23 Disney Channel Original Movies Ranked From Worst to Best

<div>If you never watched a Disney Channel Original Movie growing up, I am so sorry for you. Sure, they were laced with cheese and terrible acting, but that's what made them so great. I remember sitting down every Friday night to watch a movie, even if I had watched it 6 times before. They would build up the movie every week with previews and clips and it was exhilarating. I remember setting up my VCR (remember those??) to record every Friday at 8pm so I could relive the magic over and over. But which one was really the best? Using a ranking system that takes into account how likely I was to re-watch the the movie, originality, and ranker.com for some of the ones I don't totally remember, here is a definitive and not up for debate* ranking of Disney Channel Original Movies(DCOM.)*you can debate it that's fine we all have opinions. <div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/maxresdefault-11.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/maxresdefault-11_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/maxresdefault-11_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/maxresdefault-11_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/maxresdefault-11_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/maxresdefault-11_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Disney</cite></figcaption></figure></div>23. Quints (2000)<div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/movie_quints-2000.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/movie_quints-2000_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/movie_quints-2000_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/movie_quints-2000_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/movie_quints-2000_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Pinterest</cite></figcaption></figure></div>Jamie is bummed because her parents have quintuplets (obviously just to piss her off) and now she doesn't get enough attention. Last on the list because I watched it once and do not care to see it again. It only MADE the list because Marnie from Halloweentown is in it. 22. Stuck In The Suburbs (2004)<div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/stuck-in-the-suburbs-main-1.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/stuck-in-the-suburbs-main-1_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>J-14</cite></figcaption></figure></div>Taran Killam plays pop-star Jordan Cahill (with frosted tips!) whose phone gets swapped with ~normal girl~ Brittany'. Brittany and her friend then decide to blackmail Jordan before they return but he doesn't go along with it. So then they decide to ruin his life??? Then they find out he's actually a good guy who just wants to sing HIS lyrics (don't we all) and they all become friends in suburbia. Low on the list because it's one of the newer DCOMs which means it's not as good. 21. Even Stevens Movie (2003)<div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/003ESM_Christy_Carlson_Romano_074.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/003ESM_Christy_Carlson_Romano_074_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/003ESM_Christy_Carlson_Romano_074_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>HotFlick</cite></figcaption></figure></div>I will live and die defending Even Stevens, and the only reason this isn't higher in the rankings is because it's a TV-show-turned-movie so it's not really 'original.' But the Truman Show-like plot line of the Stevens family being told they won an all-expenses paid trip to an island, only to find out it's a TV show they don't know about is pretty entertaining. Or at least it was for my 11-year-old self.Click through to see what else made the list and where The Thirteenth Year lands on the list. Sometimes I wished my life was a Disney Channel movie or show. How fun would it be to have no rules, unlimited money, and seemingly no homework?I lived vicariously through shows like Boy Meets World and Lizzie McGuire, hoping that one day I, too, would have a romantic partner be in my life all along when I wasn't looking. If only it were that easy...Back to the rankings. 20. Twitches<div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/Twitches-Magic.jpg" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>The Young Folks</cite></figcaption></figure></div>Twins? Separated at birth? Groundbreaking. While I did appreciate this venture into the sci-fi/witchcraft realm, I would be a little disappointed when this was the Friday movie. It didn't give me anything to want to watch it again. 19. Johnny Tsunami (1999)<div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/tumblr_m2z7toKN681rspa1uo1_500.png" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>MTV</cite></figcaption></figure></div>Okay so I feel guilty about this one not being higher on the list, but I really only grew to love it towards the end of my DCOM days so it didn't have a chance to solidify top spot in my heart. I'M SORRY, OKAY? The story is pretty original: a surfer from Hawaii is forced to move with his family to Vermont where he takes up snow-boarding. The ski vs snowboard turf war is where the movie loses me, as there are few things I care less about than winter sports that are not hockey.18. Pixel Perfect (2004)<div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/luck2.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/luck2_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>MovieSmackTalk</cite></figcaption></figure></div>Alright stick with me on this one. A teenage computer whiz uses his dad's holographic equipment (yep) to create a dancing hologram named Loretta to help his friend Samantha's band. Then Loretta escapes into the internet because Sam doesn't like her. THEN Sam tries to be like Loretta and falls off the stage and slips INTO A COMA. Then computer boy realizes he's not in love with the hologram as originally thought, but rather his friend Samantha. 17. The Thirteenth Year (1999)<div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/Screen-Shot-2016-07-07-at-5-49-14-PM-1467928409.png" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/Screen-Shot-2016-07-07-at-5-49-14-PM-1467928409_GH_content_550px.png 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/Screen-Shot-2016-07-07-at-5-49-14-PM-1467928409_GH_content_650px.png 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/Screen-Shot-2016-07-07-at-5-49-14-PM-1467928409_GH_content_750px.png 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/Screen-Shot-2016-07-07-at-5-49-14-PM-1467928409_GH_content_850px.png 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/Screen-Shot-2016-07-07-at-5-49-14-PM-1467928409_GH_content_950px.png 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/Screen-Shot-2016-07-07-at-5-49-14-PM-1467928409_GH_content_1050px.png 1050w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/Screen-Shot-2016-07-07-at-5-49-14-PM-1467928409_GH_content_1150px.png 1150w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/Screen-Shot-2016-07-07-at-5-49-14-PM-1467928409_GH_content_1250px.png 1250w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/Screen-Shot-2016-07-07-at-5-49-14-PM-1467928409_GH_content_1350px.png 1350w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/Screen-Shot-2016-07-07-at-5-49-14-PM-1467928409_GH_content_1450px.png 1450w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/Screen-Shot-2016-07-07-at-5-49-14-PM-1467928409_GH_content_1550px.png 1550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/Screen-Shot-2016-07-07-at-5-49-14-PM-1467928409_GH_content_1630px.png 1630w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Disney Channel</cite></figcaption></figure></div>We all turned into a mermaid when we turned 13, right? No? Just Cody? He woke up one day and started growing fins. From what I can tell, the movie is an odd way to teach boys about puberty. And while health class was not something I paid attention during...I do not recall boys turning into mermaids. Not higher on the list because it's a stretch...not last on the the list because of the 90s fashion choices which were superb. 16. The Other Me (2000)<div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/original-30025-1403215006-25.png" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/original-30025-1403215006-25_GH_content_550px.png 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Disney Channel</cite></figcaption></figure></div>In a severe case of "I'm the least famous brother" Andy Lawrence plays the original Orphan Black. He accidentally clones himself by stirring water with a comb he used (definitely how it works) and ends up dancing to "Bringin' Da Noise" on some cafeteria tables. There is also some casual kidnapping involved. Just a standard day. Earns the #16 spot because he's the voice of T.J. Detweiler from Recess!15. Camp Rock (2008)<div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/lxjsgabrum3o7nwjqyee.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/lxjsgabrum3o7nwjqyee_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Complex</cite></figcaption></figure></div>Alright, alright. Most of us were too old to be appropriately watching this movie. But it came out when I was 16 and unabashedly in love with Joe Jonas, so cut me some slack. A classic tale of stuck-up popstar (Jonas) and totally normal and cool girl Mitchie (Demi Lovato.) Honestly this made the list exclusively because of Joe's emo haircut and the lyric "You think your hot But I'm sorry you're not" because I use that insult to this day. Continue to see which movie took the #1 spot!The title of "Best Disney Channel Original Movie" is nothing if not controversial. You probably won't agree with it (or maybe you will, I don't know your personal life story) but it's important to remember that ALL DCOMs deserve love. Just some deserve more love than others. 14. Tiger Cruise (2004)<div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/just7.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/just7_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Disney Channel</cite></figcaption></figure></div>This is (arguably) the last DCOM that addressed real world issues. Hayden Panettiere plays a girl on a Tiger Cruise, which is when family and friends get to see up close what the US Navy does on a day to day basis. Hayden is more or less bored out of her skull until...wait for it...the 9/11 attacks happen. Everyone on the boat is terrified and they all have to rally together. It's a pretty heavy movie but really gave some insight into what military families went through on that day.13. You Wish! (2003)<div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/you-wish-movie.