8 of the best Disney+ shows and movies to watch right now

The Mandalorian (2019)

Set between the fall of the Empire and arrival of the First Order, Jon Favreau’s The Mandalorian follows a lone bounty hunter operating in the outer reaches of the galaxy, far from the authority of the New Republic. The eight-episode first season is available to watch now, so expect high-octane action, well-placed humour, and wonderfully imaginative creatures (yes, including Baby Yoda).

The Simpsons (1989-2019)

Despite Twitter outrage over speculation that The Simpsons may not appear on Disney Plus, everyone’s favourite animated sitcom is here – all 600+ episodes (30 seasons) of it. Season 31 is due to hit Disney Plus in the US in November, so UK and European subscribers can expect it shortly afterwards.

Free Solo (2018)

Not for the faint hearted, this Oscar-winning National Geographic documentary follows rock climber Alex Honnold’s attempt to become the first person to free solo climb Yosemite National Park’s El Capitan peak. It’s an intimate exploration into his passion and personality. Simply breathtaking.

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)

Disney might be best known for its animations, but its early live-motion pictures have thrown up some family-friendly masterpieces, including Bedknobs And Broomsticks, Pete’s

Dragon and Mary Poppins. Homeward Bound sees two pet dogs and a cat journey across California to be reunited with their holidaying owners – if a heartwarming animal comedy caper can’t cheer you up during this difficult time, what will?

Black Panther (2018)

Missed any of Marvel’s 25-odd The Infinity Saga movies in the past decade? Well, now’s the time to catch up. Black Panther is one of the studio’s most original and most consistently thrilling features yet. There’s a sequel slated for a 2022 release too, so you have plenty of time to get up to speed.

Forky Asks A Question (2019)

Forky, everyone’s favourite plastic utensil in Toy Story 4, returns for this spin-off. Forky Asks A Question is a series of bite-sized animations that answer life’s big questions in a lighthearted way. Only ‘What is money?’ is available now in the UK, so we’ll have to wait patiently for ‘What is cheese?’.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

Arguably the best noughties addition to the Star Wars story,

Rogue One is set in the midst of the galactic war between the Empire and Rebel Alliance, with the rebels on a quest to retrieve secret Death Star plans to destroy weapons of mass destruction. There are some cool extras afterwards, too.

The Imagineering Story (2019)

If you have visited one of Disney’s theme parks, this Disney Original documentary has your name written all over it. Covering what it takes to become a Disney ‘Imagineer’, from the initial planning and design stages, to the construction and running of the iconic parks, the first two episodes are available in the UK now, with a further four to follow.