The Best Disney+ Original Movies Of 2022

The world of cinema has almost returned to normal after the COVID-19 pandemic affected the launch schedules of all major studios over the last few years. That led to a surge in what were intended to be theatrical releases coming directly to streaming services, providing more content for Disney+ than would otherwise have been the case. Although things have changed for the vast majority of people, with theater visits now allowed and even encouraged once again, that doesn't mean that Disney+ subscribers have been deprived of new movies.

In fact, 2022 may be one of the best years ever for those who have a membership. There have been plenty of great films released over the last 12 months, ranging from theatrical releases such as "Lightyear" to original content such as "Sneakerella" and "Polar Bear." It doesn't matter whether you enjoy documentaries, musicals, or animated films, there was something for everyone on Disney+ in 2022.

Here are the very best new movies to arrive on the streaming service this year, so you know exactly what you need to catch up on before heading into 2023 — and a whole new crop of movies.

"Zombies 3" is — as the title suggests — the third entry in this spooky musical franchise and the first to launch on Disney+, as the previous two installments were first available on the Disney Channel. Like its predecessors, the story revolves around a group of zombies led by Zed (Milo Manheim) and human cheerleaders led by Addison (Meg Donnelly). Joined by a population of werewolves, the three groups must work together to fight off an invading army of aliens who have ulterior motives. Along with the two lead actors reprising their roles, it also features the talents of RuPaul, Baby Ariel, and Matt Cornett.

As was the case with the previous two films, "Zombies 3" received a lot of praise for its choreography and music, with Decider writing that it contained "catchy musical ditties, above-average dance choreography, and enough nuclear-grade pep to decimate all naysayers who might ever consider the possibility of thinking about uttering a single cynical word." Other reviews were thankful for the film's positive messages, although The New York Times felt that some of these could have been handled better.

"Hollywood Stargirl" is a teen rom-com that hit Disney+ in June. Based on characters from the novel "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli and acting as a sequel to the 2020 film of the same name, it once again sees Grace VanderWaal take on the main role of Susan Caraway. This time around, the youngster moves to Los Angeles with her mother and must grapple with making new friends and confronting fresh challenges in an unfamiliar environment. Director Julia Hart, who has previously worked on "Miss Stevens" and "I'm Your Woman," returned to helm the sequel, while Uma Thurman, Judy Greer, and Al Madrigal are part of the main cast.

The Los Angeles Times confirmed that the sequel is a improvement over the original and not only has better, more relatable characters, but a superior soundtrack and a more balanced narrative. Variety was impressed by the performance of VanderWaal and stated that Disney may well have a successful franchise on its hands if it can keep this quality going with possible future installments.

"Lightyear" is another Pixar film that came to Disney+ in 2022, but this time the film received a full theatrical release before making its way to the streaming service. A spin-off of the "Toy Story" franchise, it acts as a movie within a movie, the film that Andy enjoyed so much that he wanted the Buzz Lightyear toy in the first "Toy Story."

"Finding Dory" director Angus MacLane helmed the new film, which shows the Space Ranger attempting to find his way home while pursued by Zurg and his army of murderous robots. Controversially, it replaced Tim Allen with Chris Evans as the voice of Buzz Lightyear and also featured Keke Palmer, Peter Sohn, Taika Waititi and others as part of the cast.

Among the pantheon of Pixar films, "Lightyear" stands out as possibly the animation giant's worst – an impressive feat considering the more than two dozen full movies the studio has released. By no means is it a bad film: it has a Rotten Tomatoes approval score of 74% after all, and has been certified as "fresh" on the review aggregator. The likes of The Guardian explained that it was lots of fun and tells an interesting story with likable characters, while the BBC complained about the slow pace and lack of action, demonstrating how this was a far-from-perfect Pixar outing.

"Polar Bear" is another Disney+ feature-length documentary, this one with a focus on the natural world. Released on Earth Day, the Alastair Fothergill and Jeff Wilson-directed film focuses entirely on the life of a particular polar bear living in the Arctic. The lifespan of the animal is shown from youth to motherhood, giving a fascinating insight into how these creatures survive and the challenges they face on a daily basis. It also details some of the environmental issues that are making it even more difficult for polar bears as the ice melts.

Reviews were mostly positive for the Disneynature documentary, with Decider saying that it showed the true beauty of the natural world while also highlighting the precarious way in which it now exists and the threat facing life on the planet. The Australian was also impressed by the photography and how good a job the camera team did to capture such stunning footage, making it a must-watch for any nature fan. Praise was also given for the musical score, developed by "Shrek" and "Metal Gear" composer Harry Gregson-Williams, along with the narration of "Being John Malkovich" actor Catherine Keener (via The Arts Fuse).

Andy Samberg and John Mulaney star as the voices of the two titular chipmunks in this live-action movie. "Chip 'n' Dale: Rescue Rangers" is a sequel to the original series of the same name, set some decades later, as the two small rodents have fallen out and no longer work together. However, when an old acquaintance is kidnapped by a criminal gang and the police can't help, the pair team up once again to rescue their friend.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the idea for a live-action and CGI revival of the original cartoon was first proposed in 2014 and followed the success of Fox's "Alvin and the Chipmunks" series. Taking inspiration from both "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" and the "Lethal Weapon" series, it was intended to blend comedy with fast-paced action (via The A.V. Club). The mixture of live-action with animation proved a success, with the film described as much better than "Space Jam: A New Legacy" or other recent similar movies, while also being genuinely funny (via The Hollywood Reporter).

As you may have guessed from the name, "Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi's Return" is a documentary focusing on the return of the venerated "Star Wars" Jedi Master. The film focuses on both Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen as they return to the iconic roles they played in the prequel trilogy for the highly-anticipated "Obi-Wan Kenobi" Disney+ TV series. Featuring interviews with the cast and crew, including director Deborah Chow, and special behind-the-scenes looks at the special effects, it provides an interesting look at how the series was created.

Obviously, "Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi's Return" will appeal largely to "Star Wars" fans and those who enjoyed the television series. But as Culture Slate discusses in its review, it's clear that those making the show are also fans and have a deep love for all things "Star Wars," making "A Jedi's Return" a "more emotional, cinematic picture of its subject." Meanwhile, Star Wars News Net enjoyed the documentary but felt that it didn't delve deeply enough into the creation of the show, with the doc less satisfying than it could have been as a result.

One of Pixar's most recent efforts, "Turning Red" was a hybrid release that came to theaters in many countries but also made its debut on Disney+ in regions where the streaming service was officially available. Directed by former storyboard artist Domee Shi, who previously worked on "Inside Out" and "Incredibles 2," it starred the voices of Rosalie Chiang, Sandra Oh, James Hong, and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, with many fairly unknown actors also part of the cast.

The story revolves around a teenage girl named Mei, who suddenly discovers that her family has an ancient power which transforms them into giant red pandas when they enter highly emotional states. The plot deals with the consequences of these events and Mei's attempts to find her own path rather than follow in the footsteps of her own mother.

Like almost every other Pixar film, "Turning Red" was released to overwhelming critical acclaim. Some reviews felt that this was the best Pixar film in some time (via IGN) while The Washington Post was excited to see what director Shi would do next after the success of this film. Although criticized in some quarters for dealing with topics like menstruation and sexuality, the film was defended by outlets like Vox for portraying these subjects in a genuine and meaningful way, helping to normalize them and ensure that they don't remain taboo for young women.