Prince John to give to the poor, only with animals playing the parts of the leads. Think of this as a prequel to Zootopia, as Robin Hood was a large part of the inspiration for the movie that came 40 years later.

35. Moana 2

Moana 2 is the rare Disney sequel that has allowed its main character to grow between films. Disney's animation has also grown, as the movie has some of the most beautiful scenes we've ever seen from Walt Disney Animation Studio. Unfortunately, without Lin-Manuel Miranda, the movie's music suffers and the story, which was originally written as a TV series, has not survived the transition to a theatrical presentation well.

34. Treasure Planet (2002)

Treasure Planet is famous for being Disney's biggest animated flop. The movie was a failure as soon as it came out and Disney never tried to make it more than that. This is too bad because the movie isn't nearly as bad as its box office would imply. It has issues, sure. The Martin Short-voiced sidekick is one of the most annoying in the history of Disney, and little interesting is done with the Treasure Island-based plot, but the sci-fi animation is something different and unique for Disney and fans of swashbuckling adventure could certainly do worse.

33. Dumbo (1941)

Dumbo is a unique film in many ways, not the least of which is that the title character has no voice actor. This fact makes Dumbo one of the most sympathetic characters in all of Disney animation, he has a minimal character of his own, and the audience is forced to interpret his experience themselves. While the film is fairly short (barely over 70 minutes) in that time we see some creative animation in the form of the Pink Elephants on parade, as well as what might be the first of many truly tear-jerking Disney moments in "Baby Mine." Dumbo isn't without problems, however. "The Song of the Roustabouts" has not aged well and is more than a little uncomfortable to listen to today.

32. Fantasia 2000 (2000)

Fantasia was supposed to be a regular occurrence, being released in theaters every few years with minor changes each time. Unfortunately, the original film's overall lack of success prevented this from happening until the turn of the millennium. However, Fantasia 2000's failure means we're unlikely to see another, even though a new Fantasia has the potential to be amazing. The animated sequences are more hit or miss than the original, and the interstitial bits with celebrities doing the introductions are absolutely unbearable, even though some great talent is involved. Still, at its best moments, such as "Pines of Rome" and "The Firebird," it is everything great about Disney animation.

31. Alice In Wonderland (1951)

A lot of the early Disney features feel more like a series of loosely connected shorts than a single story. This is the case with Alice in Wonderland, though the idea works by virtue of the fact that the source material is little more than Alice stumbling into one bizarre situation after another. Walt Disney wanted to be sure that the "nonsense" of Lewis Carrol's original story was properly captured, and it's difficult to argue he didn't succeed. The movie is weird but in a good way.

30. The Emperor's New Groove (2000)

The Emperor's New Groove was originally going to be a very different movie and one wonders what things would have been like if the original version had come to be. Instead, we got what turned out to be Disney's most comedic animated film to date. Everything from the premise to the tone feels less like a Disney movie and more like screwball body swap comedy. The comedy duo of David Spade and John Goodman make it work, although the supporting performances of Eartha Kitt and Patrick Warburton are what put it over the top.

29. Tarzan (1999)

Disney often gets criticized for Disney-fying classic fairy tales, but the same is also true of the studio's version of Tarzan. The original text is... problematic. In many ways. But the animated version skirts those issues for a much more family-friendly adventure. The combination of hand-drawn and computer animation gives the action a life it likely would not have had otherwise and foreshadowed some of the computer-animated films to come. The Phil Collins soundtrack is used here to enhance the story rather than hinder it, as it did in Brother Bear.

28. The Great Mouse Detective (1986)

The Great Mouse Detective isn't the beginning of the Disney Renaissance, but it is the movie that allowed that rebirth to happen. Two of the film’s directors, John Musker and Ron Clements, were able to use their modest success here to get the job directing The Little Mermaid, and the rest is history. And, we do see the beginning of something magical here, as the first use of computers by Disney animation makes the Big Ben finale something special. Also, Vincent Price's turn as the villain is exactly as deliciously fun and you'd expect it to be.

27. Wish (2023)

A movie in the grand Disney tradition. A strong and determined heroine for a new generation, combined with a diabolical villain and absolutely beautiful animation come together to tell a story that, while it may not be anything new for Disney, hits all the familiar beats in a satisfying way. It's difficult not to get swept up in the adventure, or the catchy music.

26. Big Hero 6 (2014)

Comic book movies are more popular than they've ever been, and with Disney owning Marvel, it was only a matter of time before we got a superhero movie from the studio. Surprisingly, what we got was the little known, manga-inspired Big Hero 6. As a superhero origin story it's an acceptable enough movie. Unfortunately, it seems designed to give us sequels that we'll likely never get on the big screen. Most of the six heroes are little more than set dressing, which is too bad, because what we get of them seems more interesting than the main character, Hiro. Luckily, Scott Adsit's Baymax is there to save the day and make the movie an overall solid experience.

25. Raya And The Last Dragon (2021)

Raya and the Last Dragon was a movie that was swallowed, and largely forgotten thanks to the global pandemic, which is a crime, because it’s, without question, one of Disney’s best efforts. Raya has some of the best action animation this side of the Spider-Verse. It’s the only animated Disney film you could also class as a pure action movie, and it’s a title the film absolutely deserves.

24. Wreck-It Ralph (2012)

Quite possibly the most modern Disney film, since everything takes place within the world of video games, Disney successfully made one of the best "video game movies" of all time with Wreck-It Ralph, mostly because it's not actually based on a real game. Each world we visit in the film is uniquely designed, from the 8-bit aesthetic of Fix-it Felix Jr to the bright and colorful, and far more modern, Sugar Rush. It makes you wish you could fire up your game console to play these games for real. John C. Reilly is the perfect voice for an oversized bad guy unhappy with his place in his world.

23. Cinderella (1950)

As one of the classic Disney princesses, Cinderella has a place among true Disney, well, royalty. Having said that, the film that brought her to life is a bit of a mixed bag. Much has been made about the fact that the princesses weren't necessarily the greatest characters when it came to depth or agency. The issue with Cinderella is that these problems probably could have been avoided if the feature didn't dedicate a significant portion of its runtime to the mice and the cat, meaning Cinderella is less of a lead character in her own movie. It's not the first time side characters will get too much exposure in Disney films, but it may be the most disappointing.

22. Frozen II (2019)

It was little surprise to anybody that the global blockbuster that was Frozen became one of the few Disney animated movies to get a sequel. And, it has to be said, in a lot of ways Frozen II meets the challenge. The plot is certainly the weak link, acting mostly as a delivery mechanism for the songs and the characters’ emotional journeys, but the songs are incredible and every character, from Elsa and Anna, to Kristof and even Olaf, go on incredibly emotional journeys. It’s rare to see an animated film handle so many characters so well.

21. Tangled (2010)

Tangled has a more pop-focused soundtrack that might not work for everybody, but it's got some fantastic music overall, including one of Disney's most underrated love songs in "I See the Light." It also showed how far Disney's computer animation had come at the time. Rapunzel's hair is a character unto itself, and the animation to bring it to life was no small task. Rapunzel's childlike innocence is infectious and it carries you through to the end. Tangled also has some of the best action sequences ever put on screen by Disney animation, and a villain who is unique in her ability to mentally manipulate, rather than physically intimidate.

20. Peter Pan (1953)

While Peter Pan is one of Disney's most iconic characters, the movie doesn't actually hold up as well as some of the studio's other classic stories. The use of the Native Americans generally, and their musical moment specifically, is one that hasn't aged well. The movie seems to assume you know the story of Pan already as it doesn't build any of the characters beyond the surface level. It's also not entirely clear who this movie is about. Is it about Peter, or is it about Wendy? Peter Pan is still a classic and kids will love it for generations, though there's not as much there for older children.

19. Zootopia (2016)

Leave it to Disney, somewhere among all the musicals and princess movies, to create one of the most compelling stories about the importance of diversity and acceptance that has been put on film. Zootopia may be one of the newer Disney animated films, but it has everything that makes them great. Strong characters, a compelling and fun story, and a message that is important to all audiences. It's as great a buddy cop movie as it is a parable, and the world has continued to provide more stories, as we’ve seen a series of Disney+ Zootopia shorts, and Zootopia 2 is also on the way.

18. Aladdin (1992)

There's not a lot to say about Aladdin that doesn't focus on the revolutionary performance of Robin William as the Genie. The comedian absolutely changed the way that voice acting talent is handled for all animated films. Only in an animated movie could Williams' rapid-fire, non-stop delivery truly come alive, as anything he could do, animators could draw. If that was all the movie had, however, Aladdin would be little more than a footnote, but it also includes a fantastic soundtrack by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, which makes it a truly beautiful experience.

17. 101 Dalmatians (1961)

Cruella de Vil may not be one of Disney's biggest villains, but her name is well known and with good reason. She steals every scene she's in in 101 Dalmatians. She's like a smaller scale Maleficent, as she's pure evil, but for no explained reason. Often this is an issue, but De Vil is so delicious that you find yourself charmed by her. The same can be said for the film as a whole, as 101 Dalmatians is undeniably charming. So many of Disney's films focus on animals as the protagonists, but this is one of the best.

16. Lilo & Stitch (2002)

While one of the title characters in Lilo & Stitch is a space alien, the film itself may be the most grounded in Disney's history. Music is important to the story, but it isn't a musical. The plot focuses on a pair of sisters who are just trying to get through life following the death of their parents. It's a heartfelt and emotional journey and one that many may have missed if they judged the movie by its marketing. Stitch is fine, but Lilo is who the movie is really about, and her story is a worthy one. This is when a smaller, more personal story from the studio really works.

15. Mulan (1998)

Mulan is a unique Disney film in many ways. It deals with an eastern myth rather than a western one, the heroine is the most proactive in Disney's history to this point in time, and while the film does include a romantic element, it’s not the driving force of the story. Disney had to change their own rules in order to include Mulan in the class of "Disney Princesses" and it's no wonder, because the character resonated with so many. This is their fighting princess, and Mulan will always be embraced if for that reason alone.

14. The Princess And The Frog (2009)

The final Disney Princess feature that consisted of hand-drawn animation, The Princess and the Frog, wasn't a massive hit when it debuted in theaters, which is too bad, because the film is actually pretty impressive. It balances dark elements with slapstick humor well. It's got a fantastic jazz soundtrack, and it's got one of Disney's most unique heroines. Maybe this is why the movie is finally getting a Disneyland ride. Tiana is a working-class woman chasing a simple dream. She's not looking for a prince; she wants to open her own business. Her simple goals could have been what turned some people off, but that's actually what makes the character, and the movie, special.

13. Encanto (2021)

What is there to say about Encanto that has not been said. It’s got an incredible cast of characters who are brought to life thanks to one of the most incredible soundtracks ever put on screen. But Mirabel’s story clearly touched people on a personal level. It’s that heart that makes Disney movies truly special, and this one wears it on its sleeve.

12. Frozen (2013)

There's a reason that Frozen became so insanely popular and it is, quite simply, that the movie is just that good. Also, "Let it Go" is just that great a song. The way it turns the traditional Disney princess tropes on their head without losing the underlying magic is perfect. Even the sidekick snowman is legitimately funny, something that could have gone drastically wrong in so many ways. Frozen doesn't break every mold, but it does fracture several, and it was a hint at what was to come with some of Disney's future movies.

11. The Little Mermaid (1989)

The Little Mermaid is the movie that ushered in Disney's Renaissance in the 1990s, which means it has a place in film history forever. The team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken brought Broadway to these movies in a way we had never seen before, and the influence of Ashman that began with The Little Mermaid is still felt in Disney musicals today. It’s beautifully animated and it has one of the absolute best Disney soundtracks ever created.

10. The Lion King (1994)

The Lion King is one of the most successful Disney animated films of all time. It's got a great villain, and a great villain song in Scar's "Be Prepared," and "Hakuna Matata" is one of those songs that gets stuck in your head, no matter how much you wish it would not. It's also got one of the most epic Disney openings of all time, which carries it through for quite a long way. It's got heartbreaking loss and heroic redemption. Disney didn't expect The Lion King to be the hit that it was, which just goes to show that sometimes they don't even know how good they can be.

