Disney+ bills itself as the home of all things Marvel. Fortunately, there are plenty of hit movies on the streamer that have nothing to do with tights or flight, spanning different genres like animation, comedy, drama, and horror.
Ready to discover what kinds of movies I’m talking about? Put down that cape and pick up the remote, because here’s my definitive roundup of the best movies on Disney+ that aren’t Marvel!
10
Lilo & Stitch
Surf’s up! Although Lilo & Stitch had a 2025 live-action remake, you can’t beat the 2002 animated original. Stitch almost instantly establishes himself as one of the most entertaining Disney characters, and his antics as he tries to integrate into life in Hawaii are good for providing a few much-needed belly laughs. Fortunately, there’s plenty more to this modern cartoon classic beyond a colorful mascot.
Beneath all the visual gags, Lilo & Stitch actually has some touching things to say about family. More than a few viewers saw themselves reflected in the relationship between older sister Nani and younger sister Lilo, two orphans who only have each other. The arrival of Stitch changes all that, and if you don’t find yourself tearing up at the little critter declaring that his new family is “little and broken” but “still good,” you might need to check yourself for a pulse!
9
The Devil Wears Prada
On the most basic level, The Devil Wears Prada is about something everyone relates to: a young person (Anne Hathaway) trying to prove herself to a domineering boss (Meryl Streep). Sure, the exact plot details–an aspiring journalist forced to be a gopher for a fashion magazine editor–seem pretty quaint in our all-digital world. But the patter between Hathaway and Streep remains comedy gold, which is why so many of this film’s witty lines live on as memes and reaction GIFs.
Fittingly enough, there is more to The Devil Wears Prada than meets the eye. Beneath all the haute couture, Hathaway’s designer duds hide someone trying to figure out who she is and what kind of mark she wants to leave on the world. Because of that, the film still resonates quite a bit with younger audiences, even if they can’t imagine reading a magazine, much less working for one.
8
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
When the first trailer hit, Pirates of the Caribbean seemed like the ultimate cash grab. A movie based on a Disney ride? Get out of here! However, Johnny Depp’s charismatic pirate Jack Sparrow helped sell us on this film’s off-kilter adventures, all of which proved more entertaining than any theme park ride. Those who didn’t like his rum-powered swagger, meanwhile, could always entertain themselves with the fiery romance between characters played by Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley.
The later sequels were sometimes as uneven as a pirate’s wooden leg. But X marks the spot for this first film that is filled with treasure, including an unforgettably entertaining performance from Geoffrey Rush’s Captain Barbossa. Plus, virtually every line in this high-seas adventure is quotable enough to become part of your daily vocabulary. You savvy?
7
The Wolf of Wall Street
The classic movie Wall Street taught the dubious lesson that “greed is good.” But it was the 2013 Martin Scorsese hit The Wolf of Wall Street that taught us that greed is fun, especially when there’s one sidesplitting scene after another of Leonardo DiCaprio’s portrayal of real-life stock fraudster Jordan Belfort. On paper, nobody should root for his criminal shenanigans, but DiCaprio’s native charm makes his character’s lifestyle of sex, drugs, and stock-and-roll look downright intoxicating.
The rest of the cast sizzles, especially Margot Robbie who has since become a major star. Jonah Hill delivers consistent laughs, and Matthew McConaughey manages to steal every second of limited screentime. Some dislike this movie for glamorizing the hedonistic lifestyle of its central character. However, Scorsese’s black comedy accurately underscores that crime does pay and that extreme wealth is enough to whitewash almost any transgression.
6
Tron: Legacy
When is a sequel completely different and completely better than the first film? When it’s Tron: Legacy! This follow-up forgoes the original movie’s lighthearted computer adventure, giving us heady philosophical topics in between jaw-dropping action sequences. For example, this is a movie about fathers and sons, but Jeff Bridges’ character has two offspring: a flesh-and-blood son (Garrett Hedlund) and a creepy CGI duplicate named CLU.
