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The best family movies on Disney Plus in 2022
Disney is more or less synonymous with family films at this point, but the company’s streaming service, Disney Plus, does have a pretty wide range of programming. Some titles are much more family-friendly than others. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of the best family movies on Disney Plus.
See also: Everything you can stream on Disney Plus
So, read on for our 25 top picks for you and your kids. And if you don’t already have a Disney Plus subscription, you can sign up by hitting the link below.
The best family movies on Disney Plus
Editor’s note: We’ll keep updating this list as new Disney Plus family movies become available.
The Lion King (1994)
A classic that inspired several sequels, a Broadway musical, and a CGI remake, which is also available on Disney Plus, The Lion King is a powerful, Shakespearian epic about a pride of lions and a son’s struggle to take over as king. And the songs are catchy too.
Encanto (2021)
When the only non-magical member of a prominent family in a small town in Colombia realizes her home is at risk, she has to dig into the family’s history to find a solution. With catchy songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda and a touching message about family, this Oscar-winning film is one of the best family movies on Disney Plus.
Ratatouille (2007)
Remy loves everything about food and cooking, and he dreams of being a great chef. There’s a problem though. Remy’s a rat. Not willing to let that deter him, Remy moves to Paris and teams up with a young man channel his skill and passion through him, becoming a celebrated chef and eventually having to prove himself to the most discerning food critic in Paris.
Turning Red (2022)
A beautiful and touching coming-of-age story, Turning Red is among the best family movies on Disney Plus. A 13-year-girl struggles between family duty and hanging out with her friends in Toronto’s Chinatown. To make things more complicated, she turns into a giant red panda whenever she gets over-excited in this clever metaphor for puberty, teen rebellion, and growing up.
The Rocketeer (1991)
An obvious precursor to Marvel’s Iron Man and Captain America: The First Avenger, The Rocketeer is a swashbuckling delight. The film tells the story of a World War II-era stunt pilot who comes into possession of a jetpack. Soon, Nazis are hot on his trail, hoping to use the jetpack as a weapon, so he has to think fast and become the Rocketeer to defeat them — and get the girl, of course.
Toy Story (1995)
Pixar changed the animation game with the release of its first feature film, Toy Story, in 1995. When no one is looking, a boy’s toys come to life and have a secret existence of their own. But their community finds itself threatened by the arrival of a new toy who vies for the top spot held by Sherriff Woody.
Luca (2021)
A Disney Plus exclusive, Luca was one of the best animated films of 2021 and is one of the best family movies on Disney Plus. A sea monster who dreams of a life on dry land explores a small Italian seaside town with his new best friend, enjoying all the pleasures of human life. This puts him at odds with his family, who believe in keeping the human and sea monster worlds separate.
Finding Nemo (2003)
A Pixar classic, Finding Nemo follows the adventures of Marlin, a clown fish who is overprotective of his son Nemo. One day, Nemo swims too close to the service and is caught and put in a dentist’s fish tank. As Nemo plots his escape, Marlin goes looking for him, meeting friends who try to help along the way.
Sister Act (1992)
Looking for the less obvious best family movies on Disney Plus? Try the WHOOPi Goldberg-starring classic Sister Act. When a lounge singer goes into hiding after witnessing her mobster boyfriend murder someone, she finds herself among a group of nuns at a California convent. There, she challenges traditions and norms and is eventually put in charge of the choir, where she truly shakes things up in this feel good comedy.
Moana (2016)
A teenager who dreams of finding herself on her own terms sets off on a quest to save her people in Hawaii. Along the way, she meets demigod Maui, who helps her battle monsters and become a master way-finder to fulfill the ancient quest of her ancestors and chart a new path for herself. Moana is irresistible and features catchy songs and stunning voice work.
Frozen (2013)
If you’ve been within earshot of a child in the last few years, you’ve probably heard of Frozen. The story of a newly crowned queen and her sister learning to rely on each other and live with her mysterious mastery of ice and snow is one that struck a chord and deserves every bit of praise it’s gotten.