9. The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1996)

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is three gargoyles away from being a perfect film, which is to say that if the three gargoyles weren't in it, it would be fantastic. Hunchback is the most mature film created by Disney animation. It's dark and violent, and deals with very adult themes. It's only when the comic relief shows up that things fall apart; the tone shift will give you whiplash. It's clear they were added to make the movie more kid-friendly, and it makes you wonder what could have been if they had just made a movie for an older audience. It's almost unbelievable that Disney actually made The Hunchback of Notre Dame, but thank god they did.

8. Lady And The Tramp (1955)

Lady and the Tramp doesn't get a great deal of time or attention in the grand scheme of Disney movies, but it's actually a remarkably solid film. Everything about it is lovely. It's beautifully animated entirely from a pet's point of view, and we rarely see humans above the knees. The characters are charming and the relationship between the titular leads is just one of the sweetest created by Disney. The Siamese Cat song, like many aspects of Disney, influenced by stereotypes and hits a sour note, but the characters exit the film as quickly as they enter and what’s left is surprisingly emotional.

7. Moana (2016)

Moana does so many things so well. It's beautifully animated, and has one of the best soundtracks of any Disney musical. In large part, this is due to the way that the film embraced Polynesian culture in its story and its music. Dwayne Johnson's turn as Maui wasn't music to the ears of everybody, but there's little argument that his performance of "You're Welcome" became the ear-worm of the film that many couldn't stop singing. It's got great action and the lead character is a much more nuanced and complex heroine than any that came before. Moana is a modern classic. It’s little surprise Disney is moving so fast to remake Moana in live-action.

6. Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs (1937)

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs made history when the film debuted at the end of 1937. Disney's first feature-length animated movie is every bit as special today as it was back then. With a modern eye, there are clearly elements that don't work as well as they could, like the story seemingly starting in the middle with a lot of text exposition rather than actually giving us character development, making Snow White less fleshed out than you'd like. However, as the template from which everything was built, it needs to receive its due.

5. Bambi (1942)

Disney has made countless films with animals as the primary characters, but usually, they're stylized and drawn in creative ways so they feel more like people. Bambi feels like you might be truly looking in on real animals in a forest. The movie will always be known for one scene alone, as the death of Bambi's mother is one of the most heartbreaking moments in film history, leading generations of children to tears. Everything else about it is equally beautiful, and this film deserves its place in film history.

4. Pinocchio (1940)

Disney's second feature holds up remarkably well to a modern viewing. It's got a compelling and emotional story, memorable songs (including the one that went on to become the theme song for all of Disney), and great characters. In many ways, Pinocchio could be made today, and it's unlikely a great deal would even change. Jiminy Cricket, with his one-liners and audience asides, feels like an inspiration for Robin Williams’ Genie decades later. Pinocchio has everything you'd expect from a Disney animated feature today, which makes the fact that it was only the studio's second film remarkable.

3. Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Of all the early Disney Princess movies, Sleeping Beauty is by far the standout. Both Aurora and Prince Philip are actual characters, and while the film's brief runtime doesn't exactly let them breathe as much as you might like, we at least get to know them. It also has one of the greatest, if not the greatest, of Disney's villains in Maleficent. Sleeping Beauty was, in many ways, the end of an era for Disney, as we didn't see another storybook princess movie for 40 years. Everything the fimmakers had learned was on display here.

2. Beauty And The Beast (1991)

If Sleeping Beauty was the culmination of Disney's first great era, Beauty and the Beast was the result of an additional four decades of learning how to tell stories. There's a reason this became the first animated film nominated for a Best Picture Oscar. The characters feel more real than any that have come before, and the music is absolute perfection. Hand drawn animation assisted with computers has also been taken to a new level here, making the classic ballroom scene a moment that nobody will forget.

1. Fantasia (1940)

Fantasia was a financial bomb when it was first released, but over the decades the film has come to be appreciated for the artistic achievement that it is. Animation is put together with music in a way that elevates both art forms. This was the movie that made it clear that cartoons weren't simply for kids. While it may not be a film with a narrative or deep characters, it shows Disney animation at its absolute greatest, and it doesn't lack an emotional punch, as the best music, as well as the best animation, can always make you feel something.

With Zootopia 2, Frozen 3, and an as-yet-unnamed original animated story on the slate of upcoming Disney movies, there is a lot to look forward to when it comes to the future of Disney animation. Time will tell where these endeavors fit among the best films of all time.

Netflix junkies (and probably Netflix itself) were rocked by the news that Disney is terminating its business with the streaming service. The Mouse House is taking off all of their movies and TV shows from Netflix and will be creating its own streaming platform which will be the exclusive home to its massive library of content. Come 2019, Netflix subscribers won't have access to any Disney titles, including those of Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars. 2019 is still far off, so take this time now to treasure what we've got and binge your way through the best Disney movies still on Netflix.

Netflix still has a wide variety of Disney titles that would please lots of different fans. A casual search will lead to animated 90s classics, modern day hits, blockbuster favorites, and crummy direct-to-DVD sequels as far as the eye can see. So enjoy not needing to buy another monthly subscription for just a little longer by checking out the best Disney movies Netflix currently has to offer.

Zootopia

The fourth-highest grossing film of 2016, Zootopia was both a critical and commercial success for Disney. The movie was something of a spiritual throwback to the studio's talking animal-centric classics, but with a modern spin and a relevant message. The film follows the first bunny police officer of Zootopia as she teams up with a con man fox to uncover the disappearance of a key animal. The main draw of Zootopia is the city itself, a clever look at what a city run by animals would be like and a fun world that audiences would love to explore. Plus, gotta love that sloth scene!

Mulan

Mulan came out in a weird period for Disney Animation. It's not prime Disney Renaissance (from The Little Mermaid to The Lion King) but it's leagues better than most of the films that would soon come after thanks to its music, themes, and funny side characters. Mulan continued a growing trend at Disney of creating well-rounded female characters concerned with bigger things than finding a prince. Mulan's struggle to protect her father by taking his place in a war was a far cry from some of Disney's more popular princesses. She saved all of China! There's a reason that Mulan is next up to get a live-action movie.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Likely to be the only Star Wars movie on Netflix, subscribers better get their fill of Rogue One while they can. The movie was Lucasfilm's first foray into expanding their slate of Star Wars films, to great commercial success. Audiences packed in to see the grubby band of Rebels go on a last ditch mission to weaken the Empire. While the film is by no means perfect, with character and plot issues, it deserves respect for what it tried to do and finally giving Darth Vader a killer action scene.

Moana

Moana may not have set the world on fire as much as Frozen did, but it was still a Disney movie that delivered the goods. All the Disney standards are here: catchy songs (it never hurts to have Lin-Manuel Miranda in your corner); great protagonist; imaginative world; and an animal sidekick. The movie also gets major points for shining a light on Polynesian culture and mythology, something rarely explored in movies. Of course, the cherry on top was finally casting The Rock as the god we all know him to be. You're welcome!

Doctor Strange

The fourteenth film in the MCU, Doctor Strange had the responsibility of introducing the title character and his crazy world of spells and alternate dimensions. While Doctor Strange is filled with lofty exposition trying to explain the rules of this character's magic, the movie is still solid Marvel entertainment. Benedict Cumberbatch proves a worthy addition to the MCU, but the real star of the show is the mind-bending use of special effects to show a multiverse of wonders.

The Jungle Book

This smash hit pretty much solidified Disney's plan to remake their classic animations into live action. Grossing over $966 million, the film became the fifth highest-grossing movie of 2016 -- a very good year for Disney. Incorporating some of the most advanced CGI technology ever, The Jungle Book effortlessly transports viewers to the jungle, barely noticing the fact that young Neel Sethi is the only living creature in the entire movie. You just can't beat this movie's cast either, which includes Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong'o, Scarlett Johansson, Giancarlo Esposito, and Christopher Walken.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Without The Nightmare Before Christmas, Hot Topic would have gone out of business by now. This beloved Christmas/Halloween classic has a legion of fans, and for good reason. The movie is rich with imagination and has a great concept: The king of Halloween takes over Christmas. The Nightmare Before Christmas is dripping with beautiful gothic imagery, and despite the undead nature of its characters, it possesses a real beating heart as Jack Skellington learns to find the richness in what he already has. Coupled with a catchy soundtrack, it's one of the few holiday movies you can play twice per year.

Finding Dory

Finding Dory is way more successful than it has any right to be on paper. Pixar didn't exactly have a good track record when it came to sequels centered around the goofy sidekick, but never underestimate the sheer likability of Dory or Ellen DeGeneres. The sequel is the highest-grossing animated film ever, along with a ton of other impressive records. While the movie overly stretches plausibility in the third act climax, that doesn't distract from the emotion of the story or just how fun it is to watch Dory do her thing. Partnered with Ed O'Neill's crotchety octopus (sorry, septipus), you just can't keep a good Dory down.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl

The first and still the best of the Pirates movies, Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl is not to be underestimated. Despite most of its sequels never quite matching it, there's a reason this film launched a billion dollar franchise. It's a fun action-adventure romp set on the high seas with cool characters that we want to follow. The movie had unabashed fun with its complicated tale of cursed pirate doubloons, double crosses, and slick sword fights. While he may have worn out his welcome today, you can't not mention Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow, who transformed the bumbling captain into one of the most well-known characters in pop culture.

Captain America: Civil War

Not since The Avengers has a Marvel movie been so loaded with such pure spectacle. The movie delivers its promised superhero-on-superhero smackdown big time, all while doing the Herculean task of balancing a huge cast of characters and a worthy story to match. While the Avengers are punching each other, the Russo Brothers are punching our hearts as they tie the story together with a properly emotional final battle between Captain America and Iron Man. Sure, the movie isn't perfect (some minor character decisions don't make sense, the ideological debate is muddled), but when a movie has Giant-Man throwing an airplane while Spider-Man swings around, you're capable of forgiving a lot.

Pete's Dragon

Pete's Dragon is the most underrated movie on this list. Released in 2016 and nestled in between Finding Dory and Moana, Pete's Dragon just didn't make as big of a splash as many other Disney movies made that year. The film did alright at the box office, but critics were more favorable to it. Maybe most moviegoers ignored it because it was a remake of a lesser known Disney film from the 1970s, but the movie stands entirely on its own two feet. Pete's Dragon tells the surprisingly emotional story of a young boy forced to separate himself from his dragon guardian after living together alone for years in the forest. It's touching and sweet, and if you make it through this entire movie without falling in love with Elliot the Dragon, then I don't know what to tell you.

Fantasia

No one should go through their whole lives without seeing Fantasia at least once. Walt Disney's masterpiece, the 1940 animated film was composed of eight segments set to pieces of classical music. The imagery ranges from ballerina hippos, to the devil summoning evil spirits, to the pure abstract. It's animation and sound design is top notch and it can't be understated how much it pushed the envelope back in the 40s. And it was only Disney's third animated feature! The film enjoys a strong legacy to this day and its most popular short, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, can be seen all over Disney parks. It's a pretty unconventional movie that may be hard for some people to get through (I fell asleep my first time), but it's certainly worth the watch while it's still available.

There are a lot of titles in the Netflix Instant universe, and they cover a wide variety of genres, tastes and subject matter. Some of it is abysmal, and some of it is pretty good. But only a proud few can call themselves the top of the heap, and those films deserve to be trumpeted. Which is why we, here, at CinemaBlend compiled this list of the 15 best films on Netflix's streaming service at this moment. All are honorable in their own right, and they're just waiting for you to hit "Play."

To Kill A Mockingbird

For most people, To Kill A Mockingbird is probably the first time they came across the dilemma of which was better: the book or the movie? In the case of Harper Lee's seminal novel of justice and doing what's right, the answer is that the two are equal. While Lee's words breathe life into the difficult story, the film version of the Finch family's efforts to get to the truth showcase the book's message in a way that stays true to the page, while giving so much depth to the proceedings. Of course, when Gregory Peck is playing the epitome of fatherly justice, that kind of thing tends to happen.

Full Metal Jacket

If you didn't know any better, you'd probably be surprised to be told that Full Metal Jacket is a film in the canon of director Stanley Kubrick. The first half of the film is so unlike most of the director's body of work that it's only a further highlight to an already versatile career. But then when you get to the second half, you can totally see the Kubrickian logic and characters shine through the Vietnam War epic. Put both halves together, and you've truly got something to behold.

