Disney has been in the background of several different generations’ childhoods. Since the early 20th Century, Disney have been releasing animated movies that have captured the hearts and minds of the young and old alike. Recently, the company has been expanding further, gaining a reputation for far more than the fairytale adaptations the company built its name upon.
Disney has crafted some of the most memorable movies of all time. However, while many of these movies are indeed memorable and iconic in their own right, some of them are kind of a let down when it comes to that climactic final clash between the hero and the villain of the story.
Best: Mulan
Mulan is one of the most loved Disney movies of all time. Based on the Chinese legend of Mulan, the film tells the story of a young girl who pretends to be a man so she can fight in place of her elderly father.
The climax of the Disney movie is one of the most exciting, action-packed Disney finales of all time, with Mulan defeating the vast majority of the Hun army and then racing against the clock to save the life of the Emperor.
Worst: Dumbo
Dumbo is one of the most controversial Disney movies of all time. Most of this controversy stems from the inclusion of the crows, which many view as being a Minstrel stereotype. The film revolves around a flying elephant that works for a traveling circus.
Throughout the film, Dumbo is mistreated and abused by the other animals in the circus and, despite all of this, Dumbo doesn’t really get any revenge for this mistreatment. All the animals still work for the circus at the end of the movie, and Dumbo just receives a slightly better carriage on the train.
Best: 101 Dalmatians
101 Dalmatians features one of the most memorable— and hated— Disney villains in the form of the cruel and sadistic, Cruella De Vil. The film essentially revolves around the search for the Dalmatian puppies after Cruella De Vil has them dognapped so she can make a fur coat out of them.
The climax of the movie is perfect, as it’s a tense and memorable final showdown between the adorable Dalmatians and the cruel villains of the piece who wish to turn the puppies into a coat.
Worst: Hercules
In a similar manner to Mulan, Hercules is fairly well remembered among Disney fans, with the performances of Danny DeVito as Phil and James Woods as Hades being particularly memorable when looking back upon the movie.
That being said, the climax to Hercules involves the hero giving up the dream he’s worked his whole life for to win the love of a woman who lied and worked against him for most of the movie.
Best: Emperor’s New Groove
Easily one of the most underrated Disney animated films, the Emperor’s New Groove is a hysterical and endlessly quotable movie that follows the redemption of an arrogant young emperor after he unwittingly gets turned into a llama.
The climax of the movie is thrilling and enjoyable, but it is also heartwarming and the viewer can see just how much Cuzco has grown as an individual.
Worst: Chicken Little
Disney released a few movies in the mid-2000s that are largely forgettable by today’s standards. Based on the folk tale of the same name, Chicken Little revolves around the titular chicken coming to terms with the fact that the sky is supposedly falling.
The film was poorly received among both audiences and critics, with the climax, in particular, being a particularly forgettable and drab affair despite it involving an alien-based twist.
Best: Frozen
Frozen was one of the most critically and commercially successful movies of the past decade, with the innovative storyline combined with the stellar soundtrack taking the world by storm and warranting a sequel in the process.
One of the most memorable moments was the climax, with the film revealing that the charming Prince Han was a villain all along and, rather than it being romantic love that saved the day, it was actually the love between two siblings.
Worst: Frozen 2
The runaway and unprecedented success of Frozen led to the release of a highly anticipated sequel. The sequel itself was also a massive blockbuster, although it wasn’t as well-received as the original. Still, it was an enjoyable ride, with the song "Lost in the Woods" becoming another modern classic Disney tune.
The climax of the movie was a disappointment in comparison to the first one, in particular in the way Elsa spent much of it wandering around in a spirit world watching memories unfold while the rest of the characters are actually doing exciting things.
Best: Lion King
For many, the Lion King is the best Disney movie of all time. Everything from the poignant plot, the fantastic voice acting, and the Elton John soundtrack made this movie an instant classic upon its release in 1994.
The finale of the movie is a visceral and exciting battle between the villainous Scar and the heroic Simba, with the latter finally avenging the death of his father and bringing life back to their home.
Worst: Mulan 2
More often than not, a direct to video Disney sequel isn’t very good. However, fans don’t usually take too much offense at the events that occur in these sequels. For Mulan 2, though, fans of the original movie absolutely despise the sequel.
The plot revolves around the marriage of three princesses in order to make peace with another kingdom. However, despite this being the main focus of the movie, it is ultimately Mulan and Shang’s marriage than brings this peace, which doesn’t really make sense from a narrative view.