Top 10 Disney Movies Where the Voice Cast Goes Hard

Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson and company may not have superpowers, but they could’ve fooled us. Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl (or Bob and Helen) don’t have it easy, juggling family and superhero life. Nelson and Hunter nail every beat though, making their characters multifaceted people – they’re parents, supers, a couple, and so much more. Meanwhile, Jackson’s hilarious Lucius, or Frozone, is a breath of icy fresh air. We also have no choice but to shout out Kimberly Adair Clark, aka Honey. Though it’s a minor role, her voice alone has us in stitches. Don’t think we’ve forgotten about Brad Bird’s pitch-perfect performance as fashion designer Edna Mode, either. Talk about a scene-stealing star! Superheroes have nothing on these actors.

A voice actor can make or break their movie. Luckily, this cast goes above and beyond, creating characters for us to obsess over. Kuzco could’ve been insufferable, but David Spade plays his egocentric persona for laughs while leaving room for growth. Pacha could’ve been boring, yet John Goodman makes him so noble and down-to-earth that he’s impossible not to love. Kronk’s clueless energy could’ve been frustrating or childish, but with Patrick Warburton’s comedic timing, he becomes one of the greatest Disney henchmen around. Last but not least, Yzma could’ve been your basic boilerplate villain. In Eartha Kitt’s hands though, she's a compelling, hilarious, and truly formidable foe. Put all of that together, and you have a winner.

“Encanto” is all about family — the family Madrigal, to be specific. The voice cast not only embodies their own unique characters, but also makes those familial dynamics shine. Stephanie Beatriz sets the tone as protagonist Mirabel, with an optimistic but vulnerable delivery that’s deeply relatable. Jessica Darrow and Diane Guerrero voice her sisters, letting us in on Luisa and Isabela’s personal journeys. They’re joined by the likes of John Leguizamo’s Bruno, who ends up being far funnier and less terrifying than everyone thought. And we’d be remiss not to mention María Cecilia Botero’s extraordinary turn as Alma, which radiates strength and grace. They, alongside a slew of other extremely talented folks, breathe nuanced life into the story, and it’s like magic.

If you’ve ever wondered how emotions would sound if they could speak, look no further than “Inside Out”. It’s a difficult thing to find people who can personify major feelings. You don’t want it to sound too caricaturish, but it also has to be dynamic, believable, and funny. Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, and Mindy Kaling more than understood the assignment, though. As Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Disgust, respectively, they encapsulate the core of their characters, who interact with one another in authentic and entertaining ways. Equally important is Richard Kind as imaginary friend Bing Bong, who isn’t an emotion, but gets us in our feelings. Needless to say, we have a whole lot of love for the entire cast.

Look at this voice cast, isn’t it neat?! Let’s start with Jodi Benson, the woman behind one of the most beloved princesses. Her acting makes it easy for people to relate to Ariel, a mermaid longing to be human. She’s also in great company. What Pat Carroll did as Ursula is simply extraordinary. The sass, menacing attitude, and amazing glamor she infuses the evil sea witch with is mesmerizing. And we would give anything to have a sidekick as clever as Samuel E. Wright’s Sebastian, because that’s how memorable the actor’s portrayal is! Then there’s Kenneth Mars’s intimidating yet layered King Triton, Jason Marin’s wholesome Flounder, and more. A world with such skilled pros is the only one we want to be part of.

Robin Williams’ magnetic, next-level performance as Genie alone probably would’ve qualified “Aladdin” for a spot on this list. While he is iconic, the movie wouldn’t have succeeded if everyone else had phoned it in. Fortunately, each actor gives it their all, and the result is a true Disney classic. Jonathan Freeman makes Jafar a creepy and sinister villain. Gilbert Gottfried’s Iago is unforgettable. And of course, there’s the central couple. Thanks to Scott Weinger, Aladdin stands out from the crowd, and as Jasmine, Linda Larkin does a royally good job. That’s saying nothing of Brad Kane and Lea Salonga, who provide the pair’s gorgeous singing voices. “Aladdin”’s stars introduced us to “A Whole New World,” and we’ll never look back!

This franchise made us wish our toys could talk – and sound just like Woody and company. That’s a testament to the excellent voice work on display. We never knew a cowboy and a space ranger could be so fun. Yet Tom Hanks and Tim Allen make it so with their lively scene readings as Woody and Buzz. The rest of the gang also goes super hard. Nobody can play a fearful dinosaur quite like Wallace Shawn, a piggy bank like John Ratzenberger, or a Mr. Potato Head like Don Rickles! Plus, each new character that’s introduced throughout, like Joan Cusack’s Jessie or Tony Hale’s Forky, makes the story better. That’s because everyone commits, and they’ll always have a friend in us as a result.

Do you want to build a snowman? We know we do, especially if our partners in crime are Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel’s Anna and Elsa, and the resulting creation ends up being Josh Gad’s Olaf! We definitely wouldn’t be upset if Kristoff joined in on the fun – hello, that’s Jonathan Groff, can you blame us?! The talented stars, both central and supporting, who lend their voices to the “Frozen” movies aren’t just blandly reading the scripts. They’re performing in a way that transports us to Arendelle, the Enchanted Forest, or anywhere else the characters may go. They hold nothing back, which leads to really honest, moving characterizations, enthralling on-screen relationships, and yes, great humor. We’ll never let go of how that makes us feel.

“The Lion King” is one of Disney’s best movies, and we have to give credit where it’s due. James Earl Jones is the best Mufasa, making us want to soak up his wisdom. Matthew Broderick takes the grown-up Simba and immerses us into his heroic story. Jeremy Irons’ portrayal of the power-hungry Scar, meanwhile, is so frightening we have chills thinking about it. When it all gets a little gloomy, Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella make us laugh with Timon and Pumbaa. But wait, who could forget Zazu, or the clan of hyenas? Rowan Atkinson, Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin, and Jim Cummings made sure the answer would be no one. The voice actors populate a gorgeous world, and we never tire of revisiting it.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

"The Aristocats" (1970)
Ev'rybody Wants to Be a…Super Talented Voice Actor, & Mission Accomplished for This Cast

"Hercules" (1997)
These Actors Go the Distance & Then Some

"Moana" (2016)
We’d Travel Far to Hear Such Talent, but “Moana” Makes It Easily Accessible

"Finding Nemo" (2003)
While Looking for Nemo, We Found a Plethora of Amazing Voices

“Monsters, Inc.” (2001)
There’s Nothing Monstrous About How Good This Cast Is

This 1991 movie comes to life before our eyes, and we have the voice actors to thank. We can’t imagine anyone other than Paige O’Hara as the intelligent Belle, because she becomes the character. Even putting our protagonist aside, it’s not easy to convey that there’s a Prince underneath the Beast, but Robby Benson pulls it off. Richard White, for his part, sells Gaston’s despicable nature. We also have Angela Lansbury’s turn as Mrs. Potts, which is downright majestic, filled with a comforting warmth. As for David Ogden Stiers’ Cogsworth, well, he’s always right on time. And Lumière lights up every scene he’s in as a result of Jerry Orbach’s wonderfully theatrical choices. Need we go on? There’s something enchanting there!