55 Best Movies On Disney Plus

Disney+ offers cinephiles a vast array of movies, from vivid nature documentaries to searing romances. Given Disney's long history of cinematic excellence — not to mention the many media properties its acquired over the years — a significant proportion of these films aren't just great but legendary. "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" changed cinema forever. "Toy Story" heralded a new era of animation. "Iron Man" kicked off the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which in turn has reshaped the modern media landscape. There are plenty of streaming services with great flicks to their name, but very few boast such a sparkling trove of wonders.

Even within this crowded field of excellence, however, stand-out productions emerge. Some are spirited musicals full of magic and adventure, some explore real-world conflict, and many are beloved all over the globe. What unites these 55 movies is that they're the very best Disney+ has to offer.

Updated on July 5, 2022: Like most streaming services, Disney+ is constantly changing its catalog. We'll be keeping this list updated so that you never miss out on an old favorite or a new classic. Be sure to check back often to keep up on the latest and greatest movies available on Disney+.

In this first "Avengers" movie, trickster god Loki threatens New York City with a mind-controlling scepter and an army of alien warriors. Things look bad for Earth  until the titular superheroes band together — but they don't exactly get along easily. Iron Man and Captain America snipe at each other, Black Widow keeps secrets from everyone, and Bruce Banner has a complicated relationship with the Hulk, his angry alter ego. This action-packed bonanza is still the MCU at its best: witty, exciting, and absolutely packed with colorful characters. Though being familiar with the larger Marvel mythos is helpful, "The Avengers" can be enjoyed unto itself as an all-ages superhero-palooza of the highest order.

• Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson

• Director: Joss Whedon

• Year: 2012

• Runtime: 145 minutes

• Rating: PG-13

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%

Belle longs to leave her "poor, provincial town" behind in favor of grand adventure. She gets her wish when she becomes the mysterious Beast's prisoner. Though her captor is intimidating, Belle soon discovers he's more complex than she assumed. Love blooms between them, but many forces seek to thwart it — especially Gaston, a vindictive bully who wants Belle for himself. There's a reason "Beauty and the Beast" became the first animated movie to earn an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture: The animation is luxurious and inventive, the music runs the gamut from jaunty toe-tappers to tender love songs, and the romance at the center of the story is among cinema's best.

• Starring: Paige O'Hara, Robby Benson, Richard White

• Directors: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise

• Year: 1991

• Runtime: 91 minutes

• Rating: G

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%

Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, has led a pretty bizarre life as a scientifically enhanced super soldier who spent 70 years in the Arctic ice. But nothing can prepare him for the revelation that Bucky Barnes, his best friend, survived the fall that apparently killed him back in the 1940s. Worse yet, Bucky is a brainwashed assassin who fights for Hydra, an international terrorist organization. This paranoid thriller takes its cues from 1970s espionage films: Captain America has no idea who he can trust within Washington D.C.'s stony landscape. Even with help from Black Widow and the Falcon, the odds are against him — but he's not about to give up on Bucky that easily.

• Starring: Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie

• Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo

• Year: 2014

• Runtime: 138 minutes

• Rating: PG-13

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

Gothic horror meets pastel suburbia when Edward, the unfinished creation of a mad scientist, is taken in by an utterly normal American family. As he has dangerously sharp blades where hands should be, Edward seems like a monster — but in fact, he's a gentle soul who soon falls in love with Kim, the family's teenage daughter. His topiary, hair-styling, and ice sculpture skills soon charm the neighborhood ... for the most part. Not everyone, it turns out, is crazy about the strange young man living in their midst. Edward is on a collision course with conformity itself — and in the suburbs, only one may reign supreme.

• Starring: Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest

• Director: Tim Burton

• Year: 1990

• Runtime: 105 minutes

• Rating: PG-13

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

Deep in the Colombian mountains lies a happy little community protected by a magical candle. This flame bestows incredible gifts upon the Madrigal family ... except for young Mirabel. Why is Mirabel powerless, when her cousins are able to shape-shift and talk to animals? Why is she the only Madrigal who sees the cracks beginning to tear apart their home? And what happened to psychic Uncle Bruno, who mysteriously vanished 10 years earlier? Mirabel's search for answers takes her into the complicated heart of her family's history, trauma, and secrets. The Madrigals will never be the same — and maybe that's exactly what they need.

