The Best Disney Movie From Every Year In The 2000s

Summary

• Disney produced many great animated and live-action films in the 2000s, including Pixar movies.
• Each year in the 2000s, Disney released some standout films, such as 'The Emperor's New Groove' in 2000.
• Notable movies from the decade like 'Monsters, Inc.,' 'The Incredibles,' and 'The Princess And The Frog' were well-received.

By the 2000s, Disney was already a big, established name in Hollywood. The studio had already released many classics and didn’t seem intent on stopping any time soon. While the company didn’t go on quite as impressive a run in the 2000s as it did in the 90s, it still was a strong period for the studio.

Every Disney Renaissance Film, Ranked

These iconic Disney films raised an entire generation, but which movies from the Renaissance era truly stand out?

During the decade, Disney released plenty of great films, both animated and live-action ones. Plus, the Pixar movies fall under the Disney banner, and that studio also created some unbelievable films during the 2000s. Here is the best thing Disney or Pixar produced for each year of the decade.

This list only includes movies that were actually produced by Disney or Pixar. Films that were only distributed don't count.

10 2000 - The Emperor's New Groove

The Emperor's New Groove has long been one of the most underrated Disney animated movies. Its premise of an Emperor being turned into a Llama and trying to make themselves human again is undoubtedly a unique one.

As wacky as it sounds, it's a nice set-up for a story about humility. Along with giving you lessons in ethics, the game also makes you laugh, primarily through the hilarious villain duo of Yzma and Kronk. As good as the movie is, it only narrowly beats the excellent Remember the Titans as the best Disney flick of the year 2000.

9 2001 - Monsters, Inc.

In the early 2000s, Pixar regularly delivered goods. The studio did so again with the incredible Monsters, Inc. It's set in a universe of monsters, and you follow Sully and Mike as they do their day job of scaring children. That is until a little girl ends up in their universe.

The premise is very original and creative, as are the many different monster designs in the movie. The true greatness of the film, however, comes from its mix of humor and drama. Like most of Pixar's best films, this movie is almost guaranteed to make you laugh and cry by the time the credits roll. This puts it far above Disney's other offerings in 2001.

8 2002 - Lilo And Stitch

Lilo and Stitch is a movie about a little girl and her older sister adopting an alien that they mistook for a dog. Or at least, that is the basic premise of the movie. The film is actually about loss and family.

13 Best Disney Siblings

Brothers and sisters of misses and misters.

A lot of animated kids' movies contain a heartbreaking scene or two. Lilo and Stitch, though, is sad throughout, as you have to watch Lilo's older sister, Nani, struggle to care for her. Meanwhile, you see Lilo still struggling to get over the loss of their parents and deal with loneliness. It's heavy but well-written subject matter. Plus, Stitch's antics often add a bit of levity to the experience. Other Disney movies from 2002, such as Treasure Planet and Return to Never Land, don't have the same depth.

7 2003 - Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl

Disney's live-action movies didn't all used to be adaptations of the company's animated films. Take the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie, for example, which was based on a theme park ride instead. While that sounds like a flimsy inspiration, the movie is actually amazing and one of the best Pirate films ever.

It tells the tale of Captain Jack Sparrow attempting to get his ship back after being mutinied, while Will Turner wants to get back his beloved Elizabeth, who's being held by the same crew. The brilliance of the movie mainly comes from its excellent cast, containing names like Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, and Geoffrey Rush, who all deliver fantastic performances. As great as the movie is, the title of 2003's best Disney movie could easily be given to the iconic Finding Nemo, as it's tough to pick between the two films.

6 2004 - The Incredibles

There are some great superhero movies that don't come from Marvel or DC. The Incredibles might be the best of them. It revolves around two former heroes who now have a family. They're living a normal life until they are pulled back into action.

Speaking of action, the fight scenes in this film are really exciting and explosive. But the movie isn't all about big battles; it also contains plenty of wit and some heartwarming moments. Also, the main villain, Syndrome, has easy-to-understand motivations and is very entertaining. Overall, the movie is much better than anything else Disney released in 2004.

5 2005 - The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe

At the end of 2005, Disney treated viewers to a wonderful fantasy adventure in the form of The Chronicles of Narnia. The movie revolves around a group of kids who find a magical land inside a wardrobe. Much of the praise this film gets should be directed at the production.

The sets, special effects, and costumes look amazing, and they really help bring Narnia to life. The acting is solid, too, as is the story. Other Disney movies that came out the same year include Cars, Herbie: Fully Loaded, and National Treasure. They all have their charm, but none of them is quite as good as Narnia.

4 2006 - Ratatouille

Ratatouille has spawned countless memes and jokes. Yet, what shouldn't be forgotten is that it's actually a really good movie. The concept of the film is unique. It revolves around a rat who desires to be a fancy chef. Sadly, upscale restaurants don't typically hire rats, so he teams up with a garbage boy in an effort to achieve his dream.

15 Best Disney Games Of All Time

Check out the greatest Disney games ever made!

This original premise leads to a very entertaining movie with fantastic animation and some good voice acting. 2006 wasn't a great year for Disney movies. Therefore, only Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest could compete with Ratatouille as that year's best Disney film.

3 2007 - The Pixar Story

Not many people would think of The Pixar Story when discussing Disney's films. After all, it only had a limited run in theatres and wasn't as successful as many of Disney's other movies. That said, it's still a really good watch.

It's a documentary that dives into the history of Pixar. The film shows how the company was formed and its route to huge success. The whole thing is very compelling, particularly if you aren't too aware of Pixar's past. Other movies that could have been considered Disney's best movie in 2007 were Bridge to Terabithia, Enchanted, and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.

2 2008 - Wall-E

In 2008, Disney released a very clever and heartwarming animated movie, Wall-E. The film is about a small robot cleaning up the Earth, which is no longer habitable. In contrast, humans live cushy lives on giant spaceships. When a fancier robot comes down from space to check for life, Wall-E immediately falls for her.

The impressive thing about the love story between the two bots is that neither of them can really talk, but their romance is still very powerful and filled with sweet moments. As such, it's easy to get invested in their story together. Along with telling a great love story, the film also has a strong anti-corporation message and makes you ponder what it really means to live. All of it is done so well, making it easily the best Disney movie of 2008.

1 2009 - The Princess And The Frog

The 2000s weren't a great time for the Disney Princess brand, as most of the Princess movies released were uninspired sequels. That is until the end of the decade, when the world was treated to The Princess and the Frog. This animated musical is about a waitress named Tiana who wants to own her own restaurant. Yet, that dream is put on hold a little bit when she's transformed into a frog. Then, her goal is to become human again.

Tiana ranks as one of the best Disney Princesses ever, and this movie is a great one. The music and voice acting are fantastic. However, it isn't just your ears that get a treat; the brilliant animation also gives your eyes a gift. No other Disney movie in 2009 could compete with this classic.

Disney Movies You Didn't Know Shared A Universe

It's wild how many Disney movies are actually set in the same universe.