I’ve been going on for ages about what a treasure trove the Disney+ streaming service really is! Sure it has The Mandalorian and a ton of Marvel series on the horizon but it also boasts an unrivalled back catalogue of Disney masterpieces.
Sure you’ll find Frozen, Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast, and yes! its always amazing to revisit some of these classics. But, one of the things that make us love Disney+ the most is that its also brimming with lesser-known films that may not have performed well at the box office but are still not-to-be-missed!
That’s why we were pretty jazzed with Broadbandchoices emailed us with a list of 10 Disney+ shows that maybe didn’t do well at the box office but that gel with audiences. Check out their stats and then let’s take a look at the films!
With a box office return $69 million over its original budget, this movie performed well and tested positively with audiences (check out the 92% approval ratings above.) However, it has always been slightly under the radar. And we here at MickeyBlog don’t understand why because this film is AMAZING! David Spade plays the role of Emperor Kuzco who is turned into a llama by his advisor Yzma (played by the one and only Eartha Kitt) along with her henchman Kronk (Patrick Warburton.) Now its up to Kuzco to form an unlikely alliance with a peasant named Pacha (John Goodman) to right this wrong!
The film, which came out in 2000 is definitely worth a watch!
This movie came out back in 1986 and it’s budget of $14,000,000 is in stark contrast to some of Disney and Marvel’s more recent productions. That being said its an absolute classic and one of our favourites if for no other reason than Ratigan who is one of the best Disney baddies ever! It’s essentially a Sherlock Holmes stories with mice and follows the story of a little mouse girl who’s father was abducted by a peg-legged bat. She enlists the help of Basil of Baker Street and together they uncover a crime ring so big that it goes all the way to the Crown!
Released back in 1986, this film wasn’t a big performer but has remained a favorite with audiences and critics alike!
With big names like John Travolta and Miley Cyrus bolt earned over $309,000,000 at the box office back in 2008 which is no minor feat. However, it has always remained one of Disney’s slightly under-the-radar films. This is a shame really as the film has a lot of soul. It tells the story of Bolt, a dog who is one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. The only problem is that he has problems distinguishing between real life and the character he plays. When he’s accidentally shipped away to New York leaving behind his owner Penny he must harness his true superpowers to find a way home.
Fantasia 2000 is sort of the marmite of Disney films. Viewers either love it or hate it.As the title suggests it was released in 2000 with a budget of $80,000,000 and only managed to eek by with $90,874,570 at the box office. That being said, it is still worth checking out on Disney+ as there are some incredible moments. The film was inspired by Walt Disney’s vision of Fantasia as a continuing work-in-progress and features an innovative blend of music and animation.
Pete’s Dragon was in Disney’s first round of live-action remakes and upon re-watching it recently I was reminded what a delightful film it truly was. It follows the story of Mr. Meacham (Robert Redford) who would delight local children with tales of the fierce dragon that lived in the deep woods in the Pacific Northwest. His daughter Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard) was a forest ranger who grew up with his tall tales. But when she meets Pete (Oakes Fegley) a mysterious 10-year-old with no family and no home who claims to live in the woods Grace and a local child Natalie set out to determine whether there’s any truth to the mysterious legend!
Treasure Planet is an absolute study in how an underperforming film gains momentum after it closes in theaters. The film was released back in 2002 and actually, a resulted in a loss at the box office, it has been quite the Disney sleeper hit in the years since. The film is essentially ‘Treasure Island’ set in space and follows Jim on a fantastic journey in a parallel universe aboard a space galleon. Jim discovers that his trusted friend Silver is actually a scheming pirate who is planning a mutiny. Jim has to leave his boyhood behind to become a man and face down the mutineers. By doing so he discovers a treasure greater than he ever imagined.
This is a great film to catch up on now because rumour has it Disney might be eyeing a remake.
This film from the 90s follows the Australian Adventures of the Rescue Aid Society as they brave the Outback in a quest to save a boy named Cody along with a stunning eagle Marahute from an evil poacher! With actors like Bob Newhart, John Candy, George C. Scott and Eva Gabor contributing voices for the film, it is a real treat – definitely, one worth revisiting.
The only Pixar movie on our list, this film did well when it came out but NOT by Pixar standards. The film tells a heartwarming story about the power of confronting and overcoming your fears and discovering who you truly are along the way. The film asks the question, “What if the asteroid that forever changed life on Earth missed the planet completely and dinosaurs never became extinct. Under this premise, an apatosaurus named Arlo makes an unlikely human friend and While travelling through a harsh and mysterious landscape he learns the power of confronting his fears and discovers what he is truly capable of.
Why more people don’t love this movie is beyond me. Meet The Robinsons came out in 2007 to modest box office returns. It told the story of Lewis, a young inventor who embarks on a time-travelling mission to save the future and find the family he never knew. With the help of the Robinson family, Lewis learns to keep moving forward and never stop believing.
When Muppets Most Wanted came out in 2014, it failed to have the luster of The Muppet Movie which was a big sleeper hit for Disney. However, it is still a very charming film. The sequel takes the entire gang on a global tour where they are selling out venues in Berlin, Madrid and London. That is until they find themselves entangled in an international crime caper. The film features cameos from Ricky Gervais, Tina Fey, Ty Burrell, and more!
So if you’ll be spending some time indoors this memorial day weekend, be sure to give one of these awesome titles a try. What they lack in fanfare they make up for in awesome stories, loveable characters and whimsical settings!
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Melissa Roden
As an agent with MickeyTravels and a Blogger with MickeyBlog I enjoy sharing, tips, tricks and advice to help readers and clients get the most out of your time with Disney. When I'm not helping clients plan their perfect holidays or nab those hard-to-get discounts you can find me enjoying a Dole Whip at Disney World with my daughter! Reach out for a FREE, no obligation quote at 1.800.801.4025 or find me on Facebook!
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Pete’s Dragon (2016)
Pete’s Dragon (2016)
Meet the Robinsons 
