Summary
- Disney+ offers more than just animated classics, with a diverse range of genres and films to choose from.
- Disney+ is the home of many blockbuster franchises, such as
Indiana Jones, Star Wars,
and the MCU movies. -
Aladdin
and
Toy Story
are both iconic films that represent the high-quality animation and storytelling that Pixar and Disney are known for.
Navigating the best movies on Disney+ can be a daunting prospect, as the House of Mouse’s streaming platform boasts more blockbuster films than almost any other. The movies available to watch on Disney+ right now include Disney’s own classics, as well as movies from Marvel Studios, Pixar, Lucasfilm, and films acquired through Disney’s 20th Century Fox merger. Given this varied offering from some of the industry’s biggest players, Disney+ is almost unrivaled when it comes to consistent, exclusive quality across the platform. This means choosing a good movie to watch right now on Disney+ can feel a bit overwhelming.
While animation undoubtedly remains Disney’s bedrock, Disney+ offers much more than the company’s classic, kid-friendly theatrical features. Alongside the likes of Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast sit live-action Oscar winners, sci-fi gems, and soaring romances. Coupled with a strong slate of upcoming Disney movies destined for the platform — not to mention the best TV shows on Disney+ — Disney+ caters to a wide range of tastes with its film catalog. To guarantee that viewers get a good sense of what’s available, here are the best movies you can stream on Disney+ in June 2024.
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Best Drama & Documentary Movies On Disney+
10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
Long before the late Heath Ledger gained critical acclaim with his terrifying performance as The Joker in 2008’s The Dark Knight he was stealing hearts as male lead and love interest Patrick Verona in 1999’s 10 Things I Hate About You. Part drama and part romcom, 10 Things I Hate About You is a retelling of Shakespeare’s The Taming Of The Shrew, retold as a highschool movie. Julia Stiles stars alongside Heath Ledger as Kat, an antisocial teen, who must be convinced to date so that her younger sister Bianca (Larisa Oleynik) can do the same.
This is where Biana enlists the services of Ledger’s Patrick, who she implores to woo Kat so that Bianca will be free to date her own love interest, Joey. Much like the original Shakespeare play, 10 Things I Hate About You has a winding, twist-filled narrative that continues to be incredibly engaging decades after it was first released. Also of note when it comes to the cast is that it features an early appearance from Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
West Side Story (2021)
Remaking a cinematic classic is a daunting prospect for any director — even for one as decorated as Steven Spielberg — yet West Side Story is a resounding triumph. The Best Picture nominee follows the Romeo and Juliet-like love story of a former member of a street gang who falls in love with the sister of one of his rivals. The cast is led by Ansel Elgort as Tony and Rachel Zegler as Maria, but the entirety of the wide ensemble give incredible performances throughout.
Spielberg revitalizes the narrative with so much energy and beauty that even devoted fans of the original will be blown away.
Fans will recognize the wonderful songs and the tragic love story, but Spielberg revitalizes the narrative with so much energy and beauty that even devoted fans of the original will be blown away. As such, West Side Story deservedly ranks as one of the best movies on Disney+.
Hidden Figures (2016)
Hidden Figures
- Release Date
- January 6, 2017
- Director
- Theodore Melfi
- Cast
- Jim Parsons , Glen Powell , Kirsten Dunst , Taraji P. Henson , Octavia Spencer , Janelle Monae , Aldis Hodge , Kevin Costner , Mahershala Ali
- Runtime
- 126 minutes
Based on the novel by Margot Lee Shetterly, Hidden Figures is a historical drama that deservedly ranks among the best Disney+ movies currently available to stream. Telling the inspirational true story of three African American mathematicians (Katherine Goble Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson) who worked at NASA during the Space Race, the movie explores the lives of three extremely significant yet often ignored women.
