15 Best Disney Channel Original Movies Of All Time

Growing up, the release of a new Disney Channel Original Movie (fondly known as DCOMs) felt like a big cinematic event. That iconic theme song made you run to the screen every time. To this day, kids know they're in for a treat. Disney always knows how to deliver relatable films that think outside of the box.

In 1983, Disney Channel Original Movies launched the line-up with "Tiger Town." Its premise about a baseball fan with supernatural powers set the tone for future DCOMs by blending two different genres into a fun story. That's a consistent ingredient in these films. Disney's catalog of originals has since expanded to include Halloween movies and blockbuster musicals, with TV events that felt bigger than the channel itself.

Such a legacy deserves to be celebrated, and that's why we're taking a deeper look at this special Disney niche. This list spans several decades and each title was chosen for its story depth and how the characters contribute to these plots. So, load up Disney+, and let's take a look at the 15 best Disney Channel Original Movies.

Before there was Alexa, there was PAT (Katey Sagal), the virtual assistant who rules the roost in "Smart House." Despite this film's age, it still asks many of the same the questions that we're asking today when it comes to how we use technology.

Letting a virtual assistant do your chores sounds like a dream for Ben Cooper (Ryan Merriman), a teenager who is grieving the loss of his mom. So, he enters a contest to win a smart house run by a virtual assistant named PAT. However, the assistant listens a little too closely to his wishes, becoming a controlling force. Her attitude change also turns her into a hologram of a '50s-style mom, who says she loves them but doesn't know how to convey that love. It's an example of the humanity that divides people from artificial intelligence.

• Cast: Katey Sagal, Ryan Merriman, Katie Volding, Kevin Kilner
• Rating: TV-G
• Year: 1999
• Runtime: 1hr 23min

The Disney Channel doesn't shy away from tackling tough moments in history, even if they're often talking about them from a child's perspective. "The Color of Friendship" is a perfect example of that level of storytelling. This movie teaches us about societal beliefs and the power of free will.

Mahree Bok (Lindsey Haun) is a white South African girl who enters an exchange student program during apartheid. She moves in with the family of Ron Dellums (Carl Lumbly, who may look familiar to you as pre-Captain America super-soldier, Isaiah Bradley), a Black U.S. Congressman who is fighting against apartheid. This shocks her, since her father is a policeman who supports the segregationist doctrine. Ron's daughter, Piper (Shadia Simmons), is also surprised when Mahree doesn't meet her expectations of a South African student. Mahree's political views further deepen their divide. Small similarities lead to dialogue that has them asking questions, helping them realize that they don't have to subscribe to hate. It's a turning point that helps them focus on the changes they each can make, so the world can be a better place. 

• Cast: Lindsey Haun, Shadia Simmons, Carl Lumby, Penny Johnson Jerald
• Rating: TV-G
• Year: 2000
• Runtime: 1hr 24min

"Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century" is a mix of modern storytelling and nostalgia that proves that our hopes for the future haven't changed, but neither have our problems on Earth. Zenon Kar (Kirsten Storms) is known for her wild antics while living on a spaceship in 2049. Her zest for adventure is contrasted by her spaceship's commander, Edward Plank (Stuart Pankin). He has a business-first personality that could be compared to "Star Trek: The Next Generation" star Patrick Stewart's often stoic captain, which is why Pankin's presence may feel nostalgic to adults. When Zenon's antics possibly jeopardize the spaceship, Zenon's parents send her to Earth to learn responsibility.

Her latest shenanigans were actually caused by the discovery of sketchy business that could harm everyone on the spaceship. While the adults see her as mischievous, she believes that she has unique problem-solving skills. Zenon may be right, and she kicks them into high gear when she enlists the help of her favorite pop star. That perspective leads to some major science-fiction action, which is why this coming-of-age film may please adults and kids alike. 

• Cast: Kirsten Storms, Raven-Symoné, Bob Bancroft, Stuart Pankin, Phillip Rhys Chaudhary
• Rating: TV-G
• Year: 1999
• Runtime: 1hr 38min

"Descendants" may reference the evil deeds of Disney's classic villains, but it manages to avoid recycling by letting some next generation kids to harness a rebellious streak that's more curious than evil. Mal (Dove Cameron), Carlos (Cameron Boyce), Jay (Booboo Stewart), and Evie (Sofia Carson) enroll in Auradon Prep, a school for the children of heroes. That includes Prince Ben, who invited the villains' kids to enroll in the first place. The adults believe these kids are just like their evil parents, and their assumption may seem correct when Mal's mother, Maleficent (Kristin Chenoweth), commands them to retrieve a magic wand for her own revenge plot.

