Best Movies on Disney Plus Right Now (April 2023)

Run Time: 1 hr 40 min | Genre: Family Comedy | Director: Domee Shi

Cast: Rosalie Chiang, Sandra Oh, Ava Morse, Hyein Park, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, and James Hong

Pixar has shown us time and time again that they know exactly how to push the right buttons to move us, to make us cry, to devastate us. But what Turning Red is doing might be even more impressive, a bright story that doesn’t skimp on the moving sentiments, but provides these emotions in a lovely, fun, and largely optimistic story of self-discovery and the first steps into womanhood. Turning Red can do all this in a film packed with panda transformations, ridiculous boy bands, needy Tamagotchis, and absurd first crushes. Turning Red proves that a Pixar film can be cheery, positive, and light, while also leaving a touching and powerful impression. — Ross Bonaime

Run Time: 42 min | Director: Jacob Bixenman, Brendan Walter

An intimate experience, Miley Cyrus – Endless Summer Vacation (Backyard Sessions) is an exclusive performance from Miley Cyrus, the once-controversial Disney Channel star and award-winning musical artist. Recorded at the home of legend Frank Sinatra, the house that was also featured in Cyrus’s recent music video, this backyard session stands at the first-ever performance of the new album. Weaving through the musical numbers, which include the viral single “Flowers” as well as “The Climb,” Miley Cyrus – Endless Summer Vacation (Backyard Sessions) allows Cyrus to share not only her songwriting process but also insight into her authentic and very personal music. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 39 min | Genre: Teen Romantic Comedy | Director: Anya Adams

Cast: Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Milo Manheim, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Margaret Cho, Chelah Horsdal

Prom Pact is an adorable romantic comedy starring Peyton Elizabeth Lee (Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.) as ambitious high school senior Mandy Yang. Mandy is determined to get herself accepted to Harvard, leading her to ask for help from her nemesis, Graham Lansing (Blake Draper). Director Anya Adams’ deliberate homage to 1980s teen classics beautifully engulfs Prom Pact’s love triangle storyline between Mandy, jock Graham, and her best friend Ben (Milo Manheim). Unabashedly cheesy and playful, Prom Pact was written by Anthony Lombardo, who allows comedic powerhouses Wendi McLendon-Covey (The Goldbergs) and Margaret Cho to shine in the charming movie. – Yael Tygiel

Cast: Ryan Coogler, Danai Gurira, Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke

Highlighting the emotional journey back to the lush fictional country of Wakanda, Marvel Studios: Assembled takes viewers behind the scenes for a deep dive with The Making of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Exploring the evolution of the Black Panther characters, cast and creatives from the franchise unite to speak about the film, the impact on global audiences, and reflect on the tragic death of star Chadwick Boseman. Featuring stars Danai Gurira, Lupita Nyong’o, and Winston Duke, along with writer, director Ryan Coogler, The Making of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is both a beautiful tribute, and a revelation of the cinematic masterpiece. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 49 min | Genre: Sports, Family | Director: Jingyi Shao

Cast: Bloom Li, Ben Wang, Zoe Renee

It was evident from the first trailer that Chang Can Dunk would be charming, and the film not only delivers, but it elevates that charm into a story of inspiration and introspection. Bloom Li (My Dead Ex) leads the charge as Cheng, a high school student in the marching band who wants to be more than just a guy in the background. In an attempt to impress his crush, Cheng bets the top basketball star at the school that he will be able to dunk by homecoming. There’s just one little problem — he doesn’t have the hops, yet. Watching Chang put in the work and struggle day after day to make his dream a reality will have you yelling with joy as the inches between his feet and the ground painstakingly increase. – Tauri Miller

Run Time: 1 hr 34 min | Genre: Horror, Mystery | Director: Josh Boone

Cast: Blu Hunt, Maisie Williams, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Heaton, Alice Braga