Despite some historical inaccuracies, the movie was a box office success, was highly praised by critics, and picked up three Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. The cast of Hidden Figures give especially noteworthy performances too, especially Taraji P. Henson as Katherine Goble Johnson, Octavia Spencer as Dorothy Vaughan, and Janelle Monae as Mary Jackson. The central trio are also joined by the likes of Mahershala Ali, Kirsten Dunst, and Kevin Costner.
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (2023)
For music lovers and “Swifties” alike, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour is inarguably the best movie to stream on Disney+ right now. It’s impossible to deny that pop star Taylor Swift is currently dominating the cultural zeitgeist, cementing herself as the current Elvis or Madonna of the current generation. While tickets to her shows carry both a hefty price tag and the ability to travel to a venue, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour brought the magic of a Taylor Swift show to theaters, and now — thanks to it appearing on Disney+ — to living rooms too.
Just like the tour it draws its footage on, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour condenses the singers career down into multiple segments representing various phases of her career, all of which fans will inevitably recognize. Opening with hits like “Cruel Summer” and “You Need to Calm Down” and ending on numbers such as “Karma” and “Mastermind”, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour is guaranteed to please Swifties — though Disney+ subscribers who simply enjoy live music will also get a lot out of the choreography and spectacle.
Best Animated Movies On Disney+
Aladdin (1992)
Aladdin (1992)
- Release Date
- November 11, 1992
- Director
- Ron Clements , John Musker
- Cast
- Scott Weinger , Robin Williams , Linda Larkin , Jonathan Freeman , Frank Welker , Gilbert Gottfried , Brad Kane , Lea Salonga
- Runtime
- 90 Minutes
Aladdin created a whole new world for Disney when it arrived in theaters in 1992. It tells the story of Aladdin (Scott Weinger), a young and charming street urchin who finds a magic lamp with a genie (Robin Williams) who grants him three wishes. With the Genie’s help, Aladdin disguises himself as a prince to woo Princess Jasmine (Linda Larkin) but has to contend with the evil Jafar (Jonathan Freeman), who wants both the lamp and Jasmine for himself.
When
Aladdin
was released, the Disney Renaissance was well underway, but this movie brought it to a whole new level
When Aladdin was released, the Disney Renaissance was well underway, but this movie brought it to a whole new level, and became the highest-grossing movie of 1992. Williams’ performance also pioneered the casting of A-list actors in voice roles, as he created one of Disney’s most memorable characters. With its colorful animation, catchy soundtrack, and of course, Williams, Aladdin isn’t only one of Disney’s best animated movies, but one of their best movies overall.
The live-action 2019
Aladdin,
as well as animated sequels
Return of Jafar
and
Aladdin and the King of Thieves,
are also available on Disney+.
Encanto (2021)
Encanto
- Release Date
- November 24, 2021
- Director
- Jared Bush , Byron Howard , Charise Castro Smith
- Cast
- Mauro Castillo , John Leguizamo , Carolina Gaitan , Rhenzy Feliz , Diane Guerrero , Wilmer Valderrama , Jessica Darrow , Stephanie Beatriz , Adassa , Alan Tudyk , Angie Cepeda , María Cecilia Botero , Maluma
- Runtime
- 99 minutes
One of two animated Disney movies released in 2021, Encanto has already cemented its status as a studio classic. The movie follows a magical Colombian family, all of whom had powers except for loveable misfit Mirabel. However, when a tragedy occurs and the family finds their powers disappearing and their magical house falling apart, it is up to Mirabel to step up and save the Madrigals.
From start to finish,
Encanto
spiritually taps into the majesty of Disney’s golden age.
The magic of Encanto isn’t just in its story and visually spellbinding animation though. Like many animated Disney movies, the songs in Encanto are just as renowned, especially hits like “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” and the incredibly exposition-filled opening number “The Family Madrigal”. Stephanie Beatriz leads the cast voicing Mirabel, and from start to finish, Encanto spiritually taps into the majesty of Disney’s golden age.
Encanto
is one of the most successful modern Disney movies, being nominated for 99 awards and winning 48 of them – including the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2022.
