New Disney Plus movies: the top new films to stream in August 2023

New Disney Plus movies might not join the streaming giant’s back catalog as often as Netflix ones do, but there are still plenty of good (and not so good) films that debut on the service.

Recently, there have been plenty of new movies that have joined Disney Plus‘ film library. So, if you’ve not being keeping up to date with the latest flicks to hit one of the world’s best streaming services, you’ve got some catching up to do.

Below, we’ve rounded up all of the most important new films to land on Disney Plus since the start of June. Well, in the UK and Australia, anyway. Most of the entries on this list are only available on Hulu in the US. Viewers living stateside, then, will need to load up Disney Plus’ sister streamer to enjoy some of the movies that follow.

Should you want the lowdown on the best Disney Plus movies around, you’ll need to read the aforementioned linked to guide for a more comprehensive view. For now, these are all of the new Disney Plus films to watch from the comfort of your own home.

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 13% rotten rating 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 rating 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: June 2023

World’s Best

Release date: June 23

The latest Disney Plus Original movie to land on the platform, World’s Best is a musical comedy flick that might pique the interest of anyone who enjoys rap music, math, or a combination of the two.

Manny Magnus stars as Prem Patel, a 12-year-old math genius who discovers his late father was actually a famous rapper. Desperate to follow in his dad’s footsteps, Prem sets out to become a superstar in his own right. However, Prem will soon find out he can’t achieve every goal in his life, and he’ll have to decide which of his ambitions he throws his full weight behind.

World’s Best won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s sure to resonate with kids and adolescents with big dreams. Early reviews have called it a feel-good family flick, but one that some viewers may find a tad generic and schlocky.

The Incredible Hulk

Release date: June 16

15 years after it debuted in theaters (and almost four years since Disney Plus launched as a platform), the second-ever MCU film has joined its siblings on Disney’s main streamer.

That’s right, 2008’s The Incredible Hulk has smashed its way onto Disney Plus. Until now, Marvel couldn’t add it to the streamer’s film library as Universal held the rights to the character. Now that this deal has ended, they’re are free to add the Hulk’s only solo MCU film to the platform.

Fans familiar with Marvel’s cinematic juggernaut, though, won’t find current Hulk actor Mark Ruffalo in this film. Back in 2008, Marvel cast Edward Norton as Bruce Banner/his green-skinned, angry alter-ego instead. However, Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige replaced Norton with Ruffalo from 2012’s Avengers onwards (Norton reportedly didn’t want to return, either), which is why the character doesn’t look like he used to.

Anyway, long story short: if you’ve been waiting for The Incredible Hulk to join Disney Plus, today’s your lucky day. We’re one step closer to having every MCU film on Disney’s primary streamer, everyone!

Stan Lee

Release date: June 16

A docufilm in all-but-name, this production tells the story of the legendary comic book writer, editor, publisher, and producer’s journey through Marvel comics and his wider impact on the superhero industry.

Stan Lee follows the beloved creator from his humble, tough beginnings as Stanley Leiber during the Great Depression, right up to his death in November 2018. Using archive footage – home made videos, interviews, and audio recordings – it’s an unmissable documentary that diehard Marvel fans, plus more casual MCU viewers, will want to stream as soon as possible. A notable inclusion in our new Disney Plus movies guide, even if some of the details within aren’t 100% true.

Flamin’ Hot

Release date: June 9 (available on Hulu in the US)

The first-ever Searchlight Pictures film to be released simultaneously on Disney Plus and Hulu, Flamin’ Hot tells the true story behind the invention of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.

Jesse Garcia plays Richard Montañez, a Frito-Lays janitor who turned the world of potato chips on its head when he channeled his Mexican-American heritage into the spicy hot snack in the late 1980s.

Flamin’ Hot comes from Eva Longoria (in her feature film directorial debut). And, given its simple, based-on-real-events narrative, it’s a surprisingly heart warming and enjoyable flick. The comedy-drama, which became the most-streamed Searchlight Original in Disney Plus and Hulu’s entire history during its first three days on both platforms, currently holds a 89% ‘fresh’ audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Avatar: The Way of Water

Release date: June 7

Finally, six months after its theatrical debut, James Cameron’s latest blockbuster has landed on Disney Plus. We knew Avatar 2 would eventually be making its way to Disney’s main streamer (and Max) on this date, but it’s nonetheless good news to see it finally swim onto two of the world’s best platforms.

Set 16 years after the events of Avatar, The Way of Water reunites us with Jake Sully and the rest of the Na’vi as they look to combat a renewed effort from the Resources Development Administration (RDA). You can read our Avatar: The Way of Water spoiler-free review for more on what we thought of the epic sci-fi flick but, to give you a brief hint, we called it a “phenomenal feat of filmmaking” and that “most will walk away from The Way of Water feeling stung by the disappointment of having to leave Cameron’s mesmerizing world”.

Once you’re done reading that (and watching one of the best movies of 2022), get the lowdown on where Avatar 2 placed in our best James Cameron movies piece. A deserved inclusion in our new Disney Plus movies guide.

New Disney Plus movies: coming soon

The Little Mermaid swims onto Disney Plus in early September. (Image credit: Walt Disney Studios)

Interested in knowing the new Disney Plus movies that are confirmed to be joining the service soon, including The Little Mermaid‘s early September arrival? Read on:

The Little Mermaid – September 6No One Will Save You – September 22

Not up for a movie? Try our pick of the best Disney Plus shows or find out if there’s a free Disney Plus trial available.