The New Mutants, the final entry in FOX’s X-Men film franchise, is a refreshing horror spin on the superhero series that ushered in a new era of comic book films. Trapped in an abandoned research facility, five teenage mutants are forced to use their newfound powers to confront their deepest fears. Director Josh Boone (The Fault in Our Stars) knows how to get the best performances out of his young actors and succeeds in making you experience the terror right alongside them with mesmerizingly unsettling visuals. Taking place in a single location, there is a lot of pressure on the cast to keep viewers engaged, and this group of breakout stars, including Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones), Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen’s Gambit), and Charlie Heaton (Stranger Things), step up to the challenge. – Tauri Miller

Run Time: 1 hr 58 min | Genre: Musical Adventure | Director: Adam Shankman

Cast: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, Maya Rudolph

Director and choreographer Adam Shankman reunites Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey, along with James Marsden and Idina Menzel, for Disenchanted, the sequel to Kevin Lima’s 2007 hit Enchanted. Taking place over 10 years after the events of the first film, Disenchanted explores the realities of seeing one’s dreams come true — and what happiness truly looks like. As with the original film, Disenchanted ventures into fairytale tropes, introducing a new villain, played perfectly by the hilarious Maya Rudolph, and a new threat to Giselle’s home of Andalasia. Bursting with catchy musical numbers and breathtakingly exquisite costumes, Disenchanted is a fun family adventure full of magic and love. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 29 min | Genre: Teen Musical Comedy | Director: Sara Sugarman

Cast: Lindsay Lohan, Megan Fox, Adam Garcia, Alison Pill

Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen stars Lindsay Lohan as an ambitious high schooler with big dreams of stardom whose trajectory is put on hold when her family moves from the big city to the suburbs. With a new school and the chance to reinvent herself, she starts going by Lola and crafting an elaborate backstory destined to make her the most popular girl in school. Directed by Sara Sugarman and co-starring Megan Fox as Lola’s nemesis and rival, the amusing Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen delightfully plays with high school movie tropes while, in the same vein as Easy A, modernizes a classic — this time Pygmalion. — Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 2 hrs 3 min | Director: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck

Cast: Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Annette Bening, Jude Law

Brie Larson dazzles in the titular role in Captain Marvel, a fantastic addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which takes place in the 1990s. Co-directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, Captain Marvel introduces the character with a cleverly nonlinear story, revealing her origins through heartfelt moments and cool action sequences. Supported by a de-aged Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Captain Marvel subverts expectations – especially by craftily altering the canon. Although the merits of Captain Marvel are debated online by fans and critics, the action comedy is an excellent film that introduces a slew of important concepts and characters to the MCU. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 2 hrs 41 min | Genre: Superhero | Director: Ryan Coogler

Cast: Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Angela Bassett, Winston Duke

Serving as the second installment in the Black Panther journey, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever follows the devastating loss of actor Chadwick Boseman, played out canonically for the people of Wakanda to mourn their King T’Challa. In Wakanda Forever, the remaining royal family, Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) and Shuri (Letitia Wright), find their country in danger from an unrelenting force led by a formidable opponent, Namor (Tenoch Huerta). Uniting with their allies M’Baku (Winston Duke) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman), the Wakandan people are tested, both in strength and resilience, through this heartfelt love letter of a film, wrapped carefully in action, rich character development, and many tender moment. . – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 42 min | Genre: Animated Adventure Family Comedy | Director: Don Hall, Qui Nguyen

Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jaboukie Young-White, Gabrielle Union, Dennis Quaid

Diving into universal themes of family dynamics, Strange World delicately layers gorgeous visuals and elaborate science-fiction with heartfelt messages about finding one’s place, being yourself, and accepting differing viewpoints. With Jake Gyllenhaal (Spider-man: Far From Home), Jaboukie Young-White (Only Murders in the Building), Gabrielle Union, and Dennis Quaid providing voices in the beautifully animated film from directors Don Hall and Qui Nguyen, Strange World is about the fearless Clade family, explorers who eagerly find themselves in dangerous, uncharted places. Highlighted by action and adventure, as well as stunning, vivid animation, Strange World is a gentle reminder to cherish this world and the people in it. – Yael Tygiel

