Disney+ opened December with a new Marvel original series, and it will also close out the year with a new Star Wars original. And yet the biggest attractions this month are The Beatles and Will Smith in a pair of unforgettable Disney+ exclusive projects. It’s an important moment in the evolution of this streaming service. Marvel, Star Wars, The Muppets, National Geographic, Pixar, and the vast Disney lineup will always be the core reasons to subscribe. But it’s the unique and mold-breaking shows that are going to lead new viewers to Disney+. Current subscribers have one of the best deals in the streaming landscape, so sit back and enjoy the new options. We’ve already got them lined up in our updated list of the best shows on Disney+ right now.
If you want to broaden your search, we also have lists of the best movies on Disney+, as well as the best shows on Netflix, the best shows on Amazon Prime, and the best shows on Hulu.
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Welcome to Earth2021
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Hawkeye2021
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Magic Bake-Off2021
The Beatles: Get Back (2021) new
Welcome to Earth (2021) new
Hawkeye (2021) new
Magic Bake-Off (2021) new
Just Beyond (2021)
Wizards of Waverly Place (2007)
TRON: Uprising (2012)
Gargoyles (1994)
Star Wars: Visions (2021)
Behind the Attraction (2021)
The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers (2021)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)
So Weird (1999)
Diary of a Future President (2020)
Rogue Trip (2020)
Raven's Home (2017)
Marvel's Agent Carter (2015)
The Muppet Show (1976)
Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. (2021)
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021)
The Bad Batch (2021)
Phineas and Ferb (2007)
Darkwing Duck (1991)
Boy Meets World (1993)
WandaVision
This original series is the first project in Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and follows Avengers teammates Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) as they settle into a perfect suburban life together — only to discover that everything is not as it seems. Set after the events of Avengers: Endgame, the nine-episode WandaVision filters the pair’s life together through classic sitcom tropes, and poses plenty of questions about exactly how the duo ended up where they are while giving its stars ample opportunity to explore the funny side of superheroes in suburbia.
Created by: Jac Schaeffer
Cast: Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany
Number of seasons: 1
Spider-Man (1994)
Becoming
LeBron James is behind this documentary series that delves into the backstories of famous entertainers, taking them back to their hometowns and learning about their early lives, what inspired them, their struggles along the way, and how they got their big breaks. Along with the celebrities recalling events in their own words, loved ones are also interviewed to share their perspectives. The first 10 episodes feature a range of celebrity figures, from actor Adam Devine to singer Colby Caillat, dancer Julianne Hough, TV personality Nick Cannon, athlete Rob Gronkowski, and others.
Created by: LeBron James, Maverick Carter
Cast: Various
Number of seasons: 1
What If?
What if Peggy Carter got the super-soldier serum instead of Steve Rogers? What if T’Challa didn’t want to be Black Panther and became Star-Lord instead? What if various other key moments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe happened differently? That’s the premise of Marvel’s animated anthology series What If?, which explores the alternate histories that spin out of small changes in the MCU timeline that end up changing the franchise’s status quo in some big ways. Not only does the series offer some intriguing questions to ponder about the evolution of the MCU, but it also features many of the same actors from live-action Marvel films voicing the animated versions of their characters.
Created by: A.C. Bradley
Cast: Jeffrey Wright, various MCU actors
Number of seasons: 1
Hannah Montana
By day, she’s regular teenager Miley Stewart. By night, she’s international pop star Hannah Montana — and almost nobody knows her secret. Sound like trouble? Oh, it is. Not only did Hannah Montana launch Miley Cyrus’ career (and helped revitalize that of her real-life and on-screen father, Billy Ray Cyrus), but it’s also the highest-rated show in Disney Channel history. If you grew up with Miley, Disney+ gives you the perfect chance to revisit the series: Every episode is available on Disney+ right now.
Created by: Michael Poryes, Rich Correll, Barry O’ Brien
Cast: Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus, Emily Osment
Number of seasons: 4
The Right Stuff
Loosely based on the Tom Wolfe novel of the same name released in 1979, this historical drama takes viewers back in time and into the origins of the creation of the U.S. space program. The Mercury Seven astronauts travel from the Mojave Desert to space as they obsessively compete with one another and become instant celebrities. There are eight parts in the first season, which has been better reviewed by viewers than critics. That said, while some call the series and storylines clichéd, others laud the striking visuals and great acting that make it worth watching.
