December is the perfect month to wrap up cozy and enjoy great movies on Disney+. With a wide selection including some of the best superhero movies of all time, family-friendly favorites, and classics from prestigious directors, there’s truly something for everyone, making it the ideal streaming destination whether you’re in the mood for comfort viewing or something a little more adventurous.
Disney+ is always adding new releases, but just as exciting is its impressive back catalog, offering timeless classics and hidden gems. It might be a festive favorite, an offbeat comedy, or something serious; no matter what you’re looking for, Disney+ has you covered.
The Simpsons Movie (2007)
Considering the recent announcement that Springfield’s most famous family is due for another cinematic adventure, there’s never been a better time to go back and revisit The Simpsons Movie. With all the warmth and humor that made the TV show a cultural juggernaut, this highly anticipated release truly delivered and became a major box-office hit.
With nonstop jokes and a genuinely engaging storyline that saw the Simpsons travel outside of Springfield after the town was encased in a giant dome, The Simpsons Movie brought to mind the golden age of the series and proved there was life in this franchise yet. With The Simpsons Movie 2 due for release in September 2027, Disney+ viewers can relive the magic.
The Roses (2025)
With two powerhouse performances from Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman, The Roses starts off as a typical rom-com before evolving into all-out war as a married couple does everything they can to make each other’s lives miserable. As a reimagining of the original 1989 film, this satirical black comedy showcased how a picture-perfect marriage can fall apart.
The Roses saw a passionate architect and an aspiring chef’s aspirations collide in an increasingly chaotic fashion, as egos and resentment overtook love and romance. While some reviews said the film failed to capture the spirit of Warren Adler’s original novel, Cumberbatch and Colman’s explosive chemistry made this one of the funniest movies of 2025.
Freakier Friday (2025)
As a legacy sequel coming 22 years after Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis first switched bodies in Freaky Friday, Freakier Friday could have been a total disaster. However, with just the right amount of fan service and genuinely compelling story, empathy, identity, and self-discovery, the way this release shook up a well-worn formula felt refreshing.
By harkening back to what made the original work without feeling like a total retread, Freakier Friday explored the pitfalls of generational disconnect and the importance of taking the time to see where the other person is coming from. It’s fun, funny, and the perfect kind of film to enjoy on a quiet, cozy, cold December evening.
The Fantastic Four: The First Steps (2025)
Although superhero movies have dominated the cinematic landscape for nearly 20 years, the Fantastic Four is a superpowered team that filmmakers have never quite gotten right. That was until the release of The Fantastic Four: The First Steps, which felt like an exciting return to form after some lackluster MCU releases in recent years.
With a star-studded cast including Pedro Pascal as Mister Fantastic, the film’s 1960s aesthetic set it apart from other Marvel movies. There were also the first hints of Robert Downey Jr’s return to the franchise with a brief uncredited cameo as Doctor Doom in the mid-credits scene.
The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)
While viewers might think of cartoons, superheroes, and kids’ series when they imagine Disney+, the truth is that this streaming platform boasts many of the best adult-oriented releases from prestigious directors. One great example is Martin McDonagh’s dark Oscar-nominated comedy The Banshees of Inisherin.
Featuring Colin Farrell as a simple man living on a remote Irish island, his life is turned on its head when his best friend (Brendan Gleeson) decides he no longer wants to be associated with him. As a compelling exploration of the complex nature of friendship, The Banshees of Inisherin was a strangely compelling tale highlighting the absurdity of human relationships.
Jingle All the Way (1996)
While classics like It’s a Wonderful Life or Elf will be on plenty of viewers’ Christmas watchlists, there are also plenty more underrated festive films to check out. One release that’s often forgotten about is the Arnold Schwarzenegger release Jingle All the Way, which is one of the few films to embrace the capitalist underpinnings of the holiday season.
This hilarious story saw Schwarzenegger play a panicked father tasked with purchasing the popular Turbo Man action figure for his son during a last-minute Christmas shopping spree. With a standout performance from Sinbad, a stressed-out mailman who becomes Schwarzenegger’s rival, this fun-filled adventure spirals into frantic mayhem as the pair clash in an escalating series of mishaps.
A Real Pain (2024)
Explore the effects of grief, trauma, and memory in A Real Pain, the directorial debut from Jesse Eisenberg. Telling the story of two cousins on a Jewish heritage tour through Poland, this neurotic, anxious pair was forced to confront their shared history in a film that mixed awkward moments with genuine humor and a real sense of heart.
The standout performance was Kieran Culkin as Benji Kaplan, a free-spirited man carrying a deep sense of pain that leaves a unique impression on everyone he meets. Culkin even took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role, setting him on a path for an exciting post-Succession career in movies.
Die Hard (1988)
While the jury may still be out on whether Die Hard is actually a Christmas movie, there’s no denying that December is the perfect time to check in on Bruce Willis as John McClane. As one of the best action movies of all time, this release launched a million copycats and still holds up incredibly well today.
Whether it’s catchphrases like “yippee ki yay,” or Alan Rickman’s iconic performance as Hans Gruber, Die Hard is a genuine classic and was the film that turned Willis into a household name. Its mix of sharp humor, explosive action, and unforgettable characters makes it a perfect rewatch for the holiday season.
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Although there are always great new movies added to Disney+, one of the best things about the service is that you can go back and rewatch your favorites. This is certainly the case for Avengers: Infinity War, which served as the culmination of everything the MCU had been building toward and one of the most exciting cinematic events ever.
Featuring the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy doing everything they can to stop Thanos from acquiring the Infinity Stones, the fact that he actually managed to cause the Blip and wipe out half of the universe’s population upped the stakes like never before. As a true before-and-after moment, Infinity War represented a high point for the MCU.
Home Alone (1990)
Although movie opinions are subjective, few can deny Home Alone’s place as a perfect Christmas movie. With Macaulay Culkin delivering a star-making performance as the clever eight-year-old Kevin McCallister, the ingenious way he protects his home from two robbers made for a hilarious adventure that the entire family could enjoy.
Home Alone has endured as a Christmas classic for the past 25 years because everything in it just works, and it takes a simple premise to the absolute extreme. There might be plenty of viewing options available on Disney+, but anyone who doesn’t decide to revisit Home Alone this December is doing themselves a disservice.
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