Figuring out the best Disney Plus movies to watch is no easy feat. With a vast array of titles spanning over a century of cinematic history, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed when navigating through their extensive library.
Disney’s streaming service is home to some of the industry’s biggest, most acclaimed franchises, like Star Wars, Marvel and Pixar. Disney Plus is where you go to watch the Marvel movies in order and the Star Wars movies in order.
But the streamer goes beyond those well-known brands, boasting a treasure trove of hidden gems waiting to be discovered. So, our crack team of movie lovers has dug deep into the catalog to highlight the best Disney Plus movies. Not only have we found the worthiest entries in the big franchises, but we’ve also found other fantastic films from the House of Mouse.
So, on top of the adventures of the Skywalker Saga and the Infinity Wars, we’ve got adorable family movies, excellent documentaries and absolute classics.
Here are our picks for the best Disney movies. For television, check out our list of the best Disney Plus shows.
‘Encanto’ (2021)
It’s hard not to fall in love with the Madrigals, a family living in an enchanted casita in Columbia that all have magical powers. Or at least, everyone but Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz). However, when her family’s powers are in danger, Mirabel’s the one who may actually save them all. Possibly because she’s the one without magic, she’s the one who will discover the truth about where her family’s magical powers come from to try and save it all.
This fantastical musical is packed with earworms from “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, but there’s one we have to talk about: “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.” This mid-tempo ensemble song effortlessly blends salsa, Broadway, pop, and hip-hop genres while its visuals borrow heavily from the quick-changing set pieces and impeccably timed choreography you’d see on the stage. No wonder it went on to become the highest-charting Disney song of all time. — Alyse Stanley
Genre: Kids & family/musical
Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%
Stars: Stephanie Beatriz, Maria Cecilia Botero, John Leguizamo, Mauro Castillo, Jessica Darrow, Angie Cepeda, Carolina Gaitan, Diane Guerrero, Wilmer Valderrama
Director: Jared Bush, Byron Howard
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‘Cruella’ (2021)
“Cruella,” you had me at Emma (Stone and Thompson), but seeing how much fun they’re having while chewing scenery makes the movie all the more alluring. It’s an origin story nobody asked for yet is just the wild ride needed to kick off summer movie season. Stone is Estella, an orphaned street urchin who has always dreamt of working in fashion.
She lands a job with the famous designer Baroness (Thompson), but their styles clash horribly, leading Estella to begin the transformation into the villain of “One Hundred and One Dalmatians.” And what a transformation it is, one that led “Cruella” to take home the Oscar that year for Best Costume Design. — Kelly Woo
Genre: Comedy/kids & family
Rotten Tomatoes score: 75%
Stars: Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry, Paul Walter Hauser, Emily Beecham, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Mark Strong
Director: Craig Gillespie
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‘Fire of Love’ (2022)
“Fire of Love” is a movie that you’ll be shocked exists. Not only because Katia and Maurice Krafft are a pair of volcano experts who managed to find each other and fall in love, with a match made in magma. But “Fire of Love” is an utterly impressive documentary because of its sheer amount of footage. The Kraffts, constantly documenting their own work, basically treated every trek as if they were The Beatles on tour, allowing you to see their dangerous work from angles that make you feel like you’re following them from volcano to volcano.
Miranda July’s emotive and heartfelt narration may not be for everyone (though it worked for yours truly), but “Fire of Love” is the kind of movie that could even melt an icy heart. The Kraffts dedicated their lives to studying volcanoes, doing their best to spread awareness of the danger inside these mountains. From the moment you learn that some volcanoes are basically already-lit explosives — it’s just the length of the fuse we don’t know — “Fire of Love” will have you entranced with its amazing story. — Henry T. Casey
Genre: Documentary
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98%
Stars: Katia Krafft, Maurice Krafft, Miranda July (narrator)
Director: Sara Dosa
Watch now
‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ (2022)
The biggest movie of the last few years is finally streaming, as Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) family’s continuing war with the RDA pushes them to a new part of Pandora. Their latest skirmish is more complicated, as they face a group of Recombinants: Na’vi avatars with the memories of defeated soldiers — including Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang).
