Actors who got their start on Disney Channel have starred in plenty of entertaining films over the years. The accomplished children’s channel is known to produce some notable names in Hollywood, with many of the most well-knownDisney Channel stars leading successful careersafter their time with the channel was up. Having the freedom to branch out as an actor, these stars have dabbled in various genres, including moving drama films, showstopping musicals, and hilarious comedies.
Seriousfilms likeThe Iron ClawandThe Fallout, starring Zac Efron and Jenna Ortega, respectively, show a different side to the beloved actorsthat audiences rarely saw while they were on Disney Channel. This shift in one’s career and public perception isn’t always easy to pull off, but these stars did just that. Following their Disney Channel days, these actors played a role in films that are celebrated by audiences and a few that hit it out of the park with critics, too.
10Blended (2014)
Starring Bella Thorne
ThoughBlendedis consideredAdam Sandler and Drew Barrymore’s worst film together, it’s still got enough charm to satisfy audiences, and it features a supporting performance by former Disney Channel star Bella Thorne. The film sees Sandler and Barrymore as two single parents who vow to never see one another after a blind date goes wrong. However, the two wind up at the same resort and are forced to merge their families together.
Having starred inShake It Up, Thorne gained attention as half of the series' lovable duo. InBlended, Thorne plays a similarly relatable role as Hilary, the oldest daughter of Sandler’s character Jim. Admittedly,Blendedis stuffed with overused clichés and fails to bring anything new to the rom-com subgenre. Still,Sandler and Barrymore have great chemistry, and there’s enough humor to make for an easy viewing.
9A Cinderella Story (2004)
Starring Hilary Duff
Telling a modernized version of the classicCinderellafolk tale,A Cinderella Storystars Hilary Duff in one of her first major movie roles post-Lizzie McGuire. In the film, Duff plays Sam, the Cinderella character, who works at her stepmother’s diner and finds herself in an anonymous text-messaging relationship with a mysterious boy at her school. Duff fits well as the girl-next-door character as she navigates the traditional high school pressures to fit in.
A Cinderella Storyis set in California, with unique architecture that allows the fairytale elements of the famous story to be brought to life. Additionally, supporting performances by Jennifer Coolidge, Regina King, and Chad Michael Murray help translate the iconic roles of the wicked stepmother and prominent love interest into the framework of a lighthearted rom-com.The success ofA Cinderella Storyled to a series of similar films being released, led by other former Disney Channel starssuch as Selena Gomez, Sofia Carson, and Laura Marano.
8Crossroads (2002)
Starring Britney Spears
Before Britney Spears was recognized as the “Princess of Pop,” she got her start as an actor inThe All-New Mickey Mouse Club. About a decade later, Spears was past her Disney Channel career and got the opportunity to lead the teen road filmCrossroads. Joined by Taryn Manning and Zoe Saldaña,Crossroadsfollows the girls' road trip across the country to fulfill wishes they made when they were younger. Though the film was panned by critics, it was a success commercially.
Crossroadscontinues to be rewatched by audiences today, particularly fans of the pop singer, asit’s Spears only leading role in a film. Among the critical slamming ofCrossroadsas a whole when it was first released,Spears remained a highlight of the film. Regardless of where the plot of the film took her, Spears was committed to playing her character, Lucy, and she radiated much of the same endearing charm that made her such a beloved icon in the first place.
7The Greatest Showman (2017)
Starring Zac Efron and Zendaya
DespiteThe Greatest Showman’s inaccuracies, the biographical musical is still plenty of fun. The film tells a fictionalized story of how P. T. Barnum’s Barnum & Bailey Circus came to be. Hugh Jackman leads the film as P. T. Barnum and is supported by an array of talented actors, including two former Disney Channel stars, Zendaya and Zac Efron. In the film, the latter plays a playwright who helps Barnum and his circus gain attention, with Zendaya portraying his love interest and a skilled trapeze artist.
WithThe Greatest Showman’s musical component, the former Disney stars got the opportunity to put to use their learned musical skills that often come with starring on Disney Channel.Zendaya and Efron sing together on the emotional song “Rewrite the Stars,“which sees the two going back and forth about their complicated love story. The film didn’t do well with critics upon its release but has continued to be celebrated by audiences who are captivated by its catchy musical sequences.
6The Fallout (2021)
Starring Jenna Ortega
Jenna Ortega’s status as a scream queenhas largely been how her post-Disney Channel career is defined. From films likeXandBeetlejuice Beetlejuice, there’s no denying Ortega’s strength in the horror genre. However, another great film with Ortega as the lead isThe Fallout. Alongside Maddie Ziegler, the two actors portray survivors of a school shooting.The Fallouthandles the sensitive subject matter with great consideration, and Ortega and Ziegler each deliver moving performances.
