Oh Disney. You’ve been such a big part of so many children’s lives over the years. And while the bigger box office movies will always hold a special place in our hearts, we can’t forget all of the classic Disney Channel Original Movies.
Formerly known as Disney Channel Premiere Films, the made-for-TV originals started back in 1983 with the debut of “Tiger Town.” However, the movies really started to gain popularity throughout the 2000s when the Disney Channel started to release a new flick each month and sometimes even more during the summer months or if they had a marathon going.
So did everyone across America love these movies equally? Or did preferences vary by region? To arrive at each state’s favorite Disney Channel Original, CableTV did quite a bit of research, cross-referencing the entire list of Disney Channel Originals while also analyzing and comparing state-specific data from Google Trends.
Intrigued? Here is every state’s favorite Disney Channel Original Movie:
Alabama
“Cow Belles”
Directed by Francine McDougall
Two wealthy sisters are forced to work with their exasperated father in order to learn how to be responsible. When the company funds end up missing, it’s completely up to the girls to save the day.
The Disney Channel Original debuted on March 24, 2006 and starred Alyson and Amanda Michalka, known as the two sisters Aly and AJ. The premiere alone brought in 5.8 million viewers from the United States.
Alaska
“The Luck of the Irish”
Directed by Paul Hoen
A teenage boy is a popular high school basketball player who always seems to have good luck. But then he is left to battle for a gold charm to keep his family from being controlled by an evil leprechaun and, well, to keep his mother from turning into a leprechaun herself.
This popular Disney Channel Original first debuted in 2001, but you can catch a rerun every March around St. Patrick’s Day on the Disney Channel.
Arizona
“Life is Ruff”
Directed by Charles Haid
A 13-year-old boy has everything he could ever want, except for an original issue of his comic book collection. Then, one day while skateboarding, a prized show dog chases him down and the dog’s owner inadvertently convinces Chase Wheeler to adopt and train his own dog. However, the only dog available is Tyco, an uncouth stray from a local animal shelter that proves to be way more to deal with than anyone expected.
“Life is Ruff” first debuted in 2005 and stars Kyle Massey and Mitchel Musso.
Arkansas
“Twitches”
Directed by Stuart Gillard
“Twitches” is about two teenage witches who were separated at birth and adopted by two different families. They meet on their 21st birthday and together use their superpowers to save the world.
The Disney Channel Original first debuted in 2005 and is based on the popular “Twitches” book series published by Scholastic Press. You may recognize the film’s stars, Tia and Tamera Mowry, from “Sister, Sister.”
California
“The Jennie Project”
Based on the book “Jennie” by author Douglas Preston, “The Jennie Project” is about a chimpanzee named Jennie who knows how to use American Sign Language to communicate. When the doctor in the movie brings Jennie home, she quickly becomes a big and important part of his family and ends up bringing the entire family closer together.
“The Jennie Project” first debuted in the summer of 2001.
Colorado
“You Wish!”
Directed by Paul Hoen
Alex, a high school student who forever feels like he’s overshadowed by his little brother, can’t seem to get the attention of the girl of his dreams. He tends to be an outsider and often sits on the bench when his football teams plays. After his little brother receives an odd coin from a peculiar older man, he passes it on to Alex and tells him to make a wish. From there, everything changes for Alex and he’s not too sure he likes it.
This Disney Channel Original is based on Jackie French Kellers 1991 novel “If I Had One Wish” and first debuted on January 10, 2003.
Connecticut
“Go Figure”
Directed by Francine McDougall
A teenage girl dreams of becoming the next champion ice skater and discovers a top Russian instructor is working at a nearby private school. But training under the expert isn’t possible, so she ends up playing hockey instead—and everything changes.
The Disney Channel Original first debuted in 2005. Fun fact: Walt Disney Records released the “Go Figure” soundtrack, along with a music video.
Delaware
“Twitches”
See Arkansas for description.
Florida
“Twitches”
See Arkansas for description.
