The 1990s were certainly a great time for Disney. It's known as the Renaissance Era and for good reason. Following some struggles in the previous years, 1989 was the arrival of The Little Mermaid, which ushered in an era filled with massive hits for the company. Some of their greatest films ever were released during this decade.
Even though Disney acquired major companies over the years to add to their Disney+ catalog, the vast majority of their best content from the '90s is their own. Looking at the ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, these are some of the best films ever made, regardless of company and era.
Ever After (91%)
Released in 1998, Ever After is one of the few movies on this list to not originally be a Disney production. Instead, it comes from 20th Century Fox, who Disney recently acquired. Regardless, this fits into the world of Disney since it's a retelling of the classic story of Cinderella.
In this version, Drew Barrymore takes on the role of the Cinderella character (even if the name is different), while Anjelica Huston is the wicked stepmother. It was a solid box office success and was lauded for being a sweet story led by Barrymore's strong performance.
James And The Giant Peach (91%)
If Roald Dahl wrote it, there's a good chance it was adapted into some kind of film. That was the case with things like Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and The BFG. While those are beloved movies, the best adaptation is arguably 1996's James and the Giant Peach.
The story follows a young boy who escapes his cruel aunts alongside the anthropomorphic bugs he befriends. They do so in a giant peach and go on an adventure to New York. The stop-motion animation was brilliant, as was the way it integrated with the live-action scenes in this wondrous tale.
A Bug's Life (92%)
Ever since Pixar arrived on the filmmaking scene, they've kind of owned the world of animation. That's especially true for computer animation. Following the wild success of their feature-length debut, they returned in 1998 with A Bug's Life, which oddly released around the same time as Antz.
Both films were positively received, though a lot of fans prefer A Bug's Life. It centers on a misfit ant who brings circus bugs he believes to be warriors to his colony to save them from grasshoppers. The animation style was obviously a hit but so was the creativity behind it and the heartwarming story.
The Lion King (93%)
It doesn't get much more iconic than The Lion King. The story of Simba, a lion cub who grows up to become king years after his father is murdered by his uncle, is the stuff of legend and is in the conversation for Disney's greatest success story of all-time. Clearly, it was a critical hit but it was also a huge financial one.
Including re-releases, 1994's The Lion King has grossed nearly $1 billion. It spawned multiple sequels, a fabulous Broadway show, and a 2019 remake that did surpass the $1 billion mark. With an incredible story, gorgeous animation, and a catchy soundtrack, it's no wonder this is beloved.
Beauty And The Beast (94%)
Similar to The Lion King, many audience members hold 1991's Beauty and the Beast in the highest of esteem. The story is indeed a tale as old as time, based on a fairy tale from the 1700s. It works well almost every time it's told because it's so simple, yet elegant.
A selfish prince is cursed to live life as a physical beast until he can find someone to love him for who he is, which he eventually does when the lovely Belle ends up as his prisoner. The beloved film made history as the first animated movie to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars.
The Straight Story (95%)
The final live-action film on this list is one that wasn't exactly a big hit. On a budget of $10 million, this 1999 film only brought in $6.2 million at the North American box office. However, thanks to the work of the folks behind this gem, it was still well-received by critics.
The whole thing is based on the true story of Alvin Straight's journey across several states on nothing more than a lawnmower. Directed by the always remarkable David Lynch, the strong reviews helped garner Richard Farnsworth an Academy Award nomination.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (95%)
Is it a Christmas movie or a Halloween flick? The debate has raged on for years but either way you slice it, 1993's The Nightmare Before Christmas is fantastic. Arguably the greatest work in the storied career of Tim Burton, this is still viewed by fans annually.
The plot follows Jack Skellington, the King of Halloween Town, as he gets bored with his holiday and stumbles into Christmas Town, falling in love with it. The stop-motion flick was the first animated film nominated for Best Visual Effects at the Oscars and for good reason as it still holds up.
Aladdin (95%)
The aforementioned remake of The Lion King grossed $1 billion but the same could be said for the reboot of Aladdin. However, like The Lion King, it's difficult to top the original. 1992's Aladdin is still considered one of the greatest entries in the history of Disney.
Based on a folk tale, Aladdin centers on the titular character, a poor street urchin who finds a genie lamp and uses the wishes from it to try and win the heart of a princess. This also became a franchise with sequels, a video game, a Broadway adaptation, and more.
Toy Story (100%)
Pixar came out with a bang. Their debut feature film arrived in 1995 and was met with widespread acclaim. Toy Story literally has zero negative reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, meaning the production company might've peaked with their first film. That's how good Toy Story is.
The animation style was revolutionary for the time and the way the concept of toys being sentient was handled was marvelous. The theme of friendship at the core was wonderful, seeing a cowboy toy form a bond with a space ranger toy as they try to get back to their owner.
Toy Story 2 (100%)
How did Pixar handle its first sequel? Somehow even better than its debut. In 1999, they released Toy Story 2 and it somehow also received all positive reviews. With over 160 total reviews, it's even more impressive than its predecessor for a handful of reasons.
For one thing, the adventure is bigger as they go to new areas and expand the universe. For another, new iconic characters are introduced. There's also a huge step up in how great the animation looks, with it still looking good over 20 years later. The Golden Globe winner gave Pixar its first franchise.