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What Travel Shows and Movies to watch on Disney+

Find what to watch on Disney+ including the latest releases. Filter by movies, TV shows, release years, genres and more.

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Expedition Everest

'Behind the Attraction'

'the imagineering story', 'one day at disney', 'magic of disney's animal kingdom', 'harmonious live', 'star wars: galaxy's edge — adventure awaits', 'the most magical story on earth: 50 years of walt disney world', 'disney illuminations', 'the pre-opening report from disneyland', 'disneyland around the seasons', 'disney parks sunrise series', 11 disney plus documentaries that reveal the inner workings of disney's parks and attractions.

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Disney Plus has a lot of great documentaries that explore different facets of Disney's theme parks.
These specials can give fans a taste of the theme park experience without leaving their living rooms.
They're also filled with interesting bits of Disney history and peeks into the creation of popular rides.

In addition to tons of movies and shows from Walt Disney Animation, Pixar, Marvel , and Star Wars , Disney Plus is home to a number of documentaries, series, and specials about Disney's many theme parks around the world.

From Florida to California to Paris, these specials let viewers learn more about their favorite attractions and experiences. Fans can get a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of several popular rides, a spectacular view of Epcot's latest fireworks show, and even a vintage tour of Disneyland conducted by Walt Disney himself.

Beyond offering tons of Disney trivia and history, these programs can also give viewers a taste of the theme park experience without ever leaving their home. If you're a fan who hasn't been to Disney in years, or just someone who wants to learn more about the inner workings of each park, these docs are all well worth a watch.

Here are 11 documentaries you can stream on Disney Plus to learn more about Disney's parks and rides:

Stream "Behind the Attraction"

This 10-episode documentary series explores the stories behind some of the most iconic Disney attractions around the world. See the evolution of the Tower of Terror and the eventual inception of Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout, and the way Star Tours led to a full-blown "Star Wars" land. The first season also features episodes about the Haunted Mansion, It's A Small World, and Jungle Cruise, plus one dedicated to all of the iconic castles.

Stream "The Imagineering Story"

In six episodes, "The Imagineering Story" takes viewers through the history and creation of Disney parks around the world. Beginning with Disneyland and ending with a look toward the future, this docuseries covers everything from the Walt Disney World expansions to the Disney Cruise Line and the renovation of California Adventure. The series is narrated by Angela Bassett.

Stream "One Day At Disney"

This feature-length documentary takes an in-depth look at 10 employees of the Walt Disney Company to learn more about what they do on a daily basis. In addition to artists, newscasters, and performers from Disney Theatrical, the show follows a few imagineers who work in the theme parks, a conductor on the Disneyland Railroad, and a veterinarian at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Following the debut of the feature, Disney Plus also released 51 episodes of "One Day At Disney (Shorts)," each of which follows a new employee of the company. These episodes feature park scuba divers, candy makers, decorators, and ride technicians, among many others.

Stream "Magic of Disney's Animal Kingdom"

Josh Gad narrates this eight-episode series that takes viewers inside Disney's most recent Florida theme park. Animal Kingdom, which opened in 1998, houses over 300 species of animals, in addition to all of the fun theme park attractions. "Magic of Disney's Animal Kingdom" takes a closer look at the animals who call the park home, in addition to the people who form bonds with them as caretakers. The show also dedicates an episode to The Seas, an aquarium attraction at Epcot that houses sharks, dolphins, manatees, and other aquatic creatures.

Stream "Harmonious Live!"

Hosted by Idina Menzel, this livestream of Epcot's latest fireworks show premiered on Disney Plus in late June and is now available to watch on demand. The nighttime spectacular debuted at Epcot in October 2021, just in time to usher in the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World. Taking place in the World Showcase lagoon, fireworks, lights, video, and music all come together in this celebration of Disney songs and the way music connects us all, regardless of language.

Stream "Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge — Adventure Awaits"

Galaxy's Edge is one of the newest expansions at Disney's California and Florida resorts. The lands bring "Star Wars" to life like never before. This special, which aired to coincide with the opening in 2019, takes viewers behind the scenes as imagineers develop the new land. It explores the extensive theming, which includes shops, restaurants, and attractions, plus "Star Wars" character appearances and immersive storylines involving the First Order and Resistance.

Stream "The Most Magical Story on Earth: 50 Years of Walt Disney World"

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World, ABC aired this retrospective look at the theme park's evolution over the past five decades, as well as a look into the future. It also explores the various ways the 18-month anniversary celebration is happening across the entire resort in Orlando.

Stream "Disney Illuminations"

Like "Harmonious Live," this special lets you experience a nighttime spectacular without leaving your house — this time direct from Disneyland Paris. The show features a mixture of fireworks, lasers, lights, pyrotechnics, water fountains, and projections directly onto Sleeping Beauty's castle. The 19-minute special is also filled with classic Disney songs, like "A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes," "Part of Your World," and "Circle of Life," plus homages to "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Star Wars."

Stream "The Pre-Opening Report from Disneyland"

"The Pre-Opening Report from Disneyland" originally aired in 1955 and depicts the construction of the park. Walt Disney provides viewers with updates as the park gears up for its grand opening, and Winston Hibler narrates the construction scenes with insights about the attractions.

Stream "Disneyland Around the Seasons"

This special originally aired in 1966 as part of "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color," and it actually premiered three days after Walt Disney's death. In it, Disney takes viewers on a tour of Disneyland to point out some new additions, including New Orleans Square, It's A Small World, and some of the park's signature holiday celebrations.

Stream "Disney Parks Sunrise Series"

Missing your favorite Disney landmarks? You can watch the sunrise over three Disney World centerpieces with the "Disney Parks Sunrise Series." There are three hour-long episodes: one for Cinderella's Castle, one for the EPCOT Spaceship Earth ball, and one for the Animal Kingdom Tree of Life. Set to ambient sounds, like birds chirping, these specials were filmed from different vantage points all over the parks.

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The 10 best documentaries on Disney Plus

Disney Plus isn't all about blockbuster entertainment. Here's the best factual programming available on the platform.

The chance to watch The Mandalorian, hit Marvel movies and episodes of The Simpsons on tap may have grabbed the headlines when Disney Plus first launched, but the new platform isn’t just about telling fictional stories. There are also loads of exciting documentaries to enjoy – whatever your interests, you’re bound to find something that appeals.

Naturally, Disney isn’t shy about talking about releases from its own stable, so there are plenty of quality documentaries about its rich animation history (Waking Sleeping Beauty, Frank and Ollie), theme parks (The Imagineering Story), and the wider Disney family ( Star Wars making-of Empire of Dreams).

But, thanks to the Mouse House's 2019 acquisition of 20th Century Fox, Disney Plus also hosts a vast array of impressive factual programming from National Geographic – taking in everything from outer space (Apollo: Missions to the Moon) to the deepest oceans (Titanic: 20 Years Later).

