Though Walt Disney Pictures has been going strong for decades, not every movie released under the Disney banner has been a winner. The 2000s, in particular, saw the arrival of many memorable films. However, this decade also had its list of failures. We're here to focus on these now, by turning to the critical scores on Rotten Tomatoes.
Every movie to be released between the years 2000 and 2009 has been given a Tomatometer rating on the review aggregation site. This percentage, based on the positive and negative reviews of critics, is what we'll be using to count down to the worst.
Before we get started, it's worth noting that we also won't be including any nature documentaries of concert films (like the lowly rated Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience) in this lineup.
Now that we've covered how we're putting this list together, its time to dive further into the details; Here are the worst live-action 2000s Disney movies, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004): 26%
Though The Princess Diaries and its 2004 sequel were well-loved by fans, critics' opinions weren't quite as high.
The romantic comedy has average-girl-turned-princess Mia returning to the country of Genovia after graduating from Princeton. Here, she discovers that she must get married within 30 days to keep her crown. Though the Duke of Kenilworth seems like a safe option, Mia finds her heart getting mixed up with the complicated Nicholas Deveraux.
Critics decided that though Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews filled the sequel with warmth and grace, the script lacked weight.
Bedtime Stories (2008): 26%
This fantasy comedy follows hotel handyman Skeeter, who discovers that the bedtime stories he tells his niece and nephew are becoming true in real life. Though Skeeter hopes to use this magic to his advantage, his young relatives’ imaginative contributions make the world a little crazier.
Bedtime Stories had its laughs, though the uneven pacing made it difficult to stay engaged.
Snow Dogs (2002): 25%
Snow Dogs has Miami dentist Ted Brooks discovering that a group of Alaskan snow dogs has been left to him in a will. As if this revelation wasn't weird enough, he must deal with the conniving Thunder Jack, who hopes to take the dogs for himself.
While the adventure comedy was a box office hit, it was a critical failure due to its cliche writing and watered-down jokes.
The Pacifier (2005): 21%
In The Pacifier, Navy SEAL Shane Wolfe attempts to redeem himself after failing to keep a scientist safe. In order to do this, he decides to care for the man’s five chaotic children and their pet duck.
Though the concept was funny, the execution was average. The movie had its fun moments, but it failed to stand out among other films in the comedy genre.
The Santa Clause 3 (2006): 17%
Though the first installment in the Santa Clause series has become a Christmas classic, its two sequels didn’t receive the same strong reviews.
In The Escape Clause, Scott Calvin begins to stress about his magical life after the in-laws come to visit. Wishing to take the role of Santa Clause for himself, Jack Frost tricks Scott into denouncing the position. This requires Scott to find a way to escape a dismal alternate future.
Critics believed that the slapstick gags were over-done in this holiday installment. The heart of the first movie was begrudgingly dragged along to the last.
College Road Trip (2008): 12%
In College Road Trip, Police chief James is required to drive his daughter Melanie from Chicago to Washington D.C. for a tour of universities. Though Melanie is eager to pick a place of her choosing, her over-protective father tries to take control of her happiness.
Many viewers believed the comedy tried too hard to be funny. Though the cast had its appeal, the unimaginative jokes had the film lacking weight.
The Haunted Mansion (2003): 14%
Eddie Murphy was front-and-center in The Haunted Mansion film, based on the Disney theme park attraction of the same name.
The horror-comedy follows an overworked real estate agent, Jim, who decides to take his family on a relaxing trip. However, when the group stops at a mansion he's supposed to sell along the way, he's soon confronted with a few haunts who need help breaking a curse.
Critics felt that the movie didn't pack an emotional punch. The humor was bland, and the horror elements failed to excite.
Confessions Of A Teenage Drama Queen (2004): 14%
In this 2004 musical, teenager Mary aspires to star on Broadway. However, her plans are forced to take a backseat after her family moves from the glamor of New York City to the boring suburbs of New Jersey. This has her opting to become the most popular person at school. The problem: Carla Santini proves to be a tough competition.
Unlike many Disney films, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen was aimed at a very narrow audience, failing to appeal to viewers of all ages.
Underdog (2007): 14%
Underdog's Shoeshine is an average beagle, that is until an experiment-gone-wrong gives him a set of superpowers and the ability to talk. This has him becoming the hero of Capitol City, where he hopes to uncover the villainous plots of scientist Simon Barsinister.
Viewers felt that the film's story was forgettable and unoriginal. Additionally, the production felt hastily put-together, especially when compared to better-made Disney films of the decade.
Old Dogs (2009): 5%
Topping off the list as the lowest-rated rated Disney film of the 2000s is Old Dogs.
The 2009 comedy follows two bachelors who have the task of caring for twin children thrust upon them while working through a business deal.
Critics found that the situations to come out of Old Dogs were far more dumb than funny. The acting was weak, and the script wasn't much better. If you still want to watch the comedy for some reason, you'll be glad to know it's available for streaming right now on Disney+.