Zodiac

If you were to pitch making a mystery movie without a concrete ending, the reaction to this prospect would totally depend on who's behind the camera. In the case of Zodiac, David Fincher's the mastermind that gets to tell just that sort of story, and it works oh so beautifully. Considering he's teaming with Netflix to bring a serial-killer-hunting series to life, courtesy of this fall's Mindhunters, it's practically kismet that the tale of the obsession with capturing the Zodiac Killer would be available for streaming. If you want dark and twisted (and genius), look no further.

The Third Man

For as intimidating and impressive as he was in his day, Orson Welles seems like a figure almost completely lost to time. Thankfully, his acting and directing works live on, though they still need some help surviving in the modern era, what with the ravages of time being what they are to films of the age that The Third Man sprang from. With a 4K restoration recently completed, it doesn't look like this Noir classic dealing with murder on the streets of post-war Vienna will be going away any time soon. Still, don't wait until it's too late to partake in its thrilling charms yourself, as films like this tend to disappear off of Netflix without warning.

The Verdict

Not all movie stars get the chance to remain top-flight talents throughout their careers, and even Paul Newman knew that fact as he managed to accomplish it. The Verdict is a mid-period Newman film, but it's an astounding legal drama that sparkles under the direction of Sidney Lumet, courtesy of the script penned by David Mamet. Based on a novel of the same name, Newman plays a lawyer who accidentally becomes a hero when he tries to turn heel and get greedy for a change. Full of twists in both the litigation and personal sides of Newman's protagonist, it's a film that deserves a revival through popular acclaim.

Disney's The Jungle Book

While not all of Disney's live-action adaptations work, it's hard to argue against the fact that Disney's The Jungle Book works almost perfectly. Both expanding the story of the animated classic, thanks to leaning a little harder on Rudyard Kipling's source material, and adhering to the moments we all know and love, it's the gold standard of what a Disney remake should stand for. Also, for what it's worth, Bill Murray could use his scenes as Baloo as part of a future biopic, simply because we imagine he's basically the human version of that bon vivant of a bear.

Schindler's List

Schindler's List is not an easy film to watch. As an artistic product, it's absolutely flawless and a beauty to behold. But as a thematic piece of content, it's a rough film to experience, as the horrors of Nazi Germany are brought to light front and center, and in our faces. So why should an audience watch Schindler's List? Because the unsettling nature reminds us of the demons of the past, in the hopes that we never commit them again. But this is also a story of hope, and of fighting against the odds to prevail. Steven Spielberg faced his heritage head on with this film, and it's as rewarding for us as it was for him.

Frailty

After this year's tragic loss of Bill Paxton, his entire filmography came to the forefront again and proved one vital point: the man was totally underrated as a storyteller. Frailty is the nexus of that argument, as his directing and starring skills are at full blast in this horror/thriller monument. The tale of a southern patriarch and his quest to hunt demons, as well as the legacy that it left behind, also gave us one of Matthew McConaughey's earliest performances of note. While most had McConaughey bogged down in rom-com and slacker roles, Bill Paxton showed the world that the McConaughssance was going to happen, whether the world liked it or not.

Escape From New York

You can never go wrong with classic John Carpenter, especially when Kurt Russell's name is right on the top of the cast list. The legend of Snake Plissken was born with Escape From New York, and the landmark "same place, same day" plotline was inspiration for many films, and even video games, that would come after it. But besides its status as a genre icon, the film is also just a damned blast to behold. If you're looking for pulpy action and bad ass dialogue, make your way to New York before the remake does.

The African Queen

It's easy to say that Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn are quintessential movie stars, and that The African Queen is a verified classic. But what's not easy is to quantify WHY both of those statements are true. You honestly have to experience this story of a crusty sea captain and a missionary teaming together to defeat German soldiers during World War I. Trust us when we tell you, the fact that this much action could be contained in a film only running 105 minutes is proof alone that The African Queen is a product of an era that truly understood the magic of the movies.

Zootopia

How in the world does Zootopia exist? Seriously, in a world of Minions, ice princesses, and Scrat, how does a detective story exploring racial profiling and the politics of fear exist in the realm of children's films? Quite possibly Disney's best film out of its modern offerings, Zootopia has plenty for kids to enjoy now, and just as much for them to enjoy when they decide to revisit the film years from now. Timeless storytelling comes not only from crafting memorable characters, but also making a story that can be told again and again and still be enjoyable. That is Zootopia in a nutshell.

Blazing Saddles

Arguably, the majority of Mel Brooks' canon should be on Netflix, for the rest of recorded time. There's just something about his love of Hollywood and unique brand of humor that make his films true classics. Unfortunately, we'll have to settle for only two of his best films being provided via Netflix, and as luck would have it, Blazing Saddles is one of them. The best way to describe the film is, part western parody, part racial dissection, all classic comedy. Of course, the best way to enjoy Blazing Saddles is to watch it for yourself, and prepare to be sore with laughter.

Young Frankenstein

Made it through Blazing Saddles and want a little more Mel Brooks magic in your life? Say hello to Young Frankenstein! Another loving parody of Brooks' classic film habit, it's a film that almost didn't happen for various reasons. The black-and-white presentation scared Columbia away from producing, and if Mel Brooks didn't recuse himself from starring in the film, Gene Wilder wouldn't star in it. Though the latter was a sign of love, as the reason Wilder didn't want Brooks in the film was because he made it hard to keep a straight face as a co-star. Consider Young Frankenstein the Mel to your Gene, and prepare to smile all throughout.

Inglourious Basterds

In the ongoing argument over which Quentin Tarantino film is the best, Inglourious Basterds is a title that constantly crops up in the debate. Honestly, it's hard to argue that his Nazi hunting epic isn't his best comedic work, as well as his best action work. But the actual story that ties both worlds together is what makes this his best damned film, full stop. The Tarantinoverse quite possibly hinges on this movie, and if that's the case, it's only a further testament to just how important the Basterds are to the world of film.

Patton

It's hard to think that George C. Scott wasn't actually General George S. Patton in disguise. Sure, the ages don't match up, but Scott's performance of the idealized version of the World War II hard ass is so damned heroic that you're practically saluting throughout the entire picture. Also, that Jerry Goldsmith score only kicks the patriotic thrills into high gear, as the main theme alone is oft referenced and repeated in times of pop culture combat. This one's pretty long though, so make it a weekend afternoon watch in order to really take it all in.

Disney movies are always full of easter eggs. Recent films have been absolutely overflowing with references to previous Disney movies. However, one Big Hero 6 easter egg was only recently uncovered as it actually made reference to a movie that came out later. It was just discovered that Big Hero 6 actually contains a Zootopia easter egg. Of course, nobody noticed until after Zootopia came out. As it turns out, the design for Honey Lemon's cell phone case, a fox wearing a tie, was an intentional reference to Nick Wilde, the fox that wears the same in Zootopia. Big Hero 6 art director Scott Watanabe explains...

Most people probably didn't give Honey Lemon's phone case a second look while watching Big Hero 6. At that point, nobody was talking about Zootopia. However, since the film was in production at the same time, Disney artists had seen what was being worked on. According to Oh My Disney, the phone case design was based on early concept art of Nick Wilde, which explains why the character and the phone case have a resemblance but are not identical. By the time Zootopia was done, Nick had gone through some design changes. Big Hero 6 never gives you a great look at the image on the phone case but you can see it well enough in the screenshot below.

We do get a decent shot of the phone side at one point, which gives us the fox shape, and shows that the case includes a tail.

Zootopia would pay back the easter eggs when it came out last year. There are at least two references to Big Hero 6 within the film. The Lucky Cat Cafe, which is run by Hiro's aunt in Big Hero 6 is seen in the background of one scene, we assume that one is actually run by cats. There's also an image of the city of San Fransokyo on a calendar in the Zootopia Police Station. Zootopia would also continue this trend of referencing future Disney movies. Among the bootleg DVDs being sold by Duke Weaselton are references to Moana which came out last fall, and Gigantic, set for release in 2018. Moana in turn also had a reference to Wreck-It Ralph, a film with a sequel coming out in about a year. The cycle continues.

2016 was a big year for Disney, and Zootopia played a big role in the studio's success. The 55th entry in Walt Disney Animation's lineup of movies was a critical and commercial powerhouse, earning almost-universally positive reviews and collecting over $1 billion worldwide. it's safe to say that audiences really took to the animal-led tale, but now over 12 months after its release, Zootopia has been hit with a lawsuit that claims it rips off work that Gary Goldman, who wrote the original Total Recall, created.

According to THR, the complaint, which was filed on Tuesday in California federal court, comes from Esplanade Productions, Inc. It alleges that Disney copied Gary Goldman's (whose other work includes writing Big Trouble in Little China and Navy Seals) same-named Zootopia. Supposedly Goldman had pitched his version of a Zootopia franchise in 2000 and 2009, which included a "live action component" called "Looney" and the animated Zootopia. The material he reportedly included was a treatment, synopsis, character descriptions and character illustrations. The THR article even includes some of Goldman's character designs alongside the designs of characters from Disney's Zootopia movie to highlight similarities, though it is worth noting that some of the animals were changed in the actual movie.

The lawsuit then states that despite Disney turning down both pitches, the studio in 2009 (which was around the same time Goldman was writing a screenplay titled Blaze, based off a Stan Lee comic) allegedly began working on their own version of Zootopia. Esplanade is now seeking an injunction plus monetary damages "including of the punitive kind."

Not long after this Zootopia lawsuit became public knowledge, Disney sent a public statement, saying:

It will be interesting to see how Gary Goldman's lawsuit against Disney over Zootopia proceeds over the coming months or even years, although assuming any of these allegations are true, I'm curious about why this lawsuit is only just now being filed. Disney officially announced Zootopia at its D23 convention in 2013, and even if Goldman wanted to wait until footage came out for the movie, he could have started something in June 2015, when the first teaser came out. Regardless, this is by no means the first time writers have issued lawsuit against a studio claiming that their idea was stolen from them. We'll be sure to keep you updated on how this Zootopia legal messiness is progressing as more relevant details come in.

Taking place in a world populated by anthropomorphic animals, Disney's Zootopia followed new cop Juddy Hopps as she uncovered a conspiracy within the eponymous city with the help of con artist Nick Wilde. The voice cast included Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, J.K. Simmons, Jenny Slate, Bonnie Hunt, Octavia Spencer, Nate Torrence, Alan Tudyk and Tommy Chong. The movie's numerous accolades included winning a Golden Globe and Oscar, both for Best Animated Feature Film.

2016 was an amazing year for animation. However, the best animated film of the year came out nearly a year ago. As good as everything else has been, Zootopia is hands down the movie that should win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Zootopia wasn't simply the best animated movie of 2016, it was one of the best movies of 2016 of any kind.

In any other year, any of the five nominees for Best Animated Feature would be worthy of winning the award. Kubo and the Two Strings is a visually stunning entry like we haven't seen from stop motion animation. My Life as A Zucchini deals with themes that we rarely see in animated films. The Red Turtle is mesmerizing in its minimalism and Moana gives us a hero's journey, unlike anything Disney has produced before. However, the film that I have not been able to stop thinking about since I saw it nearly 12 months ago is the film that gives us most of these other elements in a single film.

On its face, Zootopia looks like what you'd expect to get from Disney. In a world without humans, animals have evolved to be bipedal, wear clothes, and live their lives not that unlike how people do today. There's a lot of jokes where products we know have been given animal names for comedic effect. Judy Hopps is a bunny who wants to be a police officer, a job generally held by larger animals. She perseveres and achieves that dream, but then must deal with the fact that the police force doesn't really want her around. She ends up paired with a con artist fox and what we get is essentially a Disney buddy cop movie. The mystery is compelling, the jokes land, and the characters are fun. Eventually, the mystery gets solved and our heroes live happily ever after.

Except, that's not actually how the movie ends, and it's really not what the movie is about.

Young children might take that much out of it, but for everybody else, there's a lot more going on here. Zootopia is a movie about racial profiling by police. It's about the sort of deeply embedded prejudice that can lurk inside anybody, even the most fervent ally. It's about not simply fighting bias, but the fact that in order to properly do so, you must first accept that it exists, a step that can be difficult for a lot of people. If this had been done as a live-action movie it would have been made as a heavy-handed drama, and those who could best use the lesson would likely have stayed away. The fact that the message is hidden in a story about anthropomorphic animals is as brilliant as it is unbelievable.

Zootopia is a movie that reveals new layers upon multiple viewings even to adults, the lessons that its younger viewers can learn seem nearly limitless.