Wish (2023)
Wish
- Director
- Chris Buck , Fawn Veerasunthorn
- Release Date
- November 22, 2023
- Cast
- Ariana DeBose , Chris Pine , Alan Tudyk , Dee Bradley Baker , Frank Welker
- Runtime
- 95 Mins
Disney celebrated 100 years in the entertainment business in October 2023, and to celebrate its centennial anniversary the House of Mouse released an animated movie that celebrated everything that came before — Wish. While Wish performed underwhelmingly at the box-office, it found a new lease of life when it arrived on Disney+, quickly becoming one of the most viewed titles on the platform. It also received a Golden Globe nomination in 2023 for Best Animated Feature Film, which it lost to Hayao Miyazaki’s final film, The Boy and the Heron by Studio Ghibli.
Wish focuses on Asha (Ariana DeBose), a young girl from the kingdom of Rosas who’s auditioning to be the apprentice to the sorcerer King Magnifico (Chris Pine). Magnifico is renowned for granting the wishes of his citizens, although Asha is shocked when she discovers he’s far from fair when deciding which gets granted. When Asha makes her own wish upon a star, the Star descends to Earth, proving Magnifico isn’t the only one who can make dreams come true (it also grants her goat Valentino the ability to talk — and since he’s voiced by Alan Tudyk, the results are hilarious).
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The Lion King (1994)
The Lion King (1994)
- Release Date
- June 24, 1994
- Director
- Roger Allers , Rob Minkoff
- Cast
- Matthew Broderick , Moira Kelly , Nathan Lane , Ernie Sabella , Robert Guillaume
- Runtime
- 89 Minutes
The cornerstone of the so-called Disney Renaissance, The Lion King is perhaps the pinnacle of the studio’s traditional hand-drawn animation style. A huge hit in 1994 (pulling in close to $1 billion at the worldwide box office, via Box Office Mojo), The Lion King is an innovative take on Shakespeare’s Hamlet, telling a Machiavellian tale of succession and betrayal.
Compelling characters, wonderful songs, and a gripping story gave
The Lion King
a reputation as one of the best-animated films ever made
These themes meant that the movie unusually dark for Disney, but compelling characters, wonderful songs, and a gripping story gave The Lion King a reputation as one of the best-animated films ever made, and easily one of the best Disney+ movies. The cast of The Lion King also includes several notable names giving standout performances, especially Matthew Broderick as the adult Simba, Jeremy Irons as Scar, and — of course — James Earl Jones as Mufasa.
Animated sequels
The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride
and
The Lion King 1½
are also available to stream on Disney+, as is the live-action remake. Disney are also working
on a live-action
The Lion King
prequel
.
Moana (2016)
Moana
- Director
- Ron Clements , John Musker
- Runtime
- 107 Minutes
With the release of the trailer for Moana 2 at the end of May 2024, interest in the 2016 hit Moana has peaked once again, and it’s currently available to stream as one of the best movies on Disney+. Like Frozen and Tangled before it, Moana is considered a modern Disney gem, with lush visuals, an emotionally gripping story, a great cast, and some incredibly catchy songs. Moana tells the story of the titular character, Moana of Mata Nui (voiced by Auli’i Cravalho), the daughter of the chief of her village. Just like Anna, Elsa, and Rapunzel, Moana breaks the Disney Princess mold.
Her adventure isn’t one of romance but adventure, as it’s up to her to sail forth from her home island to return the Heart of the Sea and prevent the blight plaguing the crops of her village. Along the way, she enlists the help of the demigod Maui, voiced by Dwayne Johnson, and together the pair make one of the most iconic Disney character duos seen in the long history of the House of Mouse’s animated movies.
Best Pixar Movies On Disney+
Toy Story (1995)
Toy Story
- Release Date
- November 22, 1995
- Director
- John Lasseter
- Runtime
- 81 minutes
Toy Story is a landmark movie, credited with kicking off Pixar’s journey to becoming one of the great animation studios as well as beginning one of the greatest movie franchises of all time. The movie’s ground-breaking animation and premise of what toys do when their kids leave the room all laid the groundwork for Pixar’s signature style and effective world-building.
