Your ultimate guide to the best Disney+ content available in the UK (2024)

Disney+ is a behemoth of a streaming service. Its collection is so wide-ranging that you need a map and a tour guide to navigate through the best it has to offer.

The Disney+ subscription service kicks off at a low £4.99 per month (with ads). This package will allow two users access to the wide-ranging catalogue, making it easy to get stuck into the hundreds of films, and thousands of TV episodes.

There are more Disney+ originals than you'll know what to do with, from Rivals, Agatha All Along and Iwájú to The Other Black Girl as well as plenty of new shows on the way.

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Alongside the expected Disney classics and MCU favourites, we've slipped a few surprises into this curated list.

Our top-tier list includes offerings from Star and National Geographic. That means tons of drama, loads of comedy and then, for a change of pace, Drugs Inc. if true crime is more your thing.

More on that below – and if you're not feeling too Disney-ed out after that and you fancy owning some of that Disney magic, browse our guide to the very best Disney animated classics on DVD and Blu-ray.

But we digress. This collection of watches really is the best of the best, so let's crack on. And just in case it's what you're looking for, we've also got everything you need to know about how to get Disney+ for free too.

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With hundreds of hours of Marvel Cinematic Universe movies and shows to choose from, selecting your binge-fest for the evening is no easy feat.

Trimming down this section wasn't easy either and, sadly, some cracking shows/movies didn't make our cut. We're talking about the X-Men sagas (Logan *sigh*) and Deadpool, as well as some classic vintage animations.

However, this streamlined list is definitely the way to go.

MCU Phase One, including…

• The Avengers
The formation of Earth's mightiest heroes starts with their quest to stop Loki, the God of Mischief from gaining the unlimited power of the Tesseract.
• Captain America: The First AvengerEverything changes for Steve Rogers, a sickly kid from Brooklyn, when he joins the army during World War II and is transformed into the world's first super-soldier, Captain America.
• Iron ManBillionaire and genius inventor Tony Stark is probably the only person on the Avengers roster who could turn a kidnap situation into an opportunity for innovation. After managing to escape a terrorist group Stark builds a high-tech suit of armour becoming the Iron Man we adore.

MCU Phase Two, including…

• Ant-ManWhen Dr Hank Pym's Pym Particles technology falls into the wrong hands (and by wrong, we mean dastardly Darren Cross' mitts), he recruits the help of master thief Scott Lang to prevent Cross from using it for evil.
• Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Newly out of the ice, Captain Steve Rogers is barely keeping up with the modern world when he discovers his new allies SHIELD have been compromised and a Soviet assassin known as The Winter Soldier is intent on killing him.
• Guardians of the GalaxyPeter Quill, gun-slinging Rocket Raccoon, Drax the Destroyer, Groot and Thanos' adoptive daughter Gamora are forced into an uneasy alliance against the powerful villain Ronan.

MCU Phase Three, including…

• Avengers Infinity saga (Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame)
The Avengers saga comes to a head in this two-part finale which sees the mighty heroes face their most formidable foe yet, Thanos. Not everyone makes it out alive – expect an emotionally climatic end.
• Spider-Man: HomecomingTom Holland takes over the reins as the young hero Peter Parker who is eager to prove himself a worthy Avenger despite his many slip-ups. Can he redeem himself by stopping the vengeful Vulture?
• Black PantherFollowing his father's death, T'Challa's succession as the rightful king of the African nation of Wakanda is threatened by a long-lost relative who has other ideas for how things should be run.

MCU Phase Four, including…

• Black Panther: Wakanda ForeverThe sequel to Black Panther does a fantastic job of paying tribute to the late king of Wakanda, T'Challa, and the actor who played him, Chadwick Boseman. Wakanda is still struggling with the loss of its leader, and a new enemy bubbles up to the surface, threatening the African country. It's time for a new Black Panther to rise, but can it be possible without the heart-shaped herb?
• Thor: Love and Thunder
Thor's retirement comes to a screaming halt when he is forced on a quest to stop Gorr the God Butcher who thirsts for the extinction of all Gods.
• Spider-Man: No Way HomeAfter his secret identity becomes painfully public, Peter enlists the help of Doctor Strange to make the world forget, except things take an even more disastrous turn when the multiverse shatters leaving the world at the mercy of monstrous villains.

MCU Phase Five including…
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3A love letter to Rocket Racoon, Guardians 3 sees the team rally round to defend the universe and protect their friend whose heartbreaking backstory comes to light.
• The MarvelsAn unexpected event interlinks the powers of Monica Rambeau, Captain Marvel (aka Carol Danvers) and her superfan Kamala Khan (aka Ms Marvel). Marvel's take on a supernatural Freaky Friday bonds the women in their mission to defeat the Kree emperor Dar-Benn.

