Why Disney+ Is Worth Your Time: Recommendations That Go Beyond the Top 10 Lists

Another month means another list of streaming recommendations. This month's recommendations will be for Disney+. Disney+ is not exactly known for its amazing original shows. While there are some, there aren't a ton and they aren't great. The big draw of Disney+ is their extensive back catalog of pretty much are installment of every franchise they own (Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars). The other great thing about Disney+ is that their content doesn't shuffle around different services because of rights. If it is a Disney+, it will always be on Disney+. Here are my recommendations of what to watch on Disney+.

 This first section is for original movies. These are all movies that were made exclusively for Disney+. There aren't a ton of original movies as Disney+ more focuses on original shows but there are still a few that are worth checking out. 

1. Noelle: Noelle is a sweet Christmas movie starring Anna Kendrick from the Disney+ launch. The movie follows the daughter of Santa Claus, Noelle, who must help her brother take up the mantle of Santa Claus after their father passes away. The movie has a bit of an Elf vibe to it. This movie is rated G.

2. Music By John Williams: This is a new documentary that came out last year about the life and career of John Williams. The movie takes us through all of the movies John Williams scored and kind of tells the story of how he developed the music. This movie is rated PG

3. Jim Henson: Idea Man: This is another documentary from last year about the life and career of Jim Henson. The movie takes us through the career of the legendary puppeteer Jim Henson as he creates the Muppets and other movies/shows. This movie is rated PG

4. Chip N Dale Rescue Rangers: This is a sequel/reboot to the original Rescue Rangers TV show from the 90s. It has Chip and Dale as fading actors trying to uncover a new mystery after the days of their fame with their show. This movie has a lot of self-aware humor and numerous references and was better than it had any right to be. This movie is rated PG.

5. Soul: This was Pixar's film that came out back in 2020. The movie follows Joe Gardner who accidentally finds himself in the afterlife and must mentor a new soul to help them find their spark. This is one of the better Pixar films that tackles some pretty advanced ideas about purpose and living your best life. This movie is rated PG.

6. Luca: This was another direct-to-streaming Pixar movie, this one coming out in 2021. Luca follows a young sea monster named Luca who wants to be a part of life on the surface world. This is a fun coming-of-age story all about boyhood friendships. This movie is rated PG.

  This section is for original TV shows. The unique thing about the Disney+ TV shows is that many of them were created as a part of a major franchise. So you will see a lot of original shows apart from the MCU, a lot for Star Wars, and several sequels for lesser-known properties. There are not a ton of original property original shows.

1. Wandavision: Wandavision is the original MCU TV show and still one of the better ones. The show follows Wanda and Vision as they are seemingly living out their married life as the stars of various decade's sitcoms. The show explores the characters of both Wanda and Vision and demonstrates Marvel's strengths on the small screen. This show is rated TV-PG.

2. The Mandalorian: The Mandalorian is the original Star Wars live-action TV show and one of my favorites on Disney+. The Mandalorian follows a Mandalorian bounty hunter as he is hired to apprehend a mysterious target (Grogu). The show grows to so much more than that and is definitely worth a watch. This show is rated TV-14.

3. Loki: This is another MCU TV. Loki explores the story of Loki when he is recruited by the TVA after he escapes in Avengers: Endgame. This show explores Loki as a character and expands on some great ideas about the multiverse. This show is rated TV-14.

4. Andor: This is another live-action Star Wars show. This show tells the story of Cassian Andor 2 years before he joins the rebellion. This is a bit of a character study of Cassian and is essentially a political thriller-type show in the Star Wars universe. This show is rated TV-14.

5. Doctor Who: After a new deal with the BBC, Disney+ became the home for any new Doctor Who. The show follows The Doctor and his companion as they have adventures traveling across space and time. Right now Disney+ has five specials and one season of the show. This show is rated TV-PG

6. The Bad Batch: The Bad Batch is a spin-off of the Clone Wars TV series. It follows Clone Force 99 as they navigate the galaxy in the aftermath of the end of the Clone Wars. This show sheds some light on what happened to the Clones after they were all retired. This show is rated TV-PG.

7. The Santa Clauses: This is a sequel show to the Tim Allen Santa Clause movies. It follows an aged Scott Calvin who is ready to retire as Santa Claus and needs to find someone else to take up the mantle. It has the typical Tim Allen humor and makes for a fun little Christmas show. This show is rated TV-PG

8. Disney Parks Documentaries: Disney+ features a ton of worthwhile documentaries about the Disney parks such as Magic of Disney's Animal Kingdom which talks about the backstage of Animal Kingdom, The Imagineering Story which talks about the job and history of the imagineers, One Day at Disney which tells the story of individual cast members and their positions, and my personal favorite Behind the Attraction, which talks about the development of various Disney attractions.

 The back catalog section is by far the most extensive as Disney just has so many great properties. I wanted to start off the section with some broad recommendations of all of the major properties you can get on the service and will then dive into some deeper picks.

