9 Disney Movies Based on Rides Ranked: From Pirates to The Country Bears
Since the late ’90s, The Walt Disney Company has mined its theme parks for box office gold with varying degrees of success. But lately, the Hollywood pipeline for Disney movies based on rides seems to have hit a bit of a speed bump.
While talk of a Big Thunder Mountain movie or a new Tower of Terror adaptation still floats around, the massive budgets and lukewarm returns of recent entries like Jungle Cruise and Haunted Mansion seem to have slowed the assembly line. Still, whispers of a new Pirates adventure are always on the horizon, meaning this unique subgenre isn’t dead yet. It’s just undergoing a lengthy refurbishment.
In the meantime, let’s look back at the history of these adaptations. I’m ranking every Disney film based on a ride, from the animatronic flops to the swashbuckling blockbusters. While the video below covers our top six, I’ve expanded this list to include even more Disney attraction adaptations—including the TV movie classic that started it all.
9. The Country Bears (2002)
Join the quirky and musically inclined Country Bears as they hit the road in this comedic adventure that most critics called … dumb. In this universe, the bears are treated as real-life rock stars living among humans. That works fine and dandy with the Muppets, but this movie never quite finds the right tone. Instead of being charming, the animatronic bear suits just feel uncanny. Honestly, 2011’s The Muppets is basically the same movie—getting the band back together to save the day—just done correctly.
8. Jungle Cruise (2021)
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Emily Blunt team up for a supernatural Amazonian adventure that tries hard to channel the spirit of classic serials. Jungle Cruise definitely pays homage to the classic ride, and the leads have solid chemistry. But that isn’t enough to save it from landing at No. 8 on this list. The movie is undeniably bloated and predictable, drowning the jungle setting’s charm in heavy CGI. It wants to be the next Pirates, but it feels more like an endurance test. And let me tell you, I failed that test when I fell asleep on my first watch.
7. Dinosaur (2000)
Technically, the movie Dinosaur and the Animal Kingdom ride “Countdown to Extinction” were developed simultaneously. The ride actually opened first in 1998 before being slightly reworked (and renamed to “Dinosaur”) in 2000. The film was a technological marvel for its time, blending CGI characters with real-world backgrounds. Sure, it’s a standard prehistoric trek that lacks the magic of the Disney Renaissance era. But call me nostalgic. It’s still a visually impressive adventure with a soaring musical score.
6. Haunted Mansion (2023)
The second attempt to bring the happy haunts to the big screen takes a more horror-focused approach than its predecessor. With an ensemble cast featuring Rosario Dawson, LaKeith Stanfield, and Owen Wilson, 2023’s Haunted Mansion dives deeper into the lore of the Hatbox Ghost and the estate’s tragic history. I appreciate that it leans harder into the scares than the 2003 adaptation. But the movie struggled to find its footing with audiences, landing somewhere between a horror movie and a family comedy without fully mastering either.
5. Tomorrowland (2015)
Filled with optimism and wonder, Tomorrowland shines brightest during its opening flashback to the 1964 World’s Fair—easily my favorite sequence in the entire film. You can feel director Brad Bird aiming for the stars with this ambitious sci-fi adventure. Unfortunately, the movie loses its way by spending too much time away from the actual Tomorrowland setting. Still, for futurists and fans of Walt’s original vision for EPCOT, there are enough dazzling visuals and cool concepts to make this a trip worth taking.
4. Tower of Terror (1997)
Although it was a made-for-TV movie, Tower of Terror deserves its spot on this list as the first of the Disney movies based on rides. Starring Steve Guttenberg and a young Kirsten Dunst, the production was filmed partly on location at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (then named Disney–MGM Studios). That setting gives it an authentic spooky vibe that theme park fans adore. The TV movie captures the attraction’s eerie atmosphere perfectly (minus the actual Twilight Zone branding) and remains a certified cult classic for ’90s kids.
3. The Haunted Mansion (2003)
Prepare to be spooked and amused in equal measure by the 2003 Haunted Mansion adaptation, which has cemented itself as a 31 Nights of Halloween staple. Come for the family-friendly frights, and stay for Eddie Murphy’s hilarious facial expressions. It might not be a cinematic masterpiece, but it delivers a fun, Southern Gothic aesthetic that feels unique to this version. Still, there are plenty of Easter eggs from the ride for eagle-eyed fans, from the singing busts to Madame Leota.
2. Mission to Mars (2000)
Director Brian De Palma’s polarizing sci-fi adventure is heartwarming, intense, and odd. But I love it for that and think it’s one of this century’s most underrated live-action Disney films. While the original attraction is long gone from the parks (and not to be confused with EPCOT’s Mission: Space), the film remains a fascinating time capsule of Y2K sci-fi optimism. It features a stellar cast led by Gary Sinise and Don Cheadle, backed by a sweeping score from the legendary Ennio Morricone. If you appreciate the high-stakes exploration of movies like The Abyss, this polarizing cult classic deserves a second look.
1. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Was there ever any doubt? I still remember seeing this swashbuckling sensation in theaters and keeping the DVD in heavy rotation at home. Gore Verbinski directs the heck out of this movie, and honestly, it looks just as stunning today as it did over 20 years ago. It was so successful that it even inspired Walt Disney Imagineering to update the original attraction with elements from the film. From Johnny Depp’s iconic performance to that unforgettable soundtrack, The Curse of the Black Pearl remains the absolute peak of ride adaptations.
Disney movies based on rides FAQ
What was the first Disney movie based on a ride?
The TV movie Tower of Terror, released in 1997, was the first Disney film based on a theme park attraction. The first theatrical release based on a ride was Mission to Mars in 2000.
Is there a Space Mountain movie?
As of now, there is no movie based on Space Mountain, though Disney has reportedly been developing one for years. The ride is featured briefly as an Easter egg in Tomorrowland and Meet the Robinsons.
Are the Pirates of the Caribbean movies based on the ride?
Yes, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) was directly based on the Disneyland attraction. The film's massive success actually led Disney to update the rides to include characters from the movies, such as Captain Jack Sparrow and Davy Jones.
