The 1980s Was One of Disney’s Worst Decades, but These 3 Movies Deserve More Love

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Disney is now a massive global company, but it faced near-collapse in the 1980s. A string of unsuccessful films created serious financial problems for the studio. The failure of the movie The Black Cauldron was particularly damaging, and Disney needed to make significant changes to survive the decade.

I remember things really turning around when the Disney Renaissance began! The Little Mermaid kicked off an amazing run of hits, and those films from the late 80s and 90s are what really built Disney into the giant it is now. Because Disney struggled so much earlier in the 80s, a lot of fans tend to forget about those years, and unfortunately, these three wonderful movies often get overlooked as just another part of that less successful period.

3) Oliver & Company

Released in 1988, Oliver & Company often gets overlooked when people talk about Disney’s greatest films because it came right before the Disney Renaissance. Still, it’s a really enjoyable movie and one of Disney’s best from the 80s. With music by and featuring a performance from Billy Joel as Dodger, it’s a treat for his fans and deserves to be considered among Disney’s most cherished animated classics.

2) Something Wicked This Way Comes

Disney’s 1983 film, Something Wicked This Way Comes, is based on Ray Bradbury’s spooky novel, but it’s largely been forgotten. It’s much darker than most Disney movies, which is why it didn’t become a hit right away. Still, it’s one of the strongest live-action films Disney made in the 80s and deserves more recognition.

1) The Great Mouse Detective

Often overlooked, Disney’s 1986 film The Great Mouse Detective is truly a gem. This creative and captivating take on the Sherlock Holmes story boasts a genuinely compelling mystery, and its villain, Ratigan, is among Disney’s best – he deserves to be as famous as Maleficent, Ursula, or Jafar.

While often overlooked, The Great Mouse Detective is incredibly important because it paved the way for the Disney Renaissance. The film, directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, was a financial success, earning $50 million on a $14 million budget. This success gave Disney confidence in Musker and Clements, leading them to direct The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and Hercules. These directors were key figures in revitalizing Disney, and without their work starting with The Great Mouse Detective, the company might not have recovered.

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2026-04-21 15:10