It may be early in 2021, but Disney+ has hit a slow patch when it comes to adding new movies to the streaming service.There’s only one major blockbuster film coming next month: Ryan Reynolds’ Free Guy .Beyond that, the pickings are slim.Regardless, Disney+ has something every other streaming service would love to have: A nearly complete library of Disney, Pixar, Marvel , Star Wars , and National Geographic Entertainment films all under one roof.That’s more than enough to keep families or Disney-loving subscribers happy in the new year.To find the film that’s right for you, check out our updated list of the best movies on Disney+ right now.
If you want to expand your search, we’ve also rounded up the best shows on Disney+ as well as the best movies on Netflix , the best movies on Amazon Prime , and the best movies on Hulu .
Recently added to Disney+ X-Men: Days of Future Past pg-13 2014 Ratatouille g 2007 Newsies pg 1992 Miracle Landing on the Hudson 2014 X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) new Trailer 90% 75 % 7.9/10 pg-13 132m Genre Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction Stars Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender Directed by Bryan Singer watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ If the X-Men films had ended here, then they would have gone out on a high note.
X-Men: Days of Future Past loosely adapts the comic of the same name and finds a unique way to unite the original X-Men cast with the prequel era cast.In a very dark future for mutants, Professor X (Patrick Stewart) and Magneto (Ian McKellen) send Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) back to 1973 to convince their younger selves, Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender), to stop Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) from killing a man whose death will cause an irreversible wave of anti-mutant hysteria and the creation of the invincible mutant-killing machines called Sentinels.
Read less Read more Ratatouille (2007) new Trailer 96% 96 % 8/10 g 111m Genre Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy Stars Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Lou Romano Directed by Brad Bird watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ It may sound hard to believe now, but some Hollywood observers really believed that Ratatouille would be Pixar’s first flop.Instead, this beautifully made film is a real charmer thanks to a winning performance by Patton Oswalt as Remy, a rat with a passion for cooking and food.Remy is so enamored with the late chef, Auguste Gusteau (Brad Garrett), that he wants to be a professional cook.Remy soon finds a human partner, Alfredo Linguini (Lou Romano), an employee at Gusteau’s restaurant with no talent for cooking.But with Remy’s direction, they can create magic with food.Read less Read more Newsies (1992) new 39% 46 % 6.9/10 pg 121m Genre Family, Drama, History, Music Stars Christian Bale, Bill Pullman, Ann-Margret Directed by Kenny Ortega watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ A young Christian Bale has a leading role in Disney’s Newsies , a turn of the century period musical that became a hit Broadway show.Jack “Cowboy” Kelly (Bale) is one of the top newspaper delivery boys in New York.And after taking David (David Moscow) and Les Jacobs (Luke Edwards) under his wing, the Newsies find themselves stuck between two media moguls, William Randolph Hearst and New York World publisher Joseph Pulitzer (Robert Duvall).
When the Newsies go on strike over Pulitzer’s actions, he utilizes underhanded tactics to break them and end the strike.Read less Read more Miracle Landing on the Hudson (2014) new 6.5/10 90m Genre Documentary Stars Kate Steavenson-Payne, Sara Stewart, Matthew Douglas Directed by George Simon watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Have you ever heard of the Miracle on the Hudson? In 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 struck a flock of birds during takeoff and lost all power.Pilots Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and Jeffrey Skiles successfully landed the plane on the Hudson River without losing any of the crew or passengers.Miracle Landing on the Hudson features intimate interviews with the passengers and crew that bring new details about that incident to the surface.And the story of the crash was just the beginning of the full story.Read less Read more The Peanuts Movie (2015) Trailer 87% 67 % 7.1/10 g 88m Genre Adventure, Comedy, Animation, Family Stars Noah Schnapp, Bill Melendez, Marleik ‘Mar Mar’ Walker Directed by Steve Martino watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ The Peanuts Movie is now in the Disney+ catalog thanks to the magic of corporate mergers.But it’s a welcome addition to the roster, and a wonderful adaptation of Charles Schulz’s comic strip.It’s also a more modern take on Charlie Brown (Noah Schnapp) and his friends, and it follows his personal quest to be more confident so he can impress his crush, the Little Red-Haired Girl (Francesca Angelucci Capaldi).
Charlie even has flashes of brilliance that come crashing down thanks to his signature bad luck.
And yet Charlie’s persistence is a very admirable quality, and it’s something his friends finally notice.Read less Read more The Journey of Natty Gann (1985) Trailer 91% 66 % 7/10 pg 101m Genre Adventure, Family, Drama Stars Meredith Salenger, John Cusack, Ray Wise Directed by Jeremy Kagan watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Disney may be best known for its animated films, but it’s live-action films are also timeless family entertainment.The Journey of Natty Gann was one of Disney’s mid-80s flicks that pushed beyond the boundaries of its traditional stories.
During the Great Depression, Natty Gann (Meredith Salenger) goes on a perilous cross-country trip to reunite with her father, Sol Gann (Ray Wise).Along the way, Natty befriends a wolfdog she calls Wolf, and she’s tempted by a potential romance with Harry (John Cusack).But Natty’s resolve to reunite with her father is unshakable in the face of adversity.Read less Read more Adventure Thru the Walt Disney Archives (2020) Trailer 8.2/10 60m Genre Documentary Stars Kathryn Beaumont, Becky Cline, Pete Docter Directed by John Gleim watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Although Walt Disney Pictures has been around for almost a century, the Walt Disney Archives wasn’t created to preserve Disney’s history until just over 50 years ago.
Adventure Thru the Walt Disney Archives is a documentary film that offers viewers a rare glimpse of the treasures contained in the archives.Although this movie was originally released for D23 members, every subscriber on Disney+ can now enjoy producer Don Hahn’s walk down Disney’s memory lane with an assortment of Disney legends who share their thoughts about the company’s legacy.Read less Read more While You Were Sleeping (1995) Trailer 81% 67 % 6.7/10 pg 103m Genre Romance, Comedy Stars Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman, Peter Gallagher Directed by Jon Turteltaub watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ In While You Were Sleeping , Sandra Bullock stars as Lucy Eleanor Moderatz, a lonely transit worker who pines for a frequent commuter, Peter Callaghan (Peter Gallagher).After Lucy saves Peter’s life, he falls into a coma.Thanks to a misunderstanding, a nurse at the hospital introduces Lucy to Peter’s family as his fiancée.Lucy can’t bring herself to tell Peter’s family the truth, especially after she comes to love them.Only Pete’s brother, Jack Callaghan (Bill Pullman), is suspicious about Lucy’s story.But as they spend time together, Lucy and Jack develop their own romantic feelings for each other.
Read less Read more Eternals (2021) Trailer 47% 52 % 6.8/10 pg-13 156m Genre Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction Stars Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Angelina Jolie Directed by Chloé Zhao watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Marvel took a big swing for the fences by signing director Chloé Zhao to bring Eternals to the big screen.At the behest of the god-like Celestials, Ajak (Salma Hayek) leads her seemingly immortal team to protect the Earth against the Deviants for centuries.In the present day, former lovers Sersi (Gemma Chan) and Ikaris (Richard Madden) reunite after learning that the Celestials plan to destroy Earth in seven days.To save the world, the remaining Eternals must once again come together.But not everyone is on the same page, and the Eternals’ ancient foes, the Deviants, have also returned.Read less Read more Catch That Kid (2004) 13% 33 % 5.2/10 pg 92m Genre Family, Action, Adventure Stars Kristen Stewart, Max Thieriot, Corbin Bleu Directed by Bart Freundlich watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Kristen Stewart is on the short-list for Best Actress nominations this year, but one of her earliest films has just hit Disney+.In Catch That Kid , Stewart plays Madeline Rose “Maddy” Phillips, a 12-year-old girl and an amazing climber who decides to rob a bank.In her defense, Maddy has a good reason to turn to crime.
Her father, Tom Phillips (Sam Robards), has been seriously injured in a climbing accident, and only an astronomically expensive operation can save him from a life of paralysis.To pull off her heist, Maddy recruits her friends, Gus (Max Thieriot) and Austin (Corbin Bleu).But Maddy may have gone too far when she separately declared her love for both Gus and Austin in order to convince them to join her.Read less Read more Aliens of the Deep (2005) 84% 71 % 6.4/10 g 95m Genre Documentary Stars Anatoly M.
Sagalevitch, Pamela Conrad, James Cameron Directed by James Cameron, Steven Quale watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ There are places in this world that humanity would never see if technology hadn’t given us the opportunity.Acclaimed director James Cameron is our guide to these places in the documentary Aliens of the Deep , which he co-directed with Steven Quale.In this film, Cameron is a passenger on a Russian research vessel with American biologists and NASA scientists.
While that may sound odd, consider that the harsh environments of the ocean depths may give us a glimpse of what life on other worlds is like.
The creatures that live in these places are like nothing you’ve seen before, and they’re the closest things we have to aliens on Earth.Read less Read more Wreck-It Ralph (2012) Trailer 87% 72 % 7.7/10 pg 101m Genre Family, Animation, Comedy, Adventure Stars John C.Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer Directed by Rich Moore watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ John C.Reilly stars in Wreck-It Ralph as a video game villain in Fix-It Felix Jr.who has soured on his lot in life.Ralph is tired of being the misunderstood bad guy and desperately wants to be respected by the other characters.That’s why Ralph abandons his video game, leaving chaos in his wake as he searches for validation.Along the way, Ralph befriends Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman), a glitching character in her own game.
