Best Movies on Disney Plus (Beyond the Obvious)

Amanda Banta said:  The Sanderson sisters return to life three centuries after being hanged as witches, finding that things are much different and Halloween is now a holiday for kids. Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker star in one of the all-time best family movies for Halloween. Enough said.

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Amanda Banta said:  Jack Skellington, leader of Halloween Town, crosses holidays and stumbles into Christmas Town. Parents of young or sensitive kids should be aware that this classic family Halloween movie involves Santa being abducted and has some "bad guy" characters.

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Amanda Banta said:  Action, adventure, pirates, sword-fighting, magic, and, yes, kissing all mash up in the fairy tale-esque story of The Princess Bride. It's inconceivable! The story portrays itself as a romance but has such a silly and fun side that, combined with the aforementioned adventure, will keep the kids enthralled. Parents will appreciate the stellar cast that includes some of today's most talented actors like Robin Wright and Mandy Patinkin.

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Gina Blades said:  Onward was great, and my kids loved it. They learned some valuable lessons about family, diversity, inclusivity, and kindness.

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Kelly R. said:  A girl's struggle to cope with a family move across the country, played out by the emotions within her - Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, Anger. This family movie manages to be totally funny and clever, while also eye-opening about the importance of all of the conflicting emotions our kids experience.

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Kelly R. said:  Sports movies are a great way to help teach kids about the importance of teamwork and perseverance, and this one has John Candy! Loosely based on the story of Jamaica's first Olympic bobsled team, it's a funny, quirky, and positive film that encourages following your dreams.

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Kristy Pepping said:  This Freaky Friday is a remake of the 1976 movie. Basically the storyline is a mother and daughter both think their lives are harder than the other. So they wish to switch bodies and they do. Each realizes the struggles the other person has to endure in day to day life and come to appreciate one another more in the end.

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Alexandra F. said:  Boy, did this movie ever take us by surprise. Made for TV, it is now one of our family's favorite Disney movies ever! The children of all our beloved Disney characters are now in high school, and four “villain kids” get invited to the prep school where the kids of heroes & princes, heroines & princesses attend. Hilarity, and great musical numbers, ensue. This is a trilogy your tweens won’t want to miss (and really, you probably don’t want to miss either).

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Sarah C. said:  The show was released to video in 2020. It is a play that talks about the rise and fall of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton. It focuses on his immigrant roots, his quest to earn status on the battlefield, and later, helping to form the United States government. It's told from the perspective of Hamilton's lifelong rival, Aaron Burr.

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Kelly R. said:  Set in 1970s London, Cruella explores how ambitious and fashionable Estella became notorious villain Cruella de Vil. The adults in our group loved the movie just as much (or maybe more?) than the kids did. The rating seems mostly due to the darkness of the theming and some violence, but overall I found there to be very little objectionable content for older kids.

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Kelly R. said:  We really liked this Disney & Pixar movie about a city where the residents are elements (fire, air, water, land) living together. Not among our all-time favorites from Pixar, but it was good!

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Kelly R. said:  Big Hero 6 is a funny, action-packed super hero story centering around a teenage genius and his diverse group of friends, but it's much more than that. The main character deals with profound loss at the beginning (as is true of so many of the best Disney movies), and the themes of dealing with grief, emotional wellness and forgiveness are really central to the story.

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Kelly R. said:  Jungle Cruise is a wildly good time and filled to the brim with cheesy puns, just like its namesake ride at Disney. We're big fans of the ride and the movie totally did it justice! The rating is mainly for action/violence and some creepy imagery, which was ok for my 8 and 11 year olds.

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Amy S. said:  An inspiring movie about an amazing animal! Togo tells the true story of a champion dogsled trainer and his lead sled dog, Togo. Together, they lead a team of sled dogs across Alaska to deliver medicine to a small town that is suffering from a diphtheria outbreak. Compelling story, stunning visuals, and a dog who will win your heart—just be ready for a few tears!

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Kristy Pepping said:  This Parent Trap starring Lindsay Lohan is a remake of the 1961 classic. She plays twins in the movie that meet at summer camp. They were separated at birth, both going to live with one of the divorced parents. The kids decide to switch places once their parents pick them up from camp to experience what life is like with the opposite parent.

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Kelly R. said:  The inspiring true story of how three brilliant black women played pivotal roles at NASA during the Space Race, while enduring racial and gender prejudice. The depiction of institutionalized segregation and discrimination provides a good opportunity for kids to learn about black history and race relations in the US.

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Kelly R. said:  An inspiring true story about a ragtag US hockey team facing the unstoppable Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics with the whole world watching. You don't have to love hockey to get swept up in the suspense and excitement of this amazing underdog story.

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Kelly R. said:  A wonderful modern Muppet story that will delight today's kids and the parents who grew up loving the original family movies with Kermit and the gang. The Muppets work together with human help to try to save their theater from a businessman who wants to tear it down.

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Kelly R. said:  Curious to see the backstory movie that started Andy's obsession with Buzz Lightyear? We were pleasantly surprised by this one considering the mixed reviews, though it of course doesn't hold a candle to the original Toy Story series.

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Kelly R. said:  I took a group of tweens & teens to see this, and everyone enjoyed it. A fun update on the classic, but we were all disappointed that there was no "Les Poissons!"

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Kelly R. said:  We've watched this movie twice already, once for a tween boy sleepover, so I'd say it's a hit with all ages! A middle school boy finally has a robot "best friend" just like all the other kids, but his came with a few quirks...

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Kelly R. said:  My 12-year-old loved this one about a bank teller who figures out he's a secondary character in a video game. I'd recommend it for older tweens, because there is quite a bit of language.

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Alexandra F. said:  This little known Disney movie is a hidden gem! Fearing that his teenage son may be heading down a bad path, Goofy takes him on a father-son road trip for a little bonding time. Their adventures on the road are (of course) goofy and hilarious, and the music - inspired by the sounds of pop giants Michael Jackson and Prince - is phenomenal. One of my all-time favorites, and my kids agree!

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Kelly R. said:  The newest Avatar movie is totally worth watching on Disney Plus if you have older kids who can handle the violence and language (though I found the language was a bit toned down from the first one, despite a couple zingers).

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Kelly R. said:  My family loved this movie, which is based on the true story of a disgraced football coach who starts a high school cross country team at the only place that will take him, a mainly Latino school in California's Central Valley. This one flew under the radar for us, and we highly recommend you check it out if you haven't seen it yet! It's one of the best family sports movies we've seen in a while.

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Kelly R. said:  We were all pleasantly surprised by the Rescue Rangers reboot, which feels like a more kid-appropriate version of Roger Rabbit with a mix of live action and animation. It's jam packed with cameos and nostalgia that make it fun for parents, so make sure to watch this one together.

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Kelly R. said:  We skipped this one in the theaters but really enjoyed it for family movie night on Disney Plus. Some of the visuals are very cool, and it's definitely worth at least one watch. It's about a family of explorers who go on an adventure together.

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