The best shows on Disney+ right now (August 2024)
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Original programming on Disney+ remains the domain of preschoolers in August. But fortunately, there are two shows that have come riding to the rescue so adults and older viewers have something to watch as well. The sixth and final season of Grown-ish has arrived on Disney+ alongside National Geographic’s new series, OceanXplorer, which is a lot better than the awkwardly spelled name suggests.
Note that neither of those two shows is produced by Disney+, which is currently overly reliant on Hulu for interesting shows like The Bear, Clipped, Only Murders in the Building, and Hit-Monkey … which you have to pay for. While you may be able to watch Hulu shows on Disney+, Disney is still going to charge extra for the privilege. But for the fans who only want a single streaming service, these are the best shows on Disney+ right now.
If you’re not already subscribed, the Disney Bundle is worth considering. With it, you get Disney+, ESPN, and the ad-supported Hulu plan, making it an impressive value for the price. You’ll enjoy new Disney content, live sports coverage, and Hulu’s various originals.
Looking for some more guidance on how to make the most of your streaming service subscriptions? We have also compiled guides to the best movies on Disney+, the best shows on Netflix, the best shows on Amazon Prime, and the best shows on Hulu.
grown-ish (2018) [New]
Metacritic: 71%
IMDb: 6.6/10
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 6
Genre: Comedy
Cast: Trevor Jackson, Marcus Scribner, Daniella Taylor
Created by: Larry Wilmore, Kenya Barris
Grown-ish is a spinoff of Black-ish, a sitcom that is also on Disney+, but the two shows have a very different focus. The former puts the spotlight on Zoey Johnson (Yara Shahidi) and follows her through college and graduation. In the recently arrived sixth and final season of Grown-ish, Zoey’s younger brother, Junior Johnson (Marcus Scribner), has come to the forefront as he goes back to school and deals with his own college experience while trying to figure out where he will go from there.
OceanXplorers (2024) [New]
Metacritic: 7%
Rated: TV-PG
Seasons: 1
Genre: Documentary
Cast: Asha de Vos, Zoleka Filander, Eric Stackpole
Created by: Brian Catalina
Say what you will about James Cameron, but the famous film director is passionate about the ocean. Cameron is producing and narrating National Geographic’s six-part series OceanXplorer, which is set on the research vessel that shares the show’s name.
In each episode, a team of explorers and scientists visit some of the most remote oceans in order to utilize cuttin edge research technology to learn more about the creatures that live there and the ecosystems below. It’s a compelling nature program that attempts to expand the knowledge of not just the viewers, but also the people who are directly involved with the show.
Fiennes: Return to the Wild (2024)
IMDb: 7.1/10
Rated: TV-PG
Seasons: 1
Genre: Documentary
Cast: Ranulph Fiennes, Joseph Fiennes
American fans are far more likely to recognize Joseph Fiennes (Shakespeare in Love or Elizabeth) than his older cousin, Sir Ranulph Fiennes. But the elder of the Fiennes cousins is a well-traveled explorer. Fiennes: Return to the Wild marks the second time that the cousins have teamed up for a series, but things have changed since Fiennes: Return to the Nile.
Ranulph Fiennes is now dealing with his progressing Parkinson’s disease symptoms, and he’s not exactly the kind of guy who appreciates his cousin’s attempts to lighten the mood. It’s not far-fetched to suggest that this could be the last time the elder Fiennes undertakes a recreation of his 1971 trek through the wilds of British Columbia that would challenge younger men, much less an 80-year-old man.
Zorro (1957)
IMDb: 8.2/10
Rated: TV-PG
Seasons: 2
Genre: Western, Action & Adventure, Drama, Comedy, Family
Cast: Guy Williams, Gene Sheldon, Henry Calvin
Created by: Johnston McCulley
“Out of the night when the full moon is bright, comes the horseman known as Zorro.” The theme song for Zorro remains catchy decades after it was written, and it’s easy to see why this series was such a massive hit at the end of the 1950s. Guy Williams exudes charisma as Don Diego de la Vega, a man who is summoned home from Spain to California by his father, Don Alejandro de la Vega (George J. Lewis).
To fight injustice, Diego adopts the masked persona of the Fox, Zorro, while maintaining a secret identity as a wealthy playboy. If that setup reminds you of Batman, that’s not a coincidence. Zorro predates Batman as a pulp hero, and canonically, the young Bruce Wayne was inspired by his predecessor.
The Acolyte (2024)
Metacritic: 67%
IMDb: 4.5/10
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 1
Genre: Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast: Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Charlie Barnett
Created by: Leslye Headland
Amandla Stenberg stars in The Acolyte, a story that predates the Star Wars prequels by over a century. Osha Aniseya (Stenberg) is a young woman who was once adopted into the Jedi Order to train as an apprentice under Jedi Master Sol (Squid Game‘s Lee Jung-jae). But just because Osha left the life of a Jedi behind, the Force is far from finished with her.
Someone with Force training has successfully killed a Jedi Master, and all evidence seems to point to Osha herself. However, the deeper mystery of the series isn’t the identity of the Jedi killer, it’s the master who trained her. Neither Sol nor Osha have any idea who their true enemy is yet.
Erased: WW2's Heroes of Color (2024)
IMDb: 7.2/10
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 1
Genre: Documentary, War & Politics
Idris Elba narrates and executive produces National Geographic’s four-part miniseries Erased: WW2’s Heroes of Color. He also has a personal stake in the show because one of his grandfathers served in World War II, yet none of the pictures of him in action or even the stories of his service have survived. It’s as if his heroism was erased from the record, and he’s far from the only one.
This documentary miniseries looks back at the role that Black soldiers and other people of color played for the Allies when the fate of the world was on the line. From Pearl Harbor to the European front, these men put their lives on the line and received little beyond a homecoming to a country that was still predominantly racist against them. From their struggles, the inspiration for the Civil Rights Movement was born.
Doctor Who (2024)
Metacritic: 72%
IMDb: 5.7/10
Rated: TV-PG
Seasons: 1
Genre: Action & Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast: Ncuti Gatwa, Millie Gibson
Let’s dispense with the fiction that Doctor Who on Disney+ is somehow a different series than the version that was revived on BBC in 2005. After all, showrunner Russell T Davies was the same man who reintroduced the Doctor to modern audiences 19 years ago. Ncuti Gatwa now stars in the series as the Fifteenth Doctor, a time-traveling adventurer who has a new companion, Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson).
