Best movies on Disney Plus UK to watch right now

This wickedly funny riff on the work of Agatha Christie unfolds against the backdrop of 1950s London, as The Mousetrap prepares to celebrate its landmark 100th performance. Adrien Brody stars as a big-shot Hollywood director who arrives in town with plans to turn the hit play into a movie, only for a series of murders to spoil those ambitions. Aided by excellent comic direction from This Country’s Tom George (who uses split screen to especially good effect) and a zippy score from Daniel Pemberton, the film affectionately sends up whodunnit tropes while serving as a compelling and riotously entertaining murder mystery in its own right.

The script remains sharp throughout and, crucially, the final reveal will leave audiences very satisfied.

Patrick Cremona

Gabriel Garcia Bernal, Laura Donnelly and a quite magnificently over-the-top Harriet Sansom Harris (she who was once Frasier Crane’s voracious agent) star in a one-off creature feature that falls under the Marvel umbrella but is a much more playful, disposable thing than most of that TV universe’s products. Shot in black and white in homage to the horror pictures of the 1940s and 50s, and with a swooning score by Michael Giacchino, who also directs, its tale of monster hunters gathering in a spooky manor to determine their new leader is witty and knowing.

Jack Seale

Almost three decades after the cult classic premiered, the follow up to Hocus Pocus, Hocus Pocus 2, has finally arrived and is ready to get us into the Halloween spirit. The new film sees three teenage girls (Belissa Escobedo as Izzy, Whitney Peak as Becca, and Lilia Buckingham as Cassie) inadvertently resurrect the three Sanderson sisters into a modern day Salem.

Delivering to exuberant order as the Sanderson sisters, Bette Midler cackles, Sarah Jessica Parker plays the ditz and Kathy Najimy – in a decent running gag – upgrades the vacuum cleaner she used as a broomstick last time around.

Recognising the Sandersons’ importance to the title’s appeal, Jen D’Angelo’s script opens with a 1653-set origins vignette. The young Winifred (Midler), Sarah (Parker) and Mary (Najimy) were just girls who wanted to have fun after all, especially if goats’ blood-flavoured jelly (“Look, it jiggleth!”) was involved, until the pious Reverend Traske (Tony Hale) banished them from Salem.

A gag involving Winifred’s response to a smart home hub is a nice out-of-time touch, before a fond twist frames the film as a love letter to women misbehaving. Midler, Parker and Najimy don’t waste a chance to rise to their comeback occasion. “I bet you’re looking for the stage?” someone asks them. With a conspiratorial twinkle, Midler has the right answer: “Always.”

Disney’s live-action/CGI remake of Pinocchio from director Robert Zemeckis features a star-studded cast featuring Tom Hanks, Luke Evans, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Cynthia Erivo.

The new film is mostly faithful to the classic Disney animation from 1940, telling the tale of a wooden puppet who embarks on a thrilling adventure to become a real boy. Gepetto (Hanks) treats Pinocchio as if he is his real child, while Jiminey Cricket (Gordon-Levitt) serves as his guide and conscience. Erivo is the magical all-singing blue fairy, while Evans stars as the sinister coachman.

There are also a couple of changes – including the addition of four new musical numbers, two of which are performed by Hanks. Who’d want to miss out on that?

Not all of M Night Shyamalan’s films have been greeted with unanimous praise – but one thing that just about everyone can agree on is that his 1999 effort The Sixth Sense is a terrific psychological thriller with one of the most iconic twists of all time.

Starring Bruce Willis in one of his most recognisable roles – and a truly memorable performance from child star Haley Joel Osment – the film tells of a child psychologist who takes on a particularly tricky case shortly after recovering from a violent confrontation with a disturbed ex-patient.

It’s a masterpiece of eerie suspense that eventually leads to that famous twist – which we certainly won’t spoil here.

Though it was largely overlooked by cinema-goers, Lightyear has found a new lease of life since arriving on streaming. This original Pixar film is billed as the in-universe movie that turned Toy Story’s Andy into a Buzz Lightyear super-fan, following the space ranger and his team as they take on the evil villain Zurg.

Marvel star Chris Evans takes over for Tim Allen in the role of Buzz, while the voice cast is jam-packed with more major stars including Keke Palmer (Nope), Taika Waititi (Free Guy) and Uzo Aduba (Orange Is the New Black). However, the fan favourite character has proven to be Buzz’s robotic cat Sox, who provides some of the film’s most memorable comic relief.

Taika Waititi has just got bigger and bigger over the years, with this year’s projects including Thor: Love and Thunder and Our Flag Means Death, as well as having a voice role in Lightyear. This success may have been jumpstarted by Thor: Ragnarok, but 2019’s Jojo Rabbit really brought home for the awards crowd that Waititi meant business.

It stars Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin McKenzie and Scarlett Johansson, with Waititi himself taking on a supporting role, and tells the story of a young boy in Nazi Germany who has been deluded by propaganda and has an imaginary friend version of Hitler in his head. It’s a surprisingly sweet comedy with a heartfelt message, yet still has the strength not to shy away from the horrors of the era. Its quirky style might not be to everyone’s tastes, but if you believe in the idea of laughing in the face of hatred being the best way forward, this should suit you down to the ground.

