There is nothing like rewatching a nostalgic movie from your childhood that you’ve seen about a hundred times. For me, nothing hits harder than Disney Channel Original Movies (DCOMs). Something about Disney Channel never loses its magic. Even over 10 years later, I still feel the same happiness I did watching these movies growing up. Sure, they might seem a little cheesier now, and the plots more predictable, but I love them all the same. Recently, a friend showed me one of her favorite DCOMs that I hadn’t seen, Another Cinderella Story, and it got us talking about all our favorites. So here are a few of mine, even though it feels almost impossible to choose.
Hannah Montana: The Movie
I never actually watched Hannah Montana the TV series growing up, so it’s funny that this movie made my list. Even without seeing the show, I somehow know the words to just about every Hannah Montana song. The recent release of the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special reminded me how much I love this movie, and I love to see Miley Cyrus embrace her iconic role years later. Being Hannah was basically every girl’s dream, and the anniversary brought back that younger version of ourselves who were completely obsessed. The plot of the movie is so wholesome, and it even got a Taylor Swift feature, so what more could you ask for? If you still haven’t seen it yet, it is definitely worth watching.
Lemonade Mouth
This movie was my dream as a kid, especially since I was completely music-obsessed. It stars Bridget Mendler and four other high school students who form a band after meeting in detention. This movie had me dying to try the famous lemonade from the vending machine outside the detention room, and even more desperate to see Lemonade Mouth in concert. If you watched this growing up, you probably know every word to the “Determinate” rap, and had a crush on Charlie Delgado, the “drum god.” If you’re rewatching the movie or viewing it for the first time, you’re sure to get every song stuck in your head.Â
High School Musical
This series is a fan favorite and a true DCOM classic. If I had to pick a favorite out of the three, I would probably go with the second movie, but it’s difficult to choose. I end up rewatching at least one of them every year, and I never get tired of them. My friends and I watched High School Musical 3: Senior Year before our high school graduation to get in the mood and reminisce on both our childhood and all the memories we made together. I wanted to be Gabriella so much growing up, but now I am a Sharpay ride-or-die. If you’re an HSM fan and haven’t seen the spin-off, Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure, that is a must-watch.
The Princess Protection Program
This movie stars Disney icons, Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato. There’s nothing better than seeing your favorite Disney stars be best friends in a movie, which is exactly what this film delivers. The song “One and the Same” is still one of my favorites. This movie is everything girlhood and friendship, and a little bit of second-hand embarrassment. My sisters and I have watched it more times than we can count, and it truly never gets old.