In fact, there’s so much available we've assembled this list of the 10 best documentaries to watch on Disney Plus, ahead of the release of Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian on May 4. Read on – you might learn something…

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The Imagineering Story

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The coronavirus may have closed Disney’s theme parks for the time being, but you can experience some of the magic at a safe distance in this excellent six-part documentary series. Helmed by Leslie Iwerks (director of The Pixar Story, also available on Disney Plus), The Imagineering Story goes behind the scenes to tell the history of the various Disneylands, while revealing how the vision of the so-called ‘Imagineers’ brings the the state-of-the-art theme park attractions to life.

Alex Honnold’s death-defying mission to complete a solo free climb – y’know, without safety ropes – of iconic Californian rock formation El Capitan provides the dramatic anchor of this captivating, Oscar-winning documentary. Not only are Honnold’s vertigo-inducing, superhuman exploits on the rock face utterly mind-boggling, the remarkable feats of the camera crew who recorded his adventure are almost as awe-inspiring in their own right. The ultimate movie cliffhanger.

Empire of Dreams

This epic two-and-a-half-hour documentary debuted with the Star Wars trilogy’s DVD release in 2004, and is a definitive guide to the making of the first three classic movies. Alongside interviews with most of the key players (including George Lucas, the stars, department heads, studio execs and many more), it mixes goosebump-inducing behind-the-scenes material, with commentary on the genre-defining saga’s extensive cultural legacy. Arguably one of the five greatest feature-length Star Wars offerings of all time.

Waking Sleeping Beauty

Now that Disney owns Marvel , Star Wars and Pixar – as well as boasting a highly successful raft of homegrown movies – it’s easy to forget the studio hasn’t always been such a reliable hit machine. In the 1980s, however, Disney’s animation wing hit the skids with the less-than-stellar likes of Basil the Great Mouse Detective and Oliver & Company. This documentary tells the story of the studio’s early-1990s return to form, as studio exec (and future Dreamworks/ Quibi founder) Jeffrey Katzenberg ushered in a successful run of animated hits including The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and The Lion King.

Frank and Ollie

Walt himself tended to hog the limelight, but the so-called ‘Nine Old Men’ – Disney’s most-trusted group of animators – deserve their fair share of the credit for the studio becoming a Hollywood behemoth. This 1995 documentary focuses on Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, two men who worked on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Bambi and pretty much every other Disney classic until the early 1980s – as well as writing animation bible The Illusion of Life. A must for fans of Disney animation.

Science Fair

Think back to your high school days and chances are you were more interested in sports or videogames than getting involved in top scientific research. That’s not the case for everyone, however…

This 2018 documentary follows nine teens at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles – and they inadvertently make the rest of us feel we should have worked a little bit harder. As the kids show off remarkable prowess in high-powered disciplines like aeronautical engineering, the film is unashamed about putting their remarkable achievements on a pedestal. In Science Fair, the geeks really do inherit the Earth.

Before the Flood

Celebrity-fronted ‘issues’ documentaries don’t always have the best track record, but Leonardo DiCaprio’s passionate climate change exposé is a brilliant exception to the rule. Traveling around the planet (DiCaprio does acknowledge the size of his carbon footprint), the Wolf of Wall Street star examines both sides of the global warming argument, from melting ice caps to aggressive fossil fuel extraction. He also squeezes in interviews with political heavyweights such as President Barack Obama along the way. Perhaps the most pertinent takeaway from this 2016 doc, however, is that the world has seen so little improvement since.

Apollo: Missions to the Moon

The story of how Nasa put 12 men on the surface of the Moon between 1969 and 1972 has been told many times before, but it’s a tale that never gets old. Released to mark the 50th anniversary of Neil Armstrong’s first lunar steps, this National Geographic documentary is built entirely around archive footage. As director Tom Jennings assembles material from Nasa, TV networks and beyond into a linear timeline, the lack of modern-day talking heads gives it an intriguingly hindsight-free perspective, allowing you to come to your own conclusions about one of humanity’s greatest ever achievements.

Titanic: 20 Years Later

Winning a record-breaking haul of Oscars and becoming the self-proclaimed “king of the world” didn’t end James Cameron’s interest in the Titanic. Made two decades after his hit movie, this National Geographic documentary follows the legendary Terminator/Aliens director as he returns to the world’s most famous shipwreck – and learns what the box office smash got right and wrong. Turns out the sinking may not have been entirely accurate…

Atlantis Rising, where Cameron goes looking for the mythical underwater kingdom, is also available on Disney Plus.

No list of top factual offerings on Disney Plus would be complete without a nature doc – after all, there are loads to choose from. But we’ve plumped for this 2020 movie about a herd of elephants making their way across the Kalahari desert. The filmmaking team turn the adventures of Gaia, Shani, Jomo and friends into a coherent – occasionally tear-jerking – narrative while making the most of some stunning natural world photography. But for all that, the documentary will probably be most remembered for marking the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle’s, return to the screen. She donated her fee to the Elephants Without Borders charity.

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Richard is a freelance journalist specialising in movies and TV, primarily of the sci-fi and fantasy variety. An early encounter with a certain galaxy far, far away started a lifelong love affair with outer space, and these days Richard's happiest geeking out about Star Wars, Star Trek, Marvel and other long-running pop culture franchises. In a previous life he was editor of legendary sci-fi and fantasy magazine SFX, where he got to interview many of the biggest names in the business – though he'll always have a soft spot for Jeff Goldblum who (somewhat bizarrely) thought Richard's name was Winter.

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The best Disney Plus documentaries

From classic nature docs to modern offerings from award-winning directors, disney plus has no shortage of thrilling documentaries..

Stacey Ritzen

Posted on Jul 9, 2020 Updated on Jul 17, 2020, 12:37 pm CDT

Disney Plus offers a vast library of content , including an impressive selection of nature, deep sea, and space documentaries —just for starters.
From classic feature-length Technicolor films to modern Disneynature True-Life Adventures and NatGeo offerings, there are plenty of Disney Plus documentaries to keep you entertained on Earth Day and beyond.
Disney Plus is available for $6.99 per month, or $69.99 per year for an annual subscription.

10 Must-Watch Documentaries on Disney+

The African Lion

Experience the thrill of the hunt and heartwarming patience of a mother caring for her cubs in The African Lion , one of the classic Disney Plus documentaries, filmed with wildlife experts Elma and Alfred Milotte. The couple spent a 30-month period in Kenya, Tanganyika, and Uganda documenting the life of the lion within the complexity of the African ecosystem. The feature-length Technicolor documentary, directed by James Algar, was released in 1955 by Walt Disney Productions as part of its True-Life Adventures series.

Apollo: Missions to the Moon

Ahead of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first manned lunar landing on July 20, 1969, Emmy and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker Tom Jennings flexed his signature style of first-person storytelling to create Apollo: Missions to the Moon —an immersive account that spans the breadth and depth of NASA’s Apollo Space Program.

