It should come as no surprise that the best Disney Plus movies include huge franchises, much-loved animations, and iconic classics. It is the home of Marvel, Pixar, and Lucasfilm after all. Not forgetting the cornucopia of Disney movies spanning decades and decades of family-friendly titles and nostalgia. It's one of the best streaming services for good reason.
With over 500 films and more than 80 Disney Originals on the platform, we know the choice can feel a little overwhelming, especially when there are new Disney Plus movies being added every month to the service. That's why we've created this guide to help you find the perfect movie to watch. From Marvel Phase 5 and Marvel Phase 6 movies and shows to new Star Wars movies and Disney Plus shows, we've got you covered.
Best action movies on Disney Plus
Deadpool
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
Age rating: R (US); 15 (UK)
Director: Tim Miller
RT score: 85% (critics)
The Wade Wilson Ryan Reynolds played in X-Men Origins: Wolverine was definitely not Deadpool. The star remained committed to a more accurate screen version of Rob Liefeld’s Marvel antihero, however, and after massively positive fan reaction to leaked test footage in 2014, 20th Century Fox gave this film a long-awaited greenlight. Reynolds was born to play the fourth wall-breaking “merc with a mouth”, while the script (from Zombieland writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick) nails the character’s famously self-aware brand of humor. The movie was followed by a 2018 sequel, and Deadpool will make his MCU debut in July 2024 (alongside Hugh Jackman’s Logan) in Deadpool and Wolverine.
Logan
Age rating: R (US); 15 (UK)
Director: James Mangold
RT score: 93%
While Apocalypse, Dark Phoenix and The New Mutants meant the X-Men franchise mostly lost its way after 2014’s Days of Future Past, 2017's Logan is arguably the best X-movie of them all. Designed as Hugh Jackman’s swansong as Wolverine (at least, it was until he signed up for the aforementioned Deadpool and Wolverine), it’s a bleak, but perfectly crafted study of a hero whose best days are behind him. Reunited with Patrick Stewart’s Professor Xavier (now struggling to control his psychic gifts), Logan finds new purpose protecting young mutant, Laura (His Dark Materials’ Dafne Keen), in a movie that pushes the boundaries of superhero stories on screen.
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Age rating: PG (US); 12 (UK)
Director: Steven Spielberg
RT score: 93%
There’s a reason this 1981 classic tops our list of the best Steven Spielberg movies ever made. When the director teamed up with the Star Wars duo of producer George Lucas and star Harrison Ford, they unearthed cinematic treasure every bit as valuable as the artefacts Indiana Jones collects. While Raiders of the Lost Ark was loosely inspired by the James Bond movies, 007’s adventures have rarely been as fun or beautifully choreographed as the legendary archaeologist’s race to beat the Nazis to the Ark of the Covenant. Indeed, the Raiders posters weren't lying when they declared it to be “the return of the great adventure”, because this is undoubtedly one of the very best Disney Plus movies. Follow-up Indiana Jones adventures The Temple of Doom, The Last Crusade, The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and The Dial of Destiny are also available to stream on the platform.
- Watch Raiders of the Lost Ark on Disney Plus now
- Watch the Raiders of the Lost Ark trailer on YouTube
Best animated movies on Disney Plus
Big Hero 6
Age rating: PG (US); PG (UK)
Director: Don Hall and Chris Williams
RT score: 90% (critics)
The Ghostbusters said you should never cross the streams, but Disney had massive success when its animation division adapted a little-known Marvel comic. As in many classic Disney animations, the plot is driven by the tragic death of a parent, but what Bambi and The Lion King lacked in robots and sci-fi action, Big Hero 6 delivers in spades. The San Fransokyo setting is a wonderfully inventive fusion of East and West, while inflatable robot Baymax instantly earned himself a place alongside R2-D2 and WALL-E in the pantheon of all-time great droids. And yes, even though you have to keep your eyes peeled to spot it, the regulation Stan Lee cameo is all present and correct.
