Movies to Watch on Disney+

Don’t be intimidated by Disney+’s massive movie catalog: we have 80 recommendations to get you started.

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From Disney classics to Pixar, and from Marvel to Star Wars, Disney+’s library features more mega-hits and beloved franchises than all other streaming services combined. Plus it owns the rights to all that content, meaning movies and TV shows will never disappear overnight (unlike with Netflix).

In all, Disney+ has over 500 movies available to stream—so narrowing down a list of our favorites wasn’t easy. We know 500 movies sounds like a lot; it’s best to start small. We’ve picked 80 to get you started.

Disney Plus movie recommendations

Black Widow (2021)

The most recent release from the Marvel Cinematic Universe is also a bit of a departure: Black Widow, the sort-of origin story of MCU veteran Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), is a spy thriller with a soul rather than a battle-laden, special-effects-rich superhero blowout (but don’t worry—it still has some killer combat scenes).

Black Widow also introduces Natasha’s sister Yelena (Florence Pugh), a spirited, firecracker contrast to Johansson’s stoic spy.

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Speaking of departures, 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok took the semi-serious MCU template and blew it up into super-sized comedy, thanks to the aggressive silliness of director Taika Waititi.

Ragnarok finds Thor (Chris Hemsworth) showing off his comedic chops while being held prisoner on a planet ruled by Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum) with Hulk/Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston).

If you watch only one Marvel movie ever, make it Thor: Ragnarok.

Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)

The one that started it all, the epic movie formerly known as simply Star Wars, thrilled the planet in 1977 and still holds up today.

The reluctant hero’s journey of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) is ingrained in pop culture, spawning sequels, prequels, cartoons, and spin-offs for over 40 years, including recent Disney+ insta-hit The Mandalorian.

Star Wars’s special effects might look a little clunky now, but the story is a classic good vs. evil fable full of underdog heart and fortitude.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

Like the Han Solo–centric Solo, Rogue One is a standalone feature outside of the typical Star Wars trilogy releases, set just before the events of A New Hope.

Rogue One follows a Rebel Alliance mission to steal the plans for the Death Star, led by Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones), a young woman with a score to settle against the Empire.

Come for the fresh story and characters, stay for the spectacular battle on the oceanic planet Scarif.

Toy Story (1995)

The first Pixar full-length feature is still one of the best—how do you top the dream team of Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and Mr. Potato Head?

Besides scoring a rare 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the computer-animated Toy Story is also the benchmark for “kids” movies that have equal appeal to adults, with jokes and heartfelt moments that work on several levels.

Pro tip: Want to expand your streaming universe from Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar? Check out our guide to the Best Streaming Services to see what else is out there.

Monsters Inc. (2001)

Another Pixar landmark, Monsters Inc. is about pals Sully (voiced by Billy Crystal) and Mike (John Goodman), a pair of furry creatures who work at a factory supplying power to Monstropolis.

That power is generated by scaring human children, one of whom somehow makes her way into the factory—now it’s up to Scully and Mike to get her out before she’s discovered.

Monsters Inc. is as inventive as it is hilarious, and a near equal to Toy Story.

The Incredibles (2004)

Like Toy Story and Monsters Inc., The Incredibles was an overnight hit with audiences and critics upon release, introducing dazzling superhero action into the Pixar lexicon, as well as more adult themes and the studio’s first PG rating.

It’s also been called “the perfect Fantastic Four movie that Marvel can’t seem to make” by comic-book purists.

Besides relatable family dynamics, The Incredibles also features one of the best Disney villains ever, Syndrome (voiced by Jason Lee).

Inside Out (2015)

Pixar dominates this list because, well, the studio is brimming with clever ideas like Inside Out, which literally animates a young girl’s emotions.

With her life in upheaval, the girl’s emotions, Joy (voiced by Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Fear (Bill Hader), Disgust (Mindy Kaling), and Anger (Lewis Black) fight to keep each other in check.

Besides being a fantastical and colorful ride, Inside Out makes you feel the feels and think the thinks.

Soul (2020)

If emotions and psychology are heavy themes for a children’s movie, Pixar’s Soul takes it even further with the concepts of life, death, and the titular soul.

Just as Joe (voiced by Jamie Foxx) is about to get his big break as a professional jazz pianist, he has an accident that puts him in a coma and near death.

Refusing to accept this fate, Joe escapes the Great Before, the waiting site of souls, and returns to Earth with the help of 22 (Tina Fey). There’s plenty of soul in Soul.

Fantasia (1940)

Twelve years after his debut, Disney star Mickey Mouse was due for a comeback—1940’s ambitious Fantasia was the vehicle for it.

The gorgeously animated feature, set to classical music and mostly dialogue-free, includes prehistoric and mythological imagery, ballet-dancing hippos, and a frightening demonic interlude.

But it’s Mickey’s magical dabbling in the painstakingly detailed Sorcerer’s Apprentice section that steals the show, and Fantasia is still utterly unique 81 years later.

More Disney Plus movie recommendations

Recommended Disney+ original movies

  • Artemis Fowl
  • Black Beauty
  • Diary of a Wimpy Kid
  • Godmothered
  • Hamilton
  • Home Sweet Home Alone
  • Lady and the Tramp
  • Luca
  • Safety
  • Stargirl

Recommended Star Wars movies on Disney+

  • LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special
  • Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars
  • Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
  • Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
  • Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
  • Star Wars: The Force Awakens
  • Star Wars: The Last Jedi
  • Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
  • Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Recommended Marvel movies on Disney+

  • Ant-Man
  • Avengers: Endgame
  • Black Panther
  • Captain America: The First Avenger
  • Captain America: The Winter Soldier
  • Captain Marvel
  • Doctor Strange
  • Guardians of the Galaxy
  • Iron Man
  • Thor

Recommended Pixar movies on Disney+

  • Brave
  • Cars
  • Coco
  • Finding Nemo
  • The Good Dinosaur
  • Luca
  • Onward
  • Ratatouille
  • Up
  • Wall-E

Recommended animated movies on Disney+

  • Big Hero 6
  • Bolt
  • Fantastic Mr. Fox
  • Frozen
  • Lion King
  • Mulan
  • Raya and the Last Dragon
  • The Simpsons Movie
  • Tangled
  • Wreck-It Ralph

Recommended comedy movies on Disney+

  • 10 Things I Hate About You
  • Cadet Kelly
  • The Cat from Outer Space
  • Cheaper by the Dozen
  • D2: The Mighty Ducks
  • Flubber
  • Freaky Friday
  • The Lizzie McGuire Movie
  • Mrs. Doubtfire
  • The Muppet Movie

Recommended action-adventure movies on Disney+

  • Adventures in Babysitting
  • Avatar
  • Eight Below
  • Free Solo
  • Jungle Cruise
  • Pirates of the Caribbean
  • Princess Bride
  • The Secret Society of Second-Born Royals
  • Sky High
  • Tron

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