However, beyond this, Toy Story is fundamentally one of the best movies about friendship ever made, with the rocky relationship between Woody and Buzz Lightyear turning them both into instant icons. The cast of the original Toy Story also had just as big a part to play as the revolutionary CGI, especially Tom Hanks as Woody and Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear. All of these elements combine to a movie that’s greater than the sum of its parts, and easily makes Toy Story one of the best movies available right now on Disney+.
Ratatouille (2007)
Ratatouille
- Release Date
- June 29, 2007
- Cast
- Patton Oswalt , Ian Holm , Lou Romano , Brad Garrett , Peter O’Toole , Janeane Garofalo , Brian Dennehy , Peter Sohn , Will Arnett
- Runtime
- 111 Mins
A fish out of water story that serves as a love letter to cooking, Ratatouille is rightly regarded as one of the best Pixar stories to date. The movie sees a gourmand rat named Remy team up with unassuming waiter Linguine to take over the kitchen at a top French restaurant. What follows is a tale that’s just as stuffed with heartfelt and emotional moments as it is with slapstick comedy, with both the drama and hinjinks balanced to perfection.
Moving and hilarious,
Ratatouille
is understandably seen as a must-watch for any fans of food and film.
The strange premise is starting point for a beautiful story of creativity and the importance of embracing talent in the most unexpected places. Moving and hilarious, Ratatouille is understandably seen as a must-watch for any fans of food and film. The cast are also just as much of a pull as the story, with Patton Oswalt’s Remy being a notable stand-out along with Ganeane Garofalo as the no-nonense love interest Colette Tatou.
Ratatouille
was nominated for 58 awards, winning 38 of them — including the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2008.
Elemental (2023)
Elemental
- Director
- Peter Sohn
- Release Date
- June 16, 2023
- Cast
- Leah Lewis , Mamoudou Athie , Catherine O’Hara , Ronnie del Carmen , Wendi McLendon-Covey
- Runtime
- 93 Minutes
Pixar has shown that they’re capable of telling memorable love stories, such as with 2009’s Up (the opening of which showed audiences romance that both warmed and broke hearts before the bulk of the film’s plot had even started). In 2023 they once again brought an unconventional love story to screens with Elemental, a quirky tale set in a city where Elementals — beings made of fire, water, earth, and air — live. A key social convention underpinning the city is that elements don’t mix, which is where main characters Ember (Leah Lewis) and Wade (Mamoudou Athie) come into play.
Ember is a fire elemental with a temper she struggles to control and is put to the test when she meets Wade, a sensitive water elemental who’s perhaps a little too in touch with his feelings. What initially starts for Ember as an attempt to save her father’s shop from being shutdown, she soon develops feelings for Wade the weepy-eyed city planner. As much as it’s filled with touching moments (and more than a few hilarious ones), Elemental is also an astute social commentary, and definitely a Pixar subscribers that Disney+ subscribers won’t want to miss.
Best Sci-Fi Movies On Disney+
Avatar (2009)
Avatar
- Release Date
- December 18, 2009
- Runtime
- 162 minutes
Although Avatar 2 has effectively added to James Cameron’s vibrant alien world, the saga’s original adventure on Pandora remains unsurpassed in terms of world-building. The story of Jake Sully learning about the Navi culture and becoming a part of it while trying to thwart the threat of Earth colonizers is both timeless and thrilling. Avatar remains visually stunning despite releasing over a decade ago, and the well-paced story unfolds magically before viewers eyes before arriving at the action-filled climax.
Avatar
did the seemingly impossible in becoming the top-grossing movie of all time
Considering it was an original story based on no pre-existing properties (and so had no built-in fanbase to bolster ticket sales), Avatar did the seemingly impossible in becoming the top-grossing movie of all time (viaBox Office Mojo), kick-starting an epic Avatar franchise in the process. Cameron combined stunning visuals with masterful storytelling to create something special, and the end result remains one of the best movies currently available on Disney+.
