Best Disney Plus Movies You Can Watch Right Now (Jan. 2021)

BEST MOVIES FROM DISNEY PLUS

Ralph Breaks the Internet

THE COMPLETE DISNEY PLUS MOVIE LIST

Home Alone

The Nightmare Before Christmas originated from Tim Burton’s childhood. He was obsessed with holidays growing up because he felt it gave time more texture. He developed the idea for the story while working at Disney but was later fired. He went on to direct successes like Beetlejuice, and the chance to bring The Nightmare Before Christmas was rejuvenated. In contrast to popular belief, he didn’t direct the film, but it’s forever associated with Burton’s unique sensibilities.

A young boy makes the wish to become “big,” and the next day, his wish comes true. He turns into an adult, and he soon realizes he had it made pretty well as a kid. Tom Hanks leads this delightful comedy filled with plenty of hilarious bits. 

Anastasia is finally a Disney princess due to the studio’s acquisition of 20th Century Studios. The film follows an 18-year-old amnesiac who ends up getting used by con men due to her likeness to the Grand Duchess. With brilliant songs and superb voice acting from Meg Ryan and John Cusack, this movie is different from your usual Disney animated fare and worth a watch.  

Bambi was one of Disney’s first features, and even though you likely know the sadness that happens early on, it’s still enough to bring a tear to your eye. After suffering the loss of his mother, Bambi must learn to pick up the pieces, along with a little help from his friends. The film features the voices of John Sutherland and Sam Edwards. 

Taylor Swift surprised everyone with the release of a surprise album, Folklore, earlier in 2020. It was also a surprise when she released a concert film of the same name on Disney+. The film features the entirety of the album as well as exclusive interviews with Swift discussing the songs and the inspiration behind them. 

GREAT CHRISTMAS MOVIES ON DISNEY+

Noelle

Hamilton brings a 2016 performance with the original Broadway cast to the masses. The show won 11 Tonys and reignited people’s interest in musical theater. And you get a similarly thrilling experience watching a filmed version.

The way they filmed the show was to record two live performances and one where the camera crew could actually be onstage. Seeing the emotion on the actors’ faces makes you feel like you have a front row seat to the best show in town.

DOCUMENTARIES ON DISNEY+

From Pulp to Pop!

Anyone wanting to learn the history of Marvel Comics needs to check out this 41-minute documentary. It traces the creation of important characters, like Captain America and features exclusive interviews from the likes of Stan Lee and Neal Kirby. 

This short film depicts a father learning his child is different from all the other kids. This allegory for learning your child has developmental problems is sure to tug at your heartstrings and is exclusive to Disney+. 

Director Tom McCarthy went from the Oscar-winning drama Spotlight to a movie about a boy running a detective agency with a bear as a best friend. While the movies are very different, McCarthy keeps his attention focused on the humanity within these characters. There are plenty of zany moments and deadpan jokes in this movie, but the characters and their emotions remain the focal point.  

GOOD MODERN MOVIES ON DISNEY PLUS

Big Hero 6

The merging of Disney and Marvel would inevitably lead to an animated superhero film, and the result was Big Hero 6. It’s an underrated film in Disney’s modern canon. And the creative team behind it wisely decided to not connect the movie with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It stands on its own, telling a heartfelt superhero story without the need to connect it something bigger than what the movie needs to be. 

CLASSIC CHRISTMAS FLICKS ON DISNEY+

Babes in Toyland

FUNNY MOVIES ON DISNEY+

The Santa Clause

DISNEY PLUS SHORT FILMS

Bao

WHAT ANIMATED FILMS ARE ON DISNEY+?

Atlantis: The Lost Empire

The early 2000s were an interesting time for Disney animation. Princess tales took a backseat to movies like Treasure Planet, Atlantic: The Lost Empire, and The Emperor’s New Groove. This also happened to be the time when 2D animation was beginning to get phased out for 3D. It’s hard to imagine Disney greenlighting something like this these days, and that’s what makes it such a special addition to the Disney inventory.

Steamboat Willie is vital viewing to anyone who wants to understand the history of animation. While it seems quaint now, it played a pivotal role in advancing how cartoons utilized sound, making for essential viewing for all aspiring animators out there. 

DISNEY CHANNEL ORIGINALS ON DISNEY+

High School Musical

The star of East High’s basketball team and the queen of the drama club start up an unlikely romance when the athlete wants to perform on stage. The singing and dancing just won’t stop in this film starring Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens. 

Two surfers end up getting caught in a massive wave, transporting them to an old-school beach-themed musical. They’ll have to figure out how to catch a wave back home or be stuck in this musical realm forever. Ross Lynch, Maia Mitchell, and Grace Phipps star in this Disney Channel original film. 

While a musical of sorts has developed about Ratatouille on TikTok, you can now see the original film in all its glory. The Pixar film about a rat who teachers a timid chef how to cook is one of the studio’s best offerings. With the voice acting talents of Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, and Lou Romano, this is the movie to watch when you’re in search of inspiration. It teaches you how anyone can do anything as long as they put their mind to it. 

