Essential Disney+ Viewing Guide: Must-Watch Children’s Films Available This July

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The number of Disney+ movies for kids available to watch on the popular streaming service seems to grow daily, with new animated and live-action features added regularly. Because of this ever-growing library, deciding what Disney kids movies to watch can be time-consuming.

It doesn’t have to be, though. Here are some of the best kids movies on Disney+ that we’ve parent-approved to be super entertaining and family-friendly.

For a shorter watch, try our list of the Best Disney+ Shows Right Now

01

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The Little Mermaid (2023): Best Adventure of Self-Discovery

IMDB Rating : 7.2/10

Genre : Adventure, Family, Fantasy

Starring : Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, Melissa McCarthy

Director : Rob Marshall

Rating : PG

Runtime : 2 hours, 15 minutes

The age-old story of Ariel is remade for the 2020s with the same themes of following your heart . . . and the repercussions that can have. Even in this retelling, the story is heartwarming and attempts to portray today’s social realities with a Black mermaid tackling the world above the sea.

Some of the scenes are a bit rough for very young children but no more so than previous iterations of the movie. Halle Bailey does a good job playing the curious and headstrong young mermaid; the movie is still a fun romp for anyone who loves talking animals, smart young women, and timeless tales.

Watch ‘The Little Mermaid (2023)’ Now

02

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Rio 2 (2014): A Sequel For the Birds

Disney Plus

IMDB Rating : 6.3/10

Genre : Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Starring : Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, Jemaine Clement

Director : Carlos Saldanha

Rating : G

Runtime : 1 hour, 41 minutes

When Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) and Jewel (Anne Hathaway) learn that there may be more blue macaws left in the wild, they pluck their three kids from the safety of the city and all take a plunge into the unknown Amazon. They quickly learn that they are not alone, and the rainforest can be a lot rougher than the streets of Rio de Janeiro.

Watch ‘Rio 2’

03

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Frozen (2013): Most Empowering Kids Movie

Disney

IMDB Rating : 7.4/10

Genre : Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Starring : Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad

Directors : Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee

Rating: PG

Runtime : 1 hour, 42 minutes

Frozen was a mega-hit for Disney due to its ground-breaking digital animation, chart-topping songs, and strong messaging. Adult viewers may laugh at some noticeable plot holes and corny character moments. However, the powerful theme of sisterly love and wintery visuals will keep everyone entertained.

If you’ve already seen the original,Frozen 2 is also available on Disney+. The sequel successfully adds depth to the original characters while achieving phenomenal world-building in the process. What sets it apart are its scenes that show how to navigate stressful, even traumatic, situations even when all hope is lost. This movie is a sequel that easily surpasses its predecessor and boasts a maturity that’s equally surprising and welcome.

Watch ‘Frozen’

04

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Elemental

Disney Plus

IMDB Rating : 7.0/10

Genre : Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Starring : Leah Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, Ronnie del Carmen, Shila Ommi

Director : Peter Sohn

Rating : PG

Runtime : 1 hour, 46 minutes

Set in Element City, we meet Ember (a fire element) and Wade (a water element) and watch as their relationship sparks and fizzles.

This is a pretty standard Pixar movie, and while some may ho-hum it, kids will love the colors and the ways the elements look, move about, and interact. There are a few tense moments, but no kids should be too frightened. This is a love story; even some jaded parents might see how opposites can be a perfect fit.

Watch ‘Elemental’

05

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

Disney Plus

IMDB Rating : 5.9/10

Genre : Musical, Family

Starring : Holden Hagelberger, Aryan Simhadri, Ava Briglia

Director : Robin Abrams, Marc Bruni

Rating : PG

Runtime : 1 hour, 53 minutes

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.

Watch ‘Trevor: The Musical’

06

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Strange World (2022): Best LGBTQ+ Representation in a Disney Movie

Disney

IMDB Rating : 5.7/10

Genre : Animation, Action, Adventure

Starring : Jake Gyllenhaal, Jaboukie Young-White, Gabrielle Union

Directors : Don Hall, Qui Nguyen

Rating : PG

Runtime : 1 hour, 42 minutes

Jaeger Clade (Dennis Quaid) comes from a long line of explorers, so he’s disappointed when his son Searcher (Jake Gyllenhaal) decides to settle down. Years later, the father and son duo unwittingly reunite, and grandson Ethan (Jaboukie Young-White) decides to follow in his grandad’s footsteps.

Notable for being the first Disney animated film with a gay main character,Strange World has a positive message about being yourself and the importance of family.

Watch ‘Strange World’

07

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

Disney Plus

IMDB Rating : 5.6/10

Genre : Animation, Action, Short

Starring : Yvette Nicole Brown, Anthony Daniels, Jake Green

Directors : Ken Cunningham

Rating : G

Runtime : 45 minutes

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 time before she has to break out her lightsaber again.

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

Watch ‘Lego Star Wars Summer Vacation’

08

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

Disney

IMDB Rating : 7.3/10

Genre : Comedy, Crime

Starring : Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Mark Strong

Director : Craig Gillespie

Rating : PG-13

Runtime : 2 hours, 14 minutes

Disney successfully crafted an origin story for its evil fairy Maleficent. 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 as a London orphan on the streets.

One day, she’s given a 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?

Watch ‘Cruella’

09

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Lightyear (2022): To Infinity and Beyond, Again

Disney Plus

IMDB Rating : 6.1/10

Genre : Animation, Action, Adventure

Starring : Chris Evans, Keke Palmer, Peter Sohn

Director : Angus MacLane

Rating : PG

Running Time : 1 hour, 40 minutes

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.