2022 sequel
Avatar: The Way of Water
is also available to stream on Disney+, and the platform is expected to be the home of every upcoming new
Avatar
movie when they arrive.
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Free Guy (2021)
Free Guy
- Release Date
- August 13, 2021
- Director
- Shawn Levy
- Runtime
- 115 minutes
Ryan Reynolds continued to prove that there’s more to his repertoire than Deadpool with the hugely entertaining and original action-comedy Free Guy. A box office hit on its release in 2021, Free Guy‘s cameo-heavy narrative sees Reynolds become a sentient NPC stuck inside a popular video game. The movie’s virtual setting allows it to push visual boundaries, creating a thrilling and often hilarious story.
However, it’s the movie’s surprisingly touching emotional core that helps mark Free Guy as one of the best sci-fi movies on Disney+.
The movie also holds weight beyond its intriguing premise thanks to the cast, which is led by Reynolds but also features many more standout performances from the likes of Jodie Comer as Millie, Joe Keery as Keys, Taika Waititi as antagonist Antwan Hovachelik, and a hilarious appearance from Lil Rey Howery as Guy’s best friend and fellow NPC Buddy.
Best Star Wars Movies On Disney+
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Deciding upon the best Star Wars movie is, to many fans, like asking to choose a favorite child, yet many will often agree that The Empire Strikes Back stands head and shoulders above the rest. A dark follow-up to the breezy A New Hope, the movie sees the sinister forces of Darth Vader and the Empire pursue Luke, Leia, and Han across the Galaxy, resulting in iconic one-liners and unforgettable parental revelations.
Despite releasing over four decades ago, The Empire Strikes Back has stood the test of time and remains an absolute delight whether being viewed for the first or the 100th time. The movie’s 8.7 IMDb score is higher than any movie in the franchise according to fan votes, which coupled with a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes marks The Empire StrikesBack as one of the best movies of any genre on Disney+.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
Disney’s Star Wars acquisition has seen a proliferation of content set in a galaxy far, far away — not all of it good. Rogue One, however, is living proof that there are still plenty of thrilling stories to be told in the Star Wars universe. A prequel set before the events of A New Hope, Rogue One focuses on a daring Rebel mission to locate the Death Star plans.
An incredibly approachable
Star Wars
movie even for those who aren’t familiar with the franchise, as at its thematic core it’s a war movie rather than a space opera.
Starring Felicity Jones as rebel spy Jyn Erso and Diego Luna as Cassian Andor, who has since gone on to star in his own spin-off Andor, the film made over $1 billion worldwide (via Box Office Mojo) and remains one of the highest-rated Star Wars movies based on critics’ scores. Rogue One stands out as being an incredibly approachable Star Wars movie even for those who aren’t familiar with the franchise, as at its thematic core it’s a war movie rather than a space opera.
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge Of The Sith (2005)
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
- Release Date
- May 19, 2005
- Cast
- Ewan McGregor , Natalie Portman , Hayden Christensen , Ian McDiarmid , Samuel L. Jackson , Christopher Lee , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , Frank Oz , Ahmed Best , Temuera Morrison
- Runtime
- 140 Minutes
Following the record-breaking success of the original trilogy, the Star Wars prequels were — at least initially — seen as something of a let-down. However, even before the subsequent revaluation, it was clear that Revenge of the Sith was a worthy and epic conclusion to Anakin Skywalker’s tragic arc. Chronicling the end of the Clone Wars and the final fall of the Jedi, Episode III marks Skywalker’s transformation into Darth Vader with some truly epic lightsaber duels, a sweeping gothic narrative, and an undeniably moving finale.