• Starring: Stephanie Beatriz, John Leguizamo, Diane Guerrero

• Directors: Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Charise Castro Smith

• Year: 2021

• Runtime: 109 minutes

• Rating: PG

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%

This luxurious ode to animation's unlimited possibilities still dazzles like the day it debuted. Consisting of eight vignettes set to masterfully conducted classical music, "Fantasia" runs the aesthetic gamut. Some pieces are whimsically abstract, like the one set to Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker Suite," which imagines the changing seasons as an endless dance between fairies, falling leaves, and flowers. Others, like the immortal "Sorcerer's Apprentice" segment, tell a more concrete story — in this case, the titular apprentice's disastrous foray into magic he cannot control. It all culminates in "Night on Bald Mountain," a vision of demonic revelry that has haunted multiple generations of moviegoers. "Fantasia" reminds viewers that Disney isn't just a Hollywood behemoth — it's an artistic powerhouse.

• Directors: James Algar, Samuel Armstrong, Wilfred Jackson

• Year: 1940

• Runtime: 126 minutes

• Rating: G

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%

Mr. Fox is a charming former thief who put criminality behind him for the sake of his family. But life as a newspaper columnist lacks the edge he craves, and so Mr. Fox indulges in a raid on three vile farmers. This brings disaster down upon his community of creatures — but Mr. Fox might be clever enough to see them through it. Wes Anderson's refined eccentricity is a perfect match for stop-motion animation. Mr. Fox's world is a quirky wonderland where badgers wear pocket squares and pop teeny-tiny bottles of champagne. Add in an impressive cast, and you've got a cat-and-mouse (and fox, badger, rabbit ... ) flick unlike any other.

• Starring: George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Bill Murray

• Director: Wes Anderson

• Year: 2009

• Runtime: 88 minutes

• Rating: PG

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%

Tess wants Anna, her teenage daughter, to make good choices. Anna wants Tess to let her be the guitar-shredding rebel girl she is. When a magical fortune cookie body-swaps them, they end up learning why their desires always seem to be in conflict and how to reconcile them. This mother-daughter comedy is sincere without ever being saccharine: Anna and Tess' clash is rooted in genuine love, fear, and shared loss. It's also a fabulous showcase of Jamie Lee Curtis' comedic prowess. Whether she's playing Tess the put-together therapist or Anna in Tess' body, she is absolutely uproarious.

• Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan, Chad Michael Murray

• Director: Mark Waters

• Year: 2003

• Runtime: 98 minutes

• Rating: PG

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%

Young Elsa has finally taken her rightful place as queen of Arendelle. But she has a secret not even her sister, Princess Anna, knows about: Elsa has mysterious magical powers over snow and ice. Her disastrous coronation reveals this gift to her subjects, which sends Elsa fleeing into the mountains — but loving, naive, stubborn Anna is hot on her heels. "Frozen" offers great music, gorgeous visuals, and an exploration of love in all its forms, from warm familial bonds to steadfast self-esteem. Plus, "Let It Go" really is that good ... even if you've already heard it 300 times.

• Starring: Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad

• Directors: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee

• Year: 2013

• Runtime: 105 minutes

• Rating: PG

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

The fact that "Hamilton," a hip hop musical about a little-loved Founding Father, became a smash hit is a testament to its brilliance. In this recording of the Broadway show, Alexander Hamilton rises from total obscurity to the heights of his new nation through luck, ambition, and towering intelligence. Shadowing him every step of the way is Aaron Burr, the man who will one day kill him in an infamous duel. Revolution can be glorious, but it also takes a heavy toll — something everyone in this show learns the hard way. This electric stage production loses nothing by being brought into the living room — in fact, you might appreciate being able to instantly rewatch the show's most rapid-fire moments.

