Disney Channel Original Movies, also known as “DCOMs,” were quite the craze in the peak era of Disney Channel, from the late ’90s to the mid-2000s. With Disney+ featuring a lot of the old classics in its roster, there are plenty of lesser appreciated (but not obscure) ones.
Original DCOMs are not based on Disney shows or franchises that were already established. So films like The Even Stevens Movie or Kim Possible: So The Drama don’t count as DCOMs, but underrated films like Cadet Kelly and Avalon High are.
Avalon High (2010)
In 2010, the Disney Channel released a coming-of-age tale about Allie Pennington who is thrown through a loop when her new classmates aren’t who she thought. With her parents being old literature teachers who specialized in Medieval times, Allie realized that her new friends were reincarnations of Camelot.
The closer she became to her reincarnated friends, the more she was influenced by the period. The movie starred Britt Robertson, Gregg Sulking, and Joey Pollari, and while Avalon High wasn’t the best Disney Channel Original Movie, a sequel could have been made. Because of the storyline and the way the movie ended, a sequel could have been accomplished easily.
Stepsister From Planet Weird (2000)
Stepsister from Planet Weird was a fun movie for younger viewers since it expanded the thoughts of reality. When teenager Megan found out that she and her brother were getting a stepdad and new stepsister, she did everything she could to make sure the wedding didn’t happen.
Things got stranger for Megan when she realized her new stepsister wasn’t just weird, she was an alien from another planet. Because of their different youths, Megan and her stepsister became enemies. As is the case with most Disney movies, things work out in the end and Megan and her sister realized they had more in common than they thought. Because of the fun storyline, this movie was an underrated one.
Up, Up, And Away! (2000)
Another underrated Disney movie from the early 2000s was Up, Up, and Away! The fun part about his movie was the whimsical storyline that showed what life was like for Scott Marshall.
Scott was born into a family of superheroes who used their powers secretly for the greater good. What made this film exciting was wondering if Scott was ever going to get his powers to join his family. With his 14th birthday on the horizon, if no powers came to him, he would be the odd man out. This movie is often forgotten about but the presence of family and wanting to fit in were relatable.
Cadet Kelly (2002)
Cadet Kelly sees seasoned Disney stars Hilary Duff and Christy Carlson Romero butt heads with each other after Kelly, an artsy free spirited girl, ends up in military school. Her cadet captain Stone immediately dislikes Kelly and her completely rebellious spirit, and likewise, Kelly isn’t a fan of the uptight and cold Stone.
But of course, the two eventually find more common ground with each other despite their rivalry. The film is decent enough for its target audience, and though it can get a bit generic at times, the lead actresses manage to carry it. It’s one of the best Disney Channel Original movies but doesn’t get the credit it deserves for a meaningful storyline.
Can Of Worms (1999)
Can of Worms is not a structured film or even the best Disney Channel Movie from the ’90s. The film was the first DCOM to boast the ever-imposing TV-PG rating (as opposed to just “G”) and that’s certainly due to the creepy-looking alien creatures.
There’s a lot of zany stuff going on in this movie, but the gist of it is that a boy thinks he’s an alien and doesn’t feel like he fits in. Then, actual aliens appear and hijinks ensue. The film isn’t great, but in the manner of “so bad, it’s good,” which is why it’s underrated. It also helps to have Malcolm McDowell (Alex from A Clockwork Orange) as a talking alien dog.
Don’t Look Under The Bed (1999)
As the second DCOM to get that spooky PG rating, Don’t Look Under The Bed was a film that tried to infuse a few more horror elements for a very young audience. At times, it succeeds in that, managing to implement some crafty practical effects, such as art pieces or creative set designs.
The film concerns a girl starting high school a year early (due to her high intelligence) and coming across an imaginary friend who claims the Boogeyman is out to get her. The two have a contentious partnership and decide to get to the bottom of what’s happening with this imaginary Disney villain. The film’s revelation of the mystery is pretty decent, though a bit lacking in its execution. Nevertheless, the film is worth a watch to see something stray away from the usual DCOM formula.
