Disney+ is your destination if you’re looking for scary movies for the whole family that won’t be too frightening. Return To Oz might freak out your little ones, but Hocus Pocus 2, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and The Haunted Mansion are great Halloween fare. Even if you aren’t looking for the spookiest titles, Disney+ still has the near-complete library of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic movies. And there’s nothing scary about that! But if you need some help making your selection, then check out our newly updated list of the best movies on Disney+ right now.
If you’ve yet to do so, be sure to check out the Disney Bundle, which will get you Disney+, ESPN+, and a basic Hulu subscription for just $14 a month. You’re essentially getting three streaming services for the price of two, which is one heck of a deal.
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+
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The New Mutants2020 -
Into the Woods2014
88m
Genre
Thriller, Fantasy, Comedy, Family, Mystery
Stars
Eddie Murphy, Marsha Thomason, Terence Stamp
Directed by
Rob Minkoff
The Haunted Mansion is one of the most popular Disney theme park attractions, but the movie is far less popular even though it’s a pretty fun family flick. Eddie Murphy headlines the film as Jim Evers, a real estate agent who doesn’t make much time for his wife, Sara (Marsha Thomason), or their children, Megan (Aree Davis) and Michael (Marc John Jeffries). After the Evers family is lured to the infamous Gracey Manor (that’s the name of the fictional haunted mansion), they are confronted by the enigmatic Ramsley (Terence Stamp). The Evers soon discover that the mansion is overrun by ghosts, and they also learn that Sara has an uncanny resemblance to the late Elizabeth Henshaw, the lover of Master Edward Gracey (Nathaniel Parker).
76m
Genre
Fantasy, Animation, Family
Stars
Chris Sarandon, Danny Elfman, Catherine O'Hara
Directed by
Henry Selick
The Nightmare Before Christmas is perhaps the only Christmas movie that’s fit for Halloween — and vice versa. Tim Burton and director Henry Selick’s masterfully realized stop-motion animated masterpiece is probably keeping Hot Topic in business after all of these years. But this film is also beloved for its catchy tunes by Danny Elfman, and for the lovable hero, Jack Skellington (Chris Sarandon). Jack is the master of all things Halloween, and yet dreadfully bored by all of it. When he discovers that Christmas is a thing, Jack doesn’t hesitate to hijack the holiday and put his own spin on “Sandy Claws.” Needless to say, Jack’s take on Christmas really freaks out the human world. It also endangers his friends in Halloween Town.
107m
Genre
Fantasy, Comedy, Family
Stars
Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy
Directed by
Anne Fletcher
Hocus Pocus 2 completely skipped theaters, and it pulled off a coup by getting Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker to reprise their roles as the evil witches Winnie, Mary, and Sarah Sanderson, respectively. Nearly three decades after they were vanquished, the Sandersons are resurrected by Becca (Whitney Peak) and Izzy (Belissa Escobedo), two teenage girls who want to be witches themselves. When Becca and Izzy realize that they’ve been tricked into unleashing the Sandersons, they are forced to reconcile with their former friend, Cassie Traske (Lilia Buckingham), if they are to have any hope of banishing the sisters again.
52m
Genre
Comedy, Family, TV Movie
Stars
Dave Goelz, Bill Barretta, Matt Vogel
Directed by
Kirk R. Thatcher
In retrospect, Muppets Haunted Mansion is the perfect fusion of two Disney properties that don’t ordinarily overlap. Unlike the Haunted Mansion movie starring Eddie Murphy, the titular home of 999 ghosts is much closer to its Disney origins in this tale. Two Muppets, Gonzo, and Pepe are roped into staying in the Haunted Mansion for a single night — if they can withstand the terror. There are a lot of celebrity ghosts in this special, which is to say that there are a lot of cameos by man and Muppet alike.
68m
Genre
Horror, Fantasy, Animation, Family
Stars
Bing Crosby, Basil Rathbone, Eric Blore
Directed by
James Algar, Clyde Geronimi, Jack Kinney
Would you believe that one of Disney’s best horror stories comes from an anthology released in 1949? The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad’s adaptation of Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow has some genuinely unsettling moments when poor Ichabod Crane comes face-to-no-face with the infamous Headless Horseman. Ichabod’s fear of the supernatural makes it worse for him, but there’s definitely someone chasing him through Sleepy Hollow on this fateful night!
The other story in this film is a wonderful take on Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows, which follows the misadventures of Mr. Toad. When Toad finally gets into too much trouble to handle, it falls on his friends Angus MacBadger, Ratty, and Moley to help him reclaim his good name and freedom.
96m
Genre
Fantasy, Comedy, Family
Stars
Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy
Directed by
Kenny Ortega
Hocus Pocus became a Halloween tradition for Disney fans long before it spawned a Disney+ sequel. But the original remains the better of the two films. In the late 17th century, the Sanderson sisters Winnie (Bette Midler), Mary (Kathy Najimy), and Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker) use their evil witchcraft to steal the lifeforce of Thackery Binx’s (Sean Murray) sister, before turning Binx into a cat. The witches even manage to set up their own resurrection and cheat death.
In the present, Binx is still alive when Max Dennison (Omri Katz) accidentally brings the witches back to life. With Binx’s aid, Max, his sister Dani (Thora Birch), and Allison Watts (Vinessa Shaw) need to find a way to survive Halloween and prevent the Sandersons from taking any more victims before the end of the day.
103m
Genre
Family, Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Stars
Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Directed by
Dan Scanlon
Pixar’s Onward may seem like an odd choice for Halloween viewing, but it is appropriate for the season. In this magical world of elves and other fairy tale creatures, Ian Lightfoot (Tom Holland), and his older brother, Barley Lightfoot (Chris Pratt), come across a spell that will temporarily resurrect their late father. Unfortunately for the two elf brothers, the spell goes awry and only brings back their father’s legs.
With only a short time to finish the spell and get emotional closure, the Lightfoot brothers go on a quest alongside their father’s legs. At the same time, they have to come to terms with each other, even if it threatens to completely derail their shared goal.
94m
Genre
Horror, Science Fiction, Mystery, Action
Stars
Blu Hunt, Maisie Williams, Anya Taylor-Joy
Directed by
Josh Boone
Someday, someone could make a good movie about all of the behind-the-scenes drama surrounding The New Mutants film. For various reasons, this Marvel adaptation was delayed for years and years before getting a very short stay in theaters. We can’t argue that it’s among the greatest Marvel movies, but The New Mutants does do something very different and Halloween-appropriate by embracing horror. After experiencing the deaths of her parents, Danielle “Dani” Moonstar (Blu Hunt) finds herself locked up in a medical facility alongside four other mutants: Illyana Rasputin (Anya Taylor-Joy), Rahne Sinclair (Maisie Williams), Samuel “Sam” Guthrie (Charlie Heaton), and Roberto “Bobby” da Costa (Henry Zaga).
The kids believe that they are being trained to become the next generation of X-Men. However, their guardian, Dr. Cecilia Reyes (Alice Braga), may have a more sinister agenda. At the same time, the young mutants discover that their greatest fears are taking physical form and coming after them one by one.
125m
Genre
Fantasy, Comedy
Stars
James Corden, Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep
Directed by
Rob Marshall
Disney’s Into the Woods now has a sing-along version on Disney+, which you can stream in place of the primary edition. Of course, it’s a fun film either way. In this remix of classic fairy tales, a Baker (James Corden) and the Baker’s Wife (Emily Blunt) suffer under the curse of a Witch (Meryl Streep) who has cursed them to remain childless. The couple’s lone recourse is to procure rare objects, including a blood-red cape and golden slippers.
Fortunately, iconic figures like Cinderella (Anna Kendrick), the Prince (Chris Pine), Jack (Daniel Huttlestone), Little Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford), and Rapunzel (MacKenzie Mauzy) have exactly what the couple needs to break free. However, the Baker and his wife soon discover that the price of achieving their dream is higher than they believed.
143m
Genre
Adventure, Fantasy, Action
Stars
Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley
Directed by
Gore Verbinski
Movies based on Disney theme park rides have no business being this good. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is a terrific adventure film, thanks in large part to the direction of Gore Verbinski and an Oscar-nominated performance by Johnny Depp. Within the movie, Captain Jack Sparrow (Depp) wants to get revenge on his former first mate, Hector Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), who stole his ship, The Black Pearl.
When Barbossa kidnaps Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley), Jack sees his best chance for vengeance lies with Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), the son of one of Jack’s old friends. Together, Jack and Will assemble their own crew as they take on Barbossa’s crew of cursed pirates who become living skeletons under moonlight.
55m
Genre
Action, Fantasy, Horror, TV Movie
Stars
Gael García Bernal, Laura Donnelly, Harriet Sansom Harris
Directed by
Michael Giacchino
It’s been a few months since we’ve had a new Marvel movie, but Werewolf by Night will help fill the gap. Based on one of Marvel’s ‘70s horror comics, this black-and-white special presentation follows Jack Russell (Gael García Bernal) and Elsa Bloodstone (Laura Donnelly). These two strangers have been drawn into a monster hunt to determine who will win the legendary Bloodstone that belonged to Elsa’s late father. Jack and Elsa may have different agendas, but they find that they also have common ground before Jack’s inner monster emerges. And when that happens, all bets are off.
Genre
Drama, Romance, Comedy, Music
The 20th anniversary of Drumline is coming up this year, and the film now has a new home on Disney+. Nick Cannon stars as Devon Miles, a gifted drummer who attends a historically Black college as a freshman. Devon makes a big first impression by quickly earning a high place among the school’s band. Devon even attracts an older student, Laila (Zoe Saldana), while earning the enmity of his rival, Sean Taylor (Leonard Roberts). But when Devon proves to be too immature and arrogant to handle his new responsibilities, Dr. Lee (Orlando Jones) expels Devon from the band and forces the young man to finally grow up.
88m
Genre
Adventure, Comedy, Animation, Family
Stars
Noah Schnapp, Bill Melendez, Marleik 'Mar Mar' Walker
Directed by
Steve Martino
Few characters are as put upon as poor Charlie Brown (Noah Schnapp), the unluckiest kid alive and the star of Charles Schulz’s comic strip Peanuts. The Peanuts Movie is a wonderful update on the source material that finally gives Charlie a chance to shed his bad luck image — which he continuously fails to do. The key difference this time is that Charles’ efforts are not in vain. His friends are finally realizing that there’s more to him, and the same is true for his long-time crush, the Little Red-Haired Girl (Francesca Angelucci Capaldi).
90m
Genre
Family, Science Fiction, TV Movie
Stars
China Anne McClain, Kelli Berglund, Marshall Williams
Directed by
Paul Hoen
At first glance, How To Build a Better Boy could be considered a Frankenstein story. After all, Gabby Harrison (China Anne McClain) and Mae Hartley (Kelli Berglund) did conspire to create the perfect boyfriend: Albert Banks (Marshall Williams). But they get a pass because Albert was only supposed to be a virtual creation. When he shows up at school, Albert sweeps Gabby off her feet and inadvertently drives a wedge between Mae and Gabby. Yet, when the army comes after Albert, Gabby and Mae band together when they learn about Albert’s true nature.
82m
Genre
Family, Fantasy, TV Movie
Stars
Malachi Barton, Christian J. Simon, Sophia Hammons
Directed by
Alex Zamm
Don’t be fooled by the gruesome visages of mummies Harold (Phil Wright) and Rose (Rryla McIntosh). Their flesh may be gone, but they have good hearts. In this sequel to Under Wraps, teenagers Marshall (Malachi Barton), Gilbert (Christian J. Simon), and Amy (Sophia Hammons) once again awaken Harold and Rose from their eternal slumber when they discover that an evil mummy, Sobeck (T.J. Storm), has also been resurrected. And Sobeck won’t stop until he takes Rose back from Harold and destroys his former friend. Fortunately, the kids still have Buzzy (Melanie Brook) in their corner and the moral support of Amy’s two dads.
