A PG rating was a big deal at the time for Disney Channel Original Movies, and Disney Channel did not make a proper horror film ever again. A mix of Drop Dead Fred and Little Monsters, the creepy and haunting visuals were enough to give any kid some pretty vivid nightmares. Don’t Look Under the Bed was so scary it was rarely shown after its initial broadcast. In the 90s, an all-black cast starring in a TV movie was virtually unheard of, but Up, Up, And Away brought black superheroes to one of the most-watched channels in America. Smart tech that can analyze blood and DNA? No, thank you! Meta mini- masterpiece The Phantom of the Megaplex, a riff on Phantom of the Opera set instead in a movie theater, ties in old-school movie monsters while rattling off endless cinema references-on a network geared towards children!įor once, executives seemed unafraid to push the boundaries on what was acceptable. For an inkling of what the creatives could get away with in this era, look no further than Smart House: a film way ahead of its time where artificial intelligence quite literally takes over a home won in a contest. Nothing else on TV allowed this type of creative freedom or expression. Rather, what set them apart was just how preposterous and ridiculous they were, with minimal care for realism and more focus on the outlandish storylines. If you’re enjoying the content, be sure to give us a like, and don’t forget to subscribe and hit the notification bell so you never miss a video.īasic fairy tales, forgettable cutesy characters, and cookie-cutter setup and resolution are very much not classic Disney Channel Original Movies formulas. Now, getcha head in the game, and come dive into the deepest depths of Disney Channel royalty… Let’s explore the makeup of Disney Channel Original Movies and dissect everything that made them work. What was it about these special events that felt so unique, progressive, and downright entertaining? Between the outlandishly over-the-top storylines, immaculate music choices, and an obscene variety of life lessons, Disney Channel covered all its bases. Where else can you see impossible ankle-breaking sports maneuvers executed perfectly, half-man half-mermaids, a vicious purse monster, aluminum foil kryptonite, parents aging backward in time experiments gone wrong, aliens afraid of the wind, and literal dog psychics? If you’re watching a film that checks any of these boxes, chances are, it’s a DCOM! Modern Disney Channel is more concerned with simplistic charm and cheesy jokes to be bothered with trying to make timeless, often ridiculous childhood treasures. There are some late-but-great entries to the oeuvre, like Teen Beach Movie and Descendants, but something about those timeless DCOMs of the 90s and 2000s feels practically erased. According to Variety, the former set a record that is still yet to be topped to this day-not only is the High School Musical sequel the most-watched TV movie ever for kids 6-11, it also has the overall best ratings for any television film. When did Disney Channel Original Movies reach peak perfection? Somewhere between Troy Bolton belting out “Bet On It” in High School Musical 2 and the Jonas Brothers crooning “Play My Music” in Camp Rock is probably a good guess. So, what made those movies so special, and why do they still resonate with audiences all these years later? From Under Wraps to The Luck of the Irish to everything in between, our imaginations were taken Up, Up, and Away to unforeseen heights-the rotating roster of cherry-picked movie options meant there was always another exciting story just around the corner. Back when event television was a thing, there were perhaps no greater playground conversations than those swirling around the newest Disney Channel Original Movies. If you’re a Disney kid of a certain age, it’s virtually impossible not to recall the once-iconic Disney Channel Original Movies (or D-COMS) with fond memories.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |