Top 10 Most Underrated Disney Channel Movies
#10: “Go Figure” (2005)
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Katelin wants nothing more than to be an Olympic figure skater, so when she meets Natasha Goberman, a top ice skating coach, her dreams are almost within reach. Katelin joins the school on a hockey scholarship,but can’t tell her teammates the truth as they look down on ‘twirl girls’. Naturally, things don’t go quite as smoothly as Katelin would’ve hoped, her loyalties are tested and she has to work twice as hard to keep her head above water. And when her two worlds collide, Katelin learns who her real friends are.
#9: “Eddie’s Million Dollar Cook-Off” (2003)
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Another tale where the lead has to decide whether to follow his dreams or do what’s expected of him. Eddie is a star baseball player with a secret penchant for cooking. When the time comes to choose electives, he “accidently” signs him and his friends up for home economics, leading Eddie to the Million Dollar Cook-Off that could kick-start his culinary career. Eddie is torn between pleasing his dad and going after his dreams, but ultimately everyone crowds around Eddie to cheer him on.
#8: “Bad Hair Day” (2015)
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Monica thought waking up on the day of prom with a hair disaster was the worst of her problems, until disgraced FBI agent Liz comes a-knocking, looking for a stolen necklace. Monica tricks Liz into driving her around town in exchange for the necklace, but little does she expect to get swept up in the chase for jewel thief Pierce Peters. We love this unlikely team and it’s their differences that make this such a compelling watch. Once they finish saving the day, Monica arrives to prom with a police escort. Talk about making an entrance.
#7: “Cow Belles” (2006)
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It’s a tale as old as time, starring Aly and AJ Michalka as two spoiled sisters who never worked a day in their lives. It’s the final straw when they go out shopping and leave a towel on the stove, causing a house fire. Their dad decides it’s time to teach them some responsibility and sends them to work on his dairy. Of course, it starts out as a total disaster, but when some money goes missing, it’s up to them to find the cash, save the day, and prove they’re more than rich spoilt brats.
#6: “Read It and Weep” (2006)
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A assignment mix-up turns Jamie into an overnight sensation, but woe to anyone who finds out that her characters are really based on her classmates. Now a best-selling author, the fame and popularity go straight to her head, with trusty alter-ego “Is”acting as her guide. Is gives Jamie the confidence to pursue stardom and while she becomes more self-assured, she forgets about those who were there for her before gaining success. While fame looks fun from the outside, it comes at a price that Jamie needs to decide if she’s willing to pay.
#5: “Smart House” (1999)
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When this film came out, the idea of smart technology controlling your house seemed light-years ahead of its time. Ben wins a fully-automated dream house in a competition, and tries to use the automated Pat to replace his late mother. It doesn’t take long until Pat becomes too overbearing and eventually traps the whole family in the house and it’s up to Ben to free everyone. This film is ahead of its time and as entertaining as the concept is.It also reminds us that there are some things we humans can still do better than AI.
#4: “Pixel Perfect” (2004)
This film definitely deserved more love. Roscoe uses technology to create Loretta, a pixel perfect performer, to win over audiences for the Zetta Bytes. Loretta proves to be a huge hit with everyone, except Sam, who becomes jealous of the band’s latest addition. Roscoe even falls for his own creation, not realizing there’s a real life girl who likes him too. Despite being generated by a computer, Loretta understands a lot about friendship and the importance of being yourself. Not to mention, there are some pretty catchy underrated songs in this film too.
#3: “The Color of Friendship” (2000)
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One of the great things about the Disney Channel is how it isn’t afraid to talk about real issues. Based on true events, Piper’s family decide to host a South African exchange student, but are surprised when a white girl turns up. The hosts are outspoken opponents of the apartheid regime, something that Mahree’s family benefit from with blissful ignorance. Eventually, the girls learn to look beyond skin color and become friends. It’s a long, rocky road, but Mahree’s worldview is turned on its head and she realizes things need to change.
#2: “You Wish!” (2003)
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We’ve all wished away an annoying sibling, but have any of us actually considered what would happen if it came true? Alex wishes he never had a little brother and wakes up to learn he’s now an only child. At first he enjoys life in the popular crew, but quickly realizes that he’s made a huge mistake. He tracks down Stevie, now a superstar, and the pair hunt for the magic coin that Alex used to make the first wish. You know what they say, careful what you wish for!
Before we unveil our number one pick, here are some honorable mentions.
“Jump In!” (2007)
"Tiger Cruise" (2004)
"Starstruck" (2010)
“Invisible Sister” (2015)
“Wish Upon a Star” (1996)
#1: “Tru Confessions” (2002)
Top 10 Best Disney Channel Movies of All Time
Based on the book of the same name, we’re introduced to Tru Walker, who wants to be on TV. She’s ecstatic when she hears about a competition that could make her dreams come true and uses her twin brother Eddie, who is autistic, as the subject of her documentary. She wins the contest and learns a lot about herself, her family, and the general attitudes toward disabilities. It’s a really touching story and by the end, all the things that annoyed Tru make her family come closer together.
