If you were a kid in the late ’90s and early 2000s then you remember DCOMS or Disney Channel Original Movies and back in June, Disney has been having a massive marathon in honor of the 100th DCOM that came out June 24th. They made what I think will be a terrible remake of the ’80s classic Adventures in Babysitting.
Anyway there are many amazing DCOMS like High School Musicals and The Cheetah Girls there were important to us millennials. So here is a quick list of my top 10 best Disney Channel Original Movies. (in no particular order)
Jump In!– The film, starring Corbin Bleu and Keke Palmer, revolves around a young boxer, Izzy Daniels (Corbin Bleu), who trains to follow in his father’s footsteps by winning the Golden Glove. When his friend, Mary (Keke Palmer), who harbors a secret crush on him, asks him to substitute for a team member in a Double Dutch tournament, then, Izzy discovers his new love for jumping rope and in the meantime, he soon discovers true love in Mary.
One of a handful of “black” DCOMs I loved this movie and still watch it on Netflix every now and again. I already loved Keke Palmer from when she was younger in Akeela in the Bee & Corbin Bleu was coming off the hype of the first HSM movie. They worked really well together and it was a cute little story. This DCOM was filmed in Canada like a lot of DCOMs and if you watched Degrassi at the time then you might have recognized a few familiar faces in it. Izzy + Mary = Forever
Get A Clue– Get a Clue is a 2002 Disney Channel Original Movie starring Lindsay Lohan as Lexy Gold, a teenage high school student who investigates a mystery after one of her teachers goes missing. The movie stars Bug Hall as a boy who helps her, Ian Gomez as the missing teacher, Brenda Song as Lexy’s best friend, Ali Mukaddam as another student, and Dan Lett as Lexy’s father.
This was before Freaky Friday & Mean Girls yet pre-crazy Lindsay. I just watched this during the DCOM marathon and remembered why I liked this movie. First Lindsay did a good job in this movie coming off the Parent Trap. Second Bud Hall who played Alfalfa in the ’90s version of the Little Rascals grew up to be pretty cute. (he is hot now) Brenda song is the best friend as always but it was a good little mystery movie.
Gotta Kick It Up– A young executive turned teacher helps a group of young Latina girls find themselves and overcome societal obstacles through their dance troupe.
This movie was their way of bringing some diversity onto its channel. I love this movie but do find it to be a bit of a stereotype with the poor Latina girls who need this white women to come and save them and help them learn to be a team and over come adversity. Like these girls could of done this on their own all they needed was some money. Anyway this move stars pre Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and Ugly Betty America Farara who I love and the main character was a very great dancer.
Tru Confessions– Tru Walker (Clara Bryant) aspires to be a famous filmmaker. She has a twin brother Eddie (Shia LaBeouf), who has autism (though like the book, the movie never explicitly referred it by name) due to oxygen deprivation at birth. Eddie becomes the subject of Tru’s documentary for a film contest she enters. The film was directed by Paul Hoen and is based on the book of the same name by Janet Tashjian.
One of the best DCOMs when it comes to serious topics they have ever made. This movie dealing with such a sensitive topic like autism but from the perspective of a twin sister and her family. It showed us how it can be hard to deal with when you’re a teenager and a parent. The way the dad would get so pissed off at Eddie just for making small mistakes was always wack. But the way Tru loved and stood up for her little brother the way she did was important too. Shia LaBeouf who at the time was staring in funny kid sitcom Even Stevens it was a big contrast from him playing Louis to playing Eddie. His performance in my option was so good he should have received some type of award for it. This DCOM is often forgot but I suggest you all go out and watch it.
Color of Friendship– Mahree & Piper, one from the United States and the other from apartheid South Africa in 1977, who learn about tolerance and friendship. The film was directed by Kevin Hooks, based on a script by Paris Qualles, and stars Lindsey Haun and Shadia Simmons. The film was based on a short story called “Simunye” written by the real-life Piper Dellums about a South African girl named Carrie coming to stay with her family.
Cool story my sister actually worked for Ron Dellums back in the day. When the movie came out I though good job Disney you did a great job teaching racism to kids. Even though this movie took place back in 1977 and talked about apartheid in Africa it had a lot of correlation to what was going on at the time. Very well done DCOM and I used to watch it all the time and even taped it on VHS.
The Famous Jett Jackson Movie– Sixteen-year-old Jett Jackson’s role as the action hero “Silverstone” in his hit TV series has catapulted him to mega-stardom. But Jett’s finding it increasingly difficult to juggle the demands of show biz with school, family and friends. Then, a freak accident on the set causes Jett and his on-screen character Silverstone to trade places. Now, Jett must save the world from the clutches of the evil Dr. Kragg, while Silverstone faces his own challenge in Jett’s world: teenage life! With no script to follow, can Jett and Silverstone safely find their way back to the realities they knew?
Alright I already was a big fan of the show The Famous Jett Jackson it is one of my favorite DC shows and I think they did a very good job of ending the story in the movie. Also I’m so glad Jett & Kayla got together because they really liked each other and where cute. This is a little bittersweet to watch now of course with Lee Thompson Young no longer with us but he will live on through this show, movie and every kids heart.