While this chapter’s more about being a parent and how teens socialize, the biggest revolution here is the use of high frame-rate footage. Much like how the original “Avatar” pushed 3D forward, “The Way of Water’s” technological advance helps remove blur and makes its CGI characters look phenomenally real (though I argue it makes humans look worse). – Henry T. Casey
Genre: Sci-fi adventure
Rotten Tomatoes score: 76%
Stars: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Kate Winslet
Director: James Cameron
Watch now
‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ (2022)
The tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman left a big hole in the world and in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The first “Black Panther” movie was a smash hit and a critical darling, and a lot of its success rested on Boseman’s capable shoulders. Director Ryan Coogler wanted to find a way to honor his friend and continue the franchise in the sequel, “Wakanda Forever.”
Much of the film is marked by grief for King T’Challa. Queen Mother Ramonda (Angela Bassett) takes on his leadership role, while Shuri (Letitia Wright) researches a way to bring back the heart-shaped herb that can anoint a new Black Panther. But a new threat looms in the form of Namor (Tenoch Huerta Mejía), the ruler of an ancient underwater civilization. Ramonda, Shuri, Okoye (Danai Gurira) and new tech-genius ally Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) will do whatever it takes to protect Wakanda. – Kelly Woo
Genre: Superhero action
Rotten Tomatoes score: 84%
Stars: Letitia Wright, Angela Bassett, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke
Director: Ryan Coogler
Watch now
‘Turning Red’ (2022)
A straight-to-Disney Plus movie release often makes you wonder how good a film is going to be. Or at least it did until “Turning Red” came out. This emotionally resonant coming-of-age movie views puberty through a fantasy lens where 13-year-old Chinese-Canadian girl Meilin “Mei” Lee (Rosalie Chiang) discovers a terrible family secret. Whenever she’s too flustered or emotional, she turns into a giant red panda.
This is the last thing Mei wanted to have to deal with, as she and her friends have already set their sights on going to a huge boy band concert. Unfortunately, the ritual that could free her from this curse just so happens to fall on the same evening as the big 4*Town show. As you might expect, plenty of drama ensues with Mei’s parents, as her mother Ming (Sandra Oh) is protective and doesn’t understand her concerns. — HTC
Genre: Coming-of-age comedy
Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%
Stars: Rosalie Chiang, Sandra Oh, Ava Morse, Hyein Park, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan
Director: Domee Shi
Watch now
‘Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers’ (2022)
Every now and again, we find a movie that is so much better than it has any right to be. And “Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers” fits that description perfectly. While Disney Plus gets deserved flack for reheating old nostalgia for profit, this delightful and inventive revival actually brings its old franchise to the modern era, with all the winks and nudges you could ask for along the way.
The story is simple: Chip (voiced by John Mulaney) and Dale (voiced by Andy Samberg), stars of the titular TV show-within-a-movie, had a falling out back in the day. Now, Dale works the convention circuit and Chip has a desk job. A mystery tied to their old show, though, forces the duo to try to put their past behind them to help a friend. On top of that, a series of hilarious cameos make “Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers” one of the best movies on Disney Plus. — HTC
Genre: Comedy adventure
Rotten Tomatoes score: 80%
Stars: John Mulaney, Andy Samberg, KiKi Layne, Will Arnett, Eric Bana, Flula Borg
Director: Akiva Schaffer
Watch now
‘Summer of Soul’ (2021)
Part concert film, part overdue history lesson, “Summer of Soul” is important and relevant to the current cultural moment. But it’s also simply a blast, from a past most of us knew nothing about. The documentary from first-time director Questlove unearths footage from the other, less famous music festival of the summer of 1969. We’ve all heard plenty about Woodstock; it’s taken too long to learn more about the weekly concerts that took place in a Harlem park.
The doc is a joyful celebration of Black culture and excellence, with absolutely divine performances by Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, BB King, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Mahalia Jackson and Mavis Staples (among many others). The Harlem Culture Festival didn’t get the recognition it deserved then, but we can give it our attention now. — KW
Genre: Documentary
Rotten Tomatoes score: 99%
Stars: Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, B.B. King
Director: Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson
Watch now
‘Hamilton’ (2020)
Bless Disney Plus for bringing the filmed version of award-winning Broadway musical “Hamilton” to the masses. Many theater lovers had heard about the phenomenon but couldn’t see it on stage. And let’s give thanks for creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and his astonishing, history-laden, hip-hop-influenced songs. We also can’t forget the cast’s stunning performances, led by Miranda as the Founding Father and Leslie Odom Jr. as rival Aaron Burr.
