Are you—or maybe your kids—fans of Disney’s Descendants? Over the past decade, a group of stylish, singing, teenaged villains-in-training has quietly (and now loudly) taken the Disney fandom by storm. And the timing couldn’t have been more perfect.
A screenshot from the trailer to Disney’s Descendants – YouTube, ONE Media
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In fact, Descendants may be Disney’s most underestimated franchise success story—one that’s now outperforming juggernauts like Marvel and Star Wars when it comes to cultural momentum and generational appeal.
Here’s why.
Who are The Descendants?
Descendants debuted on Disney Channel in July 2015 as an original movie musical.
The premise? Take the children of iconic Disney villains—Maleficent, Jafar, the Evil Queen, and Cruella de Vil—and give them a shot at redemption.
A screenshot from the trailer to Disney’s Descendants – YouTube, ONE Media
Banished to the Isle of the Lost, these villain kids—Mal, Evie, Carlos, and Jay—are given the chance to attend high school in Auradon, the land of Disney’s heroes. What followed was a smart blend of classic Disney lore, modern storytelling, catchy music, and a cast that immediately connected with Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
Descending With Perfect Timing and Viral Energy
Disney couldn’t have launched Descendants at a better time.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe was dominating older demographics, and Star Wars was about to return with The Force Awakens. But tweens and teens were looking for something new, something of their own—and Descendants was it.
A screenshot from the trailer to Disney’s Descendants – YouTube, ONE Media
Fueled by original songs, slick choreography, and irresistible characters, the first film exploded online. YouTube song covers, TikTok edits, Twitter hashtags, and Halloween costume trends helped the franchise go viral.
The second film dropped in 2017, and the fandom only grew. Today, nearly a decade later, it’s still climbing.
Disney Zombies + Descendants = A Fandom Fusion Event
Another Disney Channel hit, Zombies—a light-hearted musical take on zombie teenagers learning to coexist with humans—has found a similar audience. And now? Disney’s bringing those worlds together.
A Zombies + Descendants crossover concert tour, “Worlds Collide,” is now traveling across the country with sold-out performances featuring fan-favorite stars.
A screenshot from the trailer to Zombies 4 – YouTube, Disney Plus
During the San Diego show on July 17, 2025, a major surprise was revealed: the fifth Descendants film, titled Disney’s Descendants: Wicked Wonderland, will debut on Disney+ in summer 2026.
It follows the successful Rise of Red, which dropped in July 2024 and became an instant streaming hit.
While Marvel and Star Wars Stumble, Descendants Shines
Let’s be honest—Marvel and Star Wars aren’t what they used to be.
(L-R): Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff) with the Darksaber in Lucasfilm’s THE MANDALORIAN, season three, exclusively on Disney+. ©2023 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
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The MCU once dominated pop culture, but over-saturation, underwhelming box office returns, and shifting storytelling priorities have left fans burned out. Similarly, Star Wars—after a strong start with The Force Awakens and Rogue One—began to lose momentum (and fandom trust) after The Last Jedi.
Luke Skywalker Drinks Green Milk in Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi – Disney+
Since 2020, both franchises have struggled to recapture their former magic. Criticisms around diluted storytelling, fractured fan communities, and superficial approaches to identity and diversity have taken a toll.
Meanwhile, Descendants is doing everything right.
- 4 films (and counting) with cohesive storytelling
- A fandom that’s still growing, not shrinking
- Hit soundtracks and viral moments on social media
- Toys, dolls, costumes, and merch flying off the shelves
- Crossover concerts and stage shows
- Speculation of a Broadway adaptation and possible theme park presence
Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards in Fantastic Four: First Steps – YouTube, Marvel Entertainment
While Star Wars toys sit untouched in discount bins at Ollie’s, Descendants merch is still thriving. While Marvel releases stumble at the box office, Rise of Red ruled the Disney+ trending charts.
For Disney, Descendants isn’t just a success—it’s a lifeline.
The Future is Bright, The Fandom is Hungry
With Wicked Wonderland already in production, and concert tours like Worlds Collide keeping the buzz going, it’s clear Descendants isn’t slowing down. In fact, this franchise may very well become the next billion-dollar Disney IP—without ever needing a single lightsaber or super suit.
A screenshot from the trailer to Disney’s Descendants: The Rise of Red – YouTube, Disney+
There’s even talk of:
- Theme park overlays
- Original Broadway adaptations
- Spin-off series
- Global merchandise expansions
As Marvel and Star Wars plummet from their once lofty realms and look to course-correct, Descendants continues to ascend. For Disney, it may not be a question of if this franchise replaces its older siblings—but when.
What do You Think?
Are your kids fans of Disney’s Descendants? Have they latched onto the Isle of the Lost, or are they rewatching Infinity War and The Mandalorian?
A screenshot from the trailer to Disney’s Descendants – YouTube, ONE Media
Is Descendants the next mega-franchise Disney’s been waiting for? Sound off in the comments and tell us what you think!
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You don’t answer the most important question: is it woke? That’s my #1 concern, both for myself and my kids; it’s the reason I come to websites like this, rather than Variety or Hollywood Reporter.
It’s disney, just assume it is until you hear otherwise from a trusted source aka not the mainstream media.
From what I’ve personally watched of it, it doesn’t seem to be pushing a message of identity politics. “Woke” has become such a blanket term, that now people have many different perspectives of that word. From what I could tell it doesn’t have the same type of messaging as Strange World or Lightyear. It’s more just a teen comedy musical. Thank you for your inquiry.
Movies for kids made for…. kids. Hitting the target market like a champ. star wars is movies for boys/ men that are no longer made for that target market. Why the discrepancy in approach disney? According to your legal fiduciary duty, iger, you should answer exactly that specific question.
It doesn’t surprise me that Descendants has become so popular. Many of the original cast members had been on popular Disney Channel shows at the time from Dove Cameron with Liv & Maddie, and Cameron Boyce with Jessie. With the connection of classic Disney characters and music, it’s become the next High School Musical if not more popular. I’m surprised that Disney didn’t try to tie in the new Villains Show at Hollywood Studios to the Descendants franchise.