Best MCU TV shows on Disney+

• Agent CarterHave you ever wondered what happened to Peggy Carter after Cap hit the ice? Well, that's where Agent Carter steps in. She went from battlefield baddie to the SSR's administrative lackey – but not for long. Her secret missions for Howard Stark in this spy-fi adventure soon gain her the respect she deserves.

• DaredevilBlind lawyer Matt Murdock delivers justice by day and fights crime by night on the streets of New York City's Hell's Kitchen. His double life as the vigilante Daredevil leads to him uncovering crime lord Wilson Fisk's criminal underworld – but does Daredevil have what it takes to take him down?

• Jessica JonesJessica Jones has to be the most nonchalant, unbothered crime fighter with ironically the biggest heart. The super-powered private investigator unwillingly sets off on a journey to confront her buried trauma when a new case forces her to dig into her past.

• Marvel's Agents of SHIELDRemember when Agent Coulson was stabbed in the heart by Loki's sceptre? Well, he survived. For six charming seasons, the SHIELD-agent-turned-director went on to lead a group of other misfit agents against the everyday and supernatural horrors of the world. There may be some debate over its canon status, but no one can question its quality. Top notch!

•Ms MarvelCreator Bisha K Ali has done something exceptional with this Marvel show. Ms Marvel follows the coming-of-age origin story of Pakistani American newbie superhero Kamala Khan. Her powers may be new to her, but they are rooted in something much older. As ever, danger is lurking. It's a rich, cultural expression of Pakistani heritage that meets cosmic wonder.

• WandaVisionWanda goes from hero to sort-of villain after the death of Vision causes her to unintentionally take the town of Westview hostage in a bizarre sitcom reality. Her chaos magic allows her to re-create a version of Vision so that she can live out the family life they'd always intended. Naturally, this couldn't last. A much darker force is lurking behind the scenes.

• Loki
Tom Hiddleston's God of Mischief may have cheated death – but only just. Now in the clutches of the TVA who mean to 'prune' (erase) him out of existence, Loki's desperate will to survive unearths a much larger operation at hand.

• HawkeyeA very festive showdown. Clint's (Jeremy Renner) wishes for a quiet family Christmas go out of the window when fate aligns him with enthusiastic fan Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld). The two stumble into the crosshairs of Kingpin – and together they must take him down.

• X-Men '97
Disney saw fit to revive this '90s gem, and we are 100 per cent here for it. X-Men '97 follows on from the X-Men: The Animated Series which ran from 1992-1997. Picking up from where the original series ended (with the loss of their leader Professor X), the X-Men must overcome the new challenges and dangerous situations they are thrown into (and if that theme-tune music doesn't give you nostalgic chills, can you even call yourself a millennial?)

If Star Wars is more your speed, buckle up because we're taking you on a ride to a galaxy far, far away through the power of your streaming service.

You'll find the Skywalker Saga and the all-new Disney+ original TV shows in the Star Wars universe – like The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Andor – right here.

Of course, that age-old argument still exists: 'In what order should you watch the Star Wars franchise?' If that's your dilemma, stop right now – we have the answer, thanks to our definitive Star Wars timeline.

However, if you're familiar with all things Star Wars and just need a bit of a refresher on where to direct your attention, then you can't go wrong with this fresh mix of old and new (with a little Simpsons mash-up to keep it interesting).

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• The Mandalorian
Starring The Last of Us' Pedro Pascal as the titular character Mandolorian, this Star Wars show takes place in between the fall of the Empire and the emergence of the First Order. The lone bounty hunter who winds up being the protector for the Force-sensitive child, Grogu, from what remains of the Imperial forces.
• Bad BatchAgents of Shields' Ming-Na Wen steps into the role of Fennec Shand in Bad Batch, the show is set in the early days of the Galactic Empire and follows a squad of clone troopers who have genetic mutations as they resist the Order 66.
• Clone Wars
• The Force Awakens From Its Nap
• Andor
• Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
• Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
• Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
• Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
• Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi

What is Disney without the backbone of its classics? Nothing!

We may have axed Snow White from the top 10 pecking order, and fans won't be flying off to Neverland by a handful of pixie dust with their pal Peter Pan, but it's still a pretty enticing selection.

