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New Disney Plus movies: every new film to stream in September 2023

New Disney Plus movies: every new film to stream in September 2023
New Disney Plus movies: September 13, 2023 update

Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

Elemental, Pixar’s most recent feature film, has landed on Disney Plus, so it’s the latest addition to this guide. We’ve also updated our ‘coming soon’ section with the latest information we have on which movies are coming to the service in the weeks ahead.

Searching for all of the new Disney Plus movies to join the service recently? You’ve come to the right place.

In this guide, we’ve rounded up the new movies that have debuted on Disney Plus since the start of July. There haven’t been many new films on the platform in recent times, so this list isn’t as extensive as our new Netflix movies one. But, with some great flicks joining the streaming service in the last few weeks, maybe things are starting to pick up.

So, what’s new this week? Elemental, Pixar’s latest big-screen offering, has landed on one of the world’s best streaming services. If you missed it in theaters earlier this year, then, you’ll want to stick it on your watchlist ASAP.

US dwellers should know that a few of this article’s entries are only available on Hulu stateside. If that’s you, you’ll have to load up Disney Plus’ sister streamer to watch them. We’ve made a note of which movies are only on Hulu where necessary, too.

Want an even bigger selection of films to choose from? Our best Disney Plus movies guide has plenty of other options. For now, though, here are all of the new Disney Plus films to stream in September.

New Disney Plus movies: September 2023

Elemental

Release date: September 13

Elemental looked like it would fall foul of the same issues that have plagued recent Pixar movies. Yes, it looks visually spectacular and would likely tug at the heartstrings, but it appeared to lack story substance and the smart, snappy humor we’d come to expect from the Disney subsidiary.

After some questionable critics-based reviews and a lackluster start to its theatrical run, though, Elemental proved it wasn’t a complete failure. Thanks to positive word of mouth, it earned $484 million worldwide and a 93% positive audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Not bad going for a film some people called “among the studio’s [Pixar’s] worst releases to date”, eh?

Set in a world inhabited by anthropomorphic elements of nature, Elemental stars the short tempered, fire-based Ember and free-flowing water-type Wade. After a chance encounter, they grow close, and begin to positively challenge each other’s worldview and the overarching theme that elements cannot mix. Find out where Elemental ranks on our best Pixar movies list while you’re here.

The Little Mermaid

Release date: September 6

Over three months after it debuted in theaters, The Little Mermaid‘s live-action retelling has surfaced from under the waves to join Disney Plus’ movie library. And, just five days into its streaming run, it’s become the most-watched Disney Plus film of all-time.

Thankfully, Disney’s latest adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s iconic tale is now available to watch. The musical comedy-drama film, which – eventually – follows the human-obsessed Ariel’s quest to stop sea witch Ursula from becoming the oceans’ new overlord, did okay at the global box office with a near $570 million haul to its name. We expect it to be more popular on Disney’s primary streamer, though, especially with little in the way of new Disney Plus movies to watch right now.

Before you load it up, be sure to read our review of The Little Mermaid. Next, find out why the film took inspiration from David Attenborough, not Avatar 2, then which of its songs was its composer’s favorite track and, lastly, where it ranks in our best Disney live-action movies list.

New Disney Plus movies: August 2023

Vacation Friends 2

Release date: August 25 (available on Hulu in the US)

A sequel to 2021’s buddy-comedy film of the same name – if you drop the number two from its title – Vacation Friends 2 picks up just a few months after its predecessor. When Marcus (Lil Rey Howery) earns an all-expenses-paid trip to the Caribbean to convince a hotel chain’s owners to let his construction firm build its next, well, hotel, he’s joined by wife Emily (Yvone Orji), plus friends and married couple Ron (John Cena) and Kyla (Meredith Hagner) with their baby in tow. Unfortunately, Kyla’s incarcerated father Reese (Steve Buscemi) unexpectedly shows up at the same resort. Cue hilarity-induced carnage.

That would be the case, anyway, if Vacation Friends 2 was remotely funny. Per Rotten Tomatoes, it’s been labeled a disaster by critics, with its 20% and 42% critical and audience ratings on the review aggregator website proving as much. Of all the new Disney Plus movies here, this is one to avoid altogether.

Miguel Wants to Fight

Release date: August 16 (available on Hulu in the US)

This coming-of-age comedy may not have been on anyone’s radar prior to its release, but it’s doing a pretty good job of entertaining viewers, if its 83% fresh audience score on Rotten Tomatoes score is anything to go by.

For the uninitiated, Miguel Wants to Fight follows the titular high schooler who’s never found himself throwing down with, well, anyone. However, “when a combination of events turn his life upside down, Miguel and his three best friends –the stoic David, rowdy Cass, and quick-tonged Srini – enter into a series of hilarious misadventures as he tries to get into his first ever fight.”

A funny, smart, heartfelt, and action-packed underdog story, Miguel Wants to Fight might be worth catching if you’re looking for something unique to stream.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Release date: August 2

Get ready for one last ride. The Guardians of the Galaxy‘s potentially final outing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) originally hit theaters on May 3, and it quickly cemented itself as not only one of the best Marvel movies ever, but one of the best films of the year.

The final James Gunn-directed Marvel movie is an unsurprisingly funny, action-packed, creatively bizarre, earnest, and incredibly emotional watch. Believe us, you’ll want to have a box of tissues handy for the amount of tear-jerking scenes that make up Guardians 3‘s fantastic but weepy plot.

We’ve known that Guardians 3 was coming to Disney Plus for a while now. And, with the Marvel Phase 5 film finally hitting the service, we’d be amazed if it doesn’t storm up the streaming movie charts in the next week or two. A worthy addition to our new Disney Plus movies list.

While you’re here, find out where it sits in on the increasingly confusing MCU timeline in our Marvel movies in order guide.

New Disney Plus movies: July 2023

Chevalier

Release date: July 26

Based on real-life events, Chevalier tells the tale of the French-Caribbean musician Joseph Bologne de Saint-Georges. A biracial Creole man of color, Bologne de Saint-Georges was widely recognized as the first world-renowned classical composer of African descent.

The period drama biopic, which stars Kelvin Harrison Jr (The Trial of the Chicago 7) as the titular character, is less of a Hamilton-style clone than you might expect. It’s not a rip-roaring, three-hour stage play that’s been filmed for Disney Plus. Instead, it’s a movie in every sense of the word, charting the rise of Bologne de Saint-Georges from working class plantation background to one of the most gifted and famous musicians of all-time.

Despite its lack of marketing in late 2022 (and subsequent small box office takings), Chevalier was rated highly by critics upon release. Disney Plus users looking for something a little different to stream this weekend, then, should look no further.

New Disney Plus movies: coming soon

Brynn hides from an alien in her house in No One Will Save You

No One Will Save You will thrill you on Disney Plus in late September. (Image credit: 20th Century Studios)

There are only two new Disney Plus movies confirmed to be coming soon: Haunted Mansion and a sci-fi thriller complete with alien spider-like creatures. Read on to find out when they’ll join the platform:

  • No One Will Save You – September 22
  • Haunted Mansion – October 4

Not up for a movie? Try our pick of the best Disney Plus shows, find out if there’s a free Disney Plus trial available, or make full use of this $1.99 Disney Plus three-month subscription, which is only available until September 20.

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