Fans of the long-running cartoon Bob’s Burgers will know exactly what they’re getting with this film spin-off, which hits all the right notes for those who have been following the Belcher family from the beginning, but also includes plenty for new viewers to grab on to, making them want to go back and revisit all 12 seasons.

The movie follows Bob, Linda, Tina, Gene, and Louise as the family struggle to pay their loan after a sinkhole opens up in front of the restaurant. As always, the tone is heartfelt, the visual gags are numerous and hilarious and the story rips along at a pace. It’s well worth tucking in to.

In the wake of acclaimed sequel Prey, now seems like the perfect time to go back to the one that started it all and see Arnie take on the titular alien in thunderous fashion. Widely considered to be an action and sci-fi classic, the original film remains the peak of the franchise, even after having spawned so many sequels and spin-offs.

The plot is simple – Arnold Schwarzenegger leads an elite paramilitary rescue team to save hostages but encounters an alien which hunts them for sport. However, it’s John McTiernan’s solid direction and the pure nostalgia factor which make it worth revisiting time and again.

The first of three MCU big-screen outings set to release this year, Multiverse of Madness arrived to somewhat conflicted reactions. While some were satisfied with the film’s horror tropes and thrills, others were disappointed by a lack of multiversal exploration and big-name cameos.

Whatever your feeling, the film certainly made some big swings. Director Sam Raimi’s stamp is all over this outing, making it feel unique in the MCU’s canon while it fully embraces its horror inspirations, making for a somewhat gnarly entry.

It stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Benedict Wong and Elizabeth Olsen, who are all on top form, with the latter stealing the show as she fully embraces the darker side of the Scarlet Witch. And when those cheer moments and cameos do come, they still remain a thrill for fans.

Based on a true story, BAFTA-winning comedy drama Pride, from Tolkien’s Stephen Beresford, follows a community of gay activists in the 1980s as they band together to raise money for those affected by the British miners’ strike, forming the Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners campaign.

Starring Joseph Gilgun, Faye Marsay, Dominic West, Andrew Scott, Imelda Staunton, Bill Nighy, Monica Dolan and other big names, Pride is a moving, educational and warm watch, delivering a compassionate look back at a moment of hope in what was a bleak time.

Disney Plus must have Danny Boyle on the brain after it just released his new series Pistol in the UK. Now you can revisit his Oscars crowing glory Slumdog Millionaire, which shot Dev Patel into the stratosphere as a leading actor.

Patel stars as Jamal Malik in what is a loose adaptation of the novel Q&A, about an 18-year-old boy from the Juhu slums of Mumbai who gets accused of cheating after winning 20 million rupees on an Indian-Hindi version of Who Wants to be a Millionairre?.

The film was a huge hit in 2008, and while it has come under some scrutiny since for its depiction of poverty in India, it is at its heart a classic rags to riches story with a charming central performance and a stirring soundtrack.

There’s no feeling quite as powerful as nostalgia – and Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers has that in spades, particularly if you grew up with The Disney Channel in the ’90s.

This Disney Plus original, which is technically a kids’ film but targets the majority of its jokes towards their parents, picks up with the cartoon chipmunks 30 years after they hit it big with their TV show. Now estranged after Dale left Rescue Rangers to star in his own series, Chip is an apathetic insurance salesman while Dale tours the convention circuits – but when their co-star Monterey Jack (Eric Bana) is kidnapped by criminal traffickers, they team up to find him.

With a vocal cast that’s stuffed with stars (Will Arnett, Keegan-Michael Key, Tim Robinson, Seth Rogen, JK Simmons and Kiki Layne) and more cartoon characters than you can shake an animated stick at, Chip ‘n Dale is a gag-packed, self-aware satire akin to Who Killed Roger Rabbit.

Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice has been adapted in so many different ways in the last 200 years, from the classic miniseries with Colin Firth and 2005 film with Succession’s Matthew Macfadyen, to looser takes on the material like 2016’s Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. However, with Pride month still fresh in the memory, there’s no better adaptation to watch right now than Disney Plus/Hulu original Fire Island, which just arrived on the streamer.

Written by and starring comedian Joel Kim Booster, Fire Island follows a group of friends as they embark on their annual trip to the titular gay village for a week of fun. However, when they learn that their house mother Erin (Margaret Cho) is broke and planning on selling the house they vacation in, the group decides to make their last year on the island count.

Features a cast of up-and-comers, from Saturday Night Live’s Bowen Yang to How To Get Away with Murder’s Conrad Ricamora, Fire Island is an entertaining, modern and fresh take on classic material.

This 2019 biopic may sound unappealing to those not interested in racing, but don’t let the premise fool you – this is a fast-paced, gripping and stirring underdog film with wide-ranging appeal. Christian Bale and Matt Damon star as Ken Miles and Carroll Shelby, the team who led a programme to win the 24-hour race at Le Mans for Ford, beating out perennial victors Ferrari.

