Disney Parks are iconic places, and the rides there can become just as iconic as the classic animated films synonymous with the Disney name. So iconic that they sometimes become films themselves, including the recent Jungle Cruise.
So here is a ranking of all of the film adaptations of Disney attractions into films from worst to best. For the context of this list, the entire Pirates of the Caribbean franchise will be counted once.
7. Mission to Mars
Mission to Mars is a strange entry as it is based on a ride that had already closed when the film was released. It also had almost nothing to do with the ride apart from taking place on Mars and sharing a title.
This movie is also just not very good. It is a strange science fiction film that wastes an incredible all star cast with its strange plot and a script that can't support the complicated lore and storyline.
6. Country Bears
The film adaptation of the Country Bear Jamboree is an incredibly strange film made worse by one thing far beyond its control. The Muppets made the exact same same film, and did it incredibly better.
The plot of the movie is that a bear is raised by a human family who always felt different and like he didn't belong. Eventually he goes to the old performance venue of the Country Bears, which has long been closed and is now threatened by an evil banker. After much struggle he gets the band back together to save the theater (sound familiar?).
It is a strange film that does not compare well to its twin film, and takes little if anything from the amazing attraction that inspired it.
5. Tomorrowland
Tomorrowland was an ambitious project that attempted to not only adapt the Disney land into a film, but also utilize various aspects of Disney lore into a film where the Disney Parks and Disney history is a major element. This film involves the 1964 world's fair, a secret society, and exploding evil audio animatronics as major elements in a film truly made for Disney super fans.
There are parts where this film really works. And parts where it does not work at all. If you love the Disney Parks than you should really check this film out as it is an experience
4. Tower of Terror
Disney's Tower of Terror made a movie based on a ride based on the Twilight Zone without referencing the Twilight Zone. It is also the only made for TV film on this list, and the only one filmed inside the actual ride.
This film is way better than it should be given what it is, but it is an incredibly fun experience. It perfectly fits itself into the preexisting storyline of the attraction with some fun twists and great acting. The movie is a surprising treat much better than you would expect it to be. It is certainly not for everyone, but it is definitely a fun experience.
3. Haunted Mansion
The Haunted Mansion is one of the most iconic Disney rides of all time and it inspired a movie starring Eddie Murphy. While it is not a perfect movie, it has a lot of nice humor that is befitting of the humorous side of the ride.
This ride also features more tributes to the ride than I can count, with many of the characters being directly inspired by characters in the ride, including Madame Leota, Master Gracey and more. It is a nice tribute to the ride with some great moments.
2. Jungle Cruise
Jungle Cruise captures the adventurous, and humorous tone of the attraction absolutely perfectly, with an Indiana Jones-like modern adaptation of a classic adventure movie. It even manages to poke fun at some of the attractions more outdated elements like its look at native peoples and colonialism.
While not perfect, it translated the tone of the attraction well with an original storyline that fit within the existing lore of the attraction while expanding on it, making it more than a worthy adaptation of this classic Disneyland attraction.
1. Pirates of the Caribbean
The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is by far the most successful of all of the adaptations of Disney rides and that is for a reason. While not all of the films are of the same quality, when it is good it is amazing. The first film singlehandedly relaunched the pirate genre into the mainstream as well as a multi-billion dollar franchise that is still ongoing.
It captured much of the adventurous spirit of the ride with just enough tributes to the attraction, especially in the first film. Add in wonderful actors and an iconic musical score and you have the best film version of a Disney ride to date.
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