The Luck Of The Irish (2001)
There are so many films that have tackled Irish culture or mythos in some way, but there’s nothing as bizarre as The Luck of the Irish. For those familiar with Halloweentown, the premise is oddly familiar. But rather than have a family keep their secret witch heritage secret, the film deals with a boy finding out about his secret leprechaun heritage.
It’s a completely goofy premise, but it has its moments, and oddly enough, some pretty impressive effects for a TV film made in 2001— making it underrated. It’s one of those forgotten Disney Channel Original movies that deserve a rewatch. It also has the bonus of Timothy Omundson (best known for Psych and Galavant) in its cast.
Descendants (2015)
Descendants is a quasi-cheat entry on this list, as it is technically based on established characters. That being said, the premise is unique, and the story is original. The plot concerns the kids of several big-name Disney villains going to school and being given a chance to live out their lives while their villainous parents are in prison. However, the kids decide to break out of their parents by stealing the Fairy Godmother’s wand.
The movie relies heavily on nostalgia baiting and big names, but it’s pretty ambitious and there was an effort being poured in. It was decently popular and managed to garner a few sequels. While many Millennials and Generation Z-ers are likely more familiar with the other entries on this list, Descendants was much more recent. Fans who felt the movie should have been added to Disney+ got their wish because it can now be streamed there.
Johnny Tsunami (1999)
Johnny Tsunami deals with the tale of Johnny Kapahaala, a young surfer and grandson of a Hawaiian surfing legend. Johnny ends up moving to Vermont because of his strict dad’s job and has to adapt his skills in surfing to the snow.
Naturally, it leads to snowboarding. The film is a typical fish-out-of-water story, but it is drenched so heavily in the DCOM formula to the point that it’s charming. It’s a goofy DCOM, but fans still love it today.
Zenon: Girl Of The 21st Century (1999)
Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century is a little cheesy, and was originally envisioned as a pilot for a Disney Channel TV show. It didn’t make it, but the movie did do decently enough and garnered two sequels (dubbed “Zequels”).
The story follows a girl living in 2049 (an era that is suspiciously fond of ’90s tropes), and her life on a space station, who comes down to visit Earth. Zenon is about as corny and goofy as DCOMs get, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad time. Nowadays, ’90s viewers have a good time rewatching Zenon to see what the movie got right about the future.
High School Musical 2 (2007)
High School Musical has attention thrown its way consistently. It was the big DCOM that garnered enough attention to seal itself as a sort of pop-cultural icon, bestowing the world with Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens. It even managed to get a theatrically released “threequel,” but what about its sequel? Oddly enough, High School Musical 2 is arguably the better film and certainly overlooked. The film follows the events of the previous film, taking place during summer vacation at a country club.
It had a big budget increase and it is shot better. The original film does feel like a made-for-TV musical, almost like a play. Zac Efron’s songs were even better than in the original movie, making it one of the Disney Channel’s best musicals.
Smart House (1999)
Smart House has gained a bit of traction in recent years, and for good reason. It stars Katey Sagal (best known for her roles in Sons of Anarchy and Futurama) as an A.I. computerized house that helps out a family in their home, who lost their mother some while back. The A.I., known as “Pat,” pulls a HAL 9000 and gets pretty power-hungry, becoming an overbearing and controlling presence.
The film has some genuinely heartwarming moments and isn’t groundbreaking in its approach to portraying A.I. in media, but still has some interesting ideas to it. It manages to pack a lot in just 82 minutes, and the movie’s genuine moments combine nicely with the unintentionally goofy ones, making for a highly entertaining ride.
The Color Of Friendship (2000)
The Color Of Friendship is a pretty mature DCOM. Written and directed by Black talent in an overwhelmingly White industry, the film tackles racial injustice in both the United States and South Africa, dealing with systematic racism in both countries. It takes place in the 1970s and showcases the friendship of two young girls in a foreign exchange program who are unaware of the culture and history of racism in each country.
The film treats its young audience maturely, without getting too aggressive about the scope and terror of such horrible topics. It also throws in some big-name real-life figures like Ron Dellums and Steve Biko, and the impact of their work. It’s always refreshing to see a realistic Disney film manage to handle these topics well for a young audience and to help throw in some real history.