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Age rating: PG (US); PG (UK)
Director: Wes Anderson
RT score: 93%
Fantastic Mr. Fox is acclaimed director Wes Anderson's adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic story. It follows Mr. Fox who is living a lovely life in the countryside with his family. But, he raids the farms of the local human neighbors, which results in the animal community being hunted down by three farmers; Boggis, Bunce, and Bean. It's a delightful movie that should appeal to the whole family. Kids will love the story, the creatures, and the silliness. Adults will love the humor, Wes Anderson's fresh take on a much-loved story, and appreciating the talent of the voice actors, including George Clooney as Mr. Fox, Meryl Streep as Mrs. Fox, Bill Murray as Badger and Willem Dafoe as Rat.
The Toy Story series
Age rating: G (US); U to PG (UK)
Director: John Lasseter (Toy Story), John Lasseter, Ash Brannon, and Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 2), Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3), Josh Cooley (Toy Story 4)
RT score: 97% to 100% (critics); 87% to 94% (audience)
As the first ever entirely computer-generated movie, Toy Story was always going to grab headlines. The fact we’re still talking about it more than 25 years later, however, shows that Pixar struck storytelling gold when it united an insecure cowboy with an action figure who believes he’s a real-life space ranger. In a movie where the dialogue sizzles, every single toy in Andy’s playroom could be worthy of a spin-off – indeed, Buzz Lightyear got one in the form of Lightyear – while the gags and surprisingly complex themes ensured grown-ups were just as captivated as their kids. The three sequels are similarly brilliant, which is a truly incredible accomplishment, possibly unparalleled in recent Hollywood history.
Moana
Age rating: PG (US); PG (UK)
Director: John Musker and Ron Clements
RT score: 95%
The massive success of Encanto hit ‘We Don’t Talk About Bruno’ has got everyone talking about Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda again, but his first Disney collaboration is the better movie. Assisted by Miranda’s ear for a hit tune, the eponymous Moana is undoubtedly one of the studio’s great characters, the daughter of a Polynesian island chief who learns a lot of life lessons when she takes to the high seas to save her community. The movie also earns extra credit for showing that, among all his other skills, Dwayne Johnson can hold a tune.
WALL-E
Age rating: G (US); U (UK)
Director: Andrew Stanton
RT score: 95%
In the first decade of the 21st century, Pixar was on the sort of golden run most studios – live-action or animated – could only dream of. Having tackled insects (A Bug’s Life), fish (Finding Nemo) and superheroes (The Incredibles), the CG pioneers turned their attentions to space, and the results were truly out of this world. It’s difficult to pinpoint what’s boldest about this futuristic tale: is it the bleakness of a future Earth that’s become so polluted that the human race has left for the stars? Or is it that the first act is largely wordless, as the eponymous robot trundles along, carrying out his never-ending clean-up operation? Either way, WALL-E is undoubtedly one of the best Disney Plus movies, a bona fide classic from a studio that specializes in classics.
Frozen
Age rating: PG
Director: Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee
RT score: 90%
If you have kids of a certain age, the thought of ice princesses, talking snowmen and letting it go may be enough to bring you out in very cold sweats. But if you look past the relentless, heavily merchandised juggernaut surrounding the original Frozen, it’s actually one of Disney’s best fairytale retellings (it's based on Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen), with a pair of inspiring female leads, spectacular animation and, yes, some killer songs.
The Incredibles
Age rating: PG (US); U (UK)
Director: Brad Bird
RT score: 97%
By the time The Incredibles arrived in 2004, Pixar had seemingly stumbled on a formula, in which two chalk-and-cheese characters would be thrown together on some kind of quest – see Toy Story, Monsters, Inc. and Finding Nemo. When The Iron Giant and The Simpsons director Brad Bird entered the fold, however, he shook things up with a hilarious, action-packed story about an (otherwise) ordinary family with superpowers. Thanks to Marvel, there’s no shortage of superhero movies on Disney Plus, but few are as smart, funny and inventive as The Incredibles. Set in a timeless alternative USA, the movie’s visuals are stylish and beautiful to look at, while the fact that the movie is more interested in the Parr family than their superhero alter-egos sets it apart from the herd. How does The Incredibles compare with the animation studio's best? Check out our guide on the best Pixar movies ranked.