Felix (Jack McBrayer) aligns himself with Sergeant Tamora Jean Calhoun (Jane Lynch) to retrieve Ralph, because his actions may have grave consequences for the entire arcade.Read less Read more X-Men: First Class (2011) Trailer 86% 65 % 7.7/10 pg-13 132m Genre Action, Science Fiction, Adventure Stars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence Directed by Matthew Vaughn watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Director Matthew Vaughn only had a short time to put X-Men: First Class together and shoot it, but that may be one of the reasons it’s among the best of the X-Men films.In this soft reboot for the series, James McAvoy stars as Charles Xavier with Michael Fassbender as Erik Lehnsherr, the man destined to become Magneto.The friendship and partnership of Charles and Erik is established in the ‘60s as they form the X-Men together with a young Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique, a mutant shapeshifter whose ideology is split between them.
When it comes to emotions, this film goes for the throat.Read less Read more The Sandlot (1993) Trailer 64% 55 % 7.8/10 pg 101m Genre Family, Comedy Stars Tom Guiry, Mike Vitar, James Earl Jones Directed by David M.
Evans watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ The Sandlot was one of the first movies offered on Disney+, but it was removed for byzantine business reasons that we don’t fully understand.Regardless, this beloved coming of age story is back where it belongs.
In the early ‘60s, Scott Smalls (Tom Guiry) struggles to fit in with the local boys and their baseball team.The team’s star player, Benjamin “Benny” Franklin Rodriguez (Mike Vitar) takes Scott under his wing and helps him make new friends.While Scott finds himself as a member of the team, he also loses an invaluable autographed baseball into a neighbor’s yard.And Scott will do anything to get it back.Read less Read more Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (2012) Trailer 52% 54 % 6.3/10 pg 94m Genre Comedy, Family Stars Zachary Gordon, Steve Zahn, Devon Bostick Directed by David Bowers watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days is the last of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid films to feature the original cast, and it’s another critical moment in the childhood of Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon).
Much to Greg’s alarm, his father, Frank Heffley (Steve Zahn), plans to send him to military school at the end of the summer.Greg also compounds the situation by lying to father about landing a summer job at a resort.Greg’s best friend, Rowley Jefferson (Robert Capron), helps him get into the resort.
However, Greg’s tendency to screw up alienates the entire Jefferson family, and badly damages his relationship with his dad.Read less Read more A Spark Story (2021) Trailer 6.2/10 g 87m Genre Documentary Stars Pete Docter, Louis Gonzales, Aphton Corbin Directed by Jason Sterman, Leanne Dare watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Pixar is responsible for several of the best animated films in the last three decades.But A Spark Story is about the next generation of Pixar filmmakers.In this case, the subjects are Aphton Corbin and Louis Gonzales, the directors behind the short animated films, Twenty Something and Nona .
Corbin and Gonzales share some insight into their lives and their personalities, and how that informs the work that they bring to the screen for Pixar.It’s also another fascinating look behind-the-scenes at Pixar itself.Read less Read more Cruella (2021) Trailer 74% 59 % 7.4/10 pg-13 134m Genre Comedy, Crime Stars Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry Directed by Craig Gillespie watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Cruella de Vil is the deliciously evil villain of The Hundred and One Dalmatians , or the animated and live-action 101 Dalmatians if you’re a Disney fan.The new prequel movie, Cruella , puts Oscar-winning actress Emma Stone as the main character and gives her some human touches in her backstory.In the ‘70s, Estella (Stone) is a thief with an undeniable talent for fashion.At first, Estella’s fashion mentorship under Baroness von Hellman (Emma Thompson) is a dream come true.
But when Estella learns the truth about the Baroness, she reinvents herself as Cruella and becomes a force to be reckoned with.Read less Read more The Book of Life (2014) Trailer 83% 67 % 7.3/10 g 95m Genre Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy Stars Diego Luna, Channing Tatum, Zoe Saldana Directed by Jorge R.
Gutierrez watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Producer Guillermo del Toro teamed up with writer and director Jorge R.Gutierrez for The Book of Life , a decidedly un-Disney-like animated film that has a bit in common with Pixar’s Coco .In the film, Manolo Sánchez (Diego Luna), his one true love, María Posada (Zoe Saldana), and Manolo’s rival, Joaquín Mondragon Jr.(Channing Tatum), unwittingly find themselves the subject of a cosmic bet that may reshape the afterlife.
But when Manolo believes that Maria has been killed, he mistakenly allows his own life to be taken.Now trapped in the Land of the Remembered, Manolo must find a way back to Maria before it’s too late.Read less Read more The Rescue (2021) Trailer 96% 86 % 8/10 pg 107m Genre Documentary, Thriller Stars Jim Warny, Thanet Natisri, John Volanthen Directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ If you watched the news in 2018, then you may have an idea how The Rescue ends.This National Geographic documentary follows the Tham Luang cave rescue in Thailand.
A football (soccer) coach and his team of children accidentally become trapped in an underwater cave as they waited to be rescued.The film focuses almost exclusively on the divers who had to find a way to save the children amidst an intense media barrage.Read less Read more How to Build a Better Boy (2014) 5.4/10 g 90m Genre Family, Science Fiction, TV Movie Stars China Anne McClain, Kelli Berglund, Marshall Williams Directed by Paul Hoen watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ How To Build a Better Boy is kind of a Weird Science for a new generation.Two high school students, Gabby Harrison (China Anne McClain) and Mae Hartley (Kelli Berglund), inadvertently break the laws of nature so that Mae can have a date for the prom.
Their creation is Albert Banks (Marshall Williams), an attentive boyfriend who sweeps Mae off of her feet.However, the girls have no idea that Albert is actually X-17, an artificial super soldier developed by Mae’s father, Dr.James Hartley (Roger Bart).All Mae wants to do is have a perfect prom with Albert, but the army is already there to take him back into custody at any moment.
Read less Read more Encanto (2021) Trailer 90% 75 % 7.6/10 pg 102m Genre Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy Stars Stephanie Beatriz, María Cecilia Botero, John Leguizamo Directed by Byron Howard, Jared Bush watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Following up on the success of Moana , Disney and songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda have once again made beautiful music together in Encanto .This also happens to be the 60th animated film produced by Disney Pictures.Within the film, a Colombian family, the Madrigals, are blessed with unique magical powers that make them the protectors of their small town.However, Mirabel Madrigal (Stephanie Beatriz) isn’t like the other members of her family.
She doesn’t have any magical ability of her own, and she is painfully ordinary.Yet when the magic powering her family is threatened, Mirabel may be the only one who can save them all.Read less Read more Godmothered (2020) Trailer 68% 49 % 6.1/10 pg 113m Genre Family, Fantasy, Comedy Stars Jillian Bell, Isla Fisher, Santiago Cabrera Directed by Sharon Maguire watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Jillian Bell stars in Godmothered as Eleanor, a fairy godmother-in-training.Eleanor is very committed to her calling even though she isn’t very good at it.She is also moved by a letter from Mackenzie (Erica Parks), a 10-year-old girl who needs help.Eleanor travels to Earth to put Mackenzie on the right path, only to discover that she’s 30 years too late.Mackenzie (Isla Fisher) is now a widowed mother of two daughters, Paula (Mary Elizabeth Ellis) and Jane (Jillian Shea Spaeder).
Regardless, Eleanor still believes that she can help Mackenzie get her life in order, even though she only has a limited time to do so.
Read less Read more Ron’s Gone Wrong (2021) Trailer 80% 65 % pg 106m Genre Animation, Science Fiction, Family, Comedy Stars Zach Galifianakis, Jack Dylan Grazer, Ed Helms Directed by Sarah Smith, Jean-Philippe Vine watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ If the box office numbers are any indication, the vast majority of people did not see Ron’s Gone Wrong when it was in theaters.But this movie’s disappointing box office is your gain, since it plays like a Disney+ original animated film with a lot of heart.Shazam! ’s Jack Dylan Grazer stars as Barney Pudowski, a lonely boy in a future where many of his former friends have robot companions instead of human pals.Barney’s life is changed when his parents bring him Ron (Zach Galifianakis), a malfunctioning B-bot who goes beyond the scope of his programming to help Barney.
But when Ron’s makers at the Bubble Company learn about his malfunctions, they decide to get him back at any cost.Read less Read more Lady and the Tramp (2019) Trailer 65% 48 % 6.3/10 pg 111m Genre Family, Romance, Comedy Stars Tessa Thompson, Justin Theroux, Kiersey Clemons Directed by Charlie Bean watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ The live-action and animated remake of Lady and the Tramp was also among the first Disney+ original films, and a very appropriate choice for the holiday season.