In an epic story of breathtaking scale, Disneynature’s True Life Adventure Bears showcases a year in the life of a bear family as two impressionable young cubs are taught life’s most important lessons. Set against a majestic Alaskan backdrop teeming with life, their journey begins as winter comes to an end and the bears emerge from hibernation to face the bitter cold. The film originally premiered in theaters across the country just in time for Earth Day on April 18, 2014.

Aliens of the Deep

Academy Award-winning filmmaker James Cameron joins up with a group of NASA scientists and American marine biologists to investigate ten hydrothermal vents in both the Atlantic and Pacific in this 2005 Walt Disney Pictures documentary. These vents have their own unique ecosystem, which supports diverse organisms that are capable of “seeing” water that is heated by the vents. Because these creatures do not require sunlight like other organisms, they obtain their energy from the vents and are able to survive in the superheated and sulfurous water.

Going by theories that some alien ecosystems are likely to be a lot harsher than a typical terrestrial ecosystem, the documentary provides a fascinating glimpse at what life beyond Earth might look like.

The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos

This 2008 British-American nature documentary explores the breeding and parenting habits of lesser flamingos, which occurs every year on the isolated shores of Lake Natron in northern Tanzania and along the salt lakes of the African Rift Valley. After mating on an immense salt island, the flamingos breed their chicks, who learn to survive and grow up in an extreme and dangerous environment. In the course of their journeys, they encounter marabou storks who prey on many eggs and newly born chicks and a spotted hyena who takes no pity on the adult flamingos.

Directed by Mark Linfield and Vanessa Berlowitz and narrated by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Elephant follows the remarkable journey of African elephant Shani and her spirited son Jomo, as their herd makes an epic journey hundreds of miles across the vast Kalahari Desert. Led by their great matriarch, Gaia, the family faces brutal heat, dwindling resources, and persistent predators—as they follow in their ancestor’s footsteps on a quest to reach a lush, green paradise.

Dolphin Reef

Released alongside Elephant as a Disney Plus exclusive when the streaming service launched, Dolphin Reef dives under the sea to frolic with some of the planet’s most engaging animals. The film, which was created with Disneynature’s signature storytelling style, introduces Echo—a young Pacific bottlenose dolphin who can’t quite decide if it’s time to grow up and take on new responsibilities. Directed by Alastair Fothergill and Keith Scholey and narrated by Natalie Portman, the documentary explores the tricky dynamics of dolphin society, as well as the vibrant coral reef that Echo and his family call home.

Into the Grand Canyon

More people have stood on the moon than have completed a continuous hike of the Grand Canyon. But in 2016, that’s exactly what filmmaker Pete McBride and writer Kevin Fedarko set out do to, by embarking on a 750-mile journey on foot across the entire length. The pair took a sectional approach, thereby achieving a feat that many adventurers have taken decades to complete—and others have lost their lives trying. But their quest was more than just an endurance test, it was also a platform to draw attention to the unprecedented threats facing one of our most revered landscapes.

Born Wild: The Next Generation

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day in April 2020, National Geographic released the one-hour television event Born Wild: The Next Generation . Hosted by Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts and featuring a host of photographers and explorers, as well as superstar actor Chris Hemsworth, the documentary special presents stories of hope and gives viewers a revealing look at our planet’s next generation of baby animals and their ecosystems, which face daunting environmental changes.

In doing so, viewers ate taken on a journey to stunning, breathtaking environments around the globe includings Australia, Hawaii, Sri Lanka, and Kenya to witness and celebrate the diversity and splendor of charismatic baby animals, their families and habitats.

Jane Goodall: The Hope

The next chapter of the inspiring and amazing Dr. Jane Goodall’s life’s work unfolds in Jane Goodall: The Hope , which originally premiered on Earth Day 2020 on Nat Geo, Nat Geo WILD, and Nat Geo Mundo. The two-hour documentary takes viewers through chapters of Dr. Goodall’s journey in the 60 sixty years since her groundbreaking discoveries in Gombe researching wild chimpanzees, including her activism, creation of her non-profit organization the Jane Goodall Institute as well as the Roots & Shoots youth program—along with her current efforts to inspire the next generation.

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Stacey Ritzen is a reporter and editor based in West Philadelphia with over 10 years' experience covering pop culture, web culture, entertainment, and news. You can follow her on Twitter @staceyritzen.

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14 mind-blowing documentaries to watch on Disney+

The streaming service has more than just Disney Classics.

George Lucas posing with disney characters

Updated May 27, 2021

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.

1. Free Solo

Free Solo climber Alex Honnold on a ledge

Scaling the 3,200-foot El Capitan in Yosemite National Park without a rope is no easy feat.

Prepare to reach dizzying new heights during Free Solo , an Oscar-winning documentary that follows Alex Honnold as he sets out to become the first person to free solo climb El Capitan, a 3,000 foot rock formation in Yosemite National Park. For those unaware, free soloing is a style of climbing without the use of a harness or safety line. If you're afraid of heights, you'll probably be glued to the edge of your seat for the entirety of his ascent.

2. Before the Flood

Leonardo DiCaprio travels to five continents and the Arctic in this climate change doc.

Leonardo DiCaprio has long-been a champion of environmental justice, establishing The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation back in 1998 to help preserve forests, oceans, and wildlife. In 2016, DiCaprio co-produced and starred in Before the Flood , in which he travels around the world with filmmaker Fisher Stevens to study the effects of climate change firsthand. The actor also interviews political leaders like then-President Barack Obama to discuss solutions to the climate crisis. Along the way, the film highlights what steps ordinary citizens can take to help.

3. The Imagineering Story

For the Imagineers, creating happiness is hard work.

Anyone who's ever experienced the magic of a Disney theme park might wonder "How exactly did all this come to be?" In The Imagineering Story , we learn how the team of artists and engineers at the Walt Disney Company—known as Imagineers—turned the "Happiest Place on Earth" into a reality. With fascinating archive footage, exclusive interviews, and behind-the-scenes takes, it's a must-watch for any fan of the House of Mouse.

4. African Cats

Watch as these two cat families survive in the wild.

After streaming The Lion King on Disney Plus, you can go ahead and watch the real thing: African Cats . Narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, the film documents the lives of two families of big cats—a pride of lions and coalition of cheetahs—living in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, in Kenya. It's a story of animal survival in the African savannah, with all the rival cats, mischievous cubs, and predator-prey relationships you'd expect.

5. Diana: In Her Own Words

This intimate life story is told through Princess Diana's voice.

6. Waking Sleeping Beauty

Find out how Disney regained its magic in the late '80s.

