Best Movies on Disney+ for Every Age

Disney+ houses the Mouse’s entire vault plus Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic. Here’s what’s actually worth watching across every age group.

Streaming availability verified as of December 2024. Titles may have moved since publication.

Animation Masterpieces

Spirited Away (2001)

Miyazaki’s bathhouse odyssey won the Oscar and earned it. Studio Ghibli’s catalog on Disney+ is a treasure.

WALL·E (2008)

Pixar’s greatest achievement barely uses dialogue for forty minutes. The robot romance is pure cinema.

Coco (2017)

Pixar’s Day of the Dead adventure is visually stunning and emotionally devastating. The final scene destroys everyone.

For Older Kids and Adults

The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

The Star Wars saga’s peak. The Vader revelation still works even if you know it coming.

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Spielberg’s adventure template holder. Indiana Jones gets beaten up but keeps moving.

Modern Favorites

• Encanto (2021) - Lin-Manuel’s family gift
• “Turning Red” (2022) - Shi’s coming of age
• “Elemental” (2023) - Pixar’s romance
• “Soul” (2020) - Pixar’s jazz afterlife
• “Luca” (2021) - Pixar’s Italian summer

The Vault Classics

Disney+ has the entire animated catalog. Some highlights:

• “The Lion King” (1994) - Hamlet with lions
• “Beauty and the Beast” (1991) - Broadway before Broadway
• “Aladdin” (1992) - Robin Williams’ genie
• “The Little Mermaid” (1989) - Renaissance start

What to Skip

The live-action remakes are mostly unnecessary. The originals are right there. Skip “Mulan” (2020) and watch the animated version instead.

For more recommendations, browse our full animation collection.