20 Best Movies on Disney Plus
Disney Plus is home to the biggest collection of movies and best tv shows that are entertainment for the entire family. From Marvel to Pixar and more, You are bound to find some of the best movies on Disney Plus for yourself and your little one.
However, to watch Disney Plus in New Zealand, you need to sign up for a VPN service. ExpressVPN guarantees a top-notch performance when it comes to unblocking streaming platforms in New Zealand. So you can sign up for Disney Plus and watch the best movies on Disney Plus for adults and kids without any worries.
We’ve perused through the library and selected the best movies on Disney Plus, from coming-of-age movies to superhero titles. You can watch Disney Plus using its free trial or pay for a Disney Plus subscription.
So, whether you’re looking for a ride into the deep corners of the galaxy or you’re in the mood for a musical, we’ve got something for you.
Best Movies on Disney Plus to watch in 2022
Let’s take a look at the best movies on Disney Plus to watch in 2022.
1. Star Wars – Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Director: Irvin Kershner
Writer: Leigh Brackett, Lawrence Kasdan, George Lucas
Cast: Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher
IMDb Rating: 8.7/10
Watch Star Wars- Empire Strikes Back trailer on YouTube
Star Wars fans rejoice! The film follows Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca and Luke Skywalker as they are under attack from the Imperial forces. Moreover, Darth Vader is determined to turn Luke Skywaler to the dark side while Master Yoda is focused on training him to become a Jedi Knight. You can also watch more Sci-fi movies on Sling TV.
2. Marvel Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Writer: Stan Lee, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
Cast: Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Robert Downey Jr.
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Watch Avengers: Infinity War trailer on YouTube
Avengers: Infinity War is a superhero movie based on the Marvel Comics team of Avengers. It is the 19th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film follows the Guardians of the Galaxy and the Avengers as they try to prevent Thanos’ plan to destroy the universe by collecting six Infinity stones.
3. Titanic (1997)
Director: James Cameron
Writer: James Cameron
Cast: Billy Zane, Kate Winslet, James Cameron
IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
Watch Titanic trailer on YouTube
Titanic is a romantic movie of epic proportions which was produced, directed, co-edited and written by the legendary James Cameroon.
The film is the high-grossing film of all time, up until another James Cameron movie Avatar snatched the title away. The film follows Rose DeWitt Bukater as she tells her tragic tale of love and loss aboard the ‘Titanic’ 84 years later to her granddaughter.
Unknown to her, aboard the ship is a young man named Jack Dawson, and soon they would meet and fall in love on the doomed ship. Also, check out our guide on how to watch DWTS in NZ.
4. The Lion King (1994)
Director: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff
Writer: Jonathan Roberts, Linda Woolverton, Irene Mecchi
Cast: James Earl Jones (voice), Jeremy Irons (voice), Matthew Broderick (voice)
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Watch The Lion King trailer on YouTube
How can we not mention The Lion King on our best movies on the Disney Plus list? The Lion King is an animated musical drama produced by Walt Disney that was released in 1994. The animated story tells the tale of a young lion prince who is thrown outside his pride by his cruel uncle.
The young boy grows up on the outskirts while the cruel uncle takes over his kingdom. Meanwhile, by his side are Timon and Pumba, his two trusted friends.
A chance encounter with a baboon shaman reveals the truth about his father’s death, and the prince returns to his kingdom to claim his rightful place on the throne.
You can also check out the best family movies on Disney Plus.
5. Frozen (2013)
Director: Jennifer Lee, Chris Buck
Writer: Chrick Buck, Jennifer Lee, Hans Christian Andersen
Cast: Jonathan Groff (voice), Idina Menzel (voice), Kristen Bell (voice)
IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
Watch Frozen trailer on YouTube
Frozen is based on the story of Queen Elsa when she accidentally curses infinite winter upon her home. Meanwhile, her sister Elsa decides to take matters into her own hands, aided by a reindeer, a snowman, and a man from the mountains called Kristoff.