From 1989 to 1999, Walt Disney Studios produced some of their most successful animated films ever made, including The Little Mermaid , Beauty and the Beast , Aladdin , and The Lion King . In what came to be known as the Disney Renaissance, this 10-year period marked a return to form for Disney's animation department, led by former CEO Michael Eisner and studio exec Jeffrey Katzenberg. Waking Sleeping Beauty provides viewers with an inside look into how this era unfolded, featuring interviews and behind-the scenes footage of the animators, directors, and studio heads that started it all.

7. Paris to Pittsburgh

It may be up to citizens to decide the United States' energy future.

Released shortly after the Trump administration's announcement that it would withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement, Paris to Pittsburgh reveals how Americans are responding to the threat of climate change in their own communities. Directed by National Geographic filmmaker Sidney Beaumont, the film takes viewers through Puerto Rico, California, Iowa, Florida, and New Jersey, highlighting state and local efforts to lead a more sustainable future.

8. Frank and Ollie

These two friends created some of the most beloved Disney characters of all time.

Two of Walt Disney's "Nine Old Men," Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston were the famed animation duo behind the likes of Bambi , Lady and the Tramp , and Pinocchio . The titular documentary delves into the two men's lifelong friendship, achievements, and creative process during the "Golden Age" of hand drawn animation. Fun fact: you can see both men make a cameo in The Incredibles , during the battle scene at the end of the film.

9. Science Fair

two contestants in Science Fair documentary

Who's got what is takes to win the big prize?

In Science Fair , viewers are introduced to nine high school students from all over the world as they compete at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Los Angeles, known as "the Olympics of science fairs." The competition is stiff—with a total of 1,700 of the best and brightest teens from over 78 countries, only one will take home the grand prize of $75,000. Watch as contestants develop revolutionary algorithms, pancreatic cancer sensors, and 3D-printed stethoscopes—and wonder—could they be the ones to save lives in the future?

10. Apollo: Missions to the Moon

This space doc retells the race to the moon.

It's been over 50 years since Neil Armstrong set foot on the lunar surface, yet to this day, the moon landing is still one of humanity's greatest achievements. National Geographic’s Apollo: Missions to the Moon recounts those early days of space exploration between 1969 and 1972 using archival footage, photos, and audio of all 12 crewed missions to showcase the Apollo Space Program. It's definitely a story worth watching, whether you're a Space Race buff or not.

11. Dolphin Reef

Go on a journey to the Polynesian Islands.

Narrated by Natalie Portman, Dolphin Reef dives into life under the sea through the story of a young Pacific bottlenose dolphin, Echo, who's learning to make it on his own. Residing by a Polyenesian coral reef with his mom, Kumu, viewers are treated to stunning visuals of the tropical reef and its aquatic inhabitants, including parrot fish, mantis shrimp, sea turtles, and cuttlefish. Each animal has a role to play, and their cohabitation is essential to the survival of each species, as well as the reef itself.

12. Titanic: 20 Years Later

James Cameron leaning over Titanic replica

Ever wondered how accurate "Titanic" was, anyway?

Over two decades have passed since Titanic surged onto screens, yet director James Cameron still had a few questions that went unanswered after filming the Hollywood blockbuster. It's what prompted Cameron to return to the famous shipwreck with a team of experts in Titanic: 20 Years Later , to once and for all find out what the box office hit got right and wrong. As it turns out, the infamous sinking may not have happened the way we witnessed on-screen...

13. Empire of Dreams

The Force is strong with this "Star Wars" doc.

If you call yourself a diehard Star Wars fan, Empire of Dreams should be on your must-watch list (if you haven't already seen it!). This in-depth documentary gives a behind-the-scenes look into the original saga, with a two-an-a-half hour runtime that rivals one of the first three films. Featuring interviews from much of the cast of The Empire Strikes Back , and Return of the Jedi , it contains all the commentary you'd ever want on the making of the epic space-opera, including from George Lucas himself.

14. The Pixar Story

You may love Pixar films, but do you know how the company got its start?

Pixar studios is essentially synonymous with modern animation, and this documentary tells the story of the visionary company's humble beginnings and growth. It details the hard work of Pixar creators John Lasseter, Ed Catmull, and even Steve Jobs, who helped turn the studio into the success story it is today. Interspersed with early shorts, concept art, and interviews with everyone from Tom Hanks to George Lucas, viewers will discover how these revolutionary CGI animation techniques led to Pixar's historic rise "to infinity and beyond."

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The 13 Best Nature Documentaries on Disney+

This list has been updated. *New additions are indicated with an asterisk.

In the hubbub surrounding Disney’s 100th anniversary, a very cool piece of film history fell through the cracks: the fact that Walt Disney himself invented the nature documentary.

The year was 1948, and Disney was starting to regain its footing after a difficult period that included World War II and the animators’ strike of 1941. Walt was beginning to think of things beyond mere animation, as the company would soon embark on making live-action features and, crucially, turning a patch of orange groves into a theme-park destination that would change the world.

But before that, Walt, inspired by his work on Bambi , would attempt a new form of storytelling — one in which the animals dictated the narrative. Those early films, dubbed “True-Life Adventures,” were a sensation: They won Oscars and became classroom staples. And ever since, Disney has been deeply committed to the nature documentary. In 2007, the Disneynature shingle was introduced, which looked to revive the drama of Walt’s “True-Life Adventures” with a more open message about conservation. In 2019, when Disney acquired the 21st Century Fox assets, they also gained control of National Geographic.

With that in mind, we’ve decided to cherry-pick the very best nature documentaries on Disney+. A disclaimer: There are a bunch of wonderful nature specials and TV series on Disney+, most of them from the National Geographic label, but they’re not included here. These are strictly the best feature-length nature documentaries available on the platform. One additional caveat: They’re the best documentaries on the service right now . It’s worth noting, since a number of classic Disney nature documentaries, old and new, have yet to debut on Disney+. The movies below are both hugely entertaining and hugely important. Maybe the next Jane Goodall is sitting down in front of their parents’ iPad right now, firing up a Disneynature doc, ready to change the world.

The African Lion (1955)

Although titled The African Lion , this “True-Life Adventure” from 1955 does a remarkable job showing a number of animal species in Kenya and Tanganyika: giraffes swaying their necks in the breeze, rhinos bathing in mud, and African buffalo keeping a watchful eye on predators (they’re too big and sturdily built to mess with). The description on Disney+ points out that the film is the result of three years of research by Elma and Alfred Milotte, whose short film inspired Walt Disney to hire them and ultimately led to the creation of “True-Life Adventures.” The African Lion was widely hailed (it won the Silver Bear for Documentaries at the Berlin Film Festival) and critically acclaimed upon its release. And while some of the science feels outdated (Winston Hibler describes the African lion as “nothing more than an overgrown cat”), the documentary still feels vibrant 65 years later. As for Elma and Alfred Milotte, they won six Academy Awards for their collaborations with Walt and would later become official Disney Legends.