• Aladdin
When the charming 'Street urchin' Aladdin falls in love with Princess Jasmine he will do anything to win her favour. A task that becomes much easier when he stumbles across a genie offering him three wishes. Those wishes take him on the adventure of a lifetime but he also finds himself in the crosshairs of the evil sorcerer Jafar who will stop at nothing to wed Jasmine in order to usurp her kingdom.
• Beauty and the Beast
• Cinderella
• Dumbo
• The Lion King
• The Little Mermaid
• Mulan
All Mulan has ever wanted is to make her family proud, but an unsuccessful meeting with the town matchmaker puts a gaping hole in that plan. So when her ageing, injured father is drafted into war, Mulan takes his place in a desperate attempt to keep him safe while proving her worth. It quickly becomes clear Mulan doesn't know the first thing about being a man. Good thing she has her dragon Mushu and a lucky cricket to help her charm the squad and ward off a Hun invasion.
• Pinocchio
• The Princess and the Frog
• Sleeping Beauty

Related: Best family movies on Disney+

Naturally, we must make room for the new generation of Disney movies, if only so we can shuck and jive to Encanto's soundtrack. We know you're jonesing for another round of 'We Don't Talk About Bruno', and we don't judge you for that.

• Big Hero 6
• Encanto
If you weren't charmed by the family Madrigal, then it's your name we won't be mentioning. Born ordinary into a family of special, magical people, Mirabel struggles with feelings of inadequacy and sets out to prove her worth by saving the family's magic. This new-age Disney classic comes complete with kickass, earworm-y songs. It's so good, there's even cool merch like the Encanto exclusive 4K Steelbook.
• Strange World
• Brother Bear
• Moana
• Tangled
• Frozen and Frozen 2
• Wreck-It Ralph
• Zootropolis

Pixar has come a long way since it released its first feature film, Toy Story, in 1995. Over two decades and three more talking-toy films later, its collection is heaving with top-quality family content (and a few duds).

We've put together an eclectic mix of fun Pixar movies for the best family-friendly viewing experience.

• Elemental
We challenge you not to find the unlikely romance between fire element Ember and water element Wade utterly endearing.
• Brave
Merida is desperate to carve out a future of her own, one that doesn't marry up with the traditional hopes and dreams of her mother. In her defiance, she seeks out the help of a witch, who grants her a wish that inadvertently dooms her mother by changing her into a bear. The two must find common ground before the change is permanent. It's that perfect blend of touching yet comical.
• Cars
• Inside Out
• Finding Nemo (and sequel Finding Dory)
• Luca • Toy Story collection
• Turning Red• Up
• Coco

Do you remember when Disney got very enthusiastic about reimagining the classics as live-action films? Some were undeniably great (Cinderella, Maleficent), whereas others divided audiences.

Find out which of the classics survived the remake process unscathed to make our top picks right here:

• The Little Mermaid
Halle Bailey stole our hearts just as Ursula (Melissa McCarthy) stole her voice as the plucky, spirited Ariel. It's the same loveable classic complete with familiar songs as well as new hits. So good, some have even been as bold as to call it the best live-action remake.
• Cinderella
• Cruella • Mary Poppins Returns
• The Jungle Book
• The Lion King• Maleficent and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil• Mulan
Mulan sets out to bring honour to her family, but this time without the aid of her talking dragon Mushu and with a whole lot of magic. Liu Yifei does a great job as the fearless young woman striving to be the greatest warrior China has ever seen.

Related: Best Disney+ series

STAR's vast range of film and TV content comes from Disney's creative studios, which include Disney Television Studios, FX, and 20th Century Studios. This means lots of content you wouldn't usually associate with the Disney brand.

Here, you can find oldies like Scrubs and How I Met Your Mother and dependable classics such as The Simpsons and American Dad.

Here's what made our list:

• Vigilante
• Black Twitter: A People's History

How does one explain Black Twitter? Well, a new three-part documentary explores the rise of the influential force that is Black Twitter on politics and culture.• Buffy the Vampire Slayer (and Angel if you want to punish yourself for the sake of consuming the entire Buffy-verse)