Created by: Mark Lafferty (based on The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe)
Cast: Patrick J. Adams, Jake McDorman, Colin O’Donoghue
Number of seasons: 1
Earth to Ned
This clever talk show is hosted by Ned, an extraterrestrial being who came to Earth intending to conquer the planet but ended up falling in love with its pop culture and celebrities. The series premiered in September with a 10-episode first season that featured a wide range of guests, from Andy Richter and Community actress Gillian Jacobs to a special Star Wars-themed episode featuring Billy Dee Williams and BB-8. The entertainment of the unscripted interviews in each episode is only matched by The Jim Henson Company’s impressive puppetry that brings Ned and his supporting cast of animatronic characters to life.
Created by: The Jim Henson Company
Cast: Ned, Cornelius
Number of seasons: 2
Kim Possible
Middleton, USA. Happy homes, good schools, plenty of evil. Fortunately, an extraordinary, crime-fighting teen named Kim Possible (Christy Carlson Romano) lives just around the corner. Kim Possible episodes each follow a day in the life of the titular character. A day could be tough because of school or tough because of superhuman battles with the notorious Dr. Drakken. Luckily, Kim’s got best friend Ron (Will Friedle) and bedroom computer genius Wade (Tahj Mowry) to back her up. Together, they are Team Possible. Call her, beep her if you want to reach her. Kim Possible ran from 2002 to 2007 on the Disney Channel, becoming one of the network’s most popular animated series.
Created by: Bob Schooler, Mark McCorkle
Cast: Christy Carlson Romano, Will Friedle, Tahj Mowry
Number of seasons: 4
Monsters at Work
Set after the events of 2001’s Monsters, Inc., this series follows newly graduated Monsters University alumni Tylor Tuskmon (Ben Feldman) as he tries to adapt to the changing world around him. With the city of Monstropolis now fueled by laughter instead of screams, Tylor toils away as a mechanic while dreaming of getting the chance to work with his idols, Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) and James “Sulley” Sullivan (John Goodman). The hit franchise continues in this series, which brings back many of the series’ veteran cast members.
Created by: Bobs Gannaway
Cast: Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Ben Feldman
Number of seasons: 1
The Mysterious Benedict Society (2021)
America’s Funniest Home Videos
Before the internet, silly videos went viral via America’s Funniest Home Videos. After 30 seasons, AFV isn’t quite the appointment viewing it once was, but Disney+ has a massive vault of episodes that will bring you back to a more innocent time, when kids, pets, and adults getting caught on tape in unfortunate situations was something truly special. Just because you can scroll through thousands of viral videos on social media doesn’t mean you’re going to find some of the gems of old-school AFV.
Created by: Vin Di Bona
Cast: Bob Saget, Alfonso Ribeiro, Tom Bergeron
Number of seasons: 30
Loki
Marvel’s Asgardian trickster finally gets his own solo adventure in this Disney+ original series that brings back MCU veteran Tom Hiddleston as the titular god of mischief. After the events of Avengers: Endgame cut Loki loose in the MCU timeline, this series explores what happens when the trickster finds himself forced to work with an interdimensional agency to prevent just the sort of chaos he’s accustomed to creating. Owen Wilson joins Hiddleston in the show’s cast, and new episodes of the series premiere weekly on Disney+.
Created by: Michael Waldron
Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Owen Wilson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw
Number of seasons: 1
Gravity Falls
When Dipper and Mabel Pines decide to spend the summer with their great uncle Stan, a huckster who runs Gravity Falls’ No. 1 tourist trap, the Mystery Shack, they don’t know what they’re in for. Gravity Falls is kind of like a kid-friendly mashup of the X-Files and Twin Peaks. It’s also equal parts thrilling and hilarious, and one of the best cartoons of the past 20 years. You’ll come for Gravity Falls‘ long-running mystery and bizarre creatures, but it’s the delightful characters that’ll keep you around. Gravity Falls is weird, but it sure has a lot of heart.
Created by: Alex Hirsch
Cast: Jason Ritter, Kristen Schaal, Linda Cardellini
Number of seasons: 2
The Proud Family
The Proud Family was groundbreaking TV for the Disney Channel. Disney’s first animated show centered entirely on an African-American family, The Proud Family is a delightful, sometimes zany coming of age show following the precocious Penny as she navigates the early years of adolescence. Balancing family, friends, school, and everything else teens do is always easier said than done but it certainly doesn’t help that Penny’s multi-generational household seems to have a knack for getting into larger-than-life hijinks.