The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos (2008)

I know what you’re thinking: a feature-length documentary about flamingos ? And honestly, who can blame you? But Crimson Wing (its title comes from the Latin name for flamingos) is one of the most fascinating and unexpectedly gripping entries in the Disneynature canon. Set at Lake Natron in Tanzania, it is bizarre and beautiful in equal measure, starting with the fact that two million flamingos migrate to the lake and lay their eggs on a giant, 10-mile wide island made of floating salt. From there it gets even stranger, like how flamingo chicks are fed a potent mixture of algae and their parent’s own blood or how those same chicks can tragically be slowed down if the salt calcifies around their feet. And who knew that hyenas hunted flamingos? (But don’t worry — even in death, “their life force returns to the lake.”) Everything about this documentary is appealingly odd and feels genuinely revelatory, looking at the bird’s time in Africa in almost novelistic detail. It’s like stumbling across an alien world you never knew existed, full of creatures as familiar as they are otherworldly. The Crimson Wing is really something.

Dolphin Reef (2018)

One of the latest Disneynature features is also one its best. Dolphin Reef arrived on Disney+ last week, the localized version of a movie that Disney had released in France (under the title Blue ) way back in 2018 . Narrated by a Natalie Portman, it focuses on a tropical reef and all of its bizarre inhabitants, including a grumpy mantis shrimp, a school of hump-head parrot fish, and, of course, a pod of dolphins, led by the young Echo and his put-upon mother Kumu. Portman’s narration is stately and engaged, expertly complimenting jaw-dropping underwater photography. Somehow, she manages to sound stately even when explaining how the parrot fish consume dead coral and then poop out sand. (When she’s doing a “voice” as one of the aquatic creatures, it’s even better; there’s an outside chance she could score an Oscar nomination for her roles as a snobby shrimp.) Oscillating between peaceful (as the camera glides through the reef) to thrilling (as a pod of orcas hunt a baby humpback whale) and back again, Dolphin Reef eschews any talk of pollution or mankind’s effects on the reef, for an apolitical mixture of education and entertainment. It’s like a feature film adaptation of EPCOT Center’s old Living Seas pavilion.

The Flood (2018)

Narrated by Angela Bassett, The Flood is centered around the Okavango Delta which, once a year, is flooded with water, turning an area surrounded by the sandy Kalahari Desert into “a wildlife paradise like none on earth.” Before the water comes, The Flood feels somewhat same-y, featuring hallmarks of any Africa-set nature documentary (a cheetah kills a gazelle in startling graphic detail). But once the water starts flowing, everything changes. “Billions of gallons of water engulf what was once a vast savannah,” as Bassett says, and you get to see animals that have been the subject of other nature documentaries in a new light: elephants lumbering through the water, leaping antelopes kicking up spray, lions swimming (and hunting a hippo no less). Produced in 2018 by National Geographic, The Flood is a more technologically advanced nature documentary than some of the other selections on the platform, with some eye-popping slow-motion flourishes that make you feel like you can count every water droplet, and is one of the most fascinating and transformative, made all the more impressive by Bassett’s pitch-perfect narration.

*Growing Up Wild (2016)

Narrated by Daveed Diggs, Growing Up Wild is a throwback to the “package films” that got Disney through World War II (relatively) unscathed. Only this time around, instead of cobbling together animated shorts and featurettes to make a movie-length collection, Growing Up Wild combines some of the most adorable moments from other Disneynature films — African Cats , Bears , Monkey Kingdom , and Chimpanzee , with a focus on the animals from those films when they were babies. Sure, this is rigged for maximum awwww s, but it’s also a handy compendium and might spark interest, especially from the younger viewers in the house, to watch the full-length versions of the movies (which are all very wonderful). Disneynature is perhaps the most undervalued brand in the entire Disney kingdom (especially after the company absorbed National Geographic). Getting the shingle some attention, even by exploiting our most primal desire to watch a movie full of cute animals.

Jane (2017)

This one is cheating (sort of). National Geographic’s Jane is ostensibly the story of Jane Goodall, the foremost primatologist and anthropologist, best known for her work studying chimpanzees. And while there are a fair amount of talking head interviews with Goodall as she retraces her life, it’s also very much a nature documentary, composed largely of footage of the researcher in Africa in the 1960s that was believed to be lost. (This footage has a haunted, eerie quality, underlined by the propulsive Philip Glass score.) Director Brett Morgen employs some nifty flourishes, like animating her journals to see how her research was progressing (and the accompanying newspaper coverage that followed), making her legwork come to life. And in a way Jane makes a perfect companion to the other nature documentaries on Disney+ by not only showing the interior lives of the chimpanzees through the prism of scientific study, but also by showing you the types of science and research that goes into the documentation of these animals. (But if you just want chimpanzee footage, Disneynature’s Chimpanzee , narrated by Tim Allen — who does a lot of his trademark grunting — is also available on Disney+.)

Jungle Cat (1960)

Big cats are a popular subject for nature documentaries, and there are a number of worthwhile films on Disney+ (see also: the Samuel L. Jackson–narrated African Cats ). But what makes Jungle Cat , one of Walt’s “True-Life Adventures” from 1960, so special is that it focuses on the South American jaguar, instead of big cats in Africa or the American southwest (though there’s some good cougar content in The Vanishing Prairie ). “Here is the quintessence of all that makes a true cat — the grace, the beauty, the perseverance and power,” narrator Winston Hibler purrs. (Fun fact: Hibler was also a writer on such beloved Disney classics as Cinderella and Peter Pan .) In telling the story of “the great cat,” Jungle Cat also serves as a celebration of the South American rainforest, a lush explosion of vegetation and color. There’s much screen time devoted to the flowering plants of the area, which goes along well with the equally flowery narration (“Hers is a career of assassination”) and the entire project nicely aligns with Walt’s fascination with South America, which began with a peacekeeping mission to the area in World War II and would inspire his work for years to come. It’s mind-boggling to think of went into making Jungle Cat , during a time before lightweight cameras and remotely operated drones; it’s a tropical marvel.

The Living Desert (1953)

Another one of the original “True-Life Adventures” (this one from 1953), this one features an animated prologue that explains how meteorological and geological anomalies give way to vast stretches like Death Valley. (The sequence was worked on by the legendary John Hench, a Disney artist who became one of the company’s most heralded Imagineers.) “Incredibly ugly yet fantastically beautiful” is how narrator (Winston Hibler, again) describes the so-called living desert, a supposed wasteland that is, in fact, full of fantastical creatures (including a breed of lizard described as “diminutive dinosaurs that dine on daisies”). While the narration can be outdated, unsophisticated, and clunky, it also adds a certain amount of humor and energy, especially when paired with Paul J. Smith’s energetic score. Notable for being first feature-length “True Life Adventure,” The Living Desert may be old-fashioned but it’s still visually arresting and emotionally engaging (hope that tortoise can flip itself over!) as ever.

