The 1990s was a strong decade for Disney animation. During this era, many of the company's most popular movies including The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin hit the big screen as part of the Disney Renaissance. Additionally, Pixar kicked off its strong animation game with the release of the first-ever computer-animated movie, Toy Story. Because we already looked at the best animated features of this decade, however, we're here to instead shift our focus to the worst.
Rotten Tomatoes has given every Disney movie released between 1990 and 1999 a Tomatometer rating, based on the good and bad reviews from critics. Those with the lowest scores will be showing up below.
It's worth noting that because the '90s was such a great decade for Disney, most of the following films were actually well-reviewed. That being said, not every one of these has become a classic.
With the rankings explained, it's time to get into the details. Here are the lowest-rated animated Disney films of the '90s, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
James And The Giant Peach (91%)
Kicking things off is James and the Giant Peach, adapted from the novel of the same name by Roald Dahl.
The Tim Burton musical fantasy follows the titular orphaned boy, who is under the guardianship of his mean aunts. When a large peach appears one day, James decides to set sail inside the fruit in hopes of escaping his frustrating existence and reaching New York City with his new insect friends.
The quirky story was praised, even though the live-action segments were a little clunky.
Tarzan (89%)
Tarzan tells the story of a young boy who is raised by apes in the African jungles after his parents are killed by a leopard. Though he struggles to fit in with the other animals, he starts to reconsider his future when a group of British travelers arrives in the jungle. Tarzan must ultimately figure out who he is and where he belongs.
Tarzan's spirited animations, exciting action, and innovative animations made it easy for critics to fall in love. The film's toughest critics felt that it didn't pack the same "oomph" as its Broadway-style predecessors.
DuckTales: The Movie: Treasure Of The Lost Lamp (88%)
DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp continues the story of the DuckTales TV series by taking place between the third and fourth seasons.
In this adventure film, Scrooge McDuck and his nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie set out to uncover treasure in the Middle East. However, they soon find themselves engaged in a battle against a sorcerer in hopes of securing a magic lamp.
Though the plot was predictable, the film as a whole remained lively and fun.
Mulan: 85%
1998's Mulan sees the aging Fa Zhou being called into the army. Wishing to prove her own ability and keep her father from harm, Mulan sneaks off in the night and volunteers in his place. Being that women are not welcomed into battle, however, Mulan must keep her identity a secret in addition to fighting for her place.
The film's spirited characters, vibrant animations, and charming humor helped turn Mulan into a standout, even if some critics disliked the film's handling of gender roles.
Though the live-action Mulan has been indefinitely delayed, it will likely be released later in 2020.
Hercules: 84%
Hercules follows the titular hero, who hopes to return to the gods. Though Hercules is born on Mount Olympus, he is kidnapped by an envious Hades, forcing him to grow up among men. In order to make it back to his home, he must take on evil creatures by harnessing his strength.
Snappy and exciting, the musical fantasy received praise from many critics, even though some felt the animations could have been better detailed.
The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (71%)
Arguably one of the darkest Disney animations of the era, The Hunchback of Notre Dame follows the disfigured Quasimodo, who is forced to hide away in Notre Dame Cathedral and ring the bells. Though living among the townsfolk seems like a far-off dream to Quasi, he might just get the chance after gypsy Esmerelda stumbles into his life.
The musical drama was praised for its moving musical numbers and deep themes, even if some felt Disney didn't handle the source material well.
The Rescuers Down Under (69%)
The sequel to The Rescuers has mice Bernard and Bianca heading to Australia to rescue a boy named Cody. He has been kidnapped by a poacher who thinks he can use the child to track down a golden eagle.
The Rescuers Down Under was well-produced and visually impressive, however, the story didn't hold up next to that of the original.
Pocahontas (55%)
The titular heroine of Pocahontas is set to marry Kocoum at the request of her father. However, after a group of Englishman arrive settle on the land, it's not long before Pocahontas finds her attention directed toward the adventurous John Smith. The tension between her tribe and his men make their romance difficult to keep up, however.
Pocahontas featured lush animations and a compelling story. That being said, many critics disliked the way the film distorted actual history and sugarcoated the conflict between Native Americans and early English settlers.
A Goofy Movie (44%)
While A Goofy Movie has become a fan favorite, the critics weren't so nice to it.
The musical comedy has Goofy working hard to be a good parent to his son Max. However, Goofy's positive intentions (which include a fishing trip) backfire, being that Max's biggest goal is to impress his crush, Roxanne.
Though critics felt that the movie was too dumbed-down and unmemorable at the time of its release, many of the kids who grew up with A Goofy Movie still treasure it today.
Doug’s 1st Movie (1999): 26%
The lowest-rated Disney animation of the '90s is this 1999 adventure based on the Doug TV series.
Doug's 1st Movie follows the titular boy and his friend Skeeter, who find that a monster is living in Lucky Duck Lake. Though the pair at first think the monster is evil, Doug and Skeeter decide to look a little closer.
Though Doug's 1st Movie also served as the Doug series finale, its plot and character development came out weak. It definitely felt more like a made-for-TV installment than a theater-worthy release.