“Hamilton” isn’t merely a recording of a stage performance. Director Thomas Kail used several recordings of live performances in front of audiences, as well as sequences filmed without an audience for close-ups. The result is a gorgeous, entertaining and heartstopping movie that will leave you singing (out loud or to yourself) for some time. — KW
Genre: Musical
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98%
Stars: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr., Phillipa Soo, Renée Elise Goldberry, Daveed Diggs
Director: Thomas Kail
Watch now
‘Avengers: Endgame’ (2019)
The Earth’s mightiest warriors need to stop the madman known as Thanos (Josh Brolin), who just decimated life as they know it. Fortunately, there are ways to crack a man who looks like the Grimace’s jacked cousin. With some ingenuity, time travel and new intergalactic friends Captain Marvel and the Guardians of the Galaxy, the Avengers have a chance at restoring their own reality.
And, sure, we could have also included the first Avengers (which created the formula) or “Avengers: Infinity War” (without which, we couldn’t have “Endgame”), but this Avengers movie is the best because it’s simply more dramatically interesting. This is a movie about the different ways we process grief. Oh, and its ending — that epic big battle scene — is cooler, too. — HTC
Genres: Superhero, sci-fi, action
Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%
Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner
Directors: Anthony Russo and Joe Russo
Watch now
‘Toy Story 4’ (2019)
I can hear your complaints as I write this out — yes, the only “Toy Story” movie on this list is the most-recent. But stick with me here. “Toy Story 4,” which had no right to be as excellent as it is, gave us a story that the series set up, but never delivered: what would have happened if Woody & Bo Peep had a second chance?
It doesn’t start there, though. It begins as we look at the entire concept of a toy, as young Bonnie fashions together Forky (Tony Hale), who seems like a Frankenstein’s Monster of a toy. But after a family road trip goes awry, Woody has to take a strong look at what he wants to do with his life. “Toy Story 4” was a huge surprise to see in theaters, especially after “Toy Story 3” felt like a perfect (if utterly depressing at times) send-off. — HTC
Genre: Comedy adventure
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%
Stars: Tom Hanks, Annie Potts, Tim Allen, Tony Hale, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele
Director: Josh Cooley
Watch now
‘Black Panther’ (2018)
After we first met Wakanda’s new king T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) in “Captain America: Civil War,” a solo film for “Black Panther” was an inevitability. And this is a very personal tale, as T’Challa’s ascent to the position of Black Panther isn’t a smooth process. The arrival of a hitherto unknown heir to the throne — Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan in top form) — presents a difficult challenge.
Not only does Killmonger have a valid claim to the throne, he’s also better at politicking in this world than T’Challa is. The two fight for the throne and future of Wakanda, as T’Challa wants peace and Killmonger wants vengeance. However, T’Challa has one thing his rival doesn’t: the support of the badass Dora Milaje (most notably Danai Gurira as Okoye) and his family.
“Black Panther” isn’t just an exceptional standalone MCU film, it’s also a strong reminder of how talented Boseman was, and how tragic it is that we lost him at such a young age. “Black Panther” set a tall bar for “Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever.” — HTC
Genres: Superhero, sci-fi, action
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%
Stars: Chadwick Boseman, MIchael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya
Director: Ryan Coogler
Watch now
‘Free Solo’ (2018)
Alex Honnold does things no mortal man, and even most Marvel heroes, even think of: He’s a master of the “free solo” climb, wherein there are no ropes. Not only is Honnold on his own, but he’s even challenged himself with some of the most massive rock formations, including the El Capitan summit in California (you may have seen it on your macOS wallpaper about seven years ago). And “Free Solo” shows off how wild and dangerous his pursuit is.