Georgia
“Ready to Run”
Directed by Duwayne Dunham
A 14-year-old girl dreams of becoming a jockey in the predominantly male sport of horse racing. While working at a racetrack, she ends up training a racehorse to talk, ultimately transforming him into a winner.
“Ready to Run” first debuted in 2000.
Hawaii
“Johnny Tsunami”
Directed by Steve Boyum
A teenage boy from Hawaii who moved to Vermont takes the skills he learned from surfing and shows them off on the snow slopes.
The Disney Channel Original first debuted in 1999.
Idaho
“Halloweentown High”
Directed by Duwayne Dunham
A high school girl named Marnie Piper learns that she is a witch. Thanks to her discovery, she ends up helping save a town full of other supernatural creatures.
First debuting in 2004, “Halloweentown High” is the third movie released in the series “Halloweentown” and is also known as “Halloweentown 3.”
Illinois
“Life is Ruff”
See Arizona for description.
Indiana
“Get a Clue”
Directed by Maggie Greenwald
Lindsay Lohan stars as a wealthy high school student with equally rich friends. But when her teacher goes missing, she works alongside her rival from the school paper to solve the mystery.
“Get a Clue” first debuted on the Disney Channel on June 28, 2002.
Iowa
“Motocrossed”
Directed by Steve Boyum
“Motocrossed” is loosely based on the Shakespeare play “Twelfth Night” and is about a girl who absolutely loves motocross, despite the fact that her dad doesn’t think she’s suited for the sport. When her brother breaks his leg right before a big race, Andrea secretly races in her brother’s place.
This Disney Channel Original first debuted in 2001.
Kansas
“The Ultimate Christmas Present”
Directed by Greg Beeman
Two teenage girls come across a weather machine and after learning its controls, they are able to make it snow in Los Angeles. It was great fun for everyone until the weather machine, which actually belongs to Santa Claus, breaks and causes an out-of-control snowstorm right before Christmas.
“The Ultimate Christmas Present” first debuted in 2000, but quickly rose to become a favorite among the Disney Channel Originals.
Kentucky
“The Ultimate Christmas Present”
See Kansas for description.
Louisiana
“The Color of Friendship”
Directed by Kevin Hooks
The movie is based on actual events surrounding a friendship between two girls, one from the United States and the other from South Africa. The white South African girl finds herself in an unexpected situation when she is sent to the United States to spend a term with a black family.
The movie first debuted on the Disney Channel in 2000.
Maine
“‘Twas the Night”
Directed by Nick Castle
A mischievous 14-year-old boy and his uncle, who is a little on the irresponsible side, almost ruin Christmas when they take Santa’s new fancy sleigh for a joyride.
The movie first debuted in 2001 and has continued to air every December on the Disney Channel.
Maryland
“The Ultimate Christmas Present”
See Kansas for description.
Massachusetts
“The Ultimate Christmas Present”
See Kansas for description.
Michigan
“Get a Clue”
See Indiana for description.
Minnesota
“Zenon”
Directed by Kenneth Johnson
An inquisitive teenager pries into suspected dodgy dealings on her space station home—and ends up being sent down to Earth.
“Zenon” first debuted in 1999 and is based on the book “Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century.” Two sequels were made after it: Zenon: The Zequel in 2001 and Zenon: Z3 in 2004.
Mississippi
“The Proud Family Movie”
Directed by Bruce W. Smith
A 16-year-old girl named Penny and her family are lured on an all-expenses-paid vacation where they are captured by a mad scientist.
“The Proud Family Movie” first debuted on August 19, 2005.
Missouri
“You Wish!”
See Colorado for description.
Montana
“Go Figure”
See Connecticut for description.
Nebraska
“Cow Belles”
See Alabama for description.
Nevada
“Mom’s Got a Date With A Vampire”
Directed by Steve Boyum
Two kids are in a jam. Adam and his best friend got tickets for the Headless Horseman concert and Adam’s sister has a date lined up with her boyfriend. But, they’re both grounded, so the siblings do whatever it takes to get their mom out of the house. So they set her up with a mysterious man, who their little brother realizes just might be a vampire.
