I'm really enjoying this flurry of new Disney+ movies. After waiting weeks for a new film of any variety, three have been added to Disney+'s back catalog in successive weeks.
So, what has the final week of March rustled up on the new movies front? Mufasa: The Lion King. I know, it won't be to everyone's tastes, but it's nonetheless available on one of the world's best streaming services, so you might as well check it out!
Not convinced that it's the right film for you? Read our best Disney+ movies article for even more great streaming suggestions instead, or read on to see what other new Disney+ movies have launched on the platform in March.
New Disney Plus movies: March
Mufasa: The Lion King
Release date: March 26
Runtimes: 125 minutes
Age rating: PG (US) / 9+ (UK)
Directors: Barry Jenkins
Main cast: Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr, Tiffany Boone, Preston Nyman, Kagiso Lediga, Mads Mikkelsen, and Thandiwe Newton
Rotten Tomatoes (RT) score: 56% (critics); 89% (audiences)
I absolutely adore The Lion King. The animated classic is easily my favorite Disney animated film of all-time. Suffice it to say, its 'live-action remake was something that I deemed unnecessary and, after watching it, didn't think much of, either. The arrival of this 'live-action' prequel to that film, then, similarly didn't interest me. Despite it making over $700m at the global box office, it's divided critics and general audiences into two camps, too, so it's clearly a divisive film. My advice? If you're looking for something to keep the kids quiet this weekend, it's worth sticking on. Otherwise, I'd give this one a wide berth, regardless of its positive RT audience score.
O'Dessa
Release date: March 20 (available on Hulu in the US)
Runtimes: 108 minutes
Age rating: PG-13 (US) / 16+ (UK)
Directors: Geremy Jasper
Main cast: Sadie Sink, Kelvin Harrison Jr, Murray Bartlett, and Regina Hall
Rotten Tomatoes (RT) score: 40% (critics); 64% (audiences)
Sadie Sink's star has risen rapidly since she first appeared in season 2 of Stranger Things. But, while she's earned acclaim for her performances in that Netflix TV Original and other projects, such as The Whale, she's not been the lead actor of a film or TV production until this point. That's changed with O'Dessa, a post-apocalyptic rock opera that sees her play the titular character, who journeys across a ravaged land to save her one true love and fulfil a prophecy that suggests she'll overthrown a tyrannical leader using the power of music and a magical family heirloom. It all *ahem* sounds pretty novel in practice, but critics haven't reacted kindly to O'Dessa. Still, at least Sink has Stranger Things season 5 and her apparent role in Spider-Man 4 to fall back on if they don't...
Moana 2
Release date: March 12
Runtimes: 102 minutes
Age rating: PG (US) / 6+ (UK)
Directors: David G Derrick Jr, Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller
Main cast: Auli'i Carvalho, Dwayne Johnson, Alan Tudyk, Temeura Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger, and Rose Matafeo
Rotten Tomatoes (RT) score: 61% (critics); 86% (audiences)
It wasn't as well received by critics as its 2016 forebear, but Moana 2 certainly made a big splash at the late 2024 box office. Indeed, per BoxOfficeMojo, it raked in over $1 billion globally. Clearly, there's still an audience for Moana and Maui's continuing adventures on the high seas. Personally, I found it to be a step down from its predecessor, but I can see the appeal of Moana's latest aquatic quest, which sees her reunite with demigod Maui to tackle a new threat three years after the events of the original. So, it's a solid albeit unspectacular sequel, but there's enough here to keep the kids entertained, so it's worth sticking on if you've run out of ways to keep them quiet!
New Disney Plus movies: coming soon
Want to know what new Disney+ movies are coming in April? Read on:
- Not Just a Goof – April 7 (docufilm)
- Pets – April 11 (docufilm)
- The Abyss in 4K – April 11 (US only)
Not up for a movie? Try our pick of the best Disney+ shows, see if there's a free Disney+ trial available, read our Disney+ review, or get the lowdown on the new Disney+ price points.
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