105m
Genre
Fantasy, Drama, Romance
Stars
Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest
Directed by
Tim Burton
Meet Edward (Johnny Depp). He isn’t your typical teenager for reasons beyond the fact that he has scissors for hands. Poor Edward Scissorhands was created by an eccentric inventor (Vincent Price) who passed away before he could give his beloved “child” normal human hands. And so Edward has to find his own way in Tim Burton’s kooky and weird cinema classic. Fortunately, Edward finds a kindred spirit in Kim (Winona Ryder), the daughter of a woman named Peg (Dianne Wiest), who takes him in and tries to teach him about the world. Regardless, the world may not be ready for what Edward has to offer.
102m
Genre
Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family
Stars
Will Smith, Tom Holland, Ben Mendelsohn
Directed by
Troy Quane, Nick Bruno
In the world of Spies in Disguise, Will Smith’s Lance Sterling is essentially James Bond, and Walter Beckett (Tom Holland) is his Q, the genius who makes all of the gadgets. After Walter is fired over his refusal to make lethal weapons for Lance, the older agent is framed as a traitor by his adversary, Killian (Ben Mendelsohn). While trying to disguise himself and go on the run, Walter is accidentally transformed into a pigeon by one of Walter’s gadgets. Now, the inexperienced and young Walter will have to fill Lance’s shoes as he tries to save the day and cure his reluctant mentor.
100m
Genre
Adventure, Family, Drama
Stars
Harrison Ford, Dan Stevens, Colin Woodell
Directed by
Chris Sanders
Harrison Ford is the biggest name on the call sheet for this adaptation of Jack London’s classic novel The Call of the Wild. But the real star of the film is the CGI dog, Buck, who has a difficult life in the late 19th century. Through perseverance and the apparent wolf blood in his veins, Buck proves himself to a leader among dogs. But he doesn’t truly find happiness until he comes under the protection of John Thornton (Ford), a frontiersman who comes to care for Buck. Regardless, Buck finds himself drawn to live in the wild like his ancestors, despite his attachment and bond with John.
133m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
Stars
Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Alan Tudyk
Directed by
Gareth Edwards
With the release of Andor, it’s a good time to revisit Rogue One, one of the very best Star Wars movies of the Disney era. Director Gareth Edwards delivered a beautiful stand-alone film that serves as a prequel to the original Star Wars. Felicity Jones headlines the cast as Jyn Erso, a rebellious thief who is recruited to locate a former associate in order to receive a message from her long-missing father, Galen (Mads Mikkelsen). But soon enough, Jyn, Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), K-2SO (Alan Tudyk), and a ragtag team are on a suicide mission to steal the Death Star plans from the Empire in a desperate bid to save the Rebel Alliance.
112m
Genre
Family, Music, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, TV Movie
Stars
Dove Cameron, Cameron Boyce, Booboo Stewart, Sofia Carson
Directed by
Kenny Ortega
Long before Disney owned Marvel, the studio played around with an alternate reality in which all of its fantasy films took place in the same world. Descendants put forth the idea that Maleficent (Kristin Chenoweth) and the other Disney villains were vanquished and banished to a remote island while the kingdom of Auradon is benevolently ruled by King Beast (Dan Payne) and Queen Belle (Keegan Connor Tracy). Their son, Ben (Mitchell Hope), generously invites Maleficent’s daughter, Mal (Dove Cameron), and the other villainous kids, Carlos (Cameron Boyce), Jay (Booboo Stewart), and Evie (Sofia Carson) to join the rest of the kingdom. However, Maleficent and the villains see it as a chance to destroy Auradon from within using their own children.
109m
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Romance
Stars
Milo Ventimiglia, Kevin Costner, Amanda Seyfried
Directed by
Simon Curtis
The Art of Racing in the Rain is a somewhat misleading title, since a good deal of the movie is about the relationship between a man named Denny (Milo Ventimiglia) and his dog, Enzo, as voiced by Kevin Costner. Don’t worry, this isn’t a typical talking dog movie. Instead, Enzo narrates the life of Denny as his ambitions to be a race car driver keep him from his wife Eve (Amanda Seyfried) and his daughter Zoë (Ryan Kiera Armstrong). When tragedy strikes the family, Enzo is the glue that keeps them together. And when Denny needs inspiration to keep going, Enzo is there to deliver it.
105m
Genre
Family, Animation, Fantasy, Music, Comedy, Adventure
Stars
Anthony Gonzalez, Gael García Bernal, Benjamin Bratt
Directed by
Lee Unkrich
Coco is the latest Pixar/Disney movie to get a sing-along version on Disney+, and it’s definitely a lot of fun to try. It’s also a great film in its own right, and it’s one of Pixar’s first movies to really explore other cultures. Anthony Gonzalez provides the voice of Miguel, a music-loving Mexican boy born to a family that hates all music. After unintentionally stealing the guitar of his legendary grandfather, Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt), Miguel is cursed to the Land of the Dead. And if Miguel doesn’t get the blessing of a relative in the afterlife then he will be stuck there forever. But once Miguel meets Ernesto, he discovers a dark secret that challenges everything he thought he knew about his life.
132m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Stars
Simu Liu, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Awkwafina
Directed by
Destin Daniel Cretton
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is basically a Marvel martial arts movie. Simu Liu’s Xu Shang-Chi is an everyman living his best life in San Francisco with his close friend, Katy (Awkwafina). Shang-Chi’s secret past as a former assassin is exposed when his father, Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung Chiu-wai), sends his men after his son. Along with Katy, Shang-Chi tracks down his sister Xu Xialing (Meng’er Zhang) as they attempt to thwart Wenwu’s plans to open a deadly gate to another dimension. And if they fail, this world will fall.
127m
Genre
Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, Action
Stars
Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Edgar Ramírez
Directed by
Jaume Collet-Serra
It may be Disney’s ambition to turn every Disney theme park attraction into a feature film franchise. Luckily for the Jungle Cruise, it has two not-so-secret weapons: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Emily Blunt. Johnson portrays a skipper named Frank Wolff who is hired to take Dr. Lily Houghton (Blunt) and her brother MacGregor Houghton (Jack Whitehall) on a risky expedition into the jungle. The object of their quest is the mystical Tree of Life, which hides several secrets. Yet, the real joy here is the interplay between Johnson and Blunt. It’s no Romancing the Stone, but it’s still a lot of fun.
119m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Stars
Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Christian Bale
Directed by
Taika Waititi
One of this past summer’s big Marvel movies is now on Disney+, and the God of Thunder is facing a crisis in Thor: Love and Thunder. After Avengers: Endgame, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) no longer has a purpose in his life. But while gallivanting about in space, Thor discovers that a lethal serial killer, Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), is murdering pantheons across the universe. When Gorr targets New Asgard on Earth, Thor learns that his ex-girlfriend, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), has claimed his magical hammer and become the Mighty Thor. But as Thor and Jane emotionally reconnect, he learns her life is at stake and even his power may not save her.
111m
Genre
Fantasy, Adventure, Family
Stars
Tom Hanks, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Luke Evans
Directed by
Robert Zemeckis
There are two Pinocchio movies this year, but only one is a remake of the classic Disney animated film. Tom Hanks lends the movie some star power as Geppetto, a very lonely toymaker who desperately wants a son. The Blue Fairy (Cynthia Erivo) hears Geppetto’s plea and grants his wish by bringing his puppet, Pinocchio (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth), to life. She even promises to turn Pinocchio into a real boy if he behaves himself. Unfortunately for Pinocchio, he’s a trouble magnet and he’s prone to giving into temptation.
103m
Genre
Family, Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Stars
Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Josh Gad
Directed by
Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee
Disney+ has released a new sing-along version of Frozen II, if you want to follow along with the songs. But the sequel to one of Disney’s biggest hits is more than enjoyable by itself. After she inadvertently releases elemental threats from the past, Elsa (Idina Menzel) resolves to fix her mistake. Alongside her sister, Anna (Kristen Bell), Elsa leads Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) and the snowman Olaf (Josh Gad) on a dangerous trip into the unknown to find the answers that they need to save the kingdom.
60m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen, Deborah Chow
Directed by
David Gelb
Unfortunately, it may be a long time before there’s a new Star Wars movie to add to Disney+, But there is a new documentary, Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi’s Return, which chronicles the making of the Obi-Wan Kenobi series. Director Deborah Chow and her talented cast and crew take viewers behind the scenes of Obi-Wan and Darth Vader’s rematch. Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen also share their thoughts about reprising their roles for the first time since 2005.
101m
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Fantasy, Family
Stars
Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Graham Norton
Directed by
Pete Docter
Anyone who claims that Pixar has lost its way should check out Soul, one of the best films the studio has ever produced. Jamie Foxx leads the voice cast as Joe Gardner, a music teacher who has dreams of becoming a professional jazz musician. But just when Joe is on the verge of achieving his goal, he dies and finds himself in The Great Before. Rather than let his soul slip away into the afterlife, Joe teams up with a free spirit called 23 (Tina Fey) to find a way back to Earth.
108m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Science Fiction, Family
Stars
Timothy Dalton, Alan Arkin, Billy Campbell
Directed by
Joe Johnston
Not all superheroes come out of the Marvel Universe. In 1991, the late Dave Stevens’ comic book, The Rocketeer, was brought to the big screen by Disney and director Joe Johnston. In this very fun throwback adventure, Billy Campbell stars as Cliff Secord, a stunt pilot in 1938 who stumbles across an experimental jet pack that was stolen by Nazi spies. Cliff uses the jet pack to become the Rocketeer in part to keep his girlfriend, Jenny Blake (Jennifer Connelly). But when the Nazis and their hidden operatives come for the jet pack, Cliff will have to become a hero to save himself and his girl.
134m
Genre
Action, Adventure
Stars
Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Rachel Weisz
Directed by
Cate Shortland
Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff deserved her own movie long before Black Widow arrived in 2021. But if this is Johansson’s Marvel swan song, then at least she went out with a bang. Black Widow has an incredible opening sequence that establishes Natasha’s fake family of spies in the ‘90s. Two decades later, in the aftermath of Captain America: Civil War, Natasha is on the run from the government when she receives a message from her “sister,” Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh). Although unrelated by blood, the two Black Widows take it upon themselves to free their fellow operatives from the Red Room’s control. At the same time, Natasha must also confront the ghosts of her past.
121m
Genre
Music, Drama, Romance
Stars
Fin Argus, Sabrina Carpenter, Madison Iseman
Directed by
Justin Baldoni
Clouds is based on the heartbreaking true story of Zach Sobiech (Fin Argus), a teenage musician who was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2012. Faced with the prospect of dying before ever truly having the chance to live, Zach struggles with his mortality as his parents, Rob (Tom Everett Scott) and Laura (Neve Campbell), try to help him. With the assistance of his friends, Sammy Brown (Sabrina Carpenter) and Amy Adamie (Madison Iseman), Zach finds the inspiration to write a hit song as his legacy in the world. Yet Zach’s time is so short that he runs the risk of losing the chance to have his moment before the end.
81m
Genre
Animation, Adventure, Family, Comedy
Stars
Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles
Directed by
John Lasseter
Toy Story was a game changer in every sense of the word for Pixar, Disney, and the entire animation industry. Prior to 1995, hand-drawn 2D animation reigned supreme. As Disney and Pixar’s first full-length computer-animated film, Toy Story was a revelation at the time. And it is still a technical marvel nearly three decades later. Tom Hanks stars as the voice of Woody, a cowboy action figure who is the favorite toy of a boy named Andy. Or at least he was until space ranger Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) came along. Woody’s attempt to get rid of his rival puts both toys in danger. And they can only save each other by working together.
