Disney Channel’s most-watched premieres
Published: August 29, 2019
Updated: May 20, 2023
TV ratings are complicated. There are demos, viewers, “ratings”, shares, households, and numerous other terms that are used to differentiate different sets of ratings data. A commonly reported number for many years (at least since the mid-2000s) has been total viewers – all people ages 2 and up – that are watching a program.
Disney Channel has had an impressive run through much of the 2000s, especially with their original movies (DCOMs). High School Musical 2 is still one of the highest rated (non-sports) premieres in all of cable TV history. Some TV series have also been able to bring in a large audience with specials as well. Let’s take a look at their most watched premieres of all time!
Please Note:
- Data is based on total viewer (ages 2+) ratings for Live (through 12/25/2005) and Live + Same Day (since 12/26/2005) from Nielsen Media Research.
- Live + Same Day (Live+SD) includes DVR playback through 3:00am on the same day/night. It has been the standard reported number since 2006. Before that, just Live viewing was counted.
- Available data only. Chart includes all known premieres with 6,000,000+ total viewers. Cannot assure all rankings are accurate.
- Only includes premiere telecast ratings. Repeats excluded. (Yes, there are repeats that could be on this list if it weren’t just for premieres!)
- Sources include Zap2it, TV by the Numbers, The Programming Insider, The Futon Critic, Travis Yanan, Son of the Bronx, Ratings Ryan, and other TV ratings resources over the past couple decades!
| Rank | Program “Episode” or Note |
Live/Live+SD Total Viewers | Date Day Time |
| 1 | High School Musical 2 Disney Channel Original Movie |
17,241,000 | Aug-17-2007 Fri 8:00p |
| 2 | Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie Disney Channel Original Movie |
11,433,000 | Aug-28-2009 Fri 8:00p |
| 3 | Phineas and Ferb “Rollercoaster” |
10,800,000 | Aug-17-2007 Fri 10:00p |
| 4 | Hannah Montana “Me and Mr. Jonas and Mr. Jonas and Mr. Jonas” |
10,710,000 | Aug-17-2007 Fri 10:15p |
| 5 | Wizards of Waverly Place “Who Will Be the Family Wizard?” |
9,755,000 | Jan-6-2012 Fri 8:00p |
| 6 | Wizards on Deck with Hannah Montana crossover special |
9,292,000 | Jul-17-2009 Fri 8:00p |
| 7 | Camp Rock Disney Channel Original Movie |
8,858,000 | Jun-20-2008 Fri 8:00p |
| 8 | Princess Protection Program Disney Channel Original Movie |
8,533,000 | Jun-26-2009 Fri 8:00p |
| 9 | Teen Beach Movie Disney Channel Original Movie |
8,388,000 | Jul-19-2013 Fri 8:00p |
| 10 | Jump In! Disney Channel Original Movie |
8,169,000 | Jan-12-2007 Fri 8:00p |
| 11 | Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam Disney Channel Original Movie |
7,955,000 | Sept-3-2010 Fri 8:00p |
| 12 | The Cheetah Girls 2 Disney Channel Original Movie |
7,823,000 | Aug-25-2006 Fri 8:00p |
| 13 | Cadet Kelly Disney Channel Original Movie |
7,753,000 | Mar-8-2002 Fri 8:00p |
| 14 | High School Musical Disney Channel Original Movie |
7,732,000 | Jan-20-2006 Fri 8:00p |
| 15 | Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension Disney Channel Original Movie |
7,642,000 | Aug-5-2011 Fri 8:00p |
| 16 | Cory in the House “New Kid in Town” |
7,592,000 | Jan-12-2007 Fri 9:30p |
| 17 | Return to Halloweentown Disney Channel Original Movie |
7,530,000 | Oct-20-2006 Fri 8:00p |
| 18 | Good Luck Charlie “Special Delivery” |
7,477,000 | Jun-24-2012 Sun 8:00p |
| 19 | Jessie “Star Wars” |
7,317,000 | Jan-6-2012 Fri 9:00p |
| 20 | The Suite Life on Deck “Twister, Part 3” |
7,109,000 | Jan-16-2011 Sun 8:00p |
| 21 | Hannah Montana Forever “I’ll Always Remember You” |
7,108,000 | Nov-7-2010 Sun 7:30p |
| 22 | Hannah Montana “On the Road Again” |
7,050,000 | Jul-28-2006 Fri 9:00p |
| 23 | Twitches Disney Channel Original Movie |
7,017,000 | Oct-14-2005 Fri 8:00p |
| 24 | Twitches Too Disney Channel Original Movie |
6,959,000 | Oct-12-2007 Fri 8:00p |
| 25 | Hannah Montana “Miley Says Goodbye?, Part 2” |
6,920,000 | Mar-14-2010 Sun 7:30p |
| 26 | Hannah Montana “He Could Be the One” |
6,901,000 | Jul-5-2009 Sun 8:00p |
| 27 | Good Luck Charlie, It’s Christmas! Disney Channel Original Movie |
6,876,000 | Dec-2-2011 Fri 8:00p |
| 28 | The Suite Life on Deck “Lost at Sea” |
6,808,000 | Oct-2-2009 Fri 8:00p |
| 29 | Good Luck Charlie “Snow Show, Part 1” |
6,656,000 | Jan-16-2011 Sun 8:30p |
| 30 | Descendants Disney Channel Original Movie |
6,550,000 | Jul-31-2015 Fri 8:00p |
| 31 | Minutemen Disney Channel Original Movie |
6,485,000 | Jan-25-2008 Fri 8:00p |
| 32 | Hannah Montana “Miley Says Goodbye?, Part 1” |
6,316,000 | Mar-7-2010 Sun 7:30p |
| 33 | The Santa Clause 2 (2002) Disney Channel premiere |
6,231,000 | Dec-18-2006 Mon 8:00p |
| 34 | Wizards of Waverly Place “Wizards vs. Werewolves” |
6,217,000 | Jan-22-2010 Fri 8:00p |
| 35 | Shake It Up “Start It Up” |
6,200,000 | Nov-7-2010 Sun 8:30p |
| 36 | Hannah Montana Forever “Wherever I Go” |
6,179,000 | Jan-16-2011 Sun 7:00p |
| 37 | The Cheetah Girls: One World Disney Channel Original Movie |
6,176,000 | Aug-22-2008 Fri 8:00p |
| 38 | Halloweentown High Disney Channel Original Movie |
6,140,000 | Oct-8-2004 Fri 8:00p |
| 39 | Sonny With A Chance “Sonny With A Secret” |
6,115,000 | Jul-18-2010 Sun 8:30p |
| 40 | Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge Disney Channel Original Movie |
6,088,000 | Oct-12-2001 Fri 8:00p |
| 41 | Wizards of Waverly Place “Paint By Committee” |
6,018,000 | Jun-26-2009 Fri 9:45p |