Penguins (2019)

Released 14 years after March of the Penguins became a low-key sensation, Disneynature’s Penguins proves that there’s still a fair amount of ground to cover, partially by framing it as a romantic comedy between a young, clueless penguin named Steve and his love Adeline and partially because the filmmakers decided to populate the soundtrack with 80s bangers. That means our title card is accompanied by Patti LaBelle’s “Stir It Up” (yes, the song from Beverly Hills Cop ) and dramatic moments are punctuated by vintage hits like REO Speedwagon’s “Can’t Fight This Feeling Anymore” and Whitesnake’s “Here I Go Again.” There’s no discernable reason for the songs, and licensing restrictions kept Disney from advertising their place in the movie, but it does a lot to keep Penguins , one of the lighter Disneynature romps (save for a near-miss orca attack, of course), even more bouncy and buoyant. The soundtrack also does the impossible: makes a subject matter already widely covered feel fresh and electric all over again. Who wants to march when you can groove ?

*Polar Bear (2022)

The latest — and, so far, the last — Disneynature documentary is also maybe the single most depressing movie the company has ever released. Ostensibly it follows a family of polar bears in the arctic circle and is warmly (but matter-of-factly) narrated by Catherine Keener, who had recently contributed to Disney and Pixar’s record-breaking Incredibles 2 . But more than any other Disneynature movie, it directly addresses the threat of climate change, with some of the most chilling onscreen text you’re likely to ever see end a movie. (We won’t spoil it here, but have your antidepressants handy.) Incredibly, Polar Bear was helmed by Alastair Fothergill and Jeff Wilson, who also worked on the penguins-set-to-1980s-jams film Penguins . Full of the kind of jaw-dropping imagery you’d expect from a Disneynature project, it’s the subtext of the movie, its grim appreciation of what we have before it’s all gone, that makes it so special. If this is the last Disneynature movie, then they left us with its bleakest, most beautiful statement.

Secrets of Life (1956)

You could think of Secrets of Life , a “True-Life Adventure” from 1956, as the precursor to Wings of Life . This is, according to narrator Hibler, “the story of adaptation and self-preservation,” and showcases all of the tiny ways the natural world is connected. (The poster said that it “entertainingly revealed nature’s most intimate secrets,” which sounds a lot more salacious than the movie actually is.) Some of Secrets of Life is a little hokey and science fair-ish, like seeing how seeds grow in a cutaway diorama or the lengthy montage set to time lapse photography of flowers opening up. But at the time this footage must have been mind-blowing, especially in full color. When you think about when it came out, it also feels quietly revolutionary, as it boldly showcased evolution and all the ways that plants and animals equip themselves for the natural world. Although the narration does sometimes slip into drippy Disney sentiment like “now the magic potion of this fairy tale,” when describing the reproduction of bees, no less (and right before Hibler explains that she emerges and “kills her rivals”), it doesn’t diminish its singular power. Truly magical.

The Vanishing Prairie (1954)

This 1954 entry, an Oscar winner for Best Documentary Feature, was produced with the cooperation of the United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs and seeks to “recreate the wondrous pageant that was nature’s prairie.” (Keep in mind that this doesn’t sport Disney+’s catchall “contains outdated cultural depictions” disclaimer but the narration still has stuff like, “It was the red man who claimed this vast array as his own.” There’s also a part with the “prairie chicken” where they play stereotypical “tribal music” for comical effect. Yikes .) The cinematography beautifully portrays the expansiveness of the American plains, occasionally capturing something unexpected or surprisingly profound, like the birth of a buffalo calf in all its gooey glory. “The calf is helpless for the first few seconds,” narrator Hibler gravely intones. The animals of The Vanishing Prairie don’t have the otherworldly dazzle of some of the other nature documentaries on Disney+ (oh, look, ducks), but still come across as majestic and vital components of a fascinating ecosystem.

Wings of Life (2011)

Perhaps the greatest (and most underrated) Disneynature documentary, Wings of Life takes a heady subject matter — the symbiosis between animals and plants — and transforms it into something palpable and oftentimes downright exciting. Part of what makes Wings of Life such a triumph is how just abstract it can be; through slow-motion, specialized cameras and time-lapse photography, even the smallest and most still members of the jungle and desert become inspiring, locomotive titans. Plus, there’s the fact that Meryl Streep (yes, that Meryl Streep) narrates the entire documentary from the point of view of a flower, which lends Wings of Life an additional layer of gentle surrealism and plays into its framing structure as an epic love story between flora and fauna. Trust me, you haven’t lived until you’ve heard Oscar-winner Meryl Streep recite weird stuff like, “When pollinated, we cactus flowers turn into fruit, with seeds to start a new generation.” It also, unlike some of the other Disneynature films, is unashamed to get into the dangers facing our ecosystem, including the plight of the honeybee. At times the most beautiful, serene Disneynature film and also the more alarming, Wings of Life conjures a strange and enchanting experience all its own.

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Disney Plus documentaries - 11 of the best to watch right NOW!

Little Mermaid is featured in one of the Disney Plus documentaries feartured in our round-up

From cute puppies and elephants to the man who wrote the lyrics to Under the Sea in The Little Mermaid, Disney Plus documentaries are great watches...

Disney Plus UK isn't just about films - it's also packed full of amazing Disney Plus documentaries.

Yep, there’s fantastic wildlife documentaries like Elephant, narrated by a certain Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, to children’s series, Weird But True , which is packed with wacky facts. To sign up to Disney Plus go to the official website and we also have an update on all the best Disney Plus new shows.

Here's the best Disney Plus documentaries to enjoy right now...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3dukvXxtsc

One Day At Disney

This Is Us star, Sterling K Brown is the narrator of this feature-length documentary, which goes behind-the-scenes of The Walt Disney Company to meet some of the unsung heroes who have brought some of Disney’s biggest projects to life.

Those featured include animators, artists, actors and Disneyland employees.

There is also a companion TV series of 52 short episodes, each featuring a different Disney employee discussing their job.

Get the What to Watch Newsletter

The latest updates, reviews and unmissable series to watch and more!

Songwriter, Howard Ashman wrote the lyrics for such classic Disney songs as Beauty And The Beast, Under The Sea (from The Little Mermaid) and Arabian Nights (from Aladdin).

Sadly he died at the age of 40 of complications from AIDS.

This documentary, which originally premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, is the story of his life. It features interviews with the folks who knew Howard best including composer Alan Menken, film producer Jeffrey Katzenberg and Jodie Marie Benson, who was both the speaking and singing voice of Princess Ariel in The Little Mermaid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGpkXr58f18

Pick Of The Litter

This doco series is based on a film of the same name released in 2018. Like the film, the six-part telly version follows several puppies from Guide Dogs For The Blind as they are trained to become guide dogs.

