Everyone who has access to a Disney Plus streaming account probably knows by now that it is the go-to place for all things Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar. But did you know there is a hefty back catalog of performances, series, and movies spanning a wide range of genres outside of those block-busting intellectual properties?
On my own Disney account profile, which I admit I piggyback off of my parents, I have specifically sought out unconventional titles for my personal watch list. Those overlooked titles, along with a few suggestions from colleagues, are largely the inspiration for this list. Let’s count down the top 10 movies, series, and performances you didn’t know were on Disney Plus, in no particular order.
Disney’s Broadway Hits at Royal Albert Hall
Before the age of live-action Disney Renaissance remakes, the latest version of which is The Little Mermaid, Disney had a knack for bringing their properties to the stage on Broadway. If you want to watch a concert film of all of the best stage production versions of hit songs from The Lion King, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and more, then you owe it to yourself to check out Disney’s Broadway Hits at Royal Albert Hall for what the synopsis describes as “an unforgettable night of music.”
Disney Illuminations – Disneyland Paris special effects and fireworks show
One of the most beautiful experiences about visiting Disney theme parks are the fireworks shows. Personally, I remember reviewing the fireworks show at Disney World in Orlando when I was a kid and it was one of my favorite childhood memories. Now, you can also get that magical experience by way of viewing a pre-recorded fireworks show from Disneyland Paris, called Disney Illuminations.
Kazaam
Are you an enjoyer of movies that are so bad they’re good? Well back in the 1990s, basketball player Shaquille O’Neal was trying to juggle his athletic career by doing commercials, rap songs, and starring in a few ill-fated movies. It was a relatively short-lived period since he would eventually stop concentrating on extracurricular activities in order to focus on becoming the basketball legend he is today through his phenomenal time with the LA Lakers beginning in the early 2000s. Kazaam, in which O’Neal plays a genie who befriends a teenage boy, is one such movie from the pop culture phenom’s hilarious-if-brief Hollywood career. If for nothing else you should watch this movie just to prove to yourself that a similarly titled Shazaam movie starring the comedian Sinbad does not actually exist but is from a Mandela effect-tainted parallel dimension.
Big
Back in the 1980s, Big was one of Tom Hanks’ largest breakout roles from Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment. The movie, about a young boy who becomes a grown-up through the magic of a coin-operated fortune teller, would later serve as an inspiration for the delightful DC superhero movie Shazam! (not the non-existent Sinbad one). If you are up for a classic ’80s comedy that helped put a Hollywood icon on the map, definitely check Big out.
The Orville
The Orville is Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane’s attempt at doing a send-up of Star Trek. Hulu streaming account holders already know the show is great but if you don’t have that service it’s also on Disney Plus. Even though the show started out as something of a parody of Star Trek, some critics are now hailing it as the true spiritual successor to Gene Roddenberry’s original series and Next Generation.
Alias
Many people forget that before he tried his hand at adapting Star Trek and Star Wars for the big screen for new audiences, director J.J. Abrams brought a few legendary titles to the small screen, including the espionage thriller Alias. The show dominated ABC in the early 2000s and featured a lot of great performances from Jennifer Garner and early breakout roles for actors who would later become huge stars, such as Bradley Cooper. If you’re into watching a binge-worthy spy show with lots of action, why not give this one a try?
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones
Now that the latest Indiana Jones chapter is in theaters with Dial of Destiny, maybe it is time to check out some of the archaeologist’s earliest forays with The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones starring Sean Patrick Flanery. This is a repackaging of The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles TV show, which edited down the material and got rid of the much-hated elderly Indiana Jones segments starring George Hall. As much as we like to see a doddering old, eye patch-wearing curmudgeon blabbering on about his dementia-fueled memories, perhaps it was for the best that they streamlined the entire series and got rid of those frame segments. Billed as an edutainment affair, the show sees a young Indy encounter historical figures throughout the early part of the 20th century, such as T.E. Lawrence. When The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles aired on ABC in the 90s it only lasted a couple of seasons but we’re sure there’s plenty of treasure to find hidden in the series for those who are curious.
Light & Magic
George Lucas did not become a Hollywood icon based on his writing and directing skills alone. Instead, he is known for spearheading many special effects advancements throughout the creation of the original Star Wars. In this docuseries, the formation and impact of Lucas’ company, Industrial Light & Magic, is examined. For anyone with a passion for the movie industry, Light & Magic is an absolute must.
Xonerated
Another title ripped straight from my personal watch list, Xonerated is a 40-minute documentary that explores the false imprisonment of civil rights leader Malcolm X’s accused assassin. Originally airing as a special on ABC News, I was interested in this tale about Muhammad Abdul Aziz’s wrongful conviction and subsequent decades behind bars due to my lack of knowledge about the 1965 slaying, in general. The documentary is notable for featuring Aziz’s first TV interview following his exoneration.
Titanic | 20 Years Later With James Cameron
If you’ve been following the headlines about the Titan submersible tragedy, you will know that the company behind the doomed vessel that was meant to go on an expedition to view the ruins of the Titanic has had one of its most vocal critics in James Cameron, the director of 1997’s Titanic. That is why I checked out this National Geographic documentary featuring Cameron talking about the latest scientific discoveries and most up-to-date hypotheses about how the Titanic went down 100 years ago. Taking place decades after the ruins were first discovered by Bob Ballard, Titanic | 20 Years Later With James Cameron is a fascinating watch to get an insight into the filmmaker’s expertise on ocean exploration. Though the documentary was made years before OceanGate’s fatal Titan sub expedition, there is still a lot to learn from this buried gem.