10 Best Comfort Disney Animated Movies

Disney is famous for creating beloved animated classics that audiences want to return to again and again. Many people find a lot of comfort in Disney’s style, with its bright colors, iconic music and warm emotional morals. A big part of comfort is nostalgia, so people will all have their own favorites, but there are some Disney animated movies which are better suited to cheering people up in their lowest moments.

✕ Remove Ads

A good comfort movie should be easy to engage with. Disney often manages to provide some relatively low stakes drama that still delivers a heartwarming message about family, friendship or life in general. Some of the studio’s most comforting classics also have plenty of breezy humor to distract people, and some emotional songs for a cathartic release. The best Disney animated movies can break someone’s heart and put it back together again.

10 Lilo & Stitch (2002)

Lilo & Stitch Is One Of Disney’s Funniest Movies

lilo-stitch

Your Rating

10 stars9 stars8 stars7 stars6 star5 stars4 stars3 stars2 stars1 star Rate Now 0/10 Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

ScreenRant logo 8/10 9.4/10 Lilo & Stitch

Where to Watch

  • stream
  • rent
  • buy

Not available

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US Director Chris Sanders , Dean DeBlois Release Date June 21, 2002 Cast Chris Sanders , Daveigh Chase , Tia Carrere , Ving Rhames , David Ogden Stiers , Kevin McDonald , Jason Scott Lee , Kevin Michael Richardson

The 2000s were an interesting decade for Disney animated movies, as it marked a transition from the Disney renaissance of the 1990s to the blockbuster success of the 2010s with hits like Frozen and Moana. While other studios – namely Pixar and DreamWorks – were pioneering 3-D computer-generated animation, Disney took a little while longer to catch up with the times. This resulted in a few 2-D movies with plenty of throwback charm, like Lilo & Stitch.

✕ Remove Ads

Disney made a few 2-D movies with plenty of throwback charm in the 2000s, like
Lilo & Stitch
.

Lilo & Stitch could only ever have been in the early 2000s, as it uses Disney’s gorgeous style of the 1990s, but it tells a much more relatable and personal story than the studio’s grandiose princess movies. Lilo & Stitch makes a great comfort movie because it has so many ways of making its audience laugh, from the slapstick antics of Stitch to the odd-couple relationship of Jumba and Pleakley. It will be interesting to see how the Lilo & Stitch live-action remake tries to recapture the magic.

9 Coco (2017)

Coco’s Music Is Full Of Heart

Coco movie poster

Your Rating

10 stars9 stars8 stars7 stars6 star5 stars4 stars3 stars2 stars1 star Rate Now 0/10 Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

ScreenRant logo 8/10 8.6/10 Coco

Where to Watch

  • stream
  • rent
  • buy

Not available

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US Director Adrian Molina , Lee Unkrich Release Date October 27, 2017 Cast Gael García Bernal , Alanna Ubach , Anthony Gonzalez , Selene Luna , Jaime Camil , Edward James Olmos , Renee Victor , Sofía Espinosa , Benjamin Bratt , natalia cordova-buckley , Alfonso Arau

✕ Remove Ads

While Disney has always been known for its musical movies, the same can’t be said for Pixar. This is one thing that makes Coco stand out among Pixar’s best movies. Coco is a celebration of music and family, and an exploration of how a love of one can deepen and redefine a love of the other. While it’s known for the emotional gut-punch that it delivers toward the end, Coco also delivers on all the necessary fun and games as Miguel explores the land of the dead.

One of the most impressive things about Coco is the way it weaves music into the narrative. This is how the soulful refrain of “Remember Me” carries the weight of Miguel’s entire journey, and by extension, his family history. Coco masterfully balances light and dark. The skeletons are often used for “Merrie Melodies” style humor, but there are also some tender, life-affirming moments mixed in with the exploration of death.

