The Disney Channel technically premiered its first original movie in 1983 with Tiger Town. But back then, the Disney Channel was an expensive network that customers had to purchase on top of their normal cable subscriptions. It wasn’t until the late ’90s when the channel transitioned into basic cable that audiences around the country were finally able to watch its original shows and movies. That’s really when Disney Channel Original Movies began to thrive.
The first modern DCOM was 1997’s Disney+.
Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century (1999)
Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century is like, stellar major! The iconic DCOM takes place in the future, where a giant space station orbits Earth. Some kids, like Zenon Carr, have spent their entire lives on the station and don’t know anything about life on Earth. But what happens when an evil corporation sets out to destroy the space station to collect the insurance?
Well, it’s nothing that a totally rad ’90s pre-teen can’t handle…especially with the help of her bestie, Nebula (played by Raven), and the galaxy’s hottest popstar, Proto Zoa. Zenon is perfect for anyone who wants bright, bold colors, lots of intergalactic slang, and a truly campy and ridiculous story.
Halloweentown (1998)
Halloweentown is easily the most iconic and beloved DCOM ever. Yes, ever. In the film, the young Marnie feels out of place in her dull, normal suburb that’s filled with dull, normal residents. But one night, she discovers why. After following her grandma (played by the legendary Debbie Reynolds), she discovers that she’s actually a witch.
Even cooler, her grandma doesn’t live in the mortal world. She lives in Halloweentown, which is filled with ghosts, werewolves, skeletons, and of course, witches. For everyone who loves Halloween, or anyone who felt like they didn’t belong as kids (which, c’mon, was basically all of us), Halloweentown is an incredibly fun and uplifting movie.
The Luck of the Irish (2001)
High school is hard enough as it is, but what happens when you find out you’re not just an ordinary teenager…you’re a leprechaun? That’s exactly what happens to Kyle (played by DCOM regular Ryan Merriman). In the movie, he discovers his Irish roots and learns to embrace his unique circumstances.
Kyle’s grandfather is also a leprechaun and is played by comedy legend Henry Gibson. He steals the family’s luck because he’s mad his daughter had a “mixed” marriage with a human. For some hilariously awful Irish stereotyping, like gold coins and Irish dancing, and some serious aughties nostalgia, you got to watch The Luck of the Irish.
Teen Beach Movie (2013)
One of the smartest, and easily the most meta, DCOMs ever is Teen Beach Movie. In the film, two teens get sucked into the world of the campy 1960s musical Wet Side Story. The whole movie pokes fun at classic musicals like West Side Story, Grease, Beach Party, and more.
The arrival of these outsiders begins to change the characters, and suddenly everyone starts realizing how one-dimensional and fake they are. If you want bright colors, great original songs (that have amassed hundreds of millions of views online), and tons of campy charm, Teen Beach Movie is for you.
The Color of Friendship (2000)
One of the most impactful DCOMs ever is The Color of Friendship. The movie tells the true story of Piper Dellums, a young Black girl and the daughter of Congressman Ron Dellums, who invites an exchange student from South Africa to live with her and her family in the ’70s. But the girl who shows up is white (and this is during the era of apartheid), so racial tensions flare.
But the girls soon become friends and realize that human connection is much deeper than skin color. The film won an Emmy, Writers Guild Award, NAA Award, and even the lofty Humanities Prize.
Camp Rock (2008)
Banking on the roaring success of High School Musical, Disney Channel realized musicals were the key to viewers (see Teen Beach Movie above). In ‘08, Disney essentially mashed up the movies Camp Rock—a film about a summer camp for artsy kids.
With a roster of Disney icons like Demi Lovato, Alyson Stoner, and the Jonas Brothers, the movie was a huge hit. In recent years, it’s also been memed like crazy because it is, in all truthfulness, cringey as heck. Still, the cheesy corniness of it is tons of fun. Watch this one with a bottle of wine and laugh the night away.
Get a Clue (2002)
What happens when you mix Get a Clue. But when she stumbles upon a real juicy mystery, she enlists her friends to tackle the biggest story of their lives.
ed in the cast by Brenda Song and even acting legend Amanda Plummer, the movie is absolutely fab. From outlandish fashions to a surprisingly fun and compelling story, Get a Clue is a criminally underrated DCOM that everyone needs to watch.
Zombies (2018)
Giving off some massive Zombies became a huge hit for the Disney Channel and takes place in a world where zombies are ostracized by society. So much so that high schools are even segregated and treat zombies like monsters.
But in one school, a preppy, pink-clad cheerleader befriends a green-haired zombie, and the two become an unlikely duo (sound familiar?). But despite its similarities to Wicked, Zombies is still a lot of fun. There’s a reason why it's spawned a franchise, including a fourth film that’s releasing in Summer 2025.
Smart House (1999)
In a wildly unexpected twist, the 1999 movie Kubrick classic.
But in the present day, with actual smart houses filled with Wi-Fi-connected fridges, thermostats, ovens, security systems, TVs, gaming consoles, lights, and more, Smart House has become a surprisingly timely story for the 21st century.
High School Musical (2006)
“We’re all in this togetherrrrrr!!!!!” Or what about, “I love to pop and lock and jam and break!” C’mon, you know you love it…High School Musical is one of the most iconic DCOMs ever, and at the time of its release, it was the network’s most-watched program, with Variety reporting it drew in 7.7 million viewers.
The movie centers around a high school where the star basketball player (Zac Efron) wants to act in the school’s musical, but because of societal pressure for men to play sports and not enjoy the arts, he’s torn about whether to follow his dreams or to conform. High School Musical teaches us all that it’s best to follow our dreams, no matter where they lead.
Where To Watch The Best Disney Channel Original Movies Online
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