Best Movies on Disney Plus (Beyond the Obvious)

The Sanderson sisters return to life three centuries after being hanged as witches, finding that things are much different and Halloween is now a holiday for kids. Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker star in one of the all-time best family movies for Halloween. Enough said.

Action, adventure, pirates, sword-fighting, magic, and, yes, kissing all mash up in the fairytale-esque story of The Princess Bride. It's inconceivable!

Alexandra F. said:  I'll never forget when I first watched this movie with my then 9- and 11-year-olds, and seeing their faces mirror Fred Savage's exactly as they began to hear the love story unfold - wary and more than a little skeptical. Never fear! Though it is indeed a story about true love, it is also filled with adventure, sword fights, giants and pirates. Oh. And R.O.U.S. (Rodents of Unusual Size). This movie is hilarious - your tweens & teens will love it.

Heartwarming comedy about a father who disguises himself as a nanny to stay close to his children after a divorce. Some adult themes and language make this better suited as a movie for tweens and older.

A girl's struggle to cope with a family move across the country, played out by the emotions within her - Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust, Anger.

Michael Farina said:  This movie is so much fun! I love that the message deals with embracing sadness, especially as it relates to memories that we can't relive.

Loosely based on the story of Jamaica's first Olympic bobsled team, it's a quirky, positive and funny sports movie that encourages following your dreams.

Kelly R said:  Sports movies are a great way to help teach kids about the importance of teamwork and perseverance, and this one has John Candy!

Alexandra F. said:  There is really nothing like watching this show live, but after having seen the musical my teens and I were really happy to be able to watch it over (and over) again whenever the bug would hit us without having to wait for a live performance!

Alexandra F. said:  Boy, did this movie ever take us by surprise. Made for TV, it is now one of our family's favorite Disney movies ever! The children of all our beloved Disney characters are now in high school, and four “villain kids” get invited to the prep school where the kids of heroes & princes, heroines & princesses attend. Hilarity, and great musical numbers, ensue. This is a trilogy your tweens won’t want to miss (and really, you probably don’t want to miss either).

Big Hero 6 is an animated film about a young robotics prodigy who forms a superhero team with his inflatable robot companion, Baymax, to save their city from a villain.

Set in 1970s London, Cruella explores how ambitious and fashionable Estella became notorious villain Cruella de Vil.

Alexandra F. said:  This movie was phenomenal, and surprisingly nuanced for a Disney family movie. I watched it with my teen, and we both loved it, but my six year old kept wandering in and getting hooked, too. Though the story was perhaps more complex and dark than I would normally think my younger kids would enjoy, there wasn’t really anything in it I thought they shouldn’t watch (except the scene with the fire was a little scary). So, while it is especially great for tweens and up, I think it’s an excellent family movie night pick all around!

Both wholesome and hilarious, this is a wonderful modern Muppet story that will delight today's kids and the parents who grew up loving the original family movies with Kermit and the gang. The Muppets work together with human help to try to save their theater from a businessman who wants to tear it down.

Alexandra F. said:  This little known Disney movie is a hidden gem! Fearing that his teenage son may be heading down a bad path, Goofy takes him on a father-son road trip for a little bonding time. Their adventures on the road are (of course) goofy and hilarious, and the music - inspired by the sounds of pop giants Michael Jackson and Prince - is phenomenal. One of my all-time favorites, and my kids agree!

Free Guy tells the story of an NPC in a video game who gains sentience and decides to become the hero. The blend of action, comedy, and video game visuals makes it a favorite among older tweens and teens.

Kelly R said:  My 12-year-old loved this one about a bank teller who figures out he's a secondary character in a video game. I'd recommend it for older tweens, because there is quite a bit of language.

A middle school boy finally has a robot "best friend" just like all the other kids, but his came with a few quirks...

Kelly R said:  My family loved this movie, which is based on the true story of a disgraced football coach who starts a high school cross country team at the only place that will take him, a mainly Latino school in California's Central Valley. This one flew under the radar for us, and we highly recommend you check it out if you haven't seen it yet! It's one of the best family sports movies we've seen in a while.

Gina Blades said:  Onward was great, and my kids loved it. They learned some valuable lessons about family, diversity, inclusivity, and kindness.