1. Star Wars: This is one of the main sells of Disney+. It has all 11 movies, all of the modern animated shows, and even some of the deeper cuts like the Ewoks movies, the animated Star Wars: Droids TV show, and the early 2000's Clone Wars mini-series.

2. Marvel: Marvel is another big sell for Disney+. Not only do they have every single MCU film, but there are also all of the X-Men and Fantastic Four films, many retro animated shows such as Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, and many of the other deeper-cut Marvel films like Daredevil.

3. Walt Disney Animation: Disney+ also boasts having the entire collection of Walt Disney Animated films from popular favorites like Aladdin, The Lion King, and Moana to lesser-known films like Treasure Planet, Atlantis: The Lost Empire, and Fun and Fancy Free.

4. Pixar: Pixar is the last big studio property that Disney+ boasts. The service has every Pixar movie from Toy Story, Monsters Inc, and Bugs Life all the way to newer films like Onward, Turning Red, and The Good Dinosaur. 

5. Pirates of the Caribbean: This is another popular series that is only on Disney+. You can find all five Pirates of the Caribbean films here.

6. National Treasure: This is another very profitable franchise for Disney. You can find both films on the streaming service as well as the TV show.

7. The Simpsons: This is one of the big draws that came from the 20th Century Fox acquisition. You can find every episode of the Simpsons as well as all of the specials.

8. Disney Sequels: While Disney+ does have all of the theatrically released animated movies, it also has a ton of the direct-to-video sequels such as The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride, Aladdin: The Return of Jafar, The Jungle Book 2 and many others. They may not be great films but may still bring you nostalgia if you grew up during this era.

9. Disney 90's Nostalgia Series: In the same vein as the animated sequels, Disney+ is also home to a ton of the 90s nostalgia TV series. You can find things such as the Timone and Pumba TV show, The Aladdin TV show, The Little Mermaid TV show, The Hercules show, The Book of Pooh (A Winnie the Pooh kids show with puppets), and Bear in the Big Blue House.

10. Disney Channel: This is the final big category. If you grew up watching Disney Channel, you'll be able to find all of your favorite TV shows and movies such as High School Musical, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Even Stevens, That's So Raven, Kim Possible, and many others.

11. Willow: Willow is a bit of a deeper-cut fantasy movie. It follows a young farmer who is chosen to undertake a perilous journey to protect a special baby from an evil queen. It is a forgotten 80s fantasy movie with some great world-building and action. This movie is rated PG.

12. The Muppet Show: This is a variety show featuring the Muppets and showcases the Muppet's style at the height of the stardom. The show features numerous guest stars such as Elton John, Roger Moore, The Cast of Star Wars, and many others. This show is rated TV-G

13. Ducktales: This is a hit 80s show following the adventures of Scrooge McDuck and his three nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie. This was one of the icons of the Saturday morning cartoons. This show is rated TV-G

14. Daredevil: This show is a dark and gritty rendition of the Daredevil. It follows Matt Murdock as he becomes the defender of Hell's Kitchen as the vigilante Daredevil. It was so well-liked that Marvel made a sequel series tying it to the MCU. Daredevil is rated TV-MA

15. Agents of Shield: This is another forgotten Marvel show. It follows Phil Coulson as he assembles a team of agents to defend the Earth against threats. The show factors in elements from the MCU while also introducing new ideas like the Inhumans. This show is rated TV-PG

16. Cinderella III A Twist in Time: This is the standout direct-to-video sequel. It is a time travel story taking place after the events of Cinderella. It was unexpected how good this movie actually is. This movie is rated G.

17. Who Framed Roger Rabbit: This is another throwback 80s movie. It follows Roger Rabbit as he is accused of murder and must enlist the help of a private investigator to prove his innocence. This mixes both animation and live action in one world. This movie is rated PG.

18. X-Men: The Animated Series: This is one of the standout Marvel animated series. It follows the team of mutant heroes as they fight against bigotry and hatred while also trying to preserve justice. The show does justice to many of the characters and stories that the movie butcher like The Phoenix saga and Gambit. This show is rated TV-Y7

19. Black Cauldron: This is one of the forgotten Disney animated movies. It tells the story of a young boy and a group of misfits as they embark on a quest to stop a tyrant from finding a dark magical item. This is a surprisingly dark fantasy movie. This movie is rated PG.

20. Newsies: This is a 90s musical starring Christian Bale and is based on the 1899 New York City Newsboy strike. Newsies is rated PG.

21. The Rocketeer: This is a 90s superhero movie directed by Joe Johnston. It tells the story of a young pilot who finds a prototype jetpack and becomes a flying masked superhero. The Rocketeer is rated PG.

22. Frankenweenie: This is a stop-motion animated movie by Tim Burton. The movie is about a boy who brings his dog back to life through a science experiment. It is a retelling of the classic Frankenstein and pays tribute to multiple classic monster movies. Frankenweenie is rated PG.