As a tradeoff for the larger budget on Disney+, Doctor Who only has eight episodes this season. But former showrunner and arguably the best Doctor Who writer, Steven Moffat, also contributed an episode this season. And that’s always something to be excited about.
Star Wars: Tales of the Empire (2024)
Rated: TV-PG
Seasons: 1
Genre: Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure
Created by: Dave Filoni
Star Wars: Tales of the Empire may be the only non-live-action show that we get for the franchise’s foreseeable future. This series ties up some loose ends from Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Ahoska by presenting previously unknown chapters in the lives of former Jedi Barriss Offee (Meredith Salenger) and Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto).
Both women have fallen into darkness, but only one of them has a chance for redemption. Through three episodic shorts, their respective journeys lead them to their ultimate destinations.
Secrets of the Octopus (2024)
IMDb: 0.0/10
Seasons: 1
Genre: Documentary
Cast: Alexandra Schnell, Paul Rudd
Octopuses are not aliens, but they are unique creatures that aren’t fully understood by most of the general public. How many other creatures have three hearts and can squirt ink? National Geographic’s Secrets of the Octopus pulls back the curtain on these surprisingly intelligent animals, their gift of mimicry, and their ability to communicate with other species.
This miniseries was produced by James Cameron and narrated by Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania‘s Paul Rudd, in addition to insights from National Geographic’s Wayfinder Awardee. You may never look at octopuses the same way again.
Drain the Oceans (2018)
IMDb: 7.4/10
Rated: TV-PG
Seasons: 6
Genre: Documentary
Cast: Craig Sechler
Have you ever wondered what lies beneath the waves of the ocean at the site of sunken ships? National Geographic’s Drain the Oceans attempts to answer that question using underwater scans and in some cases, digital recreations to give viewers a look at shipwrecks, lost treasures, and even cities that sank into the oceans. It’s like going on an underwater archaeological expedition without ever getting wet.
X-Men '97 (2024)
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 1
Genre: Animation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast: Ray Chase, Jennifer Hale, Alison Sealy-Smith
It’s been nearly 27 years since X-Men: The Animated Series ended, but the new show, X-Men ‘97, is picking up where things left off. The critically wounded founder of the team, Professor Charles Xavier, is gone, and the remaining X-Men are forced to consider a new alliance with their former foe, Magneto, to continue their battle for mutant rights.
Be on the lookout for several familiar villains and a few allies as well. The early episodes of X-Men ‘97 will introduce a new enemy of the team, who arrives with some surprising revelations that may reverberate throughout the first season of the revival and beyond.
Renegade Nell (2024)
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 1
Genre: Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast: Louisa Harland, Nick Mohammed, Frank Dillane
Created by: Sally Wainwright
Disney+ may be calling Renegade Nell a “historical adventure,” but we’re pretty sure that the fantasy label applies as well…unless there were female highwaymen with superpowers in the 18th century that we don’t know about. Louisa Harland stars as Nell Jackson, a young woman who is framed for murder. In response to that injustice, Nell reinvents herself as the country’s most notorious highwaywoman and fearlessly robs her targets on the road.
Nell’s life of crime is complicated by the arrival of Billy Blind (Nick Mohammed), a spirit who opens her eyes to a larger destiny. And when Nell discovers a plot against the Queen of England, she may be forced to become a hero as well.
Queens (2024)
IMDb: 7.4/10
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 1
Genre: Documentary
Cast: Angela Bassett
National Geographic’s Queens offers a unique spin on nature docuseries by putting the focus on the matriarchies in the animal world from across the globe. But perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this series is how it uses newer technologies like low-light cameras and drones to offer a deeper glimpse into the animal kingdom than we’ve seen before.
Angela Bassett narrates the series for director Chloe Sarash and her team of female filmmakers. The first six episodes take viewers on journeys into the jungles, rainforests, and even the oceans for an intimate view of its subjects. But the seventh and final episode puts the spotlight back on the filmmakers behind the show.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021)
Metacritic: 67%
IMDb: 7.8/10
Rated: TV-PG
Seasons: 3
Genre: Animation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast: Dee Bradley Baker, Michelle Ang
Created by: Dave Filoni
It might be a while before there’s another Star Wars animated show after The Bad Batch, but this show is going out on its own terms. Picking up where season 2 left off, one member of Clone Force 99 is dead, and their younger sister, Omega (Michelle Ang), has been captured by the Empire and taken to their hidden cloning facility.
Now, the team has to rally and figure out how they can rescue Omega and reunite their makeshift clone family. Meanwhile, Omega is trying to convince former Clone Force 99 member Crosshair (Dee Bradley Baker) to help her escape because she’s determined to save both of them. Getting out won’t be easy, and the full force of the Empire is hunting the remaining clones.
Iwájú (2024)
Rated: TV-PG
Seasons: 1
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast: Simisola Gbadamosi, Dayo Okeniyi, Femi Branch
Iwájú is a departure from the standard Disney animated fare in that it not only embraces sci-fi over fantasy, but it’s also a collaboration with Kugali, an African entertainment company. The six-episode series takes place in an Afrofuturist vision of Nigeria, as a young girl named Tola (Simisola Gbadamosi) convinces her friend to go on a trip to the mainland away from their home.
What Tola doesn’t realize is that her father has enemies on the mainland, and by extension, so does she. Tola also has a protector in the form of a cybernetic lizard, who has been ordered by her father to protect Tola at all costs.
Genius: MLK/X (2017)
Metacritic: 53%
IMDb: 8.2/10
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 4
Genre: Drama
Cast: Kelvin Harrison Jr., Aaron Pierre, Weruche Opia
Created by: Kenneth Biller, Noah Pink
Each season of National Geographic’s anthology series Genius has focused on a different historical figure. The fourth season, which is also the only season currently streaming on Disney+, shakes up the formula by putting the spotlight on two civil rights icons: Martin Luther King Jr. (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) and Malcolm X (Foe‘s Aaron Pierre).
Although King and Malcom X’s paths do intersect in certain ways, their stories are largely separate as the season follows their respective life stories from beginning to end. This duo didn’t share the same ideology, but the impact they collectively had on the nation was immeasurable.
