11. Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Breaking the mold of subservient Disney princesses like Cinderella and Snow White, Belle is a heroine our daughters can admire, what with her love of books and plucky rejection of that pompous jerk, Gaston. The lush animation, memorable music, and charming cast of animated candlesticks, clocks, and teacups will make you want to “Be Our Guest” again and again.
12. The Lion King (1994)
Lion cub Simba is born to rule, but his evil uncle Mufasa has other ideas, setting off some Shakespearean-level drama that teaches kids about the circle of life while reminding them “Hakuna Matata” — the African version of don’t worry, be happy. This animated Disney classic spawned a hit Broadway musical and an upcoming live action remake featuring Beyonce, so you know it’s good.
13. Toy Story (1995)
Pixar took every kid’s fantasy — What if my toys were really alive? — to the next level in this tender-hearted adventure about a toy cowboy named Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) and his toy nemesis Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) who are lost during a move and must join forces to find their beloved young owner.
14. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
Welcome to Hogwarts! First, read the J.K. Rowling book that started it all. Then get ready for a wild cinematic ride as young Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) discovers he’s not just an orphan, he’s also a wizard. Perfectly cast and truly magical to watch, Harry Potter’s first movie is fantstic fun for the whole family, and a gateway to seven sequels of increasing intensity.
15. Finding Nemo (2003)
When little clownfish Nemo is separated from his dad Marlin (voiced memorably by Albert Brooks), all our hearts break — and then we recover and laugh a lot as memory-challenged Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) helps motivate fearful Marlin to overcome myriad challenges and “just keep swimming.”