Also, there's a joke where the word "cute" basically replaced the n-word. In a Disney movie. That's a thing that happens.

In much the same way that Frozen used its own princess tropes as a way to subvert expectations, Zootopia takes the idea that simply dreaming will lead to success and insists that hard work is also required. In some ways, it's one of Disney's most optimistic films, because it retains that optimism even after accepting that reality is maybe not as perfect as we wish it were. It believes the happy ending is possible, eventually.

Also, while Zootopia may not be full of the sweeping vistas of its fellow Disney brethren Moana, the fact is that the animation skill on display in Zootopia is no less impressive. The fur on the different animals feels like it's alive. It reacts to its environment in ways that we simply haven't seen before. The fact that Zootopia is made up of different environments allows the animators to show off their skill at creating each one. The city of Zootopia feels as full of life as any movie metropolis full of actual people.

There's a good chance that 10 years from now, several of this year's nominees for Best Animated Feature will have withstood the test of time. However, Zootopia will still stand alone as the most unique of the group. It's going to be the one that we remember because it took risks and told a very grown up story in a way that kids could relate to it. If for that reason alone Zootopia deserves to win the Academy Award on Sunday.

This poll is no longer available.

Tuesday morning marks the announcement of the nominations for the 2017 Academy Awards. The "big game" for movie fans and professionals alike, this list is going to be the playing field to end all playing fields for the class of 2016. The competition will be fierce, and as with any field of runners and riders, there's a good mix of the expected and the unexpected.

So with our own optimism, and a dash of reading the tea leaves of the awards season that's come before, we have a list of what we feel are going to be locks and longshots for landing a place on the honor roll. Of course, there's still a degree of uncertainty, as Hollywood has taught us time and time again that longshots can be winners, and dreams can come true. In that event, we reserve the right to be just as surprised as you are.

Best Picture Lock: La La Land

There's absolutely no question that La La Land is going to be nominated for Best Picture come Tuesday morning. With buzz being extremely strong since it premiered at the Toronto Film Festival last year, and said enthusiasm failing to die down, the odds have always been in Damian Chazelle's favor. But now, with a record breaking 7 Golden Globes in its hands, another day of sun has turned into a season of splendor for this bittersweet tale of love and dreams.

Best Picture Longshot: Arrival

It hasn't been an easy ride for Arrival, despite gaining similar amounts of traction to La La Land after debuting in Toronto. With an almost complete shut out from even being nominated at the Golden Globes, the signs are pointing to the possibility that this Denis Villeneuve's examination of an extremely grounded first contact scenario is a non-starter with awards judges. We're holding out for a nomination for Amy Adams, but we're not so hopeful that Best Picture will stick the landing.

Best Animated Feature Lock: Zootopia

Honestly, if you'd asked around the offices of Cinema Blend whether Disney would land a Best Animated not with Zootopia or Moana, you'd get a mixed bag. It's not that one film is significantly worse than the other, on the contrary, they're both fantastic. But Zootopia was released in March, and the later the year gets, the more you tend to forget about some movies. Not Zootopia apparently, as its reputation has kept it alive in everyone's minds. Though the fact that it's streaming on Netflix probably helps too.

Best Animated Feature Longshot: Kubo and The Two Strings

2016 has been an embarrassingly good year for animated films, so picking who gets shut out is really hard. Unfortunately, if we were to guess who'd be leaving empty handed come tomorrow morning, Kubo and The Two Strings would be the film we'd end up picking. Again, there's no doubt that this film is staggeringly beautiful and absolutely brilliant. But between two, possibly three Disney films landing noms, Sausage Party's awards play, and My Life As A Zucchini making an even later splash in the field with a Golden Globes nomination, this race seems a bit more crowded with contenders than usual.

Best Actor Lock: Casey Affleck

Manchester By The Sea has always felt like more of an acting nomination contender than a Best Picture lock. Nowhere is that more present than in Casey Affleck's performance in Kenneth Lonergan's mournful, yet sometimes humorous drama. Winning the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama certainly helps, but if you're a Casey Affleck fan, you knew that this was merely a fait accompli after years of hard work.

Best Actor Longshot: Ryan Reynolds

Let's address the elephant in the room: Ryan Reynolds isn't getting a Best Actor nod for Deadpool. While the Golden Globes have the luxury of splitting into two different sections for Drama and Musical/Comedy, the Academy Awards do not have that distinction. As such, it's very doubtful that the normally comic-phobic Academy will be throwing much love towards the Merc with the Mouth, and it's a damned shame too, because Reynolds's performance is absolutely pitch perfect.

Best Actress Lock: Viola Davis

The question isn't whether Viola Davis will be nominated as a Best Actress candidate for her work in the powerful film Fences, but rather who else will try to stand in her way? While some would tell you this is a Best Supporting Actress role, as the character of Rose Maxon could be perceived as a backseat to Denzel Washington's Troy. However, between Davis' performance and the context of her character in the source material, we can't help but argue vociferously that she's not only a Best Actress candidate, she's our frontrunner to take it home.

Best Actress Longshot: Taraji P. Henson

Hidden Figures, for the most part, feels like it's come too late in the awards race to be buzzed properly. If we were to bet on any nominations heading towards this well-regarded latecomer, it'd be for Best Picture and possibly Best Original Song. But if the movie's recent popularity at the box office has truly improved its chances at awards glory, then surely there's enough room for Taraji P. Henson to make her way into the running for Best Actress. While we're still skeptical, as it's a crowded field already, we're still hopeful.

Best Original Screenplay Lock: Manchester By The Sea

Kenneth Lonergan is no stranger to the Oscar dance, as he was previously nominated twice for Best Original Screenplay, thanks to You Can Count On Me, and Gangs of New York. This year should undoubtedly be his third turn at bat, as Manchester By The Sea has quickly rose through the ranks to challenge all comers in the awards season blitz. While it's hard to say if it'll be a strong contender for winning, especially since Moonlight took the top Drama prize of Best Picture at the Golden Globes, it's most certainly a strong contender.

Best Original Screenplay Longshot: La La Land

Another harsh lesson in Golden Globes reality: La La Land probably won't get that coveted Best Original Screenplay nomination, and if it does, it surely will not win. While being a charming film, the story does seem a little thin, with many characters existing as Macguffins more than living characters. With Moonlight and Manchester By The Sea giving chase, and the singular nomination pool, Damian Chazelle's writing nod seems like a longshot in our book.

Best Adapted Screenplay Lock: Arrival

While Arrival may be a longshot to take a Best Picture nomination home, we would think that it has much better traction for a nomination tipped towards Eric Heisserer's adaptation of Ted Chiang's short story, Story Of Your Life. Both it's innovative approach to a Sci-Fi theme we've seen often, and its focus on the power of language and translation, it's a timely message that reminds us that we have to truly listen in order to understand our own world, not to mention that of the Heptapods. And we all know the Academy loves message movies.

Best Adapted Screenplay Longshot: Deadpool

Seriously guys, we loved Deadpool. It was everything you'd want from the character's solo debut, it healed the wounds of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and it made Ryan Reynolds bankable again. We can't sing the praises for this baby high enough, but again, there's more competition on the Oscar level than most others. The recent wave of nominations in various guild-centric awards certainly bode well for the film, but that's not always the indicator for a lock at the Oscars.

Disney has had a stupendous past 12 months. Just one look at the box office top five proves that, as the studio rested comfortably in four of these spots. But that doesn't really underline Disney's supremacy. Because when we say goodbye to 2016 in just a few days time, the final numbers will reveal that it has been a record breaking year at the box office, with receipts totaling $11.3 billion. Disney will account for over half of this amount.

What's even more staggering about Disney's success is that's before we take into consideration Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which is already well on course to rival Captain America: Civil War at the top of the 2016 box office chart. Disney's most successful films over the last year have been Civil War with $1,153.3 billion, Finding Dory with $1,027.8 billion, Zootopia with $1,023.8 billion, and The Jungle Book with $966 million. Rogue One is already at $687.9 million after just 11 days of release, too.

Speaking to Vanity Fair about the past year at the box office, Dave Hollis, who is Disney's executive vice president of theatrical exhibition, sales and distribution, opened up about why the studio has found such success. Hollis believes that audiences flock to see Disney's movies because they don't want to miss out, as he added:

When Alan Horn was appointed as the studio head of Disney back in 2012, it's believed that he made sure to ask of every Disney, Marvel Studios, Pixar and Lucasfilm release whether audiences needed to see the movie now and whether they needed to see it in the theater. Clearly that strategy has worked quite a treat, as the Star Wars and Marvel Cinematic universes have never been in better shapes, while Disney's live-action retellings of their classic animated efforts have chimed with audiences, and their new animated films are even beginning to rival those from Pixar.

Plus it also helps that Rogue One, Captain America: Civil War, Zootopia, Finding Dory and The Jungle Book have each been hugely enjoyable and well-crafted movies. These films have not just made audiences rush to go and see them in theaters, when it's now become much easier to just wait until they're released online, but the fact that they're very good films means they've benefitted from word-of-mouth buzz and chatter, too. And with Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Star Wars: Episode 8 and Beauty And The Beast being released in 2017, it's a success that's all set to continue.

Movies are an art form, and like all forms of art, some examples are forgotten while others stand the test of time. The movies that win awards as great examples of the medium don't always survive on those merits. It's often the films that capture the popular imagination that become the ones that we all remember fondly.

In a decade, movies will have changed drastically. We can't even guess at how new technologies might fundamentally change how we experience film or how trends might change the types of movies we want to watch. However, wherever things go in the future, there will always be those movies from the past that we return to because we've always loved them. Here are the 2016 movies we believe we'll still be watching in 2026.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

In general, the reason that people still watch a movie years after it came out is because something about the movie is timeless and resonates with people in any era. We honestly have no idea if Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will have that special something. What we do know is that 10 years from now, the franchise that started this fall will still be going on, as such, people will be watching this movie in the future if only to prep for the final installment, which will be hitting screens just about 10 years from now.

Moana

Very few know how to make movies that last quite like Disney animation. When they produce a musical with a princess at its center it's a virtual certainty that such a movie will be watched for several decades to come. While there have been exceptions, Disney films that haven't done as well, we're fairly confident Moana won't be one of them. The movie's soundtrack is one of the best the Mouse House has produced in a long time, and the unique take on the Disney Princess archetype will be enough to have people rewatching this one for probably the next several decades.

Deadpool

Superhero movies are all the rage today. How popular they still will be in 10 years is hard to tell. While we don't expect them to be done completely, the focus of blockbuster movies may have shifted over to other things. Regardless, while the Marvel Cinematic Universe may still be a popular franchise in a decade, it's hard to say how well any individual film will stand up. Deadpool is in the unique position of being a movie that doesn't require any additional movies to work. It'll be one of the few superhero movies people will just be able to start streaming and enjoy without any preamble. It's also funnier than hell and comedy will always be wanted. This makes it much more likely to still be popular in the future.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

The least surprising movie on this list may be Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. It's not a crazy idea that people will still be watching this one in 10 years. The Star Wars franchise has been continuously watched even when there were no movies being actively made, and we fully expect that Disney will still have this franchise producing films 10 years from now. Like Deadpool though, Rogue One won't require you to sit down and watch an entire trilogy in order to properly enjoy it. It works perfectly fine all by itself, and as most reviews agree, it's also a really good movie.

The Nice Guys

It's easy enough to say that movies that were popular with fans in 2016 will still be popular in the future. But what about one movie that seemed to skate by unnoticed? Based on the box office performance of The Nice Guys, you probably didn't see it in 2016. That's ok. Sometimes films don't get recognized until after the fact. At some point over the next few years, people will begin to give The Nice Guys a look, and it will become one of those "cult" hits where nobody can understand why it wasn't a huge success when it was released. We knew it the whole time.

Zootopia

Yes, Disney Animation makes the list twice, what do you want from me? While Disney's musicals are nearly guaranteed to survive the test of time, their non-musical films are less of a sure thing. Does anybody even remember that Chicken Little was a thing? However, Zootopia is a special movie. It's got the sort of timeless message that one generation will want to instill into the next. At the same time, it's just as much fun as anything Disney has done in recent years. There's a better than average chance we'll see a sequel to this one down the road, which will only help keep the original in your standard comfort movie rotation.

