It crossed $569 million globally and proved that diverse casting is not a "liability" but a strength when the talent is undeniable. 4. Elemental (Pixar) The Comeback Kid When Elemental opened in June with a paltry $29 million, critics declared it Pixar’s first bomb. Then something magical happened: word of mouth. The film stayed in theaters for four months, slowly crawling to nearly $500 million worldwide.
Set in a city where Fire, Water, Land, and Air live (segregated) together, the film is a metaphor for the immigrant experience. It focuses on Ember (Fire) and Wade (Water)—a romance that, on paper, seems destructive but on screen is tender. The third act is a tear-jerker about a father’s sacrifice for his child. disney movies 2023 top
A flawed but respectful goodbye to a character Disney is unlikely to recast. Skip the critics; if you love Raiders , you will enjoy this. 6. Haunted Mansion The Underrated Horror-Comedy Disney has been trying to capture the lightning of Pirates of the Caribbean for two decades. Haunted Mansion (2023) is their best attempt yet. Ignore the trailers—this film is genuinely scary for a PG-13 rating. It crossed $569 million globally and proved that
A beautiful, rainy afternoon watch for families tired of the Descendants franchise. 9. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania The Bottom of the Barrel We have to include it because it is technically a Disney movie, but Quantumania was the wake-up call Marvel needed. It signaled "superhero fatigue" had finally arrived. Then something magical happened: word of mouth
Only for MCU completionists. It is the lowest-rated Disney movie of 2023 by audience score. 10. The Boogeyman (20th Century Studios/Disney) The Hidden Horror Gem Don't forget that Disney now owns 20th Century Studios. The Boogeyman is a tight, R-rated horror film based on a Stephen King short story.
This is not a film for children who want slapstick. It is a meditative, surreal journey through grief, legacy, and the creative process. The hand-drawn animation is breathtaking—specifically the sequences of the "Warawara" floating through the sky. It won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, beating out Disney’s own Wish .
Yet, amidst the turbulence, 2023 delivered some of the most ambitious, emotional, and visually stunning films in Disney’s recent history. From the gritty streets of mid-90s New York to the highest floors of a haunted hotel, here is the definitive ranking of the . 1. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (Marvel Studios) The Emotional Gut Punch If there was one film in 2023 that reminded audiences why we go to the movies, it was James Gunn’s swan song for Marvel. While technically a Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is pure Disney magic—dark, hilarious, and profoundly sad.