101m
Genre
Family, Comedy
Stars
Tom Guiry, Mike Vitar, James Earl Jones
Directed by
David M. Evans
Thanks to the 2019 acquisition of 20th Century Fox’s films and TV shows, The Sandlot is now a Disney movie. And it’s a very fitting distinction for this classic coming-of-age tale that just happens to be on the verge of its 30th anniversary in 2023. Tom Guiry stars as Scott Smalls, a lonely and unathletic kid growing up in the early ‘60s. Fortunately, Scott makes friends with Benjamin “Benny” Franklin Rodriguez (Mike Vitar) and the rest of his local sandlot baseball team. But when Scott accidentally loses a valuable signed baseball during a game, the boys question how they can possibly retrieve it from a notorious neighbor’s yard without running afoul of his intimidating canine.
132m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Stars
Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender
Directed by
Bryan Singer
Two generations of mutant heroes unite in X-Men: Days of Future Past. In the ruined world of the present, only a few X-Men are left alive, including Professor X (Patrick Stewart), Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), and even their former enemy, Magneto (Ian McKellen). In an attempt to save themselves, a desperate plan is hatched to send Wolverine’s mind back to his 1973 self so he can prevent Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) from killing a man and creating the dark future they live in. To do that, Wolverine will have to locate the younger incarnations of Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto (Michael Fassbender) and convince them to work together again.
84m
Genre
Romance, Family, Animation, Fantasy
Stars
Paige O'Hara, Robby Benson, Richard White
Directed by
Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise
Disney’s animated classic Beauty and the Beast has a new sing-along version on Disney+. And it just doesn’t get any better than those catchy Howard Ashman and Alan Menken tunes. In this musical reinterpretation of the fairy tale, Paige O’Hara lends her voice to Belle, a highly intelligent young woman whose father is held captive by the Beast (Robby Benson). To secure her father’s release, Belle agrees to become the Beast’s prisoner. But in his enchanted castle, Belle slowly discovers the tormented man behind the Beast’s fierce exterior. Belle’s willingness to open her heart to the Beast only enrages her jilted suitor, Gaston (Richard White), who is one of the all-time great Disney villains.
99m
Genre
Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Comedy, Romance
Stars
Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin
Directed by
Rob Reiner
William Goldman got the chance to adapt his novel The Princess Bride for director Rob Reiner, and the result was a cinematic classic. Cary Elwes stars as Westley, a farm boy who falls in love with Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright) at an early age. After years apart, Westley re-enters Buttercup’s life as the Dread Pirate Roberts. To save Buttercup from a forced marriage to Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon), Westley makes some unlikely allies including Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin) and a gentle giant named Fezzik (Andre the Giant). And in a clever framing device, the story unfolds as a bedside tale told by a grandfather (Peter Falk) to his sick grandson (Fred Savage).
104m
Genre
Fantasy, Animation, Comedy, Crime, Family
Stars
Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd, Joanna Cassidy
Directed by
Robert Zemeckis
You’ve never lived until you’ve seen Donald Duck and Daffy Duck in an increasingly violent piano duel at the Ink and Paint Club. In the alternate world of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Disney and Warner Bros. Toons live side by side in Toontown. But when one of the cartoon industry’s biggest stars, Roger Rabbit (Charles Fleischer), finds himself wanted for murder, he turns to Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins). Back in the day, Eddie and his brother were the go-to private investigators for Toons. However, Eddie’s been in a funk ever since his brother was killed by a Toon. Fortunately for Roger, Eddie steps up when the malevolent Judge Doom (Christopher Lloyd) and his weasels hunt them down.
97m
Genre
Music, Adventure, Comedy, Family
Stars
Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson
Directed by
James Frawley
If you’ve ever heard the song Rainbow Connection, this is where it came from. The Muppet Movie is essentially the origin story for Kermit the Frog (Jim Henson), Miss Piggy (Frank Oz), Gonzo (Dave Goelz), and the rest of their friends from The Muppet Show. Kermit falls in love with the idea of making millions of people happy as an entertainer, but he falls even harder for Miss Piggy. Although love isn’t always a two-way street between them, Miss Piggy does save Kermit from the increasingly insane Doc Hopper (Charles Durning). In turn, Hopper hires a frog killer, Snake Walker (Scott Walker), to assassinate Kermit and his group before they ever reach Hollywood to audition for the opportunity of a lifetime.
105m
Genre
Comedy, Romance
Stars
Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, Kimberly Williams-Paisley
Directed by
Charles Shyer
Steve Martin is starting to show up a lot more on Disney+, in his family-friendly movies, of course. In this remake of Father of the Bride, Martin portrays George Banks, with Diane Keaton as his wife, Nina. Although the couple is initially happy, George is taken aback when his 22-year-old daughter, Annie (Kimberly Williams), comes home with her new fiancé, Bryan MacKenzie (George Newbern), after only knowing him for a few months. In addition to butting heads with Bryan and his parents, George has to contend with an eccentric wedding planner, Franck Eggelhoffer, as played by Martin’s frequent co-star, Martin Short.
78m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Liván Hernández, Orlando Hernández
Directed by
Mario Diaz
At first glance, the ESPN-produced documentary, Brothers in Exile, might seem like a better fit for ESPN+ than Disney+. But while this is a baseball story, it’s also a very compelling story about two brothers: Liván Hernandez and Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez. Although born in Cuba, the Hernandez brothers dreamed of escaping the island to pursue a career in Major League Baseball. But when Liván defected to the United States, Orlando was forced to remain behind in a Cuban regime that banned him from baseball for life. From there, Orlando took a very risky journey to escape persecution and follow his brother to their new home.
102m
Genre
Animation, Adventure, Family
Stars
Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff
Directed by
Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee
How many times can you watch Frozen? Only your children know for sure. With the 10th anniversary of its release coming up soon, it has to be said that Frozen has earned its place in Disney history as perhaps the studio’s most popular film since the ‘90s. Idina Menzel stars as Elsa, the estranged Princess of Arendelle who is ostracized from the kingdom because of her incredible ability to bend ice and cold to her will. Kristen Bell also stars as Elsa’s sister, Anna. The sisters haven’t seen each other in years, but they will have to emotionally reconnect if they want to save the kingdom and each other.
134m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
Stars
Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o
Directed by
Ryan Coogler
There will be a new Black Panther movie this year, and there will be someone new wearing the now-famous suit. But there was only one Chadwick Boseman, and it’s his presence that gives this film a great deal of its emotional weight. The late actor portrayed T’Challa, the grieving prince of Wakanda and the latest Black Panther to assume the role. But just as T’Challa claims the crown, an outsider calling himself Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) emerges with a secret that could bring down the Wakandan royal family … and T’Challa himself. To make things even more complex, Killmonger’s worldview forces T’Challa to examine what Wakanda truly owes the world and what he can do to change it.
107m
Genre
Animation, Science Fiction, Adventure, Action, Family
Stars
Chris Evans, Keke Palmer, Peter Sohn
Directed by
Angus MacLane
Get ready to meet the “real” Buzz Lightyear. Pixar’s Lightyear is predicated on the premise that this is the film that inspired the action figure from Toy Story. Beyond that, it’s largely its own take on the character originally played by Tim Allen. Captain America’s Chris Evans steps into the role of a much younger Buzz Lightyear, as his mission to explore strange new worlds inadvertently leaves his group marooned on a distant planet. And every time that Buzz performs a test flight with unstable energy, it sends him further and further into the future until he is the only original colonist who can stand against the alien robots led by Zurg (James Brolin). Fortunately, Buzz’s new friend, Izzy Hawthorne (Keke Palmer), and her team are there to help prove that Buzz doesn’t have to go it alone.
119m
Genre
Action, Comedy, Adventure
Stars
Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Morena Baccarin
Directed by
David Leitch
There is something very deeply funny about Deadpool 2 arriving on Disney+. If the character was real, he’d celebrate by wearing a royal female costume over his own outfit and declaring himself a Disney princess. Make no mistake, this is not family fare and definitely not for kids. But if you have members of your household who can comfortably watch R-rated flicks, then Deadpool 2 tells a very entertaining story about Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) in his darkest hour. Deadpool finds a new reason to live when he decides to protect a mutant teenager, Russell Collins (Julian Dennison), from Cable (Josh Brolin), a warrior from a future where Russell grew up to be a deadly supervillain. Somehow, Deadpool has to save not only Russell but also himself as well.
89m
Genre
Family, Animation, Drama
Stars
Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons
Directed by
Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff
As The Lion King nears its 30th anniversary, it’s a good reminder that there’s always time for the classics on Disney+. Matthew Broderick headlines the cast as Simba, son of the mighty lion Mufasa (James Earl Jones). Under Mufasa’s reign, the Pride Lands are bountiful. However, Mufasa’s evil brother, Scar (Jeremy Irons), wants to rule the Pride Lands himself. So Scar engineers Mufasa’s death and tricks Simba into blaming himself and going into exile. Timon (Nathan Lane) and Pumpa (Ernie Sabella) take it upon themselves to raise Simba into adulthood, and they accompany him when he returns to the Pride Lands to reclaim his rightful throne.
88m
Genre
Comedy, Family
Stars
John Travolta, Robin Williams, Kelly Preston
Directed by
Walt Becker
Disney has released Old Dogs from its vault, and it’s most notable for its onscreen team-up of Robin Williams and John Travolta as best friends and business partners Dan Rayburn and Charlie Reed. When Dan discovers that he has two children with the woman who was briefly his wife, Vicki Greer (Kelly Preston), he is roped into caring for their two kids: Emily (Ella Bleu Travolta) and Zach (Conner Rayburn). Because Dan needs his help, Charlie also commits to looking after the kids, even though it threatens both a major business deal and his own burgeoning relationship with a woman named Amanda (Lori Loughlin). As the title implies, Dan and Charlie will have to learn some new tricks in order to fulfill their responsibilities.
105m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams
Directed by
Michael Gracey
Since almost every X-Men-related movie starring Hugh Jackman is now on Disney+, it’s only fitting that we look at one of his biggest successes outside of the comic book realm: The Greatest Showman. Jackman headlines the cast as P. T. Barnum, the legendary founder of the Barnum & Bailey Circus. The film does take some liberties with the reality of Barnum’s story, but it’s a rousing musical as Barnum rises to fame and infamy with his troupe of performers. Zac Efron co-stars as Phillip Carlyle, a playwright who becomes intricately intertwined with Barnum’s business, and even more deeply involved with an acrobat named Anne Wheeler (Zendaya).
137m
Genre
Action, Drama, Science Fiction
Stars
Hugh Jackman, Dafne Keen, Patrick Stewart
Directed by
James Mangold
Although Dark Phoenix is technically the last X-Men movie produced by 20th Century Studios, Logan is the real ending to the franchise that began in 2000. It’s also the final time that Hugh Jackman played Logan/Wolverine on the big screen. In this bleak vision of the near future, mutants are almost extinct, and Logan’s healing powers are rapidly declining. Logan’s friend and mentor, Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), is in even worse condition as his out-of-control powers are a danger to himself and others. All Logan wants to do is find a sanctuary for himself and Charles. Regardless of his wishes, Logan soon finds himself forced to become the protector of Laura (Dafne Keen), a young mutant girl who may be the closest thing that he has to a daughter.
