70 Fun Facts About DCOM Trivia: Disney Channel Original Movies

Which 1997 mummy comedy is considered the very first Disney Channel Original Movie?

Bill Fagerbakke played both the mummy and the mom's boyfriend, and the film got a full remake in 2021.

Before the DCOM brand was introduced in October 1997, what were the network's TV movies branded as?

The name flipped again briefly to plain 'Disney Original Movie' from March 2023 to August 2024 before reverting.

Which 2016 remake was celebrated as the 100th Disney Channel Original Movie?

Disney marked the milestone with a marathon of the 51 most popular DCOMs over Memorial Day weekend leading up to the premiere.

The 100th DCOM paired Sofia Carson with which Girl Meets World star as rival babysitters?

The pair were cast on the same day in January 2015, and the trailer debuted during an episode of Girl Meets World.

Which DCOM premiere set an all-time basic cable record with 17.2 million viewers in August 2007?

The premiere weekend's three airings added up to more than 33 million viewers, and the record still stands for the network.

In 2007 a DCOM sequel took the most-watched basic-cable record from Monday Night Football on which network?

The football game in question, Giants versus Cowboys in October 2006, had drawn 16 million viewers.

Troy Bolton's East High is set in Albuquerque, but the 2006 film was primarily shot in which state?

The story is set at East High in Albuquerque, but the real East High School used for filming is in Salt Lake City.

How many million viewers watched the January 2006 premiere of High School Musical?

The film was made for about $4.2 million and its soundtrack went on to top the Billboard 200 twice.

What is the name of the Evans family's country club where Troy and the Wildcats work in the 2007 sequel?

The club scenes were shot at Entrada at Snow Canyon Country Club in Utah, while East High returned as a location.

Which director-choreographer helmed the Wildcats trilogy and the first three Descendants films?

He also choreographed Dirty Dancing and Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and directed The Cheetah Girls 2.

Which 2009 DCOM ranks second all-time in premiere viewers with 11.4 million?

It went on to win the 2010 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Children's Program.

In the 2009 DCOM spun off from Selena Gomez's sitcom, the Russos hunt what magical object in the Caribbean?

Alex needs it to reverse a wish that her parents never met, which has erased her family.

Which 2009 film was the first DCOM ever shot in Puerto Rico?

Selena Gomez then went straight back to the island to shoot the Wizards movie, the second DCOM filmed there.

Demi Lovato's Rosalinda, hidden in Louisiana in a 2009 DCOM, is princess of which fictional country?

Hidden in Louisiana as 'Rosie Gonzalez', she claims to be a cousin from Iowa.

Halloweentown (1998) was shot in which small Oregon town?

St. Helens has hosted anniversary screenings of the film; a bed and breakfast called Nob Hill Riverview stood in for the exterior of Aggie Cromwell's house.

Which Hollywood legend played the witch grandmother Aggie Cromwell in the Halloweentown films?

The skeleton cabbie Benny had his voice added in post-production, so the cast acted opposite a silent animatronic.

What is the name of the Halloweentown mayor who turns out to be the first film's villain?

He is also revealed to be an ex-boyfriend of Marnie's mother Gwen.

Who replaced Kimberly J. Brown as Marnie in Return to Halloweentown (2006)?

The finale sends Marnie to Witch University and pulled 7.5 million viewers at its premiere.

In what year is Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century set?

The book it adapts was set in 2037; the film pushed the space-station story a dozen years later.

What is the name of the pop idol Zenon Kar is desperate to see in concert on the space station?

His band is called Microbe, and he returns as a washed-up recluse in Zenon: The Zequel.

Which future star of a self-titled Disney Channel sitcom played Zenon's best friend Nebula Wade?

The film was originally conceived as a pilot for a TV series and became the first DCOM to spawn a sequel.

Which Disney Channel series premiered immediately after Zenon: The Zequel in January 2001?

Kirsten Storms would return for a third and final Zenon film in 2004.

In Smart House, what does the name of the house's virtual assistant PAT stand for?

Katey Sagal voiced PAT, and the film was directed by Reading Rainbow host LeVar Burton.

Which Star Trek actor and Reading Rainbow host directed Smart House (1999)?

Entertainment Weekly has twice ranked Smart House the number one DCOM of all time.

