First 10 Films You Should Watch After Subscribing To Disney+

September 30, 2026 Roger Palmer

After subscribing to Disney+, loading up the app on your device and seeing a wall of rectangles offering a wide selection of shows and movies from the past hundred years, it can be a little overwhelming to decide what to watch first. With hundreds of different movies going back to the 1930s, childhood classics, epic blockbusters, iconic moments and the most recent theatrical releases, picking a movie to watch on Disney+ can be tricky.

So I’ve put together a list of ten movies I think any new Disney+ subscriber should consider adding to their watchlist. Now, no doubt you will have some other movies to suggest, and feel free to do so on social media to me, but I’ve picked out some of the biggest franchises, along with some fantastic original films that can only be seen on Disney+.

Here are my suggestions for films to watch on Disney+ after subscribing:

1) Luca

Kicking things off, I’ve picked the Pixar film, “Luca”. Set in a seaside town on the Italian Riviera, Disney and Pixar’s “Luca” is a coming-of-age story about a young boy experiencing an unforgettable summer. Luca shares these adventures with his friend, Alberto, but all the fun is threatened by a deeply held secret: they are sea monsters from another world below the water’s surface.

The reason I’ve picked this movie is that it’s one of my favourite modern Pixar films, but more importantly, this film was released exclusively on Disney+ during the pandemic, and if you’ve never been a subscriber before, this is one movie you don’t want to miss. Plus, it’s just a lot of fun and very enjoyable.

2) Iron Man

Marvel is one of the core five original pillars of Disney+. This massive expanded universe covering dozens of shows and films is one of the major hubs of the platform, and not including anything from Marvel would be a massive mistake. With over thirty movies and original shows available on the platform, jumping into the Marvel Cinematic Universe is almost a must-do.

So why not start off with the original, the first movie that started it all, “Iron Man”, which tells the story of Tony Stark, a billionaire industrialist and genius inventor, who is kidnapped and forced to build a devastating weapon. Instead, using his intelligence and ingenuity, Tony builds a high-tech suit of armour and escapes captivity. When he uncovers a nefarious plot with global implications, he dons his powerful armour and vows to protect the world as Iron Man.

3) Avatar

20th Century Studios is another massive part of Disney+, and the “Avatar” franchise has brought in over $6 billion at the box office. There is a reason it’s so popular, because it’s that good. With three different movies available to choose on Disney+, as with Marvel and Star Wars, start at the beginning and work your way through.

The film takes viewers to the amazing world of Pandora, where a man embarks on an epic journey of adventure and love, ultimately fighting to save the unique place he has learned to call home. James Cameron delivers an immersive cinematic experience, where revolutionary technology meets engaging characters in a timeless, emotional story.

4) Moana

Animation is another core foundation of the success and popularity of not just Disney+, but of Disney in general. So if I were to pick one animated film from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ history for someone to watch, I personally would go with “Moana”. It has some amazing songs, beautiful animation and a fantastic story. It also blew up on Disney+ and was the most popular film on the platform for years.

The film tells the story of what happened three thousand years ago, the greatest sailors in the world voyaged across the vast Pacific, discovering the many islands of Oceania. But then, for a millennium, their voyages stopped — and no one knows why.

“Moana” is an adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. During her journey, Moana (Auliʻi Cravalho) meets the mighty demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson), who guides her in her quest to become a master wayfinder. Together, they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds. Along the way, Moana fulfils the ancient quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she’s always sought: her own identity.

5) Turning Red

In Disney and Pixar’s ‘Turning Red’ introduces Mei Lee, a confident, dorky 13-year-old torn between staying her mother’s dutiful daughter and the chaos of adolescence. Her protective, if not slightly overbearing mother, Ming, is never far from her daughter—an unfortunate reality for the teenager. And as if changes to her interests, relationships and body weren’t enough, whenever she gets too excited, she suddenly turns into a giant red panda!

Much like with “Luca”, this movie was originally released exclusively on Disney+ during the pandemic, so there’s likely a high possibility that if you’re a brand new subscriber, you might not have seen this film. It’s a lovely tale, and I also think it’s a great way for families to address how girls (and their family members) have to go through changes during puberty, but in a light-hearted way.

6) Star Wars: A New Hope

Much like with Marvel, one of the biggest pillars of Disney+ is the iconic Star Wars franchise. The original series, “The Mandalorian”, is the poster boy for the streaming service and with a dozen films available to stream, if you’re jumping in for the first time or just refreshing your memory, I’d go right back to the start with arguably the greatest of them all.

The film tells the story of what happens nineteen years after the formation of the Empire, Luke is thrust into the struggle of the Rebel Alliance when he meets Obi-Wan Kenobi, who has lived for years in seclusion on the desert planet of Tatooine. Obi-Wan begins Luke’s Jedi training as Luke joins him on a daring mission to rescue the beautiful Rebel leader Princess Leia from the clutches of Darth Vader and the evil Empire.

7) Young Woman And The Sea

This one might be a surprise for many reading this list, since this film is probably very unknown, but because it’s a Disney+ exclusive film, I’d love for more people to discover it and start watching it.

This is the extraordinary true story of Trudy Ederle, the first woman to successfully swim the English Channel. Through the steadfast support of her older sister and supportive trainers, she overcame adversity and the animosity of a patriarchal society to rise through the ranks of the Olympic swimming team and complete the 21-mile trek from France to England.

8) Flamin’ Hot

Much like some of the other more “random” films on this list, “Flamin’ Hot” is another exclusive streaming film that has an enjoyable story, and more people need to see it.

“Flamin’ Hot” is the inspiring story of Richard Montañez, the Frito-Lay janitor who channelled his Mexican American heritage and upbringing to turn the iconic Flamin’ Hot Cheetos into a snack that disrupted the food industry and became a global pop culture phenomenon.

9) Prey

This one is for the adults (and will require a Hulu subscription in the US) and is part of the iconic “Predator” franchise that has spawned multiple films. “Prey” takes the “Predator” story back to basics and is also an exclusive streaming film, so it could have easily been overlooked by new subscribers

Set in the Comanche Nation 300 years ago, this is the story of Naru, a fierce and highly skilled warrior, raised in the shadow of legendary hunters who roam the Great Plains. When danger threatens her camp, she sets out to protect her people. The prey she stalks: a highly evolved alien predator with a technically advanced arsenal.

10) Your Favourite Disney Animated Childhood Movie!

Ok, so this one is a little big of a random/cop out answer. But Disney+ has a huge archive full of Disney classic animated movies from the 1930s, right up to the most recent theatrical releases. So whatever your favourite animated film that you grew up watching, such as “The Lion King”, “The Little Mermaid”, “Peter Pan”, “Cinderella”, or “Lilo & Stitch”, you’ll find it available on Disney+. This streaming service is full of the nostalgic films from your childhood, and it’s one of the strongest selling points about Disney. These characters are what the platform’s origin is all about, and as soon as you sign up or return to Disney+, going back to that iconic film from your childhood is a must. For me, it was hard to pick between “The Jungle Book” and “Robin Hood”, but yours will no doubt be different.