Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter
A new year has rolled around, which means it’s time to update our new Disney Plus movies guide. This week sees 2000 movie X-Men join our article as it’s now available to stream in the US (it was already viewable on the same platform in the UK and Australia).
2024 has arrived to deliver a whole host of new Disney Plus movies. Or, rather, it will once it really gets going.
At the time of writing, we’re only five days into the new year, so it’s slim pickings on the Disney Plus film front right now. Indeed, there’ll only be a few new movies joining the service in the month of January, but 2024 is nonetheless off to a decent start with the long overdue arrival of 2000’s X-Men in the US. Mutant-filled celebrations all around.
With little in the way of new films to watch on on one of the world’s best streaming services in other territories, we’ve retained entries from December 2023 in this guide for the time being, too. So, if you missed out on streaming any of the last few films on Disney Plus before the recent festive break, you can check out which ones joined the platform pre-Christmas. Alternatively, you should read our best Disney Plus movies guide, which contains plenty more choices for you to pick from.
US readers should note that Hulu is where you’ll find some entries in this guide stateside. We’ve made a note of the films this applies to in order to avoid any confusion. With that housekeeping out of the way, here are all of the new Disney Plus movies to land on the service since December 2023.
New Disney Plus movies: January 2024
X-Men (2000)
Release date: January 5
Director: Bryan Singer
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, Famke Janssen, James Marsden, and Anna Paquin among others
The first movie in Fox’s now-defunct X-Men film series is now available to stream in the US (it was already watchable in the UK and Australia). And, given the up-and-down nature of the iconic mutants’ movie collection, this one is particularly worth your while.
It’s a tad corny in places – that’s early 21st century film dialog for you – but, overall, it holds up. It gave us some fantastically realized (and cast!) characters in Jackman’s Wolverine, McKellen’s Magneto, and Stewart’s Professor X, who have all gone on to make these legendary superpowered individuals their own in the 24 years since. Its story also contains relatable themes about xenophobia, its action sequences are creative and enjoyable, and it’s surprisingly emotional at times, too. Oh, and it was one of the first films Kevin Feige produced, which set him on his path to become overseer of the cinematic juggernaut known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
With Fox’s X-Men universe set to get a fitting (and likely humorously R-rated) send-off in the highly anticipated Marvel Phase 5 movie Deadpool 3, the arrival of 2000’s X-Men on Disney Plus is most welcome. For more mutant-based movie coverage, find out how to watch the X-Men movies in order.
New Disney Plus movies: December 2023
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever
Release date: December 8
Director: Luke Cormican
Cast: Wesley Kimmel, Erica Cerra, Hunter Dillon, and Spencer Howell
The latest entry in Disney’s animated film adaptation series of Jeff Kinney’s beloved books has landed on Disney Plus. In it, perpetually anxious protagonist Greg Heffley is concerned he won’t get this year’s must-have video games console after he accidentally breaks a snowplow while making a snowman with good friend Rowley. Oh, and then there’s the fact Greg gets snowed in with his unimpressed family – just in time for (supposedly) the most wonderful family-oriented time of the year.
It hasn’t be a smash hit (it’s sitting on 67% critical and 62% audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes), but Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever will surely keep the kids entertained for a couple of hours. Its predecessors have been popular enough for Disney to continue churning out more entries, so it must be good in some respects, right?
Theater Camp
Release date: December 6 (UK only)
Directors: Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman
Cast: Ben Platt, Molly Gordon, Noah Calvin, and Jimmy Tatro
This sweet, satirical take on US-based student camps and stage plays has finally made its bow on Disney Plus UK – and it’s a barnstorming and heart-warming comedy not to be missed.
Ben Platt (Dear Evan Hansen) and Molly Gordon (Booksmart) star as Amos and Rebecca-Diane, lifelong friends who run a struggling drama camp in upstate New York. The arrival of tech-bro Troy (Tatro) further threatens the camp’s existence, leading the duo and production manager Glenn (Calvin) to band together with the camp’s kids to save the institution by putting on a stage play masterpiece.
Theater Camp earned rave reviews upon initial release earlier this year, with critics praising its on-form ensemble, hilarious and moving mockumentary-style story, and illumination of the struggles small businesses face, particularly in the present.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Release date: December 1 (US), December 15 (UK)
Director: James Mangold
Cast: Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, and Antonio Banderas
Ford’s last hurrah as Indiana Jones has finally swung its way onto Disney Plus. So, what’s The Dial of Destiny about? The iconic archaeologist races against the clock to – yep, you’ve guessed it – prevent a mysterious artefact landing in the lap of those pesky Nazis. To do so, however, the aging Indy will need to enlist the help of goddaughter Helen (Waller-Bridge) to ensure Jürgen Voller (Mikkelsen) doesn’t change the course of history with the titular macguffin.
Indiana Jones 5‘s first reviews weren’t great, with critics left wanting more from legendary actor Ford’s final outing as the titular character. Still, audiences seemed to enjoy it – its 88% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes showcasing as much – meaning it might be worth streaming after all. See where The Dial of Destiny placed in our Indiana Jones movies ranked piece while you’re here.
New Disney Plus movies: coming soon
There aren’t many new Disney Plus movies confirmed for January 2024 – in fact, there’s only one, and it’ll be The Creator, a sci-fi epic that’s already debuted on Hulu in the US. UK viewers, then, should take note of when it’ll land on Disney Plus on British shores:
- The Creator (January 17, UK only)
Not up for a movie? Try our pick of the best Disney Plus shows, see if there’s a free Disney Plus trial available, read our Disney Plus review, or get the lowdown on the new Disney Plus price points.