“Free Solo” also goes beyond the glossy. This film shows Honnold as a very driven and motivated guy who is far from normal. We see that he’s put his climbing career ahead of everything, and is somewhat emotionally stunted. It shows how he’s unhappy, and by not providing his answer when he’s asked if he’s depressed, the film basically gives us the answer. — HTC
Genre: Documentary
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%
Stars: Alex Honnold, Tommy Caldwell, Sanni McCancless, Jimmy Chin
Directors: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin
Watch now
‘Coco’ (2017)
Young Miguel, who lives in Santa Cecilia, Mexico, only wants to be a musician when he grows up. The problem? Well, his family would accept practically any other career choice. But during the Day of the Dead, an accident sends Miguel into a state he probably never expected: interacting with those long-departed in the (rather gorgeous) Land of the Dead. Filled with emotion and humor, “Coco” is one of the best Disney Plus movies, period.
Arguably the best Disney movie if you want a cathartic ugly-cry experience (hey, no judgment, moods are moods), “Coco” is a brilliant animated feature from Disney and Pixar that you better have seen by now (seriously, finish reading this list and then go watch it). I don’t often find myself watching music-driven animated films, but I strongly encourage you to try this one. — HTC
Genre: Musical drama
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%
Stars: Anthony Gonzalez, Gael García Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, Alanna Ubach, Renee Victor
Directors: Adrian Molina, Lee Unkrich
Watch now
‘Thor: Ragnarok’ (2017)
Almost two movies perfectly meshed into one, “Thor: Ragnarok” helped elevate the already well-esteemed Taika Waititi to the next level. Now, big studios could give the guy behind “What We Do in the Shadows” a huge budget and expect a fun, original and entertaining action movie in return. “Ragnarok” is the third (and so-far-best) chapter of Thor’s solo movies, and while it helps to have seen the previous Thor movies (also on Disney Plus), you don’t need to.
This movie is a lot more self-contained, as Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is trying to protect Asgard from the apocalypse known as Ragnarok, as well as Hela (Cate Blanchett). But the other half of “Ragnarok” is much sillier, as Thor finds himself stuck on the planet of Sakaar, where he’s sold to a quirky guy called The Grandmaster (an inspired Jeff Goldblum), who forces him to compete in gladiatorial games. This is when “Ragnarok” becomes the “Step Brothers” of the MCU, as Thor reunites with the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), and it doesn’t exactly go smoothly. Fortunately, this movie also introduces Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie, an instant fan-favorite. — HTC
Genres: Superhero, comedy, action
Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%
Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Taika Waititi, Cate Blanchett, Tessa Thompson, Jeff Goldblum, Mark Ruffalo
Director: Taika Waititi
Watch now
‘Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi’ (2017)
When you think about the third trilogy of Star Wars’ Skywalker Saga, look past the one that is far too similar to “A New Hope” (“The Force Awakens”) and the one that’s way too obsessed with Emperor Palpatine (“The Rise of Skywalker”). While “The Last Jedi” is also rooted in the past of the movies, thanks to amazing work from Mark Hamill playing a hermit-like Luke, it’s a much more fresh and original addition to the lineup.
While we appreciate the whole cast’s contributions to “The Last Jedi,” this was the chapter where Daisy Ridley’s Rey felt most alive and vibrant and interesting. Oh, and Rian Johnson and his team contribute some of the most amazing visuals the Star Wars world has ever seen, including the red mineral-laced world of Crait. — HTC
Genres: Space opera, action adventure
Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%
Stars: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern, Benicio del Toro
Director: Rian Johnson
Watch now
‘Hidden Figures’ (2016)
“Hidden Figures” isn’t just an important film for its depiction of women of color breaking barriers in STEM fields, but it’s also a highly entertaining and thrilling one.
The movie is based on the true story of Black mathematicians working at NASA in the 1960s. Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson) calculated flight paths for Project Mercury, Dorothy Vaughn (Octavia Spencer) supervised the programming department and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe) was NASA’s first Black female engineer. These women were computers before computers were put into wide use. — KW
Genre: Historical drama
Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%
Stars: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencter, Janelle Monáe, Mahershala Ali, Kevin Costner
Director: Theodore Melfi
Watch now
‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ (2014)
No conversation about ranking the best Marvel movies can truly exist without mention of Captain America’s second solo adventure. Not only does this film throw a gigantic wrench in the works of one of Marvel’s biggest organizations, practically blowing up definitions of good and bad, but it’s simply a fantastic standalone movie on its own.