Echo (2024)
Metacritic: 62%
IMDb: 6.5/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Genre: Drama, Crime, Action & Adventure
Cast: Alaqua Cox, Chaske Spencer, Tantoo Cardinal
Echo is the first live-action Marvel Studios show of 2024, and at only five episodes, it’s even shorter than most MCU series. Alaqua Cox reprises her role as Maya Lopez, the deaf antiheroine from Hawkeye. After discovering that her adoptive uncle, Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio), orchestrated the death of her father, William Lopez (Zahn McClarnon), Maya turned on Fisk and shot him in the face.
Unfortunately for Maya, Fisk survived his wounds and he’s willing to do anything to get her back into the fold, even if it means harming the family that she left behind two decades earlier.
Modern Marvels (1993)
IMDb: 8.1/10
Rated: TV-PG
Seasons: 23
Genre: Documentary
Created by: Bruce Nash
Only two seasons of History’s Modern Marvels are on Disney+, but subscribers may be very interested in the two episodes that focus on toys and how they become collectibles. The rest of the episodes focus on more conventional Modern Marvels topics, like the most powerful trains and helicopters in the world. There’s also an exploration of “mad electricity,” and even a look into the technology behind car washes and coin-operated machines.
This is a science show for the whole family, but it’s also suitable for anyone who is just curious.
A Real Bug's Life (2024)
Rated: TV-PG
Seasons: 1
Genre: Documentary
Cast: Awkwafina
Behold the power of branding, as Disney brings together Pixar’s A Bug’s Life with National Geographics’ documentary team for a new series called A Real Bug’s Life. Awkwafina narrates the show, which offers an exploration of the real-life adventures and struggles of insects that operate on a miniature scale that isn’t often seen by human eyes.
These bugs may not be as cute and cuddly as their Pixar counterparts, but the series does give viewers plenty to think about when watching the insects on-screen.
What If...? (2021)
Metacritic: 69%
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 2
Genre: Animation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast: Jeffrey Wright
For reasons that have yet to be adequately explained, Disney+ is burning through all nine episodes of What If…? season 2 on consecutive days. This animated series explores alternate timelines in the MCU where events unfolded in wildly different ways. Among this year’s new episodes is a Die Hard riff with Happy Hogan in Avengers Tower during a terrorist attack on Christmas Eve. Another episode will assemble a team of proto-Avengers in the past, including Hank Pym, the Winter Soldier, and Mar-Vell, the original Captain Marvel.
Additionally, Peggy Carter’s Captain Carter will return in a direct sequel to her spotlight episode from the first season, as she is reunited with the love of her life in the most unfortunate way.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians (2023)
Metacritic: 74%
Rated: TV-PG
Seasons: 1
Genre: Action & Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Family
Cast: Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries, Aryan Simhadri
Created by: Rick Riordan, Jonathan E. Steinberg
Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians is getting a second chance in Hollywood, courtesy of Riordan himself. The Adam Project’s Walker Scobell stars as Percy Jackson, a 12-year-old kid who has no idea that he’s a demigod and the son of Poseidon.
After discovering his true heritage, Percy is sent to Camp Half-Blood with his friend, Grover Underwood (Aryan Simhadri), where they befriend Annabeth Chase (Leah Sava Jeffries). This trio is going to have to come together quickly, because Zeus (Lance Reddick) has accused Percy of stealing his thunderbolt. And if Percy can’t find the real thief, a war between the gods may be inevitable.
Behind the Attraction (2021)
Metacritic: 72%
IMDb: 7.7/10
Rated: TV-PG
Seasons: 2
Genre: Documentary
Cast: Paget Brewster
Created by: Brian Volk-Weiss
Disneyland and Walt Disney World are home to some of the most elaborate theme park rides and attractions ever made. The Disney template has been so popular that many of the parks’ rides have been recreated at Disney theme parks around the world. Disney+’s Behind the Attraction documentary series offers fans a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of these rides, and the men and women who brought them to life.
The newly released second season includes episodes focused on Pirates of the Caribbean, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Indiana Jones Adventure, EPCOT, and more. Theme park enthusiasts are going to love it, but even casual fans can enjoy the show as well.
The Santa Clauses (2022)
Metacritic: 55%
IMDb: 6.3/10
Rated: TV-PG
Seasons: 2
Genre: Comedy, Family
Cast: Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell, Austin Kane
Created by: Jack Burditt
After attempting to retire from the role of Santa Claus in the first season of The Santa Clauses, Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) is back at the North Pole in his familiar role alongside his wife, Carol (Elizabeth Mitchell), and their children, Cal (Austin Kane), and Sandra (Elizabeth Allen-Dick).
For season 2, Scott and his family have to deal with the Mad Santa, Magnus Antas (Eric Stonestreet), after he is released by Kris Kringle (Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias). Magnus wants to take over the North Pole, and only the Clauses are in his way.
Loki (2021)
Metacritic: 74%
IMDb: 8.3/10
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 2
Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Owen Wilson, Sophia Di Martino
Created by: Michael Waldron
Disney+ is getting Doctor Who later this year, but Tom Hiddleston’s Loki is practically filling the role already in Loki season 2. The Asgardian God of Mischief isn’t quite the villain he used to be, but he’s not exactly a hero either. The new season finds Loki in the odd position of having to save the TVA (Time Variance Authority) from a cataclysmic event that could destroy all timelines.
Standing in the way of Loki is his female counterpart, Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino), who also happens to be the first woman that Loki has ever truly loved. And in a nod to the larger MCU, Jonathan Banks is back as an early incarnation with Kang who may not be what Loki or his ally, Mobius (Owen Wilson), expected to find.
Goosebumps (2023)
Metacritic: 62%
IMDb: 6.5/10
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 1
Genre: Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Comedy
Cast: Zack Morris, Isa Briones, Miles McKenna
Created by: Nicholas Stoller, Rob Letterman
Three decades ago, the original Goosebumps TV series adapted R. L. Stine’s horror stories for children as an anthology. But the new incarnation of Goosebumps is throwing that out the window and embracing serialized stories. Instead of one-off tales of terror, the show revolves around Isaiah (Zack Morris), Margot (Isa Briones), James (Miles McKenna). Isabella (Ana Yi Puig), and Lucas (Will Price) as they try to unravel the death of Harold Biddle (Ben Cockell), a teenager who died in a fire in 1993.
