10 Near-Perfect Disney Movies That No One Remembers Today

From an animated steampunk adventure like Treasure Planet to a vintage suspense like Escape to Witch Mountain, these Disney movies are near-perfect in their storytelling. Although they have been largely overlooked, these near-masterpieces deserve their moment to shine. Here are 10 near-perfect Disney movies that no one remembers today.

'Sky High' (2005)

Being superhuman comes with its own pros and cons and special accommodations. One interesting consideration taken in Sky High is contemplating where extraordinarily-abled young people would go to school. Unlike Superman or Spider-Man, who had to try to blend in at a normal high school, the students at Sky High benefit from attending an alma mater made specifically for superheroes.

Sky High features Kelly Preston and Kurt Russell as the superhero parents of the main character, Will Stronghold (Michael Angarano). When Will turns out to be a late bloomer, getting his superpowers later than expected, the movie explores family dynamics with an added twist. There are excellent super villain moments, fun story arcs, and some exciting action scenes. Full of meta humor that comic book fans will appreciate, Sky High is one of the best and most underrated superhero movies of the 2000s.

'Atlantis: The Lost Empire' (2001)

Like a brilliant night sky full of stars, Atlantis: The Lost Empire glitters with amazing talent. Michael J. Fox, Leonard Nimoy, James Garner, Cree Summer, and David Ogden Stiers lend their acting prowess to the film and make the characters leap off the screen and feel real and dimensional. In Atlantis: The Lost Empire, audiences are invited to join a crew of intrepid explorers as they search for the lost city of Atlantis. Some have pure motives, and some more nefarious, but all of them must decide what to do when they actually find what they are looking for.

Atlantis: The Lost Empire is a solid adventure movie from start to finish. It has intriguing viewpoints about exploration, colonization, and cultural differences. Fans of films like Stargate and Indiana Jones will appreciate its ensemble dynamics and otherworldly moments. Although it did not do well at the box office, Atlantis: The Lost Empire has been slowly accumulating a fan base as cinema fans realize that this lost treasure is worth rediscovering.

'Treasure Planet' (2002)

What if Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island were in space? That is the fascinating premise for the 2002 animated film Treasure Planet. Seafaring brigands are traded in for space pirates and distant islands for faraway solar systems. Treasure Planet follows the same iconic characters of Jim Hawkins (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and John Silver (Brian Murray) but with a highly imaginative and interesting sci-fi twist.

Treasure Planet has gorgeous visuals and unique characters. It is an inventive and updated telling of Stevenson’s classic tale that connects the lore to a new generation. The powerful themes of longing for a life better than the one given, trusting someone only to be betrayed, and the seductive double-edged sword of riches never grow old. Fans of sci-fi, steampunk, and adventure sagas should leave room on their watchlist for Treasure Planet.

'Escape to Witch Mountain' (1975)

Escape to Witch Mountain is a thrilling film for families that has held up remarkably well. The deliberate choice to have a lack of soundtrack for most of the scenes adds intensity and is a marked break from the studio credited with the “Mickey Mousing” music technique. Tracking like a cerebral mystery, Escape to Witch Mountain has a dramatic tension that horror fans will appreciate.

In Escape to Witch Mountain, a young brother and sister named Tony (Ike Eisenmann) and Tia (Kim Richards) are taken in by an eccentric millionaire. The two soon learn that his generosity does not come with charity, and he wants to use the two children’s unique psychic abilities for his own financial gain. The mystery inside Escape to Witch Mountain makes for an interesting slow burn, and there is an interesting plot twist along the way. Though Escape to Witch Mountain had a remake of sorts in 2009 with Race to Witch Mountain starring Dwayne Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, and Alexander Ludwig, the newer film is more of an action movie, whereas the OG is straight up suspense.

'Mickey's Christmas Carol' (1983)

Walt Disney’s most iconic character, Mickey Mouse, takes on the role of a lifetime in Mickey's Christmas Carol. An animated adaptation of Charles Dickens’ infamous novella, Mickey (Wayne Allwine) plays Bob Cratchit, and several other familiar Disney faces take on additional roles. Of course, who else could play Ebenezer Scrooge than Scrooge McDuck (Alan Young). Even though it's a bit on the nose, er, beak, it is a brilliant choice and makes the film highly enjoyable.

