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Disney Channel Original Moviesaren’t the blockbuster films the Walt Disney Company is best known for.
But Disney’s TV movies for better or for worse are in a category all their own.
Here are some of the best and worst Disney Channel Original Movies.
ButThe Color of Friendshipis different.
It follows the friendship of two teenagers, Piper and Mahree, in the 1970s.
Mahree is a white South African, while Piper, an American, is black.
In South Africa, the fight to end apartheid is well under way.
The 2000 film doesn’t sugarcoatconflictsandracial issues, and the eventual friendship between Mahree and Piperfeels well-earned.
The film earned a 76 percent audience score onRotten Tomatoes.
But Disney Channel really missed the mark withKim Possiblein 2019.
The movie came and went, impressing few.
But when this TV musical came out, it was an undeniable hit.
It held the record untilHigh School Musical 2shattered it with 17.3 million viewers in 2007 (viaVariety).
The film skyrocketed the fame of stars Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, and Ashley Tisdale.
Plus, it inspired two sequels and the spin-off movieSharpay’s Fabulous Adventure.
Overall, it was a major success.
Still, at least the second and third films featured most of the same actors, avoiding cringe-worthy recasting.
The Disney Channel Original Movie wasn’t well received, earning just a 43 percent from viewers onRotten Tomatoes.
But before those films, Disney came out with the instant classic,Motocrossed.
Motocrossedis the story of a girl named Andrea who loves motocross, much to thedisappointment of her father.
While gender expectation and societal stereotypes have changed since then, the 2001 film was important for its time.
There wasHigh School Musical,theDescendantsfranchise, and, of course, 2003’sThe Cheetah Girls.
Plus, it had some star power, includingRaven-Symonewho played the titular character inThat’s So Raven.
The Cheetah Girls’popularity carried over to 2006’sThe Cheetah Girls 2.
However, things started to go downhill when Disney madeThe Cheetah Girls: One Worldin 2008.
For one thing, the Disney Channel Original Movie was missing one pivotal cast member: Raven-Symone.
The house can doall kinds of thingslike make meals and clean spills.
The house evenhelps Benimpress a girl when he throws a house party.
But soon the house gets out of control, becoming over-protective of the family and locking them inside.
Since then, she’s had some other good roles inYoung & Hungry,TheKominsky Method,andAlmost Family.
The plot is forced and the acting is just okay.
Over all, it’s not Disney Channel’s proudest moment.
The movie is fun and futuristic with lots of great made-up slang and acatchy song.
But it turns out that the third time is not the charm forFreaky Friday.
When the2018 musical versionhit Disney Channel, it simply didn’t have the reception the other two films enjoyed.
Brown) who, one day, finds out she’s a witch.
At least, until recently.
All things considered, those are pretty good ratings.
But by the timeReturn to Halloweentowncame out in 2006, theHalloweentownfranchise was haunting Disney Channel.
The first big mistake was with casting.
While Debbie Reynolds signed on for this fourth film, the original Marnie was replaced.
It’s not clear why she was recast, but it seems it wasn’t actress Kimberly J.
Brown’s decision (viaSeventeen).
Still, no matter the reason, the casting change cost the film dearly.
Without the spark Brown brought to Marnie’s character, the film just wasn’t the same.
Heidi wants to be in the school play while Heather is more interested in basketball.
Still, the simple storyline and real-life influence make the film feel honest and relatable.
It’s a true Disney Channel classic.
The DCOM ended up doing poorly, getting a low 42 percent audience score onRotten Tomatoes.
It’s a Disney Channel Original Movie that’s best forgotten.