Harold has his own plans, as he possesses an English teacher, Nathan Bratt (Justin Long), who moved into his family’s former home. You can expect to see many of Stine’s signature creations this season, including the Haunted Mask and Slappy the Dummy (Chris Geere), who is just as evil as he ever was.
The Simpsons (1989)
Metacritic: 87%
IMDb: 8.7/10
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 34
Genre: Family, Animation, Comedy
Cast: Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright
Created by: Matt Groening
It may sound incredible, but The Simpsons has a real shot at hitting 40 seasons as the 40th anniversary is just a few years away. Fox has already renewed the long-running animated comedy through season 36, and now The Simpsons season 34 has arrived on Disney+.
The Simpsons was truly at its peak during its first eight seasons, but the misadventures of Homer, Bart, Marge, Lisa, and Maggie Simpson have captured a fanbase that spans multiple generations. At this point, it’s harder to imagine The Simpsons ending because the show has staying power like nothing else before or since.
Animals Up Close with Bertie Gregory (2023)
IMDb: 9.0/10
Seasons: 1
Genre: Documentary
Cast: Bertie Gregory
Animals Up Close with Bertie Gregory is exactly the kind of show that National Geographic fans should be very pleased with. Throughout the six-episode series, Bertie Gregory and his team take us on a journey across the world to see how pumas, killer whales, elephants, wild dogs, and devil rays live in their native environments.
It’s a very revealing look at places that most people would never have seen in their lifetimes. And if you appreciate nature and animals, this is the show for you.
Ahsoka (2023)
Metacritic: 68%
IMDb: 8.0/10
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 1
Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure
Cast: Rosario Dawson, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Created by: Dave Filoni
The story for Ahsoka was first teased in 2018 with the final episode of Star Wars Rebels. Now, Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) is teaming up with her former apprentice, Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo), against a pair of Dark Jedi, Baylan Skoll (Ray Stevenson) and Shin Hati (Ivanna Sakhno), who want to help the remains of the Empire bring back Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen) to restart the war with the New Republic.
But Ahsoka and Sabine have to overcome their issues with each other before they have a chance to prevent a catastrophe. And if they can’t stop Thrawn from revitalizing the Empire, then their efforts will have been in vain.
Secret Invasion (2023)
Metacritic: 63%
IMDb: 6.0/10
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 1
Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure
Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Kingsley Ben-Adir
Created by: Kyle Bradstreet
Secret Invasion finally brings Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) back to Earth, but his employers in the American government, including the newly political James “Rhodey” Rhodes (Don Cheadle), want him gone. More alarmingly, the Skrulls living on Earth have largely decided to follow Gravik (Kingsley Ben-Adir) and his plan to render humanity extinct and make our world their own.
Even Fury’s Skrull ally, Talos (Ben Mendelsohn), has his own problems, since his daughter, G’iah (Emilia Clarke), is firmly in Gravik’s corner. And once Fury learns what Talos has done in his absence, their friendship may not recover.
I Am Groot (2022)
IMDb: 6.7/10
Rated: TV-G
Seasons: 2
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Family, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast: Vin Diesel
Created by: Kirsten Lepore
The second season of I Am Groot has arrived with more mischief from the title character. This series of animated shorts takes place around the time frame of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, as Baby Groot (Vin Diesel) just can’t help finding new ways to get himself in trouble while exploring the galaxy around him.
For the most part, the rest of the Guardians don’t play a role in this series. But you can expect a cameo from Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and at least one other established Marvel character who hints that Groot may have a larger destiny than anyone may have suspected.
The Wonder Years (2021)
Metacritic: 75%
IMDb: 6.6/10
Rated: TV-PG
Seasons: 2
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Created by: Saladin K. Patterson
The word has come down that ABC has canceled The Wonder Years after two seasons, but the show’s entire run is currently on Disney+. This series was a reimagining of the original show The Wonder Years that aired in the 1980s and early ’90s. The new show focused on Dean Williams (Elisha “EJ” Williams), a 12-year-old Black child growing up in Alabama during the late 1960s.
Dulé Hill co-starred in the series as Dean’s father, Bill Williams, with Saycon Sengbloh as Dean’s mother, Lillian Williams, and Laura Kariuki as Dean’s sister, Kim Williams. Don Cheadle lent his voice to the show as an older Dean who looks back on his childhood across the course of the series.
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones (1999)
Rated: TV-G
Seasons: 1
Genre: Action & Adventure
Cast: Sean Patrick Flanery, Ronny Coutteure, Lloyd Owen
Created by: George Lucas
In preparation for the theatrical release of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Disney is gearing up to add the Indiana Jones collection to its library. On the TV side of things, that includes the ’90s live-action series The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones.
Though certainly not as prolific as Indy’s exploits on the big screen, The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones was a welcome series of small-scale ventures. Starring Sean Patrick Flanery and Corey Carrier as younger versions of the titular character, this version of the series is the 1999 re-edit that compressed it into 22 feature-length episodes.
Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003)
Rated: TV-PG
Seasons: 3
Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Kids
Cast: James Arnold Taylor, Mat Lucas
Created by: George Lucas, Henry Gilroy, Genndy Tartakovsky
While Dave Filoni’s CG-animated series is more well-known, Genndy Tartatovsky’s Clone Wars is more than worth a watch. Now sectioned off in the Legends continuity that’s non-canon to Disney’s mainline productions, this series revolves around the likes of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker during the heart of the Clone Wars. The series adopts Tartatovsky’s iconic signature art style, and it also takes on a grittier, more grounded tone compared to what’s typical of Star Wars. Clone Wars also shines welcome spotlights on supporting characters like Mace Windu, a much more menacing General Grievous, and Asajj Ventress.
Moon Knight (2022)
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 1
Genre: Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Mystery
Cast: Oscar Isaac, Ethan Hawke, May Calamawy
Created by: Jeremy Slater
Since Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s grand-scale efforts, Marvel Studios has been expanding its roster of characters in the TV space. Moon Knight adapts the titular hero, who is one of the most psychologically fascinating superheroes in the comic book publisher’s backlog. Taking some creative liberties from the source material’s version of the character, Oscar Isaac stars as mild-mannered gift shop employee Steven Grant, who suffers a mysterious string of blackouts and unfamiliar memories. He discovers before long that he’s dealing with dissociative identity disorder and harbors the dual identity of mercenary Marc Spector.
