The Top 10 Movies On Disney Plus For Adults

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As someone who has spent countless hours engrossed in the world of cinema, I must say that the movies on this list are truly a treat for the mature audience. They delve deep into the lives of extraordinary individuals and present us with stories that are as captivating as they are thought-provoking.

When considering Disney films, it’s likely that images of children’s animated productions come to mind. However, it is indeed accurate. For many years, Disney has been producing family-friendly content, encompassing timeless classics such as “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and “Beauty and the Beast,” along with recent hits like “Frozen” and “Moana.” While these are some of the titles that may spring to mind, there’s a wealth of other movies on Disney+, including content tailored for a slightly older, more mature audience.

To be clear, some of these movies could probably provide fun for the whole family, but a couple of these selections will go over a typical kid’s head for the most part (and one, frankly, is too gross and scary for pretty much any kid). From movies based on real events to a joyful story about a girl falling in love with soccer to a high school romantic comedy to one of the best science fiction movies ever made, here are ten movies that adults will definitely enjoy on Disney+.

Bend It Like Beckham

Prior to her role as a young doctor on “E.R.”, Parminder Nagra gained global recognition through the comedy film “Bend It Like Beckham”, directed by Gurinder Chadha, who co-wrote it with Paul Mayeda Berges and Guljit Bindra. In this movie, Nagra portrays Jesminder “Jess” Bhamra, a first-generation British girl living in London with strict Indian parents. Jess harbors a passion for soccer, or football, much like her idol David Beckham. Remarkably talented, she catches the eye of a local amateur girls’ team, the Hounslow Harriers, and secretly joins, misleading her family by telling them she’re working summer jobs instead. Her friendship with fellow player Jules Paxton (Keira Knightley) blossoms amidst the preparations for Jess’ sister Pinky’s wedding (Archie Panjabi). However, when her soccer secret is exposed in her community, it creates tension that could disrupt everything, made worse by her growing feelings for her coach Joe (Jonathan Rhys Meyers).

As a passionate gamer, I’ve got to say that “Bend It Like Beckham” is one of the most heartwarming flicks out there. Even when it seems like Jess could lose her family or the game she adores so much, this movie somehow manages to tie up all loose ends in a way that feels genuine and not overly sentimental. And let me tell you, Juliet Stevenson’s portrayal of Jules’ mother Paula is downright hilarious! You can catch “Bend It Like Beckham” on Disney+, but I would advise parents to be mindful as it may be a bit too nuanced for the little ones.

10 Things I Hate About You

In the late ’90s and early 2000s, a wave of contemporary reimaginings swept through Hollywood, from “Clueless” to “Bridget Jones’ Diary” to “She’s the Man,” but Gil Junger’s “10 Things I Hate About You” remains unparalleled in my eyes. As a devoted fan, I attribute this to its exceptional cast and witty script that masterfully transformed a Shakespearean comedy into a delightful romantic tale. Set against the backdrop of Padua High School, the film presents us with Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles), a sharp-tongued teen who’s got no time for dating or high school politics unlike her sister Bianca (Larisa Oleynik). When fresh faces like Cameron James (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) enter the scene, things heat up. Cameron swiftly develops feelings for Bianca, but alas, so does the school’s popular jerk Joey Donner (Andrew Keegan). In a twist of fate, they learn that Kat and Bianca’s protective father Walter (Larry Miller) has decreed that Bianca can only date if Kat does. With this knowledge, Joey secretly persuades Patrick to court Kat while Cameron continues his pursuit of Bianca… leading to an explosive climax at the high school prom.

The adolescent actors, particularly Ledger, shine remarkably well, and the movie’s charm lies in its lighthearted, amusing, and surprisingly emotional narrative. Reminiscent of “Bend It Like Beckham,” it may not resonate with many children, and certain humor might be slightly sophisticated for younger audiences.

Deadpool

It’s surprising that this even needs to be said, but children shouldn’t watch “Deadpool.” This 2016 film, directed by Tim Miller and written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, is a spin-off from the “X-Men” series focusing on the character Deadpool, played by Ryan Reynolds. Initially, Wade Wilson is an ordinary mercenary with a loving girlfriend (Vanessa Carlysle, portrayed by Morena Baccarin). However, his life takes a tragic turn when he learns he has terminal cancer. A man named Ajax (Ed Skrein) offers him a cure, which he accepts. After enduring grueling experiments with super-serum and a hypobaric chamber, Wade is left disfigured but cancer-free. Heartbroken by his transformed appearance, Wade becomes the vigilante Deadpool and sets out to find Ajax, joining forces with characters like cab driver Dopinder (Karan Soni) and X-Men such as Colossus (voiced by Stefan Kapičić) and Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand). In simpler terms, “Deadpool” is not suitable for young viewers due to its mature content and themes.