83m
Genre
TV Movie, Family, Drama
Stars
Izabela Rose, Jayden McGinlay, Ella Proberts
Directed by
Christine Luby
If you’re looking for some G-rated fun for the family, The Curious Case of Dolphin Bay may be just what you need. Izabela Rose stars as Quinn Perkins, a 15-year-old girl who is excited to land a summer internship alongside her best friend, Daniella (Ella Proberts), for the first time since Daniella moved to Australia. There is some tension between them that comes up, but it is overshadowed by potentially supernatural events that unfold around them. To uncover the mystery of Everly Fallow, Quinn and Daniella will have to work together and overcome lingering issues.
107m
Genre
Adventure, Comedy, Family, Animation
Stars
Auli'i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House
Directed by
Ron Clements, John Musker
Need an excuse to watch Moana again? Disney+ has debuted a new sing-along version for fans of all ages. And boy is this a movie worth singing to. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s catchy tunes really rival the golden era of Disney musicals from the ‘90s. Auli’i Cravalho stars as Moana, a young woman who is destined to lead her people. But when she realizes that everything her people have is in danger, Moana leaves her island life behind to find the missing demigod, Maui (Dwayne Johnson), so they can restore the stolen heart of the goddess Te Fiti.
113m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Wood Harris
Directed by
Boaz Yakin
Remember the Titans is definitely a Disney film, even when dealing with the challenging themes of this real-life story. In 1971, Coach Bill Yoast (Will Patton) is informed that T. C. Williams High School is integrating Black students with the white student body, and Herman Boone (Denzel Washington) will be taking over his job. Reluctantly, Bill agrees to coach under Herman as they face the monumental task of not only bringing the team together but also the larger community as well. The Titans have a long way to go before they can prove themselves, and there is no room for mistakes along the way. Yet even in the face of tragedy, Herman and Bill find a way to hold the team together.
108m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Comedy
Stars
Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Ed Skrein
Directed by
Tim Miller
If we were taking bets about which films would never be on Disney+, Deadpool would be at the top of the list. This film earned its R-rating with over-the-top violence and very NSFW comedy as it mercilessly mocked superhero movies. Ryan Reynolds pushed for this comic-accurate take on this origin story of sorts — Wade falls for Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) before he discovers that he has terminal cancer. Francis Freeman/Ajax (Ed Skrein) offers Wade a cure, which activates Wade’s latent mutant powers. This saves his life and also leaves Wade hopelessly disfigured. Therefore, Deadpool resolves to get his revenge on Ajax, no matter how many people he has to kill.
96m
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Family, Adventure
Stars
Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai
Directed by
Pete Docter
To celebrate the Disney+ debut of Deadpool, Ryan Reynolds suggested that other Disney movies deserved an R for trauma. Pixar’s Up would probably qualify for that distinction. The first few minutes of the film chronicle the life of Carl Fredricksen (Ed Asner) and his wife, which is an absolute tearjerker. Carl loses everything that means anything to him. But Up isn’t about wallowing in tragedy; it’s about finding a way to heal and move on. In Carl’s case, his ambitious plan to turn his home into an airship accidentally brings along Russell (Jordan Nagai), a young boy scout without a father of his own. Despite Carl’s misgivings, his adventure with Russell is exactly what he needed.
103m
Genre
Romance, Comedy
Stars
Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman, Peter Gallagher
Directed by
Jon Turteltaub
Disney+ has more than just Marvel and animated films. While You Were Sleeping is a romantic comedy starring Sandra Bullock as Lucy Eleanor Moderatz. She’s a transit worker whose unspoken attraction to Peter Callaghan (Peter Gallagher) leads her to save his life. Unfortunately, Peter is left in a coma, and his family mistakenly believes that Lucy is his fiancée. For the most part, Peter’s family embraces Lucy, except for his brother, Jack (Bill Pullman). But the more time that Lucy and Jack spend together, the more they realize that they have an undeniable connection.
88m
Genre
Comedy, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Family, TV Movie
Stars
Meg Donnelly, Milo Manheim, Matt Cornett
Directed by
Paul Hoen
Disney’s Zombies films aren’t exactly The Walking Dead, and you can be reasonably certain that they won’t be eating any brains in this G-rated flick. Instead, the Zombies movies are high school romance flicks with humans and reformed zombies congregating at Seabrook High. In Zombies 3, Zed (Milo Manheim) and his human girlfriend, Addison (Meg Donnelly), are in their senior year and getting ready for college. They’ve even helped other monsters fit in at Seabrook. But when alien teenagers show up in town, Zed and Addison suspect that they may have sinister intentions.
50m
Genre
Documentary, TV Movie
Stars
Bill Stone
Directed by
Pablo Durana
When somebody mentions the tallest mountain in the world, people tend to think of Mount Everest. But what about the deepest cave in the world? National Geographic’s Explorer: The Deepest Cave, follows explorer Bill Stone on his quest to prove that Mexico’s Cheve Cave is the deepest cave known to man. And the journey to the bottom takes three months through some very dangerous spaces. Get ready for a firsthand view of something few men and women have ever seen in person.
96m
Genre
Science Fiction, Action, Adventure
Stars
Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, David Warner
Directed by
Steven Lisberger
2022 marks the 40th anniversary of Tron, a truly groundbreaking film that first hit theaters in 1982. Contrary to popular belief, Tron was not a flop at the box office, it just wasn’t a blockbuster hit. Fortunately, fans have embraced the story of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) a disgraced former programmer for ENCOM who is certain that CEO Ed Dillinger (David Warner) stole his work. While attempting to uncover evidence of that theft, Flynn is transported into the world of the computer itself. Flynn soon joins forces with Tron (Bruce Boxleitner) and Yori (Cindy Morgan), two programs that resemble his friends, Alan Bradley and Dr. Lora Baines. This movie is a visual masterpiece, and worthy of its cult status.
132m
Genre
Action, Science Fiction, Adventure
Stars
James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence
Directed by
Matthew Vaughn
Without giving spoilers away, recent events in the MCU have indicated that the X-Men will be returning in the near future. This makes it a good time to revisit one of the best X-Men movies ever made: X-Men: First Class. This film was technically a prequel to the first X-Men and a soft reboot for the series with James McAvoy as a young Charles Xavier and a pre-superstardom Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique. However, the breakout player in this flick is Michael Fassbender, whose performance as Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto is electrifying. Erik will stop at nothing to take down Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon), the man who murdered his mother. But with Charles’ help, Erik discovers the value of training a new generation of mutants to be heroes.
115m
Genre
Adventure, Fantasy, Action
Stars
Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston
Directed by
Kenneth Branagh
It’s the summer of Thor, so there’s no better time to revisit the original film that started it all. Unlike Thor: Ragnarok and Thor: Love and Thunder, the original Thor doesn’t go for too many overly comedic moments. Instead, director Kenneth Branagh gives Chris Hemsworth’s Thor a Shakespearean feud with his resentful adoptive brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston). It doesn’t take much goading from Loki to convince Thor to spark a war between the realms. In turn, Odin (Anthony Hopkins) banishes Thor to Earth, where he meets and falls for a mortal scientist, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman). Thor could find happiness with Jane, but if he doesn’t prove himself to be worthy of his powers, then the golden realm of Asgard will fall from within.
77m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Greg LeMond, Bernard Hinault
Directed by
John Dower
Do you know why there’s only one American who has officially won the Tour de France? It’s because Lance Armstrong was exposed as a cheater. Now, the only American to have that honor is Greg LeMond. The documentary Slaying the Badger tells the story of LeMond’s first win at the Tour de France when he was a teammate of the reigning champion, Bernard “The Badger” Hinault. Prior to the race, Hinault had pledged to help LeMond win. But on the brutal course, Hinault displayed a willingness to do whatever it took to remain at the top of the mountain himself. That meant that LeMond really had his work cut out for him.
127m
Genre
Drama, Fantasy, Adventure, Family
Stars
Eva Green, Asa Butterfield, Samuel L. Jackson
Directed by
Tim Burton
Honest Trailers once described Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children as “Tim Burton’s X-Men.” That’s not an inaccurate statement. In this adaptation of Ransom Riggs’ novel, Jake Portman (Asa Butterfield) is alarmed to find his grandfather, Abe Portman (Terence Stamp), on the verge of death. Following Abe’s last words leads Jake to discover a hidden time loop where Miss Alma LeFay Peregrine (Eva Green) protects peculiar children with superhuman powers from the malevolent Mr. Barron (Samuel L. Jackson) and his Hallows. Unfortunately for Jake, his presence threatens to expose the entire home to Mr. Barron and permanently close the time loop.
124m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Madina Nalwanga, David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong'o
Directed by
Mira Nair
There aren’t a lot of sports biopics about chess players, but Queen of Katwe is one of the few. This film is based on the real story of Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga), a 10-year-old girl living in the slum of Katwe in Uganda. Despite the efforts of Phiona’s mother, Nakku Harriet (Lupita Nyong’o), the entire family is trapped in poverty. But they get a lifeline from Robert Katende (David Oyelowo), a missionary who teaches Phiona how to play chess. She soon proves to be such a prodigy that Robert introduces Phiona to the world of competitive chess masters. Yet even Phiona’s talent is stretched to its limit, forcing the young girl to question whether she can truly achieve her dream.
131m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Stars
Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett
Directed by
Taika Waititi
Director Taika Waititi really left his mark on the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Thor: Ragnarok and turned the franchise into more a superhero comedy than anything else. Estranged adoptive brothers Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston) find themselves on the same side when their vengeful sister, Hela (Cate Blanchett), heralds the end of Asgard itself. But before Thor can return to save his people, he’ll have to convince his “friend from work,” Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), and a disillusioned former Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) to help him escape from the Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum). With Thor: Love and Thunder about to hit theaters, it’s the perfect time to revisit this flick.
102m
Genre
Adventure, Family, Animation, Action, Comedy
Stars
Scott Adsit, Ryan Potter, Daniel Henney
Directed by
Chris Williams, Don Hall
The Disney+ original series, Baymax!, has been released, so it’s fitting that we take a look back at the first big-screen appearance of everyone’s favorite healthcare robot in Big Hero 6. Unlike the vast majority of superheroes, Baymax (Scott Adsit) doesn’t really have any interest in fighting or violence. He was created to heal, and that is his purpose in life, even though young Hiro Hamada (Ryan Potter) tries to turn Baymax into something that he isn’t. Hiro’s new friends and Big Hero 6 teammates, Fred (T.J. Miller), Go Go (Jamie Chung), Wasabi (Damon Wayans Jr.). and Honey Lemon (Genesis Rodriguez), attempt to show Hiro a better way to be a hero. But it’s Baymax who allows Hiro to open his heart again.
160m
Genre
History, Drama
Stars
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr., Renée Elise Goldsberry
Directed by
Thomas Kail
There are many hit Broadway shows, but very few that become a breakout cultural phenomenon in the way that Hamilton did. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical reimagining of the life of Alexander Hamilton and the founding fathers of America is a breathtaking spectacle with catchy tunes and one of the most popular Broadway hits in decades. Fortunately, the original cast members put in a special performance for this theatrically filmed event. This extraordinary group of actors may never again share the stage, but their version of Hamilton has a permanent home on Disney+ that can be revisited again and again.
126m
Genre
Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Stars
Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor
Directed by
Sam Raimi
Literally weeks after it became the second-highest grossing movie of the year, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has come to Disney+. Benedict Cumberbatch once again plays Dr. Stephen Strange, a sorcerer who is now a celebrity for helping the Avengers save the world from Thanos. As Strange contemplates his lingering regrets, a girl named America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) enters his life with demonic monsters trying to catch her. To understand his new foe, Strange turns to former Avenger Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen). But he won’t like what he finds when he meets the Scarlet Witch.