While some of the dialogue may not stand up to scrutiny, Revenge of the Sith‘s reputation has justifiably grown with age. It also contains some incredibly memorable sequences and characters, such as the Jedi-slaying cyborg General Grievous. Though viewers at the time of release may have felts it didn’t stand up next to the original trilogy, the decades have definitely been kind to Revenge of the Sith, and it’s now regarded as a solid — if somewhat different — Star Wars movie with plenty to offer.
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Best Marvel & Superhero Movies On Disney+
Deadpool (2016)
Deadpool
- Release Date
- February 9, 2016
- Director
- Tim Miller
- Cast
- Ryan Reynolds , Morena Baccarin , T.J. Miller , Brianna Hildebrand , Karan Soni , Ed Skrein , Michael Benyaer , Stefan Kapicic
In proving that an R-rated comic book movie based on a Marvel Comics character could become a massive success,Deadpool did what many considered to be impossible. It also gave Ryan Reynolds the superhero role he was born to play after failures like Green Lantern and X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Deadpool instantly became a fan favorite character upon the first movie’s release despite being relatively unknown outside of comic-book readers, and thanks to the hilariou script and Reynolds’ performance it’s easy to see why.
Marvel is also making a third movie, also R-rated, under the MCU banner, proving
Deadpool
‘s enduring popularity.
The movie serves as a revamped origin story for Deadpool and ended up making $782 million on a $58 million budget (via Box Office Mojo). This led to a successful sequel and the film’s release as one of the first R-rated movies to make it to Disney+. Marvel is also making a third movie, also R-rated, under the MCU banner, proving Deadpool‘s enduring popularity.
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
After years spent languishing in Sony-owned mediocrity, Spider-Man: Homecoming saw the character flourish in the MCU after a cameo appearance in Captain America: Civil War. The result was a reminder of what makes Spider-Man such a unique comic book character. Expertly played by Tom Holland, the MCU’s Peter Parker is both endearingly innocent and frustratingly naive. However, it’s a testament to Holland’s performance that the audience never stops routing for him, resulting in one of Spidey’s most straightforwardly enjoyable cinematic outings yet.
Holland is joined in the cast by Zendaya as MJ, Marisa Tomei as Aunt May, and Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man/Tony Stark. However, it’s Michael Keaton’s Adrian Toomes/The Vulture that makes Spider-Man: Homecoming truly stand out among the MCU Spider-Man movies. While it may not have the grand multiverse-centric plot of later MCU projects, the first Spider-Man solo outing in the cinematic universe remains one of the most solid as a standalone film.
Iron Man (2008)
Iron Man
- Release Date
- May 2, 2008
- Runtime
- 126 minutes
Directed by Jon Favreau and starring Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, 2008’s Iron Man is the film that launched the MCU, making it easily one of the most influential superhero films ever. Iron Man gave audiences an unlikely protagonist: an egotistical billionaire playboy who starts on a path to becoming the Armored Avenger after being forced to build a metal suit for a group of terrorists.
With Downey Jr. now out of the MCU, Iron Man feels all the more impactful and cements its place as one of the best and most important additions to the ever-expanding cinematic universe. Robert Downey Jr. gave a career-defining performance that he’d go on to carry throughout many subsequent MCU adventures, however he’s far from the only standout in the original Iron Man. Jeff Bridges turn as Iron Monger remains one of the most memorable MCU villains, for example, and Terrence Howard’s appearance as Rhodey is also memorable despite later being recast.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
- Release Date
- November 11, 2022
- Director
- Ryan Coogler
- Cast
- Winston Duke , Dominique Thorne , Michaela Coel , Danai Gurira , Angela Bassett , Lupita Nyong’o , Letitia Wright , Martin Freeman
- Runtime
- 2h 41m
After the massive cultural impact of Black Panther, the sequel had understandably huge expectations. The movie faced even greater difficulties with the tragic and unforeseen death of star Chadwick Boseman, leading to serious questions about how best to honor the actor’s legacy. The fact that the sequel turned out to be a worthy follow-up and tribute to Boseman is a testament to Ryan Coogler and his team.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
was a fitting end to Phase 4 and a touching tribute to T’Challa.
