The 38 Best Movies to Watch on Disney+
Whether you're craving a Star Wars story, a Pixar classic, or a good tearjerker, the Mouse's streaming service has you covered.
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Remember the Disney vault? That mouse-shaped titanium door which guarded the company’s most valued stories and all of your favorite characters? Those used to feel rare, or hard to find, but thanks to the fully digitized Disney+, those properties (and more) are all now available at the click of a button.
With live-action stage adaptations, animation, and everything in between, the catalog for the House of Mouse continues growing—and that’s completely fine with us. Here’s a grab-bag of some of the tried and true (and a few new) titles you’ll always remember, as well as the ones you’ve since forgotten. (And when you run out here, check out the best TV shows on the platform, or its Marvel episodic adaptations right after.)
Rogue One
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness wasn't exactly our favorite Marvel jam, but since we're officially in Marvel's Multiverse Saga, it's a must-watch if you want to keep up.
Chip 'n' Dale: Rescue Rangers
Turning Red
With the story of a girl who turns into a giant red panda whenever she's angry, Pixar once again touches greatness. Make sure you stick around for the third act, which is really something. If you know, you know.
Isle of Dogs
Classic Disney animation isn't the only visual style you'll find on Disney+. Mix things up with Isle of Dogs, a bold stop motion story from the mind of Wes Anderson. When all the dogs of Megasaki City are exiled to Trash Island, a young boy goes in search of his guard dog, leading to a heartwarming adventure about the bond between humans and man's best friend.
Mulan
In this classic from Disney's Golden Age of animation, set in imperial China, a headstrong young woman takes her aging father's place in the Imperial Army. Disguised as a man, she strives to earn the respect of her fellow warriors, while struggling to keep her true identity secret. Even if you've already seen it a hundred times, Mulan never gets old.
The Princess and the Frog
In 2009, Disney released a film harkening back to the glory days of hand-drawn animation: The Princess and the Frog, a modern update to a familiar fairy tale. In 1920s New Orleans, hardworking waitress Tiana's dreams of opening a restaurant take a detour when a fateful kiss turns her into a frog. When Tiana and her amphibian prince hop through the bayous in search of a voodoo priestess to make them human again, they each learn startling truths about themselves.
Hamilton
Who lives, who dies, who tells the story of Alexander Hamilton? Well, renowned playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda and the original cast of the smash hit Broadway show certainly do. Recorded live on stage back in 2016, this explosive ensemble brings to life the story of a then-underknown U.S. dignitary...and also a new appreciation for the beauty of hip-hop.
The Incredibles
This crime-fighting family has hung up their capes, sort of. When a former fan of the group wants to destroy them and take over the world, it’s up to the Incredibles (and a few hilariously on-point sidekicks) to save the day.
Cruella
Disney's quest to give classic villains their own live-action features, beginning with Maleficent, has now moved onto Cruella, a splashy origin story that explores a young fashion designer's madcap transformation into Cruella de Vil. It's a battle of the Hollywood Emmas when Emma Stone, as young Cruella, goes toe to toe with a renowned English designer played by Emma Thompson, making for a visually spectacular feast about two powerful women on the warpath.
Jungle Cruise
Pirates of the Caribbean, Tomorrowland, and The Haunted Mansion are no longer the only Disney Parks rides enjoying the big screen treatment. The venerable jungle cruise ride gets its day in the sun in this same-titled film about a scientist (Emily Blunt) who hires a skipper (Dwayne Johnson) to ferry her down the Amazon in search of the Tree of Life. This action-packed thrill vehicle is a great Friday night flick for viewers of all ages.
Bao
Behind every big budget blockbuster on Disney+, there's a hidden gem. In the streamer's library of short films, you'll find dozens of such gems—including Bao, a touching eight-minute short about a lonesome Chinese-Canadian empty nester who gets a second chance at motherhood when one of her handmade dumplings comes to life. Leave it to Pixar to make us cry in eight minutes flat.
Luca
Is it an animated Call Me By Your Name? Yes and no. It does feature Luca, a sweet boy who makes an Italian friend named Alberto, and then two of them discover that when they enter water, they turn into mermaids. And Luca makes Alberto jealous when he befriends land-only dweller Giulia, so it's not not a sweet coming of age film! Shirked of any of the heaviness or sexuality of the aforementioned film, Disney has created something special that is an absolute summer must-see.
The Princess Diaries
Turn your nose up all you want, but The Princess Diaries is Disney+ gold. Starring Anne Hathaway, Julie Andrews, and Hector Elizondo, the coming of age story has the perfect amount of cheese and teenage angst. A true time capsule of the 2000s. And it will have you intermittently whispering the words: Prin-CESS of Genovia.
Raya and the Last Dragon
Kelly Marie Tran leads a lively voice cast as Raya, a warrior princess looking to restore prosperity to Kumandra, her ancestral homeland, by tracking down the last remaining dragon, her only hope for saving the nation. That dragon, Sisu, is a far cry from a fearsome beast, but their partnership bears fruit in this touching story about trust, girl power, and leaps of faith.
National Treasure
Before National Treasure becomes a television reboot at Disney+, stream the original movie (and its sequel) to stay ahead of the curve. Nicolas Cage stars as a cryptologist and treasure hunter who uncovers astonishing secrets about American history. Difficult to believe? You bet your ass. But it’s sure a lot of fun, featuring some high-octane, Indiana Jones-style archaeology.
Hercules
This 1997 cult classic is among Disney’s finest animated films. Arriving at the tail end of the Disney Renaissance, Hercules is the funny and fast-paced tale of the renowned Greek hero. After 18 years of feeling like an outcast, Hercules discovers his divine lineage, with an ultimatum attached: Hercules can only return to Mount Olympus, the home of the gods, if he becomes a hero. With the help of his world-weary, wise-cracking trainer, Hercules embarks on a storied journey to become a hero, replete with powerful questions about the true nature of heroism.
Onward
Set in a fantastical world where modern life and medieval magic coexist, Onward stars Tom Holland and Chris Pratt as two teenage elf brothers who embark on a magical quest to spend one last day with their long-dead father. Hijinks, miscommunications, and a Weekend at Bernie’s-style caper ensue, but so too does a powerful, tear-jerking story about family and memory.
Soul
Pixar’s latest outing stars Jamie Foxx as Joe, a New York City middle-school band teacher determined to make it big as a jazz musician. When Joe falls down a manhole right before his big break, he ends up in The Great Before, the existential limbo where nascent souls receive training before taking up residence in a human body. There he meets 22 (voiced by Tina Fey), a jaded soul whose rebellion masks a deep skepticism about life on Earth. What begins as a buddy comedy caper to get Joe back into his body ends in a characteristically Pixar meditation on beauty, art, and ambition.
Godmothered
In this frothy, Enchanted-esque fantasy, Jillian Bell stars as Eleanor, a godmother-in-training who embarks on a quest to save the dying profession from extinction. Finding a forgotten letter from Mackenzie, a young girl in distress, Eleanor tracks down Mackenzie in Boston, only to discover that she’s now a 40-year-old widow working at a local news station, struggling to parent her two daughters and find her happily ever after. Eleanor’s mission to change Mackenzie’s life results in a cheeky send-up of fairytale conventions, as well as a genuinely heartwarming story about finding happiness after loss.
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