To find out more movies like this one, check out Kids Movies to watch in 2022
6. Luca (2021)
Director: Enrico Casarosa
Writer: Enrico Casarosa, Jesse Andrews, Simon Stephenson
Cast: Jack Dylan Grazer (voice), Jacob Tremblay (voice), Emma Berman (voice)
IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
To include some best movies on Disney Plus for kids, next up we have Luca. Luca is the tale of a young boy forging an unforgettable bond with a sea creature disguised as a human and hidden from the prying eyes of adults.
7. Logan (2017)
Director: James Mangold
Writer: James Mangold, Michael Green, Scott Frank
Cast: Dafne Keen, Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Watch Logan trailer on YouTube
Logan is set in the year 2029 when the mutant population is close to non-existing. Now old and weary, Logan spends his time quietly, trying to lay low as much as possible. However, his quaint abode is disturbed when a young mutant reaches out to him, asking for help. If you are a fan of sci-fi movies, then you will love to stream Dune in New Zealand.
8. Coco (2017)
Director: Adrian Molina, Lee Unkrich
Writer: Jason Katz, Matthew Aldrich, Lee Unkrich
Cast: Benjamin Bratt (voice), Gael Garcia Bernal (voice), Anthony Gonzalez (voice)
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Coco is about an aspiring young boy who finally confronts his family’s strange ban on music. Miguel dreams of becoming a successful musician, much like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz.
The young lad finds himself in the Land of the Dead unexpectedly. Now that he’s here, he decides to unravel his family’s ancestry.
9. Raya And The Last Dragon (2021)
Director: Carlos Lopez Estrada, Paul Briggs, Don Hall
Writer: Adele Lim, Paul Briggs, Qui Nguyen
Cast: Gemma Chan (voice), Awkwafina (voice), Kelly Marie Tran (voice)
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Watch Raya and The Last Dragon trailer on YouTube
Raya and the Last Dragon is set in a new world; Earth inhabited by an ancient civilisation, where dragons and humans live side by side. 500 years earlier, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity from Druun, who were sinister monsters. Raya, a warrior, dreams of the day he will find the last known dragon in order to save mankind again as the monsters return to ravage the earth. Also, watch Dancing with the Stars Season 31 on Disney+.
10. Wall-E (2008)
Director: Andrew Stanton
Writer: Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, Jim Reardon
Cast: Jeff Garlin (voice), Ben Burtt(voice), Elissa Knight (voice)
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Watch Wall-E trailer on YouTube
It is one of the all-time best movies on Disney Plus. Wall-E is set in the distant future, where the earth has been destroyed by humans. A garbage collecting robot is left behind on Earth, along with a single pet cockroach, to clean up the mess.
EVE, a modern robot, is tasked to return to Earth in order to look for any signs of life, particularly any plant form. Wall-E saves the modern robot from a massive dust storm and shows her his prized possession, the single living plant.
11. Up (2009)
Director: Pete Docter, Bob Peterson
Writer: Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy, Pete Docter
Cast: Edward Asner (voice), Jordan Nagai (voice), John Ratzenberger (voice)
IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
Up is the sweet story of Carl Fredricksen, a 64-year-old elderly man who embarks on an exciting journey to South America to see the forbidden Paradise Falls.
However, his mode of transport is unique; he lifts his house with thousands of balloons and inadvertently has a cheeky stowaway in the form of a Boy Scout.
12. Zootopia (2016)
Director: Rich Moore, Jared Bush, Byron Howard
Writer: Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Rich Moore
Cast: Idris Elba (voice), Jason Bateman (voice), Ginnifer Goodwin (voice)
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
Watch Zootopia trailer on YouTube
Zootopia follows anthropomorphic animals as they go about their lives in a city governed by them. An amateur bunny cop, Judy Hopps, becomes the first rabbit to join the police force.
She’s absolutely ecstatic to be a part of the police force, and soon, her enthusiasm lands her first case. However, she has to work with Nick Wilde, a fox who is anything but cooperative.
13. The Greatest Showman (2017)
Director: Michael Gracey
Writer: Bill Condon, Jenny Bicks
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
Watch The Greatest Showman trailer on YouTube
The film follows P.T Barnum as he did a number of odd jobs before finding fame and stardom conducting the Barnum & Bailey circus. The movie features catchy numbers, exotic performances, and spectacular acrobatic acts.