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/you-wish-movie_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Disney Channel</cite></figcaption></figure></div>2003 was a weird time when we all thought Spencer Breslin would be the most famous of the Breslin siblings. Abigail ended up having something to say about that, though. Spencer plays the younger brother of Twiddy from Even Stevens, who is best friends with Miranda from Lizzie McGuire (just a Disney Channel all-star cast.) The brothers find a magic coin, as you do, and cool older brother wishes annoying little brother never exists. Alternate reality ensues, shenanigans happen, and we all learn to accept the fact that siblings can suck. Points for the cast, less points for the plot. 12. Miracle In Lane 2 (2000)<div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/enhanced-15326-1403299970-5-1.jpg" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Disney Channel</cite></figcaption></figure></div>I feel like I'm going straight to hell when I say I did not care for a turn-of-the-millennium movie starring Frankie Muniz, who is portraying a child with spina bifida and hydrocephalus. But here we stand. Muniz plays a kid who just really wants to soap-box race, enters a derby, then wins. The only reason this movie is above the halfway point on the list is because Frankie Muniz is a treasure. 11. Double Teamed (2002)<div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/original-21106-1401684773-3.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/original-21106-1401684773-3_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/original-21106-1401684773-3_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Disney Channel</cite></figcaption></figure></div>This was considered a DCOM for a bit of an older audience, and not because of its weirdly sexual name. Heather and Heidi Burge, real life WNBA twins, are played by two actresses who are...real life people but definitely not even a little bit twins? It's about the struggles of making it big in basketball (before the WNBA existed.) When Heather is playing basketball late at night, she rolls her ankle and has to sit out the next game. But then she realizes the team needs her so she suits up!!!!!! GO HEATHER!!!! High on the rankings because when I was a kid I legit thought they were twins. 10. Get A Clue! (2002)<div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/szMcJ2zEukWGof7aRiHbSawcntb.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/szMcJ2zEukWGof7aRiHbSawcntb_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/szMcJ2zEukWGof7aRiHbSawcntb_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/szMcJ2zEukWGof7aRiHbSawcntb_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/szMcJ2zEukWGof7aRiHbSawcntb_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/szMcJ2zEukWGof7aRiHbSawcntb_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/szMcJ2zEukWGof7aRiHbSawcntb_GH_content_1050px.jpg 1050w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/szMcJ2zEukWGof7aRiHbSawcntb_GH_content_1150px.jpg 1150w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/szMcJ2zEukWGof7aRiHbSawcntb_GH_content_1250px.jpg 1250w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Disney Channel</cite></figcaption></figure></div>Lindsay Lohan as a teen spy, whose best friend is played by a guy named Bug Hall, who ALSO happens to be Alfalfa in Little Rascals. What more do you need?9. High School Musical (2006)<div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/high-school-musical-zac-efronp-vanessa-hudgens.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/high-school-musical-zac-efronp-vanessa-hudgens_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/high-school-musical-zac-efronp-vanessa-hudgens_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/high-school-musical-zac-efronp-vanessa-hudgens_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/high-school-musical-zac-efronp-vanessa-hudgens_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/high-school-musical-zac-efronp-vanessa-hudgens_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/high-school-musical-zac-efronp-vanessa-hudgens_GH_content_1050px.jpg 1050w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/high-school-musical-zac-efronp-vanessa-hudgens_GH_content_1150px.jpg 1150w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/high-school-musical-zac-efronp-vanessa-hudgens_GH_content_1250px.jpg 1250w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/high-school-musical-zac-efronp-vanessa-hudgens_GH_content_1350px.jpg 1350w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Disney Channel</cite></figcaption></figure></div>Now I know what some of you are thinking. Shouldn't this be the #1 movie? The answer is a hard no. While the music is catchy, it was over-played, over-hyped, and over-worked. I literally walked through an ice storm to get this movie on DVD when it came out. But then the sequels happened and I felt cheated of originality. 8. Phantom Of The Megaplex (2000)<div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/a6nqchctvt39u1c3nxit.