113m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Uche Agada, Dayo Okeniyi, Yetide Badaki
Directed by
Akin Omotoso
There’s nothing that Disney loves more than a feel-good story. Rise is based on the true experiences of the Antetokounmpos family, including three brothers who made it into the NBA. But before there was triumph, there was hardship and heartache. Rise follows Charles (Dayo Okeniyi) and Vera Antetokounmpo (Yetide Badaki) as they try to build a new life for themselves and their children in Greece after emigrating from Nigeria. Meanwhile, three of their sons, Giannis (Uche Agada), Thanasis (Ral Agada), and Kostas (Jaden Osimuwa), discover their talent and passion for basketball. Regardless of the Antetokounmpos brothers’ natural gifts, getting into the NBA took years of hard work. Yet in the end, it’s a dream come true.
Genre
Drama
Stars
Holden William Hagelberger, Mark Aguirre, Aaron Alcaraz
Directed by
Robin Mishkin Abrams
As part of its Pride Month celebration, Disney+ has debuted Trevor: The Musical. This is not a traditional movie. Instead, like Hamilton, it is a recording of a live performance of a Broadway-style musical. In this case, it’s based on the 1994 short film called Trevor. Holden Hagelberger stars as Trevor, a young boy whose life is upended at school when his romantic crush on a male student, Pinky (Sammy Dell), is exposed. From that unenviable position, Trevor has to come to terms with his own identity and determine who he wants to be and how he wants to live.
100m
Genre
Family, Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Fantasy, Drama
Stars
Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts
Directed by
Josh Cooley
Toy Story 4 marks the end of the saga that began in 1995 with the original Toy Story. Maybe. You can never tell if Pixar will revisit the film in another decade or so. But if this is the final adventure of Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), then the Toy Story franchise went out on top. After living with his new owner, Bonnie (Madeleine McGraw), Woody has an existential crisis when she no longer wants to play with him. Thankfully, the return of Woody’s old flame, Bo Peep (Annie Potts), gives him a new purpose in life. Newcomers Forky (Tony Hale), Ducky (Keegan-Michael Key), and Bunny (Jordan Peele) also have some hilarious scenes that practically steal the movie.
93m
Genre
Adventure, Comedy, Family, Science Fiction
Stars
Rick Moranis, Matt Frewer, Marcia Strassman
Directed by
Joe Johnston
Just over three decades ago, Honey I Shrunk the Kids was the pinnacle of live-action Disney summer movies. It’s still a lot of fun to revisit now, thanks largely to Rick Moranis’ lively performance as Wayne Szalinski, a beleaguered scientist who has created a way to shrink and enlarge objects. But Wayne just can’t seem to make it work safely. Wayne’s children, Amy (Amy O’Neill) and Nick (Robert Oliveri), and the neighbor’s kids, Russell “Little Russ” Thompson Jr. (Thomas Wilson Brown) and Ronald “Ron” Thompson (Jared Rushton), accidentally find the answer when they are shrunk to a microscopic size. In order to save themselves, the children will have to survive the perils of Wayne’s backyard.
98m
Genre
Comedy, Sports
Stars
Leon, Doug E. Doug, Rawle D. Lewis
Directed by
Jon Turteltaub
If you didn’t know that Cool Runnings was inspired by the true story of the 1988 Jamaica national bobsleigh team, then it would still be an inspiring underdog tale. Leon Robinson stars as Derice Bannock, a Jamaican athlete whose Olympic dreams are dashed…until he realizes that he could put together a four-man bobsleigh team with his friends, Sanka Coffie (Doug E. Doug), Junior Bevil (Rawle D. Lewis), and Yul Brenner (Malik Yoba). The late John Candy co-stars as Irving “Irv” Blitzer, a disgraced former bobsleigh medalist who sees his chance for redemption by training Derice and his friends. However, to truly compete, this is a team that has to find its own way. The Jamaican way.
105m
Genre
Music, Romance
Stars
Grace VanderWaal, Judy Greer, Elijah Richardson
Directed by
Julia Hart
Let’s get something out of the way. Disney’s Stargirl is neither an alien nor a superhero, unlike some other Stargirls. Instead, Susan “Stargirl” Caraway (Grace VanderWaal) is just a very nice teenager with a singing voice that seems destined to make her famous. Hollywood Stargirl is the sequel to Disney+’s original Stargirl movie, which continues the lead character’s story after she and her mother, Ana (Judy Greer), move to Los Angeles. Stargirl’s voice quickly attracts the attention of Evan (Elijah Richardson), a young man who wants her to be in a movie he’s making with his brother, Terrell (Tyrel Jackson Williams). But there are definitely romantic sparks between Stargirl and Evan, and she always seems to find a way to brighten the lives of everyone she meets.
124m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
Stars
Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn
Directed by
Ryan Fleck, Anna Boden
With Disney+’s Ms. Marvel series right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to revisit the origin story of Kamala Khan’s idol, Captain Marvel. In this flashback adventure, Brie Larson stars as Vers, a Kree warrior whose mission to stop the shape-shifting Skrulls leads her to Earth during the ‘90s. However, Vers soon comes to realize that she is actually Carol Danvers, an Air Force pilot who went missing years earlier. Carol also aligns herself with Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and another interested party to discover who tampered with her mind and why. To rediscover herself, Carol will have to become a superhero for the ages.
126m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Stars
Warwick Davis, Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley
Directed by
Ron Howard
As you’ve probably heard, there’s a Willow sequel series coming to Disney+ later this year. That means you have five months to get up to speed on everything that happened before the show. Don’t worry: There’s only a single Willow movie to watch, and it’s a keeper. Ron Howard directed the story of Willow Ufgood (Warwick Davis), an aspiring sorcerer who becomes the unlikely protector of an infant girl named Elora Danan. Because of a prophecy, the evil Queen Bavmorda (Jean Marsh) wants Elora dead. To spirit Elora to safety, Willow turns to the swordsman Madmartigan (Val Kilmer) as they face Bavmorda’s formidable daughter, Sorsha (Joanne Whalley).
97m
Genre
Documentary
Directed by
Mark Monroe
Morning Light was a passion project for the late Roy E. Disney, the former Disney executive (and Walt Disney’s nephew) who absolutely loved sailing. Disney and director Mark Morone handpicked a team of 15 young sailors to compete in the annual Transpacific Yacht Race on a ship called the Morning Light. The film offers an intimate view of the crew’s training and their personal journeys as they strive to pull together as a team in an incredibly competitive field.
121m
Genre
Adventure, Action, Science Fiction
Stars
Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher
Directed by
George Lucas
Forty -five years ago this week, the original Star Wars hit theaters and changed the movies forever. It was subsequently given the “Episode 4: A New Hope” name, but to the first generation of fans, it all starts here. In a desperate bid to keep Darth Vader (David Prowse with James Earl Jones as Vader’s voice) from retrieving the plans for a super weapon called the Death Star, Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) hides them with two droids. From there, destiny awaits a restless young man named Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), an exiled Jedi called Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness), the Wookie Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew), and the scoundrel known as Han Solo (Harrison Ford). Even after all of these years, it’s still a rousing space adventure.
90m
Genre
Family, Science Fiction, Adventure
Stars
Joey Cramer, Paul Reubens, Veronica Cartwright
Directed by
Randal Kleiser
Flight of the Navigator was one of the live-action Disney films of the ’80s that caught on with a young generation of fans. In 1978, a boy named David Freeman (Joey Cramer) accidentally injures himself on his way back home. When David wakes up, eight years have passed, but he is physically and mentally the same as he was before. Dr. Louis Faraday (Howard Hesseman) correctly guesses that David wasn’t on Earth during that time. That conclusion soon leads David to encounter Max (Paul Reubens), the artificial intelligence that controls an advanced alien starship. And Max is David’s only hope of ever getting home.
80m
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Family
Stars
Bill Murray, Breckin Meyer, Jennifer Love Hewitt
Directed by
Peter Hewitt
While Bill Murray has poked fun at his role as America’s favorite orange tabby cat, Garfield was actually a great fit for his voice. In this live-action and CGI film, Breckin Meyer stars as Garfield’s owner, Jon Arbuckle, with Jennifer Love Hewitt as Dr. Liz Wilson. Jon’s crush on Liz leads him to adopt a dog named Odie, much to Garfield’s anger. Garfield is able to trick Odie into running away, but he soon realizes that he will have to leave the house as well in order to save his canine companion and bring him home.
89m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
José Andrés Puerta
Directed by
Ron Howard
From National Geographic and director Ron Howard, We Feed People is a documentary that throws the spotlight on celebrity chef José Andrés and his nonprofit organization, World Central Kitchen. What began as a grass-roots company has become one of the leading humanitarian aid groups in times of trouble and disaster. This is its story and a look at the people who made it their mission to feed the hungry no matter how far they had to go.
96m
Genre
Comedy, Animation, Family, Adventure, Fantasy
Stars
John Mulaney, Andy Samberg, KiKi Layne
Directed by
Akiva Schaffer
We may never get a sequel to Who Framed Roger Rabbit, but surprisingly, Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers is here to pick up the torch with one of the most bitingly funny Disney movies to come along in this century. For the purposes of this movie, Chip (John Mulaney) and Dale (Andy Samberg) are washed-up toon actors who haven’t spoken to each other in years. The former duo is reunited when one of their Rescue Rangers co-stars goes missing, and they have to live up to their rep to find him. Along the way, Disney mercilessly skewers itself with satire that may be lost on younger viewers. Older members of the family are gonna get a kick out of it.
140m
Genre
Adventure, Action, Science Fiction
Stars
Hayden Christensen, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman
Directed by
George Lucas
If you want to get ready for the new Obi-Wan Kenobi miniseries, then Revenge of the Sith is required viewing. This is one of the darkest Star Wars stories to date, and it chronicles the downfall of Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen), an immensely powerful Jedi who gives into his darker urges to protect the love of his life, Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman). With Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) pulling Anakin’s strings, it’s only a matter of time before Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor) finds himself at odds with Anakin and locked in a battle to the death.
95m
Genre
Animation, Family, Adventure, Drama, Comedy
Stars
Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Bill Hader
Directed by
Pete Docter
If you don’t mind having a good cry, then Inside Out remains a stunning addition to the Pixar library with a unique original story. Almost the entire movie takes place within the mind of a young girl named Riley (Kaitlyn Dias), through the emotions personified as Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phylis Smith), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), and Disgust (Mindy Kaling). When Riley is overwhelmed by despair following a difficult move, Joy is alarmed by the growing presence of Sadness. But soon, both avatars are lost in Riley’s mind, with no easy way to rejoin the rest of their companions. They will have to trust and appreciate each other in order to make it home.
94m
Genre
Comedy, Family
Stars
Jim Carrey, Carla Gugino, Madeline Carroll
Directed by
Mark Waters
If you need something silly to wash away the sadness of Inside Out, then Mr. Popper’s Penguins is a perfectly fun Jim Carrey movie that just happens to play very well with younger viewers. It’s hard to go wrong with Carrey and a group of adorable penguins. Tom Popper Jr. (Carrey) may disagree when he’s forced to follow in the footsteps of his father and take care of five penguins: Captain, Loudy, Bitey, Stinky, Lovey, and Nimrod. But Tom actually comes to care for and love his penguins, and it helps him reconnect with his own kids as he becomes a better person from the experience.
