Disney films tend to be feel-good movies and usually have happy endings, but there are many non-Disney films that can be just as lighthearted. Other than the many animated movies out there that are reminiscent of Disney, there are many similar live-action movies that are generally geared towards a younger audience but made by different studios.
There are so many great fantasy movies owned by Disney, some of which previously weren't, such as Edward Scissorhands, Anastasia, and many other Fox films now belong to Disney as well. Even though a world of movies owned by Disney might not be the worst thing ever, it's nice to see what different production companies can bring to the table.
Stardust (2007)
Stardust is about a young man named Tristan who has to recover a fallen star from a magical kingdom to impress a woman. To his surprise, it turns out that the star is actually a girl. From there, the two go on a fantastical adventure together.
Like many Disney movies, this film features a love story taking place within a magical kingdom. It has all of the elements that would typically make up a Disney movie, such as romance, comedy, and adventure.
The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)
The Spiderwick Chronicles follows a group of young siblings as they move into a new home and discover an alternate world that is full of magical creatures, some of which that are quite dangerous.
This movie is full of fun adventures for the whole family to enjoy. It's also based on a children's novel of the same name, except the rights to this novel were bought by Nickelodeon instead of Disney. As good as this movie is, however, unfortunately, it didn't become a multi-movie franchise, which is too bad considering that there are multiple books in the series.
Jumanji (1995)
Jumanji follows a group of siblings that discover a unique board game in their basement. As they begin to play, they realize that events happening in the game are beginning to occur in real life as well.
This movie is a classic film that's surprisingly not owned by Disney. It also has many films in its franchise that are equally as good as the original, such as Zathura: A Space Adventure, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, and its sequel Jumanji: The Next Level.
A Monster Calls (2016)
A Monster Calls is about a young boy named Connor who is dealing with way more than other boys his age. His mother has a terminal illness and he's also bullied at school. He then meets a faint-talking Yew tree who promises to tell him three stories, if Connor then tells him one.
This movie is a lot darker than typical Disney films and is much sadder and while it is a family-friendly film, it deals with some heavy topics. This film has plenty of beautiful imagery, symbolism and is no doubt a movie that will make viewers cry.
Where The Wild Things Are (2009)
Where The Wild Things Are is about a young boy named Max who runs away from home and stumbles into a magical world in the forest. While in the forest, he discovers unique creatures who decide to make him their leader.
This movie is entirely unique and will bring back many memories of childhood for adults. Its story is full of random, imaginative events that will amuse children and entertain their parents at the same time, just like many Disney movies.
Labyrinth (1986)
Labyrinth follows a young girl on a mission to rescue her baby brother from the evil goblin king. In order to save her sister, she needs to make it through a labyrinth that has lots of creatures, tricks, and traps.
This movie is a fantastical adventure that has all of the elements to make a Disney movie. It's also a musical with unique songs by David Bowie. There are also rumors that another Labyrinth movie will be made in the coming years, but it's unknown whether it will be a remake or a sequel.
The Wizard Of Oz (1939)
The Wizard of Oz is a classic story about a girl named Dorothy who's swept away by a tornado into the magical realm of Oz. She's told that in order to make it back home to Kansas, she has to follow the yellow brick road in order to ask the Wizard for help.
This story has music and incredibly memorable, unique characters. Even though Disney doesn't own the rights to this movie, it might not be long before they do, Oz The Great and Powerful.
Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
wizard named Harry Potter, who is the chosen one to defeat a powerful wizard named Lord Voldemort. After Harry discovers he's a wizard, he travels to a magical school named Hogwarts, where he can learn to use his powers and try to survive the dangerous threats Voldemort poses to him and his friends.
This series is certainly one of the biggest movie franchises that is not owned by Disney. Its world is so vivid, it even has its own theme park in Univeral Studios that could rival many Disney parks. Harry Potter can stand up to any Disney movie and series when it comes to world-building.
Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring (2001)
Lord of the Rings is a film series about a boy named Frodo who becomes part of a fellowship that must destroy a powerful ring that an evil creature name Sauron desires.
The movie is one of the biggest fantasy films ever made and is filled with many creatures, such as wizards, elves, and dwarves, reminiscent of many other Disney films. The Hobbit and there will even be an Amazon series that takes place before the films.
The Mummy (1995)
The Mummy is about a group of archaeologists, specifically Rick O'Connell as who accidentally awakens a vicious mummy in the fictional Egyptian city Hamunaptra.
This movie series is very reminiscent of darker action-adventure films that Disney has made, such as Pirates of the Caribbean. Similar to Pirates, there are three films in the main trilogy and it has also been rebooted. This movie also deals with plenty of magic and even some dark, creepy creatures.