14. Moana (2016)
Director: Don Hall, John Musker, Ron Clements
Writer: John Musker, Ron Clements, Jared Bush
Cast: Rachel House(voice), Dwane Johnson (voice), Auli’i Cravalho (voice)
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Watch Moana trailer on YouTube
Moana is set in ancient Polynesia, where Moana Waialiki is the only daughter to the chief in a family of generational sea navigators.
The young girl sets out on a long, arduous journey to persuade a demigod to restore peace and harmony in her island. The film is based on ancient Polynesian mythology.
15. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
Director: J.J Abrams
Writer: Michael Arndt, J.J Abrams, Lawrence Kasdan
Cast: Oscar Isaac, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Watch Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer on YouTube
Are you a Star Wars fan? Well, if so, you would be delighted to watch Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The film follows Hans Solo (Harrison Ford) thirty years after they defeat the Galactic Empire. Now, he and his young allies have to face the evil Kylo Ren( Adam Driver).
16. Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)
Director: James Gunn
Writer: Nicole Perlmann, James Gunn, Dan Abnett
Cast: Vin Diesel(voice), Bradley Cooper(voice), Chris Pratt
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
Watch Guardians Of The Galaxy trailer on YouTube
Guardians of the Galaxy is about a group of intergalactic miscreants who come together to stop a maniac warrior from destroying the universe. Groot, Rocket Raccoon, Drax The Destroyer and Gamora are a band of misfits but they join forces with Peter Quill in order to help him evade Ronan.
17. Tangled (2010)
Director: Nathan Greno, Byron Howard
Writer: Wilhelm Grimm, Jacob Grimm, Dan Fogelman
Cast: Donna Murphy (voice), Zachary Levi (voice), Mandy Moore(voice)
IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
Watch Tangled trailer on YouTube
Tangled is a well-loved animated movie by Disney. The film follows Rapunzel as she’s locked away in her tower, having spent all her life cut off from the rest of the world.
A chance encounter with a bandit, Flynn Rider, serves as her ticket to freedom as she embarks on a journey towards the floating lights that she sees every birthday from her tower.
18. Hamilton (2020)
Director: Thomas Kail
Writer: Ron Chenow, Lin-Manuel Miranda
Cast: Phillipa Soo, Leslie Odom Jr, Lin-Manuel Miranda
IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
Watch Hamilton trailer on YouTube
Hamilton is based on the true story of one of the founding fathers of America, Alexander Hamilton. He also happens to be the first Secretary of the Treasury. The film is shot at the Richard Rodgers Theater on Broadway and takes viewers on a journey into the glamorous world of Broadway.
19. Die Hard (1988)
Director: John McTiernan
Writer: Jeb Stuart Roderick Thorp, Steven E. de Souza
Cast: Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, Bruce Willis
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Watch Die Hard trailer on YouTube
Die Hard is about the struggle of an NYPD officer as he tries to save his wife and other partygoers at a Christmas party where they’re been held hostage.
German terrorists have taken over the party in the Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles, and it’s a race against time now for John McLane since he has to take matters into his own hands.
20. Inside Out (2015)
Director: Ronnie Del Carmen, Pete Docter
Writer: Pete Docter, Ronnie Del Carmen, Meg LeFauve
Cast: Bill Hader(voice), Lewis Black (voice), Amy Poehler (voice)
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Watch Inside Out trailer on YouTube
The animated movie Inside out is about an 11-year-old girl called Riley, and her five emotions Sadness, Fear, Anger, Joy and Disgust. These five emotions help her navigate a new life in San Francisco, and their main headquarters is located inside the control center in Riley’s mind.
Final Thoughts
Disney+ is a household name when it comes to family entertainment. All you need is the best VPN for Disney Plus, like ExpressVPN.
The platform carries numerous animated movies, Star Wars, and Pixar movies, and you can watch marvel movies in order. The entire catalog and more are available for only $7 per month.
However, if our recommendations were not enough and you want to cancel your Disney Plus subscription, you can switch to any other platform available in NZ.
Let us know in the comments below which of the 20 best movies on Disney Plus will you be watching.