Run Time: 1 hr 45 min | Genre: Sci-Fi Adventure | Director: Angus MacLane

Cast: Chris Evans, Keke Palmer, Peter Sohn, Taika Waititi, Dale Soules, James Brolin, and Uzo Aduba

To be honest, the world didn’t need the origin story of what inspired Andy’s favorite new toy, Buzz Lightyear, in the Toy Story franchise, and yet once again, Pixar proves that even a questionable concept can turn into magic. Buzz (voiced by Chris Evans) is a cocky space ranger, trying to find his way back home after being stuck on a strange planet. Lightyear has fun with an abundance of references to the Toy Story franchise, and watching Pixar tell a sci-fi story in this way does have its charms. But Lightyear‘s strength is in the journey of Buzz learning that he doesn’t always have to be the hero, and that he shouldn’t let his life pass him by. Lightyear might be an unnecessarily convoluted idea, but there’s plenty of Pixar magic that makes Lightyear worthwhile to infinity and beyond. — Ross Bonaime

Run Time: 2 hr 17 min | Genre: Action Sci-Fi | Director: James Mangold

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Dafne Keen, Richard E. Grant, Boyd Holbrook, and Stephen Merchant

There’s a case to be made that Logan is the best X-Men movie. While its hard-R rating allows it to get more violent than other films in the franchise, that’s not why it’s good. It’s good because it’s basically a neo-Western where Logan has to see if his life is more than the violence he’s doled out and if he’s able to be a caretaker and protector rather than an enforcer as he, a sundowning Professor X (Patrick Stewart), and a young girl (Dafne Keen) go on the run from nefarious forces. Hugh Jackman is able to send the character out a high note and James Mangold‘s soulful direction gives the movie a heft that belies its comic book origins. Logan is a somber affair, but all the stronger for it. – Matt Goldberg

Run Time: 1 hr 55 min | Genre: Action Sci-Fi | Director: Shawn Levy

Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Joe Keery, Lil Rel Howery, Utkarsh Ambudkar, and Taika Waititi

As years of attempts have shown, it’s hard to make a video game movie that works. But Free Guy might be one of the few successful video game films simply because Shawn Levy‘s film is creating its own world, full of references and homages to games we know, while also telling an effective story about the non-player character Guy (Ryan Reynolds) realizing he’s part of a video game. While Free Guy nails the logic and physics of this type of game, the film is equally effective at showing the real world, as arguably the best relationship in the film takes place between two programmers (Jodie Comer and Joe Keery), who have given up their video game creation to a much larger company, run by Taika Waititi‘s Antwan. As always, Reynolds is charming, while Comer and Keery shine in this action film with heart. Free Guy‘s blend of video game craziness and real-world relationships certainly makes it one of the best video game movies so far. — Ross Bonaime

Run Time: 1 hr 15 min | Genre: Fantasy Musical | Directors: Clyde Geronimi, Eric Larson, Wolfgang Reitherman, and Les Clark

Cast: Mary Costa, Eleanor Audley, Verna Felton, Barbara Luddy

Sleeping Beauty easily remains one of the best animated movies Disney has ever made. Yes, there are films more important to Disney’s history like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Dumbo and there are films that revitalized Disney like Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King. But arguably the greatest animated film Walt Disney ever produced was his 1959 fairy tale about Princess Aurora, who was cursed to sleep by the wicked Maleficent and rescued by Prince Phillip. The animation on display is absolutely stunning with Disney taking full advantage of the Super Technirama 70 widescreen process. When you consider that Disney didn’t have the advantage of computers like they would in the 90s, the 2D animation here is even more impressive and helps to sell the romanticism of the story. This would also be the last gasp of this kind of animation as Disney moved into xerography with its features across the 60s and 70s. – Matt Goldberg

Run Time: 1 hr 18 min | Genre: Animated Musical Comedy Adventure | Director: Kevin Lima