• Starring: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr., Renée Elise Goldsberry

• Director: Thomas Kail

• Year: 2020

• Runtime: 160 minutes

• Rating: PG-13

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%

It's 1961, and the Space Race is heating up. The experts at NASA are pushing themselves like never before, especially those who work in Virginia's Langley Research Center. Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, and Dorothy Vaughan are among these brilliant minds — but unlike many of their colleagues, they're Black women. As they assess heat shields, explore new computer technology, and calculate trajectories, they confront brick walls of bigotry. But the times are changing, and just as their rockets go further each day, so too do these trailblazing women. A joyous exploration of irrepressible genius and unbendable courage, "Hidden Figures" brings its titular heroines into the well-deserved spotlight.

• Starring: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae

• Directors: Theodore Melfi

• Year: 2016

• Runtime: 128 minutes

• Rating: PG

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%

Victor Hugo and Disney might seem like an odd combination, but this stunning musical makes a strong case for the blend. Quasimodo, the eponymous hunchback, has lived within Notre Dame his entire life. His guardian, Judge Frollo, insists this is for his own protection. But these strictures are no match for Esmeralda, the fearless and beautiful Romani dancer who enchants Quasimodo, Frollo, and Phoebus, the captain of Frollo's guard. In protecting her from Frollo's covetous wrath, Quasimodo seizes the life he's always longed for — but such a heroic quest does not come without consequences. "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" plumbs the depths of the human heart with moving insight, stirring music, and breathtaking visuals.

• Starring: Tom Hulce, Demi Moore, Tony Jay

• Director: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise

• Year: 1996

• Runtime: 97 minutes

• Rating: G

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 71%

Young Riley is not crazy about her family's move to San Francisco, a fact the anthropomorphic emotions who live inside her head know well. Things go from bad to worse after a mishap hurls Joy, Sadness, and Riley's core memories into the far reaches of her brain. Joy and Sadness must make their way back to headquarters before Riley's life falls apart, but how can two such oppositional forces possibly work together? In tackling cognition itself, "Inside Out" takes Pixar's impressive body of work to new heights. You'll never forget this movie's inventive approach to trains of thought, abstract thinking, and imaginary friends.

• Starring: Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Mindy Kaling

• Director: Pete Docter

• Year: 2015

• Runtime: 95 minutes

• Rating: PG

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%

Primatologist Jane Goodall is internationally renowned for her revolutionary work with chimpanzees. But long before she was regarded as a groundbreaking expert, she was dismissed and underrated as a foolish, untrained girl. This virtuoso documentary captures her career in all its complexity, from those early obstacles to the fundamental shifts she caused in humanity's understanding of itself. A magnificent score and vivid footage of Goodall's first forays into the wild make the story even more compelling. In chronicling an extraordinary woman's life, "Jane" captures the heart of scientific exploration itself and the unquenchable thirst for understanding that drives it.

• Director: Brett Morgen

• Year: 2017

• Runtime: 90 minutes

• Rating: PG

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%

The Pride Lands are a thriving animal kingdom, ruled by King Mufasa. But Scar, Mufasa's scheming brother, isn't content to watch from the sidelines. After concocting a terrible tragedy, Scar pushes Simba, Mufasa's son, into the wild. The young prince hides from his responsibilities for a time, but he cannot ignore the call to duty forever. This sweeping coming-of-age tale features astonishingly beautiful animation and a plethora of now-classic songs. Simba's journey is both deeply mythic (ancestral spirits appear in the sky to offer him wisdom) and endearingly cheeky (an entire song is dedicated to the art of slacking off). This clever blend made "The Lion King" into a smash hit and an enduring favorite of all ages.

• Starring: Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, James Earl Jones

• Directors: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff

• Year: 1994

• Runtime: 92 minutes

• Rating: G

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%

The Banks children would like a cheerful and indulgent nanny, while their father wants one who will keep his kids in line. Mary Poppins manages to satisfy both camps with her brand of magic. But she hasn't entered the Banks family's life just to clean up nurseries and bewitch carousels. She's here to teach them — especially Mr. Banks — how to cherish the true joys of family life. Bursting with effervescent music and innovative animation, "Mary Poppins" remains a uniquely vivacious treat for the whole family.