Inside Out
Age rating: PG (US); U (UK)
Director: Pete Docter
RT score: 98%
Pete Docter is now the chief creative officer of Pixar and his qualifications for the job have long been clear – as director he’s been responsible for some of the biggest, boldest storytelling ideas in the studio’s glorious history. Despite Up’s powerful opening and Soul’s intelligent examination of the afterlife, however, Inside Out is his true masterpiece, a trip inside a girl’s mind that turns her emotions into fully rounded characters. This being Pixar – a studio so successful it could easily fill a lot more slots on this list of the best Disney Plus movies – the characterization and storytelling are second-to-none. But even more impressive is the way the film translates a kid’s subconscious into a fully functioning society. Movies – animated or otherwise – don’t get much smarter than this.
The Lion King
Age rating: G (US); U (UK)
Director: Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff
RT score: 92%
The 1980s were a dark time for Disney’s animation division, but the studio rediscovered its mojo with the triple whammy of The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin during the decade that followed. The highlight of the renaissance shifted away from Disney’s traditional fairytales to tell the Hamlet-inspired story of an exiled lion cub returning to reclaim his throne. Packed with memorable songs, built around some stunning set-pieces, and impeccable cast – who’d have thought of casting James Earl Jones as an absent father? – it stands up as one of 2D animation’s finest hours. The photo-real ‘live-action’ remake is also available on Disney Plus.
Soul
Age rating: PG
Director: Pete Docter and Kemp Powers
RT score: 95%
Pete Doctor is behind the stories of so many masterpiece animations from Disney and Pixar. From Monsters Inc and Up to Inside Out, each of these movies are known for offering big life lessons using digestible metaphors wrapped in whimsical fantasy but it's his work alongside Mike Jones (The Incredibles) and Kemp Powers (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse) on the 2020 adventure family film Soul that strikes a chord with me the most. It tackles the existential question: what does it mean to have a soul? And going by its wins at the 93rd Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature Film and Best Original Score, you can probably tell that its philosophical answer is a knockout with audiences. It's fun for the whole family.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Age rating: PG (US); PG (UK)
Director: Robert Zemeckis
RT score: 96%
A black-and-white Judy Garland walking into Technicolor in the original Wizard of Oz is rightly hailed as one of the greatest moments in cinema but, for a younger generation, Baby Herman storming out of a cartoon onto an actual movie set had the same effect. The way Back to the Future director Robert Zemeckis brought animated characters into a live-action world is an incredible technical achievement, but even beyond the ‘how did they do that?’ magic, it’s a hell of a movie. Who Framed Roger Rabbit is a family-friendly take on classic film noir, with a stuff-of-nightmares villain and – in Londoner Bob Hoskins – one of cinema’s great hard-boiled PIs.
Best documentaries on Disney Plus
Free Solo
Age rating: PG (US)
Director: Jimmy ChinElizabeth and Chai Vasarhelyi
RT score: 98%
My palms get sweaty just thinking about this documentary. It's one thing to climb up the El Capitan mountain summit in Yosemite National Park with ropes and safety equipment, but to do it without any gear at all is a whole other feat. In Free Solo, we meet Alex Honnold as he plans to achieve his lifetime dream of climbing up the face of the world's most famous rock – that sentence could have easily ended there and still be impressive but this is the legendary rock climber Honnold after all – without a rope. Honnold's jaw-dropping ascent up the vertical rock face is a tense watch (even from my living room's low to the ground couch), but the documentary also offers some respite from the sporting action by breaking up the narrative with scenes of the daredevil's home life with his friends and girlfriend. It's an extraordinary, nerve-racking watch that will leave you in awe.
Best dramas on Disney Plus
Hidden Figures
Age rating: PG (US)
Director: Theodore Melfi
RT score: 93%
It was the astronauts who grabbed the headlines after the USA's pioneering early space flights, but it took a cast of thousands to make their giant leaps a reality. Hidden Figures puts a belated spotlight on three African-American women whose incredible skills with numbers were pivotal to the success of Nasa's first trips to outer space. In this docudrama (based on Margot Lee Shetterly's non-fiction book), Taraji P Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe play real-life mathematicians Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson. Despite having the ability to carry out complex calculations that would later be managed by computers, they're held back by the racist and sexist attitudes of ’60s America. But for all the adversity the brilliant trio face, director Theodore Melfi ensures Hidden Figures is also a story of triumph – and even pulls off the unlikely feat of making math cinematic.