Tessa Thompson stars as the voice of Lady, a Cocker Spaniel who is given to Darling (Kiersey Clemons) by her husband, Jim Dear (Thomas Mann).Justin Theroux’s Tramp is a street-wise Schnauzer who warns Lady that Jim and Darling will neglect her when their new child is born.When an unfortunate misunderstanding sends Lady on the run, she forms a strong emotional bond with Tramp.But can their budding romance survive the lure of the streets or the love Lady retains for her owners? Read less Read more Tron: Legacy (2010) Trailer 51% 49 % 6.8/10 pg-13 125m Genre Adventure, Action, Science Fiction Stars Garrett Hedlund, Jeff Bridges, Olivia Wilde Directed by Joseph Kosinski watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ The original Tron was a cult classic, and the sequel, Tron: Legacy , has also taken about a decade to find its audience.Now that it’s finally back on Disney+, viewers can reenter the Grid.Decades after Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) disappeared into the machine world, his son, Samuel “Sam” Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), finds his way in.However, the Grid is now ruled by Clu (Bridges), a doppelganger who looks just like Sam’s father.
Original Tron star Bruce Boxleitner also returns as Alan Brady and his program counterpart, Tron.But much like the Grid itself, Tron has undergone a few startling changes.Read less Read more Million Dollar Arm (2014) Trailer 64% 56 % 7.0/10 pg 124m Genre Drama Stars Jon Hamm, Bill Paxton, Lake Bell Directed by Craig Gillespie watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Disney’s Million Dollar Arm is a sports bio-film based on a true story.
Mad Men star Jon Hamm headlines the film as J.B.
Bernstein, a sports agent who is desperate for a way to revitalize his business.He eventually settles on running a Million Dollar Arm contest in India to find potential baseball pitching prospects.Amazingly, J.B.’s team discovers Rinku Singh (Suraj Sharma) and Dinesh Patel (Madhur Mittal), but they need a lot of work with pitching coach Tom House (Bill Paxton).And when Rinku and Dinesh come to the United States, they find themselves with a severe case of culture shock.Read less Read more Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2021) Trailer pg 58m Genre Animation, Comedy, Family Stars Brady Noon, Ethan William Childress, Chris Diamantopoulos Directed by Swinton O.Scott III watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ After four live-action films, cartoonist Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid graphic novels are getting an animated reboot as a Disney+ original movie.
This newly released film once again starts at the beginning of Greg Heffley’s time in middle school.Greg’s got a lot of ambition for a kid, and he wants to be the most popular guy in his class.He’s also somewhat jealous of his best friend, Rowley Jefferson, whose fortunes rise as Greg’s fall.
Greg has a lot to learn about what’s important and whether his ambitions are worth jeopardizing his friendship with Rowley.Read less Read more Edward Scissorhands (1990) Trailer 90% 74 % 7.9/10 pg-13 105m Genre Fantasy, Drama, Romance Stars Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest Directed by Tim Burton watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Tim Burton’s darkly weird film, Edward Scissorhands , is now on Disney+.Johnny Depp stars as Edward Scissorhands, the unfinished creation of an eccentric inventor (Vincent Price).
While the Inventor loves Edward, he gave him scissors for hands.When the Inventor passes away, Peg Boggs (Dianne Wiest) finds Edward and takes him in.Edward soon falls for Peg’s daughter, Kim (Winona Ryder), and gets a measure of acceptance from the town.However, Kim’s jealous boyfriend, Jim (Anthony Michael Hall), and others turn most of the town against him.Read less Read more Ice Age (2002) Trailer 77% 60 % 7.5/10 pg 81m Genre Animation, Comedy, Family, Adventure Stars Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary Directed by Chris Wedge watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ While a few of the later Ice Age sequels are already on Disney+, the original film has finally made its way here.In this story, a wooly mammoth, Manny (Ray Romano), reluctantly makes a new friend in Sid the Sloth (John Leguizamo).
After encountering a human infant named Roshan, a sabertooth tiger named Diego (Denis Leary) offers to help them return the baby to his parents.What they don’t know is that Diego’s pack leader, Soto (Goran Višnjić), has directed Diego to lead them into an ambush so he can eat Roshan.But as he travels with Manny and Sid, Diego feels a true kinship with them and questions his choices.Read less Read more Mr.Popper’s Penguins (2011) Trailer 47% 53 % 6.0/10 pg 94m Genre Comedy, Family Stars Jim Carrey, Carla Gugino, Madeline Carroll Directed by Mark Waters watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ There aren’t a lot of Jim Carrey films suitable for a younger audience, but Mr.
Popper’s Penguins certainly fits the bill.Carrey stars as Tom Popper Jr., the son of a famous explorer and conservationist.Following the death of Tom’s father, he finds himself in the custody of five penguins: Captain, Loudy, Bitey, Stinky, Lovey, and Nimrod.
While Tom has difficulty caring for the penguins, it brings him closer to his children, Jane (Madeline Carroll) and Billy (Maxwell Perry Cotton), as well as his ex-wife, Amanda Popper (Carla Gugino).With the help of his family, Tom finally realizes why received the penguins and what he has to do next.Read less Read more The Pixar Story (2007) 86% 7.8/10 g 87m Genre Documentary Stars Stacy Keach, John Lasseter, Brad Bird Directed by Leslie Iwerks watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Until now, the only consistent way to watch The Pixar Story was as a special feature on WALL-E ’s Blu-ray, or through a rival streaming service.Now, Leslie Iwerks’ acclaimed documentary has come home, and it’s an illuminating look at how Pixar rose from obscurity to transform the face of animation by outdoing Disney at its own game.
The film chronicles Pixar’s early struggles as Steve Jobs, John Lasseter, and many others fought to keep the dream of 3D animation alive.Following the success of Toy Story , Pixar has become a cornerstone of Disney itself.
This may not be a “warts and all” doc, but it is very entertaining and informative.Read less Read more Becoming Cousteau (2021) Trailer 98% 74 % 6.9/10 pg-13 93m Genre Documentary Stars Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Vincent Cassel Directed by Liz Garbus watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ You may have heard of Jacques Cousteau and his environmental crusade to preserve the oceans, but the documentary Becoming Cousteau sheds new light on the man himself.Cousteau was an accomplished explorer, filmmaker, conservationist, and celebrity scientist.He even hosted his own TV show, The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau .While Becoming Cousteau champions the cause of its subject, it doesn’t shy away from Cousteau’s personal failings when it comes to his family.
By his own admission, Cousteau’s love for his family was secondary to his love for the sea.
But that doesn’t diminish the importance of his environmental message, which still resonates decades after his death.Read less Read more Digital Trends streaming roundup Best shows on Disney+ Best Amazon Prime Original movies Best movies on Netflix Best movies on HBO Max Best movies on Hulu Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions (2020) 100% 76 % 8.5/10 106m Genre Music, Documentary Stars Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, Aaron Dessner Directed by Taylor Swift watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ In the modern era of music superstars, Taylor Swift is in a category all by herself.The singer made her directorial debut with Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions , a documentary film that was shot at Long Pond Studio.While Swift performs every single song on her albu, Folklore , the singer/songwriter also takes the time to explain the meaning and inspiration behind each track.
It’s an intimate look at Swift and her music, as well as compelling viewing in its own right.Read less Read more Enchanted (2007) Trailer 93% 75 % 7.0/10 pg 107m Genre Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Romance Stars Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden Directed by Kevin Lima watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ The mid-2000s were a bit of a rough patch for Disney, but Enchanted blew into theaters like a magical breath of fresh air.Amy Adams is ridiculously charming as Giselle, an animated princess who is banished by the evil Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon) into the “real” New York City.Divorce attorney Robert Philip (Patrick Dempsey) reluctantly takes Giselle in at the insistence of his daughter, Morgan (Rachel Covey), and Giselle’s relentlessly positive outlook brightens the lives of their family.
Meanwhile, Giselle’s fiance, Prince Edward (James Marsden), journeys to New York to find her, while Narissa plots to destroy them both.Read less Read more Up (2009) Trailer 98% 88 % 8.2/10 pg 96m Genre Animation, Comedy, Family, Adventure Stars Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai Directed by Pete Docter watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Get some tissues ready.The first few minutes of Pixar’s Up are some of the most emotional animated scenes ever put to cinema.And that is neither a joke nor an exaggeration.
Following that harrowing opening sequence, Carl Fredricksen (Ed Asner) decides to fulfill a promise to his late wife by transforming their house into a balloon airship and taking it down to South America.Unfortunately for Carl, a young boy named Russell (Jordan Nagai) has accidentally stowed away.
Once the unlikely pair arrive, they meet a talking dog named Dug (Bob Peterson) before they have an unsettling encounter with the legendary explorer, Charles Muntz (Christopher Plummer).Read less Read more Built for Mars: The Perseverance Rover (2021) 6.7/10 Genre Documentary Stars Steve French Directed by Mark Davis watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ You may not know Perseverance by name, but the image of the Mars rover is unmistakable.
National Geographic’s documentary, Built for Mars: The Perseverance Rover , throws back the curtain on the next generation of Mars rovers by following its construction at Jet Propulsion Laboratory and its subsequent journey and successful landing on Mars.This film explains the goal of the Martian mission, and offers viewers a greater understanding of the science behind this deceptively simple-looking creation.Read less Read more Dan in Real Life (2007) 65% 65 % 6.7/10 pg-13 98m Genre Comedy, Romance, Drama Stars Steve Carell, Juliette Binoche, Dane Cook Directed by Peter Hedges watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Yes, Dan In Real Life is an actual Disney movie, and not even one of the new additions from 20th Century Studios.