112m
Genre
Music, Comedy, Family
Stars
Chosen Jacobs, Lexi Underwood, Kolton Stewart
Directed by
Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum
Almost everyone has seen Cinderella, but you haven’t seen it quite like this. Sneakerella updates the classic fairy tale by setting it in present-day New York and by making the lead character a teenage boy, El (Chosen Jacobs). El may be a lowly stock boy, but he has big dreams about becoming a sneaker designer, even if he has to keep his aspirations a secret from his wicked stepbrothers. When he meets Kira King (Lexi Underwood), the daughter of a sneaker tycoon named Darius King (John Salley), El gets the chance to find love and possibly the opportunity of a lifetime. All it takes is a little courage — and possibly a little magic to help El on his way.
151m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Robert Clotworthy, Kenny Baker, Jim Bloom
Directed by
Kevin Burns, Edith Becker
Since May is the 45th anniversary of Star Wars, it’s only fitting that we take a look back at how it all began. Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy is a comprehensive examination of the making of Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. George Lucas and numerous cast members and crew share their memories and insight into one of the great sci-fi epics of our time. Fair warning, at two and a half hours, it’s quite long. But it’s also split up into five chapters, which may make for an easier way to break up the viewing experience if you choose to do so.
87m
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Family
Stars
Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright
Directed by
David Silverman
The Simpsons have been around for the better part of four decades, but they have only had one cinematic adventure so far. And The Simpsons Movie happens to be one of the best stories in the franchise, with enhanced animation for the big screen. After Homer Simpson (Dan Castellaneta) causes an ecological disaster, almost everyone in Springfield rises up and chases the Simpson family out of town. But when Springfield itself is targeted for destruction by the crazed head of the EPA, the entire Simpson clan must return in order to save their friends and neighbors.
115m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Stars
Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams
Directed by
Scott Derrickson
The real magic of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is its ability to turn secondary comic book heroes into box office superstars. Case in point, Doctor Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), soon to be the star of his own sequel, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The original Doctor Strange is on Disney+, and it chronicles the story of a world-famous surgeon whose hubris led to a career-ending car accident. Stephen forsakes the love of Dr. Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams) in the hopes of finding a miracle cure for his badly damaged hands. Instead, Stephen finds himself drawn into the mystic tutelage of the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton), and forced to defend humanity against Kaecillus (Mads Mikkelsen) and the followers of Dormammu, a god-like being from the Dark Dimension.
90m
Genre
Drama, Family, Fantasy, Romance
Stars
Alexis Bledel, William Hurt, Sissy Spacek
Directed by
Jay Russell
Disney’s adaptation of Natalie Babbitt’s romantic fantasy, Tuck Everlasting, features Alexis Bledel as Winnie Foster, a 15-year-old girl who despises her lack of choices in life during the early 20th century. After stumbling upon the Tuck family in the woods, Winnie is taken hostage because they believe she has discovered the secret to their immortality. Over time, Winnie falls for the Tuck family’s youngest son, Jesse Tuck (Jonathans Jackson). However, she is also warned that immortality is a type of curse that she should avoid. Soon after, Winnie and Jesse’s newfound love is threatened by a stranger (Ben Kingsley) who desires the Tuck family’s spring.
97m
Genre
Comedy, Romance, Drama
Stars
Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Directed by
Gil Junger
You may have heard that 10 Things I Hate About You is based on William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. And it is, to a certain extent. But if you’re expecting pure Shakespeare, this isn’t it. Instead, it’s a delightful teenage romantic comedy. Walter Stratford (Larry Miller) won’t allow his youngest daughter, Bianca Stratford (Larisa Oleynik), to date until her older sister, Katarina “Kat” Stratford (Julia Stiles), begins seeing people on her own. Cameron James (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) wants Bianca so badly that he arranges for Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) to date Kat. What Cameron doesn’t realize is that the boy Bianca really wants is Joey Donner (Andrew Keegan); which could end Cameron’s plans for romance before they even begin.
120m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa
Directed by
AJ Schnack
Were you a baseball fan in the summer of 1998? That was the year that the St. Louis Cardinals’ Mark McGwire and the Chicago Cubs’ Sammy Sosa were chasing Roger Maris’ all-time home run record. It was a magical time that made people fall in love with the sport again because we knew the record was going to fall. Everyone was rooting for Mark and Sammy to succeed, and they even seemed to be rooting for each other. Unfortunately, achieving those record-breaking home runs wasn’t the accomplishment that we were led to believe. The documentary, Long Gone Summer, examines the fallout from McGwire and Sosa’s performance-enhancing drug scandals without losing sight of how exciting their home run chase was at the time.
117m
Genre
Action, Drama, History, Thriller
Stars
Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster
Directed by
Craig Gillespie
Disney doesn’t often venture into live-action drama, but The Finest Hours is a rare exception. It’s a dramatization of the true story of the rescue of the SS Pendleton in 1952. Coast Guard crewman Bernard “Bernie” Webber (Chris Pine) finds himself unexpectedly dispatched to save the crew of the Pendleton after it is torn in two by a powerful storm. On the Pendelton, Ray Sybert (Casey Affleck) rallies the surviving crew to keep the ship above water long enough for help to arrive. The fight for survival will push the crew to their limit and challenge the rescuers as well.
64m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Joe Quesada, Peter Sanderson, Sana Amanat
Directed by
Mike Jacobs
Behind the Mask is not a Marvel Studios movie. Instead, it’s a documentary that focuses on the comics that laid the groundwork for that franchise. According to Marvel’s Joe Quesada, the reason why Marvel’s heroes resonate so intensely with its readers is because of who they are “behind the mask.” Someone must have noticed that the expression makes for a great movie title. This documentary spans the length of Marvel’s history from the creation of Captain America by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon to the modern creators who bring Marvel’s heroes to life. It also looks at the lives of the writers and artists, and how their real-world experiences informed their superhero stories.
71m
Genre
Animation, Adventure, Family, Action
Stars
Christy Carlson Romano, Will Friedle, Nancy Cartwright
Directed by
Steve Loter
On the big screen, most of Disney’s heroines are princesses or royalty. But in this made-for-TV movie, Kim Possible (Christy Carlson Romano) is a teenage secret agent with her own sidekick, Ron Stoppable (Will Friedle). Spinning out of the Kim Possible TV series, So the Drama puts Kim and Ron’s relationship through its first real test when he realizes that he has romantic feelings for her. Unfortunately, that revelation comes just as Kim starts dating a new kid named Eric (Ricky Ullman). Meanwhile, Kim’s nemesis, Dr. Drakken (John DiMaggio), and his sidekick, Shego (Nicole Sullivan), plot their revenge on Kim.
84m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Catherine Keener
Directed by
Alastair Fothergill, Jeff Wilson
Just because Disney owns National Geographic now, it doesn’t mean that Disneynature has closed up shop. Far from it, in fact. To celebrate this year’s Earth Day, Disneynature has released Polar Bear, a new documentary that features stunning and beautiful visuals from the Arctic. It’s almost like watching life on another planet. The film follows a female polar bear and her two cubs as they struggle to survive in increasingly dangerous terrain. Climate change has made it even harder for animals to live in one of the harshest places on Earth. But you’ll root for these bears every single step of the way.
92m
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Family
Stars
John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Mary Gibbs
Directed by
Pete Docter
Monsters, Inc. is one of Pixar’s finest films from its early years, and it features a great comedic duo in John Goodman and Billy Crystal. In an alternate world populated by monsters, energy is only available from harnessing the screams of human children. Mike (Crystal) and Sullivan (Goodman) are two monsters who are assigned to the scare floor before they accidentally bring a girl named Boo (May Gibbs) back from the human world. When Mike and Sully try to protect Boo from harm, they also discover secrets that may bring down Monsters, Inc. for good.
106m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Stars
Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans
Directed by
Tim Story
While 20th Century Studios’ Fantastic Four movie is technically the second film with these characters, almost everyone pretends that the 1994 Roger Corman flick didn’t exist. This isn’t quite as good as the Marvel Studios films that followed, but it’s still a good adaptation of Marvel’s first family of superheroes. Ioan Gruffudd stars as Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic, with Jessica Alba as Sue Storm / Invisible Woman, Chris Evans as Johnny Storm / Human Torch, and Michael Chiklis as Ben Grimm / The Thing. After a mission in space exposes them to cosmic rays, the FF become both celebrities and superheroes. However, Ben’s desire to be human allows Victor Von Doom (Julian McMahon) the opportunity to take down the team.
113m
Genre
Family, Comedy, Drama
Stars
Robin Williams, Diane Lane, Brian Kerwin
Directed by
Francis Ford Coppola
The late Robin Williams was the perfect choice to play an overgrown child in Jack. Within the film, Jack Powell (Williams) is stricken with a rare disorder that ages him at four times the rate of normal kids. So at 10 years old, Jack looks like he’s 40. Although Jack’s parents, Karen (Diane Lane) and Brian Powell (Brian Kerwin), keep him sheltered, they eventually allow him to go to school with kids his own age. Jack soon makes a connection with his fellow students and his teacher, Miss Marquez (Jennifer Lopez). Yet Jack also comes to realize that school may be pointless if his disorder means that he will never truly get to live.
100m
Genre
Animation, Family
Stars
Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, Donna Murphy
Directed by
Byron Howard, Nathan Greno
Tangled is a pre-Frozen Disney animated film, and yet its formula is even more fun than the blockbuster that came after it. This is a modernized retelling of Rapunzel with a twist. For one thing, Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) has total control of her legendary long hair as both a handy tool and a weapon when needed. In short, she’s no damsel in distress! In fact, she’s the one who kidnaps the thief, Flynn Rider (Zachary Levi), when he stumbles upon her home in the tower. But if Rapunzel wants her freedom, she will have to find a way to trust this man who dropped in on her.
107m
Genre
Drama, Family, Romance
Stars
Miley Cyrus, Greg Kinnear, Bobby Coleman
Directed by
Julie Anne Robinson
Miley Cyrus had a chance to expand her acting range beyond Hannah Montana with The Last Song. In this film, Cyrus plays Veronica “Ronnie” L. Miller, a troubled teenage girl who is sent to live with her father, Steve Miller (Greg Kinnear), for the summer. Ronnie never forgave Steve after he divorced her mother, Kim (Kelly Preston), and she even turned her back on higher education just because Steve wanted her to attend Julliard. But over time, Ronnie forms a romance with Will Blakelee (Liam Hemsworth) and reconnects with her father. However, Steve’s terminal illness means that he and Ronnie have only a limited time to create a song together.
143m
Genre
Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Stars
Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley
Directed by
Andrew Adamson
C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was the first novel in his Chronicles of Narnia fantasy saga. In this modern adaptation, four children are sent to the British countryside during World War II. Young Lucy Pevensie (Georgie Henley) soon stumbles upon a gateway to the realm of Narnia, which has fallen under the influence of the White Witch (Tilda Swinton). Lucy’s siblings, Peter (William Moseley), Susan (Anna Popplewell), and Edmund (Skandar Keynes), find their way to Narnia as well. And while the great lion, Aslan (Liam Neeson), is a very Christ-like savior, it’s the Pevensie siblings who have to save Narnia from the witch.
83m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Paula Dofat, Cori Grainger, Tayla Solomon
Directed by
Amanda Lipitz
Produced by the former Fox Searchlight Films, director Amanda Lipitz’s Step is a compelling look at the young women in the high school step team at an all-female institution in Baltimore. It tells their personal stories on stage and behind the scenes as they strive to reach the championships and show off their talents. The film also chronicles the school’s goal to get all of its students into college, even when the odds appeared to be stacked against them.
