Disney Channel Original Movies, also known as "DCOMs," were quite the craze in the peak era of Disney Channel, from the late 90s to the mid-2000s. With Disney+ featuring a lot of the old classics in its roster, it's time to take a look back at some of the lesser appreciated (but not totally obscure) ones.
This list will only deal with original DCOMs, not based on Disney shows or franchises that were already established. So films like The Even Stevens Movie or Kim Possible: So The Drama won't appear. Without further ado, here are some of the forgotten "made for children's TV" gems.
10 Cadet Kelly
Cadet Kelly sees seasoned Disney stars Hilary Duff and Christy Carlson Romero butt heads with each other after Kelly (Duff), an artsy free spirited girl, ends up in military school. Her cadet captain Stone (Romero) immediately dislikes Kelly and her completely rebellious spirit, and likewise, Kelly isn't a fan of the uptight and cold Stone.
But of course, the two eventually find more common ground with each other despite their rivalry. The film is decent enough for its target audience, and though it can get a bit generic at times, the lead actresses manage to carry it.
9 Can Of Worms
Can of Worms is a complete dumpster fire. It is not a structured film, or even a good one. The film was the first DCOM to boast the ever-imposing TV-PG rating (as opposed to just "G") and that's certainly due to the creepy looking alien creatures.
There's a lot of zany stuff going on in this mess, but the gist of it is that a boy thinks he's an alien and doesn't feel like he fits in. Then, actual aliens appear, and hijinks ensue. The film is bad, but in the manner of "so bad, it's good." It also helps to have Malcolm McDowell (Alex from A Clockwork Orange) as a talking alien dog. The whole thing feels like a fever dream.
8 Don't Look Under The Bed
As the second DCOM to get that spooky PG rating, Don't Look Under The Bed was a film that tried to infuse a few more horror elements for a very young audience. At times, it succeeds in that, managing to implement some crafty practical effects, such as art pieces or creative set designs.
The film concerns a girl starting high school a year early (due to her high intelligence) and coming across an imaginary friend who claims the Boogeyman is out to get her. The two have a contentious partnership and decide to get to the bottom of what's happening. The film's revelation of the mystery is actually pretty decent, though a bit lacking in its execution, but the film is worth a watch to see something stray away from the usual DCOM formula.
7 The Luck Of The Irish
There are so many films that have tackled Irish culture or mythos in some way, but there's nothing as bizarre as The Luck of the Irish. For those familiar with Halloweentown, the premise is oddly familiar. But rather than have a family keep their secret witch heritage secret, the film deals with a boy finding out about his secret leprechaun heritage.
It's a completely goofy premise, but it has its moments, and oddly enough, some pretty impressive effects for a TV film made in 2001. It also has the bonus of Timothy Omundson (best known for Psych and Galavant) in its cast.
6 Descendants
Descendants is a quasi-cheat entry on this list, as it is technically based on established characters. That being said, the premise is unique, and the story is original. The plot concerns the kids of several big-name Disney villains going to school and being given a chance to live out their lives while their villainous parents are in prison. However, the kids decide to break out their parents by stealing the Fairy Godmother's wand.
The movie relies heavily on nostalgia baiting and big names, but it's actually pretty ambitious and there was effort being poured in. It was decently popular and managed to garner a few sequels. While many Millennials and Generation Z-ers are likely more familiar with the other entries on this list, Descendants was much more recent, airing in 2015, so this entry is less known amongst the retro DCOM fans.
5 Johnny Tsunami
Johnny Tsunami deals with the tale of Johnny Kapahaala, a young surfer and grandson of a Hawaiian surfing legend. Johnny ends up moving to Vermont and has to adapt his skills in surfing to the snow.
Naturally, it leads to snowboarding. The film is a typical fish out of water story, but it is drenched so heavily in the DCOM formula to the point that it's charming.
4 Zenon: Girl Of The 21st Century
Zenon: Girl of the 21 Century is a total cheese-fest, and was originally envisioned as a pilot for a Disney Channel TV show. It didn't make it, but the movie did do decently enough and garnered two sequels (dubbed as "Zequels").
The story follows a girl living in 2049 (an era which is suspiciously fond of 90s tropes), and her life on a space station, who comes down to visit Earth. Zenon is about as corny and goofy as DCOMs get, but that doesn't mean it's a bad time.
3 High School Musical 2
High School Musical has attention thrown its way consistently. It was the big DCOM that garnered enough attention to seal itself as a sort of pop-cultural icon, bestowing the world with Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens. It even managed to get a theatrically released "three-quel," but what about its sequel? Oddly enough, High School Musical 2 is arguably the better film, and certainly overlooked. The film follows the events of the previous film, taking place during summer vacation at a country club.
Why is this the better entry? It had a big budget increase, and it is shot better. The original film really does feel like a made for TV musical, almost like a play. This truly feels like a movie. And more importantly, the obvious lip-dubbing of Zac Efron is gone; he gets to sing with his own voice in this film instead of being mixed with another singer. His songwriters actually wrote in Efron's vocal range this time around; and yes, the songs are on par with the first film's soundtrack, at times surpassing it.
2 Smart House
Smart House has gained a little bit of traction in recent years, and for good reason. It stars Katey Sagal (best known for her roles in Sons of Anarchy and Futurama) as an A.I. computerized house that helps out a family in their home, who lost their mother some while back. The A.I., known as "Pat," pulls a HAL 9000 and gets pretty power-hungry, becoming an overbearing and controlling presence.
The film has some genuinely heartwarming moments, and isn't groundbreaking in its approach to portraying A.I. in media, but still has some interesting ideas to it. It manages to pack a lot in just 82 minutes, and the movie's genuine moments combine nicely with the unintentionally goofy ones, making for a highly entertaining ride.
1 The Color Of Friendship
The Color Of Friendship is actually a pretty mature DCOM. Written and directed by black talent in an overwhelmingly white industry, the film tackles racial injustice in both the United States and South Africa, dealing with systematic racism in both countries. It takes place in the 1970s and showcases the friendship of 2 young girls in a foreign exchange program who are unaware of the culture and history regarding racism in each country.
The film treats its young audience maturely, without getting too aggressive about the scope and terror of such horrible topics. It also throws in some big-name real-life figures like Ron Dellums and Steve Biko, and the impact of their work. It's always refreshing to see a film manage to handle these topics well for a young audience and to help throw in some real history.
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