Moana 2 is out now. The sequel has already been controversial, as the feature film started off as a Disney+ TV series and has been reworked into a theatrical release. The seemingly panicked pivot to put a sequel to a successful film in theaters following the box office bomb of 2022’s Strange World and the disappointing performance of 2023’s Wish suggests that Disney is retreating to sequels above new ideas, which is discouraging.
Next year’s movie is Zootopia 2. A third Frozen is coming in 2027. I loved Zootopia and Frozen, and that still sounds bleak to me. But before this pivot to sequels, Disney’s latest era has been full of bangers. Some call the movies that started with 2008’s Bolt the “revival era,” and it’s an apt description considering how excellent some of these movies have been. So we figured we’d rank them. Here’s the best and worst of Disney’s modern era.