The movie titled “Deadpool” is extremely unsuitable for children, with an overtly explicit scene at the start featuring Wade and Vanessa, as well as frequent use of profanity throughout. However, if you’re old enough to appreciate it, it’s a fantastic watch – and it’s now available on Disney+. Additionally, it has produced two highly successful sequels: “Deadpool 2” in 2018 and “Deadpool & Wolverine” in 2024.

The Sound of Music

It’s unfair to say “The Sound of Music” isn’t appropriate for kids — it absolutely is. It’s still a perfect movie for adults, though, because some of the film’s darker plot elements — namely, the ones surrounding the spread of fascism and Nazi ideologies throughout Austria as the narrative unfolds — will definitely go over any particularly little heads. Robert Wise’s seminal 1965 movie musical, which is adapted from the stage musical writter by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, stars Julie Andrews as Maria, a wayward nun who is sent from her convent to work as a governess for retired naval officer Captain Georg von Trapp (Christopher Plummer) and his seven children. Though the von Trapp children are defiant at first — having run through many, many governesses since their mother passed away — Maria bonds with them during a thunderstorm one night and is eventually able to persuade Georg to be a little warmer with his children. Despite Georg’s involvement with the wealthy social butterfly Baroness von Schraeder (Eleanor Parker), he and Maria fall in love, and as she becomes the adoptive mother of the von Trapp family, Nazism spreads across Austria … and many S.S. officials set their sights on Georg, hoping to enlist him to their cause.

Absolutely! “The Sound of Music” is filled with catchy tunes that everyone in your family will enjoy, but it’s important to note that it’s not just a musical; it’s inspired by the genuine experiences of the von Trapp family. Faced with the impending danger of a complete Nazi takeover in Austria, they were compelled to escape. While children can certainly watch this movie, older audiences are more likely to grasp its powerful political undertones.

Sister Act

In the list, the second film showcasing an atypical nun character emerged about four decades after “The Sound of Music.” This is “Sister Act,” a 1992 comedy directed by Emile Ardolino, featuring Whoopi Goldberg as Deloris Wilson, a teacher at a Catholic school who transforms into a Las Vegas lounge singer and enters witness protection following her mob boyfriend Vince’s (Harvey Keitel) murder. Upon arriving at St. Katherine’s Parish in Los Angeles, Deloris finds herself out of place among the stern nuns. However, when she modernizes the choir’s music by incorporating gospel and rock and roll, they recognize her potential to rejuvenate not only their church but also their community. This is why, when Vince abducts Deloris, the other nuns unite to rescue her.

Similar to “The Sound of Music,” the movie “Sister Act” can be generally suitable for children, but the full storyline may be too complex for them to fully grasp (since young kids typically don’t comprehend concepts like ‘witness protection’). However, due to its nostalgic value, “Sister Act” is a great choice on Disney+ for adults who grew up with it.

West Side Story (2021)

Movie musicals have experienced a rollercoaster of successes and failures as a genre, but with the acclaim for the initial half of “Wicked”, it seems fitting to remind everyone that Steven Spielberg himself reimagined “West Side Story” in 2021 – and it’s truly remarkable. The film features the original music by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim, along with a fresh script penned by Tony Kushner (a regular collaborator of Spielberg), who also wrote “Angels in America”. In this updated version, Spielberg honors Robert Wise’s 1961 movie and Jerome Robbins’ 1957 Broadway musical. Rachel Zegler, a newcomer, is cast as María, a young Puerto Rican woman who unknowingly falls for Tony (Ansel Elgort), who belongs to the predominantly white gang, the Jets, putting her at odds with the Sharks – led by her brother Bernardo (David Alvarez). Since “West Side Story” is based on Shakespeare’s tragic love story “Romeo and Juliet”, you can imagine how the plot unfolds.

Spielberg assembled an extraordinary cast of skilled singers and dancers for his take on this American classic — with, frankly, the exception of Elgort, who really struggles to keep up with cast members like Zegler and Mike Faist (the future “Challengers” star who beautifully plays Tony’s doomed best friend Riff) — so it’s not surprising that Ariana DeBose won an Oscar for best supporting actress thanks to her scene-stealing role as Bernardo’s girlfriend Anita. Still, the film deserved more flowers, and you can see why on Disney+ … though it might be a little serious for little kids.

