Adaptations

148 voters

The Best Disney Movies Based on Books

Updated January 12, 2021 4.4k votes 148 voters 2.9k views57 items

List RulesVote up the best Disney movies that are based on or inspired by literature.

Walt Disney created Mickey Mouse, but some of his company's most beloved characters come from literature. The best Disney movies based on books feature complex stories told simply. Many Disney movies based on fiction are also fairy tales. Some of the best Disney films based off books have even been nominated for Academy Awards.

What Disney movies adapted from books will you find on this list. Alice in Wonderland has to be near the top. Based on Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, this 1951 Disney film follows a precocious young girl as she journeys down the rabbit hole. Disney revisited the story in 2010 with a live-action film starring Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter. The Little Mermaid is another good Disney movie based on a book.

The Brothers Grimm's “Rapunzel” served as the inspiration for the 2010 Disney musical Tangled. Other good Disney movies based on books include The Jungle Book, Cinderella, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Did you know so many Disney movies were based on books? Vote the best films up to the top of this list and please add any good flicks we may have missed.

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Sleeping Beauty
Marvin Miller, Mary Costa
Released: 1959
Directed by: Clyde Geronimi
Sleeping Beauty is a 1959 American animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney based... more on Wikipedia
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Cinderella
June Foray, Mike Douglas
Released: 1950
Directed by: Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi
Cinderella is a 1950 American animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney and... more on Wikipedia
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Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Billy Gilbert, Pinto Colvig
Released: 1937
Directed by: Wilfred Jackson, Larry Morey, Perce Pearce, Ben Sharpsteen, William Cottrell
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a 1937 American animated musical fantasy film produced by... more on Wikipedia
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Lady and the Tramp
Peggy Lee, Stan Freberg
Released: 1955
Directed by: Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi
Lady and the Tramp is a 1955 American animated musical romance film directed by Clyde... more on Wikipedia
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101 Dalmations
Rod Taylor, Paul Frees
Released: 1961
Directed by: Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi, Wolfgang Reitherman
One Hundred and One Dalmatians, often written 101 Dalmatians, is a 1961 American animated... more on Wikipedia
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Pinocchio
Mel Blanc, Cliff Edwards
Released: 1940
Directed by: Wilfred Jackson, T. Hee, Bill Roberts, Hamilton Luske, Ben Sharpsteen
Pinocchio is a 1940 American animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Productions... more on Wikipedia
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The Little Mermaid
Jodi Benson, Christopher Daniel Barnes
Released: 1989
Directed by: Ron Clements, John Musker
The Little Mermaid is a 1989 American animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney... more on Wikipedia

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The Absent-Minded Professor
Fred MacMurray, Keenan Wynn
Released: 1961
Directed by: Robert Stevenson
The Absent-Minded Professor is a 1961 American film distributed by Walt Disney Productions... more on Wikipedia
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The Parent Trap
Maureen O'Hara, John Mills
Released: 1961
Directed by: David Swift
The Parent Trap is a 1961 Walt Disney film. It stars Hayley Mills, Maureen O'Hara and Brian... more on Wikipedia
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20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Kirk Douglas, Peter Lorre
Released: 1954
Directed by: Richard Fleischer
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is a 1954 American Technicolor adventure film starring Kirk... more on Wikipedia
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Old Yeller
Chuck Connors, Fess Parker
Released: 1957
Directed by: Robert Stevenson
Old Yeller is a 1957 American family tragedy film produced by Walt Disney. It stars Tommy... more on Wikipedia
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The Jungle Book
Clint Howard, George Sanders
Released: 1967
Directed by: Wolfgang Reitherman
The Jungle Book is a 1967 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Productions. Inspired... more on Wikipedia
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Treasure Island
Patrick Troughton, Bobby Driscoll
Released: 1950
Directed by: Byron Haskin
Treasure Island is a 1950 live action adventure film produced by Walt Disney Productions,... more on Wikipedia
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The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Liam Neeson, Tilda Swinton
Released: 2005
Directed by: Andrew Adamson
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a 2005 fantasy adventure... more on Wikipedia
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Bambi
Sterling Holloway, Sam Edwards
Released: 1942
Directed by: James Algar, Samuel Armstrong, Paul Satterfield, Bill Roberts, Norman Wright
Bambi is a 1942 American animated drama film directed by David Hand, produced by Walt Disney... more on Wikipedia
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Swiss Family Robinson
John Mills, Dorothy McGuire
Released: 1960
Directed by: Ken Annakin
Swiss Family Robinson is a 1960 British-American family film starring John Mills, Dorothy... more on Wikipedia
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Mary Poppins
Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke
Released: 1964
Directed by: Robert Stevenson
Mary Poppins is a 1964 American musical fantasy film directed by Robert Stevenson and produced... more on Wikipedia
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Peter Pan
June Foray, Bobby Driscoll
Released: 1953
Directed by: Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi, Jack Kinney
Peter Pan is a 1953 American animated fantasy-adventure film produced by Walt Disney and based... more on Wikipedia
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Winnie the Pooh
John Cleese, Craig Ferguson
Released: 2011
Directed by: Stephen J. Anderson, Don Hall
Winnie the Pooh is a 2011 film directed By Stephen J. Anderson and Don Hall, and written by... more on Wikipedia
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The Jungle Book
Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley
Directed by: Jon Favreau
The Jungle Book is a 2016 fantasy adventure film directed and co-produced by Jon Favreau.... more on Wikipedia
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The Fox and the Hound
Kurt Russell, Mickey Rooney
Released: 1981
Directed by: Richard Rich, Art Stevens, Ted Berman
he Fox and the Hound is a 1981 American animated drama film based on the Daniel P. Mannix... more on Wikipedia
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Beauty and the Beast
Emma Watson, Dan Stevens
Released: 2017
Directed by: Bill Condon
Beauty and the Beast is a 2017 romantic/dark fantasy musical film directed by Bill Condon. The... more on Wikipedia
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Oliver & Company
Billy Joel, Bette Midler
Released: 1988
Directed by: George Scribner
Oliver & Company is a 1988 American animated musical buddy comedy-drama film produced by Walt... more on Wikipedia
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Mary Poppins Returns
Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda
Released: 2018
Directed by: Rob Marshall
Mary Poppins Returns is a 2018 American musical fantasy film directed by Rob Marshall. In... more on Wikipedia
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The Rescuers
Bob Newhart, Eva Gabor
Released: 1977
Directed by: John Lounsbery, Wolfgang Reitherman, Art Stevens
The Rescuers is a 1977 American animated adventure film produced by Walt Disney Productions... more on Wikipedia