The Crossover (2023)
Rated: TV-PG
Seasons: 1
Genre: Drama
Cast: Derek Luke, Jalyn Hall, Amir O'Neil
Created by: Kwame Alexander
Adapted from the critically well-received novel of the same name by Kwame Alexander, The Crossover is a basketball-themed family drama that follows twin basketball prodigies named Josh and JB Bell as they grow into young adulthood. The Bell parents navigate new phases in their own lives as well, with the former professional player father adjusting to life after the game, while the mother pursues a new passion. The Crossover is a satisfying and emotional coming-of-age dramedy for all ages.
Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)
Metacritic: 73%
IMDb: 7.1/10
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 1
Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Moses Ingram, Vivien Lyra Blair
While the Star Wars prequel trilogy has its fair share of blunders, Revenge of the Sith and Ewan McGregor’s performance were solid showings. That made the actor a fan favorite among the fan base, even the best Obi-Wan for many people, and he makes his grand return for the solo series.
Set 10 years after the execution of Order 66 and the fall of the Republic, Obi-Wan Kenobi sees a weary and disillusioned Jedi Master thrust back into action to rescue a young Princess Leia Organa. However, this covert operation also leads to another fateful clash with his former apprentice, now Darth Vader (Hayden Christensen).
Save Our Squad with David Beckham (2022)
Seasons: 1
Genre: Documentary, Reality
Cast: David Beckham
David Beckham is a legend and superstar in soccer, having played with some of the biggest clubs in the world, including Manchester United, Real Madrid, and AC Milan.
Now, in Save Our Squad with David Beckham, the former player travels to where his sporting career began — the Echo Premier League. He comes on to help Westward Boys, as the team hasn’t won a game all season and is in danger of relegation. It’s a project that comes with a tall order as he tries to reshape this squad to salvage their season.
Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (2023)
Rated: TV-Y7
Seasons: 1
Genre: Animation, Kids, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast: Diamond White, Fred Tatasciore, Alfre Woodard
Marvel Studios’ daunting cinematic universe is admittedly the main draw of the on-screen brand, but there are some worthy projects that are a bit smaller in scope. Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur is among them, with the animated series adapting the Marvel Comics characters of the same name.
Young genius Lunella Lafayette accidentally brings a T-Rex into modern-day New York through a time vortex she created. The two become the titular superheroic duo and defend New York City’s Lower East Side from threatening forces. A charming comic book TV series, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur is a wonderfully animated show that’ll surely satisfy family audiences.
Sketchbook (2022)
Rated: TV-PG
Seasons: 1
Genre: Documentary
Dramas, action, and comedy might be what bring fans into the Disney brand, but Disney+ also offers some solid documentary material as well. That includes covering the company’s work, with Sketchbook proving to be a delightful instructional docuseries on bringing to screen several loved Disney characters.
The series also does well to highlight the talent behind the scenes that does so, with each episode bringing in a different artist demonstrating how they bring these characters to life, as well as how they found themselves working at the studio. Sketchbook should satisfy anyone that’s artistically inclined, as well as those that simply want to see the masters at their craft.
Monsters at Work (2021)
Metacritic: 55%
IMDb: 7/10
Rated: TV-G
Seasons: 2
Genre: Family, Comedy, Animation
Cast: Ben Feldman, Mindy Kaling, Henry Winkler
Created by: Roberts Gannaway
Disney Pixar’s Monsters, Inc. is some of the best-animated work the studio has ever put out, and its world has been expanded more in the last decade. In addition to the 2013 prequel film, Monsters at Work is a Disney+ original series that shows another side of a beloved franchise.
The series takes place after the events of the 2001 movie, the story follows the new protagonist Tylor Tuskmon as a fresh graduate from Monsters University who’s shocked to learn that the company is no longer in need of Scarers. Mike and Sulley return to the cast as well, as they deal with the struggles of running the company and its transition to running on laugh-based power.
The Mandalorian (2019)
Metacritic: 71%
IMDb: 8.7/10
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 3
Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Drama
Cast: Pedro Pascal
Created by: Jon Favreau
The blockbuster series that helped Disney+ take the lead in the “streaming wars,” Lucasfilm’s The Mandalorian returns after a two-year hiatus (although the character made an appearance in The Book of Boba Fett). The journeys of the Mandalorian through the Star Wars galaxy continue in season 3, which promises more action, more Darksaber fights, and more Grogu!
Once a lone bounty hunter, Din Djarin has reunited with Grogu after last season’s finale. Meanwhile, the New Republic struggles to lead the galaxy away from its dark history. Future episodes promise that the Mandalorian will cross paths with old allies and make new enemies as he and Grogu continue their journey together to strange new worlds like Mandalore.
Baymax! (2022)
Rated: TV-PG
Seasons: 1
Genre: Animation, Family
Cast: Scott Adsit, Ryan Potter
Big Hero 6 was a breakout success in 2014, bringing a creative spin on the superhero genre with the tried-and-true Disney animation formula. The lovable nurse robot returns in the titular Baymax! — a spinoff animated TV series comprised of short stories.
Taking place within the same continuity as the movie and the other TV spinoff series, Big Hero 6: The Series, Baymax! follows the endearing robot as he goes around San Fransokyo helping the people of the city. It’s a fun and charming new way to expand upon the vibrant world established on-screen by the movie.
The Book of Boba Fett (2021)
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 1
Genre: Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast: Temuera Morrison, Ming-Na Wen
Created by: Jon Favreau
Despite mostly being a background character for much of the franchise’s existence, Boba Fett has always been one of the most beloved Star Wars characters. Temuera Morrison returned in The Mandalorian season 2 to play the iconic bounty hunter, and he was finally given his own solo series in the form of The Book of Boba Fett.
And while the critical reaction to his story was fairly mixed, The Book of Boba Fett brings to light some long-awaited moments, like how he escaped the Sarlacc from Return of the Jedi. If nothing else, the series serves as a decent companion piece to The Mandalorian and will tie into the show’s third season.