In Johnny Tsunami, a Hawaiian surfer has to adapt when his family moves to which state?

The film was nominated for a Humanitas Prize and got a sequel, Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board, in 2007.

Brink! (1998) updates which 19th-century novel about a skater?

Erik von Detten's 'soul-skater' takes a paid spot on Team X-Bladz to help his family, updating Mary Mapes Dodge's Hans Brinker.

In The Thirteenth Year, swimmer Cody Griffin discovers on his 13th birthday that he is turning into what?

His symptoms include electric-shock kisses, sticky hands and scales that appear when he gets wet.

Motocrossed (2001), where Andrea races disguised as her twin brother, loosely adapts which Shakespeare play?

The film was packed with product placement from real motocross brands like Suzuki, Vans, No Fear and Fox Racing.

In The Luck of the Irish, basketball star Kyle Johnson learns his mother is secretly what?

The film was conceived as a St. Patrick's Day special and premiered on March 9, 2001.

How many viewers, in millions, watched the 2002 premiere of Cadet Kelly, then a DCOM record?

Hilary Duff shot the military-school comedy in Ontario, with the finale filmed at Fort York Armoury in Toronto.

Which teen star played wealthy Manhattan sleuth Lexy Gold in Get a Clue (2002)?

Lexy investigates after a teacher vanishes and his car turns up in the East River.

Which singer was first cast as Aqua in The Cheetah Girls but left to make her debut album?

Kiely Williams, then in the group 3LW with Adrienne Bailon, was handed the role after auditioning for Galleria.

The Cheetah Girls 2 (2006) sends the group on a whirlwind trip to which country?

Its 8.1 million-viewer premiere beat Cadet Kelly's record, only to be topped itself months later.

The Cheetah Girls: One World (2008) sees the trio cast in a Bollywood film shot in which country?

It is the only Cheetah Girls film without Raven-Symoné, whose character Galleria is away at Cambridge.

In Pixel Perfect (2004), what is the name of the hologram created to front the band the Zetta Bytes?

Ricky Ullman's Roscoe builds her with his father's equipment, and the crowd realizes she isn't real when her image glitches mid-show.

In Stuck in the Suburbs, Brittany accidentally swaps what with pop star Jordan Cahill?

Danielle Panabaker and Brenda Song play the friends who use the mix-up to demand a meeting with the singer.

Which twin sisters star as separated-at-birth witches Alex and Camryn in Twitches (2005)?

The twins are royalty from a magical dimension called Coventry, born on Halloween night.

In a 2007 DCOM, young boxer Izzy Daniels secretly discovers a talent for which sport?

Corbin Bleu plays Izzy, and Keke Palmer plays Mary, the neighbor who talks him into joining her team the Joy Jumpers.

Which 2007 DCOM briefly held the premiere ratings record with 8.2 million viewers?

The rope-skipping drama was shot in Toronto in the summer of 2006.

In Minutemen (2008), what do outcasts Virgil, Charlie and Zeke build in their school?

They use snowsuits to survive the freezing time stream, and their meddling ends up creating a black hole.

Which June 2008 DCOM introduced Demi Lovato and drew 8.9 million viewers?

It was the 73rd DCOM, and Lovato's Mitchie Torres shared the screen with the Jonas Brothers.

Starstruck (2010) follows a jaded teenager from which Michigan city who tangles with a pop idol?

Sterling Knight only sings the title track on the soundtrack; the rest of his character's songs are performed by Drew Ryan Scott.

The five bandmates in Lemonade Mouth (2011) first meet where?

Author Mark Peter Hughes appears as an extra dressed as a bee at the Halloween Bash.

In Teen Beach Movie, Brady and Mack get sucked into a 1960s musical with what title?

It was the only DCOM to premiere in all of 2013 and the third DCOM filmed in Puerto Rico.

Which actress played Mal, daughter of Maleficent, across the Descendants films?

She was born Chloe Celeste Hosterman and legally changed her name in honor of her late father, who called her by the nickname.

Which Broadway star played Maleficent in the first Descendants film?

Kathy Najimy played the Evil Queen, and the film debuted to 6.6 million viewers in July 2015.

In Descendants, the villains and their children are banished to which magic-free island slum?