From Shuri’s rise as the new Black Panther to the introduction of Namor, to Angela Bassett’s Oscar-nominated performance, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was a fitting end to Phase 4 and a touching tribute to T’Challa.
Guardians Of The Galaxy Trilogy (2014-2023)
Guardians of the Galaxy
- Release Date
- July 30, 2014
- Cast
- Zoe Saldana , Karen Gillan , Vin Diesel , Michael Rooker , Djimon Hounsou , Lee Pace , Benicio Del Toro , Glenn Close , Dave Bautista , Chris Pratt2 , Bradley Cooper , John C. Reilly
If there was ever any question about whether the MCU could maintain its success post-The Avengers, the studio answered the question emphatically with Guardians of the Galaxy. Utilizing a relatively obscure Marvel property, the movies have surprised many with their swashbuckling stories of criminal misfits coming together to save the galaxy.
James Gunn’s uniquely irreverent sense of humor was perfectly suited to the Guardians’ stories, while the trilogy’s iconic soundtrack has given all three films a distinct identity, resulting in some of the best Disney+ movies and a highlight of the MCU. The cast of the Guardians of the Galaxy movie are just as responsible for the franchise’s success too, whether it’s Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord, Zoe Saldana’s Gamora, or even Vin Diesel’s linguistically limited Groot.
The 2022
Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
is also available to stream on Disney+.
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Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Arguably the most ambitious crossover movie ever attempted, Endgame tied up over a decade of interconnected storytelling into an epic, no-holds-barred finale. Following the devastating ending to Infinity War, the current final Avengers movie saw the survivors of Thanos’ snap attempt to rebuild the broken world, and even try to restore what was lost.
A mixture of taught storytelling, touching character development, and sly humor saw Avengers: Endgame, for a time, become the highest-grossing movie ever, before being surpassed by an Avatar re-release. However, irrespective of the numbers, the movie is a staggering achievement and one of the best Marvel and superhero movies on Disney+.
Best Comedies On Disney+
Big (1988)
Almost every child dreams of what they’d do if they were a grown-up, and the 1988 Tom Hanks comedyBig takes this idea and fleshes it out into a hilarious movie. Playing the adult version of 12-year-old Josh, a boy who makes a wish to become “big” after putting a coin into a mysterious fortune-telling machine at the fair. Josh then wakes up to find he’s grown up overnight (and is now played by Tom Hanks). Josh then gets into all manner of escapades that almost every child would find delightful.
Lighthearted, family-friendly, and hilarious throughout.
There are plenty of hilarious moments, such as Josh learning to shave for the first time, and since he has the mind of a child, the “adult” Josh finds his footing in a toy company. While some elements of the movie are a little uncomfortable by modern standards — such as when Josh enters into an adult relationship with Susan, an executive at the company — Big doesn’t dwell on these and manages to keep itself lighthearted, family-friendly, and hilarious throughout.
Big
was such a cultural success that in 1996 it was adapted into a Broadway Musical, and two TV shows based on the movie were attempted but unfortunately fell through.
The Princess Diaries (2001)
The Princess Diaries
- Release Date
- July 29, 2001
- Cast
- Julie Andrews , Anne Hathaway , Hector Elizondo , Heather Matarazzo , Mandy Moore , Caroline Goodall
- Runtime
- 115 minutes
A delightful coming-of-age comedy,The Princess Diaries centers on shy and awkward teenager Mia Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway), who finds out that she is, in fact, a real princess. Mia undergoes a dramatic makeover and is given “princess lessons” from her grandmother Clarisse Renaldi (Julie Andrews), the Queen regent of Genovia. The Princess Diaries launched Hathaway to superstardom, and she lights up the screen playing Mia, who finds her confidence and learns that royalty isn’t just a title; it’s an attitude.