Get to know Paco, Pacino, Raffi, Amara, Tulane and Tartan. Will they ace their training, pass their final exams and be successfully paired with a human companion?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQ45Gss7ZHU

UK viewers may not instantly recognise US TV news journalist, Bob Woodruff who appears in this National Geographic travel documentary series with his son, Mack.

Bob’s career was temporarily put on hold when he was seriously injured in an explosion while reporting from Iraq in 2006.

But intrepid Bob is now back on the trail of adventure in this six-part series, as he and Mack visit various former no-go zones for travellers including Papua New Guinea, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Lebanon and Ukraine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOTYW1aFRhw

Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings

Some folks love the world of Disney so much, they choose to get married at such destinations as Disneyland or aboard a Disney Cruise Line .

This TV series follows couples as they pop the question, get hitched or even renew their wedding vows at various Disney parks and resorts.

And if you’ve got your own dreams of a Disney-style wedding, there’s a look behind-the-scenes at how that can be arranged.

Weird But True

This wacky fact finding series is back for a third season, with new episodes being released on the streaming service each week.

For Season 3, presenter Charlie Engelman is joined by new co-host, Carly Ciarrochi.

Together, the duo investigate some, er, weird but true facts about everything from dinosaurs and germs to The Solar System, scuba diving and rockets.

All episodes previously shown on National Geographic are also available.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex narrates this nature documentary about elephants out in the Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa.

The film follows a herd as they leave the dry desert and start the long journey in search of greener pastures and water.

Dolphin Reef

Natalie “Star Wars” Portman narrates this Disney nature doc about the adventures of a playful young dolphin called Echo.

Along the way there are encounters with killer whales, other rival dolphins and Echo learns some important lessons about how to survive in the ocean.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLOs9lzfTrM

The Imagineering Story

This six-part documentary series, narrated by 9-1-1 star Angela Bassett, takes a look at the history and creation of Disney theme parks and attractions around the world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuAyjArIVXo

The Marvel Hero Project

You don’t have to be a comicbook superhero to make a difference in this life. This Disney documentary series features regular kids who are dedicating their lives to making positive changes in the world and helping other folks in need.

The real-life superheroes include Jordan Reeves, who has created a prosthetic arm that can shoot glitter. Plus, Adonis Watt who lost his eyesight when he was five years old but hasn’t let that stop him from becoming a football player.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8HDZ7j3QIc

Marvel’s 616 (starts 25 September 2020)

OK, this isn't available yet, but we couldn't resist putting it in our round-up. This forthcoming documentary series will take viewers behind-the-scenes of the Marvel Universe, the creators of hit comicbook characters including The Avengers, Iron Man, Spider-Man and Captain America.

Each episode will focus on a different part of the Marvel world, from Marvel Comics and blockbuster superhero movies like Captain Marvel to video games and a look at the artists who have brought these classic characters to life since the 1960s.

Plus, have you ever heard of supernatural monster hunter, Doctor Druid? Or Typeface (aka Gordon Thomas)?

Find out why certain Marvel characters have never quite hit the bigtime!

We will update our Disney Plus documentaries article when new shows are announced. See our TV Guide for more shows to enjoy.

Simon has long been a fan of soap operas, and especially loves OVER-THE-TOP plots involving evil twins, hair-pulling catfights and natural disasters. Anyone remember the Sunset Beach earthquake/tidal wave? Or when Krystle Carrington got locked in the attic and replaced by look-a-like Rita in Dynasty ?!

Simon has written for a variety of TV and childrens’ magazines/websites including Inside Soap , Nickelodeon , What’s On TV , Radio Times , Metro , Girl Talk , Disney Girl , Toxic! and Digital Spy . He has reported LIVE from the red carpet at The British Soap Awards interviewing glammed-up stars from soapland, and hosted a Facebook LIVE session for Metro with Home and Away legend Ray Meagher (Alf "Stone the flamin' crows!" Stewart) to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Aussie soap.

Simon is also co-author of The Treasures Of Coronation Street (Carlton Books)

And the writer and director of (very!) low budget fright flick, Midsummer Night's EVIL and the sequel webisodes series, The Hatchet Woods HORROR .

Camden: musicians, premise and everything we know about Dua Lipa's documentary series

Doctor Who teases new companion for 2025 in first-look photo

Emmerdale legend to reprise Doctors role for FINAL time as soap comes to an end

Screen Rant

10 best disney documentaries that take fans behind the magic.

While there is no shortage of great documentaries about Disney, these 10 manage to stand out for really taking fans behind the magic.

Disney documentaries provide a raw look behind the scenes, showcasing the challenges and triumphs of the studio's history.
These documentaries explore the making of Disney Parks and iconic films, offering inside information and classic footage.
From the chaos of production to the creation of memorable songs, these documentaries offer unique insights into the Disney filmmaking process.

Given how much of a powerhouse Disney is in the entertainment space, it is no surprise that there have been a number of excellent documentaries made about the studio that take audiences behind the magic. The Walt Disney Company has been providing family-friendly content that has made its mark on history for over a century, which means that there is a huge amount of history to be explored. Because of how huge of a fan base the company has, there is no shortage of sources of information that allow people to learn more about the triumphs and tribulations Disney has faced on its way to becoming one of the most recognizable brands in the world.

These documentaries explore things like how certain elements of the Disney Parks came to be and the process behind making some of Disney's most well-known films. What makes these documentaries so captivating is how they provide a raw look at what really happens behind the scenes and what went into creating such recognizable things. Though there are so many, there are ten documentaries about the Disney filmmaking process that really stand out and should be on fans' watchlists.

Every Animated Disney Movie Ranked From Worst To Best

10 frank and ollie.

When Walt Disney was still heading up the famous studio, he was backed by a core group of animators who became known as the "Nine Old Men". Two of these animators were Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, who are at the forefront of this documentary. What makes this documentary so special is that it was directed and written by Frank's son, Theodore. This gives it a more personal touch and allows for it to include inside information that others would not have been able to provide. The film is also not shy about talking through all of the challenges that Disney faced in its early years, which helps to prove how far the studio has come.

9 It All Started With A Mouse: The Disney Story

The 1998 TV documentary, It All Started with a Mouse: The Disney Story takes viewers through the story of Walt Disney and how he built a company that is now a global household name. What sets the documentary apart is that it is filled with lots of classic footage that shines a light on how some of the biggest Disney films, like Snow White , Pinocchio , and Bambi , came to be. In addition to being informative, the documentary is also inspirational. Walt's story of being an ambitious aspiring cartoonist and animator in Kansas City to being someone who created stories that have been loved by millions for decades makes for a motivational and heartwarming watch.

8 The Sweatbox

What makes the 2002 documentary, The Sweatbox , so interesting is that it shows the chaos that can come along with massive Disney productions. The documentary details the making of one of Disney's animated films, The Emperor's New Groove . When the film was in pre-production, Sting was asked by the director to write some songs for the soundtrack. He agreed with the condition that his filmmaker wife, Trudie Styler, could document the production process. This production ended up not going as planned and had the crew working in less-than-ideal situations. The name, for example, comes from the screening room in Burbank where there was no air conditioning, causing animators to sweat while their work was being reviewed.