✕ Remove Ads

8 Robin Hood (1973)

Robin Hood Is An Underrated Gem

Robin Hood Disney Movie Poster

Your Rating

10 stars9 stars8 stars7 stars6 star5 stars4 stars3 stars2 stars1 star Rate Now 0/10

Your comment has not been saved

Robin Hood

Where to Watch

  • stream
  • rent
  • buy

Not available

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US Director Wolfgang Reitherman Release Date November 8, 1973 Cast Peter Ustinov , Phil Harris , Brian Bedford , Terry-Thomas , Roger Miller , Pat Buttram , George Lindsey , Andy Devine

Robin Hood was produced during Disney’s so-called “dark era” of the 1970s and 1980s, when the studio faced an identity crisis and struggled to deliver animated movies that wowed audiences like their old classics. This is one reason why Robin Hood often gets overlooked, but it’s certainly a bright spot in the darkness. Robin Hood has the beautiful animation style of Lady and the Tramp, but its story is much more exciting.

Treasure Planet Atlantis_ The Lost Empire custom image Related 10 Most Underrated Disney Movies

Disney has plenty of highly-adored movies, but not every great animated picture from the legendary company gets its just desserts in pop culture.

Posts1

✕ Remove Ads

Robin Hood refreshes an old folk tale, which has been a reliable formula for Disney over the years. It populates the English story of Robin Hood with all manner of charming animals, with a fox as Robin, a lion as Prince John and a wolf as the Sheriff of Nottingham. There’s something comforting about Robin Hood‘s simplicity, with a sense of trouble-making adventure that makes room for plenty of laughs.

7 Aladdin (1992)

Aladdin Is Just As Much Fun For Adults

Aladdin 1992 Poster

Your Rating

10 stars9 stars8 stars7 stars6 star5 stars4 stars3 stars2 stars1 star Rate Now 0/10 Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

ScreenRant logo 8/10 9/10 Aladdin

Where to Watch

  • stream
  • rent
  • buy

Not available

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US Director Ron Clements , John Musker Release Date November 25, 1992 Cast Scott Weinger , Robin Williams , Linda Larkin , Jonathan Freeman , Gilbert Gottfried , Douglas Seale , Frank Welker , Brad Kane , Lea Salonga , Bruce Adler , Charlie Adler , Jack Angel , Corey Burton , Philip L. Clarke , Jim Cummings , Jennifer Darling , Debi Derryberry , Bruce Gooch , Jerry Houser , Vera Lockwood , Sherry Lynn , Mickie McGowan , Patrick Pinney , Phil Proctor Expand

Aladdin was produced during the peak of the 1990s Disney renaissance, and it’s one of the best movies of the era, alongside The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. What makes Aladdin particularly comforting is the sheer range of the comedy. Even for adult fans of Disney movies, Aladdin offers a lot of laughs, from the hilarious rage of Gilbert Gottfried’s Iago to the creative physical humor of the Magic Carpet.

Aladdin
offers a lot of laughs, from the hilarious rage of Gilbert Gottfried’s Iago to the creative physical humor of the Magic Carpet.

✕ Remove Ads

Robin Williams’ performance as the Genie is what makes Aladdin so unique, however. His heavily-improvised performance shows off the full range of his comedy chops, and it’s a joy to watch how the animation matches up with his exuberant nature. With the added bonus of some songs that should be belted out as loud as possible, Aladdin has a little bit of something for everybody.

6 Encanto (2021)

Encanto Overflows With Gorgeous Creativity

Your Rating

10 stars9 stars8 stars7 stars6 star5 stars4 stars3 stars2 stars1 star Rate Now 0/10 Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

ScreenRant logo 7/10 8.4/10 Encanto

Where to Watch

  • stream
  • rent
  • buy

Not available

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US Director Jared Bush , Byron Howard , Charise Castro Smith Release Date November 24, 2021 Cast Mauro Castillo , John Leguizamo , Carolina Gaitan , Rhenzy Feliz , Diane Guerrero , Wilmer Valderrama , Jessica Darrow , Stephanie Beatriz , Adassa , Alan Tudyk , Angie Cepeda , María Cecilia Botero , Maluma

Encanto is a stunning exhibition of Disney’s latest revolution in animation, with each frame overflowing with creativity. The magical gifts in Encanto open up endless possibilities, and Encanto has a lot of fun showing these gifts interacting with the beautiful landscapes. The Madrigal family house is just as entertaining as any of the characters, and it’s a joy to watch the inventive ways it expresses itself using tiles, bricks and furniture.