Created by: Bruce W. Smith
Cast: Kyla Pratt, Tommy Davidson, Paula Jai Parker
Number of seasons: 2
The Simpsons
What’s left to say about The Simpsons? Bart, Homer, Marge, Lisa, and Maggie aren’t just cartoon characters. They’re cultural icons, not to mention stars of the longest-running sitcom in American history. Sure, by this point, there are probably more bad Simpsons episodes than good ones, but that doesn’t matter. On Disney+, you can revisit the glory days of seasons 1 through 10 as much as you want. Trust us. Those will never get old.
Created by: Matt Groening
Cast: Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith
Number of seasons: 31
DuckTales (2017)
Prop Culture
Created, executive produced, and hosted by prop collector extraordinaire Dan Lanigan, Prop Culture follows Dan across the globe as he tracks down classic Disney film props. Each episode focuses on one Disney film and features conversations with the cast and crew of each famous flick, along with Disney Archive staff and other surprise guests. Fans of Mary Poppins will be thrilled when the character’s famous carpet bag makes an appearance. Other films of focus include Tron, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, and The Muppet Movie.
Created by: Jason C. Henry, Dan Lanigan
Cast: Dan Lanigan
Number of seasons: 1
Running Wild With Bear Grylls
With Running Wild, popular outdoor survival expert Bear Grylls put a new spin on his reality series by inviting a celebrity (or two) on a new set of adventures in harsh environments around the world. After airing on NBC for its first four seasons, the popular show moved to National Geographic for its fifth and sixth seasons, which featured Grylls teaching Brie Larson, Dave Bautista, Channing Tatum, Danica Patrick, and other celebrities how to survive in various regions. Destinations in the fifth and sixth seasons — which are both available on Disney+ now — included Iceland, Panama, Sierra Nevada, and Moab, Utah, among other breathtaking — but dangerous — locales.
Created by: Delbert Shoopman
Cast: Bear Grylls
Number of seasons: 2
The Mandalorian
The first live-action Star Wars series got off to a surprising start, and things are only going to get wilder as time goes on. In this groundbreaking series from Iron Man director Jon Favreau, Pedro Pascal stars as a bounty hunter who travels through the Star Wars Universe’s seedy underbelly, brushing up against ex-Imperial warlords, former Rebel shock troopers, assassin droids, and all other kinds of ne’er-do-wells — all while protecting an adorable piece of precious cargo. Featuring the talents of Timothy Olyphant, Werner Herzog, Ming-Na Wen, Nick Nolte, Gina Carano, and Giancarlo Esposito — and that’s just in front of the camera — this series is something special.
Created by: Jon Favreau
Cast: Pedro Pascal, Carl Weathers, Gina Carano
Number of seasons: 2
Marvel’s 616
This anthology documentary series explores various topics within and around the Marvel Comics universe, its rich history, and the fans that have made it one of the most popular franchises in the world. While that’s all well and good, the series’ deep dive into Marvel’s legacy is a surprisingly deep, heartfelt journey through some of the brand’s iconic elements, strangest moments, and the ways it is evolving to better represent its diverse fanbase. Gillian Jacobs, Paul Scheer, and other familiar faces both host and direct episodes within the series, which explores such topics as the origin of “The Japanese Spider-Man,” the forgotten characters of the Marvel universe, and how female creators and the stories they tell are shaping Marvel’s future.
Created by: Marvel New Media
Cast: Various
Number of seasons: 1
X-Men: The Animated Series
Wolverine and the X-Men (also available on Disney+) might be the superior cartoon, but there’s still nothing quite like X-Men: The Animated Series. The phenomenally catchy theme song. The ludicrous Jim Lee-designed costumes. The weird, funny moments that have sparked a thousand memes. This Saturday morning cartoon was many fans’ first introduction to Marvel’s merry mutants, and it remains one of the most popular takes on the characters. Nostalgia: It’s powerful stuff.
Created by: Eric Lewald, Sidney Iwanter, Mark Edens
Cast: Norm Spencer, Cathal J. Dodd, Lenore Zann
Number of seasons: 5
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