High School Musical–High School Musical is a story about two high school Juniors Troy Bolton (Zac Efron), captain of the basketball team, and Gabriella Montez (Vanessa Hudgens), a shy transfer student who excels in mathematics and science.Together, they try out for the lead parts in their high school musical, and as a result, divide the school. Despite other students’ attempts to thwart their dreams, Troy and Gabriella resist peer pressure, inspiring others along the way not to “stick to the status quo”. High school diva Sharpay Evans (Ashley Tisdale) will do anything to sabotage the friendship between Troy and Gabriella and also get a lead in the school musical, assisted by her twin brother Ryan (Lucas Grabeel).
We all know this story when it first came out I was 14 and in 8th grade. It was the talk of my school everybody had watched it and was a little obsessed with it. The songs were catchy and the story was our modern version of a Romeo & Juliet love story. Its one of those cult moves that looking back it wasn’t as great as we thought but the songs are still catchy and you know you still love it.
The Cheetah Girls– The Cheetah Girls is a 2003 movie based on the book, which resulted in the spinoff of a girl group by the same name. In 2006, the sequel to The Cheetah Girls, The Cheetah Girls 2 premiered on Disney Channel. The movies star Raven-Symoné, Sabrina Bryan, Adrienne Bailon and Kiely Williams of another girl group 3LW. The popularity of the first movie spawned a real-life girl group, The Cheetah Girls, featuring all the stars of the movie, except Raven-Symoné.
I loved this movie like everyone and it was another attempt for Disney Channel to be diverse. Raven had just put out That’s So Raven and 3LW had just broken up for good take all of their talent plus Sabrina Byrent and bam you got the Cheetah Girls. The music was great, the movie was great I still cry at the Dorenda secret part it just a feel good movie. The second movie was not as good but still great but the last one when Raven made her exit it was terrible.
The Thirteenth Year– Cody Griffin is an adopted teenager; his birth mother is a mermaid who left him on the Griffins’ boat when he was a baby to avoid being captured.After Cody’s 13th birthday, he begins to feel strange and learns he is turning into a merman.
I love the ocean and at one point in my life I wanted to become a Marine Biologist. Turtles and Dolphins are my two favorite creatures on Earth so I loved this movie. Who didn’t wanna be told at age 13 you are a Mermaid or in Cody’s case a Merman? How cool. This move stared a lot of kids from DC shows at the time like the Jersey (which no one remembers). Great movie over all.
Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century-he film was based on the book Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century written by Marilyn Sadler and Roger Bollen.The year is 2049 and Zenon Kar is a 13-year-old girl who lives with her family on an Earth-orbiting space station. After getting into trouble with the space station’s commander, Edward Plank, Zenon’s parents punish her by sending her to Earth to live with her Aunt Judy.
The better one of the trilogy. Everybody in 1999 wanted to be Zenon or in my case Nebula all that cool technology and they live in space how cool. Her fashion at the time was on point and their cool lengo like “zetus lapetus”,”stellar” & “lunarious” this whole movie was just great. Raven played Nebula and Zenon even got to date Greg played by Gregory Smith who was also in Harriet the Spy as Sport (who got cute as he aged). All this movie had great music who didn’t love Supernova Girl (Zoom, Zoom, Zoom) by Microbe who was Protozoa’s band just a classic.
Johnny Tsunami– The film focuses on a young surfer from Hawaii who must adapt to new challenges when his father’s job forces the family to move to Vermont.
Another classic. I watch this movie all the time and it still goes as hard as it did back in the day. I hate the cold so I can see why Johnny was not haven the Vermont weather. Also its a movie about Hawaii, surfing, snowboarding, Lee Thompson Young of The Famous Jett Jackson was in this movie and Kristin Storm from Zenon so I’ll say it was a great movie.
Brink!– Andy “Brink” Brinker and his in-line skating crew—Peter, Jordy, and Gabriella—who call themselves “Soul-Skaters” (which means they skate for the fun of it, and not for the money), clash with a group of sponsored skaters, Team X-Bladz—led by Val—with whom they attend high school in southern California.
Ok this I think is my all time favorite DCOM. From the California skate culture to the lingo to just the good vibes in this movie I love it. The music was pretty great too and had some great actors in it like Christina Videl, Erik Von Detten and the original black ranger Walter Jones. The Soul Skaters way can work in life as doing something because its your passion and makes you happy not because of the money. Great movie!
Honorable Mention:
Smart House, The Other Me, Halloweentown 1-3, Quints, Step Sister from Planet Weird, Mom’s Got A Date with a Vampire, Phantom of the Megaplex, The Ultimate Christmas Present, Motercrosed, The Luck of the Irish, Hounded, Poof Point, Double Teamed, Cadet Kelly, Eddie’s Million Dollar Cook Off, Going to the Matt, Wendy Wu, Twitches 1-2, Read It and Weep, Radio Rebel, Lemonade Mouth, Horse Sense & Jumping Ship, Rip Girl, Ally Cats Strike, The Proud Family Movie
Till Next Time…Watch A Disney Channel Movie