✕ Remove Ads

At the heart of Encanto is a classic underdog story, but Mirabel isn’t treated as lesser than her siblings. This seems like a subtle difference at first, but it reframes the entire story as one of personal development without any external forces piling pressure on Mirabel. She is brave and adventurous enough to take matters into her own hands even when she doesn’t have to.

5 Inside Out (2015)

Inside Out Has An Intelligent Emotional Philosophy

Inside Out (2015) Movie Poster

Your Rating

10 stars9 stars8 stars7 stars6 star5 stars4 stars3 stars2 stars1 star Rate Now 0/10 Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

ScreenRant logo 9/10 12 8.7/10 Inside Out

Where to Watch

  • stream
  • rent
  • buy

Not available

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US Director Pete Docter Release Date June 19, 2015 Cast Lewis Black , Mindy Kaling , Phyllis Smith , Amy Poehler , Bill Hader , Richard Kind , Kaitlyn Dias

✕ Remove Ads

Inside Out doesn’t shy away from the difficulties of life, nor does it encourage its young audience to simply put on a happy face and look for the positives. Instead, it carries a much more resonant and intelligent message that people need to be in touch with all their feelings, even the unpleasant ones. Inside Out offers children a symbolic way to understand their emotions, but it still has a lot to offer for older viewers.

A composite image of Riley looking excited in front of the emotions crammed together in a small space in Inside Out 2 Related Inside Out 3: Will It Happen? Everything We Know

Pixar’s imaginative exploration of emotions, Inside Out, has returned for a sequel, but will the popular franchise continue in Inside Out 3?

Posts

Although Inside Out 2 muddles the message a little, Inside Out suggests that all emotions boil down to a combination of a few key feelings, which is an interesting way of reinterpreting the broad span of human experience. While Inside Out can be strangely therapeutic, it also packs in plenty of jokes to keep things moving. A lot of this comes as a result of Joy and Sadness’ bizarre journey through the unexplored corners of Riley’s mind.

✕ Remove Ads

4 Cinderella (1950)

Cinderella’s Magic Fairy Tale Is An Escape From Modern Life

Cinderella 1950 Disney Movie Poster

Your Rating

10 stars9 stars8 stars7 stars6 star5 stars4 stars3 stars2 stars1 star Rate Now 0/10 Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

Cinderella

Where to Watch

  • stream
  • rent
  • buy

Not available

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US Director Clyde Geronimi , Wilfred Jackson , Hamilton Luske Release Date March 4, 1950 Cast Ilene Woods , James MacDonald , Eleanor Audley , Verna Felton

Sometimes, nothing hits the spot quite like an enchanting fairy tale, and there aren’t many as magical and timeless as Cinderella. While many Disney classics have aged poorly, due to some problematic content or shifting social norms, Cinderella still has the power to captivate audiences like it did over 70 years ago. It’s certainly a product of its time, but this doesn’t dampen its charms by any means.

✕ Remove Ads

Cinderella is the perfect distillation of Disney’s early style, with some light humor, gorgeous music, and a sense of magic to lift the audience out of their seats. It has become even more appealing over the years in some ways, simply because there are no longer movies quite like it. Cinderella lets its gorgeous images speak for themselves, without injecting too much humor or exposition when it would break the spell.

3 Tangled (2010)

Tangled Is A Princess Movie For The Modern Era

Your Rating

10 stars9 stars8 stars7 stars6 star5 stars4 stars3 stars2 stars1 star Rate Now 0/10 Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

ScreenRant logo 8/10 10 7.7/10 Tangled

Where to Watch

  • stream
  • rent
  • buy

Not available

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US Director Byron Howard , Nathan Greno Release Date November 24, 2010 Cast Donna Murphy , Ron Perlman , Mandy Moore , Brad Garrett , Jeffrey Tambor , Zachary Levi

Tangled was Disney’s first step toward recovering from a minor slump in the 2000s, and it helped define the studio’s animation style for years to come. Tangled is a modernized Disney princess movie, with Rapunzel playing the part of an action hero more than a damsel in distress. This is a fun subversion of the famous fairy tale, and it helps that she is surrounded by so many great original characters, from the deadpan chameleon Pascal to the impish adventurer Flynn Rider.