Young Woman and the Sea
Age rating: PG (US)
Director: Joachim Rønning
RT score: 89%
In Young Woman and the Sea, Daisy Ridley plays Trudy Ederle, the first woman to successfully swim the English Channel. Through the unrelenting support of her older sister and trainers, she overcomes hardships and hostility of a patriarchal society to progress through the Olympic swimming team and complete the 21-mile trip from France to England. Ridley shines as Ederle in this inspiring true story that also features a star-studded cast of Stephen Graham and Christopher Eccleston.
- Watch Young Woman and the Sea on Disney Plus now
- Watch the Young Woman and the Sea trailer on YouTube
Best fantasy movies on Disney Plus
Big
Age rating: PG (US); 12 (UK)
Director: Penny Marshall
RT score: 98% (critics)
Tom Hanks won successive Oscars in the ’90s for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump, but it was the 1988 comedy-drama Big that bagged him his first nomination. Indeed, the star has arguably never been better than he is here, playing a 12-year-old boy whose wish to be “big” comes true. Of course, the kid soon discovers that being a grown-up isn’t all it’s cracked up to be – despite his remarkable success at a major toy company – but Hanks keeps you rooting for Josh with a performance of believable naivety.
Freaky Friday
Age rating: PG (US); PG (UK)
Director: Mark Waters
RT score: 88%
Disney loves the premise of this body-swap comedy so much it’s made three versions of Freaky Friday – and they're all available on Disney Plus. It’s the 2003 version that’s the standout, however, as Jamie-Lee Curtis’s uptight mom and Lindsay Lohan’s rebellious teen swap places thanks to magical fortune cookies. The secret of the movie’s success is the casting, with both leads displaying an uncanny talent for role-reversal comedy, playing their opposite number with all the relish of John Travolta and Nicolas Cage in Face/Off. Made a year before Mean Girls, this is the movie that marked out Lohan as one of the most talented actors of her generation.
Enchanted
Age rating: PG (US); PG (UK)
Director: Kevin Lima
RT score: 93%
Disney has its cake and eats it with a post-modern movie that pokes fun at the clichés of its animated classics, while also being a magical fairytale in its own right. Amy Adams is typically brilliant as Giselle, a traditional cartoon Disney Princess who finds herself transported to a place way scarier than any magical kingdom – the real world. Both the animated and live-action segments are flawlessly executed, as the self-aware script seamlessly blends comedy, an evil queen (played by Susan Sarandon), and a romance with a down-on-his-luck lawyer (Patrick Dempsey) who doesn’t necessarily believe in happily ever afters. Long awaited sequel Disenchanted was released on Disney Plus in 2022.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Age rating: PG-13 (US); 12 (UK)
Director: Gore Verbinski
RT score: 80%
Neither movies about pirates nor movies based on theme park attractions were considered a recipe for success back in 2003. Nonetheless, the original Pirates of the Caribbean managed to surprise everyone by becoming one of the standout blockbusters of the era. The film’s crowd-pleasing mix of romance, ghosts and swashbuckling action on the high seas proved infectious, but it was the wonderfully eccentric Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp based his performance on Rolling Stone Keith Richards) that lifted The Curse of the Black Pearl to the next level. Just pretend the four disappointing sequels – also available on Disney Plus – didn’t happen.
- Watch Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl on Disney Plus now
- Watch Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl trailer on YouTube
Best horror movies on Disney Plus
Ready or Not
Age rating: R (US); 18 (UK)
Director: Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin
RT score: 89%
Taking hide and seek to a whole new level, Ready or Not shouldn't be missed whether it's the Halloween season or beyond. Here, Samara Weaving shines as a new bride who meets her husband's family and ends up being hunted by them as part of a strange tradition. It's shocking, it's hilarious, it's unlike anything you've seen before. I got the chance to see this with a crowd, but it's equally as satisfying in the comfort of your own home. Are you ready (or not)?
