Every Disney Animated Movie Sequel, Ranked Worst To ...

Overview

Disney has produced a wide range of animated sequels that either expand on the original stories or fill narrative gaps between key events. These projects vary greatly in quality, reception, and release format, from theatrical follow‑ups to direct‑to‑video titles.

Midquels and Continuations

Midquels are sequels set within the timeline of the original film, designed to explore untold episodes in the characters’ lives. In contrast, full sequels move the story forward, showing what happens to the characters after the ending of the first movie.

Midquel examples

Some midquel films act as interludes, illustrating everyday adventures or side stories that were not shown in the main narrative, effectively “filling in the gaps” of the original plot.
These releases often focus on character interactions and small-scale conflicts rather than large, world-changing events, highlighting the emotional or domestic side of the heroes’ lives.

Direct follow‑up sequels

“While these midquel movies fill in the gaps in the originals' stories, Disney also released many movies that continued on from where the original movie ended.”

Such sequels typically depict the protagonists in a new stage of life, dealing with consequences of earlier actions or embarking on fresh adventures after the prior resolution.
Many of these continuations were produced for home video rather than theaters, contributing to their mixed critical and audience responses.

Reception and Legacy

Disney’s animated sequels collectively form a large catalog where beloved characters revisit familiar worlds but do not always reach the artistic or emotional impact of the originals. Some titles are appreciated for creative twists and character growth, while others are criticized for weaker stories, lower production values, or rehashed plots.

Ranking approach

Rankings of Disney animated sequels usually consider narrative coherence, visual quality, respect for the original film’s themes, and overall audience and critic scores.
Within such rankings, the weakest entries are often those that contradict the original character arcs or rely heavily on repetition, whereas stronger sequels add meaningful development and fresh ideas.

Author’s summary

Most Disney animated sequels and midquels revisit beloved worlds with uneven results, sometimes deepening characters and sometimes diluting the impact of the original stories.

IMDb — 2025-11-25