It may seem like an unlikely fit for Disney+’s demo, but it does ultimately work as a slightly more mature comedy than many of the other films on this streaming service.Dan Burns (Steve Carell) is a successful advice columnist, and yet his own life is in shambles even years after the death of his wife.While accompanying his three daughters to an extended family gathering, Dan meets Marie Diamond (Juliette Binoche), a woman who reignites romantic feelings in his heart.And the feeling is mutual.Unfortunately, Marie is already dating Dan’s younger brother, Mitch Burns (Dane Cook).
Read less Read more Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) Trailer 92% 71 % 8/10 pg-13 132m Genre Action, Adventure, Fantasy Stars Simu Liu, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Awkwafina Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Thanks to Disney+ on November 12, Day, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is skipping the Premier Access stage and is now available to all Disney+ subscribers.Simu Liu stars Xu Shang-Chi, a young man who ran away from his father, Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung Chiu-wai), to avoid becoming an assassin.While living in San Francisco and sharing misadventures with his friend, Katy (Awkwafina), Shang-Chi’s past is exposed.To unravel his father’s plans, Shang-Chi reunites with his estranged sister, Xu Xialing (Meng’er Zhang), and takes on the Ten Rings organization.Read less Read more Jungle Cruise (2021) Trailer 62% 50 % pg-13 127m Genre Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, Action Stars Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Edgar Ramírez Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Jungle Cruise is far from the first movie to take its inspiration from a classic Disneyland theme park ride.However, it is one of the best, thanks to the terrific chemistry between Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt.In 1916, Dr.Lily Houghton (Blunt) and her brother, MacGregor Houghton (Jack Whitehall), hire a riverboat captain, Frank Wolff (Johnson), to take them on a dangerous expedition to find the legendary Tree of Life.
Centuries ago, Spanish conquistadors attempted to steal the tree for themselves before suffering a terrible curse.As Frank leads the Houghton siblings through the jungle, they discover that the curse is all too real.
Read less Read more Wolfgang (2021) Trailer 86% 64 % 8/10 78m Genre Documentary Stars Wolfgang Puck Directed by David Gelb watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ You may have heard the name Wolfgang Puck, but how much do you really know about this extraordinary celebrity chef? Documentarian David Gelb helmed Wolfgang , a look back at Puck’s life, from learning how to cook from his mother to his rise to prominence.Puck and many of the people in his life share their thoughts about his history.In particular, the film chronicles Puck’s first brush with fame as head chef of Ma Maison, before he opened up his iconic restaurant, Spago, in Beverly Hills.But Puck’s life of fame and fortune didn’t come without a cost, and he openly discusses the price that he paid.Read less Read more Bears (2014) Trailer 90% 68 % 7.4/10 g 78m Genre Documentary Stars John C.Reilly Directed by Alastair Fothergill, Keith Scholey watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Before Disney acquired National Geographic, the studio’s primary documentary studio was Disneynature.In 2014, Disneynature’s Bears chronicled a year in the life of Sky, an Alaskan brown bear who tries to raise her two cubs, Scout and Amber.
This family of bears faces constant challenges from both the environment, very unfriendly male bears, and even a wolf that seems eager to make a meal out of the cubs.Sky’s devotion to her children is a very relatable quality, and she really goes through a lot over the course of this film.It’s a remarkable cinematic journey, and a worthy documentary as well.
Read less Read more X-Men: First Class (2011) Trailer 86% 65 % 7.7/10 pg-13 132m Genre Action, Science Fiction, Adventure Stars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence Directed by Matthew Vaughn watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ One of the best X-Men movies is finally on Disney+.X-Men: First Class was a soft reboot of the original trilogy that sets the action back in the 1960s, with James McAvoy as Charles Xavier and Michael Fassbender as Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto.
The film gets a lot out of Fassbender’s performance as Erik hunts down the Nazis who exterminated his family.At the top of Erik’s hit list is former Nazi scientist turned Hellfire Club member Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon).A pre-superstardom Jennifer Lawrence stars as Raven/Mystique, a young woman whose ideology is torn between Charles’ dreams of peaceful relations with humanity and Erik’s push for mutant supremacy.Read less Read more McFarland, USA (2015) Trailer 80% 60 % 7.4/10 pg 128m Genre Drama Stars Kevin Costner, Ramiro Rodriguez, Maria Bello Directed by Niki Caro watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ In McFarland, USA , Kevin Costner portrays Jim White, a real-life football coach who founded a track team at McFarland High School in the late 1980s.Jim and his wife, Cheryl (Maria Bello), initially have trouble fitting into the largely Latino town of McFarland, California.However, Jim soon finds his calling by coaching Thomas Valles (Carlos Pratts), Jose Cardenas (Johnny Ortiz), Johnny Sameniego (Hector Duran), Victor Puentes (Sergio Avelar), and the three Diaz brothers.
Through rigorous training, the track team becomes a contender.However, Jim’s commitment to McFarland comes into question when his daughter, Jamie (Elsie Fisher), is attacked.Read less Read more Howard (2018) Trailer 93% 76 % 7.6/10 93m Genre Documentary, Music Stars Howard Ashman, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Alan Menken Directed by Don Hahn watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ If you loved Disney’s animated films in the early 1990s, then you loved the work of Howard Ashman.
Before his untimely death from AIDS in 1991 at age 40, Ashman and his composing partner, Alan Menken, created magic together with the music and lyrics for The Little Mermaid , Beauty and the Beast , and Aladdin .
Documentary filmmaker Don Hahn’s Howard is a moving look back at Ashman’s life from the people who knew and loved him.Ashman’s life was relatively short, but his musical legacy will live on forever through his films.Read less Read more Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles (2021) Trailer 7.2/10 65m Genre Documentary, Music, Animation Stars Billie Eilish, Gustavo Dudamel, Los Angeles Philharmonic Directed by Robert Rodriguez, Patrick Osborne watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Billie Eilish is a Grammy winner and one of the top singers in the world.
But she’s not an obvious choice to headline her own concert movie on Disney+.And yet Happier than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles fits Disney like a glove, with animated sequences of Eilish placed between a live Hollywood Bowl performance of her album Happier Than Ever .An unlikely duo directed this concert: Robert Rodriguez and Patrick Osborne.
Some of the language of Eilish’s songs is toned down for the film, but the mature themes remain.She’s a superstar, and this is her showcase.
Read less Read more The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) Trailer 95% 82 % 8.0/10 pg 76m Genre Fantasy, Animation, Family Stars Chris Sarandon, Danny Elfman, Catherine O’Hara Directed by Henry Selick watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ With Halloween this weekend and Christmas right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to revisit Disney’s stop-motion masterpiece, The Nightmare Before Christmas .This was Tim Burton’s passion project when he was a Disney animator, and his success as a live-action director revived its prospects years later.Director Henry Selick adapted Burton’s tale for the screen, as Halloween Town resident Jack Skellington (Chris Sarandon) discovers that there are other holidays with realms of their own.Jack is so enthralled by “Sandy Claws” and Christmas that he enlists the residents of Halloween Town to help him take over the holiday.Musical mayhem ensues when Jack’s idea of Christmas horrifies the human world.
Read less Read more The Avengers (2012) Trailer 91% 69 % 8.0/10 pg-13 143m Genre Science Fiction, Action, Adventure Stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo Directed by Joss Whedon watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ It’s not an exaggeration to say that The Avengers changed the game for superhero movies.Marvel Studios’ first-ever team-up film brought together Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) together under the watchful eye of Nick Fury (Samuel L.Jackson) to take on Thor’s estranged brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston).
The heroes’ frequent personality clashes are even more engaging than the fights.Regardless, the climactic Battle of New York features the heroes at their best as they take on an alien invasion.
It’s almost a perfect superhero film, even though it was upstaged by its sequels.Read less Read more National Treasure (2004) Trailer 46% 39 % 6.9/10 pg 131m Genre Adventure, Action, Thriller, Mystery Stars Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha Directed by Jon Turteltaub watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Critics may not have loved National Treasure , but audiences sure did! Disney+ is already developing a new National Treasure series, but the original film is in a class of its own.
A still plausibly dramatic Nicholas Cage headlines the film as Benjamin Franklin Gates, a renegade treasure hunter who is out to steal the Declaration of Independence before it falls into the hands of his rival, Ian Howe (Sean Bean).There’s an even more audacious adventure ahead, because whoever gets the Declaration also has access to the hidden map on the back that leads to an unimaginably large treasure that has been hidden since the beginning of America itself.Read less Read more Mr.
Holland’s Opus (1995) 75% 59 % 7.3/10 pg 137m Genre Drama, Music, Family Stars Richard Dreyfuss, Glenne Headly, Jay Thomas Directed by Stephen Herek watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Film lovers can not live on blockbusters alone.For anyone who is looking for more of an adult drama, Mr.Holland’s Opus hits all of the right notes.Richard Dreyfuss stars as Glenn Holland, a talented musician and composer who takes a day job as a high school music teacher so he can spend more time with his family and write his own symphony.
However, Glenn becomes so involved with his students that he neglects the other areas of his life.
