If you were born in the late '90s or early 2000s, odds are you spent Friday nights waiting for the new Disney Channel Original Movies to come out, every now and then. If you're anything like me, those movies meant everything to you. As children, my sister and I would swell up with excitement when we saw a commercial for the newest Disney Channel Original Movie. We'd anxiously wait for the day the movie aired and we'd always clear our schedule of playdates. Mom would extend our bedtimes by an hour, we'd make popcorn and we'd sit back to be transported into the world of Disney. Here are 20 Disney Channel Original Movies that will make you wish you were a kid again.
1. "The Lizzie McGuire Movie"
I'm starting with this one because it's not technically a Disney Channel Original Movie, but it might as well be. They showed it on Disney Channel so much that it's easy to lump it with the others. Hands down one of the greatest movies of all time. If you don't remember "this is what dreams are made of," odds are we aren't friends.
2. "Cow Belles"
A classic DCOM, Cow Belles tells the story of two spoiled sisters (played by Aly and AJ) who burn down their house accidentally and are forced to get jobs in a diary factory. Things get out of hand fast.
3. "The Even Stevens Movie"
This was a movie version of the hit TV series. In the movie, the Stevens family is put on a crazy reality TV show called "Family Fake Out."
4. "Eddie's Million Dollar Cook Off"
I'm not going to lie, when I saw the title of this movie I had no clue what it was. However, once I saw a few pictures, the memories started flooding back. The plot consists of a baseball player, Eddie, who has a love for cooking that he feels he must hide from his friends and father.
5. "Pixel Perfect"
Another lesser known DCOM, this is the story of a boy who tries to help his best friend, Sam, find a dancer for her band. After working on his dad's computer, he creates a holograph to join the band and the plot unravels.
6. "The Proud Family Movie"
You should definitely remember this one. "The Proud Family" was one of my favorite TV shows as a kid and I was completely thrilled when they decided to make a movie.
7. "Camp Rock" and "Camp Rock 2"
Two more movies you should definitely remember. If you're a girl, then you were totally in love with the Jonas Brothers and you probably know every word to every song in these movies.
8. "Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior"
When London Tipton was slightly ruined for you because you realized the actress playing London didn't actually have London's personality. Classic girl-power movie and one of my all time favorites.
9. "Twitches" and "Twitches Too"
This movie convinced my sister and I that we had magical powers. I'm still waiting for mine to appear on my 21st birthday -- only four years to go!
10. "Jump In!"
After watching this movie, jumping rope on the playground became a lot more popular. Corbin Bleu "pushed it to the limit" and made double dutch 10 times cooler.
11. "Minutemen."
Time traveling + teenagers + defeating the school bullies = awesome movie.
12. Every Cheetah Girls movie.
I know your friend group definitely each picked a Cheetah girl. I still remember picking Aqua. Remember when Raven wasn't in the third movie and your heart broke?
13. "The Luck of The Irish"
A lesser known, but still amazing DCOM where Kyle turns into a Leprechaun and faces off against the evil Irish villain in an intense basketball game.
14. "Hatching Pete"
Everyone loved the story of a shy boy who finally became popular as the school mascot and it didn't hurt that "Hannah Montana" favorite, Mitchel Musso, costarred in the film.
15. "Princess Protection Program"
I loved this movie when I was younger. Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez in one movie was a dream come true for all girls my age.
16. "Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie"
Another favorite TV show turned into a movie. If you didn't cry when Max and Justin lost their memories and disappeared into tornadoes then there is something seriously wrong with you.
17. "Starstruck"
The story of a rich pop star who is ironically paired up with the one girl in the world who doesn't faint at the sound of his name.
18. "Cadet Kelly"
Hillary Duff rocked this movie telling the story of a girl who didn't quite fit in at military school, but powered through. One of the most watched DCOMS of all time.
19. "Halloweentown," "Halloweentown 2," "Halloweentown High" and "Return to Halloweentown"
We watched the Cromwell family grow and save the world through this series and loved every minute of it. Don't pretend you didn't countdown the days down to Halloween then watch all of the movies in a marathon.
20. "The High School Musical" trilogy.
I saved the best for last. "High School Musical" is the definition of my childhood. Where would I be without "Breaking Free," "Getcha Head in the Game" and "Bop to the Top?" Another movies series where we watched the characters grow up. Unfortunately, high school is nothing like these movies led me to believe it would be.
I think we all really miss the old Disney.