No One Will Save You
No One Will Save You is another unique horror offering I highly recommend. Something I found very intriguing was the fact there are only five lines of dialogue spoken throughout the entire movie, but don't let it put you off. It more than holds your attention by showing, not telling, and it's a clever tactic. Here, Kaitlyn Dever is a woman who lives alone and has been shunned by the local community, who finds herself fighting for her life against mysterious aliens. Perfect for both sci-fi and horror lovers, it's the kind of story that will make you think.
Best sci-fi movies on Disney Plus
Avatar
Age rating: PG-13 (US); 12 (UK)
Director: James Cameron
RT score: 81% (critics)
You generally have to wait more than a decade for a new James Cameron movie to come along, but luckily everything that the director makes is worth talking about. So, while the plot of his 2009 record-breaker is a tad forgettable – a human soldier falls in love with a giant blue alien on the distant moon of Pandora – it remains a thoroughly entertaining technical marvel. Fifteen years later, no film has surpassed its incredibly detailed 3D visuals, and even without the third dimension, watching on the best 4K TV you can find makes you feel as if you've been transported to another world. Long-awaited sequel The Way of Water is similarly spectacular and also available on Disney Plus. In the mood for more from the most successful director in history? Check out our guide on the best James Cameron movies.
Avengers: Infinity War / Avengers: Endgame
Age rating: PG-13 (US); 12 (UK)
Director: Antony Russo and Joe Russo
RT score: 85% / 94%
The two-part culmination of the Marvel’s original 23-movie odyssey was more than worth the wait, as Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy and various superpowered hangers-on joined forces to thwart Thanos’s quest to obtain all six Infinity Stones. With Infinity War delivering one of cinema’s greatest cliffhangers, and Endgame going to some surprisingly dark places, the two films feature many of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s boldest and most epic moments – not to mention some of the most unashamedly triumphant.
- Watch Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame on Disney Plus now
- Watch the Avengers: Infinity War trailer and the Avengers: Endgame trailer on YouTube
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Age rating: PG-13 (US); 12 (UK)
Director: Gareth Edwards
RT score: 84%
The Force Awakens proved Disney knew how to make a Star Wars film, albeit one that closely followed the beats of George Lucas's original movie. This brilliant standalone pips it to a place on our list of the best Disney Plus movies by showing that unfamiliar characters, a war-movie vibe, and a mission whose success was never in doubt are no barrier to success. Based on a couple of lines from A New Hope’s opening crawl, it sees a brave group of Rebels going behind enemy lines to recover plans to the first dreaded Death Star. The final act is surprisingly bleak, but it’s also one of the most accomplished in the entire franchise. There’s also something rather wonderful about seeing original trilogy X-wings back in action, powered by 21st century CG magic. It's also been confirmed that Andor season 2 – one of the most best new Star Wars TV shows – will lead directly into the events of Rogue One.
- Watch Rogue One: A Star Wars Story on Disney Plus now
- Watch the Rogue One: A Star Wars Story trailer on YouTube
Spider-Man: Homecoming
Age rating: PG-13 (US); 12A (UK)
Director: Jon Watts
RT score: 92%
While there haven’t been quite as many live-action Spider-Men as there have Batmen or James Bonds, Marvel’s iconic webslinger has been through plenty of screen incarnations since the turn of the century. Tom Holland’s Marvel Cinematic Universe version is arguably the best, simultaneously a convincing update of the geeky teen superhero of Stan Lee and Steve Ditko’s original comics, and a character capable of going toe-to-toe with Tony Stark, Steve Rogers and the rest of the Avengers. Spider-Man: Homecoming is a fun coming-of-age adventure that takes the MCU back to high school. Former screen Batman Michael Keaton gives good villain as Adrian 'The Vulture' Toomes, while the decision to stage most of the superheroics outside Spider-Man’s traditional Manhattan skyscraper stomping ground keeps things fresh.
The original Star Wars trilogy
Age rating: PG (US); U and PG (UK)
Director: George Lucas (A New Hope), Irvin Kershner (The Empire Strikes Back), Richard Marquand (Return of the Jedi)
RT score: 82% to 95%
What’s left to say about three movies that changed cinema forever, and spawned a franchise that’s still the size of a Death Star 47 years later? George Lucas discovered some strange but potent alchemy when he mixed together Samurai-inspired warriors, old Westerns and mystical mumbo-jumbo – and then set the concoction in a galaxy far, far away. If you pressed us, we’d say The Empire Strikes Back is the best of the trilogy – it’s more sophisticated, it's home to cinema’s most celebrated big reveal, and boasts AT-ATs and asteroids in its first act – but the Force is still strong with all three of these timeless classics.