Fixing that imbalance is the greatest challenge facing Glenn, as he openly worries that his teaching career will ultimately amount to nothing.But Glenn couldn’t be more wrong, because his actions have a positive impact far beyond his wildest dreams.Read less Read more Rookie of the Year (1993) 35% 53 % 6.1/10 pg 103m Genre Comedy, Family Stars Thomas Ian Nicholas, Colombe Jacobsen-Derstine, Gary Busey Directed by Daniel Stern watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ When a medical accident gives a 12-year-old boy the ability to pitch like an all-star baseball player, the boy suddenly finds himself the new ace for the Chicago Cubs in this delightfully silly film directed by Daniel Stern and starring Thomas Ian Nicholas.Read less Read more The Greatest Showman (2017) Trailer 57% 48 % 7.6/10 pg 105m Genre Drama Stars Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams Directed by Michael Gracey watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Hugh Jackman stars as P.T.Barnum in this musically reimagined tale about the origins of the Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Bailey isn’t here yet, so the spotlight is all literally on Barnum (Hugh Jackman) as he pursues his vision of birthing the greatest show the world has ever seen.
The Greatest Showman is far from biographical, skirting over some of the more controversial aspects of Barnum’s life and pursuit of glory, but it’s a fun, energetic musical that will get the whole family dancing.Read less Read more Sky High (2005) Trailer 73% 62 % 6.2/10 pg 100m Genre Adventure, Comedy, Family Stars Michael Angarano, Kurt Russell, Kelly Preston Directed by Mike Mitchell watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ As the child of the world’s two greatest superheroes, Will Stronghold (Michael Angarano) has a lot to live up to, even if he’s not sure exactly what his superpowers might be.This action-packed film follows Will as he enrolls at a special school for superpowered kids and experiences the trials and tribulations of teenage life while making friends and enemies, falling in love, and attempting to chart his own destiny — all while his classmates (and teachers) fly, transform, and do all sorts of other amazing things around him.Read less Read more Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021) Trailer 89% 67 % 6.7/10 pg 52m Genre Comedy, Family, TV Movie Stars Dave Goelz, Bill Barretta, Matt Vogel Directed by Kirk R.
Thatcher watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ When Gonzo and Pepe skip the Muppets’ annual Halloween party in order to accept a challenge to stay the night in a haunted mansion, spooky stuff and hijinks ensue — along with plenty of celebrity cameos.The laughs-to-scares ratio of this feature is firmly in favor of the funny moments, and both kids and adults alike will find plenty to enjoy in the latest project featuring Jim Henson’s beloved creations.Along with appearances by the entire Muppets gang, the story also brings in Will Arnett, Yvette Nicole Brown, Darren Criss, Taraji P.
Henson, John Stamos, Alfonso Ribeiro, Craig Robinson, and other familiar faces — including one of the final on-screen roles for the late, great Ed Asner.Read less Read more Tron (1982) Trailer 72% 58 % 6.8/10 pg 96m Genre Science Fiction, Action, Adventure Stars Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, David Warner Directed by Steven Lisberger watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Its visual effects don’t exactly hold compared to sci-fi movies today, but when TRON hit theaters in 1982, there was nothing that looked even remotely like it.The story of a software programmer who’s transported inside the mainframe of a massive computer and must find his way out of the digital world he inhabits, TRON prompted writer and director Steven Lisberger to create an entirely new type of studio dedicated to blending computer animation and live-action acting in a single feature — something that was so unusual at the time that even the Motion Picture Academy of America wasn’t sure how to classify the film initially.Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner starred in the film, which went on to become a cult hit and inspire a sprawling franchise of video games, comic books, and animated spinoffs, as well as a 2010 live-action sequel.Read less Read more Cool Runnings (1993) 76% 60 % 7.0/10 pg 98m Genre Comedy, Sports Stars Leon, Doug E.Doug, Rawle D.Lewis Directed by Jon Turteltaub watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ This sports comedy was loosely inspired by the true story of the Jamaican national bobsled team, which made its debut during the 1988 Winter Olympics and offered up one of the event’s most popular and enduring underdog stories.
In one of his last roles before his death, actor John Candy plays a disgraced former bobsled champion who’s recruited to coach the aspiring team — a team composed of sprinters who missed their shot at qualifying for the Summer Olympics due to an accident that occurred in a qualifying race.Leon Robinson, Doug E.Doug, Rawle D.Lewis, and Malik Yoba play the teammates who need to overcome their own differences and the prejudices of the sport’s governing body to realize their Olympic dreams.Read less Read more LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales (2021) Trailer 6.2/10 g 45m Genre Animation, Sci-Fic, Comedy Stars Jake Green, Raphael Alejandro, Dana Snyder Directed by Ken Cunningham watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ It’s more of a short film than a full-length movie, but this Disney+ original film packs a lot into its short running time with three scary — but mostly silly — stories set within the Star Wars universe, delivering that same self-aware fun we’ve grown accustomed to with Lego films and series.The film follows pilot Poe Dameron (voiced by Jake Green) as he attempts to repair his ship after crashing on Mustafar, Darth Vader’s former home.While there, he gets a tour of the “all-inclusive, Sith-inspired, luxury resort” being built there, which apparently comes with its own creepy, former Sith servant, Vaneé (Tony Hale), who takes the opportunity to share a trio of stories unfolding at various points in the sci-fi saga.It’s all good fun, though, in a galaxy far, far away.
Read less Read more Black Widow (2021) Trailer 80% 67 % 6.8/10 pg-13 134m Genre Action, Adventure Stars Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Rachel Weisz Directed by Cate Shortland watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ After more than a year without a Marvel movie, Black Widow brings the Marvel Cinematic Universe back to the big screen and — thanks to the uncertainty of theatrical releases during the pandemic — also to streaming audiences on Disney+.The prequel film features Scarlett Johansson as superhero secret agent Black Widow and is set between the events of Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War .On the run after the events of Civil War , Natasha Romanoff (Johansson) is forced to confront her mysterious past and the relationships she left behind when she fled the organization that trained her.Johansson is joined in the cast by Florence Pugh, David Harbour, William Hurt, Ray Winstone, and Rachel Weisz.Read less Read more Hocus Pocus (1993) Trailer 38% 43 % 6.9/10 pg 96m Genre Comedy, Family, Fantasy Stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy Directed by Kenny Ortega watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ A Halloween classic for kids of a particular generation, this family-friendly adventure chronicles a teenage boy’s efforts to thwart the diabolical plans of three witches he accidentally resurrected on Halloween night in Salem, Massachusetts.While the film’s young leads are the protagonists of the story, it’s the trio of witches who steal the show, memorably played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy.
The film is directed by Kenny Ortega, who directed the previous year’s Newsies and went on to direct the High School Musical and Descendants films for Disney in later years, making him one of the studio’s most teen-friendly filmmakers — a quality on full display in Hocus Pocus , which still manages to be a fun watch for kids and older audiences alike.Read less Read more A Goofy Movie (1995) 59% 6.9/10 g 78m Genre Romance, Animation, Family, Comedy, Adventure Stars Bill Farmer, Jason Marsden, Rob Paulsen Directed by Kevin Lima watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Included on this list almost entirely based on its nostalgic appeal, Disney’s ’90s animated film about the relationship between Goofy and his son, Max, is a touchstone film for an entire generation.
The silly story follows Goofy’s attempts to connect with his teenage son on a fishing trip that — as with most things Goofy does — devolves into chaos almost from the start.Although it didn’t do particularly well at the box office or among critics, A Goofy Movie developed a massive following among kids of the late ’80s and early ’90s, and prompted no small amount of excitement when it was announced as part of the Disney+ launch-day library.Read less Read more Zootopia (2016) Trailer 98% 78 % 8.0/10 109m Genre Animation, Adventure, Family, Comedy Stars Jason Bateman, Ginnifer Goodwin, Idris Elba Directed by Byron Howard, Rich Moore watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Zootopia is the New York City of animals and, as with any city, there are all kinds of politics, crime, and shenanigans afoot.When Judy Hopps becomes the first bunny on the police force, she’s determined to make a name for herself and overcome the doubts of her peers.
When predators begin mysteriously disappearing and the police dismiss the case’s legitimacy, Judy jumps at the chance to prove herself, even without the backing of the force.Unfortunately, that means teaming up with two-bit, scam-artist fox Nick Wilde.To their surprise, however, they prove to be a great team, developing a strong friendship while uncovering a massive conspiracy that goes right to the very top.More provocative and polemical than your typical Disney movie, Zootopia is great fun for youngsters and thought-provoking for their parents.Read less Read more Z-O-M-B-I-E-S (2018) Trailer 6.2/10 g 94m Genre Comedy, Romance, TV Movie, Fantasy, Music Stars Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly, Trevor Tordjman Directed by Paul Hoen watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Even Disney found a way into the zombie genre with this musical adventure about a star-crossed couple — one a human cheerleader, and one a zombie football player — who meet while attending high school together and must navigate the tricky waters of both teenage love and the two very different worlds they each live in.
Milo Manheim and Meg Donnelly portray the zombie Zed and cheerleader Addison, respectively, and the film’s infectiously catchy songs are matched by some impressive dance sequences that offer a treat for both the eyes and the ears.The film was so successful for the Disney Channel that it spawned a 2020 sequel, as well as an upcoming third film in the franchise, which manages to be entertaining for both kids and adults alike.Read less Read more Queen of Katwe (2016) Trailer 94% 73 % 7.4/10 pg 124m Genre Drama Stars Madina Nalwanga, David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong’o Directed by Mira Nair watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ This feel-good tale chronicles the true story of 10-year-old Ugandan chess phenom, Phiona Mutesi, who became a Woman Candidate Master recognized on the global chess stage.
