The 28 Best Disney Plus Movies Right Now (November 2020)

Clouds (2020): Best Tragic Love Story Based on True Life

Clouds is a biopic about Zach Sobiech (Fin Argus), a teenage singer/songwriter who is given six months to live at the beginning of his senior year in high school. Instead of giving up on his musical aspirations, Zach decides to make an album as soon as possible.

As you can probably guess, the movie is a major tear-jerker aimed at young teens and the young at heart. Still, the music and the story are ultimately uplifting, making Clouds a great movie for parents and teens to watch together.

X2 (2003): Best X-Men Sequel of the Early 2000s

With so many X-Men movies and spin-offs these days, it's refreshing to go back to the original trilogy of films that first brought the superheroes to the big screen. The second entry in the series introduces new mutants like Mystique (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos) while bringing back old favorites like Storm (Halle Berry) and Wolverine (Hugh Jackman).

An all-star cast led by Patrick Stewart as Professor X makes an otherwise cheesy comic book story feel like a serious drama. X2 won a Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film in addition to awards for special effects and stunt work.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993): Best Stop Motion Musical Christmas Halloween Movie

Is The Nightmare Before Christmas a Christmas movie or a Halloween movie? The first animated film to receive an Academy Award nomination for the Best Visual Effects category, Tim Burton’s stop-motion musical masterpiece celebrates the best things about everyone's favorite two holidays.

Jack Skellington (Danny Elfman), the Pumpkin King of a world where every day is Halloween, is growing tired of the endless ghoulish festivities. When he comes across a world where every day is Christmas, a series of mishaps lead to Jack having to fill in for Santa (Edward Ivory).

Mulan (2020): Most Original Disney Live Action Remake

Disney's Mulan is a serious departure from the source material and the company's other live-action remakes. It provides a more serious take on the legend of a young Chinese woman who takes up the sword to defend her family and her country.

If you're a fan of the original, you might be disappointed that this remake is not a musical, and many of the classic characters are missing. Nonetheless, it's still a good movie. If you want to watch Mulan now, you'll have to pay for Disney Plus Premier Access or wait until Dec. 4 when it becomes available for everyone.

Christopher Robin (2018): Quirkiest Modern Take on a Childhood Icon

Unlike most of Disney's recent live-action movies, Christopher Robin isn't a retelling of an old story. Instead, it's a brand new entry in a classic franchise. In Christopher Robin, an older Christopher (Ewan McGregor) reunites with his childhood friends, who have found their way into the real world.

For adults who grew up with Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin serves as a nice serving of innocent nostalgia. For kids, it's a great introduction to one of the greatest childhood icons of the 20th century.

Hidden Figures (2016): Most Inspirational Story About Unsung American Heros

Behind every great man stands a great woman, or sometimes multiple women. Hidden Figures is the real-life story of three African American mathematicians who helped John Glenn go to the moon: Katherine G. Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe).

The film finally gives these unsung American heroes the recognition they deserve. On top of that, it's well-acted and inspiring. If you like the movie, be sure to check out the book it's based on.

The Fault in Our Stars (2014): Best Adaptation of a Young Adult Novel

Based on a young adult novel of the same name by John Greene, The Fault in Our Stars is a tear-jerker about two teenagers with cancer who fall in love. The teens vow to make each other's dreams come true, only to learn that they already have.

Like the book, the movie was extremely popular among youth, but it's mature enough for adults to enjoy as well. The movie picked up several accolades at the 2014 Teen Choice and MTV Movie Awards.

The Wolverine (2013): Best Superhero Origin Story

The Wolverine is one of three X-Men spin-offs starring everyone's favorite clawed superhero. The movie takes place during World War II when Logan Howlett (Hugh Jackman) was a prisoner of war in Japan.

Wolverine doesn't stray from the superhero movie formula, but if you like the other X-Men films, then you'll likely be satisfied. It was nominated for a few awards, including a Screen Actors Guild award for best stuntwork.

Secret Society of Second-Born Royals (2020): Best Original Disney Superhero Film

Secret Society of Second-Born Royals is about a young princess (Elodie Yung) who longs for a more interesting life outside the castle walls. As luck would have it, she discovers that she has superpowers, which lead her to join a secret peace-keeping organization.

