In a short space of time Disney Plus has compiled a seriously impressive roster of TV shows, movies, documentaries and more.
Already able to lean on its library of Disney Classics, not to mention Star Wars, Marvel and Pixar films, the streaming service has added Oscar-winning movies, original TV shows and one-off documentaries, to make it a real rival to Netflix, Prime Video and the rest.
Even better news is most of it is available in 4K, HDR10, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, ensuring an audiovisual experience that's befitting the House of Mouse.
We've done the hard work to recommend you the best movies and TV shows you can watch on Disney Plus right this minute, including some sterling new releases for 2022.
West Side Story
Available in 4K, HDR10, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos
Did we need a West Side Story remake? As is often the case, probably not. But at least here, thanks in no small part to Spielberg's genius, the new version is undeniably joyous in its own right.
The set pieces are as epic and entertaining as you'd hope, not updated for the modern era but nevertheless somehow imbuing a timeless quality. It's a fun workout for your sound system and screen, too, thanks to vivid colours and a high-energy soundtrack that's available in Dolby Atmos.
What to watch next: Encanto
Nomadland
Available in 4K, HDR10, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos
Nomadland scooped no fewer than six Oscar wins, including Best Picture, so cinephiles really should make sure they've ticked this off their list. (And having also won Best Cinematography, it's a great film for showing-off what your TV or projector can do.)
Frances McDormand is as watchable as ever as she portrays a life on the move, forced to chase casual employment and make do with casual relationships while she lives out of her minivan. Director Chloe Zhao weaves real stories and action into McDormand's fictional nomadic life to deliver a fittingly ethereal atmosphere.
The Beatles: Get Back
We perhaps didn't expect to be enjoying an intimate documentary of The Beatles some 50 years after the band split-up but sure enough Peter Jackson and his team have delivered an unparalleled look back at arguably the most influential pop band of all time.
We say 'team' because the restoration of the sound and picture is perhaps the most impressive element of this six-hour documentary, and is crucial in conveying the feeling of being slap bang in the middle of the studio with the fab four in a way that we've never experienced before. Essential viewing (yes, all of it).
WandaVision
Available in 4K, HDR10, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos
WandaVision is a six-part series by Jac Schaeffer (The Hustle, Black Widow) that presents a Marvel story in the style of the classic '50s and '60s TV sitcoms in which it parodies. Think The Dick Van Dyke Show and I Love Lucy, which are obvious influences.
This Disney Original follows Marvel Comics characters Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) living in an idealised suburban community from which they hide their super-powers, but not is all as it seems... for the duo or indeed the audience.
There are nine episodes in total with no sign yet of a second series.
What to watch next: Marvel Studios LEGENDS
Hamilton
Available in 4K, HDR10, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos
Anyone who has queued at a TKTS booth in London's Leicester Square or New York's Time Square, or entered the ticket lottery, or lost several hours trying desperately to book online, will know that Hamilton is a seriously hot ticket. So why not enjoy it from the comfort of your own seat?
Another Disney+ exclusive, Lin-Manuel Miranda's multi-award-winning musical is ideal for first-timers and those who want to relive (some of) the magic of the stage show.
What to watch next: Newsies: The Broadway Musical
The Mandalorian
Available in 4K, HDR10, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos
When the world first got wind that Disney was about to get its own video streaming service back in late 2017, anticipation started to grow over the new live-action Star Wars television series it would house. And The Mandalorian was the answer.
Set between the fall of the Empire and arrival of the First Order, Jon Favreau's genre-blurring series follows a lone bounty hunter operating in the outer reaches of the galaxy far from the authority of the New Republic.
Expect high-octane action, well-placed humour, and wonderfully imaginative creatures (we love you, Baby Yoda). There are two seasons to watch with season three set for release in late 2022.
What to watch next: Disney Gallery / Star Wars: The Mandalorian
Soul
Available in 4K, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 5.1
Family animation film Soul was another Disney big-hitter to have skipped cinemas, but instead of joining the Mulan remake as a pay-for Disney Premier Access release, it landed on the Disney+ streaming service at no extra cost. And want a 'freebie' it is.
Wholesome and heartwarming, it follows a musician and school band teacher who has lost his passion for music and is transported to another realm to in order to find it again, with the help of an infant soul. What ensues is a moving and contemplative story full of imagination and underpinned by a powerful message – and the jazz soundtrack that helps tell it is simply marvellous.
What to watch next: Onward
Free Solo
Available in 4K, HDR10, 5.1
Not for the faint hearted, this nail-biting National Geographic documentary (remember, Disney+ has NatGeo content too) follows rock climber Alex Honnold in his pursuit to be the first person to successfully free solo climb Yosemite National Park's 3000ft-high El Capitan.
Honnold's intrepid, superhuman quest deserves a tenacious telling – and it gets it in this gripping, Oscar-winning documentary. It goes far beyond the enormity of the task itself to offer an intimate, personal exploration into his passion and personality. Simply breathtaking.
What to watch next: Into the Grand Canyon
WALL-E
Available in 4K, HDR10, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos
The importance of sound in film is irrefutable, but rarely to the extent that it is in Pixar’s WALL-E, where sound is both the narrative and language of the largely dialogue-free animation. That's why it also appears on our round-up of the best film scenes to test surround sound.
In Dolby Atmos, or even 5.1, this charming robot romp is an audio treat. It's also a visual and narrative feast, a space spectacle that compels with its creative ingenuity. We really want that long overdue sequel, Disney...
What to watch next: Inside Out
The Lion King
Available in 4K, HDR10, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos
Firstly, the 1994 original is invincible (and also available on Disney Plus). Of course it is. But as Jon Favreau's live-action, (almost) scene-for-scene remake is one of the most visually spectacular films we have ever seen in theatres, its technical accomplishment alone makes the film compulsory viewing for anyone with a capable home cinema.
It's not a bad remake, either; there are some playful additions and there's also Beyonce's magnetism – it simply misses the original's heart and, er, originality.
What to watch next: The Jungle Book (2016)
Black Panther
Available in 4K, HDR10, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos
Missed any of Marvel's 25-odd The Infinity Saga movies in the past decade? Well, now's your time to catch up. If Black Panther is indeed one of your blind spots, you're in for a treat, as there's a strong argument for it being one of the studio's most original, most character-focused and most consistently thrilling features yet. The sequel is slated for a 2022 release, so it's a great time to get up to speed.
What to watch next: Ant-Man
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Available in 4K, HDR10, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos
Arguably the best noughties addition to the Star Wars franchise (sorry, trilogies), Rogue One, set in the midst of the galactic war between the Empire and Rebel Alliance, sees the rebels on a conquest to retrieve secret Death Star plans to expose and destroy the weapon of mass destruction.
Without the responsibility to pander to the franchise's other narratives, this standalone prequel is allowed to create characters from a fresh perspective while satisfying fans with enough Star Wars DNA references.
What to watch next: Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Toy Story 4
Available in 4K, HDR10, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos
As the franchise hits its fourth instalment and third decade, Toy Story still delivers beautiful animation and bags of emotion. Toy Story 4 sees the toys embark on their most adventurous road trip yet (naturally), with new locations and characters (including Forky!) but the familiar mix of jokes that work for kids and adults alike, not to mention that tinge of melancholy that runs throughout.
What to watch next: Cars
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