Mal and her friends use everyone's expectations to their advantage. While each trick gets them closer to their goal (and offers up chances for these descendants to do a few more questionable things fans try to ignore), it also helps them connect to their fellow students. That does include the heroic Prince Ben. These next-gen villains eventually realize they're living life through their parents' vision, not their own, leading to the realization there's a bigger world out there than old family grudges suggest. This helps the kids turn a new chapter, one that offers a new story still steeped in Disney comfort food.

• Cast: Dove Cameron, Cameron Boyce, Booboo Stewart, Sofia Carson
• Rating: TV-G
• Year: 2015
• Runtime: 1hr 55min

"The Cheetah Girls" is one of Disney Channel's high quality movie musicals, thanks to songs that pop and a story that's about choosing between your friends and personal success. Galleria (Raven-Symoné), Chanel (Andrienne Houghton), Aqua (Kiely Williams), and Dorinda (Sabrina Bryan) are four teenagers from very different backgrounds. Together, they make up "The Cheetah Girls," a musical group that wants to be the next big thing. The attention of a high-powered music producer will test their friendship versus their desire for success. 

While the ladies sing in sync, viewers quickly realize that the group doesn't know each other as well as they thought they did (which turned out to be a real life issue with the cast, too, meaning Raven-Symoné wouldn't return for the third "Cheetah Girls" movie). They each do things like ignore questions about their home lives. Dorinda, especially, is secretive, and she eventually runs off without explanation at first. 

While music unites these girls, their insecurities divide them. Galleria seems to be the most confident character, but she's just as nervous as her friends. It takes that potential music deal to shake up their dynamic. The "Cheetah Girls" stories offer deep character development, and that makes these movies more than your average rise-to-fame tale.

• Cast: Raven-Symoné, Adrienne Houghton, Kiely Williams, Sabrina Bryan
• Rating: TV-G
• Year: 2003
• Runtime: 1hr 35min

The Disney Channel has been influencing teen pop culture for decades, jumpstarting the careers of stars like Selena Gomez ("Only Murders in the Building") and Zendaya ("Dune"). So, it's only fitting that the channel examine stardom from a fan's point of view in "Stuck in the Suburbs."

Brittany Aarons (Danielle Panabaker) doesn't see the charm in her suburban life, which includes the same schedule every day. Things take a turn when she accidentally swaps phones with pop star Jordan Cahill, who is looking to shake up his life. His wish is granted by Brittany and her new friend, Natasha Kwon-Schwartz (Brenda Song), who uses his phone to change his world. Brittany and Natasha's decisions are based on pieces of Jordan's personal life, and he's influenced to return to his roots. It's a plot choice that turns this film into a light but hefty examination of what happiness really means.  

• Cast: Danielle Panabaker, Brenda Song, Taran Killam, Todd Stashwick
• Rating: TV-G
• Year: 2004
• Runtime: 1hr 19min

One of the best parts of Disney Channel Original Movies is the escapism they offer, while staying grounded in the realities of growing up. It's an assignment that Disney gets an A+ on with "High School Musical." This escapism piece is grounded in musical numbers that mirror various characters' concerns. "Get'cha Head in the Game" shares Troy Bolton's (Zac Efron) inner thoughts as he thinks about giving up basketball despite his father's expectations. While he and East High new girl Gabriella Montez (Vanessa Hudgens) bond over being misunderstood, songs like "Stick to the Status Quo" share the student body's point of view. It's a don't rock the boat anthem that attempts to keep Troy and Gabriella from their dreams.

It's a version of storytelling that could be likened to "Grease." In fact, there are plenty of nods to the musical, including Troy and Gabriella's meet-cute during winter vacation, which is similar to Danny (John Travolta) and Sandy's (Olivia Newton-John) summer vacation romance. It offers nostalgia for adults while allowing teens to feel understood. Even if there are a few questionable things going in "High School Musical" that we still try to ignore. 

• Cast: Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman
• Rating: TV-G
• Year: 2006
• Runtime: 1hr 41min

Lindsay Lohan has been a Disney darling since the 1990s. That's when Lohan (with the help of Broadway star Erin Mackey as her double) played two characters in "The Parent Trap," but it's 2002's "Get a Clue" that gives her some substantial DCOM credit. It's all thanks to a plot that offers a fun mystery tale with a "Clueless" style twist.