- Watch Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope on Disney Plus now
- Watch Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope trailer on YouTube
Thor: Ragnarok
Age rating: PG-13 (US); 12 (UK)
Director: Taika Waititi
RT score: 93%
If Thor had hung up his hammer for good after the plodding Thor: The Dark World, few tears would have been shed. Then Taika Waititi – at the time best known for the brilliant Hunt for the Wilderpeople – came along and reinvented Odin’s firstborn as a comedy god. Not only does Chris Hemsworth’s Asgardian deity finally get to step out of the shadow of little brother Loki (a typically watchable Tom Hiddleston), every supporting player is given a scene-stealing moment, whether it’s Cate Blanchett’s wonderfully arch villain, Hela, Mark Ruffalo’s newly sensitive Hulk or Jeff Goldblum’s sublimely kooky despot the Grandmaster. Waititi saved the best role for himself, however, as Korg, a soft-spoken revolutionary quite literally hewn from rock. Unfortunately the director was unable to recapture the same magic with sillier, less-smartly plotted follow-up Thor: Love and Thunder, also available on Disney Plus.
Black Panther
Age rating: PG-13 (US); 12 (UK)
Director: Ryan Coogler
RT score: 96%
Until Spider-Man: No Way Home reignited the post-Covid box office, Black Panther was Marvel’s best performing solo superhero. It’s not hard to see why, because while the story – King T’Challa, aka Black Panther, fights off rival Erik Killmonger’s claim to the throne of Wakanda – is fairly standard superhero fare, director Ryan Coogler’s presentation lifts it to another level. The futuristic African kingdom of Wakanda is a truly magnificent creation – a world where advanced technology meets weaponized rhinos – while the late Chadwick Boseman’s performance as the eponymous hero is one of dignity and power.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Age rating: PG-13 (US); 12 (UK)
Director: Ryan Coogler
RT score: 83%
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is the second instalment in the series, and it's safe to say it had some big shoes to fill. After the unexpected death of Chadwick Boseman, Black Panther 2 could have floundered, but Marvel did an astonishing job of continuing the story in an emotionally-charged and totally respectful way. It even earned a rare five stars in our Black Panther: Wakanda Forever review. The story begins one year after the end of the original movie, following the death of King T'Challa. With those closest to the king struggling to move forward, Wakanda is left vulnerable and without a Black Panther as protector. Queen Ramonda (an Oscar-nominated Angela Bassett) is left to lead the nation through a turbulent time, and to try to fend off world powers that want to get hold of her country's much-coveted vibranium.
- Watch Black Panther: Wakanda Forever on Disney Plus now
- Watch the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever trailer on YouTube
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Age rating: PG-13 (US); 12A (UK)
Director: Wes Ball
RT score: 80%
I'm a big fan of the Planet of the Apes franchise, so I was intrigued to see what direction the universe would take with the absence of Andy Serkis' Caesar – and it's safe to say I wasn't disappointed. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is the 10th addition to the Planet of the Apes universe and a pseudo-sequel to War for the Planet of the Apes. Set 300 years after the reign of Caesar, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes follows intelligent young ape Noa (Owen Teague), who embarks on a journey to save his tribe of chimpanzees from the ruthless Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand). In our Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes review, the epic is described as a "thoroughly entertaining post-apocalyptic adventure that stands on its own two feet" and I couldn't agree more.
- Watch Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes on Disney Plus now
- Watch the Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes trailer on YouTube
X2: X-Men United
Age rating: PG-13 (US); 12 (UK)
Director: Bryan Singer
RT score: 85%
In the early ’00s, Hollywood studios were still figuring out how to make the best superhero movies. After the first X-Men movie (released in 2000) had proved that Marvel heroes could hit big at the box office, this follow-up (titled X-Men 2 outside the US) became one of the early classics of the 21st century comic-book blockbuster boom. With most of the ensemble established first time out, X2 expands the scope of the storytelling with the X-Men on the run, and dodgy military guy Colonel Stryker (future Succession star Brian Cox) initiating a plan to wipe out all mutants. Along the way Wolverine learns about his origins, new characters (most notably Alan Cumming's Nightcrawler) come to the fore, and heroes and villains are forced to work together, in a first class Marvel adventure.