GOOD MOVIES FOR FAMILIES ON DISNEY PLUS

National Treasure

You’ve seen the memes; now watch the movie. Nic Cage stars in this adventure film about a cryptologist who sets out to steal the Declaration of Independence so that he can find a hidden treasure before a group of nefarious criminals do. Sean Bean, Diane Kruger, and Justin Bartha also star in the hit film. 

DISNEY PLUS SPORT MOVIES

Miracle 

Even people who don’t follow sports have heard of the “Miracle on Ice.” This film follows the true story of the U.S. men’s ice hockey team who defied the odds and went on to win the gold medal at the 1980 Olympics. The inspirational film stars Kurt Russell and Patricia Clarkson. 

BEST MOVIES TO WATCH ON DISNEY PLUS NOW

Willow

The dark fantasy film that haunted numerous millennials’ childhoods is now available to watch on Disney+. The film follows Willow, a farmer who takes on the reluctant role of rescuing a baby from an evil queen, who plans on destroying the child to take over the world. It’s one of director Ron Howard’s most beloved works and stars Warwick Davis, Val Kilmer, and Jean Marsh.  

ACTION-ADVENTURE FILMS ON DISNEY PLUS

Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi

It’s divisive, but for our money, the Star Wars sequels peaked with The Last Jedi. The film sees Rey seeking the tutelage of Luke Skywalker, who has become a hermit on a far-off planet. It’s up to her to learn the ways of the Jedi so that she can bring down the First Order. It’s a brilliant deconstruction of the Star Wars mythos and stars Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, and Adam Driver. 

MCU IN DISNEY PLUS

Captain America: The Winter Soldier 

GOOD MOVIES ON DISNEY PLUS FOR EVERYONE

The Adventures of Huck Finn

Based on the literary classic, this 1993 film follows a young Huck Finn as he joins up with an escaped slave as they travel down the Mississippi River. The film stars Elijah Wood, Courtney B. Vance, and Robbie Coltrane in a must-watch for any fans of the book. 

A little girl stumbles upon the world of giants and meets the BFG “Big, Friendly Giant.” Steven Spielberg brings his trademark wonder and whimsy to this children’s film that stars Mark Rylance and Ruby Barnhill. 

Live-action and animation come together wonderfully in the classic Disney flick, Bedknobs and Broomsticks. The film follows a witch who gets the assistance of three children fleeing from the London Blitz. The kids will use a magic bed to enter a fantasy land and escape from oncoming German troops. Angela Lansbury and David Tomlinson star in this musical/fantasy production. 

There are numerous movies about “found families.” Guardians of the Galaxy follows in these footsteps with a group of criminals joining forces for good. But it goes deeper than that. Many of the central heroes were forced into their respective lives of crime. Peter was abducted by Yondu’s gang. Gamora is Thanos’s daughter. They all make a decision to do better and become better people together. Your real family can influence you to do wrong, but your found family, the friends you make throughout life, can lead you down a better path. 

DISNEY PLUS DOCUMENTARIES

Diana: In Her Own Words

Diana: In Her Own Words originally aired on Channel 4 in the U.K. The film documents the life of the famous princess and includes video footage of Princess Diana speaking about her own experiences becoming a member of the royal family. If you’re a fan of The Crown on Netflix, then this documentary is must-see viewing.

Rick Moranis had such a wonderful presence on-screen. He comes across as your dad, provided your father had impeccable comedic timing. With roles in films like Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and Ghostbusters, he became beloved by a generation. He quit acting to take care of his children after his wife passed away, and while we may never see him in another film, we at least have the memories from such joyous movies as this one. 

LIST OF THE BEST DISNEY+ MOVIES

Old Yeller

James Cameron brought us Aliens, so it’s not a surprise to see his fascination with extraterrestrial life on full display in Aliens of the Deep. Cameron journeys into the depths of the ocean, showing how life can thrive in such extreme environments.  It’s a truly remarkable documentary considering the footage they were able to capture, and it shows how dedicated Cameron is as a filmmaker in the way he pushes the limits of technology.

A prominent problem with many streaming services is the severe lack of older films. It’s hard to find anything prior to the 1980s most of the time, which is why you should take advantage of classic films whenever they’re available. The Sound of Music, which was actually the highest-grossing film of all time from 1965 to 1970. It’s the last Rodgers/Hammerstein collaboration of the era, and it’s a lovely film that should be on every filmmaker’s watchlist. 

OLDER MOVIES TO WATCH ON DISNEY PLUS

Turner & Hooch

Sometimes you just need to watch a silly buddy cop movie where the cop’s buddy is a dog. The titular officers end up in the midst of a dastardly murder, and they’re the only ones who can solve the case. Tom Hanks leads this wacky comedy. 

Lindsay Lohan’s character was originally written as goth. It would have made for an interesting dynamic as her mother takes on a completely different persona and one she’s entirely unfamiliar with. However, by making the character preppy, the movie avoids feeling too dated. The script was rewritten when Lohan appeared at the audition in preppy attire, and now the movie is a Disney classic.

In the follow-up to the critically-acclaimed first X-Men film, X2 sees the continued persecution of mutants. As such, the X-Men are forced to team up with the villainous Brotherhood of Mutants to save their kind. The superhero flick sees Hugh Jackman return as Wolverine as well as Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, and Halle Berry.