Watch ‘Lightyear’

10

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The Slumber Party (2023): A Kid-Friendly Movie About Partying the Night Away

Disney

IMDB Rating : 5.5/10

Genre : Comedy, Family

Starring : Darby Camp, Tituss Burgess, Paula Pell

Director : Veronica Rodriguez

Rating : PG

Runtime : 1 hour, 22 minutes

Ever had so much fun you can’t remember what happened the night before? A birthday sleepover gets out of hand when best friends Megan (Darby Camp) and Paige (Emmy Liu-Wang) encounter a hypnotist who erases fear from their hearts.

Described by critics as a kid-friendly version of_The Hangover_ ,The Slumber Party is also a lot of fun for adults who are nostalgic for early-2000s Disney Channel.

Watch ‘The Slumber Party’

11

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Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) — A Novel Spin on Marvel’s Mascot

Disney.

IMDB Rating : 7.4/10

Genre : Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Starring : Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Robert Downey Jr.

Director : Jon Watts

Rating : PG-13

Runtime : 2 hours, 13 minutes

Peter Parker (Tom Holland) gets entangled in the web of the Avengers when Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) recruits the low-key superhero. After Iron Man decides his protege isn’t ready to hang with the rest of the team, Spider-Man sets out to prove him wrong.

Most of the_Spider-Man_ movies are now on Disney+, and you can also catch more of Tom Holland as Peter Parker in Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War .

Watch ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’

12

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

Disney

IMDB Rating : 7.3/10

Genre : Animation, Adventure

Starring : Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Gemma Chan

Directors : Don Hall, Carlos López Estrada

Rating : PG

Runtime : 1 hour, 54 minutes

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.

Watch ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’

13

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

Disney

IMDB Rating : 5.1/10

Genre : Adventure, Comedy, Drama

Starring : Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Hanks, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth

Director : Robert Zemeckis

Rating : PG

Runtime : 1 hour, 45 minutes

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.

Watch ‘Pinocchio’

14

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

Disney

IMDB Rating : 7.4/10

Genre : Animated, Adventure, Comedy

Starring : Jacob Tremblay, Jack Dylan Grazer, Maya Rudolph

Director : Enrico Casarosa

Rating : PG

Runtime : 1 hour, 41 minutes

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_ , a beautiful movie about finding your purpose in life that’s also worth checking out.

Watch ‘Luca’

15

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

Disney Plus

IMDB Rating : 7.0/10

Genre : Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Starring : Andy Samberg, John Mulaney, KiKi Layne

Directors : Akiva Schaffer

Rating : PG

Runtime : 1 hour, 37 minutes

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.

Watch ‘Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers’

16

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

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Disney

IMDB Rating : 7.0/10

Genre : Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Starring : Rosalie Chiang, Sandra Oh, Ava Morse

Directors : Domee Shi

Rating : PG

Runtime : 1 hour, 40 minutes

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 a family curse haunts her.

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

Watch ‘Turning Red’

17

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Muppets Most Wanted (2014): A European Vacation Gone Wrong

Disney

IMDB Rating : 6.4/10

Genre : Adventure, Comedy, Musical

Starring : Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell, Tina Fey

Director : James Bobin

Rating : PG

Runtime : 1 hour, 47 minutes

When Kermit the Frog is framed for a jewel heist, the Muppets must solve the case and clear his name. Of course, they have to sing a few musical numbers along the way.

Disney+ has most of the other Muppet theatrical films and specials, but this most recent one is a great place to start.

Watch ‘Muppets Most Wanted’

18

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Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong (2023): Learn to Love Learning

Disney Plus

IMDB Rating : 5.0/10

Genre : Musical, Comedy, Family

Starring : Julianne Hough, Kal Penn, Jason Biggs

Directors : R.J. Durell, Nick Florez, Lauren Quinn

Rating : PG

Runtime : 40 minutes

Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong introduces a new generation to childhood hits like “Conjunction Junction” and “I’m Just a Bill.” The special is hosted by Ryan Seacrest and features renditions of classic Schoolhouse Rock songs performed by popular figures like Black Eyed Peas, Raven-Symoné, and The Muppets, as well as cast members from the Broadway versions of_Aladdin_ and_The Lion King_ .

Watch ‘Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong’

19

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

Disney

IMDB Rating : 6.6/10

Genre : Action, Adventure

Starring : Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt

Director : Jaume Collet-Serra

Rating : PG-13

Runtime : 2 hours, 17 minutes

Disney successfully spawned a 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.

Watch ‘Jungle Cruise’

20

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Peter Pan & Wendy (2023): A Reimaging of a Retelling of a Childhood Classic

Amazon Prime Video

IMDB Rating : 4.4/10

Genre : Action, Adventure, Comedy

Starring : Alexander Molony, Ever Anderson, Jude Law

Director : David Lowery

Rating : PG

Runtime : 1 hour, 46 minutes

Young Wendy (Ever Anderson) joins Peter Pan (Alexander Molony) and his fairy friend Tinker Bell (Yara Shahidi) for a journey through Neverland. In this world, kids never grow up and have no worries, save for the ferocious pirate Captain Hook (Jude Law).

Given the insane number of Peter Pan adaptations over the years, it’s unlikely that anyone in your home isn’t familiar with the story, but it’s nice to get a new big-budget retelling of a classic tale. You can also watch the original animated film.

Watch ‘Peter Pan & Wendy’

21

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Zootopia (2016): Best Kids Movie About Prejudice

IMDB Rating : 8.0/10

Genre : Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Starring : Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba

Directors : Byron Howard, Rich Moore, Jared Bush

Rating : PG

Runtime : 1 hour, 48 minutes

Zootopia , named_Zootropolis_ in several regions, is a 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+) 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.

Watch ‘Zootopia’

Our Favorite Family Movies on Amazon Prime Video Right Now (July 2024)

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