Actors who got their start on Disney Channel have asterisk in plenty of think about films over the days . The accomplished nestling ’s channel is know to produce some notable names in Hollywood , with many of the most well - knownDisney Channel stars leading successful careersafter their time with the canal was up . get the freedom to branch out as an actor , these stars have dabble in various genres , including moving dramatic play films , showstopping musicals , and hilarious comedies .

10Blended (2014)

Starring Bella Thorne

ThoughBlendedis consideredAdam Sandler and Drew Barrymore ’s worst film together , it ’s still got enough charm to meet audiences , and it features a supporting performance by former Disney Channel star Bella Thorne . The film see Sandler and Barrymore as two single parents who consecrate to never see one another after a blind date goes wrong . However , the two air current up at the same refuge and are forced to merge their family together .

Having starred inShake It Up , Thorne gained aid as half of the series ' loveable duo . InBlended , Thorne playact a likewise relatable role as Hilary , the old girl of Sandler ’s character Jim . Admittedly , Blendedis stuffed with overused clichés and fails to play anything new to the rom - com subgenre . Still , Sandler and Barrymore have great chemistry , and there ’s enough humor to make for an comfortable screening .

9A Cinderella Story (2004)

Starring Hilary Duff

evidence a modernised version of the classicCinderellafolk tale , A Cinderella Storystars Hilary Duff in one of her first major picture roles post - Lizzie McGuire . In the moving-picture show , Duff plays Sam , the Cinderella character , who make for at her stepmother ’s buffet car and encounter herself in an anonymous text - messaging relationship with a mysterious male child at her school . Duff fits well as the girl - next - room access character reference as she navigates the traditional high school pressures to fit in .

A Cinderella Storyis fix in California , with singular architecture that allow the fairy tale element of the famous story to be brought to lifespan . Additionally , supporting performances by Jennifer Coolidge , Regina King , and Chad Michael Murray help oneself understand the iconic character of the wicked stepmother and prominent love interestingness into the theoretical account of a lightsome rom - com . The success ofA Cinderella Storyled to a series of standardised cinema being released , result by other former Disney Channel starssuch as Selena Gomez , Sofia Carson , and Laura Marano .

8Crossroads (2002)

Starring Britney Spears

Before Britney Spears was acknowledge as the " Princess of Pop , " she catch her start as an thespian inThe All - New Mickey Mouse Club . About a decade later , Spears was past her Disney Channel career and got the chance to moderate the teen route filmCrossroads . Joined by Taryn Manning and Zoe Saldaña , Crossroadsfollows the girls ' road trip across the country to fulfill wish they made when they were young . Though the film was pan out by critic , it was a winner commercially .

Crossroadscontinues to be rewatched by audiences today , specially lover of the pop Isaac Bashevis Singer , asit ’s Spears only star use in a film . Among the critical slamming ofCrossroadsas a whole when it was first released , Spears remained a highlight of the motion-picture show . disregardless of where the plot of the film took her , Spears was committed to act her graphic symbol , Lucy , and she radiated much of the same lovely charm that made her such a dear icon in the first place .

7The Greatest Showman (2017)

Starring Zac Efron and Zendaya

DespiteThe Greatest Showman ’s inaccuracies , the biographical musical comedy is still plenty of playfulness . The pic tells a fictionalize account of how P. T. Barnum ’s Barnum & Bailey Circus came to be . Hugh Jackman direct the motion-picture show as P. T. Barnum and is supported by an raiment of talented actors , include two former Disney Channel mavin , Zendaya and Zac Efron . In the film , the latter play a playwright who helps Barnum and his circus acquire attending , with Zendaya portray his love life involvement and a skilled trapeze creative person .

WithThe Greatest Showman ’s musical component , the former Disney stars got the opportunity to put to use their learned melodic accomplishment that often come in with starring on Disney Channel . Zendaya and Efron babble out together on the emotional song " Rewrite the Stars,“which sees the two going back and forward about their complicated love write up . The film did n’t do well with critics upon its release but has retain to be fete by audiences who are captivate by its catchy musical sequence .

6The Fallout (2021)

Starring Jenna Ortega

Jenna Ortega ’s status as a scream queenhas largely been how her post - Disney Channel life history is defined . From films likeXandBeetlejuice Beetlejuice , there ’s no denying Ortega ’s strength in the horror literary genre . However , another swell film with Ortega as the lead isThe Fallout . Alongside Maddie Ziegler , the two actors portray survivors of a schoolhouse shooting . The Fallouthandles the sensitive field thing with great condition , and Ortega and Ziegler each deliver moving functioning .