Marvel's Agent Carter (2015)
Rated: TV-PG
Seasons: 2
Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast: Hayley Atwell, James D'Arcy, Enver Gjokaj
Created by: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
After making her debut in Captain America: The First Avenger, Peggy Carter, one of the MCU’s best female characters, went on to headline the ABC solo series Agent Carter. While short-lived, the series was well-received for its creative blend of style, drama, and action, and also for making sure to highlight the human aspect of Peggy first and foremost. Agent Carter sees her balance her professional life and the dangers that come with working for the Strategic Scientific Reserve and the likes of Howard Stark — Tony Stark’s father.
Marvel's Luke Cage (2016)
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 2
Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Crime
Cast: Mike Colter, Alfre Woodard, Simone Missick
Created by: Cheo Hodari Coker
Playing within the same MCU sandbox focusing on the Defenders heroes — Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist — the TV adaptation Luke Cage stars Mike Colter in the title role Turning away from Hell’s Kitchen and into Harlem, the story follows the protagonist former convict as he looks to go back to his community to help fight the crime and political corruption that has a stranglehold over it. Bolstered by unbreakable skin and a metahuman level of physical strength, Luke Cage goes up against the likes of Mahershala Ali’s take on the mobster Cottonmouth, arms dealer Diamondback, and others.
Marvel's Jessica Jones (2015)
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 3
Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama
Cast: Krysten Ritter, Rachael Taylor, Eka Darville
Created by: Melissa Rosenberg
Jessica Jones is another exciting, dramatic, and gritty slice of the wider MCU. Adapting some of comic book writer Brian Michael Bendis’ best work on the character in the comics, Jessica Jones follows the titular out-of-practice superhero-turned-cynical private investigator. Throughout the series, Krysten Ritter’s memorable portrayal of the character goes up against the imposing Killgrave — played by the superb David Tennant — and uncovers the mysteries of her childhood and more in a show that’s great for those looking for another grounded superhero venture.
The Spectacular Spider-Man (2008)
Rated: TV-Y7
Seasons: 2
Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation
Cast: Josh Keaton
Created by: Stan Lee, Steve Ditko
Often cited by fans as one of the best Marvel shows cut down in its prime, The Spectacular Spider-Man was a widely acclaimed — if short-lived — series that’s been mentioned in the same breath as the revered Batman: The Animated Series. Longtime fans of the character cited it as one of the greatest and truest-to-character adaptations of the iconic hero. The voice cast was a particular highlight, along with its faithful interpretations of Spider-Man’s supporting cast of allies and enemies. Likewise, and much like Batman: The Animated Series, it was also praised for tackling impressively nuanced subject matter.
Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013)
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 7
Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure
Cast: Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, Chloe Bennet
Created by: Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen
Before the TV side of Marvel was folded into the Marvel Studios, the studio put out a successful, long-running spy drama centered around Nick Fury’s S.H.I.E.L.D. The aptly named Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. sees actor Clark Gregg reprise his role as Agent Phil Coulson as he and his supporting cast tackle a series of strange cases — with the enemies to match. This series introduced a variety of characters into the overall Marvel Cinematic Universe for the first time, with Chloe Bennet’s Quake one of the highlights. It’s an exciting series of original adventures and crossovers with the MCU’s feature films.
Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi (2022)
Rated: TV-PG
Seasons: 1
Genre: Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Created by: Dave Filoni
Though Andor has closed the curtains on its gripping and reinvigorating debut season, there’s still some content in the Star Wars universe worth going back to get invested in. Like recent animated projects including the final season of The Clone Wars, The Bad Batch, and the anime-focused shorts anthology Visions, Tales of the Jedi is another impressive set of isolated Star Wars stories. Comprising six-episode shorts, this animated series takes fans back to the Prequel era while chronicling the parallel lives of then-Jedi Count Dooku and the young Ahsoka Tano. All six shorts of Tales of the Jedi are available to stream now.
Star Wars Rebels (2014)
Rated: TV-Y7
Seasons: 4
Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation
Cast: Freddie Prinze Jr., Taylor Gray, Vanessa Marshall
Created by: Simon Kinberg, Dave Filoni, Carrie Beck
Even though it didn’t quite measure up to the highs of The Clone Wars, Rebels still garnered a much-deserved, positive critical reception for continuing the franchise’s success in the realm of animation. Star Wars Rebels is the natural sequel to The Clone Wars, this time largely following a new main cast of characters. It begins 14 years into the devastating aftermath of Emperor Palpatine’s Order 66, with Jedi now endangered and actively hunted down. And while the protagonists are mostly original, it rewards longtime fans with satisfying conclusions to story arcs started in the preceding series, with thrilling appearances by characters from the original trilogy. All four seasons of Star Wars Rebels are available to stream now.
Star Wars: Andor (2022)
Metacritic: 74%
IMDb: 8.3/10
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 1
Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure, War & Politics
Cast: Diego Luna, Stellan Skarsg?rd, Kyle Soller
Created by: Tony Gilroy
It’s a bit of a misnomer to call this Rogue One prequel series Andor. It is the story of the doomed Rebel operative, Cassian Andor (Diego Luna). However, the narrative has greatly expanded to include Rebel masterminds Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsg?rd) and Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly), as well as a dedicated Imperial agent, Dedra Meero (Denise Gough). The show’s relatively slow pace has put off some Star Wars fans, but it has incredible writing with excellent performances by Skarsg?rd and guest star Andy Serkis that have already made this season an unforgettable experience.
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022)
Metacritic: 67%
IMDb: 5.1/10
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 1
Genre: Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast: Tatiana Maslany, Jameela Jamil, Josh Segarra
Created by: Jessica Gao
Jennifer Walters (Tatiana Maslany) may be one of the most normal people in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She just happens to be the She-Hulk as well. In She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, Jennifer’s life is transformed after she is infected with the blood of her famous cousin, Bruce Banner/Hulk (Mark Ruffalo). Despite Bruce’s best efforts to turn her into a superhero, Jen resumes her career as a lawyer only to find herself at the forefront of a law firm’s superhuman law division. Unfortunately for Jen, her life only gets stranger from there.