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)
A classic and one of the best family movies on Disney Plus, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids is a madcap sci-fi comedy about an inventor who accidentally shrinks his kids down to a minuscule size and then has to find a way to get them back as they travel across a most treacherous terrain: the family’s suburban lawn.
Stargirl (2020)
From director Julia Heart, Stargirl tells a story of first love in high school. Unassuming teen Leo finds himself drawn to the new girl, a free spirit who makes him reconsider how he sees himself.
The Princess Bride (1987)
About as classic as it gets, The Princess Bride is an epic, absurd fairytale in which two star-crossed lovers must survive countless hardships and trials to be reunited. Endlessly quotable and rewatchable, The Princess Bride has something for everyone.
Onward (2020)
Two elf brothers team up and use magic to try to get one more day with their beloved late father in Onward, among the best family movies on Disney Plus. Of course, nothing quite goes to plan, and soon their mother has to come find her sons and get them out of trouble.
The Muppet Movie (1979)
Kermit the Frog heads off on a road trip to California with big plans to become a movie star. Along the way, he makes some new friends who tag along for the ride. He also gets into some trouble and finds himself pursued by the proprietor of a restaurant specializing in fried frog legs. This was the first feature film starring Jim Henson’s Muppets, and it remains one of the very best.
The Incredibles (2004)
A wonderful play on the superhero genre, Pixar’s The Incredibles imagines a family of super-people who fight for justice — until superheroes are banned and they have to assume secret lives. All of that changes when Mr. Incredible gets in trouble on a secret mission and his family has to suit up once more to save him.
Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)
In the fantasy land of Kumandra, one young woman must save all of humanity from ancient forces by tracking down the last of the dragons who once stood by humanity, long ago, and have been long thought extinct.
The Absent-Minded Professor (1961)
The inspiration for the 1997 Robin Williams film Flubber, The Absent-Minded Professor is a science-fiction film about an eccentric professor who develops a substance that allows him to defy gravity. This may be an older film, but it moves at a quick pace and is sure to entertain contemporary audiences of all ages.
The Little Mermaid (1989)
The Little Mermaid is one of the best family movies on Disney Plus and one of the best Disney movies, full-stop. Revisit the timeless story of Ariel, a mermaid who dreams about living in a world beyond the ocean. She finally gets her chance at walking on land and finding love, but it comes at a great cost.
Coco (2017)
Miguel dreams of being a musician, but his family has a generations-long ban on music. Travelling to the colorful Land of the Dead, he befriends a trickster who helps him uncover his true family history on his quest to make music in this touching family film from Pixar.
The Greatest Showman (2017)
The Greatest Showman is the story of enterprising young man P.T. Barnum, who, in the 1800s, indulged his imagination through showbusiness, creating the Barnum & Bailey circus. This Oscar-winning musical features performances by Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson, and Zendaya.
Home Alone (1990)
A Christmas classic, Home Alone is among the best family movies on Disney Plus. Relive the story of Kevin McCallister, accidentally left at home alone over the holidays while his family’s off on vacation. What starts out as a chance to live large with no parents around soon becomes a slapstick comedy when Kevin has to fight off inept home invaders who have been casing the neighborhood, waiting for families to leave.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe
Some of the Marvel Cinematic Universe films and series can be a little dark, but a lot of them are very kid-friendly and can make for a perfect family movie night. Among them are Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger, The Avengers, Ant-Man, Captain Marvel, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and plenty of others. With just a few exceptions, you’ll find the whole MCU catalog on Disney Plus.
Star Wars
The Star Wars films cover a wide range of themes and styles, but many are great fun for the whole family. Since Disney owns Lucasfilm, you can watch all 11 Star Wars feature films on the service, along with animated titles and series.
Those are just some of our favorite family movies on Disney Plus, but there are plenty more to discover.
What are your favorites?