Lexy Gold (Lohan) is a high school gossip columnist hunting for news when her teacher, Orlando Walker (Ian Gomez), goes missing. Like Cher (Alicia Silverstone), Lexy believes that her snooping is for the greater good, but she starts to question that when she realizes that her article about Orlando and a fellow teacher may be the reason he vanished.

Lexy's narration is also reminiscent of "Clueless" as she contemplates the exfoliating body wrap that Orlando should get if he emerges from the East River. It may be a cute callback to the self-care internal monologue that Cher specialized at. This perky vibe lulls the audience into a comfortable space, which turns into total shock when the story reaches its big twist. It's a moment that turns this mystery into a top secret mission.

1. Cast: Lindsay Lohan, Brenda Song, Bug Hall, Ian Gomez, Amanda Plummer
2. Rating: TV-G
3. Year: 2002
4. Runtime: 1hr 24min

"Twitches" feels like a magical version of the ABC sitcom, "Sister, Sister." Real life twins Tia Mowry and Tamara Mowry-Housley star in both of these, with their stories starting with them separated at birth. It's a similar set-up in places. However, magic isn't the only thing that makes a difference in these two titles.

While the twins in "Sister, Sister" grow up together, Alex Fielding (Tia Mowry) and Camryn Barnes (Tamera Mowry-Housley) have personalities already set in stone when they meet on their 21st birthday in "Twitches." Alex is carefree while Camryn follows the rules. They both have a deep sense of who they are, but they also need to learn how to find the strengths in each other's differences to save their birthplace of Coventry. Some of those strengths are magical. Camryn harnesses the power of the sun, and Alex harnesses the power of the moon. Their powers help them manipulate objects and see into the future, but these powers aren't enough when used apart. A focus on teamwork helps this story share its true meaning. Naturally, that's the power of family. 

• Cast: Tia Mowry, Tamera Mowry-Housley, Patrick Fabian
• Rating: TV-G
• Year: 2005
• Runtime: 1hr 28min

"Johnny Tsunami" is a fun watch for kids who enjoy surfing and snowboarding, but longtime fans rewatching this DCOM will realize that it also tells a deeper story about assumptions and judgments. Johnny Kapahaala (Brandon Baker) is a Hawaiian teen who wants to be a surfing champ like his grandfather, but his goal feels out of reach when his family moves to Vermont. Upon moving, he runs into the mean kids at his new prep school who judge how he acts. They even pick on his vocabulary for sounding "foreign," a touchy topic for Hawaiian Americans. Johnny finds comfort in snowboarding, which leads to a friendship with Sam Sterling (Lee Thompson Young), who is also considered an outcast because he goes to public school.

Johnny finds out that division between the prep school and public school is a longstanding social construct, which pushes him to break the divide with a competition between the snowboarders and the preppy skiers who despise them. While he focuses on taking down bullies and bringing peace to his new home, he also hopes for reconciliation between his father and grandfather. It's all a big struggle to get people to see past their own differences. 

• Cast: Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Brandon Baker, Lee Thompson Young, Kirsten Storms
• Rating: TV-G
• Year: 1999
• Runtime: 1hr 33min

When "Cadet Kelly" premiered, Hilary Duff was still the fun-loving title character in "Lizzie McGuire" and Christy Carlson Romano was known for playing the rule-following sister in "Even Stevens." "Cadet Kelly" capitalizes on these personas as the free-spirited Kelly Collins (Duff) enrolls in a military academy where she's commanded by Captain Jennifer Stone (Romano).

Kelly's cheeriness kicks off the film as she works on a video project for school, showing off her vibrant creative side. This is contrasted by her entrance into a military school, with all that suggests, and it includes bland uniforms. Captain Stone's presence adds an extra layer to the story's theme of crushing creativity as she destroys Kelly's tie-dye blanket, while also calling out her lack of responsibility. Kelly retaliates with pranks that impress the strength of her personality on Captain Stone, but the pair eventually realize that they can't force their views on each other. It will take a lot to unite them, and they have to do it before they compete in a drill competition that puts the school's reputation at stake.