Bluey (2018)
IMDb: 9.7/10
Rated: TV-Y
Seasons: 3
Genre: Animation, Kids
Cast: Dave McCormack, Melanie Zanetti
Created by: Joe Brumm
If you have very young children, you’re probably well-aware of Bluey. This animated program is a blockbuster hit among the preschool crowd, and it has a delightfully simple premise. It follows a puppy named Bluey and her younger sister, Bingo, as they use the power of their imaginations to play with each other and the world around them. Bluey and Bingo’s parents, Bandit (David McCormack) and Chilli (Melanie Zanetti), also use the fun and games to gently teach their two girls some important life lessons. Those lessons are one of the reasons why Bluey appeals to parents as well.
Prop Culture (2020)
IMDb: 8.1/10
Rated: TV-PG
Seasons: 1
Genre: Documentary
Cast: Dan Lanigan
Disney+ isn’t just about pop culture, it’s also about Prop Culture. Collector, Disney fan, and host Dan Lanigan created this eight-part documentary series in which he attempts to track down some missing props from Disney classics like Mary Poppins, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Tron, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, and more. Some of these items have found their way into private collections, which we get to see on the show. Lanigan also has the honor of speaking with many of the behind-the-scenes creators who brought these films to life.
The Orville (2017)
Metacritic: 36%
IMDb: 8/10
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 3
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast: Seth MacFarlane, Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson
Created by: Seth MacFarlane
Do you know what the advantage is to watching The Orville on Disney+ instead of Hulu? There are no ads on Disney+…at least until this fall. This series openly parodies Star Trek and isn’t exactly Disney-friendly at first glance. But it’s also an earnest show in its own way, as lifelong Trekker Seth MacFarlane gets to live out his dream by playing Captain Edward “Ed” Mercer, the new commanding officer of the Orville. Alongside his ex-wife and new first officer, Kelly Grayson (Adrianne Palicki), and their faithful crew, Mercer explores new worlds and saves the galaxy in ways that would make all Star Trek generations proud.
Ms. Marvel (2022)
Rated: TV-PG
Seasons: 1
Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Comedy
Cast: Iman Vellani, Aramis Knight, Saagar Shaikh
Created by: Bisha K. Ali
The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s newest heroine is headlining her own show before jumping to the big screen next year in The Marvels. Newcomer Iman Vellani stars in Ms. Marvel as Kamala Khan, a refreshingly normal teenager who just happens to be one of the biggest superhero fans, especially for her idol, Captain Marvel. When Kamala gains superhuman powers of her own, it’s like a dream come true. She has to learn the hard way that being a hero isn’t that simple, and her life is about to change forever.
Parallels (2022)
IMDb: 6.9/10
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 1
Genre: Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast: Timoté Rigault, Thomas Chomel, Omar Mebrouk
Created by: Quoc Dang Tran
One of Disney+’s international selections is the French sci-fi series, Parallels. Sam Deslandes (Thomas Chomel) and his brother, Victor (Maxime Bergeron), as well as Bilal Belkebirs (Timoté Rigault) and Romane Berthauds (Victoria Eber), are inadvertently caught in an experiment that sends Victor and Romane into an entirely different world and ages Bilal (Omar Mebrouk) into a 30 year old man. Victor (Jules Houplain) and Romane (Jade Pedri) spend four years in their new world, as only Sam seems physically unaffected. Despite the vast distance between them, the four friends must find a way to reconnect in order to change their fate and restore their lives.
Marvel's Daredevil (2015)
Metacritic: 72%
IMDb: 8.7/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 3
Genre: Crime, Drama, Action & Adventure
Cast: Charlie Cox, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson
Created by: Drew Goddard, Steven S. DeKnight
There’s no such thing as “Disney+ After Dark,” but Daredevil and its fellow Netflix refugees are about as close to R-rated content that you can find in the MCU. That’s why there are new parental controls on Disney+. But if you and your kids are old enough to enjoy it, then you’re in for one of the most amazing superhero adaptations to date. Charlie Cox stars as Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer whose enhanced senses allow him to become the costumed vigilante known as Daredevil. Vincent D’Onofrio also stars in the show as Wilson Fisk, a fearsome crime lord who won’t let anyone stand in the way of his criminal empire. That puts Matt and Wilson into conflict over the course of the entire series.
black-ish (2014)
Metacritic: 77%
IMDb: 7.1/10
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 8
Genre: Comedy
Cast: Anthony Anderson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Marcus Scribner
Created by: Kenya Barris
Black-ish is one of the few modern comedies that isn’t afraid to tackle the topic of race in a way that doesn’t belittle the subject matter or dumb it down for a general audience. In fact, there are moments when this show can be quite dramatic. But it’s still a family comedy at heart, with grounded and very funny performances by Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross as Andre “Dre” Johnson and his wife, Rainbow Johnson, respectively. Together, the Johnsons raise their children Zoey Johnson (Yara Shahidi), Andre Johnson, Jr. (Marcus Scribner), Jack Johnson (Miles Brown), and Diane Johnson (Marsai Martin) against the backdrop of an increasingly complex world.
Amphibia (2019)
IMDb: 8.1/10
Rated: TV-Y7
Seasons: 3
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast: Brenda Song, Justin Felbinger, Bill Farmer
Created by: Matt Braly
If you think that Disney never tries out anything new, then maybe you should check out Amphibia. This animated series is really catching on, thanks to its unique blend of sci-fi, adventure, and heart. The show follows a 13-year-old girl, Anne Boonchuy (Brenda Song), and her friends, Sasha Waybright (Anna Akana) and Marcy Wu (Haley Tju), as they are thrust into an alternate reality called Amphibia where anthropomorphic frogs rule. While Anne is taken in by a kind family of frogs, Sasha takes a more ambiguous turn, and Marcy … poor Marcy, suffers a fate that may be worse than death. This is an unfolding epic for the younger viewers, but older fans may find a lot to enjoy as well.
The Beatles: Get Back (2021)
Metacritic: 85%
IMDb: 9.3/10
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 1
Genre: Documentary
Cast: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison
Created by: Peter Jackson
Is The Beatles: Get Back a miniseries or a single documentary that got out of control in the editing room? Since there are three episodes, we’re calling it a miniseries. The Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson was given access to over sixty hours of previously unseen footage of the Fab Four: Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Lennon, and George Harrison. Jackson’s special effects team has also restored the footage to a remarkably fresh and vibrant state while showing the Beatles creating and recording music together. Get Back doesn’t shy away from showing tensions as well, including one bandmate’s abrupt departure. But it may be the best window into the Beatles near the end of their run that anyone outside of the band will ever see.
