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, computer-animated features, 20th Century Fox hits, Star Wars content, Pixar’s animated movies and tv shows, 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+ as of this very moment.
You can see the full list of the best Disney Plus movies below:
Last updated on June 1, 2023.
1. Avatar
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, anyway.
2. The Incredibles
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.
3. Avengers: Endgame
Year: 2019
Starring: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo
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.
4. The Lion King (1994)
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!
5. Up
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.
6. The Empire Strikes Back
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, 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?
7. Guardians Of The Galaxy
Year: 2014
Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista
Genre: Superhero, Action
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 122 Minutes
Director: James Gunn
Trailer: Watch here
The one that started it all… and brought mixtapes back into the cultural sphere. The first Guardians of the Galaxy installment follows Peter Quill as he first meets the ragtag gang of space misfits who come together in order to protect a mysterious artifact that may or may not threaten humanity as they know it. But the best part is the talking raccoon, voiced by Bradley Cooper.
8. Toy Story
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. Toy Story is the first movie in one of Disney’s most beloved franchises, and it’s always a good watch, whether it’s your first or fortieth view. Andy’s favorite toy, Woody, feels threatened when a shiny new toy joins the gang, and the duo set out on their own adventure after accidentally being given away. It’s also one of those rare Walt Disney stories that get even better with its sequels.
9. Deadpool 2
Year: 2018
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Zazie Beetz
Genre: Superhero, Comedy
Rating: R
Runtime: 121 minutes
Director: Devid Leitch
Trailer: Watch here
This may or may not be the movie that required Disney+ to establish their parental controls, but we’ll never really know. What we do know is that Ryan Reynolds fought pretty hard to get his raunchy superhero movie on the streamer, and it worked! In this second installment, Wade Wilson joins forces with another familiar team of supers, though not too familiar, because they don’t have all of those rights. Isn’t Hollywood amazing?
10. Pirates Of The Caribbean
Year: 2003
Starring: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightly
Genre: Fantasy, Action-Adventure
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 142 minutes
Director: Gore Verbinksi
Trailer: Watch here
While the Pirates movies have a long, complex history, there is one positive thing that came from the franchise, which is that it brought the word “swashbuckling” back into the cultural consciousness. The movie that started it all, based on the iconic Disney ride of the same name, follows the eccentric pirate Jack Sparrow as he sets out to steal his ship back from a gaggle of ghost pirates who took it. Yo-ho! It’s a pirate’s life, after all.
11. Black Panther
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.
12. Hamilton
Year: 2020
Starring: Daveed Diggs, Jonathan Groff, Lin-Manuel Miranda
Genre: Superhero, Action-Adventure
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 160 minutes
Director: Thomas Kail
Trailer: Watch here
It’s been hard to escape the Hamilton frenzy over the last few years, and now that the iconic musical is on Disney+, it is much more accessible for everyone to watch. Plus you can have your own intermissions, which is great because it is nearly three hours long. Filmed in 2016, the smash hit tells the tale of Alexander Hamilton through a more modern lens, complete with great period-specific costumes and, of course, Lin-Manuel Miranda.
13. Raiders Of The Lost Ark (Avail 6/1)
Year: 1981
Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman
Genre: Action-Adventure
Rating: PG
Runtime:109 minutes
Director:Steven Spielberg
Trailer: Watch here
Real-life Disney Prince Indiana Jones finally gets his place on Disney+ now that the Indiana Jones collection is available on the streamer. It’s always best to start at the beginning, which began with Raiders of the Lost Arkin 1981. Harrison Ford stars as the titular archeologist/adventure aficionado who races against the Nazis in order to track down a very coveted artifact. Nothing can stop him… except snakes.
14. Return Of The Jedi
Year: 1983
Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher
Genre: Action-Adventure, Sci-Fi
Rating: PG
Runtime: 136 minutes
Director: Richard Marquand
Trailer: Watch here
Every Star Wars movie is culturally significant in one way or another, and Return Of The Jedi is known for a few things, like being the last movie in the original saga, and tying up some of those loose ends regarding who is related to who. But the best part about episode six isn’t the monumental action scenes or the climactic conclusion — it’s the movie that brought Ewoks into the world. And that, alone, makes it work watching, in addition to all that galactic war.
15. Black Is King
Year: 2020
Starring: Beyoncé Knowles-Carter
Genre: Music, Dance
Rating: TV-14
Runtime: 85 minutes
Director: Beyoncé Knowles-Carter
Trailer: Watch here
Black Is King is a mesmerizing visual and musical reimagining of The Lion King that centers on Black families and self-identity by using the themes and lessons from the classic 1994 Disney-animated film (and the 2019 remake, for that matter). Beyoncé uses stunning visuals and extravagant sets along with some special guests in order to create a powerful piece of art focused on family and community.
16. Monsters Inc
Year: 2001
Starring: John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Steve Buscemi
Genre: Comedy, Animated, Family
Rating: G
Runtime: 92 minutes
Director: Pete Docter
Trailer: Watch here
Mike and Sully are just a couple of well-meaning monsters who are trying to make an honest living by scaring children by jumping out from the inside of their closets. Who can’t relate? But after one of the kids gets lost in the monster world, the duo has to find a way to get her back safely before the other monsters want to use her for her screams. It might seem evil, but it’s very eco-friendly to use vocals to power a city!