That’s because Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) has yet another personal story to tell, as The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) is a chilling blast from Cap’s past. Fortunately, our hero has some help, or at least he’s got two people he may be able to trust: Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Natasha Romanov/Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) are both here, and both will have their allegiances tested. On top of that, this is Sam Wilson’s MCU debut! — HTC
Genres: Superhero, espionage thriller
Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%
Stars: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Sebastian Stan, Robert Redford, Anthony Mackie
Directors: Anthony and Joe Russo
Watch now
‘Big Hero 6’ (2014)
Did you know Disney made a Marvel movie that was never supposed to be part of the MCU? It’s true, though you’d be forgiven for forgetting “Big Hero 6” was originally a short-lived Marvel comic. But barring a few names, superheroics and Stan Lee, the movie has virtually nothing in common with the source material. Instead we have a fairly typical superhero story, albeit one that’s more designed for kids and features a cuddly inflatable robot.
“Big Hero 6” is a story about loss, which is not uncommon for comic book movies, with main character Hiro (Ryan Potter) having to come to terms with the death of his brother, Tadashi (Daniel Henney). Fortunately Hiro is able to turn his brother’s final creation, the inflatable robot doctor Baymax (Scott Adsit), into a crime-fighting hero. With the help of Tadashi’s friends, they’re able to form the super-team Big Hero 6 and do what heroes do best: Save the world. — Tom Pritchard
Genres: Superhero, comedy
Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%
Stars: Ryan Potter, Scot Adsit, Maya Rudolph, TJ Miller, Daymon Wayans Jr, Jamie Chung, Genesis Rodriguez, Alan Tudyk, James Cromwell
Director: Don Hall and Chris Williams
Watch now
‘Frozen’ (2013)
A cultural phenomenon on a par with the very biggest Disney animations, 2013’s “Frozen” will forever cause the parents of pre-school kids to break out in paroxysms of fear. Not because it’s scary or bad — it’s not — but because of those songs. You know the ones: “Let it Go,” “Do You Want to Build a Snowman,” and “For the First Time in Forever.” As the father of twin girls who were aged three when it came out, I must have heard them 300 times. And that’s not an exaggeration.
Then again, they are great songs and “Frozen” is a great movie. Loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen, it does that classic Disney thing of blending a rip-roaring story with slapstick humor, mild peril and chaste romance. But this being the 21st century, the female leads are all strong characters who really don’t need saving by the men in the tale, thank you very much. It looks fantastic, too, while the voice acting (and singing) by Kristin Bell, Idina Menzel and Josh Gad is flawless. — Marc McLaren
Genre: Fairy tale, musical drama
Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%
Stars: Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad, Santino Fontana
Director: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee
Watch now
‘Avatar’ (2009)
Remarkably, “Avatar” is still the highest grossing film of all time, 13 years after its release. It’s arguably not quite as special as those box-office takings might imply, but James Cameron’s sci-fi epic remains a must-watch movie if only because of its sumptuous CGI.
Set on the lush colony of Pandora, “Avatar” follows former marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) as he initiates himself into the complex society of the Na’vi species by way of an ‘avatar’ — a human-Na’vi hybrid that can tolerate the moon’s toxic atmosphere.
The story isn’t exactly groundbreaking in its originality — there’s a love interest in the form of Zoe Saldana’s Neytiri, a nemesis in the form of her jealous former boyfriend, and that’s about it — but boy does it look good. Set yourself up in front of one of the best OLED TVs, fire up one of the best soundbars and immerse yourself in a true cinematic experience. (And get ready for “Avatar 2” and the other impending sequels.)— MMc
Genre: Sci-fi
Rotten Tomatoes score: 82%
Stars: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Sigourney Weaver
Director: James Cameron
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‘Ratatouille’ (2007)
Remy the rat lives a life that’s very unbecoming of a rodent. This Paris-based pipsqueak has the finest taste in food, which confuses all of his fellow rats. Those two sentences don’t make sense, though, do they? Or at least they wouldn’t until you realize that Remy is voiced by Patton Oswalt, who brings an enthusiastic and manic energy to Remy, who dreams of a better life. And once you hear a rat voiced by Oswalt, everything kinda falls into place.
