The Best Kids Movies on Disney Plus (October 2022)

Pinocchio (2022): What You Get When You Wish Upon a Star

A puppeteer named Gepetto (Tom Hanks) longs for a son, so he's ecstatic when his puppet Pinocchio (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) comes to life. However, if he wants to be a real boy, Pinocchio must heed the advice of the wise Jiminy Cricket (Joseph Gordon-Levitt).

This reimagined fairy tale stands tall alongside the other live-action Disney remakes. Of course, if you prefer, you can always watch the original Pinocchio on Disney Plus.

Lightyear (2022): To Infinity and Beyond, Again

This Toy Story spin-off follows the adventures of the real Buzz Lightyear (Chris Evans), the fictional character who inspired the beloved action figure from that franchise. With the help of his cat Sox (Peter Sohn), Buzz must rescue a crew stranded on a strange planet ruled by hostile robots.

Lightyear might have bombed at the box office, but those who saw it gave the movie great reviews. Now you can stream it alongside the original Toy Story on Disney Plus.

Lego Star Wars Summer Vacation (2022): The Empire Strikes Back at the Beach

After defeating Emperor Palpatine in The Rise of Skywalker, Rey (Helen Sadler) and her friends are ready for a well-deserved beach trip. However, the Dark Side doesn't take summer vacations, so it's only a matter of time before she has to break out her lightsaber again.

If you enjoyed the other Lego Star Wars specials on Disney Plus, this is a must-watch. Make sure you have Lego Star Wars Terrifying Tales and The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special on your watchlist for later this year.

Billie Eilish: Happier than Ever (2021)—A Love Letter to Los Angeles

Billie Eilish gives an intimate performance of her Happier Than Ever album in this special. Taking place at the Hollywood Bowl, it's the first and only time you'll see the Grammy award-winning musician perform every song on the album in sequential order. There are special guest appearances from Eilish's collaborator and brother, Finneas, the Los Angeles Children's Chorus, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and more. Meanwhile, animated segments showcase Eilish's hometown of Los Angeles.

Better Nate Than Ever (2022): Best Disney Musical Since 'High School Musical'

Life is tough for a thirteen-year-old aspiring actor. Nate Foster (Rueby Wood) has big dreams of performing on Broadway, but he can't even get a callback for the middle school musical. Fed up with it all, Nate and his friend Libby (Aria Brooks) sneak away to the big apple to go big or go home.

Better Nate Than Never features classic tunes from Disney's Lilo and Stitch, and it has a talented cast to carry them. For his first movie, Rueby Wood especially shines in the lead role.

Mulan (1998): Best Disney Kids Movie About Family Honor

Disney’s Mulan is a super-fun animated interpretation of the Chinese folk tale featuring loads of comedy, quirky characters, and action sequences which were considered groundbreaking when it came out back in 1998. Ming-Na Wen, who modern audiences will recognize from Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD and the Disney Plus Star Wars The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett series, shines as the teenage girl learning about the meaning of honor and family. And the creatively cast Eddie Murphy is instantly iconic as the dragon sidekick.

2020’s live-action Mulan remake gets a lot of attention, but it didn’t come close to this animated version in terms of messaging, plot, characters, and entertainment value.

Cruella (2021): A Classic Disney Villain Gets an Origin Story

Disney successfully crafted an origin story for its evil fairy Maleficent. Now, it's doing the same for another classic villain, Cruella de Vil. As a teenager, Estella (Emma Stone) dreams of becoming a fashion designer while living on the streets as a London orphan. One day, she's given the chance to create a signature piece for a rockstar, but she also has the scheming Baroness (Emma Thompson) to deal with. Maleficent's backstory managed to spawn two successful movies. Could Cruella be Disney's next hit?

Raya and the Last Dragon (2021): A Sassy Girl and Her Sassier Dragon BFF

Raya and the Last Dragon is a fantasy story about a mythical world called Kumandra, where humans and dragons once lived in harmony. But, 500 years later, monsters are threatening the land, so Raya (Kelly Marie Tran) must find the last dragon Sisu (Awkwafina), and convince her to use her magic to save the world. This latest Disney offering was made by the studio responsible for Moana and Frozen.

Trevor The Musical (2022): A Coming Out Story for All Ages

A teenage boy obsessed with Diana Ross is ostracised at school once it's revealed that he has a crush on a male classmate. It's up to the adults in his life to step up and defend Trevor against bullies.

Trevor The Musical is based on the 1994 Academy Award-winning short film Trevor. In addition to a musical, the original movie inspired the Trevor Project, a crisis hotline for LGBT+ youth that still exists today.

Turning Red (2022): Cutest Coming-of-Age Pixar Movie

Your teenage years can be tough, especially if you happen to turn into a red panda every time you get emotional. That's what happens to Mei Lee (Rosalie Chiang) who learns that she is haunted by a family curse.

Turing Red stands out for its focus on Chinese culture, but the story is relatable to everyone, including kids and adults.