117m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Gerard Butler, Jonny Weston, Elisabeth Shue
Directed by
Curtis Hanson, Michael Apted
Chasing Mavericks is based on the inspirational true story of Jay Moriarity (Jonny Weston), a teenager who became enamored with surfing after his life was saved by a pro surfer named Richard ‘Frosty’ Hesson (Gerard Butler). Years after their initial encounter, Jay convinces Frosty to show him the ropes, so to speak, and he emotionally comforts Frosty following the death of his wife, Brenda (Abigail Spencer). In turn, Frosty helps Jay navigate some very difficult periods in his life on his way toward becoming the surfer that he always wanted to be.
48m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Domee Shi, Rona Liu, Lindsey Collins
Directed by
Erica Milsom
One of the neat things about Disney+ is that you don’t have to wait long for original documentaries about Pixar’s latest films. Case in point, Embrace the Panda: Making Turning Red offers an inside look at the first-ever all-female creative team behind a Pixar movie. Turning Red director Domee Shi and other members of the team share their personal stories and explain how they informed their creative efforts on the movie. Watching this documentary may also give you a greater appreciation of the artistry and passion behind Turning Red.
76m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
John Krasinski, Zhou Xun
Directed by
Lu Chuan
Disneynature’s Born in China has an interesting approach to its storytelling. It focuses on the family dynamics of a giant panda and her daughter, a snow leopard and her cubs, and a golden snub-nosed monkey named TaoTao. The story of TaoTao may be the most compelling since we see him get rejected by his family when a new sibling enters the picture. But TaoTao doesn’t give up on rejoining his clan. There’s also a certain desperation to the story of Dawa the snow leopard, as she tries to keep herself and her cubs alive. As for the pandas, it’s impossible not to fall for these large adorable creatures as a mother named YaYa teaches her daughter MeiMei how to make her way in the world.
113m
Genre
Adventure, Family
Stars
Willem Dafoe, Julianne Nicholson, Christopher Heyerdahl
Directed by
Ericson Core
Togo is a Disney+ original movie that dramatizes the life of Leonhard Seppala (Willem Dafoe) and his dog, Togo (Diesel), both of whom were heroes for their part in the 1925 serum run to Nome, Alaska. As a young pup, Togo has an uncontrollable streak that frustrates Leonhard. However, Togo’s aptitude for sledding and leading dog teams quickly wins over his owner. When Togo is 12, he and Leonhard are part of a relay team called upon to get a badly needed shipment of diphtheria antitoxin to Nome before an epidemic overtakes the town. But due to the harsh weather conditions, Togo’s life is truly in danger as they push forward on their journey.
92m
Genre
Family, Comedy
Stars
Rueby Wood, Lisa Kudrow, Joshua Bassett
Directed by
Tim Federle
It’s fitting that following your dreams is a big part of Better Nate Than Ever, since Tim Federie got to write and direct the adaptation based on his own novel. That’s extremely rare in Hollywood! Rueby Wood stars in the film as Nate Foster, a kid with oversized Broadway ambitions. He wants to be a star, but he never gets the chance to shine. That’s why Nate and his best pal, Libby (Aria Brooks), sneak away to New York City. With the help of Nate’s Aunt Heidi (Lisa Kudrow), they might just find the chance they’ve been looking for.
88m
Genre
Drama, Family
Stars
Gabrielle Anwar, Cliff Robertson, Michael Schoeffling
Directed by
Steve Miner
Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken is loosely based upon the real story of Sonora Webster (Gabrielle Anwar), an orphan in the Great Depression who had an unusual affinity with horses. After joining the traveling show run by Doc Carver (Cliff Robertson) and his son, Al Carver (Michael Schoeffling), Sonora makes it her ambition to become a horse diver and perform in front of crowds. However, a personal tragedy threatens to tear down everything that Sonora has built for herself. Somehow, Sonora has to find her way back and reclaim what she lost.
117m
Genre
Documentary, Music
Stars
Stevie Wonder, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jesse Jackson
Directed by
Questlove
Almost everyone has heard of Woodstock, but have you ever heard about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival? Imagine a lineup that included Sly and the Family Stone, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight & the Pips, The 5th Dimension, The Staple Singers, B.B. King, Mahalia Jackson, Nina Simone, Blinky Williams, and more performers over the course of six weeks. Regardless of those legendary acts, the footage from the event was locked away for decades until director Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s Summer of Soul restored the video and provided some modern context for what may have been one of the greatest music festivals ever held.
101m
Genre
Family
Stars
David Niven, Jodie Foster, Helen Hayes
Directed by
Norman Tokar
It may surprise you to hear that a year after starring in Taxi Driver, Jodie Foster had one of the leading roles in Disney’s Candleshoe. Within the film, Foster plays an orphan named Casey Brown who is recruited by con artists Harry Bundage (Leo McKern) and Clara Grimsworthy (Vivian Pickles) into the potential score of a lifetime. There is a treasure hidden within the Candleshoe estate, and Casey bears more than a passing resemblance to the long-missing granddaughter of Lady Gwendolyn St. Edmund (Helen Hayes). But once Casey finds a home in Candleshoe, she finds her loyalty shifting to Lady Gwendolyn and the faithful family butler, Priory (David Niven).
112m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Richard Farnsworth, Sissy Spacek, Jane Galloway Heitz
Directed by
David Lynch
The Straight Story is likely to be the only Disney movie ever to be directed by David Lynch. It’s quite a departure from Lynch’s usual fare, but it is a powerful film that is based upon the true story of Alvin Straight (Richard Farnsworth). Although Alvin is too physically frail to drive, he manages to hook up his homemade trailer to a 30-year-old lawn tractor in order to visit his terminally ill brother, Lyle (Harry Dean Stanton), and fix the emotional rift between them. Because Alvin can only travel 5 mph, he encounters some scorn on his journey. Yet Alvin’s heart wins over almost everyone he meets along the way.
100m
Genre
Animation, Family, Comedy, Fantasy
Stars
Rosalie Chiang, Sandra Oh, Jordan Fisher
Directed by
Domee Shi
If you’re wondering if Pixar’s latest film lives up to its legacy, the answer is a resounding “yes.” Turning Red takes place two decades ago, and follows a 13-year-old girl named Meilin “Mei” Lee. Mei is at a time in her life when her body is changing in strange ways, like transforming into a giant red panda whenever she feels any strong emotion. Is it a curse or a blessing? It turns out that Mei’s distant ancestors had a mystical bond with red pandas. Unfortunately for Mei, she has to find her own answers. And it’s a good thing that she has friends who love her, regardless of whether she’s a red panda or not.
156m
Genre
Drama, Romance, Crime
Stars
Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, Rita Moreno
Directed by
Steven Spielberg
How do you top a classic? Apparently, the answer is “you hire Steven Spielberg.” Remaking West Side Story was a passion project for Spielberg, and it shows. The result is one of the most dazzling movie musicals in years and a film that may surpass the 1961 adaptation of the hit musical. Rachel Zegler makes her film debut as Maria, opposite Ansel Elgort’s Tony. In 1957, these two lovebirds are in a world of their own. Unfortunately, they also have dueling loyalties to the local gangs, the Jets and the Sharks. This is definitely a Romeo and Juliet-style story, so it’s not going to make everyone happy in the end. Regardless, this film is a triumph, and it shines on Disney+.
132m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
Stars
Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Samantha Morton
Directed by
Andrew Stanton
This week marks the 10th anniversary of Disney’s John Carter movie, an unjustly-maligned box office bomb that is far better than the reviews suggest. This was a passion project for Pixar director Andrew Stanton, and he modernized Edgar Rice Burroughs’ classic sci-fi novel, A Princess of Mars. Taylor Kitsch stars as John Carter, a former Confederate captain who finds himself transported to Mars. Although the natives call it Barsoom. John is immediately attracted to the fierce Martian princess, Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins). And John’s newfound strength and abilities may be the key to saving the planet from ruin.
95m
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Family
Stars
Jordan Fry, Wesley Singerman, Matthew Josten
Directed by
Stephen J. Anderson
Welcome to the future! And it’s time to get acquainted with a very unusual family in Meet the Robinsons. Jordan Fry stars as Lewis, a 12-year-old orphan who also happens to be a brilliant inventor. When Lewis’ science project is disrupted by a bad guy from the future, he meets an adventurous 13-year-old named Wilbur Robinson (Wesley Singerman). After befriending Lewis, Wilbur takes him back to 2037 to put the timeline back on course. However, the secret that Wilbur is keeping from Lewis could prevent the Robinsons from ever becoming a family in the past.
100m
Genre
Family, Drama
Stars
Jenny Agutter, Barry Newman, Kathleen Nolan
Directed by
Vincent McEveety
Amy is the kind of film that would probably be buried in a vault if it wasn’t available on Disney+. This is a live-action movie made by Disney in 1981, but it deserves a wider audience even four decades later. Jenny Agutter stars as Amy Medford, a woman who loses her son at a young age. In 1913, Amy leaves her dominating husband, Elliot Medford (Chris Robinson), and reinvents herself as an instructor at a school for deaf and blind students. Regardless of the challenges, Amy won’t give up on her students, or herself.
88m
Genre
Documentary, Adventure
Stars
Jane Goodall
Directed by
Elizabeth Leiter, Kim Woodard
Dr. Jane Goodall has led an inspiring life, and her chimpanzee studies were groundbreaking. She has also become a renowned conservationist, speaker, and author. And her 60-year career isn’t over yet. Jane Goodall: The Hope follows Goodall on her current path as an advocate for animals and an ambassador for science who wants to inspire a new generation to forge their own path to give this world a brighter future. If you’ve been looking for hope in these bleak times, then hope has found you here.
115m
Genre
Comedy, Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
Stars
Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Joe Keery
Directed by
Shawn Levy
In video game jargon, a Free Guy is when the playable character has an extra life. But in the movie of the same name, Free Guy carries a different meaning. Ryan Reynolds plays Guy, an unassuming bank teller living in Free City. Guy has no idea that he’s actually a non-player character living in a video game world. However, the arrival of Millie (Jodie Comer) opens Guy’s eyes to the reality of his existence. His entire world is in peril, and Guy may be the only one capable of stepping up to protect it.
103m
Genre
Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Stars
Oakes Fegley, Bryce Dallas Howard, Wes Bentley
Directed by
David Lowery
The original Pete’s Dragon from 1977 has a lot of charm, especially for Helen Reddy’s wonderful rendition of Candle on the Water. But the 2016 remake of Pete’s Dragon is unquestionably a better film. After losing both of his parents to a car accident, a young boy named Pete Healy (Oakes Fegley) is adopted by a dragon he names Elliot. Years later, Pete is discovered by Grace Meacham (Bryce Dallas Howard), a forest ranger, and her boyfriend, Jack Magary (Wes Bentley). Jack’s daughter, Natalie (Oona Laurence), is one of the first to bond with Pete. Grace, Jack, and Natalie welcome Pete into their lives, and they stand by him when Elliot is threatened by the locals who believe that he is a monster.
87m
Genre
Drama, Family
Stars
Donald Crisp, Laurence Naismith, Alex Mackenzie
Directed by
Don Chaffey
Fair warning: If you love dogs, then Greyfriars Bobby may make you cry. Don’t worry about the dog’s safety, it’s just a heart-wrenching tale based upon a real Skye Terrier named Bobby who lived in Scotland in the 19th century. Although the farmhand Auld Jock (Alex Mackenzie) was not Bobby’s owner, the dog was absolutely devoted to him. So much so that Bobby refused to abandon Auld Jock after his death and remained by his grave for years. The graveyard caretaker, James Brown (Donald Crisp), and a restaurant owner named Mr. Traill (Laurence Naismith) both show affection for Bobby. But without a license or an owner, Bobby’s life and freedom are at stake.