The Disney Channel Original first debuted in 2000.
New Hampshire
“The Luck of the Irish”
See Alaska for description.
New Jersey
“The Ultimate Christmas Present”
See Kansas for description.
New Mexico
“Cadet Kelly”
Directed by Larry Shaw
Kelly, who is a free-spirited, fashionable eighth-grader, is horrified when she is forced to attend military school after her new stepfather becomes the Commandant of the school.
The movie first debuted in 2002 and stars Hilary Duff. It quickly became one of the more popular Disney Channel Originals, with 7.8 million viewers watching when it premiered.
New York
“Get a Clue”
See Indiana for description.
North Carolina
“Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time”
Directed by Steve Loter
Kim is having a rough time leading her double life. Her ordinary-life best friend is moving away and in her crime-fighting life, three villains plan to use time travel as a weapon against her.
The Disney Channel Original first debuted in in 2003 and is the first of two made-for-TV movies based on “Kim Possible,” the TV series. Using a mix of traditional and computer-generated animation, the movie contains elements of action, science fiction and comedy.
North Dakota
“Halloweentown High”
See Idaho for description.
Ohio
“The Scream Team”
Directed by Stuart Gillard
After two kids relocate to a town where their grandfather has just died, they discover that there’s a society of ghosts who are searching for his soul. When the two come across an evil ghost, they decide to join a group of dead people called the Soul Patrol who search for ghosts.
The Disney Channel Original first debuted on October 4, 2002.
Oklahoma
“The Ultimate Christmas Present”
See Kansas for description.
Oregon
“Halloweentown High”
See Idaho for description.
Pennsylvania
“Stepsister from Planet Weird”
Directed by Steve Boyum
A teenager’s life gets pretty weird after her mother falls in love with and marries an alien. Even worse, her new stepsister Ariel is even weirder than her dad.
The Disney Channel Original first debuted in June of 2000.
Rhode Island
“The Thirteenth Year”
Directed by Duwayne Dunham
A boy named Cody discovers that his birth mother is a mermaid after he begins to grow fins and slimy scales on his thirteenth birthday.
“The Thirteenth Year” first debuted on May 15, 1999.
South Carolina
“Twitches”
See Arkansas for description.
South Dakota
“Quints”
Directed by Bill Corcoran
A 13-year-old girl named Jamie dislikes being an only child because of the amount of attention her parents give her. But after her mother gives birth to quintuplets, Jamie’s life is dramatically changed.
“Quints” first debuted on the Disney Channel in 2000.
Tennessee
“Phantom of the Megaplex”
Directed by Blair Treu
A 17-year-old who works at a movie theater finds that many of the movies being shown on premiere night are full of strange and eerie occurrences.
The Disney Channel Original first debuted in 2000 and is loosely based on “The Phantom of the Opera.”
Texas
“The Jennie Project”
For description see California.
Utah
“High School Musical”
Directed by Kenny Ortega, the movie centers around two teens, Troy and Gabriella, who discover their mutual love for music after meeting at a karaoke contest in New Mexico.
The movie first debuted on January 20, 2006 and two sequels and one spinoff have been made due to the success of the film.
Vermont
“The Luck of the Irish”
See Alaska for description.
Virginia
“Get a Clue”
See Indiana for description.
Washington
“‘Twas The Night”
See Maine for description.
West Virginia
“Motorcrossed”
See Iowa for description.
Wisconsin
“The Luck of the Irish”
See Alaska for description.
Wyoming
“The Luck of the Irish”
See Alaska for description.
So there you have it. All 50 states. And what have we learned? From reading through this list, it appears that “The Luck of the Irish” was the clear winner across the country, but the other movies that were amongst the most popular were “The Ultimate Christmas Present” and “Twitches.” We’re surprised to see that “High School Musical” only topped one state.
Regardless, this list makes us want to indulge in a big bowl of popcorn and take a trip down memory lane—the Disney Channel Original Movie lane—that is.
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