The 1990s were an interesting time for Disney Channel Original Movies," or DCOMs for short.
Unlike more recent Disney Channel Original Movies that combine acting, singing, and dancing to tell an over-the-top story, most of the DCOMs in the '90s were done on smaller budgets with more character-driven stories. That's not to say they weren't entertaining though. In fact, some fans might argue that the '90s gave us some of the most original of the Disney Channel Original movies.
Smart House (1999) — 53%
Released in 1999, Smart House centers on Ben Cooper (Ryan Merriman), a technology genius who enters a contest in the hopes of winning a smart house that runs using a virtual assistant technology nicknamed PAT. In addition to winning the contest and moving into the smart house, Ben also accidentally introduces his father to Sara, the creator of PAT, and the two quickly hit it off.
The Thirteenth Year (1999) — 53%
For Cody Griffin, becoming a teenager is a bigger transition than it is for most kids. As Cody approaches his thirteenth birthday, he begins to transform into a merperson which complicates his human life on land with his adopted parents. In the end, Cody must decide between remaining human or committing to being a merman in order to spend time with his birth mother.
Zenon: Girl Of The 21st Century (1999) — 62%
Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century is about the titular teenager who is sent to Earth after causing trouble on the space station where her family lives and works. Upon arriving on Earth, Zenon learns that someone is attempting to destroy her family's space station in order to make a quick buck. With the help of her new friends, Zenon must figure out a way to stop save the space station and her famiy.
Johnny Tsunami (1999) — 62%
Released in 1999, Johnny Tsunami centers on Johnny Kapahala, a young surfer from Hawaii whose family uproots his life to move to the snowy town of Vermont. At first, Johnny hates his new surroundings, but he eventually learns to adapt when he trades in his surfboard for a snowboard.
In addition to being one of the more popular DCOMs of the '90s, Johnny Tsunami was also nominated for the Humanities Prize in Children's Live-Action in 2000.
You Lucky Dog (1998) — 64%
After a successful run as Mike Seaver on the ABC hit sitcom Growing Pains, Kirk Cameron starred in the DCOM You Lucky Dog. Cameron plays Jack Morgan, a dog psychic who winds up the guardian of Lucky, who has just inherited his late owner's fortune. In addition to taking care of Lucky, Jack must figure out a way to calm down Lucky's extended family who are furious that a dog got all of the inheritance money.
Escape To Witch Mountain (1995) — 66%
Interestingly enough, the 1995 reboot of Escape To Witch Mountain actually aired on ABC instead of Disney Channel, but many have since gone on to classify it as a DCOM. The film follows two twin alien babies who are accidentally separated but grow up in the same town. Soon after they reunite, an entrepreneur tries to take advantage of them and their magical powers.
The Paper Brigade (1996) — 68%
Released in 1996, The Paper Brigade is one of the least-ed Disney Channel Original Movies— although it fared well with critics, boasting a 68% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The film centers around Gunther Wheeler, a young boy who moves to a small town in New York state after spending most of his life in the city. Needing to make some extra money, Gunther decides to take a job as a paperboy which is made difficult by local bullies.
Don't Look Under The Bed (1999) — 68%
Disney Channel had a history of making spooky films in the 1990s, with Don't Look Under The Bed serving as the last horror-themed Disney Channel production for many years. This DCOM centered on s, a young teenager who refuses to believe that supernatural forces have infiltrated her hometown.
Don't Look Under The Bed became the second DCOM to ever received a TV-PG rating because of the scary elements in the film and was eventually pulled from the air when parents complained that it was "too scary."
Brink (1998) — 76%
With Brink!, Disney Channel introduced audiences to the edgy world of inline skating. The film centers around Andy "Brink" Brinker, a teenager who loves to partake in the sport. When his family comes under hard times, Andy decides to a sponsored inline skater team in order to earn money to help his family.
Interestingly enough, according to Hollywood.com, Brink was loosely inspired by "Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates," an 1865 novel about an ice skating race.
Halloweentown (1998) — 80%
With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 80%, Halloweentown takes the prize for being the best Disney Channel Original Movie released in the '90s. Set in the titular town, the film follows a group of young witch siblings who follow their grandmother back to her hometown in the hopes that she'll train them to be able to use their magical powers.
Halloweentown is definitely a fan favorite and a film staple for the Fall season. It also spawned three sequels, making it one of the rare DCOM trilogies.