Born in Katwe, the largest slum in Kampala, Uganda, every day is a constant struggle for Phiona and her family.However, when she meets Robert Katende (David Oyelowo), a missionary who teaches children how to play chess, her life is completely changed.Phiona falls in love with the game and develops incredible skill, soon dominating local competitions and tournaments.With Katende’s guidance and fierce support from her mother, Nakku Harriet (Lupita Nyong’o), Phiona soon discovers chess is a golden ticket out of a life of poverty for herself and her family.
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Home Alone (1990) Trailer 66% 63 % 7.6/10 pg 103m Genre Comedy, Family Stars Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern Directed by Chris Columbus watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ The film that made Macaulay Culkin one of Hollywood’s most popular child actors, Home Alone chronicles the adventures of Kevin McAllister (Culkin), who’s left to fend for himself after his family accidentally takes off for a vacation in France over the holiday season without him.Believing his family’s disappearance is a wish come true, McAllister initially decides to make the best of the situation, only to realize the harsh reality of his solitary life when two bumbling burglars target his home.Determined to protect his house against the robbers (hilariously portrayed by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern), McAllister uses every trick he can muster to keep them at bay.Read less Read more Big Hero 6 (2014) Trailer 90% 74 % 7.7/10 pg 102m Genre Adventure, Family, Animation, Action, Comedy Stars Scott Adsit, Ryan Potter, Daniel Henney Directed by Chris Williams, Don Hall watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ This animated feature is set in the fictional, futuristic city of San Fransokyo and follows a young boy determined to use his brilliant robotics skills to find the masked villain who killed his brother and stole his one-of-a-kind invention.Joined by his protective android pal Baymax, Hiro Hamada assembles a team of reluctant students-turned-superheroes to take down the bad guy and save the day.Loosely based on the Marvel Comics team of the same name, Big Hero 6 took home a well-deserved Academy Award as the year’s best animated feature and spawned an animated sequel series currently available on Disney+ .At a time when Marvel Studios’ live-action films rule the box office, Big Hero 6 holds its own as one of the best superhero movies ever made.Read less Read more Luca (2021) Trailer 91% 71 % 7.5/10 95m Genre Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy Stars Jacob Tremblay, Jack Dylan Grazer, Emma Berman Directed by Enrico Casarosa watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ A shy, young sea monster living off the coast of Italy meets a free-spirited fellow sea monster, and their friendship brings them out of the water and into the world of humans in this delightful film from director Enrico Casarosa.
The filmmaker’s own childhood in Genoa, Italy, inspired this tale of friendship, which casts Jacob Tremblay and Jack Dylan Grazer as sea monsters Luca and Alberto, respectively.Fun, funny, and beautifully brought to the screen, Luca is a love letter to childhood friendships and the sights, sounds, and delicious food of the Italian coast.Read less Read more Avatar (2009) 81% 8 % 7.8/10 162m Genre Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction Stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver Directed by James Cameron watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ James Cameron’s Avatar didn’t quite turn into the genre-defining franchise many expected it would — and those three Avatar sequels he promised have been perpetually delayed — but it does still hold up as a visually fascinating, action-packed, solid sci-fi flick.On Pandora, a lush alien world far from Earth, the Na’vi live peacefully in tune with their planet, free from conflict or famine.They permit human scientists to explore and study their world, but when the corporate interest that funds the scientists’ mission discover the Na’vi capital lays on the mother lode of a valuable element, it’s up to marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) to help save the Na’vi from the human threat before it’s too late.Read less Read more Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) Trailer 79% 63 % 8.0/10 pg-13 143m Genre Adventure, Fantasy, Action Stars Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley Directed by Gore Verbinski watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ The first film in what would become the blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, The Curse of the Black Pearl offered audiences their first introduction to Johnny Depp as the pirate Jack Sparrow — an iconic performance that not only led to multiple sequels but also brought the entire pirate movie genre back into the spotlight.Given that the film was based on a classic Disney theme park ride, that’s no small feat.The massive success of the franchise following this initial film turned it into a Hollywood staple for nearly a decade.
Depp is joined by Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom, and Geoffrey Rush in the dark fantasy film, which also holds the status of being the first PG-13 movie released by Walt Disney Pictures.Read less Read more Behind the scenes of Pirates of the Caribbean How the last Pirates of the Caribbean film defied physics and de-aged Johnny Depp Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales review Hackers steal Disney’s latest Pirates of the Caribbean, demand bitcoin ransom The Rocketeer (1991) 66% 61 % 6.5/10 108m Genre Action, Adventure, Science Fiction, Family Stars Timothy Dalton, Alan Arkin, Billy Campbell Directed by Joe Johnston watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Before Iron Man and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Disney struck superhero gold with The Rocketeer , director Joe Johnston’s film based on the comic book character of the same name.Set in pre-war Los Angeles in 1938, the film follows a stunt pilot who acquires a strange jet pack, only to suddenly find himself on the run from both aggressive FBI agents and a group of deadly Nazi operatives in pursuit of this new technology.Considered by many to be one of the best superhero movies of the pre-MCU era, The Rocketeer stars Bill Campbell, Jennifer Connelly, Alan Arkin, and Timothy Dalton.
Read less Read more Descendants (2015) Trailer 90% 63 % 6.4/10 g 112m Genre Family, Music, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, TV Movie Stars Dove Cameron, Cameron Boyce, Booboo Stewart, Sofia Carson Directed by Kenny Ortega watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ You might not have heard of this 2015 Disney Channel movie, but if you know anyone between the ages of 5 and 15 right now, you can bet that they know all about it.This musical fantasy from Newsies and Hocus Pocus director (and Dirty Dancing choreographer) Kenny Ortega is set in a world where the villains of classic Disney films have been exiled to a remote island while the rest of the world lives in peace and prosperity under the benevolent rule of Belle and Beast.When four children of the villains are given the chance to attend school on the mainland, they must decide whether to follow their parents’ legacy or prove there really is good in everyone.Along with some amazingly catchy songs and impressive dance choreography, Descendants also features some familiar faces among its adult actors, including Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth as Maleficent.
The film went on to spawn two sequels, countless tie-in projects, and a seemingly endless torrent of merchandise on its rise to become one of Disney’s hottest properties for the tween audience.Read less Read more Inside Out (2015) Trailer 98% 94 % 8.1/10 pg 95m Genre Animation, Family, Adventure, Drama, Comedy Stars Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Bill Hader Directed by Pete Docter watch on Amazon watch on Amazon What if your emotions were little beings that lived inside you? That’s the question Pixar answers in Inside Out , a hilarious and beautiful story about 11-year-old Riley’s move to a new city and her Emotions’ desperate — and occasionally misguided — attempts to help her cope.Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust, and Sadness aren’t exactly accustomed to working together, but they’ll have to if they’re going to help Riley get through this pivotal time in her life.However, when Joy and Sadness get lost, it’s up to the rest of the team to get them back so Riley doesn’t experience a complete emotional breakdown.
Featuring the voice talent of Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Richard King, Mindy Kaling, and Phyllis Smith, Inside Out is an emotional roller coaster with all of the feels to be expected from a Pixar film.Read less Read more Mrs.Doubtfire (1993) Trailer 72% 53 % 7.0/10 pg 125m Genre Comedy, Drama, Family Stars Robin Williams, Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan Directed by Chris Columbus watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ The films of Home Alone director Chris Columbus were a staple of ’90s cinema, including this film that cast Robin Williams as a divorced actor who poses as a female housekeeper in order to spend time with his children.
As he gets sucked deeper into his ruse, he ends up learning more about himself and his relationship with both his kids and his ex-wife, all while dealing with a constant stream of hilarious scenarios and complications that unfold.The film went on to win an Academy Award for its makeup, which turned the acclaimed actor into “Euphegenia Doubtfire,” the British nanny who changes everyone’s lives for the better.Read less Read more Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2016) Trailer 64% 57 % 6.7/10 pg-13 127m Genre Drama, Fantasy, Adventure, Family Stars Eva Green, Asa Butterfield, Samuel L.Jackson Directed by Tim Burton watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ This dark fantasy film based on Ransom Riggs’ novel of the same name follows a young boy whose decision to investigate his grandfather’s tales of a youth spent among children with amazing abilities leads to a meeting with Miss Peregrine, the headmistress of a strange school off the coast of Wales.Pursued by terrifying creatures only he can see, he embarks on an international adventure through time to protect his “peculiar” new friends from a sinister cabal.Read less Read more Onward (2020) Trailer 88% 61 % 7.4/10 g 103m Genre Family, Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy Stars Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus Directed by Dan Scanlon watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ With a star-studded voice cast, this animated adventure film is set in a suburban fantasy world where two elf brothers, Ian and Barley Lightfoot (Tom Holland and Chris Pratt, respectively), embark on a journey to find an ancient artifact that they believe will bring back their father who passed away shortly after the youngest son Ian was born.While magic has all but disappeared from society, this artifact can presumably invoke a “visitation spell” that would bring dad back for a single day.