Bridges is also a mentor to Olivia Wilde’s character, a kind of digital lifeform spawned by primordial computer code. He gets to learn more about being a father, she gets to learn more about being human, and Hedlund…well, he mostly gets to learn how cool riding a light cycle is. Fast and fun, this film gives you much to ponder after the credits roll. Come for the epic action sequences and stay for the killer soundtrack featuring Daft Punk!
5
Raiders of the Lost Ark
These days, the Indiana Jones franchise is a bit like the treasures our archaeologist hero hunts: it belongs in a museum! But nobody can deny the charms of Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indy’s first cinematic outing. Much of the appeal comes from Harrison Ford, who channels the more piratical aspects of his Han Solo character to turn Indiana Jones into a grizzled, world-weary treasure hunter. Now, he’s after a holy relic straight out of the Bible, but he’ll have to fight an army of Nazis to win the prize.
Some might say the real prize, though, is the company of Karen Allen, whose spunky character transcends sidekick status and establishes herself as Indy’s devil-may-care equal. From the heart-pumping opening scene to a climax straight out of the Old Testament, this movie will leave you on the edge of your boulder–er, seat.
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4
Alien: Romulus
Alien: Romulus is, above all else, a return to form for the franchise. Sure, original Alien director Ridley Scott came back to give us Prometheus and Alien: Covenant (a movie that really deserved a sequel), but those films were arguably more focused on obscure world-building than out-of-the-world scares. Romulus mostly takes its cues from James Cameron’s Aliens, focusing more on both frights and freaky set pieces.
The film’s human characters are entertaining enough, but it’s David Jonsson’s Andy who really steals the show. At first, his android presents as developmentally delayed, but a mid-movie upgrade turns him into something nearly as lethal as the xenomorphs aboard the film’s titular space station. His character is a great example of how director Fede Álvarez mixes in elements of earlier franchise entries while still creating something fresh and new.
3
Once
Care for a sweet romance wrapped in some of the catchiest music you’ve ever heard? Once has largely faded from the pop culture landscape, but back in 2007, it took home the Academy Award for Best Song. And while “Falling Slowly” is a great melody (and completely stuck in my head right now!), the real appeal of this movie is Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, who play a pair of Irish musicians.
The joy of watching the film is seeing how this odd couple’s relationship forms over time. They don’t exactly have a fairy tale romance, and the movie is brutally honest about the obstacles that keep the two of them apart when they are clearly yearning to be together. They are two opposite numbers held together by enchanting music and undeniable chemistry, and the movie forces you to question whether that’s truly enough of a foundation for two people to build a relationship upon.
2
Black Swan
Black Swan is arguably director Darren Aronofsky’s masterpiece. The film follows a talented ballerina (Natalie Portman) who is about to be the lead in a production of Swan Lake, but she worries about whether she can perform as both the innocent White Swan and the seductive and sensual Black Swan. When a saucy new rival ballerina (Mila Kunis) arrives, the lead star becomes obsessed with the idea that she is being replaced and that the role of a lifetime will be snatched away from her.
This psychological horror film is guaranteed to make you uneasy. That’s because Portman perfectly captures her character’s descent into madness. Meanwhile, Aronofsky meticulously lays out the foundations of this dancer’s psyche before tearing them down, and audiences get to watch as she completely unravels. Sexy, stylish, and scream-filled, this movie ensures you’ll never look at ballet the same again.
1
Avatar
What’s left to say about James Cameron’s Avatar? This movie follows a human soldier (Sam Worthington) who interacts with an alien culture by hopping into a new body. This allows him to form a relationship with a native (Zoe Saldana) who opens his eyes to how the military is trying to strip the alien planet of its resources. Caught between two worlds, the young marine must decide who he wants to be.
Is the plot simplistic and more than a bit derivative? Yes and yes! But simple isn’t always a bad thing, and the streamlined script helps you appreciate the breathtaking visuals and iconic action sequences. With one sequel done and more on the way, you can bet your stash of Unobtainium that the Avatar franchise is here to stay.
There’s nothing wrong with tights and flights, of course. But with this selection of non-Marvel movies on Disney+, you can give yourself what moviegoers so desperately need: a break from superheroes.