The jury's out on 2016, as a movie year. Many jumped on an early bandwagon proclaiming this to be a disappointing year, and while the tide is starting to turn in the opposite direction as more and more critics release their end-of-year Top 10 lists, I tend to agree with the people who admit there was greatness released in 2016, but you had to dig to really find it.

With that in mind, my Top 10 took longer to finalize than is usual. Titles I contemplated that didn't make the cut include Nocturnal Animals, Star Trek Beyond, Hail, Caesar!, Everybody Wants Some!!, Green Room and Weiner. But when pressed to pick 10 movies from 2016 that I truly loved -- and planned to revisit often -- I could only cook up the following list. So dive in, and then tell me in the comments what your favorite movies of 2016 were:

10. Captain America: Civil War

It'd be easy to take Marvel Studios for granted. Fourteen movies into this grand, cinematic construction, the studio routinely releases exciting, emotional, humorous and lucrative blockbusters that please millions and show rival studios how this type of large-scale world building should be done. Except, when you look at the efforts of those rivals -- from Fox and the Fantastic Four to Warner Bros. and the DCEU -- you realize that weaving these blockbusters together is no easy task, which is why I appreciate Captain America: Civil War so much.

In addition to be a rousing trilogy capper for Chris Evans' expertly cast Star-Spangled Avenger, Civil War boasts the most moving parts of any Marvel movie before it, and directors Joe and Anthony Russo seamlessly tell multiple stories that affect the Marvel characters we've grown to love in so many ways. Civil War drove a deeper wedge between Steve Rogers and Tony Stark, and the collateral damage of that broken relationship affected all of the Avengers. It introduced Black Panther and Spider-Man, and the worlds they occupy. It featured the MCU's most elaborate set piece in the Berlin airport battle, but made this Top 10 list because of its small character moments, the ones that remind me that we'd be wrong to ever take the MCU for granted.

9. DePalma

A master class in filmmaking, and essential viewing for anyone who calls themselves a fan of cinema. And yet, DePalma couldn't be more simple of a conceit. Co-directors Noah Baumbach and Jake Paltrow sit down with legendary director Brian DePalma, and ask him to tell stories, into the camera, about the various films from his storied career.

But WHAT A CAREER! Of course, Brian DePalma comes off as a colorful, vivid, egotistical but extremely knowledgeable storyteller. But when he namedrops his inner circle of 1970s colleagues -- a couple of guys named Scorsese, Spielberg and Coppola -- you have to pause the film and wrap your brain around the contributions of this group to the history of cinema. But DePalma makes my personal list because I thoroughly enjoyed listening to each and every behind-the-scenes story the director shared regarding the filming of such classics as Carrie, Carlito's Way, Scarface, The Untouchables, Dressed to Kill and the first Mission: Impossible. Now I pray that Baumbach and Paltrow do the same thing with a string of filmmakers, because I'd kill to see Scorsese, Spielberg, Coppola and more in a similar documentary, year after year.

8. Manchester By The Sea

Grief porn. That's what Kenneth Lonergan's peddling here. Every scene of Manchester By The Sea bears the heavy weight of loss, of sad but relatable characters dealing with a harsh new reality caused by an unexpected loss. "Relatable" is important, for it's those of us who have been struck by an important death that will recognize the painful truth imprinted on the performances and dialogue of Manchester.

So, it's bleak and tough and a strange movie to recommend. Because who wants to spend two hours ensconced in a tomb of mourning? However, Lonergan so beautifully surrounds the current story in Manchester By The Sea with wispy traces of happier memories for the anguished Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck), leaving you compelled to keep watching: to find out what happened to his immediate family; to find out why he left Manchester; and to find out why he's emotionally unable to return. The entire cast is phenomenal in the way they underplay the material, and Manchester By The Sea slowly, methodically wraps its icy fingers around your heart and soul, knowing exactly when to squeeze out that last glimpse of light and hope. Prepare for the worst, and appreciate the ride.

7. The Nice Guys

As our own Eric Eisenberg pointed out in his own personal Top 10 list, we loved when Ryan Gosling did stuff in Los Angeles this year. Gosling showed off two very different, yet equally recognizable, sides of the City of Angels in 2016, and both made my Top 10. Let's start with the seedy crime-noir of The Nice Guys, a movie that I pray kicks off an anthology of stories told by Shane Black and centered around mismatched private dicks Gosling and Russell Crowe.

Essentially, The Nice Guys is an extension of the types of movies Black specializes in: an odd-couple crime caper along the lines of Lethal Weapon of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang that is drenched in unique period detail and fuelled by a rat-tat-tat screenplay that fires off memorable zingers. The story's an admirable rehash of a '40s or '50s noir thriller, with a simple case growing exponentially more complicated the more our bumbling heroes peel back new layers. And while Crowe and Gosling are a delightfully gruff pair, it's the latter's gift for physical comedy that routinely elevates The Nice Guys to insane heights. Gosling's toilet bit -- with the hand cast, the loaded gun, the stall door, and the lit cigarette in his pants -- earns this movie Top 10 placement alone. Thankfully, the rest of the movie makes it worthy for end-of-the-year inclusion, as well.

6. Zootopia

What an incredible year for Walt Disney Animation. And a year that continues the studio's amazing hot streak that includes Big Hero 6, Frozen, Wreck-It Ralph and Tangled. We are in the midst of a new Renaissance of storytelling and animation over at Disney, with Zootopia being near the top of the bunch for intelligent, hilarious, inspiration and socially conscious movie making.

Basically, though, I just adore Officer Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), the picture of perseverance who moves to the big city of Zootopia with a dream of being the top cop... only she's assigned to the lowest run of the law enforcement ladder. That doesn't stop Judy from messing with a slick grifter named Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman, perfectly cast), and doubling down to solve a missing persons case that -- similar to in The Nice Guys -- is just the tip of a corrupt iceberg. Zootopia has fantastic original characters and boasts breathtaking animation, but it transcends traditional animated movies when it digs into the conspiracy plot to label those we view as different to be "savages." Pair Zootopia with the equally excellent Moana (which could easily have filled this spot on my Top 10), and you'll see why Walt Disney Animation has been outpacing Pixar since John Lasseter turned his attentions from the latter to the former.

5. Hell or High Water

Hell or High Water reminded me that movies don't have to be complicated to be brilliant. Sometimes, all you need is a stripped-down, bare bones story of bank-robbing brothers (and the colorful sheriff hot on their tails) to produce one of the most tense and terrific movie-going experiences of the year.

It helps that the sheriff is played by charismatic Jeff Bridges, playing that laconic and smooth-talking country law agent that he brought to the screen once before (though in a different time period) in True Grit. And he's tracking a pair of combustible, but well-intentioned, criminals in Chris Pine and Ben Foster, both operating at the top of their game. Hell or High Water essentially plays like a modern Western, utilizing the finest tropes of that genre. But airtight direction, stellar pacing and compassionate characterization make this movie a must-see story about Rust Belt Americans handed a shit sandwich by a corrupt bank, and deciding it's high time they did something about it.

4. Sing Street

Pure bliss, especially if you have ever played in a rock band at any point in your life. John Carney has a knack for pairing catchy pop gems with painful coming-of-age stories, from the hopeless romantics of Once to the struggling songwriters in Begin Again. Sing Street is his best film, with his most memorable soundtrack of original songs and his most charming characters, all occupying a loving tribute to '80s glam rock and power-pop alt-rock musical rebellions.

If there was any justice in Hollywood, actor Jack Reynor would have a healthy For Your Consideration campaign backing his brilliant turn as the older brother, Brendan, helping his younger sibling, Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) navigate his first crush and the obstacles that come with assembling a rock band. Sing Street is run-of-the-mill teen angst drama, but it's peppered with spectacular musical cues by Duran Duran, The Jam, The Cure and more, as well as original songs penned by Conor and his friends. It's one of the happiest times you can have at the movies in 2016.

3. Arrival

The smartest film you'll see all year, and one of the few 2016 movies that rewards its audience with repeating screenings. Why? Because director Denis Villeneuve structures his thrilling First Contact drama like a puzzle that can't fully be understood until the final piece is revealed in the very last scene of the movie. And once that drops, everything you thought you understood about Arrival changes, and you'll immediately want to go back to the beginning and experience it all over again.

The story's concept is familiar. Aliens arrive in our atmosphere, and park spaceships over major global cities. But instead of waging war, our planet's nations send a top linguist (Amy Adams) and a mathematician (Jeremy Renner) on board the ships to try and establish a shared method of communication. Arrival is an urgent and suspenseful thriller, though -- like all of the best science-fiction -- it says as much about our society today as it does about the future predicted on the screen. And that ending! It makes everything about this already wonderful movie that much better.

2. A Monster Calls

No movie made me cry harder in 2016 than J.A. Bayona's A Monster Calls. This one's personal, as I have a 12-year-old son who's going through some (though thankfully not ALL) of the emotional hardships and adolescent worries plaguing young Conor in this beautiful movie. But the sentiments shared in this gothic fairy tale are universal, which explains why audiences around the globe are responding with collective sobs into soggy handkerchiefs. This tear-jerker works on multiple levels.

Credit goes to Bayona, a masterful storyteller who resembles Steven Spielberg for the way he's able to marry raw emotion to large-screen spectacle. Much like in The Impossible, Bayona delivers eye-popping visual effects (here, a living tree monster with endless stories and Liam Neeson's gruff cadence) and heart-pounding emotional twists. And Bayona's assisted by a fantastic young actor named Lewis MacDougall, who humanizes Conor's suffering and carries A Monster Calls over the finish line. Few movies have devastated me -- in a good way -- the way A Monster Calls did. I can't recommend this one highly enough.

1. La La Land

The movie I've been screaming about from my own personal mountaintop since I managed to screen it in September at the Toronto International Film Festival. La La Land is Hollywood movie magic. An effervescent, melancholic, romantic, heartfelt and joyous movie-going experience, it revives the idea of the Movie Musical (a genre long since abandoned by our industry's creative types) and updates it for a contemporary generation by telling them a familiar story about making it in Los Angeles. There are no golden tickets handed out by American Idol judges, no overnight sensations cashing in on their 15 minutes of fame. These are beautiful grinders, fighting and scratching for their chance... and sometimes regretting when they finally earn it.

Damien Chazelle is a genius. His Whiplash also led my year-end Top 10 when it was released in 2014, and his follow up exceeds all expectations. From his opening number in the middle of a Southern California traffic jam, Chazelle commands the screen and maneuvers his viewpoint through an impossibly delightful journey through first loves, creative frustrations, the birth and death of experimental jazz, grueling auditions and lost loves... all to a soundtrack of glorious and original show tunes.La La Land is the year's best movie, in my opinion. Now, tell me. What is your choice?

There has been an awful lot of villainy in 2016, with every week seemingly bringing a new reason to feel a tiny bit depressed. But while that's hard to stomach in the real world, some people are actually paid to act downright atrocious for our enjoyment, and plenty did it splendidly on screen over the last 12 months.

We've seen evil animals; some of the best actors on God's green Earth being given the chance to strut their stuff as scoundrels; and the return of one of the most iconic screen villains in cinematic history. So all in all it has been a pretty good year for the baddies. To celebrate, here are the 10 best movie villains of 2016, ranked.

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains some major spoilers for a variety of films that were released in 2016. We're not happy about it either, but unfortunately it's kind of built into the nature of the list. If you get to a movie you haven't seen, please just skip to the next one!

10) Darth Vader (Rogue One)

Even if you had a problem with Darth Vader's brief dalliance with comedy in his first scene in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the finale saw him right back to his destructive best. In fact, Darth Vader boarding the Rebel command ship and working his way through a dozen soldiers with poetic precision was right up there with the most heinously swashbuckling antics we've ever seen from him. And it was utterly glorious. Even Darth Vader's first appearance in Rogue One was the perfect reminder that he is in constant agony, and if he'd been in more scenes then he'd almost certainly rank higher on this list.

9) Kichijiro (Silence)

To call Kichijiro a full-on villain might be a little harsh. However, it's undeniable that he gets Andrew Garfield's Sebastiao Rodrigues and Adam Driver's Francisco Garrpe into increasingly perilous predicaments because of his treacherous antics (which also previously led to his entire family being burned to death). Kichijiro repeatedly pops up in Martin Scorsese's meditative period drama, seeking guidance and offering his help, only to immediately prove unreliable. But, despite giving up the two priests to Tokugawa shogunate and repeatedly renouncing his religion, Yosuke Kubozuka is still able to imbue Kichijiiro with a vulnerability that means you can't hate him.... even though you feel like you should.