Superhero movies are a dime-a-dozen these days, so it was only a matter of time until Disney Plus got on the trend. Secret Society of Second-Born Royals mixes superhero tropes with Disney princess tropes for interesting results.

Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe (2020): Best Disney Channel Reboot

Disney Channel favorites Phineas and Ferb return for their first movie in nearly a decade. This time, the titular pair must traverse outer space to save their sister Candace from aliens. In other words, it's a typical day for the duo.

Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe debuted on Disney+ in August 2020 to universal praise. Like the original show, this new adventure appeals to adults and kids alike.

Hamilton (2020): Best Tony-Award Winning Live Musical

If you haven't seen Hamilton on Broadway, here's your chance. This live recording of the critically-acclaimed musical perfectly captures the excitement of watching in person. The play tells the story of Alexander Hamilton, picking up in 1776 New York City and concluding with the most famous duel in American history.

The play has won dozens of accolades including 11 Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Now you can experience it with the entire original cast including Lin-Manuel Miranda as the Founding Father.

Black Is King (2020): Best Disney Plus Original Musical

Best described as a visual album, Beyoncé's Black Is King debuted on Disney Plus to praise from critics and audiences alike. It tells the story of an exiled African king and his journey to reclaim his kingdom at the behest of his ancestors. If it sounds like Lion King, that's because the movie is based on it.

In addition to stunning music and cinematography, Black Is King features a strong cast, which includes several notable black musical artists. African culture is placed front and center, making this film stand out among Disney's live-action musicals.

The One and Only Ivan (2020): Best Straight-to-Streaming Movie Based on a Book

Based on the book by K. A. Applegate, The One and Only Ivan is a family-friendly fantasy that combines live actors and animation in a way that only Disney can. It's a rather heart-warming story about a captive gorilla named Ivan (Sam Rockwell) who longs to return to the jungle.

Though originally slated to be released in theaters, The One and Only Ivan went straight-to-streaming in August 2020. It has enough depth to keep adults engaged and enough animals to entertain kids.

Back to the Titanic (2020): Best Documentary About the Titanic

Disney Plus now has a wide selection of movies about the Titanic. This one doesn't have Leonardo DiCaprio, but it does feature an underwater tour of the legendary passenger ship.

A team of scientists descended to the depths of the ocean to capture the first-ever 4K footage of the Titanic, and it's honestly not looking good. The ship has deteriorated significantly in the past 100 years, so this could be your last chance to see it close-up.

Howard (2018): Best Documentary About a Classic Disney Composer

If the name Howard Ashman doesn't ring a bell, you'd surely recognize his songs. The legendary composer wrote the soundtracks for several of Disney's most popular animated features including The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. He was also responsible for the music in the stage version of Little Shop of Horrors.

Howard celebrates an unsung hero of our childhoods. It's a must-watch if you grew up with songs like Under the Sea and Be Our Guest. The documentary will be available to stream on Disney Plus starting August 14th.

Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge: Adventure Awaits (2019): Best New Star Wars Documentary

As if there weren't enough Star Wars movies on Disney Plus, you can now watch a documentary about the making of the new Star Wars-themed areas at Disneyland and Disney World. If you can't go to the theme parks in Floria or California anytime soon, this could be the only way you get to experience it for the foreseeable future.

Coco (2017): Best Family Movie Set in the Afterlife

Coco is a classic Pixar movie through-and-through. It features superb 3D animation, catchy songs, a diverse cast of characters, and an emotional story that adults and kids can enjoy together.

The story centers around a young boy named Coco (Anthony Gonzalz) who accidentally steps into the afterlife during Dia de Los Muertos (the Day of the Dead). Along the way, he meets his ancestors and learns to appreciate their history and culture.

The Greatest Showman (2017): Best Biopic About Show Business

Hugh Jackman plays P.T. Barnum in this musical biopic about one of America's most iconic entertainers. The film centers around the historic American Museum in New York and the entertainers who called it home.

Despite criticism for taking creative liberties with Barnum's story, the movie remains one of the highest-grossing musicals ever. The film's soundtrack received numerous accolades including a Grammy Award and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.