Gargoyles (1994)
IMDb: 8.1/10
Rated: TV-G
Seasons: 3
Genre: Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure
Cast: Keith David, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Jeff Bennett
Created by: Frank Paur, Greg Weisman
In 1994, Disney didn’t have many action oriented brands like Marvel or Star Wars. What it did have was Gargoyles, an amazing animated series that seemed to take its style from Batman: The Animated Series. However, Gargoyles surpassed its influences with a dense and compelling mythology about gargoyles from 994 A.D. who awakened in the present after being trapped in stone for 1,000 years. Goliath (Keith David) leads the surviving gargoyles, and he forms a special bond with police detective Eliza Maza (Salli Richardson). Their slow burn romance was set against the backdrop of fantasy and sci-fi stories that remain among the best that Disney has ever made.
Star Wars: Visions (2021)
Metacritic: 79%
IMDb: 7.2/10
Rated: TV-PG
Seasons: 1
Genre: Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure
Lucasfilm delivered a new spin on Star Wars with this anime anthology series that includes nine short films produced by Japanese animation studios and inspired by the beloved sci-fi saga set in a galaxy far, far away. Set throughout the Star Wars timeline — and in some cases, outside of it — the films filter the franchise through a fresh lens that also offers some fascinating new stories voiced by an all-star cast of actors. Among the highlights in Star Wars: Visions are the Akira Kurosawa-inspired tale The Duel, and the surprising, post-Rise of Skywalker story told in The Ninth Jedi, among other great episodes.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)
Metacritic: 66%
IMDb: 8.3/10
Rated: TV-PG
Seasons: 7
Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast: James Arnold Taylor, Corey Burton, Dee Bradley Baker
Created by: George Lucas
The Clone Wars feature film, which also serves as the series pilot, is not good. The animated series that followed that film is very, very good. Although The Clone Wars started as a typical action-adventure cartoon, it quickly morphed into something much more complex: A thorough and nuanced examination of the horrors of war in the Star Wars universe. Across seven seasons, The Clone Wars both deepened and expanded the Star Wars franchise in all kinds of unexpected ways. Even better? The end isn’t really the end — the story continues in The Clone Wars‘ also-great follow-up, Star Wars Rebels.
Raven's Home (2017)
IMDb: 7.3/10
Rated: TV-G
Seasons: 5
Genre: Family, Comedy
Cast: Raven-Symoné, Anneliese van der Pol, Issac Ryan Brown
Created by: Scott Thomas, Jed Elinoff
Raven’s Home is a current Disney Channel show and sequel series to That’s So Raven (2003-2007). Taking place a decade after the latter, Raven’s Home finds the titular Raven (Raven-Symoné) as a divorced single mother of two rooming with best friend Chelsea (Anneliese van der Pol) and her own kids in Chicago. Fans of That’s So Raven will be pleased to know that, yes, Raven is still psychic. And now her son is, too. Raven’s Home brings all the familiar hijinks and psychic vision plotting of the original Raven, while effectively tackling the modern-day struggles of both parents and their preteens.
Phineas and Ferb (2007)
IMDb: 8.0/10
Rated: TV-G
Seasons: 4
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Family, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast: Vincent Martella, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Ashley Tisdale
Created by: Dan Povenmire, Jeff 'Swampy' Marsh, Joe Orrantia
Stepbrothers Phineas and Ferb are going to have the best summer vacation they can, the only way they know how: By building ludicrous and extremely dangerous contraptions in their backyard and avoiding the wrath of their older sister, Candace. Phineas and Ferb has the same energy as Family Guy (co-creator Dan Povenmire used to work on Fox’s animated sitcom), but it’s not nearly as raunchy, leading to a show that the whole family can enjoy. It’s a great time to catch up on Phineas and Ferb, too: A spinoff movie, Candace Against the Universe, is now available for streaming on Disney+.
WandaVision (2021)
Metacritic: 77%
IMDb: 8/10
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 1
Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Mystery, Drama
Cast: Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Kathryn Hahn
Created by: Jac Schaeffer
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.
Spider-Man (1994)
IMDb: 8.4/10
Rated: TV-Y7
Seasons: 5
Genre: Animation, Action & Adventure
Cast: Christopher Daniel Barnes, Roscoe Lee Browne, Jennifer Hale
Created by: Stan Lee, Steve Ditko
Widely regarded as the best Spider-Man animated series ever made, Spider-Man (also known as Spider-Man: The Animated Series) premiered in 1994 during the height of the ’90s comics boom and managed to be one of the few superhero series of the era to be both critically and commercially successful, running for five highly acclaimed seasons. Over the course of the show’s 65 episodes, the series explored Peter Parker’s life both in and out of costume and took the unusual (at the time) approach of having lengthy, season-long story arcs unfold in addition to more traditional episodic adventures.
Kim Possible (2002)
IMDb: 7.2/10
Rated: TV-Y7
Seasons: 4
Genre: Animation, Action & Adventure, Comedy, Kids
Cast: Christy Carlson Romano, Will Friedle, Nancy Cartwright
Created by: Mark McCorkle, Bob Schooley
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.
Gravity Falls (2012)
IMDb: 8.9/10
Rated: TV-Y7
Seasons: 2
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Kids
Cast: Kristen Schaal, Linda Cardellini, Jason Ritter
Created by: Alex Hirsch
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.
The Proud Family (2001)
IMDb: 6.5/10
Rated: TV-Y
Seasons: 3
Genre: Animation
Cast: Kyla Pratt, Tommy Davidson, Tara Strong
Created by: Bruce W. Smith
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.
Running Wild with Bear Grylls (2014)
IMDb: 7.6/10
Rated: TV-PG
Seasons: 6
Genre: Action & Adventure, Reality
Cast: Bear Grylls
Created by: Delbert Shoopman
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.
X-Men (1992)
IMDb: 8.5/10
Rated: TV-Y7
Seasons: 5
Genre: Kids, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Animation, Action & Adventure
Cast: Cathal J. Dodd, Cedric Smith, Norm Spencer
Created by: Sidney Iwanter, Mark Edward Edens, Margaret Loesch, Eric Lewald
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.