The two have great on-screen chemistry, and each emphasizes the fact that responses to traumatic situations look different for everyone. Ortega, in particular, earned a lot of attention from critics, with many citing the role of Vada as her breakthrough.The Fallout, having premiered on HBO Max, became the most-watched original film in the U.S. and earned a handful of critical award nominations.
5Emilia Pérez (2024)
Starring Selena Gomez
Earning both backlash and critical buzz, Netflix’sEmilia Pérezfuses a multitude of genres to tell an emotional trans story. The French film stars Zoe Saldaña as a lawyer sought out by a cartel leader who has a desire to transition into a woman (Karla Sofía Gascón). On paper, the gritty subject matter doesn’t appear to blend well with lavish musical numbers, but in execution, the strong contrast makes for a unique viewing experience.
In the film, the wife of the cartel leader is played by Selena Gomez. Much of the emotional weight ofthe story told inEmilia Pérezlands on the shoulders of Saldaña and Gascón, butGomez still plays a significant role as a wife grappling with her former husband’s decisions. It’s unlike any other character she has played thus far, and for her performance, Gomez earned a Golden Globe nomination.
4Real Women Have Curves (2002)
Starring America Ferrera
The same year that America Ferrera made her television film debut in the Disney Channel Original MovieGotta Kick It Up!, she made her feature film debut inReal Women Have Curves. The film combines humor and a whole lot of heart to tell the coming-of-age story of a Mexican-American teenager (Ferrera) grappling with her family’s expectations while simultaneously trying to carve out a path of her own in life.
The film gained an overwhelmingly positive reaction from critics and is often considered to beone of Ferrera’s best films. Ferrera is involved with allthe film’s heavy themes, which primarily seek to highlight the Mexican-American experience and themes about self-acceptance. Through it all, Ferrera remains genuine and relatable in her performance, radiating a similar charm present throughout much of her early career.
3The Iron Claw (2023)
Starring Zac Efron
Based on the true story of the Von Erichs wrestling family,The Iron Clawsees Zac Efron in one of his more dramatic roles to date. Efron plays Kevin Von Erich, the last surviving son of the family. The film is largely told through Kevin’s perspective and follows the family’s lives during the height of their professional careers, detailing the pressures they felt to succeed under the guidance of their commanding father (Holt McCallany).
Though there are a handful ofreal-life details omitted fromThe Iron Claw, the film doesn’t shy away from painting a tragic picture of the Von Erichs' life.There is a heavy emotional weight placed on Efron as the lead, but he handles it gracefully. Many critics and audiences consider Efron’s performance to be the best of his career, and it’s impressive to see just how far he’s come as an actor since his Disney Channel days.
2Challengers (2024)
Starring Zendaya
FollowingZendaya’s time on Disney Channel, the actor has starred in a range of projects, from the superhero filmSpider-Man: Homecomingand its sequels to the sci-fi filmsDuneandDune: Part Two. One of her more recent films is Luca Guadagnino’sChallengers, where Zendaya plays Tashi Duncan, a promising tennis player turned coach.Challengersplaces its melodramatic story within the world of tennis and details the unfolding drama happening off the court between Tashi and two present-day tennis players, Art (Mike Faist) and Patrick (Josh O’Connor).
Tashi is a significantly different character than those Zendaya played on Disney Channel. However, having worked her way up as an actor in the aforementioned films and the HBO seriesEuphoria, Zendaya’s performance inChallengersis more than effective. The film currently holds an 88% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, and Zendaya has recently received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy.
1Barbie (2023)
Starring Ryan Gosling
A massive success at the box office in 2023,Barbiewas widely celebrated by audiences and critics for its storytelling, humor, and memorable performances, one of which came from former Disney Channel star Ryan Gosling. The film details the journey of self-discovery for two of the biggest Mattel dolls, Barbie (Margot Robbie) and Ken (Gosling). In the early ’90s, Gosling began his career onThe All-New Mickey Mouse Club, showcasing various talents of his, getting a similar opportunity inBarbie.
As Ken, Gosling shows off his comedic and musical talents when his character discovers patriarchal ideology and sets out to place himself and the other Kens in leadership roles within Barbieland.One of Gosling’s more memorable contributions to the film is his performance of “I’m Just Ken,“a humorous song inspired by ’80s power ballads. Alongside hisBarbieco-stars, Gosling earned high levels of critical acclaim for his performance and received numerous nominations for his supporting role.