Remy stumbles into his dream when one pipe leads to another, which leads to one of Paris’ finest eating establishments. There, he meets aspiring chef Linguini, who is dealing with a concern as big as Remy’s appetite: a snobbish food critic named Anton Ego. Already an instant-classic, “Ratatouille” just got a little more life thanks to the references in “Everything Everywhere All At Once.” — HTC
Genre: Comedy
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%
Stars: Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Lou Romano, Brian Dennehy, Peter Sohn, Brad Garrett
Director: Brad Bird
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’10 Things I Hate About You’ (1999)
This modernized take on William Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew” follows the romantic entanglements of teen sisters: independent, snarky Kat (Julia Stiles) and boy-crazy Bianca (Larisa Oleynik). Their strict dad’s dating rules mean Bianca can’t date anyone until Kat has a boyfriend, which seriously bums out sweet new student Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt).
A senior also interested in Bianca pays rebellious outsider Patrick (Heath Ledger) to woo Kat so he can take the younger sister to the prom and have sex with her. Kat rebuffs Patrick at first, but finds herself falling for his devilishly charming ways. When the truth comes out at prom, everything falls apart. As Shakespeare himself wrote, the course of true love never did run smooth. — KW
Genre: Romantic comedy
Rotten Tomatoes score: 70%
Stars: Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, Larisa Oleynik, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Director: Gil Junger
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‘The Lion King’ (1994)
Most ’90s kids keep a place in their hearts for “The Lion King” (the 2D original, mind you), a musical drama that’s as endearing as it is joyous and rewatchable. Its story follows Simba, a young lion who is the heir to the kingdom after his father Mufasa. Unfortunately, his evil uncle Scar complicates things, and Simba has to grow up and mature on his own.
Fortunately, he makes new friends who help him discover many new things, including the motto “No worries for the rest of your days.” As you might expect, though, Simba has to go back to make things right at home. Highly recommendable for most audiences across all age demographics, “The Lion King’s” songs are a delight, and its characters are memorable. An experience that you should not miss. — Sanjana Prakash
Genres: Drama, comedy
Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%
Stars: Mathew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, Rowan Atkinson
Director: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff
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‘Home Alone’ (1990)
If you were lucky enough to never even think about skipping a family holiday growing up, you may not be able to relate to Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin). Aside from being annoyed at being the member of the household most likely to annoy another relative, Kevin’s frustrated this Christmas season because his siblings and cousins love to make him look like the bad guy.
So, wouldn’t you know it, a series of accidents leaves Kev home alone for the holidays — but not for long. Before he knows it, Kevin has to deal with real bad guys: Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv (Daniel Stern), the so-called Wet Bandits, who want to rob the McCallister household during the holiday break. These two may not be the sharpest cutlery on the counter, but they’re feisty enough that they don’t turn away even once they realize they’re fighting a devious mind. Solid slapstick humor with a warm heart, “Home Alone” is one of the best Disney Plus movies during the holiday season. — HTC
Genre: Slapstick comedy
Rotten Tomatoes score: 67%
Stars: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, Catherine O’Hara
Director: Chris Columbus
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‘The Princess Bride’ (1987)
Not to be confused with “The Princess Diaries,” which is also on Disney Plus, “The Princess Bride” is a fantasy tale that pokes fun at all the usual cliches and tropes associated with fairy tales and princess movies. You know, the kind of stuff you’d normally find on Disney Plus.
“The Princess Bride” tells the story of Wesley and his companions as he tries to rescue his true love Buttercup from a forced marriage with the villainous Prince Humperdinck. The gimmick here is that the movie frames the story with a grandfather (Peter Falk) reading to his sick grandson (Fred Savage) — both of whom offer commentary as the movie progresses.
Naturally, a small boy has a lot to say about what he assumes is “a kissing book”. If you found yourself balking at the title, you and Fred might have a lot in common. But like him, there’s a very good chance you’ll find yourself more and more enamored with the characters and their fate as the story progresses. — TP
Genre: Fantasy, comedy, romance
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%
Stars: Robin Wright, Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Andre the Giant, Wallace Shawn, Christopher Guest, Chris Sarandon, Billy Crystal, Fred Savage, Peter Falk
Director: Rob Reiner
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‘Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back’ (1980)
Why do we think “Empire” is the best Star Wars movie of all time? Well, in part because it delivered the most drama. The big reveal at the end of the film is still one of the coolest record needle-scratch moments in the history of film. On top of that, it gave us Yoda. What is Star Wars without the diminutive Jedi? Especially when Yoda goes all roadside maintenance and helps retrieve Luke’s X-Wing from the swamp.