• Shōgun When English sailor John Blackthorne ends up shipwrecked in Japan, he finds himself in the middle of an epic battle between two powerful warlords, both fighting for the title of Shōgun: supreme military ruler of all Japan.
• ExtraordinaryImagine a world where everyone gets superpowers at the age of 18. Literally everyone. Well, except one person. No need to imagine. Disney+'s comedy shows you exactly what that fresh hell would be like through the plain, very ordinary Jen.
Her mission now is to uncover some latent power within herself. Good luck, Jen – we'll think of you while we're teleporting home from work.
• Grey's AnatomyFollow Meredith Grey on her hectic, chaotic journey from intern to head of general surgery. The emotional stakes are sky-high in this hospital drama. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll pull an Izzy Stevens weeping on the floor in a prom dress in utter devastation, but then you'll bake, drink and dance it out. Creator Shonda Rhimes puts fans through the wringer, but it's all worth it.
• The Bear
The Bear returns for season three which means more crazy, kitchen madness as the gang digs deep and does whatever it takes to propel their restaurant from a once-simple sandwich shop to the highest level of excellence – all while battling to stay afloat. Simple, right?
• Tengoku Daimakyo
If you want to delve into the anime side of things, Tengoku Daimakyo is the ideal choice. Giving The Last of Us energy, Tengoku Daimakyo sees grotesque monsters lurking amongst the survivors in a decimated Japan. Now it's down to our faithful protagonist Kiruko to the young Maru to a place called Heaven.
• Tiny Beautiful ThingsMarvel's Kathryn Hahn sheds her Agatha Harkness skin and embodies the role of the desperate Clare, whose marriage is steering towards the end, whose relationship with her teenage daughter is frayed and whose career has become stagnant. That is until the universe sees fit to plonk the role of advice columnist in her lap. She may not feel qualified, but what if her chaotic life means she is exactly right for the job?
• English Teacher
Can you really be your true, authentic self at work? Well, English teacher Evan Marquez (Brian Jordan Alvarez) is determined to try. It's dry comedy with witty social commentary as Evan has to navigate school boards, concerned parents and Gen Z.

The National Geographic collection is ideal for those situations where you're looking for a perfect blend of entertainment and education.

The content explores space, the environment, historical events and animals. Jurassic Park star Jeff Goldblum also sneaks his way in to talk all things science and history as he "pulls on the thread of a deceptively familiar topic to unravel a world of astonishing connections and fascinating secrets". Intrigued? You should be – it's among our top watches.

Find out what else has made the grade below:

• A Small Light
A Small Light is the extraordinary story of Miep and Jan Gies – two ordinary people who went to extremely dangerous lengths to help protect vulnerable Jews during the Nazi occupation of World War II, including Anne Frank and their family. A Small Light follows their journey intimately, making their experience as close to relatable as possible. Gangs of London and Peaky Blinders' Joe Cole stars as Jan Gies, with Bel Powley cast as Miep. Liev Schreiber also plays Otto Frank. If you don't cry by the end, you have no heart.

• Africa's Deadliest
• Big Sur Wild California
• Buried Secrets of WWII
• Challenger Disaster Lost Tapes
• Fauci
• Growing up Wild
• Hostile Planet
• Narco Wars

There's not enough room to shout about all the categories Disney+ offers, but that doesn't mean you should miss out on must-watch movies hiding in plain sight.

We've scanned the streaming platform across the board, and here are some key watches you'll want to indulge in.

• Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Sarah Michelle Gellar may have killed it as Sunnydale's badass slayer – but she's not the original chosen one.
• Alien (collection)
• Avatar (Avatar: The Way of Water)
• Joy
• The Client
• Sister Act (1 and 2)
• The Hate You Give
• Starship Troopers
• The Fly
• The Menu

Related: The Bear merchandise – where to buy the 'Original Beef' T-shirt

The latest crop of Disney+ content is pretty intriguing. We Were the Lucky Ones starring Kissing Booth's Joey King has recently landed on the streaming site. Based on a book by Georgia Hunter, King's drama follows Jewish family's journey throughout the Holocaust until they reunite post-war.for an injection of mystery and hilarity. Conspiracy thriller Nemesis is also a new addition that centres around a public prosecutor and a detective tasked with investigating financial crimes and tax evasion in the Netherlands.

However, if you really want to know what's got us glued to the telly box, keep reading:

Agatha All Along

It's The Craft meets Hocus Pocus with a little additional flare thanks to Kathrine Hahn's Agatha and her evil witch vibes. The WandaVision spin off takes place after Wanda's demise in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. Agatha worms her way free of Wanda's binding hex magic, regaining her memories but must now walk the witches road to reclaim her powers. Heartstopper's Joe Locke stars a Teen in this charismatic, dazzling MCU show.

Rivals

David's Tennant's new 80's drama centres on the rivalry between Minister Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) and Television network boss Lord Tony Baddingham (Tennant). Their long-standing feud feels much like it belongs to the world of soaps as it plays out into the world of Baddingham's Corinium TV station.

Grotesquerie

Niecy Nash takes the lead in this horror series which pairs a nun and a detective as they investigate a string of heinous crimes that appear to be personal. However the deeper they dig the two begin to uncover more sinister elements to this case that raise question after question.

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