Tangled
is a modernized Disney princess movie, with Rapunzel playing the part of an action hero more than a damsel in distress.

✕ Remove Ads

Everything about Tangled embodies the movie’s bold sense of adventure, from the music to the playful humor. It’s also a comfort to see a modern Disney movie where characters are so clearly delineated into camps of good and evil. Mother Gothel is a throwback to classic Disney villains like Maleficent and Ursula, one who exudes menace in her appearance and every one of her actions.

2 The Jungle Book (1967)

The Jungle Book Offers An Escape

The Jungle Book 1967 Movie Poster

Your Rating

10 stars9 stars8 stars7 stars6 star5 stars4 stars3 stars2 stars1 star Rate Now 0/10 Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

The Jungle Book

Where to Watch

  • stream
  • rent
  • buy

Not available

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US Director Wolfgang Reitherman Release Date October 18, 1967 Cast Phil Harris , Sebastian Cabot , Louis Prima , George Sanders , Sterling Holloway , J. Pat O’Malley , Bruce Reitherman

The Jungle Book spills over with Rudyard Kipling’s sense of child-friendly adventure, but it synthesizes his influence with plenty of trademark Disney magic. The light, bouncy style of the 2-D animation is perfect for the big band-inspired music, with Mowgli and Baloo dancing around without a single care for human conventions. The Jungle Book presents a friendly, animalistic atmosphere that’s easy to get lost in.

✕ Remove Ads

Split image of characters from Disney live-action remakes Related Disney Live-Action Remakes Ranked Worst To Best

Recently, Disney has cashed in on nostalgia and is making many live-action remakes of some of their animated classics. Letterboxd ranks the best here.

Posts

The joy of The Jungle Book is best summed up by “The Bare Necessities,” a song about the simple pleasures of life and friendship. For anyone who finds themselves suffocated by the complex tangle of modern life, The Jungle Book could prove to be the perfect antidote. It offers an escape, which is what adventure stories have always been about. The Jungle Book is a rare movie that has gotten even better with age, since its nostalgic art style conjures a simpler time.

1 Ratatouille (2007)

Ratatouille Is Easy To Watch Again And Again

Ratatouille Movie Poster

Your Rating

10 stars9 stars8 stars7 stars6 star5 stars4 stars3 stars2 stars1 star Rate Now 0/10 Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

ScreenRant logo 9/10 10/10 Ratatouille

Where to Watch

  • stream
  • rent
  • buy

Not available

Not available

Not available

*Availability in US Director Brad Bird Release Date June 29, 2007 Cast Patton Oswalt , Ian Holm , Lou Romano , Brad Garrett , Peter O’Toole , Janeane Garofalo , Brian Dennehy , Peter Sohn , Will Arnett

✕ Remove Ads

Like a good comfort meal, Ratatouille is worth returning to over and over again. The story of Remy and Linguini’s unlikely partnership provides the opportunity for plenty of great jokes, but it’s also a heartwarming tale of friendship and learning. Even for those with no interest in cooking, the story of a rat with dreams of being a chef can easily apply to anyone who has aspirations they feel are constantly out of reach.

From the playful French music to the warm orange glow of the Eiffel Tower,
Ratatouille
invites its audience to take a seat at the dining table.

One thing that makes Ratatouille stand out among Pixar’s movies is its distinct atmosphere. From the playful French music to the warm orange glow of the Eiffel Tower, Ratatouille invites its audience to take a seat at the dining table. It presents a world that’s easy to get immersed in, and that’s just what a great comfort movie should offer.Ratatouille also makes its story surprisingly touching, considering the fact that it’s working with relatively low stakes.

✕ Remove Ads