These best 80s Disney movies are perfect for a family movie night and some nostalgia! We’ve included live-action films, as well as, animated movies. Many of these are available on Disney Plus and are appropriate for all younger audiences.
After all, when it comes to kid-friendly movies, you can’t go wrong with Disney! And while there are great Disney movies from every century, the 1980s was a unique time for the Walt Disney pictures!
No matter what type of story you’re looking for, you’re sure to find one to enjoy on this list.
Best 80s Disney Movies
From adorable animated classics to kid-friendly live action movies, Walt Disney Studios had plenty to offer viewers during the 1980s. While not all Disney’s movies were a hit during this time, there are a few timeless treasures to enjoy! Check out these best 80s Disney movies ranked in order of greatness.
When a warrior’s quest for invincibility leads him to the Black Cauldron, he is challenged by a young pig keeper (Grant Bardsley), who will stop at nothing to stop the cauldron’s evil once and for all.
A brave young girl (Meredith Salenger) battles against all odds during the Great Depression when she heads out on a cross-country search for her father.
The movie also stars John Cusack.
A wealthy woman (Jenny Agutter) flees her domineering husband and takes refuge in the backwoods, where she takes a job teaching at a school for the deaf.
A young mother (Mary Steenburgen) rediscovers the joy of Christmas with the help of her six year old daughter and her very own guardian angel (Harry Dean Stanton).
Popular canine actor, Benji, faces his biggest challenge yet when he washes ashore in the rugged backwoods of North America after a fishing boat accident. When he becomes a caretaker of a litter of cougar cubs, he’ll stop at nothing to reach safety with his new family.
When a Cheetah cub loses her mother and father, she’s adopted by an American family vacationing in Africa. But when the cub is stolen by gamblers, a pair of teens set out across the wilderness to find her.
A sailor named Popeye (Robin Williams) travels to the port town of Sweethaven to search for the father who abandoned him as a baby. Along his journey, he befriends an assortment of eccentric characters and falls in love with Olive Oyl (Shelley Duvall).
A mother mouse (Elizabeth Hartman) journeys away from home to find help for her sick son when she befriends a group of mysterious rats who help her along her trip.
When Dorothy (Fairuza Balk) discovers that her old friends have been turned to stone, she returns to the Emerald City where she battles the wicked Princess Mombi (Jean Marsh) and the evil Nome King (Nicol Williamson) to restore her beloved city.
When an orphan who’s stolen an Incan treasure map hides out in Herbie’s trunk, daring criminals follow the race car in hot pursuit as he travels from Puerto Vallarta to Brazil.
A workaholic man (Tom Hanks) is convinced he can’t fall in love, until he’s mysteriously rescued at sea by a mermaid of his dreams (Daryl Hannah).
While searching for answers in her father’s disappearance, a young mouse (Susanne Pollatschek) seeks the help of famed Basil of Baker Street (Barrie Ingham) to help solve the mystery.
A feisty young cat named Oliver explores New York city, where he finds lifelong friends, in this 80s animated classic featuring songs performed by Billy Joel, Huey Lewis, and Bette Midler.
The classic Charles Dickens holiday story gets a Disney Twist as greedy Scrooge McDuck learns to embrace the holiday season with the help of Mickey and Minnie’s family.
A distracted inventor (Rick Moranis) is working on an electromagnetic shrinking machine in his home lab when he finally works out the kinks and accidentally shrinks his kids.
A baby fox and a hound dog puppy vow to be best friends forever. But as they grow older, they find it harder to keep their unlikely friendship together.
A normal boy (Joey Cramer) finds out he is destined for an extraordinary adventure aboard a future spacecraft, and when he returns, he’s filled with vast knowledge about the universe.
After Toontown’s owner is murdered, all the evidence points to Roger Rabbit (Charles Fleischer). With nowhere else to turn, he begs a toon-hating detective (Bob Haskins) for help in finding the real killer and solving the case before Judge Doom catches up with him.
When a brilliant video game maker (Jeff Bridges) hacks his ex-employer, he is taken inside a digital world where he becomes part of the game he’s designing.
In order to travel to the surface and meet her prince, mermaid Arial (Jodi Benson) gives up her voice to the evil sea witch, Ursula.
To get back her song, she must make the handsome prince fall in love with her before the spell takes hold.
Fun Facts
- Did you know The Princess Bride isn’t a Disney movie?
- Also, we wanted to include Robin Hood, but we were shocked to find out it originally came out in 1973!
We hope this list of best ’80s movies helps you plan a great family movie night! Don’t forget to check out our Disney Dinner ideas!
We also love this ice cream bar idea for a fun dessert, as well!
