To help you find the cream of the crop, we've compiled a list of the best movies on Disney Plus across all genres. Take a look! For more recommendations, check out our list of the best shows on Disney+, best comedies on Disney+, and best romantic movies on Disney+.
Mulan is an animated classic, telling a powerful story about self-discovery, courage, and challenging the idea of what a Disney heroine is. Mulan is a great protagonist who acts as a much stronger heroine than many female characters from modern films. Her flaws are relatable to a wide audience, and she often succeeds thanks to her observational powers and her mind rather than brute strength. Its animation is also gorgeous, with massive landscape shots and vibrant linework that captures the essence of the original Chinese culture.
Freaky Friday avoids being just another uninteresting remake, thanks to the standout performances of the leading ladies. Their chemistry and performances have turned it into a classic that continues to entertain audiences even two decades later, making it the definitive version that comes to mind when the title is mentioned. Moreover, Curtis displays her comedic flair with gusto, flawlessly embodying the mannerisms of a 15-year-old trapped in her 44-year-old body, while Lohan showcases her natural talents, reminding audiences why she was such a sensation. Freaky Friday also provides all-around entertainment for teenagers and adults alike to enjoy in its brisk 90-minute runtime, allowing viewers to see themselves in either of the characters.
Despite its Marvel Comics origin, Big Hero 6 adeptly transforms into a Disney feature, putting themes of loss and family at the heart of the creation of a student superhero team. Furthermore, the movie excels in portraying the emotional bond between a young boy and his robot, highlighting Disney's ability to create heartfelt connections between seemingly unlikely companions. Similar to other Disney productions, Big Hero 6, in addition to catering to audiences of all ages, offers renowned animation quality, visually stunning scenes, and beautiful scores as it brings the fictional city of San Fransokyo to life and delivers a mature and gentle exploration of themes like loss and grief, making it a well-rounded experience for viewers.
One day in the spring, the animals of the forest gather to witness the birth of a baby deer named Bambi (Bobby Stewart, Donnie Dunagan, and Hardie Albright), whom they call the Young Prince. Raised by his mother (Paula Winslowe), Bambi makes friends with rabbit Thumper (Peter Behn) and skunk Flower (Stan Alexander). They play and learn together in the summer, but come fall and winter, a new threat appears in the forest. With the coming of Man, Bambi gets a first-hand look at how harsh and unforgiving the world can be.
James and the Giant Peach is another stop-motion classic from director Henry Selick, who worked on The Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline, and is adapted from the book of the same name by legendary children's author Roal Dahl. Its story plays like a fairytale odyssey, with James and the bugs encountering numerous inexplicable obstacles as they learn about bravery, self-confidence, and the importance of family.
Within a poor provincial French town lives Belle (Paige O'Hara), the daughter of the local inventor, Maurice (Rex Everhart). Belle inherited her father's creative mind, and rather than engage in gossip, she prefers to read and dream of adventure. This makes her a bit of a town pariah, except for the local hero, Gaston (Richard White), who wants to marry her for her beauty. Belle ends up getting her wish for adventure when her father stumbles upon an enchanted castle, leading to her taking his place as the prisoner of a Beast (Robby Benson).
Raya and the Last Dragon's impressive diversity serves as a unifying force, bringing people of all races and backgrounds together. Additionally, the catchy score, coupled with a subtle showcase of Eastern culture and fantastic characters, makes it an enjoyable watch and delivers a positive message about trust, unity, and the importance of working together in the face of adversity. Moreover, the movie features a predominantly Asian-American cast delivering outstanding voice performances, particularly Awkwafina and Kelly Marie Tran, who carve out their own unique marks in their roles and consistently provide the movie with comedic relief at the most intense moments. - Jessie Nguyen
Oddly, despite being about Santa Claus and Christmas, the film was released in May. The studio head, Darryl Zanuck, said that because most people go to the theater in warmer weather, Miracle on 34th Street had a better chance of being a success if released in the spring. In promotions and trailers, Christmas was never even mentioned. Thankfully, the film was a success, earning three Academy Awards for Best Screenplay, Best Original Story, and Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Edmund Gwenn as Old Saint Nick. The film has since been redone, with a more modern version premiering in 1994, but the original is still hailed as the best. With some iconic lines and unforgettable scenes, the original Miracle on 34th Street remains a Christmas classic. - Emily Cappello
The title of the film, Ratatouille, refers to both the French dish served at the critical moment at the end of the film and the main character, a rat. The story is set in Paris and follows a young rat named Remy (Patton Oswalt), who aspires to become a chef at Auguste Gusteau's (Brad Garrett) restaurant. He embarks on an unconventional partnership with the restaurant's garbage boy, Alfredo Linguini (Lou Romano), to pursue his culinary dream.
