The thirty greatest Disney+ (June 2024) films
Disney+ provides an enormous film catalog from which to pick animated masterpieces, Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars, and more. Disney+ offers almost unmatched constant, exclusive quality across the platform. Selecting the appropriate movie to watch can be taxing.
Although animation is clearly Disney's cornerstone, the platform provides much more than only kid-friendly, iconic theatrical content. Along with Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast, there are live-action Oscar winners, sci-fi masterpieces, and soaring love stories. Disney+ uses its film library to appeal to a broad spectrum of tastes.
Top Documentary and Drama Films on Disney+
Long before the late Heath Ledger's horrific portrayal as The Joker in 2008's The Dark Knight won praise, he was capturing hearts as male lead and love interest Patrick Verona in 1999's 10 Things I Hate About You. Ten Things I Hate About You is a reinterpretation of Shakespeare's The Taming Of The Shrew, presented as a high school film in both part drama and part romance. Along with Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles stars as Kat, an antisocial girl who needs to be persuaded to date so that her younger sister Bianca (Larisa Oleynik) could follow in tow.
This is where Bianca hires Ledger's Patrick to pursue Kat so Bianca may be free to date her own love interest, Joey. Like the first Shakespeare drama, 10 Things I Hate About You has a convoluted, twist-filled story that still finds great appeal decades after it was first published. Regarding the cast, Joseph Gordon-Levitt makes an early appearance that is quite noteworthy.
Top Animated films available on Disney+
When Disney debuted Aladdin in theatres in 1992, Aladdin established a whole other universe for them. It chronicles Aladdin (Scott Weinger), a youthful and attractive street urchin who discovers a magic lamp with a genie (Robin Williams) who bestows upon him three wishes. Aladdin hides himself as a prince to court Princess Jasmine (Linda Larkin) with the Genie's aid, but he must deal with the villainous Jafar (Jonathan Freeman), who wants both the lamp and Jasmine for himself.
Although the Disney Renaissance was well under way when Aladdin came out, this film elevated it to a whole new level and became the biggest grossing film of 1992. As Williams developed one of Disney's most iconic characters, his performance also pioneered the casting of A-list performers in voice roles. Aladdin is among Disney's best animated films overall, not simply one based on its vibrant animation, appealing soundtrack, and of course, Williams.
Top Pixar Movies Available on Disney+
Considered as a classic film, Toy Story started Pixar's path to becoming among the top animation companies as well as starting one of the biggest film franchises ever. Ground-breaking animation and a concept of what toys do when their children leave the room helped shape Pixar's unique approach and successful world-building.
Beyond this, though, Toy Story is essentially one of the best films about friendship ever produced; the turbulent relationship between Woody and Buzz Lightyear turns both of them into immediate icons. Particularly Tom Hanks as Woody and Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, the original Toy Story cast also had just as significant influence as the breakthrough CGI. These components taken together create a film that surpasses the whole sum of its parts and readily qualifies as one of the best films on Disney+ right now.
Top Science Fiction Films on Disney+
Though Avatar 2 has added brilliantly to James Cameron's vivid alien universe, the initial voyage on Pandora still stands unmatched in terms of world-building. Timeless and exciting is the narrative of Jake Sully learning about the Navi culture and joining them in an attempt to stop the menace of Earth colonists. Though it came out more than ten years ago, Avatar is still visually breathtaking. The well-paced narrative magically unfolds before viewers eyes before reaching the action-packed climax.
Considering it was an original plot based on no pre-existing properties (and so had no built-in fans to support ticket sales), Avatar performed the apparently impossible in becoming the top-grossing movie of all time (via Box Office Mojo), so launching an epic Avatar franchise in the process. Cameron produced something unique by fusing breathtaking images with deft narrative, and the final product is among the best films now on Disney+.
Top Star Wars Movies Available on Disney+
Choosing the best Star Wars film is like trying to pick a favorite kid; many fans will agree that The Empire Strikes Back is absolutely better than all the others. A dark counterpart to the breezy The film A New Hope follows Luke, Leia, and Han across the Galaxy as nefarious forces of Darth Vader and the Empire hunt them, producing famous one-liners and unforgettable parental disclosures.
Though it was released more than four decades ago, The Empire Strikes Back has endured and is still a total thrill whether seen for the first or the 100th times. Based on audience votes, the 8.7 IMDb score of The Empire Strikes Back is higher than any other movie in the franchise. Together with a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, this makes The Empire Strikes Back among the finest Movies of any genre on Disney+.
Top Marvel and Superhero Movies Available on Disney+
Deadpool performed what many would have thought impossible in demonstrating that an R-rated comic book movie based on a Marvel Comics character might turn into a huge hit. It also handed Ryan Reynolds the superhero job he was born to perform following setbacks like Green Lantern and X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Though largely unknown outside of comic-book readers, Deadpool quickly became a fan favorite character following the first movie's debut. Reynolds's performance makes clear why.
Based on Box Office Mojo, the film acts as a redesigned origin narrative for Deadpool and turned out to earn $482 million on a $58 million budget. This produced a great follow-up and made the movie one of the first R-rated films available on Disney+. Under the MCU, Marvel is also producing a third R-rated film confirming Deadpool's ongoing appeal.
Greatest Comedies on Disney+
Almost every youngster fantasizes of what they would do if they were a grown-up, and the 1988 Tom Hanks comedy Big develops this idea into a funny film. Acting as the adult version of 12-year-old Josh, a lad who dreams of being "big" following coin insertion into an enigmatic fortune-telling machine at the fair. Josh then wakes up to discover he is now played by Tom Hanks; he had grown up overnight. Then Josh engages in all kinds of shenanigans nearly every child would find fun.
Josh has the intellect of a child, thus the "adult" Josh finds his footing in a toy industry. There are many funny events like Josh learning to shave for the first time. Big keeps himself cheerful, family-friendly, and funny throughout, even if some of the movie's elements—such as when Josh starts an adult relationship with Susan, an executive at the company—are a bit awkward by modern standards.
Disney+'s Best Fantasy Movies
Defining the genre for decades and full of fanciful aspects taken from true occult myths, tales, and history, the Indiana Jones trilogy is among the most beloved action-adventure sagas ever. Starring Harrison Ford as the titular archaeologist, the Indiana Jones Movies invariably see Indy setting off on a daring, globe-trotting adventure to retrieve a mysterious, historically significant MacGuffin.
Usually on the journey, Dr. Jones encounters deadly animals, booby traps, and—most of all— Nazis. Although some entries are more popular than others, Indiana Jones's influence on film culture as a whole cannot be understated, hence the addition of the franchise on Disney+ is well appreciated.