Directed by James Mangold of Logan fame, who is also set to helm the upcoming fifth Indiana Jones movie, this is old-school filmmaking at its best – a mid-budget biopic that also works as a rollickingly fun popcorn movie. You’ll laugh, you’ll cheer, you’ll cry, and come time for the credits to roll you’ll have an increased interest in and understanding of racing, whether you’re a fan of the sport or not.

After a gap of eight years, legendary director David Cronenberg is returning in 2022 with a new film – and based on the trailer, it looks like Crimes of the Future will be a return to his body horror roots. It’s as good a time as any, then, to revisit one of his best and most well-known works – 1986’s brilliant sci-fi flick The Fly.

A loose remake of the 1958 film of the same name, the film features a career-best performance from Jeff Goldblum as an ambitious scientist whose attempts to create a revolutionary teleportation machine go horribly awry when a pesky fly gets in the way of an experiment – leading to a less than ideal transformation.

Complete with plenty of his trademarks – including no shortage of visceral gore – it is perhaps Cronenberg’s most purely entertaining film, and also includes a wonderful score from his regular collaborator Howard Shore.

After his previous film The Shape of Water won Best Picture at the 2018 Academy Awards, expectations were high for Guillermo Del Toro’s follow-up – a remake of the terrific noir film Nightmare Alley. The result was another scintillating feat of world-building from the Mexcian director, putting a new spin on the text and once again earning a Best Picture nomination.

Bradley Cooper shines in the lead as huckster Stan Carlisle while Cate Blanchett is superb as the femme fatale Lilith Ritter – who proves to be more than a match for Stan’s schemes. Although perhaps a little overlong, the film has a truly wonderful final act which should only further bolster Del Toro’s reputation as one of the most imaginative filmmakers currently working.

Following 2017’s Murder on the Orient Express, Kenneth Branagh returns to once again direct and star in another classic Poirot mystery. The Belgian detective finds himself taking a cruise ride with a murderer, after a passenger on the S.S. Karnak is found dead.

Like with his previous outing as Poirot, the cast of Branagh’s new film is stacked with A-listers, including Gal Gadot, Letitia Wright, both French and Saunders and many more.

This might not be a top tier Christie adaptation but with an intriguing mystery and solid cast, it remains an entertaining trip to take. Plus it’s always fun to see Branagh with that glorious moustache.

This latest film from powerhouse animation studio Pixar does not break its winning streak. Instead, it’s a charming coming of age film from Domee Shi, who previously directed the hugely emotional and personal short film Bao.

Turning Red tells the story of Mei, a 13-year-old Chinese-Canadian girl who, as she starts to go through puberty, turns into a giant red panda every time she gets excited, angry or otherwise emotional.

The film hones in on Mei’s relationship with her protective but overbearing mother played by Sandra Oh, to explore themes of family, friendship and individualism vs community. Amongst all this it never loses Pixar’s trademark sense of humour, which all in all makes for a heartwarming and engaging combination.

The original 1961 West Side Story film, which starred Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, and Rita Moreno was considered a seminal movie musical and explored issues of the time including gang warfare and racial divisions.

Decades later, Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story reimagines the musical drama for modern sensibilities. It also aims to rectify the dubious elements of its predecessor, which includes the stereotypical depiction of Puerto Rican characters, with a diverse cast. Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler star in the lead roles, alongside Ariana DeBose and David Alvarez.

Spielberg’s West Side Story doesn’t quite beat the original, but it’s still a thrilling, wonderfully choreographed spectacle with some interesting departures from the previous version.

This anthology from acclaimed auteur Wes Anderson includes all the director’s distinct trademarks: an outstanding ensemble cast full of regular collaborators, eccentric characters engaging in witty dialogue, and a visual style that combines symmetrical shots with a pastel colour palette.

The film tells three different stories based on reporters at the French outpost of a fictional 1960s magazine, with Bill Murray starring as the long-term editor whose reign is coming to an end. Every viewer will have a different opinion as to the best segment – whether it’s that concerning the incarcerated artist, the student protester, or the revered food critic – but each has its merits and they work brilliantly together.

After several failed attempts, the Predator franchise is finally back on top form with this arresting refresh courtesy of 10 Cloverfield Lane director Dan Trachtenberg. The action shifts back in time to the 1700s, where the iconic Predator is found terrorising an Indigenous community, which provokes the wrath of skilled Comanche warrior Naru.

Prey chronicles the bitter rivalry between Naru and her extraterrestrial nemesis, as they face off in an epic showdown. Amber Midthunder, who fans may recognise from Marvel series Legion, plays the lead role, excelling at both nail-biting action sequences and quieter character moments.

Companion franchise Alien is also on its way to streaming soon, with a new movie planned for Hulu/Disney Plus from director Fede Alvarez (Don’t Breathe). If this offering is anything to go by, we’ll be in for an absolute treat.

One of the biggest blockbuster releases on the platform in February 2022, The King’s Man is a must-watch. The third instalment in the Kingsman film universe, this movie serves as a prequel to Matthew Vaughn’s Kingsman movies – The Secret Service and The Golden Circle – telling the origin story of the intelligence agency with a new cast. The King’s Man boasts some enjoyable action sequences and a stellar performance from Ralph Fiennes in the lead role.