Disney Movies 2023 Top Upd May 2026

Looking back at 2023, Disney's 100th anniversary year brought a huge mix of heavy hitters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe , heartwarming

originals, and live-action reimaginings of absolute classics.

Here’s a breakdown of the top Disney movies from 2023 for your next movie night. The Animated Big Hits

: This Pixar film follows Ember (fire) and Wade (water) in a city where different elements live together. It was highly praised for its world-building and for tackling deep themes like the immigrant experience

: Released for Disney’s 100th anniversary, this musical-comedy tells the origin story of the iconic wishing star. It’s available on

and features a unique art style inspired by hand-drawn animation. Once Upon a Studio

: Technically a short film, this 100th-anniversary celebration brought over 400 Disney characters together for a group photo . It’s a nostalgic must-watch for any long-time fan. Action & Blockbusters Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

: Often cited as the best MCU film of the year, this final chapter for the original team focused heavily on Rocket Raccoon’s emotional backstory. Critics from The Walt Disney Company and fans alike rated it as essential viewing. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

: Harrison Ford returned for one last adventure as the legendary archeologist. You can catch Indy walking around Adventureland in Disneyland to celebrate this release. The Marvels

: Carol Danvers, Kamala Khan, and Monica Rambeau teamed up in this high-energy sequel. While it had a rocky box office run, many fans on called it an underrated entry in the franchise. Live-Action & Streaming Favorites The Little Mermaid : Halle Bailey stars as Ariel in this visually stunning remake disney movies 2023 top

that brought the underwater world to life with fresh songs and modern effects. Haunted Mansion

: Based on the iconic theme park ride, this supernatural comedy features a massive cast including LaKeith Stanfield and Rosario Dawson. It’s a great family-friendly pick for those who like a few "spooky" laughs. Flamin’ Hot : Eva Longoria directed this biopic (streaming on Disney+ and Hulu

) about Richard Montañez, the janitor who claimed to have invented the iconic Flamin' Hot Cheeto.

Which of these did you catch in theaters, or are you still catching up on most anticipated Disney movies coming out in the next year?

Title: The Magic Strikes Back: Top Disney Movies of 2023

Subtitle: From wish-granting cartoons to live-action thrills, 2023 proved Disney still has a few tricks up its sleeve.

Story Draft:

For a while, it felt like the Disney magic was running on fumes. But 2023? 2023 was a comeback story written in starlight. It was the year animation found its soul again, and live-action stopped being a cash grab and started being art. Let’s break down the top three films that made us laugh, cry, and believe in wishes again.

3. The Little Mermaid (Live Action)

Let’s address the tide in the room. Before release, the internet was a storm of hot takes. But when Halle Bailey opened her mouth to sing “Part of Your World,” the ocean went silent. This wasn’t a remake; it was a reclamation. Bailey’s Ariel wasn’t just a girl who wanted legs—she was an explorer, a scientist of the surface, with a voice that felt like sunlight on water. Melissa McCarthy’s Ursula chewed the scenery in the best way possible, and the updated lyrics gave Ariel a fierce agency the 1989 version only hinted at. It landed at #3 not because it was flawed, but because the top two were simply untouchable.

2. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (Marvel/Disney)

Nobody was ready to say goodbye. James Gunn delivered the most unlikely tearjerker of the year: a story about a ugly, tortured rabbit (Rocket Raccoon) finding his family. While other superhero films felt like homework, Vol. 3 felt like a hug from your most broken, sarcastic friend. The hallway fight scene was action perfection, but the heart was in the final dance. When the credits rolled on this ragtag crew, you weren't just sad the movie ended—you were sad the era ended. It proved that Disney can still do dark, mature, and gut-wrenching when they trust the filmmakers.

1. Wish

And finally, the crown jewel. To celebrate 100 years, Disney went back to the source code. Wish is a love letter to the very idea of Disney. It introduces Asha, a heroine who feels both modern (she has STEM smarts) and classic (she has the wide-eyed wonder of Snow White). The villain, Magnifico, is a terrifyingly relatable narcissist—a king who hoards wishes instead of granting them.

But the real star is the animation. A gorgeous watercolor rebellion against the CGI look of the past decade, Wish looks like a storybook that learned how to move. The song “This Wish” is destined to become a Disney Parks staple for the next fifty years.

The Verdict

2023 wasn’t just a good year for Disney. It was a necessary one. It reminded us that magic isn't about nostalgia—it's about renewal. Whether you were swimming under the sea, crying over a raccoon, or wishing upon a star, Disney made sure you left the theater believing in something bigger than yourself. Here’s to the next hundred years.

What was your #1? Let us know in the comments. Looking back at 2023, Disney's 100th anniversary year

Tier 1: The Crown Jewel (Best Disney Movie 2023)

Honorable Mention: The Boogeyman (20th Century Studios)

While technically a Disney release (via 20th Century), this horror flick flew under the radar. With a budget of $35 million, it grossed $82 million and scared audiences silly. It is not a "family" Disney movie, but it is a top-tier horror film for 2023.

3. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

Release Date: February 17, 2023
Global Box Office: $476 million (Budget: ~$200 million)
Rotten Tomatoes: 46%

Quantumania kicked off "Phase 5" of the MCU with a whimper, not a bang. While it grossed significantly more than The Marvels, relative to the star power of Paul Rudd and Jonathan Majors (as Kang the Conqueror), this was a disappointment.

Visually, the film was heavily criticized for its "green screen" aesthetic—the Quantum Realm looked like a video game cutscene from 2015. However, it lands above Haunted Mansion and The Marvels because of Jonathan Majors. His performance as Kang was genuinely terrifying and physically imposing. Unfortunately, Majors’ legal troubles later in the year further soured Disney’s plans for this character. It is a middle-tier superhero film that forgot to make the audience care about the world around the action.

The Verdict: 2023 was the "Reset Year"

For two decades, Disney had a cheat code: Marvel + Star Wars + Remakes = Billion dollars. 2023 broke that code.

What we learned from the "top" Disney movies of 2023 is that scarcity creates value. Disney+ has devalued the theatrical window. Audiences now know that a movie will be on streaming in 45 days. The only films that broke through this year (Guardians, Heron) offered something you couldn't get at home: finality, artistry, or a communal water-cooler moment.

As Disney enters its 101st year, the top lesson is brutal: Stop making content. Start making events. Otherwise, 2024 will look a lot like 2023—only without James Gunn to save them.

Title: The Magic in Flux: An Analysis of Disney’s Theatrical Releases in 2023

Abstract The year 2023 marked a pivotal juncture for The Walt Disney Company. Following a period of pandemic-induced uncertainty and a aggressive pivot to streaming, the studio returned to a robust theatrical slate. This paper examines Disney’s top releases of 2023—ranging from animated sequels to live-action remakes and superhero tentpoles—to evaluate their critical reception, box office performance, and cultural impact. The analysis reveals a studio grappling with "franchise fatigue" in some sectors while simultaneously celebrating a return to nostalgic, animated form in others, signaling a necessary evolution in Disney’s content strategy.

5. Notable Trends & Analysis

Mixed box office year – Disney lost the #1 studio spot to Universal for the first time since 2015
Budget issues – Several films (Indy 5, The Marvels, Haunted Mansion) had budgets over $250M but earned under $400M globally
Disney+ effect – Theatrical performance weakened but streaming viewership remained strong
100th anniversary – Wish was intended as a celebration but underperformed critically and commercially
Animation recovery – After Lightyear (2022) underperformed, Elemental showed Pixar can still draw audiences (especially internationally)