With the birth of thestreaming age and now Disney+, many of us have discarded old DVDs and VHS tapes as they’ve become obsolete. Before the 21st-Century, if viewers wanted to rewatch a Disney favorite, there were a few options: buy it, rent it, or wait for TV to air it on cable or Wonderful World of Disney.
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Many fan-favorite and childhood classics are now available on Disney+ and select other streaming services. As the Disney kid generation grows up into adulthood, they are now revisiting family favorites with their kids or just because they can. When you’re scrolling through your watchlist for the next movie night in, be sure to add these Disney movies and see if you still feel the same way you did as a child viewer.
‘Brother Bear’ (2003)
This isn’t many people’s first choice in mind when it comes to Disney classics, but 2003’sBrother Bearis still worth the rewatch as an adult. Older viewers will recognize the voice of Inuit hunter-turned-bear, Kenai, as none other than recent Academy Award winner,Joaquin Phoenix.
Disney also cast iconic comedy voices likeRick MoranisandDave Thomasas the bumbling moose Rutt and Tuke. Despite its lack of fanfare with critics, audiences enjoyed the film, and it would earn a nomination for Best Animated Feature.
‘Mighty Joe Young’ (1998)
Boasting A-list names likeCharlize TheronandBill Paxton,Mighty Joe Youngis a Disney jungle classic that is deserving of a trip to the VHS pile. While adult critics and audience members from 1998 weren’t impressed with the lackluster plot of Jill’s (Theron) struggle to protect the giant gorilla Joe from researchers like Greg (Paxton) who want to transport and study him in Los Angeles.
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A child’s King-Kong movie,Mighty Joe Youngis worth watching again as an adult to see if the movie magic of the late 90s holds up in creating the massive ape. The gentle nature of the giant along with his love for Jill and his fellow jungle creatures may be enough to win over now-adult viewers who fell in love with Joe as a child.
‘A Bug’s Life’ (1998)
Watching this film back as an adult is a true treasure, especially when you get to the end credits. Disney and Pixar’s manufactured bloopers are absolutely genius. These little snippets keep the magic and wonder alive for young viewers who may believe that the characters are real. The studio giants would do the same blooper reels with other animated classics likeToy Story.
As an adult audience member, the film brings back childhood memories of seeing it for the first time in theaters or perhaps renting or owning it on VHS. The bloopers at the end are just as entertaining to watch as they are complete with insect production crew mishaps and the stars of the film messing up their lines.
‘The Princess Diaries’ (2001)
For young viewers just beginning middle or high school in the early 2000s,The Princess Diariescreated a fairytale dream ofactually becoming a princess. StarAnne Hathaway’sfirst feature credit, this movie follows Mia (Hathaway) as she discovers she’s a royal princess when paternal grandmother, Clarice (Julie Andrews) arrives in town. Mia begins her transformation from an underwhelming high school student to a poised princess-to-be.
With critics not enjoying the movie makeover tropes of the film, parents and kids fell in love with Mia and Clarice. Watching back as an adult, viewers can find parallels to their teen years and the struggle to find who they are at a young age. Based on the books byMeg Cabot, Disney would return with a sequel in 2004.
‘Hercules’ (1997)
Audiences may not have realized it as they viewed this Greek hero’s journey during childhood, but as an adult, they’d relate to the film’s antagonist, Hades (James Woods). Hades’ plight of doing a full-time job he has no interest in, working with subordinates who are incapable of doing their job, and a golden-child sibling that gets all the praise.
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Hades’ constant meltdowns mimic the feelings of many adults during their 9-to-5’s they are unhappy in. Watching this animated classic back an adult provides the same entertainment value, just while the kids are rooting for Hercules, parents are toasting Hades and feeling his pain and sense of sarcasm.
‘Hocus Pocus’ (1993)
As a child, this Halloween classic can be a little scary,especially when it comes to Billy Butcherson (Doug Jones). The 1993 film is rated PG, but Butcherson’s rise from the grave and then eventual momentary loss of his head frightened young viewers. 90s kids who are now adults return to this spooky spectacular with a newfound appreciation for Butcherson and his struggle to escape his ex.
Disney is notorious for sneaking in adult humor into their children’s movies,Hocus Pocusis no exception. Viewers returning to the film for the millionth time as an adult have the crude humor lines memorized. Many of them will begin to see a bit of themselves in Winifred as Gen X and Millennials trudge through adulthood.
‘The Brave Little Toaster’ (1987)
Although not available for streaming as of writing,The Brave Little Toasteris a childhood classic that follows the trek of five household appliances as they set out to find their master, the homeowner who left them behind. An innocent film at most, this animated tale does host a few frightening sequences that stood out to child viewers.
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Watching this back as an adult, fans may still find the Toaster’s nightmare involving a firefighter clown and the bathtub unsettling, remembering how terrified as a kid that scene and others were. SeeingThe Brave Little Toasteras an adult will still create the childlike wonder, however, of do our appliances come to life when we’re gone? The animated giant would repeat the concept with toys in 1995 with the iconicToy Story.
‘Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey’ (1993)
All the child-now-adult animal lovers out there will remember this movie and the emotional toll it still takes on viewers as they reach adulthood. Shadow the aged golden retriever (voiced byDon Ameche), Sassy the high-maintenance Himalayan cat (voiced bySally Field), and Chance the young rescued American bulldog (voiced byMichael J. Fox) brave the wilderness to find their owners who they believe left them behind by mistake.
From the start, this Disney movie tugs at the heartstrings of viewers of all ages. Told from the perspective of the animals,Homeward Boundis an emotional rollercoaster best understood by the adults who watched it first as children. Grown-up viewers will never look at their pets the same again.
‘Pinocchio’ (1940)
Another Disney classic with adult content hidden amongst a child’s animated film,Pinocchiohouses some intense sequences and themes that are aimed at the adults watching with their children. From the child-labor intensity of working for Mangiafuoco to the themes and motifs of Pleasure Island, this 1940 film won over every critic with its telling of the 1883 children’s novel “The Adventures of Pinocchio.”
Whilethere have been several adaptationsof the story and cinematic remakes coming in the future, the original animated feature from Disney earns its place when now-adult audience members want to take a trip down memory lane. Rewinding and watching again will provide a new perspective on the obvious themes of stranger danger and addiction that Disney sprinkles in for its older viewers.
‘The Cheetah Girls’ (2003)
In the golden age of Disney Channel Original Movies (DCOM),The Cheetah Girlsis a staple movie that demonstrates the bond of friendship and desire to chase big dreams. Four high school girls form a singing group powered by the fierceness of their spots and love for each other as they are determined to win their school talent show.
With each girl having her personality and diverse background, this girl-power film had every young viewer picking a girl to relate to and emulate at sleepovers. Streaming this music-packed DCOM again, adult viewers will have to reevaluate if they still side with Dorinda the dancer (Sabrina Bryan), Aqua the sassy southern belle (Kiely Williams), Chanel the fashionista (Adrienne Houghton), or Galleria the songwriter (Raven-Symoné).
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