8) Thora Thacker (Hail, Caesar!)

While Tilda Swinton plays both Thessaly and Thora Thacker, the feuding identical twin sister gossip columnists in Hail, Caesar! it was her work as the latter that was the most villainous. Keen to get a scoop, Thora tells Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin) that she's going to publish a story revealing that Baird Whitlock (George Clooney) had sex with Laurence Laurentz (Ralph Fiennes) in order to get his first big break. Unfortunately for Thora, Eddie has figured out that her source is actually Burt Gurney (Channing Tatum), who is a part of the Communist party and defected to Russia. If she uses him then Eddie could instantly tarnish her career, all of which immediately wipes the smug and fiendish smile off Thora's face... which even in just a handful of scenes Tilda Swinton was able to make stupendously annoying.

7) The Shark (The Shallows)

OK, I'll admit that the shark in The Shallows is overly vindictive and develops a borderline fetish for Blake Lively's Nancy Adams . Not only does it leap through the air like Michael Jordan to decimate a surfer, and scare the hell out of her, but you can practically hear its maniacal laugh as it stalks Nancy for most of the film's running time. That's exactly what makes it all the more satisfying when Nancy is able to overcome the shark, though, who impales itself on some particularly sharp metal bars that are sticking out of a buoy's anchor. If it had killed the seagull, then the shark probably would have to be number one on this year's villain list, but we're still giving it a lot of respect with the seven slot.

6) Ruby (The Neon Demon)

You don't really see Ruby (Jena Malone) turning into a villain in The Neon Demon. At first she appears to be the confidante that 16-year-old model Jesse (Elle Fanning) desperately depends on after just moving to Los Angeles. But what you really don't see coming is Ruby murdering Jesse. And what you really, really, really don't foresee is Ruby bathing in a bath full of Jesse's blood and seemingly eating at least a small section of her as part of her occult antics. And that's before we even get to her pleasuring herself with a corpse. It's the sort of stuff that you can never unsee, and while it's thought provoking and captivating it's mostly disturbing.

5) Douche (Sausage Party)

Nick Kroll was perfectly cast as Sausage Party's Douche, whose entire raison d'etre for being is destroyed when his nozzle is bent and he immediately becomes useless. Douche sets out to get revenge on both Frank (Seth Rogen) and Brenda (Kristen Wiig), who he blames for the incident, juicing up to become even bigger, stronger, and more violent. All of this gives Nick Kroll the freedom to go gloriously over the top and act, like, well, a douche. This is especially when it comes to his hoard of puns right at the climax of the film, and the way that he uses Ratatouille as an inspiration to control Darren (Paul Rudd)... just from a very, very different angle.

4) Assistant Mayor Bellwether (Zootopia)

It still breaks my heart that Assistant Mayor Bellwether was the mastermind behind the evil plot in Zootopia - mostly because Jenny Slate is amazing, and Bellwether's diminutive size and adorable voice just make you want to hug and pet the woolly headed creature for eternity. But that's exactly how she was able to get away with her dastardly plan, and what inspired it, too. Being under-appreciated and under-estimated leads Bellwether to frame her boss, Mayor Lionheart (JK Simmons), and convince Zootopia that the 10% of the population that are predators need to ostracized. Despite all that she still has the best movie hair of 2016, though.

3) Shere Khan (The Jungle Book)

Thanks to a combination of stunning visual effects, sound design (especially when it came to that deafening roar), and Idris Elba's imposing voice, The Jungle Book's Shere Khan was immediately menacing and terrifying when he first popped on screen in Jon Favreau's film. In fact, whenever he swaggered and sauntered into view you immediately knew that something bad was about to go down. Just look at what happened to poor Akela. Having overcome Baloo (Bill Murray), Bagheera (Ben Kingsley), and the pack of wolves led by Raksha (Lupita Nyong'o), Shere Khan finally looked set to kill Mowgli in The Jungle Book's finale. But clearly Shere Khan hasn't seen Batman Begins, because he doesn't check that he has sure footing, leading to his well-deserved fiery death.

2) Darcy (Green Room)

The most terrifying thing about the skinhead leader Darcy in Green Room is just how casual and putout he is by the entire incident that goes down in the film. Darcy feigns negotiations with the punk band Ain't Rights, who are trapped in the secluded Green Room that's surrounded by neo-Nazis, but really he has no problem having his goons kill them off one by one. It doesn't affect Darcy in the slightest. Since Darcy is portrayed so effortlessly by Patrick Stewart you know he could ratchet up the intensity and furor if he needed to, but he doesn't. Instead Darcy maintains a calm and calculated menace that you just can't take your eyes off of, and, as a result, you end up even more terrified and unsettled. It's this amazing performance and characterization that ranks him as our second favorite villain of 2016.

1) Howard (10 Cloverfield Lane)

What's more terrifying than a villain who actually thinks he's doing good? It turns out the answer to that question is found trapped in a cellar with John Goodman. In 10 Cloverfield Lane,Howard has purely positive intentions. He even rammed Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) off the road to save her life in the bunker. Allegedly. But it soon becomes clear that Howard isn't quite all he said he was, and after evidence arises that he abducted and murdered a girl years ago, Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.) and Michelle are caught trying to escape. Emmett's decision to take the blame results in a bullet to the head and him in a tub of perchloric acid. But despite his actions, the fact that Howard is so adamant that he's in the right - to such an extent that he becomes basically the dictator in their post-apocalyptic bunker - means he percolates from gentle giant to volatile beast (both of which Goodman is adept at performing). For a long time in 10 Cloverfield Lane you're not sure if he's a fully blown nut job conspiracy theorist or clairvoyant preparer, and its this mystery that keeps the sci-fi thriller on edge and afloat. It's also why, if there was any justice in the movie world, John Goodman would be a sure-fire Best Supporting Actor Oscar nominee for the performance. Especially since it would, somehow, be his first.

A perfect 5-star rating is hard to achieve. It SHOULD be hard to achieve, by design. Movies rarely are perfect, though we appreciate the ones that strive for greatness. And this year, though we handed out numerous 4.5-star grades to movies like Moana, American Honey, Hell or High Water and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, we only distributed 5-star ratings to eight films.

These, then, are the cream of the crop. They are the best films that the critics at CinemaBlend saw, the ones that made us go all the way to the top of our ratings scale and give out the perfect grade. Chances are you will read about these movies again as we start to publish our personal Top 10 lists on the site this week. So, how many of these perfect films did you see? And do you agree that, for 2016, these were as close to perfection as the year could manage?

Arrival

Denis Villeneuve, who is about to break it big with Blade Runner 2049 and a possible reboot of Dune, shows off his knack for intelligent science-fiction with this astounding contemplation of the global community's reaction to First Contact. Amy Adams plays a key linguist brought in to establish communication with an alien species, potentially preventing World War III in the process.

From our review:

The Nice Guys

Welcome back to the land of film noir, Shane Black! After a detour to the Marvel Cinematic Universe for Iron Man 3 with his frequent collaborator Robert Downey Jr., Black (Lethal Weapon, The Last Boy Scout) once again is telling a seedy detective yarn in his favorite city (Los Angeles) during his favorite time period (the dirty, grimy 1970s). Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe are a dream team for private dick jokes, the case is deliciously twisted, and Black's attention to period detail are to die for.

From our review:

La La Land

The other "Ryan Gosling in L.A." movie to come out this year, and one that's equally delightful, just in a different way. Whiplash director Damien Chazelle tries another musical, this one more traditional than his little-seen directorial debut Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench. Focused on the dreamers who chase impossible goals in Los Angeles, La La Land is drunk on the chemistry between Gosling and Emma Stone, and boasts the year's most memorable and rewarding soundtrack of original hits.

From our review:

Captain America: Civil War

You knew a superhero movie would have to make this list (and Deadpool came close to joining the ranks). This is the Golden Age of comic book adaptations, and Joe and Anthony Russo's Captain America: Civil War expertly continued to expand the tapestry that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe by: introducing new heroes; tearing apart existing heroes; bringing majestic Marvel storylines to life; and laying a strong foundation on which future MCU directors can build.

From our review:

High-Rise

Ben Wheatley makes odd, arresting and engrossing films, from Kill List (2011) to Sightseers (2012). With High-Rise, he pushes the envelope of what's expected from even a Wheatley movie, setting off a towering building where every floor promises something more bizarre than the next. Wheatley is an acquired taste, for sure, but those who dig him will no doubt be hungering for his next film, Free Fire, due in theaters in 2017.

From our review:

Zootopia

What a year for Walt Disney Animation. The studio behind Frozen and Wreck-It Ralph is ending very strong with Moana. But it also delivered a modern masterpiece with surprising cultural commentary in Zootopia, a story (on the surface) of a dedicated bunny doing everything she can to make it as a police officer on the streets of the title town. But dig down deep, and Zootopia talks at length about the labels that divide us, all in a colorful and exciting animated package that'll entertain the whole family.

From our review:

The Witch

For all the talk about 2016 being a disappointing year, the horror genre produced several winners. Only one, though, received a perfect 5-star grade from us, and that was Robert Eggers' New England folk tale, The Witch. Set in the 17th century, the story wonders if the responsible teenage daughter of a fractured family may or may not be possessed by an evil entity. There's also a gruff goat named Black Phillip, as if the central scares in the movie weren't terrifying enough. The end of The Witch will have you debating with friends for months.

From our review:

A Monster Calls

One of our most recent reviews, yet still, one of the best films of the year. We are huge fans of director J.A. Bayona on CinemaBlend, after he took us on incredible rides with The Orphanage and The Impossible. His new A Monster Calls is a total tear-jerker, with an astounding performance by young Lewis MacDougall as a boy losing his mom (Felicity Jones) to cancer. Bring tissues, but be prepared to love every frame of this masterpiece.

From our review:

Disney may not control the world (yet), but the studio continues to be a powerhouse in Hollywood. The House of Mouse provide a lot of offerings in 2016, from animated tales like Finding Dory to action blockbusters like Captain America: Civil War. Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that many of these movies were critically and commercially well received this year, and it paid off for them big time, as Walt Disney Studios has become the first studio to cross $7 billion globally in a year.

The company announced their record-breaking achievement today, noting that it was Rogue One: A Star Wars Story's global debut that pushed them over the edge, bringing in over $290 million over it first five days of release globally. Along with the previously mentioned movies, Zootopia, The Jungle Book, Doctor Strange, Moana and Star Wars: The Force Awakens (which was released in December 2015) were crucial to the studio hitting this impressive blockbuster milestone. The press release went on to note that Disney holds five of the top 10 films of the year globally, domestically and internationally. Thanks to their successful 2016, they also now hold five of the top six domestic openings in industry history (four of those being MCU movies), as well as holding four of the top five animated films of all time. Pixar and Marvel Studios also both crossed over $10 billion in "combined lifetimes grosses" for their movies.

While 2016 hasn't been a great year when it came to quality blockbusters, Walt Disney Studios largely managed to soar above all that. Okay, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention Alice Through the Looking Glass, which both underperformed commercially and earned a lot of negative reviews. The BFG's box office draw also wasn't as high as expected, though it did earn positive reviews. Still, the positive far outweighed the negatives as far as this studio is concerned. Other Disney movies that came out in 2016 included Pete's Dragon and Queen of Katwe, both of which did well for themselves critically.

You'd be hard pressed to find someone who didn't like at least one of the Disney movies that came out this year, whether it was watching a new version of Mowgli's journey through the jungle or witnessing former surgeon Stephen Strange becoming a powerful conjurer of the mystic arts. Looking ahead, it looks like 2017 could be another excellent year for them, as their heavy hitters include Beauty and the Beast, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Cars 3, Thor: Ragnarok and Star Wars: Episode VIII, among others. Rest assured, if the studio breaks past $8 billion in 2017, we'll be sure to let you know around this time next year.

If you're looking to add some Disney flair to your moviegoing experience this holiday season, Doctor Strange, Moana and Rogue One are still playing in theaters.