That said, a lot of the positivity we have for “Empire Strikes Back” comes from a couple of chilling situations. First off, the opening scenes on the ice planet of Hoth, especially with how the rebels took down the AT-AT walkers, are forever etched in our brains. Secondly, “Empire” is when we saw Han Solo frozen in carbonite, yet another truly iconic moment from the original trilogy — HTC
Genre: Space opera
Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%
Stars: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, Frank Oz, Peter Mayhew
Director: Irvin Kershner
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‘Wish’ (2023)
Conceived as a tribute to 100 years of Disney animation, “Wish” debuted in theaters in November 2023 to mixed critical reaction and middling box-office returns. But audiences have been significantly kinder since it landed on Disney Plus (it’s currently sitting at an 81% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes), where viewers can take time to catch all the Easter eggs and callbacks to past Disney animated movies, in a story that celebrates the studio’s legacy of popular entertainment.
That means playing with familiar Disney archetypes, including a young woman with big dreams that get a magical boost, her cute yet snarky animal sidekick, and the power-hungry ruler out to stop her. With a mix of traditional and CG animation, “Wish” attempts to bridge the gap between Disney’s past and present, and while it’s not entirely successful, it’s an endearing piece of comfort viewing that’s perfect for streaming at home.
Genre: Kids & Family/Fantasy/Adventure/Comedy/Animation/Musical
Rotten Tomatoes score: 48%
Stars: Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine, Alan Tudyk, Angelique Cabral
Director: Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn
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‘Tiger’ (2024)
As has become customary, Disney is celebrating Earth Day with the release of a new documentary feature film from its Disneynature brand. While earlier Disneynature films, starting with 2007’s “Earth,” opened in theaters, the studio’s releases have shifted to Disney Plus in recent years, and that’s where the latest Disneynature production, “Tiger,” will make its debut. The creative team is led by director Mark Linfield, a veteran of multiple Disneynature films, who oversaw 1,500 days of filming tigers in India.
The celebrity narrator for “Tiger” is Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who joins a tradition of famous performers lending their voices to the anthropomorphized animals featured in the movie. That approach dates all the way back to Disney’s True Life Adventure movies of the 1950s, making “Tiger” the latest addition to Disney’s family-friendly explorations of the natural world.
Genre: Documentary/Nature
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%
Stars: Priyanka Chopra Jonas
Director: Mark Linfield
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‘Inside Out’ (2015)
With a sequel just on the horizon, there’s never been a better time to revisit the original “Inside Out.” This Pixar movie dives into the mind of a young girl named Riley (Kaitlyn Dias), who’s struggling to fit in at her new school after moving halfway across the country. Pulling the strings behind the scenes are five basic emotions personified: Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, and Anger.
When a mishap sends Joy (Amy Poehler) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith) to a far-off corner of Riley’s brain, the other three scramble to keep Riley’s spirits up, but the results are disastrous. Depressed and isolated, Riley decides to run away back to her hometown. Meanwhile, Joy and Sadness must learn to work together despite their differences if they have any hope of getting back to headquarters and pulling Riley out of her funk.
Genre: Kids and family/comedy/fantasy
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98%
Stars: Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Richard Kind, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling, Kaitlyn Dias, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan
Director: Pete Docter
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‘Free Guy’ (2021)
Ryan Reynolds takes center stage in “Free Guy,” a movie that we’ve jokingly called “Grand Theft Auto but for families.” It’s basically about what happens if you’re one of the characters of a video game who always watches and witnesses the crime and chaos.
Those folks, represented here by Guy (Reynolds), have suffered enough under the rule of the people who make the games. And that’s where Free Guy offers a truly inspired piece of casting, with Taika Waititi as the immature man-child who runs the company that makes the game Guy is in. But Guy isn’t going to save the virtual world on his own: He soon meets Millie (Jodie Comer), a gun-toting badass who pushes him to become more than a non-playable character, and actually get in the game.
Genre: Action/adventure/comedy
Rotten Tomatoes score: 80%
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Lil Rel Howery, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Joe Keery, Taika Waititi
Director: Shawn Levy
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‘Big’ (1988)
As a 12-year-old kid, Josh Baskin (David Moscow) is striking out left and right, like being too short to ride the Super Loops at an amusement park and getting embarrassed in front of a girl he liked. But his luck changes when he finds a fortune-teller machine housing a mannequin called Zoltar, he wishes to be “big.” Someone was never told “be careful what you wish for,” as he soon wakes up to find that he’s now an adult portrayed by Tom Hanks.
