As a former Disney Life customer, Disney Plus is perhaps not quite as exciting for me as I’ve had every (well, mostly every) Disney film and TV series at my fingertips for years, however, at this troubling time, there’s no doubt I have welcomed it into my home with open arms. It’s become a lockdown necessity.
There were many things that annoyed me about Disney Life; it would timeout unexpectedly, it didn’t track your progress within a TV series, there was a lot of incomplete series despite the episodes airing years ago and there weren’t any Marvel, Fox or Star Wars films available which was a huge drawback, plus, they weren’t many regular updates or original programs. Disney+ is a whole different ballgame and, after the announcement of future shows such as Loki and The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, we signed up the moment it launched.
If you’ve been living under a rock and have no idea what I’m talking about, Disney+ is an on-demand streaming service, just like Netflix, that gives you access to everything that falls under the Disney umbrella. The 90s kids looking for a little nostalgia can enjoy shows like X-Men: The Animated TV Series and Ducktales, and films such as Three Men & a Little Lady and The Mighty Ducks. You can then move on to your favourite noughties series such as Boy Meets World, That’s So Raven and Hannah Montana. Currently, you can subscribe for £5.99 a month or £59.99 a year with a free 7-day trial included. So get cosy, tuck into those isolation snacks you’ve been saving and start watching! Here’s 20 must-watch shows and movies currently streaming on Disney+ that my family and I have been enjoying…
* UPDATED *
The Imagineering Story (2019) – This documentary gives you unprecedented access behind the curtains of The Walt Disney Company’s elite team of Imagineers, the incredible group of individuals that create, design, and construct Disney theme parks and attractions across the world.
Wandavision (2021) – The best TV series of 2021 so far. I absolutely adored this. It’s a must-see for any Marvel fan. I actually have a whole post dedicated to this fantastic series in my drafts but I’m finding it impossible to figure out where to start. After Endgame, I was worried Marvel would lose its way or not maintain the same high standards of storytelling and characterisation we’ve previously been used to. This series put all my worries at ease.
The Mandelorian (2020) – I must admit, it took me a while to finally sit down and watch this, however, when I finally did, I was blown away. It’s a masterpiece. It’s set after the fall of the Empire and before the emergence of the First Order. I don’t believe you have to be a huge Star Wars fan to enjoy it, although, there are hundreds of hidden references and easter eggs for those who are. Each episode has its own director such as Taika Waititi and Deborah Chow, however, Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni oversee the entire project. The cinematography is just beautiful and there’s a behind-the-scenes documentary also available on Disney+ which made me appreciate the detail and passion that went into this series collection.
Hamilton (2020) – We actually had tickets to see Hamilton in London before the pandemic and all shows on the West End were canceled. Thankfully, Disney+ released a cinematic version of the 11-time-Tony award-winning Broadway hit. It’s filmed with the original cast and watching it made me feel like I was in the audience. Flawless.
Coco (2017) – I’ve mentioned Coco by name because I honestly think it’s an incredibly beautiful and underrated film but, really, the entire collection of Pixar films deserve a seat at the table. Disney+ has them all – Onwards, Monsters Inc., Brave, Up, the entire Toy Story collection and their newest film – Soul. As well as award-winning shorts such as Out and, my personal favourite, For The Birds.
The Lion King (1994) – Disney+ gives you all the classics at your fingertips (as well as the straight-to-video sequels and live-action remakes). The Lion King is perhaps one of the greatest animation films of all time and I’ve lost count of the amount of time my girls and I have cuddled on the sofa a sung along, laughed, and cried to this wonderful film.
Honey, I Shrunk The Kids (1989) – What a throwback, but the 80s and 90’s don’t stop there. There’s everything from Splash, Big, Three Men & a Little Lady, Father of the Bride, Cool Runnings, Baby’s Day Out and, of course, the legendary Mrs. Doubtfire.
Waking Sleeping Beauty (2009) – This documentary looks at the conflict, drama, and tension behind the second chapter in Disney’s animation legacy. A decade that included monumental films that changed the face of animation forever such as The Little Mermaid, Aladin, The Lion King, and Beauty & the Beast.
Never Been Kissed (1999) – So as you’ve probably already noticed, this list contains slightly more than the advertised 10. My apologies, but I just couldn’t pass up an opportunity to recommend all the classic 90’s rom-coms that got me through my teens such as Never Been Kissed, 10 Things I Hate About You and Drive Me Crazy.
The World According to Jeff Goldblum (2019) – How can anyone not love Jeff Goldblum? He so bizarrely wacky and entertaining to watch and this series (originally filmed for National Geographic I believe) takes familiar objects, such as ice cream and sneakers, and unravels the science, history and incredible connections behind each one.
ANOTHER UPDATE!
Since publishing this post (all further updates will be featured in a second blog post) Disney+ had now integrated with Star. This ‘adult’ streaming platform now included TV shows for a more mature audience and includes shows such as Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, Lost, Prison Break, and Modern Family as well as a huge range of movies. Disney Plus is constantly expanding as a platform and the original series they have been churning out recently has been nothing short of phenomenal. Stay tuned for another list of TV shows and films I recommend very soon….
1