History YMMV / AtlantisTheLostEmpire

* {{Tearjerker}}: Jim Varney died before the film was completed, and most of the production crew testify that he signed on ''knowing'' he wouldn't live to see the film's release. This, combined with the film's lackluster performance at the box office make the dedication to him doubly sad.
** In the commentary the directors start to choke up a little bit when they remember working with him and refer to him as "That dear man."
** Thankfully, they only needed a sound-alike to fill in for him for one line in the original movie.

* CultClassic: As with ''TreasurePlanet'', this film is becoming one. It doesn't hurt DougWalker put it on his ''Top 11 movies he likes but everyone else hates'' list, even though hate is a bit too strong a word for how most people feel about the film when compared to [[Disney/{{Dinosaur}} certain]] [[HomeOnTheRange other]] [[Disney/ChickenLittle entries]] in the Canon.
** In addition, TheCartoonHero has often stated that it's one of his favorite Disney movies of all time.

* CompleteMonster: Rourke is a tomb-robbing mercenary who's OnlyInItForTheMoney, but what cements him is his attitude toward his current assignment. He takes the [[MacGuffin Heart of Atlantis]], which is precisely what keeps the Atlanteans alive. Without it, they'll all die. A lot of other villains wouldn't be aware of this fact, and any with scruples would leave it once they learned that. Rourke? Takes it KNOWING that the civilization will die, and just plain doesn't care. Later on, in order to ensure his escape, he throws his loyal {{Dragon}} off of his ascending zeppelin. What settles his evil here is that he jokes about it, and caps it off with a "Nothing personal!" What's rather frightening is that it ISN'T personal; he hadn't had any problems with Helga beforehand, and betrayed her simply because [[ItsAllAboutMe it slightly benefited him.]]

* CompleteMonster: Rourke, is a tomb-robbing mercenary who's OnlyInItForTheMoney, but what cements him is his attitude toward his current assignment. He takes the [[MacGuffin Heart of Atlantis]], which is precisely what keeps the Atlanteans alive. Without it, they'll all die. A lot of other villains wouldn't be aware of this fact, and any with scruples would leave it once they learned that. Rourke? Takes it KNOWING that the civilization will die, and just plain doesn't care. Later on, in order to ensure his escape, he throws his loyal {{Dragon}} off of his ascending zeppelin. What settles his evil here is that he jokes about it, and caps it off with a "Nothing personal!" What's rather frightening is that it ISN'T personal; he hadn't had any problems with Helga beforehand, and betrayed her simply because [[ItsAllAboutMe it slightly benefited him.]]

* {{Irony}}: Disney was expecting this film to be their big 2D hit for 2001, but the film performed under expectations, causing Disney's smaller 2D movie of the year, ''WesternAnimation/RecessSchoolsOut'', to be a bigger success[[note]]''Atlantis'' made more money, but because ''Recess: School's Out'' was made on a lower budget, the box office returns were more successful[[/note]]. In Finland, the VHS and DVD of ''Atlantis'' contained the ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}'' premiere episode ("The Break In/The New Kid") as a bonus.

* StupidEvil: as pointed out by Doug Walker, [[spoiler:Rourke didn't ''need'' to steal the Atlanteans' source to become rich; discovering a Lost Civilization alone would have made him rich anyway. In fact, the story ends with most of the cast coming back home and becoming rich thanks to the Atlantean "modest" reward; So Rourke was clearly an asshole just for the sake of it in the end.]]

* {{Irony}}: Disney was expecting this film to be their big 2D hit for 2001, but the film performed under expectations, causing Disney's smaller 2D movie of the year, ''RecessSchoolsOut'', to be a bigger success[[hottip:*:''Atlantis'' made more money, but because ''Recess: School's Out'' was made on a lower budget, the box office returns were more sucessful]]. In Finland, the VHS and DVD of ''Atlantis'' contained the ''{{Recess}}'' premiere episode ("The Break In/The New Kid") as a bonus.

* TheissTitillationTheory: Kida's Atlantean clothing bares much skin. Okay, so that's an Atlantean thing. Helga, on the other hand, wears some things with straps. Often, there is only one firmly on a shoulder at at time...

* {{Irony}}: Disney was expecting this film to be their big 2D hit for 2001, but the film performed under expectations, causing Disney's smaller 2D movie of the year, ''RecessSchoolsOut'', to be a bigger success. In Sweden, the VHS and DVD of ''Atlantis'' contained the ''{{Recess}}'' premiere episode ("The Break In/The New Kid") as a bonus.

** As with Kida, considering [[CreeSummer who voiced her in this film...]]

* BrokenAesop: Milo is an academic idealist, his quest for knowledge and the thrill of discovery or having his theories proven true the only things that drive him. The rest of the crew are in it for the money, but seem to slowly learn that the value of their experiences in Atlantis stretches far beyond that. However, the end of the film [[spoiler:sees Milo staying behind, as the rest of the crew return to the surface, bringing with them loads of valuable Atlantean treasures - so, it was about the money for them after all?]]
** I think you are missing the point. Their motivation was ALWAYS about money period, they just realized killing people to get it isn't a step they want to take and isn't worth it. The [[spoiler:Atlantean treasures are, therefore, well-deserved ''rewards'' instead of stolen ''loot''.]]
* CreepyAwesome: It's mentioned in the DVD commentary that after test screenings, the filmmakers asked kids what the scariest scene in the movie was. The answers were invariably either the climactic battle or [[MechanicalMonster the Leviathan]]. Kids were also asked what their ''favorite'' scene in the movie was...and the answers were invariably either the climactic battle or the Leviathan.

* [[Tearjerker]]: Jim Varney died before the film was completed, and most of the production crew testify that he signed on ''knowing'' he wouldn't live to see the film's release. This, combined with the film's lackluster performance at the box office make the dedication to him doubly sad.

** I think you are missing the point. Their motivation was ALWAYS about money period, they just realized killing people to get it isn't a step they want to take and isn't worth it.

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Vinny is arguably the most popular character.

** Official-wise, it's ______ and Helga that are marketed more.

* AndTheFandomRejoiced: Many fans originally showed minimal interest in the film until it was brought to light that [[ComicBook/{{Hellboy}} Mike Mignola]] was assisting with the visual design.
** Some fans of a [[Film/BackToTheFuture certain actor]]...well let's just say finding out that MichaelJFox was in the movie didn't really hurt either.

* HighOctaneNightmareFuel: [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel/AtlantisTheLostEmpire You betcha]].

* CreepyAwesome: It's mentioned in the DVD commentary that after test screenings, the filmmakers asked kids what the scariest scene in the movie was. The answers were invariably either the climactic battle or [[MechanicalMonster the Leviathan]]. Kids were also asked what their ''favorite'' scene in the movie was...and the results were invariably either the climactic battle or the Leviathan.

** Some fans of a [[BackToTheFuture certain actor]]...well let's just say finding out that MichaelJFox was in the movie didn't really hurt either.

* AndTheFandomRejoiced: Many fans originally showed minimal interest in the film until it was brought to light that [[{{Hellboy}} Mike Mignola]] was assisting with the visual design.