Disney apparently owns everything, and it won’t be long until there is only one company, Disney-Paramount Warner Bros. Discovery Plus, which produces all our great streaming content. But in the meantime Disney+ is the only platform where viewers can get certain titles, from their superhero TV shows to classic animated films and documentaries. There’s a lot of crossover between what’s coming to Disney+ and their other major streaming property, Hulu, meaning that if you don’t have the latter, you can enjoy a good chunk of their content on the former. These are the best movies coming to Disney+ in December.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (December 2)
The sixth part i Diary of a Wimpy Kid franchise and the other adaptation of Rodrick rules follows the live-action version from a decade ago, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules is Disney’s new animated iteration. With a screenplay from the original books’ author, Jeff Kinney, the film is set to be a delightful coming-of-age story about siblings and insecurities, as Greg struggles with his mean older brother Rodrick.
Pentatonix: Around the World for the Holidays (December 2)
The band Pentatonix became huge based on their unique, epic a cappella renditions of classic songs, becoming almost as big as the other surprisingly successful holiday music heroes, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
The new holiday special Pentatonix: Around the world for the holidays finds the band tapping into the old black magic of Disney to create a new holiday album inspired by cultures and traditions around the world. This is certainly a different concert film.
The Territory (December 2)
The territory is one of many National Geographic documentaries to stream on Disney+ in December, along with Retrograde, Heroes of the Mediterranean, Patagonia Wings, Ocean’s Breathand Shark vs Tuna. The territory is an intense documentary about the Uru-eu-wau-wau, an indigenous people who are practically dying out in Brazil. With a focus on deforestation, population density and the consequences of far-right politics, The territory is important display.
Retrograde (December 9)
A moving and important documentary, Retrograde tells about the chaos after the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan. The film focuses on a young Afghan general, Sami Sadat, and follows Afghan troops in the nine months leading up to the total evacuation of the US military as they try to train to defend their home against invading Taliban fighters. It’s a harrowing portrait of the costs of war, regardless of the winner, and a film that encourages empathy for the familiar other.
Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again (December 9)
The Night at the museum franchise gets an animated addition in this belated sequel to Night at the Museum 3: Secret of the Tomb. Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again focuses on the son of Ben Stiller’s character from the franchise, who takes over his position as a guard for the Natural History Museum. He must face Kahmunrah, who the audience last saw in the second Night at the museum film.
Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage (December 9)
Idina Menzel has become a Broadway and musical legend thanks to her work in Tired, evil, enchanted, Frozen, and many more. She originated the roles of Elsa in Frozen and Elphaba enter Evil, and has become a top singer in her own right. Idina Menzel: What Way to the Stage, a new Disney documentary, follows her career and rise to fame as she prepares for the one night she’s always dreamed of—playing Madison Square Garden.
Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Anniversary Celebration (December 16)
First broadcast on ABC, Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Anniversary Celebration comes on Disney+ the very next day. An epic tribute to the somewhat problematic Disney classic, this feature presentation features an all-star cast who take on roles from the film to honor the classic. HENNE, Josh Groban, Martin Short, Rita Moreno, Joshua Henry, David Alan Grier and more will play the iconic characters from the film.
If These Walls Could Sing (December 16)
If Peter Jackson’s great Beatles documentary left you wanting more, this film, directed by Paul McCartney’s daughter Mary, should do the trick. The intimate documentary gains exclusive access to the iconic Abbey Road recording studio, which appears to be downright haunted by talent and genius.
Weaving interviews with musical legends (Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Elton John, Liam and Noel Gallagher, John Williams, Kate Bush and more) with obscure archival footage and stunning music, If these walls could sing is at the same time an important history lesson and a decisive, rocking meditation on music.