44m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Sylviane Diouf, Natalie S. Robertson, Mary Elliott
Directed by
Lisa Feit
National Geographic’s documentary Clotilda: Last American Slave Ship is an important look at a dark chapter in American history. As the title indicates, the Clotilda was a ship that brought slaves to this country in 1860. The owners of the Clotilda attempted to hide their crime by burning the ship and letting it sink. However, the unexpected side effect of their actions has left the Clotilda as the most intact slave ship ever recovered. This documentary also focuses on the descendants of the people who were brought aboard the Clotilda against their will. They made lives for themselves in America and founded Africatown in Alabama.
99m
Genre
Fantasy, Comedy, Family, Romance
Stars
Adam Sandler, Keri Russell, Guy Pearce
Directed by
Adam Shankman
Adam Sandler movies rarely win over the critics, and Bedtime Stories was no exception. But the younger audience embraced it when it was in theaters. Sandler stars as Skeeter Bronson, a down-on-his-luck man who is tasked by his sister, Wendy (Courteney Cox), to watch her kids for a few nights. Incredibly, Skeeter discovers that whatever bedtime story he makes up for the kids comes true the next day … in some form or another. Skeeter soon figures out how to use this power to romantically pursue Wendy’s friend, Jill Hastings (Keri Russell). But fixing his life and improving his sister’s fortunes is going to take some really tall tales.
108m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Stars
Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Carla Gugino
Directed by
Shawn Levy
All three of the Night At the Museum movies are on Disney+, but the first one is especially charming. Ben Stiller stars as Larry Daley, a perennial loser who gets a chance to become a security guard at the American Museum of Natural History. Much to Larry’s surprise, the exhibits come to life at night, including a model of Theodore Roosevelt (Robin Williams). When Larry brings his son, Nick (Jake Cherry), to see the miracle for himself, they discover a plot to rob the museum of its magic. And it’s up to Larry, Nick, and their new friends to save the day.
100m
Genre
Comedy, Family, Western
Stars
Don Knotts, Tim Conway, Harry Morgan
Directed by
Norman Tokar
Some viewers may not take to The Apple Dumpling Gang, since it was a throwback to earlier Disney films even when it came out in 1975. That said, if you and your loved ones have a taste for the classics, then this is about the most family-friendly western that you’re going to find. Theodore Ogelvie (Don Knotts) and Amos Tucker (Tim Conway) are the titular duo, although they call themselves the Hashknife Outfit. They’re bad guys, but never too bad. The duo is simply too inept to rob Russell Donovan (Bill Bixby) and the three orphans in his care. And when their newfound family unit is threatened, the orphans turn to Theodore and Amos for help.
103m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Jeff Daniels
Directed by
Jonathan Hock
Everyone who follows hockey or the Winter Olympics has heard the story of the 1980 U.S. men’s hockey team that upset the Soviet Union’s team of pro players on their way to winning a gold medal. There have been documentaries and even a feature film dramatization about that game. However, the ESPN-produced documentary Of Miracles and Men takes a different approach by focusing on the Soviet Union team that suffered the loss. This film examines who these men were and what happened to them after the game.
93m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Alex Lowe, Max Lowe, Sam Lowe
Directed by
Max Lowe
Torn is a documentary directed by Max Lowe, who turns the camera on himself and his family. Max is the son of Alex Lowe, one of the most famous mountaineers of the ’90s before he perished in a climbing accident. Lowe’s partner, Conrad Anker, survived the accident and eventually married Lowe’s widow, Jennifer. Within the film, Max grapples with his feelings about his father’s death and his occasionally strained relationship with his stepfather as the family comes together to reclaim Alex’s body when it was recovered 16 years later.
126m
Genre
Action, Science Fiction, Adventure
Stars
Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges
Directed by
Jon Favreau
Before Jon Favreau wowed Star Wars fans with The Mandalorian, he helped found the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Iron Man. Unlike many of its MCU brethren, this movie feels a lot more grounded as Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) has an epiphany after getting kidnapped by terrorists in Afghanistan. Instead of selling weapons, Tony decides to create an armored suit unlike anything ever created before under the wary eyes of his employee, Virginia “Pepper” Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), and his shady business partner, Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges). Iron Man set the template for almost every comic book movie that came after it. And it’s now available to stream in its IMAX-enhanced aspect ratio.
100m
Genre
Animation, Family
Stars
Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould
Directed by
Andrew Stanton
It’s hard to believe that Finding Nemo has been around for almost 20 years, because Pixar’s animated classic still holds up extremely well. Albert Brooks stars as Marlin, a clownfish who is extremely overprotective of his only surviving son, Nemo (Alexander Gould). When Nemo is captured by humans, Marlin is forced to go on an impossible journey to save him. Along the way, Marlin befriends a regal blue tang named Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) who has some very severe short-term memory issues.
107m
Genre
Romance, Comedy, Drama
Stars
Drew Barrymore, David Arquette, Molly Shannon
Directed by
Raja Gosnell
In Never Been Kissed, Drew Barrymore stars as Josie Geller, a 25-year-old newspaper employee who is assigned to go undercover at a local high school as a student. For Josie, it’s a second chance to get the high school experience that she always wanted. However, only the geeky Aldys (Leelee Sobieski) offers Josie real friendship at the school. Josie’s brother, Rob Geller (David Arquette) also gets in on the act and reinvents himself as a high school baseball player. But as Josie’s assignment nears fruition, she finds herself drawn to her English teacher, Sam Coulson (Michael Vartan).
132m
Genre
Adventure, Fantasy, Family
Stars
Pat Boone, James Mason, Arlene Dahl
Directed by
Henry Levin
Journey To the Center of the Earth is one of the classic 20th Century Fox films that now belongs to the Disney library. In this adaptation of the iconic Jules Verne novel, geologist Sir Oliver Lindenbrook (James Mason) and his student, Alec McEwan (Pat Boone), stumble across proof that an Icelandic explorer, Arne Saknussemm, found a passage that leads into the center of the world a few hundred years ago. However, Saknussemm’s descendant, Count Saknussemm (Thayer David), is determined to stop their expedition in its tracks, and he even murders a rival explorer to ensure his place in history. Despite this threat, Oliver and Alec discover untold wonders deep beneath the surface of the Earth.
78m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
John C. Reilly
Directed by
Alastair Fothergill, Keith Scholey
Disneynature’s Bears offers an intriguing narrative courtesy of directors Alastair Fothergill and Keith Scholey, with narration by John C. Reilly. The film follows a year in the life of an Alaskan brown bear named Sky, and her cubs, Scout and Amber. It’s a beautifully shot movie that captures the majesty of the Alaskan landscape, as well as the dangers faced by this family of bears. It’s Sky’s mission in life to keep her children safe. But that’s easier said than done.
111m
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Stars
Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Lou Romano
Directed by
Brad Bird
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.
121m
Genre
Family, Drama, History, Music
Stars
Christian Bale, Bill Pullman, Ann-Margret
Directed by
Kenny Ortega
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.
90m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Kate Steavenson-Payne, Sara Stewart, Matthew Douglas
Directed by
George Simon
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.
101m
Genre
Adventure, Family, Drama
Stars
Meredith Salenger, John Cusack, Ray Wise
Directed by
Jeremy Kagan
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.
60m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Kathryn Beaumont, Becky Cline, Pete Docter
Directed by
John Gleim
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.
156m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Stars
Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Angelina Jolie
Directed by
Chloé Zhao
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.
92m
Genre
Family, Action, Adventure
Stars
Kristen Stewart, Max Thieriot, Corbin Bleu
Directed by
Bart Freundlich
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.
95m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Anatoly M. Sagalevitch, Pamela Conrad, James Cameron
Directed by
James Cameron, Steven Quale
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.
101m
Genre
Family, Animation, Comedy, Adventure
Stars
John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer
Directed by
Rich Moore
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.
94m
Genre
Comedy, Family
Stars
Zachary Gordon, Steve Zahn, Devon Bostick
Directed by
David Bowers
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 his 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.
87m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Pete Docter, Louis Gonzales, Aphton Corbin
Directed by
Jason Sterman, Leanne Dare
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.
134m
Genre
Comedy, Crime
Stars
Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry
Directed by
Craig Gillespie
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.
95m
Genre
Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Stars
Diego Luna, Channing Tatum, Zoe Saldana
Directed by
Jorge R. Gutierrez
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.
107m
Genre
Documentary, Thriller
Stars
Jim Warny, Thanet Natisri, John Volanthen
Directed by
Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin
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.
102m
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Stars
Stephanie Beatriz, María Cecilia Botero, John Leguizamo
Directed by
Byron Howard, Jared Bush
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.
111m
Genre
Family, Romance, Comedy
Stars
Tessa Thompson, Justin Theroux, Kiersey Clemons
Directed by
Charlie Bean
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?
125m
Genre
Adventure, Action, Science Fiction
Stars
Garrett Hedlund, Jeff Bridges, Olivia Wilde
Directed by
Joseph Kosinski
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.
124m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Jon Hamm, Bill Paxton, Lake Bell
Directed by
Craig Gillespie
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.
58m
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Family
Stars
Brady Noon, Ethan William Childress, Chris Diamantopoulos
Directed by
Swinton O. Scott III
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.
81m
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Family, Adventure
Stars
Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary
Directed by
Chris Wedge
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.
87m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Stacy Keach, John Lasseter, Brad Bird
Directed by
Leslie Iwerks
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.
93m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Vincent Cassel
Directed by
Liz Garbus
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.
Digital Trends streaming roundup
106m
Genre
Music, Documentary
Stars
Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, Aaron Dessner
Directed by
Taylor Swift
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 album, 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.
107m
Genre
Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Romance
Stars
Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden
Directed by
Kevin Lima
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.
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Steve French
Directed by
Mark Davis
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.
98m
Genre
Comedy, Romance, Drama
Stars
Steve Carell, Juliette Binoche, Dane Cook
Directed by
Peter Hedges
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).
78m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
Wolfgang Puck
Directed by
David Gelb
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.
78m
Genre
Documentary
Stars
John C. Reilly
Directed by
Alastair Fothergill, Keith Scholey
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.
128m
Genre
Drama
Stars
Kevin Costner, Ramiro Rodriguez, Maria Bello
Directed by
Niki Caro
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 Samaniego (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.
93m
Genre
Documentary, Music
Stars
Howard Ashman, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Alan Menken
Directed by
Don Hahn
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.
65m
Genre
Documentary, Music, Animation
Stars
Billie Eilish, Gustavo Dudamel, Los Angeles Philharmonic
Directed by
Robert Rodriguez, Patrick Osborne
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.
143m
Genre
Science Fiction, Action, Adventure
Stars
Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo
Directed by
Joss Whedon
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.
78m
Genre
Romance, Animation, Family, Comedy, Adventure
Stars
Bill Farmer, Jason Marsden, Rob Paulsen
Directed by
Kevin Lima
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.
103m
Genre
Comedy, Family
Stars
Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern
Directed by
Chris Columbus
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.
95m
Genre
Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Stars
Jacob Tremblay, Jack Dylan Grazer, Emma Berman
Directed by
Enrico Casarosa
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.
95m
Genre
Animation, Family, Adventure, Drama, Comedy
Stars
Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Bill Hader
Directed by
Pete Docter
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.
115m
Genre
Adventure, Fantasy
Stars
Liu Yifei, Jet Li, Tzi Ma
Directed by
Niki Caro
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 simply getting married and becoming 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.
124m
Genre
Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure
Stars
Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher
Directed by
Irvin Kershner
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.
107m
Genre
Family, Fantasy, Animation, Action, Adventure
Stars
Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Izaac Wang
Directed by
Don Hall, Carlos López Estrada
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.
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