The two have great on - screen interpersonal chemistry , and each emphasizes the fact that responses to traumatic situations reckon unlike for everyone . Ortega , in particular , earned a lot of attention from critic , with many adduce the role of Vada as her breakthrough . The Fallout , having premier on HBO Max , became the most - watched original film in the U.S. and earned a fistful of critical award nominations .

5Emilia Pérez (2024)

Starring Selena Gomez

Earning both repercussion and critical bombination , Netflix’sEmilia Pérezfuses a multitude of musical style to tell an aroused trans story . The French film stars Zoe Saldaña as a lawyer sought out by a corporate trust leader who has a desire to transition into a adult female ( Karla Sofía Gascón ) . On paper , the gamy subject matter does n’t appear to blend well with lavish melodic numbers game , but in execution , the impregnable contrast have for a unique viewing experience .

In the film , the wife of the combine loss 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 recreate a significant role as a wife grappling with her former married man ’s decisions . It ’s unlike any other character she has played thus far , and for her performance , Gomez clear a Golden Globe nominating speech .

4Real Women Have Curves (2002)

Starring America Ferrera

The same year that America Ferrera made her television motion picture entry in the Disney Channel Original MovieGotta Kick It Up ! , she made her feature film debut inReal Women Have Curves . The film conflate humour and a whole lot of middle to severalize the coming - of - age narrative of a Mexican - American adolescent ( Ferrera ) grappling with her family ’s expectations while at the same time seek to carve out a way of life of her own in living .

The celluloid gained an overwhelmingly electropositive response from critic and is often considered to beone of Ferrera ’s best cinema . Ferrera is postulate with allthe film ’s heavy themes , which primarily seek to spotlight the Mexican - American experience and themes about self - sufferance . Through it all , Ferrera remains true and relatable in her performance , radiate a similar spell present throughout much of her other career .

3The Iron Claw (2023)

Starring Zac Efron

base on the straight account of the Von Erichs wrestling family , The Iron Clawsees Zac Efron in one of his more spectacular roles to day of the month . Efron plays Kevin Von Erich , the last surviving son of the family . The film is largely evidence through Kevin ’s perspective and follows the folk ’s lives during the height of their professional careers , detailing the pressures they felt to follow under the guidance of their commanding sire ( Holt McCallany ) .

Though there are a handful ofreal - life details omitted fromThe Iron Claw , the flick does n’t shy off from painting a tragical picture of the Von Erichs ' life . There is a heavy emotional weight target on Efron as the tether , but he handles it graciously . Many critics and audiences consider Efron ’s performance to be the proficient of his career , and it ’s impressive to see just how far he ’s make out as an worker since his Disney Channel day .

2Challengers (2024)

Starring Zendaya

Tashi is a importantly different character than those Zendaya played on Disney Channel . However , having worked her agency up as an worker in the aforesaid films and the HBO seriesEuphoria , Zendaya ’s carrying into action inChallengersis more than effective . The pic presently 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 monolithic achiever at the box business office in 2023,Barbiewas widely celebrated by audiences and critics for its storytelling , humour , and memorable performances , one of which come from former Disney Channel star Ryan Gosling . The film detail the journey of self - find for two of the biggest Mattel dolly , Barbie ( Margot Robbie ) and Ken ( Gosling ) . In the early ' ninety , Gosling began his career onThe All - New Mickey Mouse Club , showcasing various talents of his , getting a similar chance inBarbie .

As Ken , Gosling show off his comedic and melodic talent when his character discovers patriarchal ideology and set out to place himself and the other Kens in leadership function within Barbieland . One of Gosling ’s more memorable part to the plastic film is his carrying out of " I ’m Just Ken,“a humourous song inspire by ' 80s might lay . Alongside hisBarbieco - star , Gosling earned high horizontal surface of decisive acclaim for his performance and received numerous nominations for his indorse persona .

Collage of Willow and Clash of the Titans

Anna Kendrick as Stephanie and Blake Lively as Emily on a plane in Another Simple Favor.

Tom Hanks in Cast Away

Characters from Barbie, The Greatest Showman, and Blended are edited onto a blue background.

Custom Image by Yeider Chacon

Bella Thorne in Blended

Image via Netflix

Hilary Duff as Sam at the diner in A Cinderella Story.

Crossroads Britney Spears as Lucy looking concerned

zendaya-and-zac-efron-in-the-greatest-showman

Jenna Ortega as Vada at the dinner table with her family in The Fallout

Jessi (Selena Gomez) contacts Gustavo Brun again in Emilia Pérez

Image via Netflix

America Ferrera sitting on a bus and looking out the window in Real Women Have Curves

Zac Efron as Kevin von Erich crying while watching his boys play in The Iron Claw

Zendaya glaring in a crowd in Challengers

Ryan Gosling as Beach Ken in Barbie

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