Cast: Bill Farmer, Jason Marsden, Jim Cummings, Kellie Martin, Rob Paulsen, Wallace Shawn, and Pauly Shore

When A Goofy Movie was released in 1995, the film received a lukewarm response from audiences and critics. Jump forward a few decades and A Goofy Movie has earned a cult following greater than most Disney animated movies. Following Goofy and his son Max on a road trip across the country, A Goofy Movie is full of charm, heart, self-aware references, and arguably one of the Disney’s best soundtracks. It took quite some time for A Goofy Movie to get the attention it deserves, but at this point, A Goofy Movie stands out above the crowd. — Ross Bonaime

Run Time: 1 hr 36 min | Genre: Animated Adventure Family | Director: Pete Docter

Cast: Ed Asner, Jordan Nagai, and Christopher Plummer

Look past the first ten minutes. While the first ten minutes get all the attention of Pixar’s 2009 film Up, look past that rollercoaster of a prologue and look at the film as a whole and you’ll see one of the best adventure movies of the 21st century. The story of a curmudgeonly old man who decides to fly his house to South America using balloons only to get a young “wilderness explorer” along for the trip is a terrific yarn about finding new adventures and learning to let go of the past to find new relationships. It’s a beautiful story from start to finish packed with thrilling action, terrific humor, and lovely visuals. The first ten minutes are the best and worst thing that ever happened to Up, but look at the whole film and you’ll see why it’s among Pixar’s best. – Matt Goldberg

Run Time: 1 hr 31 min | Genre: Musical Family | Directors: Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise

Cast: Tom Hulce, Demi Moore, Tony Jay, Kevin Kline, Paul Kandel, Jason Alexander

It’s not the best film of the Disney Renaissance, but it’s arguably the most interesting of the bunch. The film adapts the incredibly dark source material of the same name, but then tries to make Quasimoto beautiful on the inside as opposed to a monster whose ugliness is a reflection of his character. But that simple message of “You’re beautiful on the inside,” is wrapped in a film that’s not only visually sumptuous, but also has one of the most memorable Disney villains in Frollo, a character who’s wrestling with his lust for the female lead, Esmerelda. The film doesn’t entirely come together as it tries to blend more mature elements like this with kiddie jokes provided by characters like the talking gargoyles, but it still makes for a fascinating watch, and a necessary one for anyone interested in this period of Disney Animation’s history. — Matt Goldberg

Run Time: 2 hr 4 min | Genre: Action Adventure | Directors: Joe Johnston

Cast: Chris Evans, Tommy Lee Jones, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan

While many Marvel fans will swear by Captain America: The Winter Soldier, I’d counter that The First Avenger is not only the superior Captain America movie, but also the best Marvel movie. If you’re looking to make a movie about superheroes, then maybe it’s a good idea to understand heroism and in no Marvel movie is that better encapsulated than The First Avenger. While other Marvel movies have heroes who learn to be better people, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) leads by example, and the film makes a meal not of his action scenes, but of his smaller, more human moments like diving on what he thinks is an active grenade or his inability to talk to women. Anyone who says a good-hearted character can’t be interesting has never given this film a fair shake, and see why the MCU has never done heroism better than this movie. — Matt Goldberg

Run Time: 1 hr 28 min | Genre: Animated Adventure Musical | Directors: Kevin Lima and Chris Buck

Cast: Tony Goldwyn, Minnie Driver, Glenn Close, Rosie O’Donnell, Brian Blessed

If you haven’t seen what largely qualifies the end of Disney’s second Golden Age, the film is absolutely worth a re-watch. The film follows the traditional story of Tarzan (Tony Goldwyn)–a man raised by apes who is then torn when the chance to rejoin humanity presents itself in the person of the charming Jane (Minnie Driver). The stakes still feel worthwhile–which family will Tarzan go with–while also using some of the most stunning animation of the era. The Phil Collins songs, which are used non-diegetically as opposed to musical tunes of previous 90s Disney movies, are also bops and give Tarzan a unique personality that makes it stand out among its peers. — Matt Goldberg