With a runtime of a little less than half an hour, Mickey's Christmas Carol packs intentionality into every frame. It is a great introduction for children to Dickens’ work, and though it aims at a younger demographic, the film dilutes none of the story’s potency. Mickey's Christmas Carol is not only a stellar Christmas movie, but one of the best ‘80s kids' movies of all time.

'The Fox and the Hound' (1981)

A film that is guaranteed to make viewers laugh, cry, and feel a range of emotions is The Fox and the Hound. The story involves a young fox named Tod (Keith Coogan/Mickey Rooney) and a hound dog pup named Copper (Corey Feldman/Kurt Russell) who become friends. What begins as an innocent buddy relationship becomes fraught with pressures and prejudices as the two characters grow up and learn that they are supposed to be enemies.

The Fox and the Hound has absolutely gorgeous imagery and the stunning painted backgrounds that early Disney animated films were known for. Despite its more serious and dramatic moments, there are moments of warmth and humor in The Fox and the Hound, and it has great rewatchability. Though it is not one of Disney’s more widely known titles, it is a triumph nonetheless.

'Oliver & Company' (1988)

Another forgotten Disney movie that features talking animals and an unlikely friendship is Oliver & Company. This time, Disney writers gave Dickens’ work a modern makeover and set the main idea of Oliver Twist in present-day New York City. Oliver & Company tells the tale of the little kitten Oliver (Joey Lawrence) who falls in with a group of pickpocket dogs and their human owner, Fagin (Dom DeLuise).

Oliver & Company has catchy music and a distinct NYC energy. Billy Joel, Bette Midler, and Cheech Marin are just some of the talented voice cast members who bring Oliver & Company to life. This late ‘80s signature piece has some thrilling action sequences as well, and although it is not one of Disney’s most notable, it is far from being dismissible.

'Flubber' (1997)

Inspired by the 1961 Disney film The Absent Minded Professor, Flubber stars Robin Williams, Marcia Gay Harden, and Christopher McDonald. In the movie, Williams plays Professor Philip Brainard, a forgetful but ingenious person who invents a somewhat sentient substance he dubs “Flubber.” As with any revolutionary invention, there are those who want to steal such a creation for themselves, and Wilson Croft (McDonald) plays this archetype very well.

Flubber is a cute and fun movie that science enthusiasts and Robin Williams fans will enjoy. Though it gives more screen time to the Flubber and less to Williams than it should, it is still a neat choice for family movie night. Flubber has some surprising twists and an interesting robot-owner relationship with Weebo, who is voiced by Jodi Benson.

'Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey' (1993)

Talking dogs and cats get the real-life lens in Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey. Dogs Chance (Michael J. Fox) and Shadow (Don Ameche) are joined by their pet sibling, cat Sassy (Sally Field), as they go on a harrowing journey. When the three pets are left with a family friend as their owners temporarily move across the country, the three animals do not understand and break free, traversing thousands of miles of wilderness to reunite with their owners.

Like a fine wine, Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey has aged wonderfully for being over three decades old. In fact, it seems to only be getting better with time. The choice to use practical effects and refrain from using CGI has helped it retain a timeless quality and makes the movie captivating. Newer audiences can enjoy this classic gem as much as those who were lucky enough to see it upon its debut.

'Meet the Robinsons' (2007)

Like traveling into the future, viewers shouldn’t embark on watching Meet the Robinsons unless they are ready to go on an emotional roller-coaster ride. The quirky and charming animation offsets some incredibly dramatic and gripping moments in this criminally underrated masterpiece. In Meet the Robinsons, a young orphan named Lewis (Daniel Hansen) is an amateur inventor who desperately longs for a family. Lewis’ life is changed forever when he is taken on a trip into the future by Wilbur (Wesley Singerman).

Villains, dinosaurs, cool gadgets, and humor are all included in the 95-minute runtime of Meet the Robinsons. It is part fun sci-fi and tech movie and part poignant soliloquy about being trapped in the past versus moving forward into the future. Meet the Robinsons is one of Disney’s near-perfect but tragically forgotten films that was ahead of its time and deserves to have its moment in the spotlight.