If you’re looking to settle in with a worthwhile flick, here are the 25 best movies on Disney Plus as of this very moment.
As more and more streaming services opt to put their movies directly online instead of, say, in the movie theaters, the choices for home viewers are becoming very hard. With hundreds of titles across every streaming service, it’s no wonder cable was such a hit all those years ago! They just decided what movie you were going to watch at any given time, and now we have choices. With the power of choice, comes the power of trying to sort through what’s actually worth watching.
When it comes to Disney+, you’ve got a lot of options. There are various original films, animated features, stop-motion animations, Star Wars content, computer animations, selections from Pixar selections, Disney’s animated classics, works from National Geographic, and, of course, the extensive catalog from Marvel Cinematic Universe. But only some of these movies are the best of the best. If you’re looking to settle in with a worthwhile flick, here are the 25 best movies on Disney Plus as of this very moment.
Last updated on June 24, 2024.
Year: 2009
Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver
Genre: Action-Adventure, Sci-Fi
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 162 minutes
Director: James Cameron
Trailer: Watch here
You probably saw Avatar in theaters in 2009, because everybody did. But if you didn’t (or just want to dive back into the ever-evolving blue world) it’s definitely worth watching, even if it’s just to keep up with the many conversations surrounding the blockbuster series. The movie brings you to the lush world of Pandora, where everyone is big and blue, and the government wants to ruin it all. It’s the first chapter in the movie series that seemingly will never end, as long as James Cameron has his way, especially after the box office hit that was Avatar: The Way Of Water.
Watch it on Disney+
Year: 2004
Starring: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson
Genre: Family, Action-Adventure
Rating: PG
Runtime: 116 minutes
Director: Brad Bird
Trailer: Watch here
It’s hard to go wrong with any early-ish entry in the Pixar lexicon, though The Incredibles is still a top-tier film. If you’re tired of all of that Marvel bloat that’s been going around, The Incredibles is a perfect solution for anyone who wants to watch some lowkey-superhero fun. Craig T. Nelson and Holly Hunter voice Mr. and Mrs. Incredible, a couple of supers who used to dabble in some crime fighting. Now, they are just regular old parents juggling three kids… who also have powers. In order to stop a new threat, they must band together as superheroes AND as a family to protect the city. It probably makes your family get-together look pretty tame.
Watch it on Disney+
Year: 2019
Starring: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Tom Holland
Genre: Superhero, Action-Adventure
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 185 minutes
Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Trailer: Watch here
Every time The Avengers meet with the most powerful beings in the galaxy, they end up beating them and going out for dinner after because they are just that good. But Endgame proved that sometimes, superheroes don’t survive, and things can get dark before they get better again. After Thanos snaps half of the world from existence, The Avengers have to scramble to try to get the universe back into its place, but not before facing deadly consequences.
Watch it on Disney+
Year: 1994
Starring: Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones
Genre: Family, Musical, Animated
Rating: G (but it should be PG-13, honestly)
Runtime: 93 minutes
Director: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff
Trailer: Watch here
To address the elephant and lion in the room, yes, there is a 2019 live-action rendition of The Lion king and yes, Beyonce is in it. It is also on Disney+ so you are welcome to watch that one, but if you are looking for something with a little more dancing and a little less like a nature documentary, the original is the way to go!
Watch it on Disney+
Year: 2009
Starring: Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer
Genre: Family, Drama, Animated
Rating: PG
Runtime: 96 minutes
Director: Pete Docter
Trailer: Watch here
Up is a Pixar staple because it checks off all of the boxes that make a hit children’s movie: a cute little kid, a lovable animal sidekick, and a dead adult. The opening sequence is not for the faint of heart (or for anyone who has elderly people in their life) but the heartwarming tale of a young boy and his grumpy neighbor really does tug at those emotions. Plus, it has one of the best Pixar soundtracks, so even if you don’t enjoy the movie, you’ll get some great music out of it.
Watch it on Disney+
Year: 1980
Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher
Genre: Science Fiction, Action-Adventure
Rating: PG
Runtime: 128 minutes
Director: Irvin Kershner
Trailer: Watch here
You could go with any Star Wars title here, but we all know that this is the one you want to watch, right? The third film in the iconic series, Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back follows the aftermath of the destruction of the Death Star, as the Imperial forces hunt the Rebel Alliance, which includes Princess Leia, Han Solo, and the cuddliest guy in the galaxy, Chewbacca. How will they make it out of this one?
Watch it on Disney+
Year: 2018
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o
Genre: Superhero, Action-Adventure
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 138 minutes
Director: Ryan Coogler
Trailer: Watch here
In the first installment in the series, Chadwick Boseman plays the honorable T’Challa, a young king who is expected to rule the futuristic world of Wakanda after the death of his father. But when looming threats put their civilization in jeopardy, he has to rise to the occasion and protect his family as Black Panther. Boseman’s portrayal of the superhero is one that should not be missed, and the movie is even credited as a major turning point for Marvel.
Watch it on Disney+
Year: 2022
Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Kate Winslet, Sigourney Weaver
Genre: Action-Adventure, Sci-Fi
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 192 minutes
Director: James Cameron
Trailer: Watch here
This sequel literally took decades to come together, but the end result was worth it, even if no reports surfaced of James Cameron’s prediction that he’d make people “sh*t themselves with their mouths wide open.” You gotta admire Cameron’s commitment to taking us back into the lush realm of Pandora, and Kate Winslet joined the returning cast to set a record that must drive Tom Cruise nuts. Cameron has promised a few more sequels, so we’ll see if Cruise can break Winslet’s record, and she can one-up him by doing it again.
Watch it on Disney+
Year: 1995
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen
Genre: Family, Comedy, Animated
Rating: PG
Runtime: 84 minutes
Director: John Lasseter
Trailer: Watch here
At one point or another, everyone thought that their toys came to life whenever they left the room, right? Though you probably never expected that they would have the familiar voice of Tom Hanks.