Fantastic Four (2005): Best Mid-2000s Superhero Movie

The second attempt at a Fantastic Four movie was more successful than the first. Affectionately known as "Fan4stic" among fans, this film does a much better job of capturing the spirit of the comics. It's a little talky for an action movie, but it delivers once the pace picks up.

Fantastic Four was nominated for Best Science Fiction Film at the Saturn Awards only to get beat out by Star Wars: Episode III. Jessica Alba, Michael Chiklis, Chris Evans, and Ioan Gruffudd all received nominations for MTV Movie Awards.

Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018): Best Itsy-Bitsy Superhero Flick

If serious Marvel movies like Infinity Wars have you bummed out, why not try something a little lighter? One of the quirkier entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Ant-Man and the Wasp received near-universal acclaim when it came out.

The film's success can be attributed largely to the comedic performances of Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly. Both actors were nominated for Teen Choice Awards for their portrayals of the eponymous duo.

The Peanuts Movie (2015): Best New Take on a Classic Franchise

Charlie Brown (Noah Schnapp) and Snoopy star in their first feature film of the millennium. If you didn't grow up with the Peanuts gang, the movie serves as a faithful introduction for modern audiences.

The Peanuts Movie earned a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Animated Feature Film. Some fans say the computer animation lacks the rugged charm of classics like A Charlie Brown Christmas, but the movie captures the spirit of the original characters.

Remember the Titans (2000): Best Feel Good Sports Movie

More than your typical teen sports movie, Remember the Titans tells the true-life story of Herman Boone (Denzel Washington), a high school football coach who led his team to victory during the first year of integration in 1971. This inspiring biopic offers an unflinching look at America's history of racism while at the same time celebrating those who have struggled to change society for the better.

An emotional story and memorable performances are complimented by an all-star soundtrack featuring Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bob Dylan, The Hollies, Marvin Gaye, James Taylor, The Temptations, and Cat Stevens. It's no wonder why many critics consider Remember the Titans to be the best football movie ever made.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010): Best Adapatation of an Early 2000s Video Game

Movies based on video games don't have a great track record, but Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is a decent adaptation of the 2003 game of the same name. It also includes story elements from other games in the franchise, although the film occasionally departs from the source material.

Prior to the release of Warcraft in 2016, The Sands of Time held the record for the highest-grossing video game movie of all time. The acting talents of Jake Gyllenhaal and the rest of the cast lend the silly dialogue some levity, and the action sequences are far more impressive than anything you'll see on the original Xbox.

10 Things I Hate About You (1999): Best Quintessential 90s Teen Movie

What makes 10 Things I Hate About You stand out among the glut of late-90s romantic comedies? For one, it's loosely based on the plot of "The Taming of the Shrew," William Shakespeare’s original romcom. It also stars young versions of several notable actors including Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Julia Stiles. Round it all out with an epic 90s soundtrack and you have the quintessential teen movie.

The Princess Bride (1987): Best Keeps-Getting-Funnier Comedy Film

The Princess Bride is one of those rare movies that gets funnier with age. It follows the antics of a young farmhand (Cary Elwes) on his quest to rescue the beautiful Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright) from a forced marriage to an unkind Prince.

The Princess Bride was a moderate success upon its theatrical release, but it later became a cult classic on VHS. Like other movies on this list, The Princess Bride is preserved in the National Film Registry thanks to its historical significance.

TRON (1982): Best Genre-Defying Sci-Fi Movie

TRON was groundbreaking when it came out in 1982. While the special effects aren't impressive by today's standards, TRON's innovative blend of CGI and live-action was so genre-defying that the Motion Picture Academy of America couldn't agree on how to categorize it. The story of a software programmer (Jeff Bridges) who gets sucked into a mainframe computer has since inspired dozens of comic books, video games, and a 2010 sequel.

Marry Poppins (1964): Best Recording-Making Musical Movie

When two out-of-control kids keep scaring away nanny after nanny, a mysterious woman named Marry Poppins (Julie Andrews) descends from the sky on a floating umbrella to restore order. Inspired by P.L. Traver's series of books by the same name, Marry Poppins was an instant classic when it was released in 1964.

The film received 13 Academy Award nominations, which remains a record for Disney. While Who Framed Roger Rabbit? broke new ground when it came to combining animated characters with live actors, it wouldn't have been possible with Dick Van Dyke and his dancing penguins.