• Starring: Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson

• Director: Robert Stevenson

• Year: 1964

• Runtime: 142 minutes

• Rating: G

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%

Mulan is eager to be a good daughter, but her clumsiness and outspoken attitude just don't fit imperial China's norms. To make things worse, the Huns have invaded, and her father has been conscripted to fight in the Chinese army. Knowing her aging parent won't survive such a conflict, Mulan cuts her hair, dons his armor, and joins the fight in his place, disguised as a young man. With help from diminutive dragon Mushu and her new comrades, Mulan is transformed into a warrior, and learns that heroism and nobility were within her all along.

• Starring: Ming-Na Wen, Eddie Murphy, Pat Morita

• Directors: Barry Cook, Tony Bancroft

• Year: 1998

• Runtime: 95 minutes

• Rating: G

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86%

Perhaps the only movie suited for both Halloween and Christmas viewing, "The Nightmare Before Christmas" centers around Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town. Though he embodies the October holiday, he's become bored by its familiar spookiness. Stumbling into Christmas Town reignites Jack's imagination, to the point that he decides Halloween Town will take over the Yuletide festivities. This proves difficult, however — especially after the fiendish Oogie Boogie kidnaps Santa. This stop-motion marvel finds wonder in both holidays: Halloween is at its most fabulously fearsome in Jack's world, while Christmas shines like new through his awed eyes.

• Starring: Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, Frank Welker

• Director: Henry Selick

• Year: 1993

• Runtime: 80 minutes

• Rating: PG

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%

Jack Sparrow is a pirate without a ship, Will Turner is a blacksmith without a past, and Elizabeth Swann is a woman without options. Their fates collide when the undead crew of the infamous Black Pearl, Jack's former ship, kidnap Elizabeth in the hopes of lifting their curse. Absolution won't come that easily, however — especially since Will and Jack are hot on their heels. A high-seas adventure with an irrepressible spirit, this first installment of the "Pirates of Caribbean" franchise is still the very best of the series.

• Starring: Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom

• Director: Gore Verbinski

• Year: 2003

• Runtime: 145 minutes

• Rating: PG-13

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 80%

Being a Disney princess doesn't usually involve navigating high school, but nothing about Mia Thermopolis' life is what you'd expect. A nerdy San Francisco teen, Mia is shocked to learn she's heir to the throne of Genovia. Clarisse, her elegant grandmother, is determined to transform her into a refined beauty, but Mia isn't so sure she's suited to the royal life. What's a girl who dreads public speaking supposed to do? Anne Hathaway is absolutely perfect as awkward yet adorable Mia — it's no wonder this proved to be her breakthrough role. Julie Andrews is just as charismatic, albeit significantly more sophisticated, as Clarisse. Together, they form one of the most charming and memorable grandmother-granddaughter pairs in film history.

• Starring: Julie Andrews, Anne Hathaway, Mandy Moore

• Director: Garry Marshall

• Year: 2001

• Runtime: 116 minutes

• Rating: G

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 49%

Life in the Ugandan slum of Katwe is anything but easy, as young Phiona knows well. But everything changes when she discovers chess through a local missionary center. A prodigy eager to hone her skills and increase her understanding of the game, Phiona rises through the competitive chess world's ranks — but no matter how swiftly she ascends, calamity is never far behind. Based on a true story, "Queen of Katwe" resists easy cliches. Phiona, her family, and the people of Katwe are all well-rounded individuals doing the best they can with what the world has given them. What results is an incandescent story of success, sacrifice, and struggle.

• Starring: Lupita Nyong'o, David Oyelowo, Madina Nalwanga

• Director: Mira Nair

• Year: 2016

• Runtime: 125 minutes

• Rating: PG

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%

Princess Aurora is beautiful, graceful, and kind. Unfortunately, she's also been cursed by the wicked Maleficent. At the age of 16, Aurora is fated to touch the spindle of a spinning wheel and fall into a deep and deathlike sleep, which can only be broken by true love's kiss. "Sleeping Beauty" is one of the most visually splendiferous movies of the early Disney era, full of vibrant jewel tones and eye-catching character design. It's also chock-full of memorable characters, like the three good fairies who watch over Aurora, clever Prince Phillip, and, of course, Maleficent — a villain so magnetic that she got her very own movie 55 years later.