• Cast: Hilary Duff, Christy Carlson Romano, Gary Cole, Shawn Ashmore
• Rating: TV-G
• Year: 2002
• Runtime: 1hr 41min

"The Luck of the Irish" immerses itself in magical realism with a story about being proud of your heritage. Kyle Johnson (Ryan Merriman) is a high school basketball star with a loving family who is tight-lipped about their lineage. As he searches for answers about his family's past, he eventually runs into Seamus McTiernen (Timothy Omundson), an evil leprechaun who steals his lucky coin. That theft forces Kyle's mother to share an old family secret: They're also leprechauns disguised as humans.

It's a clever way to share the lore and traditions of a culture while also teaching viewers that they should be proud of where they come from. That's something that Kyle's mother must learn, too, as she struggles to accept her own leprechaun form. While Kyle's parents are learning their own lessons, he's got to figure out how to outsmart Seamus in both Gaelic and American contests. It's a light but risky situation that puts his family's luck on the line. 

• Cast: Ryan Merriman, Henry Gibson, Timothy Omundson
• Rating: TV-G
• Year: 2001
• Runtime: 1hr 27min

While many DCOMs are about not judging a book by its cover, "Motocrossed" uses this premise as a platform to discuss sexism and barriers in professional sports. Andrea Carson (Alana Austin) is a gifted motocross racer, but her dad puts her on the sidelines, claiming that she should focus on hobbies he considers better for girls. Andrea takes matters into her own hands when her brother dislocates his kneecap. She claims his spot in an important motocross competition, dressing enough like him to pass as a boy.

Andrea takes her first losses pretty hard. Some of the weight that she feels may be coming from her father's harsh criticism, which is clearly still running through her mind. As she tries again, she meets fellow motocross rider Dean Talon (Riley Smith). He seems like the cool kid around town, but he's also struggling with his own securities, including in the romance department. He and Andrea grow a friendship that allows them to see the different skills that they're missing, which could spice up an already fierce motocross competition.

• Cast: Alana Austin, Riley Smith, Trevor O'Brien, Mary-Margaret Humes
• Rating: TV-G
• Year: 2001
• Runtime: 1hr 32min

"Halloweentown" sparked a franchise that became a Halloween staple, and it's popular enough that we've got opinions on just how good all four movies are. It's partially thanks to a plot that humanizes classic horror monsters, treating them like heroes and a real part of their community.

Marnie Piper (Kimberly J. Brown), along with her siblings, Dylan (Joey Zimmerman) and Sophie (Emily Roeske), are whisked into the magical world of Halloweentown after they secretly follow their grandmother, Aggie Cromwell (Debbie Reynolds), home. On arrival, they discover a town where creatures of all kinds do everyday things like join bowling leagues and drive taxis. While it seems like a quiet place, Aggie believes a darkness is looming. No one listens to her. Meanwhile, Marnie just wants to help, but her mother (Judith Hoag), Gwen, is trying to stop her from using her powers. Gwen is hoping her daughter will have a normal life, uncomplicated by magic. 

As Gwen faces her past, she and Aggie place themselves in the crosshairs of evil. That leaves the kids to save the day. It takes a big shift in power dynamics to help this family realize that they still have a lot to learn, but if they can trust each other, they'll keep on growing that power. 

• Cast: Debbie Reynolds, Kimberly J. Brown, Judith Hoag, Robin Thomas
• Rating: TV-G
• Year: 1998
• Runtime: 1hr 25min

"Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension" is really an origin story for Perry the Platypus (Dee Bradley Baker). The film adds depth to Perry with a flashback that proves that the secret organization that he works for deliberately placed him in Phineas (Vincent Martell) and Ferb's (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) family. These brothers have always been too focused on their own antics to pay attention to Perry's secret life, but a run-in with Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz (Dan Povenmire) exposes some big secrets while opening a portal to another dimension.

A multiverse plot allows this movie to play around with personalities that were well-cemented in the TV series. For example, an alternate version of Candace (Ashley Tisdale) is a willing participant in Phineas and Ferb's antics, instead of being a major tattletale. Meanwhile, Dr. Doofenshmirtz is more ridiculous than evil as he explains that his villain origin story includes the loss of a toy train. This mashup of universes also teaches Phineas and Ferb a lesson about how they view Perry, who keeps feeling left out of the family team.

• Cast: Vincent Martella, Ashley Tisdale, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Dee Bradley Baker
• Rating: TV-G
• Year: 2011
• Runtime: 1hr 21min