Freaky Friday (2003)
Freaky Friday (2003)
- Release Date
- August 6, 2003
- Director
- Mark Waters
Body-swap comedy Freaky Friday sees feuding mother and daughter Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Anna Coleman (Lindsay Lohan) wake up inhabiting each other’s bodies. As they try to figure out a way to switch back, they learn what it’s like to live in the other’s shoes. Freaky Friday has a lot of heart, but it’s also incredibly funny.
It’s easy to see why
Freaky Friday
is the movie that launched Lohan’s acting career as a teen star
It’s easy to see why Freaky Friday is the movie that launched Lohan’s acting career as a teen star, and she and future Oscar winner Curtis have crackling chemistry and phenomenal comedic timing.
Best Fantasy Movies On Disney+
The Indiana Jones Series (1981-2023)
One of the most celebrated action-adventure sagas ever, the Indiana Jones series has defined the genre for generations and is rife with fantastical elements drawn from real occult myths, legends, and history. Starring Harrison Ford as the titular archaeologist, the Indiana Jones movies invariably see Indy setting off on a daring, globe-trotting adventure to retrieve a mysterious, historically significant MacGuffin.
On the way, Dr. Jones usually faces booby traps, dangerous animals, and, more often than not, Nazis. While some entries are more popular than others, Indiana Jones‘ impact on cinema culture as a whole cannot be overstated, making the franchise’s arrival on Disney+ a welcome addition to the roster.
The fifth film in the franchise, 2023’s
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
, is now available on Disney+.
The Princess Bride (1987)
The Princess Bride
- Release Date
- October 9, 1987
- Director
- Rob Reiner
- Cast
- Mandy Patinkin , Chris Sarandon , Robin Wright , Cary Elwes , Christopher Guest
- Runtime
- 98 minutes
Part-typical fairytale romance, part-complete rejection of the genre, The Princess Bride plays with audience expectations to create a completely original and beguiling story. Using the charming framing device of a grandfather reading a story to his grandson, The Princess Bride tells the tale of a common girl who falls for her devoted stable boy only for fate, villainy, and mayhem to challenge their quest for “happily ever after.”
The Princess Bride
‘s characters
may be its biggest strength
As well as its sense of humor, The Princess Bride‘s characters may be its biggest strength with the swashbuckling hero Inigo Montoya and gentle giant Fezzik among the highlights.
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Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl (2003)
Representing the start of one of Disney’s most important live-action franchises, Pirates of the Caribbeans: Curse of the Black Pearl is still the pinnacle of the long-running series. The movie introduces the romance between Orlando Bloom’s Will Turner and Keira Knightley’s Elizabeth Swann, two lovers who became embroiled in a battle with pirates and the Royal Navy.
However, the movie will forever be associated with Johnny Depp’s Oscar-nominated performance as the melodramatic Jack Sparrow. Along with the fun of the characters, Pirates of the Caribbean is pure adventure movie entertainment that feels like a throwback, and few movies on Disney+ right now can match its huge and thrilling action sequences.
The entire
Pirates of the Caribbean
franchise is available to stream on Disney+, and
Pirates of the Caribbean 6
remains in development.
Hocus Pocus (1993)
Hocus Pocus
- Release Date
- July 16, 1993
- Cast
- Bette Midler , Sarah Jessica Parker , Kathy Najimy , Omri Katz , Thora Birch , Vinessa Shaw
- Runtime
- 96 minutes
Easily one of the most popular cult classic Halloween movies ever made,Hocus Pocus also ranks among the best fantasy movies on Disney+ movies. Simultaneously scary and funny, the movie focuses on the evil Sanderson witches, who are accidentally resurrected by a teenage boy in Salem, Massachusetts on Halloween night.
Hocus Pocus
even had a sequel that hit Disney+ in 2022, 29 years after the original hit theaters.
Hocus Pocus was a box office flop when released but has lived on as a beloved cult classic. Hocus Pocus even had a sequel that hit Disney+ in 2022, 29 years after the original hit theaters.