Luca (2021): Best Film About Sea Monsters on an Adventure

Luca is a whimsical tale about a pair of sea monsters in human form having an adventure on the Italian Riviera. It's the second recent Pixar film to debut on Disney+ instead of in theaters. The first was the Oscar-winning Soul, which is a beautiful movie about finding your purpose in life that's also worth checking out.

Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022): Most Creative Chipmunk Comeback Story

Don't like it when your favorite hand-drawn cartoons get remade as computer generated models? Neither does Chip, but Dale has fully embraced the third dimension, going as far as getting the controversial “CGI surgery.”

Despite their differences, the Rescue Rangers must reunite to save an old friend in this self-aware reboot. Even if you're not familiar with the duo, you'll get a laugh out of their nutty antics.

Zootopia (2016): Best Disney Plus Kids Movie About Prejudice

Zootopia, named Zootropolis in several regions, is a rather profound Disney kids movie that explores racism through the lens of a world of animals where humans never existed. To the film’s credit, Zootopia doesn’t speak down to viewers nor oversimplify the discussion and impressively manages to cover the various nuances surrounding race rather well, all within a beautifully animated, thoroughly entertaining, and age-appropriate package.

Ginnifer Goodwin from Once Upon A Time, also on Disney Plus, and Jason Bateman voice the two leads and are backed up by an impressive supporting cast of actors ranging from talents such as Idris Elba and Bonnie Hunt to Octavia Spencer, Alan Tudyk, and Shakira.

Black Panther (2018): Most Unique Superhero Movie on Disney Plus

Black Panther was a major cultural moment when it premiered back in 2018, and it’s not hard to see why with its skillfully shot action sequences, fun cast of characters, and the big-screen debut of the fictitious futuristic city of Wakanda. It’s not all fun and action, though, with a strong sense of family and a powerful message about the flaws of protectionism being ever-present throughout.

Like Guardians of the Galaxy, Black Panther requires very little knowledge of the MCU and can be enjoyed entirely on its own. And the story started in this film continues in Avengers: Infinity War, also on Disney Plus.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.1 (2014): Most Fun Superhero Movie for Kids

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.1 is one of the best Disney Plus movies for kids due to its fun vibe, eclectic cast of characters, and a strong focus on family-friendly action and spectacle. While this Sci-Fi film can get quite big in scale, the real focus is the group of alien misfits who, eventually, learn to rely on and accept each other as family.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is on Disney Plus as well, and one of the best things about the two movies is that they’re very much in their own stand-alone corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and don’t require the viewing of any other TV shows or films to understand or enjoy. If you’re planning to watch Avengers: Infinity War or Endgame, though, both Guardians flicks will enhance your enjoyment of those two enormously.

Mary Poppins Returns (2018): Best Musical for Kids on Disney Plus

Mary Poppins Returns is a follow-up to the original classic that focuses on the two children whom Mary Poppins looked after all those years ago. They're now struggling with adult situations such as unemployment and financial difficulties. As with the original, Mary Poppins Returns brilliantly balances profound life lessons about embracing your inner child and stopping to smell the flowers with several fun animated sequences that keep the viewer engaged.

The filmmakers integrated the original's numerous iconic songs into the film’s score rather than lazily reprising them. It leaves room for several new songs and a chance for Mary Poppins Returns to stand on its own rather than rely on nostalgia and brand recognition. A Disney Plus movie for kids and adults alike.

LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales (2021): Because LEGO Spoofs Are Always Good Fun

The LEGO series is known for its fun send-ups of popular culture, and this Halloween special provides a goofy good time. Taking place after the events of The Rise of Skywalker, it sees Poe Dameron and BB-8 journeying to the volcanic planet Mustafar, home to Darth Vader's castle, which is now apparently the galaxy's first all-inclusive luxury hotel for Sith looking to unwind from their day jobs of villainy and wrongdoing. They meet Vader’s loyal servant, Vaneé, who relates to them three creepy stories featuring some of the Star Wars universe's most iconic villains.

The Princess and the Frog (2009): Best Disney Kids Movie About Strong Work Ethics

The Princess and the Frog is a modern reinterpretation of the classic frog princess fairy tale set in New Orleans. This kids movie, one of Disney’s last to be made in the traditional 2D animation format, received praise for its focus on a strong female black character upon release. However, what’s gives it legs is its superb animation, strong chemistry between its two frog leads, and powerful message about having a dream and working hard to make sure that it comes true.

Jungle Cruise (2021): Disney's Latest Theme Park Ride Turned Feature Film

Disney successfully spawned an entire film franchise based on the Pirates of the Caribbean theme park ride. Can they do the same with Jungle Cruise? The film stars Dwayne Johnson as a boat captain who agrees to ferry a researcher (Emily Blunt) down the Amazon River in search of an ancient tree with fabled healing powers. Like the Pirates films, it injects a supernatural element into the narrative and offers plenty of big-budget action.

The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild (2022): Best Film for Some Prehistoric Shenanigans

This latest installment in the popular Ice Age franchise focuses on thrill-seeking possums Crash and Eddie, along with the one-eyed weasel adventurer Buck Wild. Trapped in a massive cave filled with dinosaurs, they must band together to save the Lost World. If you have a little one who's obsessed with all things prehistoric, this is an obvious pick.