Auradon Prep exteriors were filmed at Hatley Castle and the Parliament Buildings in Victoria, British Columbia.

In Descendants 2, China Anne McClain's Uma is the daughter of which Disney villain?

Her pirate crew includes Harry Hook and Gil, sons of Captain Hook and Gaston.

Descendants 2 premiered simultaneously across how many Disney-owned networks in July 2017?

The simulcast on ABC, Disney XD, Freeform, Lifetime, Lifetime Movies and Disney Channel drew 8.92 million viewers combined.

Which actor played Hades, revealed to be Mal's father, in Descendants 3?

Disney cancelled the film's red carpet premiere after Cameron Boyce's death, and the TV premiere was dedicated to his memory.

Which Descendants character steals Maleficent's scepter and becomes the villain of the third film?

Sarah Jeffery's princess, daughter of Aurora, is goaded by her grandmother Queen Leah after Ben chooses Mal over her.

Zombies (2018) is set in what conformist planned community?

The film borrowed elements from an unaired 2011 Disney Channel pilot called Zombies & Cheerleaders.

What kind of creatures do the zombies and cheerleaders have to accept into town in Zombies 2?

The newcomers believe white-haired Addison is the 'Great Alpha' who will lead them to their lost moonstone.

Zombies 3 premiered first on which streaming service in July 2022, weeks before its cable airing?

Its plot pits the town's zombies, humans and werewolves against an alien invasion during senior year.

Which star of the original animated series appears as pop star Poppy Blu in the live-action Kim Possible?

Sadie Stanley took over as Kim, with Patton Oswalt voicing Professor Dementor as he did in the cartoon.

The 2018 DCOM Freaky Friday was adapted from what unusual source for the franchise?

Heidi Blickenstaff reprised her stage role as the mother, with Cozi Zuehlsdorff as the daughter.

In Spin (2021), Indian-American teen Rhea Kumar discovers a talent for what?

Her friends secretly enter her into a contest called Battle of the Beatmasters using an edit of her playlists.

In both the 1997 original and its 2021 remake, what do the kids name the mummy they revive?

The 2021 version was directed by Alex Zamm and premiered on October 1, 2021.

Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior (2006) was shot almost entirely in which country?

Brenda Song's cheerleader learns she is the reincarnation of a warrior destined to fight the dragon spirit Yan-Lo.

In The Color of Friendship (2000), a congressman's daughter hosts an exchange student from which country?

Set in 1977, the film is based on the real experience of Piper Dellums, daughter of Congressman Ron Dellums.

In The Even Stevens Movie, the island of Mandelino turns out to be the set of what?

The film served as the series finale for the Shia LaBeouf sitcom.

Which 2005 ice-skating DCOM was the first produced in high-definition widescreen?

Princess Protection Program in 2009 became the first DCOM actually to air in HD widescreen.

Which two Zombies 2 stars hosted Disney Channel's 2021 'DCOM & Dessert' event?

The eight-week event ran from April 5 to May 24, 2021, airing a different DCOM every Monday at 7 PM.

Radio Rebel (2012) stars Debby Ryan as a shy student secretly hosting a hit radio show in which city?

The film adapts Danielle Joseph's novel Shrinking Violet and drew 4.3 million viewers at its premiere.

Let It Shine (2012), about a shy rapper whose verses are delivered by his best friend, retells which play?

Tyler James Williams and Coco Jones led the ensemble cast.

Which teen novelist's book about a modern-day King Arthur was adapted into the DCOM Avalon High (2010)?

Britt Robertson and Gregg Sulkin starred, and the film premiered in November 2010.

In the 2012 Halloween DCOM starring Olivia Holt, what does Skylar discover she is?

Her parents have been active monster hunters the whole time without telling her.

Cloud 9 (2014) is set in the world of which competitive sport?

The film's first promo aired during the Jessie Christmas special in November 2013.

Who directed Teen Beach Movie (2013), starring Ross Lynch and Maia Mitchell?

The beach-party musical premiered on Disney Channel on July 19, 2013, and spawned a 2015 sequel.

In Zombies (2018), what is the surname of Zed, the zombie who wants to play football?

Milo Manheim plays Zed opposite Meg Donnelly's cheerleader Addison Wells; the story ends with a block party in Zombietown.