17. Captain Marvel
Year: 2019
Starring: Brie Larson, Samuel, L. Jackson
Genre: Superhero, Action-Adventure
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 127 minutes
Director: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck
Trailer: Watch here
Not every superhero movie can work in a fighting montage set to No Doubt’s “Just A Girl,” but this one sure did. And it worked! After years of minimal female-led Marvel movies, Captain Marvel is a good reminder that superhero movies can be fun and silly, especially if they take place in the ’90s. Brie Larson stars as Carol Danvers as she is recruited by the Avengers to help save the planet… and all of that fun stuff.
18. Logan
Year: 2017
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart
Genre: Drama, Superhero
Rating: R
Runtime: 139 minutes
Director: James Marigold
Trailer: Watch here
There was a time not too long ago when we all thought that 2017’s Logan would be the last time we would see Hugh Jackman don those piercing claws and grow out his unruly sideburns, though that’s not the case anymore. Still, the final chapter in Wolverine/Logan’s life is an unexpectedly dark drama that acts less like a superhero movie and more like a heartbreaking character study of an ailing man with a conflicting past.
19. Night at the Museum
Year: 2006
Starring: Ben Stiller, Carla Gugino, Dick Van Dyke
Genre: Family, Comedy
Rating: PG
Runtime:109 minutes
Director: Shawn Levy
Trailer: Watch here
It’s only natural (get it) to wonder what happens to inanimate objects inside the natural history museum after hours. Ben Stiller stars as a new night guard at New York’s Natural History Museum (the one with the big dinosaur in the lobby) who discovers that the exhibits come to life once the doors close. It’s all fun and games until the ghost of Teddy Roosevelt comes out to hang out.
20. The Beatles: Get Back
Year: 2021
Starring: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr
Genre: Documentary,
Rating: PG
Runtime: 3-part documentary
Director: Peter Jackson
Trailer: Watch here
This documentary features never-before-seen footage of the most famous British boy band in the world (not named One Direction, of course). Through new and restored footage from 1969, the doc shows the iconic foursome as they prepare to put on their first show in over two years which went on to become one of their most celebrated performances.
21. Enchanted
Year: 2007
Starring: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden
Genre: Family, Comedy
Rating: PG
Runtime: 111 minutes
Director: Kevin Lima
Trailer: Watch here
Enchanted manages to flip the classic Disney princess trope on its head by bringing all of that beloved whimsical magic to the place that needs it most: New York City! Giselle, an animated princess, accidentally ends up in the real world of Manhattan, where the street rats may look like your friend but they are not! When she meets a no-nonsense grumpy lawyer (there are plenty in New York) she learns that not everything can be a fairytale. But looking at Patrick Demsey’s face, you might think he is made of magic.
22. Luca
Year: 2021
Starring: Jacob Tremblay, Jack Dylan Grazer
Genre: Family, Coming Of Age
Rating: PG
Runtime: 101 minutes
Director: Enrico Casarosa
Trailer: Watch here
What’s better than spending a summer in the Italian countryside? Besides gelato and never-ending pasta, obviously. On summer vacation, a young boy meets a new friend who has the same unique problem that he does: they are both sea monsters trying to fit in with humans.
23. The Little Mermaid
Year: 1989
Starring: Jodi Benson, Christopher Daniel Barnes
Genre: Family, Animated, Musical
Rating: G
Runtime: 87 minutes
Director: John Muscker, Ron Clements
Trailer: Watch here
Mermaid Ariel dreams of a life above the sea, but that’s hard when you don’t have human legs and instead are half-fish. But it’s not impossible! The Little Mermaid is the classic cautionary tale of what can happen if you trade a part of yourself in order to date the handsome sailor with the cute dog. But, as it is a Disney movie, of course, it all works out in the end for Ariel and her various sea pals. The upcoming live-action remake will hit theaters next year.
24. Home Alone
Year: 1990
Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern
Genre: Family, Comedy
Rating: PG
Runtime: 104 minutes
Director: Chris Columbus
Trailer: Watch here
‘Tis the season to deck the halls and set a series of elaborate traps in your house just in case two very ignorant burglars try to rob you! Of course, little Kevin McCallister has a lot of fun trying to escape the bad guys after his parents accidentally leave him at the home… alone. See where this is going? It’s a holiday season staple!
TIE: 25. Freaky Friday
Year: 2003
Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan
Genre: Family, Comedy
Rating: PG
Runtime: 98 minutes
Director: Mark Waters
Trailer: Watch here
Now that Jamie Lee Curtis is on board with a sequel, it’s the perfect time to revisit the original. Well, a remake of the original, but you get the point. Curtis stars as an uptight mother who switches bodies with her rebellious teen daughter played by Lindsay Lohan. Come for Chad Michael Murray, stay for the gratuitous rock number.
TIE: 25 Chang Can Dunk
Year: 2023
Starring: Bloom Li, Dexter Darden, Ben Wang
Genre: Sports, Coming-of-age
Rating: PG
Runtime: 109 minutes
Director: Jingyi Shao
Trailer: Watch here
This coming-of-age comedy introduces Chang, a teen who becomes a meme after an embarrassing basketball stunt goes viral online. Looking to prove himself in front of his school (and crush) Chang enlists in the help of some basketball players to help him learn how to really dunk a basketball… without tripping over his feet.
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