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The upcoming arrival of the long-awaited Hocus Pocus 2 on September 30th will add another entry to the surprisingly long list of original films to hit Disney+. The streaming service is just a few years old, yet it has already been home to new releases from the MCU, Pixar, and more.
Thanks to how many subscribers Disney+ has, these are among the most popular movies anywhere in the world upon release but it goes deeper than that. The majority of them have also been well received by critics and audience members alike, leading to strong ratings from the users on Letterboxd.
10 Black Widow (2021) – 3.22
Fans eagerly anticipated the first feature film centered around Natasha Romanoff, who had been a scene-stealing supporting character in the MCU for over a decade by the time Black Widow arrived. For the most part, it seems like users felt the movie lived up to the hype.
Not only did this work as a strong farewell to Scarlett Johansson’s iconic character but it also introduced Yelena Belova, who quickly became a fan favorite. From exciting espionage action to an emotionally gripping relationship between sisters, Black Widow earned the praise that it received from Letterboxd users.
9 Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022) – 3.36
On paper, Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers feels like it had no business being nearly as good as it was. Mixing different animation styles with live-action, featuring characters from decades past, and heavily boasting cameos from other properties hasn’t worked for a lot of films in the past.
Thankfully, Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers worked so well because it never took itself seriously and was ridiculously charming. The voice acting was also a highlight, topped only by the film’s successful and often hilarious meta commentary. It even managed to take home the Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie.
8 Raya And The Last Dragon (2021) – 3.46
There’s no doubt that Walt Disney Animation Studios has put out some of the most acclaimed films in history. While Raya and the Last Dragon might not rank near the top for the studio, it is a fantastic adventure tale with great characters and stunning visuals.
The film kind of flew under the radar upon its arrival and was simultaneously released on Disney+ and in theaters. However, those who gave it a chance discovered that the story of a warrior princess and a dragon on their quest to save everyone they love was both heart-pounding and touching.
7 Cruella (2021) – 3.55
The history of Disney’s attempts at live-action remakes of animated pictures has been something of a mixed bag so far. They ultimately end up being box office successes for the most part but critics and fans are less pleased given how they rarely live up to the original.
That’s what made Cruella so intriguing as instead of simply retelling 101 Dalmatians, this was an origin story for the iconic Cruella de Vil. This take was a hit with most viewers, with the majority of the praise going toward the performance of Emma Stone and the impressive costume design.
6 Clouds (2020) – 3.60
It might come as a surprise to see Clouds listed among Disney+’s highest rated films on Letterboxd. It’s not nearly as well-known or memorable as things from bigger franchises and its arrival on the streaming platform wasn’t even met with big fanfare.
That being said, Clouds managed to still receive praise from those who watched it. Based on the memoir Fly a Little Higher: How God Answered a Mom’s Small Prayer in a Big Way, this emotional plot follows a teen who tries to become a music star after learning that he’s dying. A lot of the positive reviews mentioned how well the film was directed.
5 Togo (2019) – 3.66
Along the same lines as Clouds, this is a movie that not a ton of people even seemed to know was available. Togo dropped on Disney+ right around the time the streaming service launched, yet was overshadowed by Lady and the Tramp, Noelle, and TV shows like The Mandalorian.
Taking place in 1925 and based on a true story, Togo centers on the titular sled dog who traveled across treacherous terrain to deliver diphtheria medicine during the middle of an epidemic. It is the kind of underdog story that has been a lot throughout history but this one worked due to the subject matter and performance from Willem Dafoe.
4 Turning Red (2022) – 3.77
Soon after Disney+ made its debut, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and a lot of projects were delayed. However, Pixar saw several of its films actually move straight to Disney+ at no additional charge, which made them easily accessible for anyone who had a subscription.
The most recent Pixar film to make that move was Turning Red, which tells the story of a young girl who must contend with a power that turns her into a giant panda whenever she gets too excited or angry. As usual for the studio, it was lauded for the animation style, heartwarming storyline, and for being culturally expansive.
3 Luca (2021) – 3.89
Another Pixar original feature film to arrive on Disney+ was Luca, which put the focal point of the story on friendship. In the movie, a young sea creature who can turn human on land explores a small town in Italy with the two kids he befriends.
Luca joined a long list of Pixar releases to land a Best Animated Feature Academy Award nomination and get commended for its visuals, touching storyline, and voice acting. It was quickly a hit for Disney+ both critically and in terms of viewership.
2 Soul (2020) – 4.02
The first Pixar film to come straight to Disney+ proved to be the perfect holiday gift for fans of the studio. Soul arrived on December 25th, 2020, and families everywhere gathered around to take in one of the most poignant and deep Pixar movies ever made, which is saying something.
Soul follows a jazz pianist who, after an accident ahead of his big break, hopes to reunite his body with his separated soul who is in the “Great Beyond.” Thanks to that heavy premise and the voice talents of Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey, Soul proved to be a big hit that went on to claim two Oscars.
1 Hamilton (2020) – 4.16
The hottest ticket on Broadway during the 2010s was Hamilton and that made it a huge hit on Disney+ as well. The movie version is simply a live recording (using impressive camerawork) of the stage show and that’s what made it such a success.
People who couldn’t get a ticket to see the incredible show in person got to experience it in 4K beauty on Disney+. The aspects that worked on Broadway like the performances, music, and more were obviously all still beloved but the way this seamlessly transitioned to home theaters was perfect.
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