That premise, if we’re honest, should not really work. However, Hanks brings “big” Josh to life with such whimsy and childlike enthusiasm that you can’t help but root for him. Rather than laughing at the absurdity, you fall in love with the character. As Josh navigates his new “big” life, he quickly realizes that being a grown-up isn’t all fun and games—he’s not emotionally ready for the challenges it brings.
Genre: Kids & family/Comedy/Fantasy
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98%
Stars: Tom Hanks, Elizabeth Perkins, Robert Loggia, John Heard
Director: Penny Marshall
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‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’ (1988)
“Who Framed Roger Rabbit” is one Disney movie I always find myself revisiting just to watch the stunning blend of live-action and 2D-animated characters interacting seamlessly. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the film is set in an alternate reality version of 1940s Los Angeles where cartoon characters coexist with humans.
When down-on-his-luck private detective Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins) is hired to investigate allegations of infidelity against the famous toon star Roger Rabbit, he bites off more than he can chew. Roger is framed for murdering the owner of Toontown, Marvin Acme, leading the unlikely duo on a crime-solving caper to clear Roger’s name and find out what villain is trying to take over Toontown.
Genre: Comedy/mystery
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%
Stars: Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd, Charles Fleischer, Stubby Kaye, Joanna Cassidy
Director: Robert Zemeckis
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‘Zootopia’ (2016)
Set in the city of Zootopia, a metropolis populated by anthropomorphic mammals, this Disney animated movie is all about challenging stereotypes. Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) is proud to be the first rabbit to join the police force, but soon learns enforcing the law is no picnic.
When a river otter is one of the latest mammals to go missing, Judy volunteers for the case. Unfortunately, it entails teaming up with the sly fox con artist Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman). As they track down clues and talk to various mammals of interest, they uncover a much larger conspiracy than they had imagined.
Genre: Kids & Family/comedy/adventure
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98%
Stars: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, Jenny Slate, Nate Torrence, Bonnie Hunt, Don Lake, Tommy Chong, J.K. Simmons, Octavia Spencer, Alan Tudyk, Shakira
Director: Byron Howard and Rich Moore
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‘Wall-E’ (2008)
A more somber yet undeniably adorable entry in Pixar’s oeuvre, “Wall-E” is a new twist on the beauty and the beast story we’ve come to know and love. Set hundreds of years in the future after humanity has abandoned Earth, a lone robot WALL-E dutifully continues trash compacting the towering piles of garbage left behind.
He’s mapped out a routine throughout his years of solitude broken only by his pet cockroach. But that all changes when a tracking robot named Eve lands nearby and finds evidence of habitable life on the polluted planet. Hopelessly in love with her, he accompanies her to humanity’s last refuge — the starliner Axiom — where not everyone is so thrilled that Earth is once again safe to return to.
Genre: Kids & family
Rotten Tomatoes score: 95%
Stars: Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, Jeff Garlin, Fred Willard, John Ratzenberger, Kathy Najimy, Sigourney Weaver
Director: Andrew Stanton
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‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ (1993)
Why choose between Halloween and Christmas when you can have the best of both worlds? “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is yet another directorial classic from Henry Sellick, the creative mind behind “Coraline” and “James and the Giant Peach.”
The stop-motion animated film centers around the Pumpkin King, Jack Skellington (Danny Elfman), who discovers a whole new world when he happens upon portals to holidays that are a far cry from his Halloween-centric home. Enamored by Christmas town, he returns home hellbent on bringing the holiday under his control. But his plans to kidnap Santa Claus and bring the Christmas spirit to Halloween Town go awry when the villainous bag of bugs Oogie Boogie starts meddling. On top of voicing quite a few characters in the movie, Elfman (of Oingo Boingo fame) was responsible for coming up with the haunting score of this classic musical.
Genre: Kids and family/holiday
Rotten Tomatoes score: 95%
Stars: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara, William Hickey, Glenn Shadix, Paul Reubens, Ken Page, Ed Ivory
Director: Henry Selick
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