That would be helpful since they botched the spell and managed to bring back just the bottom half of dear dad and need the artifact to complete him! While the film isn’t considered one of the best within the extensive Pixar library, it has been praised for being a heartwarming and funny story, released in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic when viewers needed such uplifting content the most.Read less Read more Clouds (2020) Trailer 76% 7.5/10 pg-13 121m Genre Music, Drama, Romance Stars Fin Argus, Sabrina Carpenter, Madison Iseman Directed by Justin Baldoni watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Based on the memoir Fly a Little Higher: How God Answered a Mom’s Small Prayer in a Big Way by Laura Sobiech, this musical drama is about the life of Zach Sobiech, who wrote a song called Clouds as a way to say goodbye to his friends and family following his cancer diagnosis.The song gained international recognition thanks to plays on YouTube, charting on the Billboard Hot 100, and even ranking No.1 on iTunes in 2013, the year of Sobiech’s death.
It’s a sweet story but break out the tissues for this one — you’re going to need them.Read less Read more Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) Trailer 84% 65 % 7.8/10 pg-13 133m Genre Action, Adventure, Science Fiction Stars Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Alan Tudyk Directed by Gareth Edwards watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Filmmaker Gareth Edwards gave audiences a Dirty Dozen -style war story set in the Star Wars universe in this film, which was also the first major spinoff film from Disney’s Star Wars Story anthology series.Set in the time period between Episode III – Revenge of the Sith and the franchise-spawning Episode IV – A New Hope , Rogue One follows a ragtag group of rebels tasked with stealing the plans for the Death Star, the Galactic Empire’s powerful, planet-killing weapon.One of the highest-grossing films in the Star Wars franchise to date, Rogue One earned critical acclaim and a pair of Oscar nominations for its impressive blend of old-school aesthetics and modern visual effects.The film’s closing scene is arguably one of the greatest scenes in the sci-fi saga, leading directly into the events of A New Hope .Read less Read more Mulan (2020) Trailer 73% 66 % 5.7/10 115m Genre Adventure, Fantasy Stars Liu Yifei, Jet Li, Tzi Ma Directed by Niki Caro watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ You no longer need premiere access to watch this live-action adaptation of the 1998 animated film of the same name.
Based on the Chinese folklore The Ballad of Mulan, the story follows the adventures of the title character, a young girl with much more ambitious aspirations for herself than to simply get married and become a good wife.But when her frail father is recruited to help fight off an enemy attack, his fierce daughter Hua Mulan takes matters into her own hands.She grabs his gear and joins the training camp, hiding her identity — and gender — as she trains alongside the men.Read less Read more The Sandlot (1993) Trailer 64% 55 % 7.8/10 pg 101m Genre Family, Comedy Stars Tom Guiry, Mike Vitar, Patrick Renna Directed by David M.Evans watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ It didn’t generate a lot of buzz when it was first released, but David Mickey Evans’ coming-of-age film about a group of childhood friends who form a tight bond while playing baseball together in an abandoned lot became an under-the-radar hit when it arrived on the home video market.
Evans directed, co-wrote, and narrated the film, which follows a shy fifth-grade boy who moves to a Los Angeles suburb in 1962 and initially struggles to make friends, only to fall in with a motley crew of local kids who bring him out of his shell.Dripping with nostalgia and filled with memorable — and quotable — scenes, The Sandlot is a powerful reminder of the rollercoaster of emotions and simple joys found in the years between childhood and adulthood.Read less Read more Maleficent (2014) Trailer 54% 56 % 7.0/10 pg 97m Genre Fantasy, Adventure, Action, Family, Romance Stars Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley Directed by Robert Stromberg watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Angelina Jolie’s shift to fantasy in this film was polarizing.
Though many critics applauded her performance and the story itself, they weren’t thrilled with the overuse of CGI and 3D effects.Nonetheless, this fairy tale flick, loosely inspired by Charles Perrault’s original and Disney’s 1959 animated film Sleeping Beauty, put Jolie on the map among younger audiences and across new genres.Rather than tell the familiar story of the beautiful young girl stuck in a deep sleep, waiting for her Prince Charming, this story is told from the perspective of the powerful fairy Maleficent.It provides context as to why she cast the spell that put the 16-year-old Aurora into a permanent sleep in the first place and the reasoning behind only a true love’s kiss being able to break it.
Read less Read more Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) Trailer 94% 82 % 8.7/10 pg 124m Genre Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure Stars Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher Directed by Irvin Kershner watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Widely considered the best installment of the entire sci-fi saga, The Empire Strikes Back is the chapter that featured the most dramatic character arcs of the original trilogy and established both their legacies and the tragic events that intertwined their destinies.Not only that, but it also introduced some of the franchise’s most popular supporting characters, Lando Calrissian and Boba Fett , and featured one of the trilogy’s most memorable battles, set on the frozen planet of Hoth.After the heroic events of A New Hope , The Empire Strikes Back offered a far more somber exploration of the gritty realities of war against an oppressive, formidable force led by a seemingly indestructible foe: Darth Vader.Read less Read more What’s next for the Star Wars universe Rogue One’s Cassian Andor series: What we know about the Disney+ Star Wars show Star Wars places smart bet on its past to build its future Disney unveils a new animatronic Baby Yoda toy for you to obsess over Remember the Titans (2000) Trailer 73% 48 % 7.8/10 pg 113m Genre Drama Stars Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Wood Harris Directed by Boaz Yakin watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Denzel Washington plays the new Black head coach of a recently integrated Virginia high school football team in this film based on true events.The series follows the head coach’s efforts to inspire and unite his players and navigate the racial prejudice that exists both within the school’s walls and outside of them.Will Patton portrays the white school’s former head coach, who must set aside his own prejudice and animosity while working under the team’s new coach.
Read less Read more Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) Trailer 94% 74 % 7.4/10 pg 107m Genre Family, Fantasy, Animation, Action, Adventure Stars Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Izaac Wang Directed by Don Hall, Carlos López Estrada watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ A lone warrior sets out to reunite the fractured land of Kumandra by reassembling a powerful magical artifact in this feature from Walt Disney Animation Studios.Part martial arts adventure, part heist film, and soaked in visually stunning images and wonderful fantasy elements, Raya and the Last Dragon is a story about the families we create for ourselves and the strength it takes to build trust after a tragedy.Kelly Marie Tran voices Raya, a capable, independent warrior who must journey to the far corners of her world to bring it together.She’s joined by the dragon Sisu, voiced by Awkwafina, as well as a host of other colorful characters portrayed by Gemma Chan, Daniel Dae Kim, Sandra Oh, Benedict Wong, and Alan Tudyk, among others.Read less Read more Stargirl (2020) Trailer 68% 61 % 6.2/10 pg 107m Genre Comedy, Drama, Romance Stars Grace VanderWaal, Graham Verchere, Karan Brar Directed by Julia Hart watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Musician Grace VanderWaal portrays the titular new student whose arrival at a New Mexico high school creates a ripple effect throughout the student body and the surrounding community as she challenges the status quo and pushes them to embrace the boundaries of their own self-expression.Graham Verchere portrays the teenage boy whose relationship with Stargirl prompts him to open up and come to terms with what he wants from life.
One of the first original films to premiere on Disney+, this high school romantic comedy is a touching coming-of-age story that was praised for its emotional depth and nostalgic spin on teenage relationships.
Read less Read more Toy Story (1995) Trailer 100% 95 % 8.3/10 g 81m Genre Animation, Adventure, Family, Comedy Stars Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles Directed by John Lasseter watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ The film that made Pixar a household name and one of the giants of the animated movie world, Toy Story is set in a world where toys come to life the moment humans aren’t paying attention to them.The ridiculously high-profile cast for the film includes Tom Hanks as Woody, a cowboy doll who begins to feel his status as Andy Davis’ favorite toy threatened when the boy gets a new, flashy action figure named Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Tim Allen).Silly hijinks ensue, of course, but the film truly succeeds in its thoughtful exploration of adolescence, friendship, acceptance, and everything we leave behind as we grow older.More than just one of the best Pixar movies , Toy Story is considered one of the greatest animated movies ever made, and was nominated for three Academy Awards, spawned three sequels, and was inducted into the National Film Registry in its first year of eligibility.Read less Read more Black Panther (2018) Trailer 96% 88 % 7.3/10 134m Genre Action, Adventure, Science Fiction Stars Chadwick Boseman, Michael B.
Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o Directed by Ryan Coogler watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Filmmaker Ryan Coogler and the late Chadwick Boseman brought the tale of Marvel’s most famous African superhero to the screen in 2018, and the film went on to break a long list of records at the box office and become one of the most critically praised installments of the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe.Boseman plays T’Challa, the newly crowned king of the secretive African nation of Wakanda, who serves as both his country’s leader and primary defender as the hero Black Panther.When his rule is challenged by the brutal Killmonger (Michael B.Jordan), T’Challa must reconnect with the origins of his power and his legacy to save his kingdom.Following its impressive theatrical run, Black Panther became the first superhero movie to be nominated for an Academy Award in the “Best Picture” category, and the first Marvel movie to win an Academy Award.
Black Panther 2 is currently scheduled to hit theaters in 2022, though who will be able to fill Boseman’s tremendous shoes in the title role remains to be seen.Read less Read more Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) Trailer 97% 83 % 7.7/10 pg 104m Genre Fantasy, Animation, Comedy, Crime, Family Stars Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd, Joanna Cassidy Directed by Robert Zemeckis watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Robert Zemeckis directed this film, set in a version of 1947 Hollywood in which humans coexist with animated characters.Bob Hoskins plays a private detective investigating the murder of a prominent businessman, only to find himself teamed up with Roger Rabbit, the zany cartoon star who has also become the chief suspect in the businessman’s death.Credited with renewing interest in the golden age of animation and sparking Disney’s renaissance as a movie studio, Who Framed Roger Rabbit ended up winning three Academy Awards for its unique blend of classic cartoons and crime noir.