• Starring: Mary Costa, Bill Shirley, Eleanor Audley

• Directors: Clyde Geronimi, Eric Larson, Les Clark

• Year: 1959

• Runtime: 78 minutes

• Rating: G

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%

Young Maria, an Austrian woman of the 1930s, dreams of becoming a nun, but she just can't seem to conform to her abbey's quiet ways. Luckily, the forbidding Georg von Trapp's seven rambunctious children need a governess — a job considerably more suited to spirited Maria's talents. As she falls in love with both the children and their father, however, the shadow of Nazism grows longer and darker. In contrasting warm-hearted romance, timeless humor, and unforgettable music against the gathering storm of World War II, "The Sound of Music" captures something vital: Joy endures, no matter the circumstances.

• Starring: Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Peggy Wood

• Director: Robert Wise

• Year: 1965

• Runtime: 175 minutes

• Rating: G

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 83%

Luke Skywalker's journey grows more complicated, intimate, and fantastical in this widely lauded installment of the "Star Wars" franchise. As Darth Vader pursues Han Solo and Princess Leia across the galaxy, Luke trains with Yoda, a Jedi Master of immense skill. Will Luke master the light side of the Force or fall into darkness? This question grows all the more complex once Luke learns his father wasn't exactly the slain hero Obi-Wan made him out to be. Family secrets, interstellar warfare, and pulse-pounding romance collide in this classic film.

• Starring: Mark Hamill, Billy Dee Williams, Carrie Fisher

• Director: Irvin Kershner

• Year: 1980

• Runtime: 127 minutes

• Rating: PG

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%

Questlove's feature-length directorial debut tells the story of 1969's Harlem Cultural Festival. Haven't heard of it? "Summer of Soul" isn't surprised — this watershed moment of Black pride, artistry, and activism has largely been erased from the public consciousness. Luckily for us, this vibrant documentary is out to explain why with keen insight and a plethora of fascinating interviews. But for all this thoughtful criticism, "Summer of Soul" is also an ecstatic ode to this once-in-a-lifetime event. Footage of legendary musicians like Nina Simone and Stevie Wonder captures these luminaries at the height of their powers while first-hand recollections from festival-goers and the performers themselves provide vivid detail. What results in a portrait of unadulterated joy. 

• Director: Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson

• Year: 2021

• Runtime: 117 minutes

• Rating: PG-13

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%

13-year-old Mei is a star student, devoted daughter, and fierce friend. But when she wakes up one morning as a gigantic red panda, her carefully ordered life is smashed to pieces. She soon discovers that the women of her family have been enduring this chaotic transformation for years — and luckily, there's a way to stop it. But is the red panda, and the uninhibited emotion it brings, really so bad? "Turning Red" is a vibrant and unabashed celebration of young womanhood, from its fond portrayal of boy band mania to its tender exploration of the mother-daughter bond. Elastic animation brings things to even greater heights and captures the middle school experience in especially endearing detail.

• Starring: Sandra Oh, Rosalie Chiang, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan
• Directors: Domee Shi
• Year: 2022
• Runtime: 100 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%

After his beloved wife dies, elderly Carl decides to escape encroaching urban development by attaching thousands of balloons to his home and simply flying away. To his displeasure and surprise, he has a stowaway: Russell, an excitable Wilderness Explorer eager to earn his "Assisting the Elderly" badge. Things get even more complicated when they land in South America and discover Carl's boyhood hero, the Lindbergh-esque Charles Muntz, is very much alive ... and possibly bonkers. Though grief has made him cynical, Carl soon learns that adventures happen when you least expect them, if you're brave enough to open your heart to their possibilities.

• Starring: Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai

• Director: Pete Docter

• Year: 2009

• Runtime: 96 minutes

• Rating: PG

• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%