With 2016 slowly but surely drawing to a close, it's now time to stop and take a look back on cinema from the last twelve months. While most people have generally come to an overall consensus that this past year hasn't been great for a wide variety of reasons, 2016 hasn't slacked in the film department. To properly close out the year, the American Film Institute has officially announced its picks for the Top 10 movies of 2016. Here they are:

As you can see, the American Film Institute's Top 10 best movies of 2016 is nothing if not a prestigious ensemble. It's also in incredibly diverse selection of films, consisting of sci-fi epics like Arrival, visceral true stories like Hacksaw Ridge and Sully, the beautifully crafted musical La La Land, Martin Scorsese's period drama Silence, as well as several dark family dramas in the form of Moonlight, Fences, Hell Or High Water, and Manchester By The Sea. Finally, for the kids, the list is rounded out by Disney's incredible socially relevant animated feature Zootopia. There's something for every single type of moviegoer.

None of these AFI selections should really surprise anyone who spent a fair amount of time at the movies this year. The race to make it into the Top 10 selection of films in 2016 has become a highly contested competition, but all ten of these films definitely earned their spots. With the 2017 Oscar season in high gear, we can likely expect quite a few of these films to garner more honors over the course of the next few months.

Personally, I think quite a few of my own favorite movies from the last year didn't make the cut, and I look at that as a great sign. Even in the face of 2016's critical misfires (looking at you, Suicide Squad and X-Men: Apocalypse) there were so many amazing films this year that a Top 10 list wasn't even big enough to hold them. The American Film Institute made some impeccable choices this year, but let's not forget other overlooked darlings like Green Room, The Nice Guys, Swiss Army Man, and Finding Dory. If nothing else, it instills quite a bit of confidence with regards to what 2017 has in store for us.

What do you think of the American Film Institute's choices for 2016's top movies? Did your favorite film of the year make the cut? Let us know what you think in the comments section below so we can keep this dialogue going!

CinemaBlend will bring you any and all relevant news related to the year's best movies as more information becomes available to us. Stay tuned for more details!

It's definitely safe to say that 2016 has been a solid year for movies. Even in the face of a few blockbuster misfires, we've seen a lot of awesome films hit theaters over the course of the last twelve months. With the year coming to a close, the numbers have started to roll in, and we're really beginning to get a sense of which movies truly resonated with audiences. In fact, Google Play's five most popular films of the year have just been revealed. They are:

Google has officially announced the most popular movies of 2016 on Google Play, and it appears that Deadpool has topped the list. Following Deadpool is Star Wars: The Force Awakens -- which technically debuted in theaters in 2015, but became available for home release this year -- followed by Disney's wildly popular (and highly topical) Zootopia. Finally, rounding out the list is a duel between Marvel and DC's respective "vs." movies, with Captain America: Civil War taking the fourth place, while Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice gets the fifth place spot.

The overwhelming popularity of Deadpool is far from surprising. Wade Wilson's first silver screen adventure proved so successful with mainstream audiences when it debuted that it actually managed to become the highest grossing R-rated movie of all time. It only makes sense that such an immense degree of popularity would carry over into the film's Google Play release.

As it turns out, The Merc with the Mouth's popularity actually extended far beyond the silver screen. In addition to Deadpool taking the number one spot in the movie section, Google Play also announced that Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe -- one of the most iconic Deadpool graphic novels of all time -- took the number one spot in the Google Play books sections. It even managed to beat out popular literary works like The Girl on the Train, as well as Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

However, one look at this list should instantly tell you who the real winner of 2016 is: Disney. Despite the fact that 20th Century Fox's Deadpool garnered the number one spot in terms of raw popularity, three out of five of Google Play's most popular films (The Force Awakens, Zootopia and Civil War) were produced by Disney this year. With Disney Animation, Marvel and Lucasfilm slated to release several films over the course of the next twelve months, it's entirely likely that Google Play's 2017 rankings could look similar to this year's when all is said and done. We will just have to wait and see.

We will bring you all of the latest and greatest news concerning the performances of 2016's best movies as new information becomes available to us. Stay tuned for more awesome details!

Netflix has a pretty good lineup of movies and TV shows headed to their list of screening options in September. Those looking to do a Jaws marathon will get their chance. And if you're a season behind on The Walking Dead, you'll have your chance to get caught up.

Below is the list of what's coming to Netflix streaming. Dates and titles are subject to change:

September 1

The Amityville Horror (2005) - September 1

Babel (2006) - September 1

Bayou Maharajah: The Tragic Genius of James Booker (2013) - September 1

Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991) - September 1

Bratz: The Movie (2007) - September 1

Burn, Burn, Burn (2015) - September 1

Cats & Dogs (2001) - September 1

Crashing: Season 1 - September 1

Defiance (2008) - September 1

Easy Fortune Happy Life (2009) - September 1

Europe's Last Great Wilderness (2015) - September 1

The Fierce Wife (2010) - September 1

Footloose (1984) - September 1

Full Out (2015) - September 1

Game Winning Hit: Season 1 - September 1

Heartland: Season 7 - September 1

Hellevator: Season 1 - September 1

Hoot (2006) - September 1

Hope Floats (1998) - September 1

I Am the Ambassador: Season 1 ­ NETFLIX EXCLUSIVE - September 1

Indochina's Wild Heart (2015) - September 1

The IT Crowd: Series 5 - September 1

Jaws (1975) - September 1

Jaws 2 (1978) - September 1

Jaws 3 (1983) - September 1

Jaws: The Revenge (1987) - September 1

Joyful Noise (2012) - September 1

Keepers of the Game (2016) - September 1

Last Holiday (2006) - September 1

Lucky Days: Season 1 - September 1

Man on Wire (2008) - September 1

Milk Money (1994) - September 1

Practical Magic (1998) - September 1

Road Trip (2000) - September 1

Sam Kinison: Breaking the Rules (2000) - September 1

Saving Private Ryan (1998) - September 1

Scary Movie 2 (2001) - September 1

Shameless (U.S.): Season 5­-6 - September 1

Stomp the Yard (2007) - September 1

Sweeney Todd (2007) - September 1

Top Gun (1986) - September 1

True Grit (1969) - September 1

U­571 (2000) - September 1

The Wicker Man (2006) - September 1

Wild Madagascar (2015) - September 1

The Womanizer: Season 1 - September 1

The Year of Happiness and Love: Season 1 Avail 9/2/16 - September 1

Baby Daddy: Season 5 - September 1

Chef's Table: France ­ NETFLIX ORIGINAL - September 1

Kazoops!: Season 1 ­ NETFLIX ORIGINAL - September 1

Kulipari: An Army of Frogs ­ NETFLIX ORIGINAL - September 1

Narcos: Season 2 ­ NETFLIX ORIGINAL - September 1

Young & Hungry: Season 4 - September 1

Week of September 4

Crash (2004) - September 6

The Finest Hours (2015) - September 6

Hard Target 2 (2016) - September 6

Honey 3 (2016) - September 6

R.L. Stine's Mostly Ghostly: One Night in Doom House (2016) - September 6

The Blacklist: Season 3 - September 7

Galavant: Seasons 1­-2 - September 7

Supergirl: Season 1 - September 10

Week of September 11

Extremis (2016) ­ NETFLIX ORIGINAL - September 13

Hawaii Five­-0: Season 6 - September 13

London Has Fallen (2015) - September 13

Goldie & Bear: Season 1- September 14

Sample This (2012) - September 15

The Walking Dead: Season 6 - September 15

Cedric The Entertainer: Live from the Ville ­ NETFLIX ORIGINAL - September 16

Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made (2015) - September 16

The White Helmets (2016) ­ NETFLIX ORIGINAL - September 16

3 Days to Kill (2014) Luther: Season 4 - September 17

Week of September 18

Call the Midwife: Series 5 - September 19

Gotham: Season 2 - September 19

Colliding Dreams (2016) - September 20

New Girl: Season 5 - September 20

Zootopia (2016) - September 20

Bones: Season 11 - September 22

Easy: Season 1 ­ NETFLIX ORIGINAL - September 22

Wallander: Series 4 - September 22

Audrie & Daisy (2016) ­ NETFLIX ORIGINAL - September 23

Iliza Shlesinger: Confirmed Kills - September 23

Last Man Standing: Season 5 - September 23

Longmire: Season 5 ­ NETFLIX ORIGINAL - September 23

VeggieTales in the House: Season 4 ­ NETFLIX ORIGINAL - September 23

Portlandia: Season 6 - September 24

River (2016) - September 24

Week of September 25

Family Guy: Season 14 - September 25

Margaret Cho: PsyCHO (2015) - September 25

The Fosters: Season 4 (Part A) - September 28

The Imitation Game (2014) - September 28

Amanda Knox (2016) ­ NETFLIX ORIGINAL - September 30

Marvel's Luke Cage: Season 1 ­ NETFLIX ORIGINAL - September 30

Scream: Season 2 - September 30

On the movie side of things, we get four Jaws movies, the original included, Top Gun and Footloose among the old school offerings, along with some great movies like Saving Private Ryan, True Grit and U571. On the 90s front, get ready for Milk Money, Hope Floats, Practical Magic and Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey (which turned 25 this year, believe it or not.) Among the newer movies, parents will be happy to know that Zootopia is on the way.

For the TV fans, we have the latest season of The Walking Dead, Supergirl, Gotham and The Blacklist. And latest but certainly not least, we have the first season of Marvel's Luke Cage to look forward to. That's the kind of event you'll probably want to clear the weekend for.

See what came to Netflix streaming in August here.

By all accounts, this summer blockbuster season has been a disappointment. But that hasn't stopped people from flocking to the theaters. Five of the current Top 10 movies on the 2016 box office charts were released over the summer... though that means that an additional five movies that came out long before the usually lucrative summer season managed to strike gold. The data suggests that the summer no longer stands as the only time in which a movie can hit and hit big. Deadpool collected bank in February, as did Zootopia. Meanwhile, movies that clung to traditional hot spots -- like Independence Day: Resurgence -- suffered under the weight of mediocre reviews and apathetic crowds.

We recently looked ahead at the 21 movies that we hope will revive 2016 after this lackluster summer frame. But before we put the summer season in the books, let's look back at the 10 box office winners of 2016 so far. These are not movies that managed the most profit, because they kept their budgets down. These are just the 10 movies, according to Box Office Mojo, that have sold the most tickets in 2016 so far. How many of these did you see? If you skipped them, tell us why in the comments section below.

Kung Fu Panda 3

Released back in January, the animated Kung Fu Panda 3 demonstrated real staying power for the Jack Black-led franchise, which quietly dominated the early frame of 2016 to the tune of $143 million. Even better for the series, this sequel did gangbuster business overseas, pushing the global box office take to $519 million, all but guaranteeing that a fourth Kung Fu Panda will be in the works before we know it. Even better, this movie was good. Quality is not being sacrificed by a series pandering to little kids. It's not Pixar, but it's far better than your average animated feature film.

X-Men: Apocalypse

With all due respect to Bryan Singer, I completely forgot there was an X-Men movie in theaters this summer until I started putting this list together. Hitting theaters over the Memorial Day weekend, Singer's follow up to the popular X-Men: Days of Futures Past pushed its domestic cume to $155.4 million -- good for seventh place (out of nine films) on the overall X-Men scale. Not great. These mutants were outclassed by another foul-mouthed Merc, who'll show up much later on this list.

Suicide Squad

The jury is still out on David Ayer's Suicide Squad. As we have covered in recent weeks, critics weren't overwhelmed by the DC super-villain team up, but audiences continue to head to theaters to check it out. So far, Squad has earned nearly $238 million at the box office, but the night is young, as they say. We recently reported that Suicide Squad was expected to lead the box for a third weekend, and there's no real competition on the horizon. Could it eventually overtake Batman v Superman as DC's top earner this year? Would that be a total shock?

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

This one was supposed to be a slam dunk. Putting Batman (Ben Affleck) into his Superman sequel, Zack Snyder was combining, arguably, the two most popular superheroes on the planet in one movie for the first time. With Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) to boot! And yet, here _Dawn of Justice _sits, at number 7 on the annual Top 10, with it looking likely that it'll get passed by Suicide Squad in weeks. What happened? The post-mortem continues, because there are several reasons Dawn of Justice only earned $330 million domestically to date. Plus, with Rogue One, Fantastic Beasts and Doctor Strange all on the way, is it possible BvS isn't even in the yearly Top 10 when all is said and done?