Alien (1979)

Avoid showing the 1979 science fiction film “Alien” to young children. This Ridley Scott-directed masterpiece, starring Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley, is a must-watch for movie enthusiasts — but it might be too intense and frightening for a typical child due to its graphic content. In this groundbreaking role, Weaver portrays a warrant officer on the commercial spaceship Nostromo. When they receive a signal from an alien planet, they land there and discover a horde of eggs, which ultimately leads to chaos. After several crew members are attacked by the rapidly growing alien that infiltrates their ship through John Hurt’s character Kane, Ripley takes charge and embarks on a mission to eradicate it. Along her journey, she encounters numerous disturbing situations, though she is accompanied by Jones, the ship’s friendly cat.

As a devoted fan of the classic “Alien”, I can’t forget that spine-tingling moment when an extraterrestrial erupts from a character’s chest, causing quite a scare even for the cast who didn’t anticipate it. So, if you’re not already acquainted with this scene and its startling impact, it might be best to keep younger viewers away from “Alien”. However, for seasoned sci-fi enthusiasts, this chilling space odyssey is now available on Disney+. But, if you’re someone who easily gets scared in such situations, perhaps it would be wiser to give this eerie space film a miss.

While You Were Sleeping

The 1995 romantic comedy “While You Were Sleeping” – a classic in the genre, yet an intriguingly complex film. In this movie, we encounter Lucy Eleanor Moderatz (played by Sandra Bullock), a solitary transit worker in Chicago, who secretly admires Peter Callagher (Peter Gallagher) during his daily commute. When muggers shove him onto the train tracks, Lucy heroically saves his life while blurting out “I was going to marry him,” which leads the Callaghan family to believe that she is actually engaged to Peter. Given that Peter is in a coma and can’t rectify the misunderstanding, Lucy doesn’t correct them, primarily because she grows fond of the Callaghans. However, Peter’s brother Jack (Bill Pullman) harbors doubts about their supposed engagement status.

As a gamer, I’d say: If a youngster chanced upon “While You Were Sleeping,” they might find it hard to grasp that this movie is quite eerie. It’s unlikely they’d find it engaging, and truthfully, the film isn’t designed for their age group. This one’s more suited for grown-ups. If you don’t mind the twist where the Callaghans aren’t immediately alerting the police about Lucy’s outlandish lie, then give “While You Were Sleeping” a watch on Disney+.

Free Solo

Titled “Free Solo,” this 2018 documentary, directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, offers an enthralling and award-winning exploration of a daring rock climber’s perilous adventure. However, it may seem slightly dull for younger viewers. The film focuses on Alex Honnold, a renowned rock climber who specializes in “free solo” climbing – a technique where climbers ascend without ropes or other safety equipment. Instead, they rely solely on their shoes and chalk to navigate towering surfaces, an act that is both breathtakingly audacious and potentially risky. In “Free Solo,” Honnold embarks on the ambitious task of scaling El Capitan, a colossal vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park, standing approximately 3,000 feet tall from base to peak.

“Free Solo” – A Gripping Account

Hidden Figures

In a family-friendly vein, though it may not entirely captivate younger audiences, “Hidden Figures,” a 2016 biopic directed by Theodore Melfi, showcases the remarkable tale of three women, who happen to be African American mathematicians, contributing significantly to NASA during the height of the “Space Race” in the 1960s. The trio is portrayed by actresses Taraji P. Henson as Katherine Goble Johnson, Octavia Spencer as Dorothy Vaughan, and Janelle Monáe as Mary Jackson. All three characters are based on real-life individuals who indeed worked at NASA. Initially relegated to performing tedious calculations as “computers,” these women demonstrate their mathematical prowess despite not knowing the purpose of the equations they solve. They encounter both racial and gender discrimination in their quest for meaningful roles within NASA, but through their unparalleled intellect, they eventually manage to secure positions there, even while being aware that machines will eventually take over their tasks.

The movie “Hidden Figures” showcases three exceptional actors – Henson, Spencer, and Monáe – who deliver captivating performances that complement each other wonderfully. This film is a must-watch for anyone eager to learn about Johnson, Vaughan, and Jackson, remarkable individuals who later earned recognition for their crucial roles at NASA. Incidentally, the real Johnson was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015 by President Barack Obama. However, due to its complex themes, it may not be suitable for young children. Adults browsing Disney+ might find this undiscovered gem a great addition to their watchlist.

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2024-12-03 18:30