Twenty years sounds like a long time, and yet, it can go by in the blink of an eye. The Walt Disney Company has new movies and shows every single year, but some time periods stand out more than others. Family movies were booming in the early 2000s, and it was a treat to see something new in the theater or stay home and enjoy it on cable.
These are ten movies or series to enjoy on Disney+ that are turning twenty in 2021. Two honorable mentions are Jett Jackson: The Movie and The Jennie Project, two great Disney Channel movies that are unfortunately not yet available on the streaming service.
The Princess Diaries
Twenty years ago, Mia Thermopolis became a princess. She was always beautiful, but she found self-confidence and grace in her surprise royalty.
Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews made The Princess Diaries a lasting moment for Disney. Fans have been comforted and inspired by the film for two decades, and it's all thanks to Meg Cabot for writing the popular book series.
Hounded
Tahj Mowry was already a star from his work on Smart Guy, which was rerun on Disney Channel for several years.
Mowry starred in two DCOMs (Disney Channel Original Movies) in 2001, Hounded and The Poof Point. The latter was a kids' sci-fi movie about two teens accidentally de-aging their parents. The former is a heartwarming story of two brothers hilariously trying to return a Pomeranian to its owner after a series of cutthroat prep school events.
Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge
As much as everyone loves the first Halloweentown (1998), some fans love the second movie in the franchise even more. Marnie is a little older, but she allows Kalabar's son to trick her with his good looks.
Marnie and her Grandma Aggie have to reverse a gray spell that is cast over all of Halloweentown. The film thereby combines time travel, backwards spells, and the charm that only Kimberly J. Brown and Debbie Reynolds could magically bestow.
Motocrossed
A DCOM loosely inspired by Twelfth Night has always been regarded as one of Disney Channel's best sports movies.
Motocrossed has the wit, heart, action, and plot-thickening goodness that everyone wants in an early-2000s Disney Channel Original Movie. Andrea Carson was ahead of her time, and no one ever forgot it.
Max Keeble's Big Move
Max Keeble's Big Move was released in theaters, so it's not a DCOM, but that didn't stop Disney Channel from airing it over and over again for quite awhile.
The movie even starred Alex D. Linz from The Jennie Project (and later, Full Court Miracle) as Max. Josh Peck plays one of the best friends, and the dad from Lizzie McGuire (Robert Carradine) is Max's dad. It doesn't get much better than that for a chaotic middle school movie.
The Luck Of The Irish
In 2001, The Luck of the Irish became Disney Channel's standard St. Patrick's Day DCOM. Ryan Merriman brought all the emotion to the role of Kyle, and fans love watching him learn that he is a leprechaun, with some guidance from his mischievous grandfather.
This film even had singing at the end, so a case can be made that it at least partially inspired the basketball musical genre that High School Musical takes credit for.
Monsters Inc.
Many Pixar fans have a soft spot for Monsters Inc. The Pete Docter masterpiece led to further emotional exploration in Disney/Pixar films and bridged the gap between reality and imagination.
Mike, Sulley and Boo are some of the most lovable characters in the Pixar canon now, and it's amazing to think that they got their start two decades ago.
The Proud Family
Following The Famous Jett Jackson, The Proud Family was one of the first Disney Channel shows of its era to center a diverse cast.
The animated series starred Kyla Pratt as Penny Proud, a young woman trying to balance everyday teenage problems with her busy and highly-involved family. There is a lot of love in the Proud house, and fans are excited to see these characters again in the upcoming reboot on Disney+.
Zenon: The Zequel
Two years after Zenon Kar saved the space stay, she entered extraterrestrial territory in Zenon: The Zequel.
This second movie in the trilogy brought back many of the characters from the first film, and Kirsten Storms shines in this portrayal of Zenon. It's fun to see that the outfits take on a slightly more metallic appearance, and Proto Zoa's musical act is just as iconic here as it is in the first film.
Lizzie McGuire
Lizzie McGuire fans have already had a blast celebrating twenty years of Lizzie. The spunky blonde tween has a permanent place in the hearts of many, from her klutzy nature to her fashionable wardrobe and her animated alter-ego.
Hilary Duff did the best thing she could do to make Lizzie relatable--she brought her real self and spirit to the role. Reliving this classic Disney Channel series is always comforting, even and especially after all this time.