In an alternate version of the 1940s, humans live alongside cartoon characters, known as Toons, who work for film companies to produce cartoon shorts. Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins), a private investigator whose brother was killed by a Toon, is hired to take photos of Jessica Rabbit (Kathleen Turner) having an affair with the owner of the Toon's home (aka Toontown), Marvin Acme (Stubby Kaye). The next day, Acme is found dead, and the primary suspect is Jessica's husband, Roger Rabbit (Charles Fleischer). Roger pleads for Eddie to clear his name and protect him from the ruthless Judge Doom (Christopher Lloyd), which leads to the uncovering of a greater conspiracy.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit is a technological and storytelling marvel. While there were other films that had real actors interacting with 2D characters, the crew of this film went the extra mile to make everything look and feel more real, from using wires to hold up real guns for the Toon characters to changing their colors during scenes with shifting lighting. From a storytelling side, it blends all of the classic film noir tropes with some of the most recognizable cartoon characters of all time, making for an unforgettable experience.
In a retro-futuristic 1960s setting, The Incredibles centers on Bob and Helen Parr, a superhero couple known as Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl, voiced by Craig T. Nelson and Holly Hunter, respectively. They conceal their powers as required by the government and aim to lead a quiet suburban life with their three children. However, Bob's longing to assist people pulls the entire family into a clash with a former admirer turned adversary.
"Disney Plus Flicker: When watching movies on disney plus, not all but mostly star wars movies, the screen flickers. I tried changing the match content settings on my apple 4k tv but nothing is working to get rid of the flicker. Is there a fix for this, it's pretty annoying."
The best movies on Disney Plus aren't that hard to find, it's narrowing them down that's tricky. The streamer is absolutely full of classic films, with more being added all of the time, too. So, with so much choice, it's understandable if you need a guiding hand to help you along the way. Well, that's where we come in. We've broken down the 30 best movies to watch on Disney Plus right now below.
In our long list, you'll find everything from the best Disney movies like The Lion King to newer hits like Turning Red, along with blockbuster juggernauts from the MCU and Star Wars timeline. Beyond that, there are some movies you might not have even known were available on the streamer, like Sister Act and The Sound of Music. But you'll only find movies that are available in both the UK and the US below, which is why the likes of Rye Lane and The Banshees of Inisherin are missing.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 draws James Gunn's beloved MCU trilogy to a close in a poignant send-off. Kicking off after the events of Avengers: Endgame, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) is still reeling from the loss of Gamora. But the galaxy isn't saving itself as Adam (Will Poulter) appears to cause trouble for this bunch of A-holes as one of their own lands themselves in serious danger.
In order to save Rocket (Bradley Cooper), they have to find a genetic passcode, sending the gang on a trip across the galaxy. There's an air of finality throughout this movie, which also marks Gunn's farewell from Marvel for DC adventures anew, but it's still imbued with so much comedy and levity. However, it's the emotion that works best, as GOTG 3 provides some of the most gut-wrenching moments in the MCU so far.
Thanks to widespread lockdown, the theatre industry has been exploring how to make shows more accessible, and Disney Plus have given us the best of the best with a professionally recorded movie of the original Broadway production. Turn off the house lights and make sure all your phones are on silent please, audience members, the show is about to begin.
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