Best musical movies on Disney Plus
Hamilton
Age rating: PG-13 (US); 12 (UK)
Director: Thomas Kail
RT score: 98%
Okay, it’s not technically a movie but in the absence of a proper big-screen adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s smash-hit musical, this recording of the Broadway show Hamilton fits the bill perfectly. Featuring Miranda in the lead role of Alexander Hamilton, one of the founding fathers of the United States of America, it’s one of the most invigorating history lessons you’ll ever see. The hip-hop influenced songs sound amazing coming out of your TV, while the inventive cinematography brings the immediacy of the stage show into your living room. A sing-along version of the film is also available, if you can't resist the urge to join in.
Mary Poppins
Age rating: G (US); PG (UK)
Director: Robert Stevenson
RT score: 97%
Pop quiz! For which movie did Julie Andrews win her Best Actress Oscar? While The Sound of Music would be a reasonable guess, she actually struck gold with this tale of a magical nanny. She’s a revelation as the stern but inspiring Ms Poppins, utterly in tune with the character whether she’s dealing with humans or the assortment of cartoon characters seamlessly integrated with the live-action. Songs like ‘Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’, ‘A Spoonful of Sugar’ and ‘Feed the Birds’ have crossed over into the collective pop-culture consciousness, and the movie’s so good that the weirdness of Dick Van Dyke’s cockney accent barely even registers. Mary Poppins Returns, which gifted Emily Blunt the unenviable task of emulating Andrews, arrived in 2018 and is also available on Disney Plus.
The Muppets
Age rating: PG (US); U (UK)
Director: James Bobin
RT score: 95%
Disney’s big-money acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm are the purchases that made everyone sit up and take notice, but they also had the smart business sense to nab the rights to Jim Henson’s enduring felt-covered creations. Numerous brilliant Muppet movies are available on Disney Plus – as well as TV classic The Muppet Show – but we’ve plumped for this 2011 comeback. As Jason Segel’s Gary and his Muppet brother Walter try to save a theater from developers, the story is witty, heartfelt and every bit as self-aware as we’ve come to expect from Kermit and co. And thanks to showstopping song ‘Man or Muppet’ – written by Flight of the Conchords’ Bret McKenzie – the movie even bagged itself an Oscar.
West Side Story
Age rating: PG-13 (US); 12 (UK)
Director: Steven Spielberg
RT score: 92%
Steven Spielberg didn’t make life easy for himself with his first ever musical – by remaking Robert Wise’s 1961 take on Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim’s song-and-dance hit, the director was inviting comparisons with a beloved movie that won a shed-load of Oscars. Luckily, he was more than up to the task, and his powerful retelling brings a very modern edge to a love story set against the backdrop of rival gangs in New York. The choreography is electric and the cinematography expands way beyond the musical's theatrical origins. But Spielberg also deserves credit for accentuating the still-relevant race politics the original brushed over. An instant classic.
How we choose the best Disney Plus movies
There are more than 500 movies to choose from on Disney Plus and while a lot are great watches, not all would be considered the best. To be picked as one of the best to stream on the service and be included in this guide, a movie must have a Rotten Tomatoes score from the critics of at least 80%, be available to stream on the Disney Plus app in the US, UK and Australia, and recommended by one of the members of the TechRadar streaming team.
This is by no means an exhaustive list and we'll continue to add to the guide as new movies get added to the service, while also making sure to remove any that don't fit the above criteria. As more movies get added on a regular basis, we’ll be sure to keep this updated. So, be sure to check back. And, if you’re not a subscriber and are considering it, here’s a guide to Disney Plus that’s packed with useful information on signing up.
For more Disney Plus coverage, read our round-up of all of the new Disney Plus movies to arrive this month. Alternatively, get the lowdown on the best Disney Plus shows, our Disney Plus price guide, and whether there's a free Disney Plus trial available.
