Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Review
Emma Londoner ‘26/ Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer
For many people, Hannah Montana was more than just another Disney Channel series. It was a big part of growing up.
It shaped routines, friendships, and even how we thought about identity at a young age. Therefore, when the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special came out on Disney+, it felt like it should be something emotional, full, nostalgic, and most importantly, celebratory. The documentary ultimately fails to live up to those expectations, disappointing casual viewers and superfans alike.
One of the best parts of the special is Miley Cyrus herself; it was really nice to see her look back on the show after all these years. Her relationship with Hannah Montana has not always been simple, so seeing her talk about it with honesty and acceptance feels meaningful. She opens up about the pressure of growing up in the spotlight and how much the character shaped who she became. These moments are easily the most engaging parts of the documentary.
Her scenes with Billy Ray Cyrus are by far the main highlight. Seeing both of them together in the same room was emotional, knowing they were a real family, but when the show ended, their relationship suffered, and they were no longer close. It is also great getting to see all the iconic sets, such as the living room/kitchen and, of course, the Hannah Closet, where we reminisced about her clothes. Those moments bring the focus back to what made the show special in the first place: the family dynamic.
Outside of that, the documentary is pretty limited. The biggest issue is that most of the original cast is missing: Jason Earles, arguably the show’s best and most comedic character, and Emily Osment, the best friend, were pivotal to the show, and not having them there feels like a missed opportunity. The failure to include them is even more noticeable given that many of these actors were at the premiere, so it feels like they could have been included.
Their absence leaves a gap that the documentary never really fills. What made Hannah Montana so special was all of its memorable characters, and the documentary lacks that magic.
Unsurprisingly, host Alex Cooper does a great job. She is a strong interviewer and helps guide the conversations clearly and engagingly. But some of the other guests feel out of place. Chappell Roan’s inclusion does not really connect to the show’s history, and Selena Gomez was only briefly involved as a guest star on the original series. The appearance of these guests only serves to highlight how few original main cast members were involved in the special.
The documentary’s overall tone also contributes to the problem. Instead of feeling like a genuine reunion, it feels a bit too planned and controlled, like everything is being carefully managed. It never fully captures the messy, fun, and chaotic energy that made the original show so enjoyable. For something that should feel like a celebration, it ends up feeling a little too polished.
Furthermore, the documentary never really goes deep enough. While it brings up big topics like fame, identity, and growing up, it only touches on them instead of fully exploring them. Alex Cooper asked many great questions, and Miley had many good answers, but the special could have gone further with more behind-the-scenes details and footage from Hannah Montana.
Yet even with all of that, this 20th-anniversary special still reminds you why Hannah Montana mattered so much and felt iconic. The nostalgia is strong, and it almost singlehandedly carries the whole experience; watching it makes you want to go back and rewatch the original show, which says a lot. The series still holds up as something fun, meaningful, and tied to a very specific time in life.
Sure, in the end, the documentary left me wanting more with its incomplete, surface-level lens. But none of that takes away from what Hannah Montana is and will always be: iconic, defining generations and childhoods, and proving that you really could have the best of both worlds.