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/a6nqchctvt39u1c3nxit_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Alchetron</cite></figcaption></figure></div>This was one for all of us movie loving kids. Centering on a movie-obsessed teen who was lucky enough to work at a movie theater, and starring Mickey Rooney, there was nothing to not love about this movie. The teen has to watch his siblings (GROSS!) and plan a movie premiere at the same time. The end of the film sees him realizing he really want to spend time with his siblings all along! And not at a movie theater! 7. Cheetah Girls (2003)<div><amp-img src="http://images.complex.com/complex/image/upload/c_limit,w_680/fl_lossy,pg_1,q_auto/fqtioduksrwhhmssoyzf.jpg" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></div>Thank you, Cheetah Girls, for giving us a girl band to rock out to while dreaming of all cheetah-print clothing. Their names may have been extra (looking at you Aquanetta,) their girl power anthems were legendary. One of the few franchises whose sequel was pretty much on par with the original. 6. Tru Confession (2002)<div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/15e3aaadfbe2b97f4b12bb429429c440.jpg" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Pinterest</cite></figcaption></figure></div>If you did not cry during this movie, then you did not watch this movie at all. Shia LaBeouf gives one of his best performances as an autistic high-schooler whose twin sister, Tru, makes a documentary about him for a school assignment. It was pretty heavy for a DCOM, but it really sent a message. The film is uncomfortable to watch at times, and I'm not sure if that's because of the situations or the acting, but it's one of the movies I waited for week after week. 5. Eddie's Million Dollar Cook-Off (2003)<div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/8e8ce86cdc25d6215210ad2c5f95b89a.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/8e8ce86cdc25d6215210ad2c5f95b89a_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/8e8ce86cdc25d6215210ad2c5f95b89a_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Disney Channel</cite></figcaption></figure></div>Tale as old as time: boy wants to be a chef, dad wants him to play baseball, compromise doesn't exist in their universe so they hate each other, boy becomes a chef behind dad's back and blows off baseball, dad gets mad then realizes he loves his son no matter what. Bobby Flay makes an appearance which shoots this movie from mid-range rankings to top 5. 4. Cadet Kelly (2002)<div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/Screen-20Shot-202016-04-01-20at-2011-00-15.png" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Disney Channel</cite></figcaption></figure></div>Honestly I could watch this movie every day of my life and not get bored. So much happens. So many great moments. "THEY SIT! IN DESKS!" What an art school student thing to say! This was peak Hilary Duff on Disney and I could not be more grateful that it exists. 3. Halloweentown (1998)<div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/halloweentown-1475873656.jpeg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/halloweentown-1475873656_GH_content_550px.jpeg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Cosmo</cite></figcaption></figure></div>I will physically fight you if you utter any negative words about this trilogy (I choose to pretend the 4th movie doesn't exist.) Debbie Reynolds was a saint who we all wanted to be our magical grandmother. 2. Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century (1999)<div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/rehost-2F2016-2F9-2F13-2Fc59d8a20-366d-4180-8ee7-fa29b44ea01e.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/rehost-2F2016-2F9-2F13-2Fc59d8a20-366d-4180-8ee7-fa29b44ea01e_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Bustle</cite></figcaption></figure></div>Though it takes place in only 2049, which is too close to the present for me to be comfortable with it, Zenon glamorized space life for us all and we really appreciate it. She comes to Earth and is immediately left out because of her spandex style (if only they knew) and weird slang. Weren't we all Zenon in one way or another? 1. Gotta Kick It Up! (2002)<div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/rs_824x1024-160526144542-1024x824-gotta-kick-it-up-america-ferrerra-lp-52616-700x525.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/rs_824x1024-160526144542-1024x824-gotta-kick-it-up-america-ferrerra-lp-52616-700x525_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/05/rs_824x1024-160526144542-1024x824-gotta-kick-it-up-america-ferrerra-lp-52616-700x525_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Hello Giggles</cite></figcaption></figure></div>COME AT ME! This movie was basically flawless. It gave us drama, dance, humor, and girl power. The cheerleaders need a coach, their biology teachers studied dance, perfect match right? It's a really important movie (starring American Ferrara!) about diversity, teamwork, and it's more or less impossible to hate. Top of the list for all those reasons. Do you agree with the rankings? </div>

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