The Secret Life of Pets

When it comes to animated movies, if you build it (and it's halfway decent), they will come. Families need distractions in the summer season, because when it's hot, two hours in the air conditioning watching ANYTHING will do. That being said, with $340 million in tickets sold domestically, Secret Life tapped into a rabid audience... to the point where we already have movement on a Secret Life of Pets 2.

Zootopia

From this point forward, you are going to hear a recurring word on this list: Disney. The Mouse House is having an incredible year, diversifying its successes across its various properties, from Marvel to Pixar, to its own traditional animation. Zootopia, which has earned $341 million, is an original idea set in a city populated by domesticated animals. But it was the spunk of Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), the smarmy charms of Nick Wild (Jason Bateman), and the creativity of the film's vision that kept crowds returning week after week to enjoy this incredible feature.

The Jungle Book

Switching over to live-action -- well, sort of -- Jon Favreau's Disney remake The Jungle Book crushed the competition this spring with its vivid CGI interpretation of the classic Disney cartoon. Not a full-blown musical, The Jungle Book mixed some familiar tunes into the more mature telling of an orphaned boy who's raised by wild animals. In my opinion, the stellar 3D helped sell a ton of extra tickets, leading to a $363 million haul and a fourth-place landing on the charts to date.

Deadpool

How did this happen? The superhero movie no one wanted to make became the foul-mouthed comedy no one wanted to miss. Credit Ryan Reynolds and director Tim Miller for continuing to believe in the unorthodox screenplay by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, turning Deadpool into a $363 million smash hit in the United States. The movie also devoured overseas records, and paved the way for Deadpool 2, which likely will build on this film's success by introducing fan favorites such as Cable and Domino.

Captain America: Civil War

Essentially The Avengers 2.5, Civil War rounds up almost every available Marvel hero into a battle of wills over the Sokovia Accords, basically pitting Captain America (Chris Evans) against Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) in a battle that is both personal and global. Earning $407 million to date, Captain America is the fourth-highest grossing Marvel movie, but not this year's highest-grossing film. That shocked me. I'm even more surprised, truthfully, at the movie that pushed Civil War from the top of its perch.

Finding Dory

Pixar swims to the top of the ranks with the unexpectedly brilliant Finding Dory. Not that I expected Finding Dory to flop. Pixar has set a standard, and even their disappointments are generally pleasing to a certain extent. But so much time had passed since Finding Nemo, and I wasn't sure how hungry audiences were for the further adventures of Ellen Degeneres' forgetful fish. Well, Dory has banked an impressive $477 million domestically, making it the movie, to beat for the rest of 2016.

The movies that just missed the Top 10

The films that almost made the Top 10, and still might by the time they are finished playing out in theaters, include:

_Star Trek Beyond _- $142 million

Jason Bourne - $131 million

Central Intelligence - $126 million

The Legend of Tarzan - $125 million

Ghostbusters -- $122.6 million

The jury's still out on 2016. While there have been a number of financially successful movies -- several of them from Disney -- we have yet to be blown out of the water by a steady stream of movies flooding the local multiplexes, and instead, spend too much time debating why films like Warcraft and Popstar failed to find larger audiences.

One complaint we keep hearing from readers is that there's nothing good to see this year, be it in theaters or at home. Well, we want to course correct that line of thinking and give you the Best Movies of 2016, So Far! These are the films that knocked our socks off, as chosen by the writers and editors on CinemaBlend. How many of these have you seen? And what's your favorite movie of 2016 so far? Let us know in the comments section.

Captain America: Civil War

The MCU kicked off Phase Three in May with Captain America: Civil War, and it still remains the year's best, most action-packed blockbuster Despite its large cast, the movie never felt overcrowded, instead managing to give every character enough time to shine while still keeping the focus largely on Steve Rogers (Chris Evans). The movie also provided the MCU's most thought-provoking story yet thanks to the heroes' ideological conflict. All that, along with excellent visuals and a compelling antagonist, cement Captain America: Civil War not only as 2016's greatest hits, but a superhero movie that I will always remember fondly. (Adam Holmes)

The Nice Guys

It's been nearly 30 years since the release of Lethal Weapon, but writer/director Shane Black has not lost a single ounce of steam. It's why he can still bring us amazing films like The Nice Guys, and another genius buddy duo in the form of Ryan Gosling's Roland March and Russell Crowe's Jackson Healy. Black's enthusiasm and love for the detective genre is present in every frame, as the twisty-turny investigation through 1970s Los Angeles is just as wild and engaging as the mad ensemble of lead and supporting characters. It ranks among Black's best work, and that says a lot. (Eric Eisenberg)

Deadpool

Superhero movies are all the rage, which is why there was no better time for Deadpool to arrive on the scene and figuratively crap all over this love-fest, while simultaneously contributing to the genre in all the right ways. Delivering sarcasm, vulgar snark and a side of vengeance, Ryan Reynolds' filthy-mouthed character proved it's possible to be an R-rated anti-hero and also be undeniably lovable. What's more, the Tim Miller movie was funny, entertaining, romantic and full of action, all on a relatively modest budget. With so many superhero movies lined up, Deadpool thought outside the proverbial box and gave us one of the best movies we've seen this year. (Kelly West)

Sing Street

The most fun I've had at the movies this year, and in the wake of Civil War, Deadpool and The Nice Guys, that's really saying something. Being a child of the '80s, I have constructed a personal shrine to the John Hughes catalogue in my cinematic geek heart, and Sing Street director John Carney presses all the necessary Hughes-esque coming-of-age buttons as he constructs this shaggy, underdog musical comedy. It's all about a girl... because it's ALWAYS about a girl. But the band that young Dubliner Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) puts together to impress the girl is a delightful patchwork of '80s loser clichés. The soundtrack is tops, with tracks by Duran Duran and The Jam keeping your toes tapping, while Jack Reynor makes a legitimate case for a Best Supporting Oscar nomination for his turn as the world-weary and wise older brother, Brendan. I can't stop singing the praises of Sing Street. See it, and find out why. (Sean O'Connell)

Zootopia

It's not every day when a Disney movie drops an ethnic slang joke (albeit a relatively tame one) in the first 10 minutes of the film. In fact, the only day that's ever happened is the day you saw Zootopia. The movie successfully walks a tightrope between being the Disney movie that you expect it to be, with cute and friendly talking animals, and being the last thing you'd expect it to be, dealing with incredibly mature topics that most kids won't even recognize until they see it again a decade from now. And they will see it again a decade from now because Zootopia will stand the test of time. (Dirk Libbey)

Everybody Wants Some!!

Everybody Wants Some!! is another classic from Richard Linklater, and further proof that he is one of the greatest American auteurs of all time. Set in Texas, 1980, it revolves around the opening weekend of school for a college baseball team that doesn't really know what the members are going to do with their lives. It explores these weighty existential themes and quandaries with the energy and vigor of a catchy pop song, though, as it randomly meanders and poetically builds in an expertly crafted fashion. A helping hand to anyone feeling lost or overawed, Everybody Wants Some!! is subtly profound, wonderfully human, and constantly fun and entertaining. (Gregory Wakeman)

Hail, Caesar!

We weren't sure what to expect from Hail, Caesar! when we stepped into the theater. We knew George Clooney would be wearing a toga and we knew Old Hollywood would be celebrated (as well as mocked via glorious comedic undertones), but we didn't know that Josh Brolin would be such a delight as a slouching studio boss nearing the end of his rope but still having enough tenacity to solve a slew of problems that would bowl the average person over. We didn't know that a tap dancing Channing Tatum would bring us so much joy, or that Alden Ehrenreich's cheeky drawl would be less amusing than the slew of silly lasso tricks he roped together. While Tilda Swinton might be better at reading for Max Richter albums than she is at playing multiple Hedy Lemarr-types, we overall have few complaints about the amusing Hail, Caesar! The Coen brothers have mastered comedy just as well as they have mastered drama over the years, and it says something that a pleasurable but maybe overly winding comedy of theirs, perhaps not one of their greatest efforts, but satisfying, nonetheless, can make one of our top picks of the year. (Jessica Rawden)

Green Room

Punk rockers, neo-Nazis, expert use of violence, and an unending sense of palpable dread. These are the qualities that make Jeremy Saulnier's single-location (for the most part) thriller Green Room so impeccable. A master class in suspense filmmaking, Green Room is the sort of rare movie that keeps you leaning forward in your seat biting your nails from start to finish. Brutal without seeming excessive, and dark without ever feeling overbearing, Green Room definitively proved what amazing things Anton Yelchin could've done with his already stellar career had it not been for his untimely death earlier this summer. (Conner Schwerdtfeger)

10 Cloverfield Lane

Paramount landed a stealth blow at the box office early this year when 10 Cloverfield Lane arrived out of nowhere. With a tight trio of performances, an ever-increasing atmosphere of doubt and fear, and the biggest third act twist that's been shown on the screen in a good long while, 10 Cloverfield Lane keeps you captive for its entirety. Most importantly, director Dan Trachtenberg's thriller truly proved the worth of the Cloverfield brand, establishing it as an anthology ready for another hungry young director to thrill the world and make a name for themselves. (Mike Reyes)

Last week, those in the know expected The Secret Life of Pets to put up $70 million at the box office. The movie appears to have broken $100 million. At the same time, Finding Dory became the highest grossing domestic movie of the year so far. 2016 has been a phenomenal year for animated films, and it's barely more than half over. At this point, it's on track to be the biggest year for animation that we've ever seen.

It seems that every wide release animated film has put up massive numbers at the box office. From Kung Fu Panda 3 through Zootopia, even The Angry Birds Movie has been a success. And there are several more animated features left to bow. Here's why animation is king of the box office in 2016, and why 2016 will be the biggest year ever for the art form.

Animated Films Have Already Made More Than $1 Billion

The highest grossing box office year for animation was 2013, which saw over $1.6 billion in ticket sales thanks to having three films in the top 10: Frozen, Despicable Me 2, and Monsters University. This year, there are four films currently in the top 10, and animation has already grossed over $1.1 billion, with half a year left to make up the difference. It won't take much for the remaining features combined to be successful. Kubo and the Two Strings will see one more major animation release this summer and even if it doesn't set the box office on fire, it should set everything up for a massive holiday season.

Disney Continues To Be Disney, aka King

When it comes down to it, the Disney name is still king in the world of animation. While other studios have occasionally jumped ahead of the Mouse House, Disney has taken their licks and learned how to improve. It's difficult to not argue that Disney is going through one of its stronger periods right now. Zootopia has grossed over $1 billion worldwide, making it one of the biggest hits the studio has ever seen. Finding Dory is now the highest grossing movie of the year, and the studio isn't done yet.

A New Disney Princess Is On Her Way

The Disney princess has been a popular character since the 1930s. However, in the modern era, people are looking for something different and special from this cinematic mainstay. While Disney's last princesses turned the classic formula on its head, the next one will look very different than her predecessors. Moana will be the first pacific islander princess character, adding an aspect of ethnicity that will be a breath of fresh air for the brand. This will attract both the Disney fans, and those who want to see this new take on the studios most popular brand. If that doesn't work, it has The Rock, too.

There's Quantity, As Well As Quality

There's one simple reason that 2016 is looking to the biggest year ever in the history of animation, the sheer number of films is ridiculous. There are now four major animation studios releasing films annually: Disney, Dreamworks, Illumination, and Laika. Only, Laika, the stop-motion animation studio, is only releasing one film this year. Between them, eight films were planned for 2016, and only half of them have been released so far. This means that the current box office total for animation could literally double before the end of the year.

Animated Films Have Had Legs

It's one thing for animated films to be popular out of the gate, but they've been successful not just on opening weekends, but in the long term. Of the 32 weeks that have passed in 2016, animated films have been number one at the box office for 11 of them, more than a third, including the last five in a row. They even have the edge over the much-lauded comic book movie, which has seen 10 weeks worth of box office winners. However, while the comic book movies begin strong, they also fall fast, while the animated films have remained consistent over longer periods.

Non-Animated Movies Have Failed to Live Up to Expectations

Part of the reason that animated films have remained so popular is because the competition hasn't been very successful this year. Live-action movies expected to make a splash, like Independence Day: Resurgence, The BFG, or The Divergent Series: Allegiant, which should have at least won their opening weekend, have not drawn the audience that they were expected to, meaning that the crowds have gone back to familiar ground. The only movies that have been exceeding expectations have been the animated ones, like The Secret Life of Pets. All of these have helped to make 2016 a banner year so far, and the best seems yet to come.