Read less Read more The Muppet Movie (1979) 88% 74 % 7.6/10 g 97m Genre Music, Adventure, Comedy, Family Stars Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson Directed by James Frawley watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ The very first theatrical film featuring Jim Henson’s beloved creations, The Muppets, this 1979 musical adventure has Kermit the Frog leaving his home in the swamp on a cross-country journey to Hollywood.
Along the way, he encounters Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo, and the rest of his Muppets pals, who share his show business aspirations and join him on his wild road trip.Packed with hilarious cameos and featuring Henson’s brilliant knack for blending elements for children and adults, The Muppet Movie stands as one of the greatest Muppets projects ever made, and inspired multiple sequels, spinoffs, and countless other projects over the years.Read less Read more Coco (2017) Trailer 97% 81 % 8.4/10 pg 105m Genre Family, Animation, Fantasy, Music, Comedy, Adventure Stars Anthony Gonzalez, Gael García Bernal, Benjamin Bratt Directed by Lee Unkrich watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Yet another entry in Pixar’s rich library of diverse cultures, viewpoints, and worlds, Coco is one of the most visually stunning and musically enriching films of the entire Pixar collection.Centering on Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), this fantasy follows a little boy, Miguel, on a magical, accidental journey into the afterlife.
The more he learns about his family and heritage through his colorful journey, the deeper his connection grows to his history and his future.
With an uplifting, energetic soundtrack, you’ll want to sing, dance, and revel in the excitement, right until it goes full Pixar and starts to play your heartstrings.Read less Read more The Princess Bride (1987) Trailer 98% 77 % 8.1/10 pg 99m Genre Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance Stars Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin Directed by Rob Reiner watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Often cited among the funniest movies of all time, director Rob Reiner’s fantasy adventure told the story of a poor farmhand who must rescue his true love from a group of mercenaries and the evil nobleman who is forcing her to become his bride.As the farmhand Westley and the beautiful Buttercup, Cary Elwes and Robin Wright lead a cast that also includes Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Wallace Shawn, André the Giant, and Christopher Guest.Peter Falk and Fred Savage also play supporting roles, presenting the story as a novel that a sick boy’s grandfather reads to him.A cult hit, The Princess Bride was added to the National Film Registry in 2016 for its significance in cinematic history.
Read less Read more Hamilton (2020) Trailer 97% 8.4/10 pg-13 160m Genre History, Drama Stars Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr., Renée Elise Goldsberry Directed by Thomas Kail watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ The cultural phenomenon that is Lin-Manuel Miranda’s celebrated musical Hamilton finally became accessible to everyone who can’t get a ticket when a cinematic recording of the show arrived on Disney+ in July — just in time for Independence Day.The film is pretty much the only remaining way to see the production — which chronicles the life of founding father Alexander Hamilton — performed by its original cast, with Miranda himself in the title role.
He’s joined by Tony Award winner Leslie Odom Jr.
as Hamilton’s longtime rival, Aaron Burr, in a performance that earned him industry-wide recognition and one of the theater’s most prestigious honors.Disney’s feature-length film offers a front-row seat to the musical that took Broadway by storm and became one of the most critically praised and hotly debated productions in recent memory.There’s no word on how long the musical will be available on Disney+, so don’t throw away your shot to watch it.
Read less Read more Willow (1988) Trailer 52% 47 % 7.3/10 pg 126m Genre Action, Adventure, Fantasy Stars Warwick Davis, Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley Directed by Ron Howard watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Ron Howard directed this fantasy film based on a story penned by George Lucas, and the result was a movie unlike anything else in the genre.W illow follows a reluctant farmer played by Warwick Davis who finds himself thrust into a magical adventure when he finds an orphaned human baby.His efforts to return the baby put him in the center of a battle for the fate of the world, with a group of colorful characters — including a charismatic mercenary played by Val Kilmer — accompanying him on his quest.The recipient of two Academy Award nominations, Willow featured impressive visual effects produced by Industrial Light and Magic and a memorable story that reignited interest in the high fantasy genre.A sequel to Willow is currently in the works for Disney+.Read less Read more Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) Trailer 92% 90 % 8.6/10 pg 121m Genre Adventure, Action, Science Fiction Stars Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher Directed by George Lucas watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ You may have your own order to watch the Star Wars movies but you can’t go wrong starting with the original.Although it falls in at No.4 chronologically in the Skywalker saga, 1977’s A New Hope was the first Star Wars film, and it forever altered filmmaking as we know it.
It’s also one of the most innovative movies ever made, ingeniously repurposing the Hero’s Journey of Greek mythology into an epic, infinitely imaginative tale of a faraway, technologically advanced galaxy embroiled in an interplanetary war.A New Hope is our first introduction to some of cinema’s most beloved characters, from Luke Skywalker and Han Solo to Princess Leia, Chewbacca, and the droids C3P-O and R2D2.
We can debate all day about which Star Wars movie is best but the importance and impact of A New Hope are inarguable.Read less Read more The future of Star Wars No Mandalorian? No problem: How to fill the Star Wars void in your life All of the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows You can finally own the Star Wars Skywalker saga in 4K UHD without Disney+ Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989) Trailer 77% 63 % 6.4/10 pg 93m Genre Adventure, Comedy, Family, Science Fiction Stars Rick Moranis, Matt Frewer, Marcia Strassman Directed by Joe Johnston watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Jumanji and Captain America: The First Avenger director Joe Johnston made his directorial debut with this sci-fi comedy about a group of kids who get shrunk to a quarter of an inch tall and must find their way home through the dangerous jungle of their family’s yard.
Rick Moranis famously plays the inventor whose latest project accidentally shrinks his own children and his neighbor’s kids.An unexpected hit, the film became Disney’s highest-grossing live-action movie when it was released in theaters — a title it held for five years.
Read less Read more Moana (2016) 95% 81 % 7.6/10 107m Genre Adventure, Comedy, Family, Animation Stars Auli’i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House Directed by Ron Clements, John Musker watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ The 56th animated feature from Disney’s animation studio, Moana tells the story of a young girl raised to be the next chief of her Polynesian village.Not content to stay on her small island, she embarks on an ocean-spanning journey to find the legendary demigod Maui, return a magical artifact to its island home, and save her village from the mysterious blight that threatens it.
Along with breathtaking animation and a phenomenal voice cast led by Dwayne Johnson, Jemaine Clement, and newcomer Auli’i Cravalho (as Moana), the film also features original songs from Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and a beautiful score inspired by the film’s Polynesian setting and culture.Despite its recent arrival, Moana is often ranked among the best Disney movies ever made.Read less Read more Soul (2020) Trailer 95% 83 % 8.1/10 pg 101m Genre Animation, Comedy, Fantasy, Family Stars Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Graham Norton Directed by Pete Docter watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ A middle-school music teacher dreaming of his big break finally gets it, only to suffer an accident that sends him on a journey through the afterlife in this Pixar feature from Up director Pete Docter and Kemp Powers ( One Night in Miami ).Jamie Foxx voices Joe Gardner, the aspiring New York City jazz musician who embarks on a quest across various planes of existence to return to his body.Along the way, he’s tasked with teaching a free-spirited soul (voiced by Tina Fey) why life on Earth is worth living.The film has been praised for both its music and its life-affirming message, and features an impressive cast of voice actors and spectacular visual effects used to bring the afterlife to the screen.
Read less Read more Free Solo (2018) Trailer 97% 83 % 8.2/10 pg-13 100m Genre Documentary, Adventure Stars Alex Honnold, Tommy Caldwell, Jimmy Chin Directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ From National Geographic, Free Solo follows climber Alex Honnold as he attempts to summit El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, one of the toughest climbs in the world … without a harness or rope.Honnold is one of the most accomplished free solo climbers in the world, and his death-defying feats are thrilling and, frankly, horrifying to behold.This visually stunning documentary takes you into the mind of one of the world’s most fearless adrenaline junkies and on a trip up some of the most beautiful and difficult climbs on the planet.
Read less Read more More great documentaries The best documentary films on Netflix The best tech-focused documentaries of all time Frozen (2013) Trailer 90% 75 % 7.4/10 pg 102m Genre Animation, Adventure, Family Stars Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff Directed by Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee watch on Disney+ watch on Disney+ Disney’s 2013 blockbuster, Frozen , was the highest-grossing animated feature of all time until it was surpassed by its 2019 sequel, and it remains the highest-grossing original — as in, not a sequel or spinoff — animated feature of all time by a wide margin.More than a movie, the story of a fearless princess who sets off in search of her estranged sister to save their kingdom from her icy powers became a global phenomenon upon its release.Along with offering a compelling adventure and plenty of clever comedy, Frozen gave the world one of Disney’s most catchy songs, the empowering Let It Go .
The film’s success earned it not one, but two Academy Awards, as well as a wildly successful franchise led by musically gifted voice actors Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, and Josh Gad.Read less Read more The best anime on Amazon Prime Video right now The 50 best movies on Netflix right now The best shows on Netflix right now (January 2022) The 97 best shows on Hulu right now The 54 best movies on Amazon Prime Video right now.