The film is one that Disney has tried to hide, as it had a very short, limited, and unpublicized theatrical run. After that,, Disney chose to never release it, and the only way to watch it was through parts that were leaked online. While this documentary definitely isn't the happiest, it's an important watch because it shows how hard the animators behind some of the most popular movies of all time work. They are the reason for the "magic" and deserve to be treated as such, which is why even just watching the leaked clips online can be impactful.

7 The Pixar Story

Directed by the Academy Award-nominated Leslie Iwerks, The Pixar Story is a documentary that details the complex and fascinating history of Pixar Animation Studios. The film provides the full story of the pioneering computer animation studio that started as a Bay Area start-up and became a company that has revolutionized the entertainment industry. It includes testimonies from some of the most influential people in Pixar's history, including Tom Hanks, George Lucas, Michael Eisner, and Bob Iger.

6 Waking Sleeping Beauty

The 2009 documentary, Waking Sleeping Beauty , provides audiences with a unique look at how Walt Disney Animation Studios was able to break out of their mid-1980s box-office slump. It is filled with archival clips and is narrated by Don Hahn, who worked on Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King . The film is specifically focused on a group of young and ambitious animators and filmmakers. What makes this really interesting is that this group includes Tim Burton and the director of Toy Story , John Lasseter. Getting to hear from them about the struggles they faced when it came to outside competition and appeasing studio executives is a rare treat that gives audiences a new look into the filmmaking process.

All Disney Princess Movies In Order

5 the boys: the sherman brothers' story.

One of the most memorable parts of Disney films is the music that manages to remain with audiences long after watching. The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story dives into what it's like to create these iconic songs and follows Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman, who were both contract songwriters for Disney. They composed a number of the studio's biggest and most loved hits, including "It's a Small World" and "A Spoonful of Sugar". The documentary doesn't focus on just the highlights of these two brothers' careers, though, and explores the deep and longstanding rift in the two's personal relationship.

4 Prop Culture

The 2020 documentary, Prop Culture , is led by a film historian and avid collector named Dan Lanigan. Lanigan was able to track down the props that were used in classic Disney films, such as Pirates of the Caribbean and The Muppet Movie . He then delivers these props to the people involved in making the movies, which allows them to go on a trip down memory lane. This also opens the door for some surprising industry secrets to be revealed, such as how famous movie props were sourced, made, and stored.

3 Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian

The Mandalorian has been one of Disney Plus' most popular shows, and Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian gives viewers an inside look at what the process of making the show was like. One of The Mandalorian 's producers, Jon Favreau, has the cast and crew share what their experiences were like when making the show. Each episode walks audiences through a different facet of the Star Wars television show and includes things like interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. What really makes this documentary stand out, though, is the fact that it has three seasons, which gives it more time to really dive deep into the production process.

2 Into the Unknown: Making Frozen 2

Frozen 2 has been celebrated for its stunning graphics and inspiring plot, and Into the Unknown: Making Frozen 2 provides an interesting look as to how the film came to be. The documentary-style show has six episodes which reveals the different challenges and breakthroughs that the cast faced when bringing this movie to life. It was directed by Megan Harding, who also had a role in a 2014 documentary that looked at the making of the original Frozen film, which gives her increased perspective and contributes greatly to Into the Unknown: Making Frozen 2 .

1 Mickey: The Story of a Mouse

Mickey Mouse is one of the most globally recognized characters to ever exist, and Mickey: The Story of a Mouse provides his origin story. The documentary was created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the character, as well as all of the cultural significance that has surrounded him. It explains how Mickey Mouse was able to become a symbol of joy and childhood for so many and reflects upon all of the different iterations of the popular character over the years.

Entertainment

From Olivia Rodrigo to the Beatles, the streaming platform is full of behind-the-scenes content from your favorite artists.

We only recommend products we love and that we think you will, too. We may receive a portion of sales from products purchased from this article, which was written by our Branded team.

If you’ve ever loved an album so much that you’ve worried your neighbors might file a formal complaint against you for replaying it constantly, it might just be time to explore new ways to obsess over your favorite music. Music documentaries are an excellent way to get more out of the songs that feel like the soundtrack to your life, and Disney+ is home to some of the very best. The streaming platform has plenty of documentaries full of exclusive, behind-the-scenes content from the very best musicians, and is a subscription that every music lover should have. Here are a few of the incredible music documentaries you can watch on Disney+ right now.

Love this list? Create a Likewise account to save these recs to your own watchlist and follow Bustle for more. You'll always know exactly what to watch next.

‘Olivia Rodrigo: Driving Home 2 U’

Following the Grammy nominated singer-songwriter on a road trip from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles, Driving Home 2 U gives Olivia Rodrigo fans an intimate look at the making of her debut album, “SOUR.” Through interviews, never-before-seen footage, and live performances, this Disney+ original film will give you a whole new appreciation for the “Driver’s License” singer.

Stream now.

‘Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles’

Billie Eilish treated her fans to a one-of-a-kind album experience with her Disney+ exclusive, Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles . “It’s a concert film, but it’s also a story at the same time,” she explained in the trailer, which you can check out, above.

‘Black Is King’

Inspired by The Lion King: The Gift , Black Is King is Beyoncé’s impactful visual album that reimagines the lessons from The Lion King to share the stories of Black families.

Taylor Swift’s ‘Folklore: The Long Pond Edition’

Need a good cry? Taylor Swift’s got you. Folklore: The Long Pond Edition gives fans the opportunity to hear the stories behind each of the songs on the album as Taylor is joined by Aaron Dessner, Jack Antonoff, and Justin Vernon as the perform the album for the first time in the same room together.

‘My Music Story’

Featuring episodes with YOSHIKI, Perfume, and SUKIMASWITCH, Disney’s My Music Story features interviews and performances with incredible artists as they share stories and new information about the music featured in some of Disney’s most popular titles.

‘The Beatles: Get Back’

Created with restored footage that’s been locked away for more than half a century, Get Back provides an intimate look at the Beatles’ creative process as they prepare for what was their first live concert in more than two years.

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The Beatles performing on the Apple Headquarters’ rooftop in London 1969

Peter Jackson to release restored version of Beatles’ 1970 documentary Let It Be on Disney+

Directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, the film captures the recording sessions of the band’s final album

After decades out of circulation, the Beatles’ 1970 documentary Let It Be has been restored by Peter Jackson’s production company.

Directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, Let It Be captures the recording sessions of the band’s final album of the same title. It was originally released mere weeks after the Beatles officially announced their split. None of the members of the band attended its premiere in 1970.

The documentary has since become remembered as a little-seen curio chronicling the group’s demise, with scenes of internal strife and bickering alongside the frenzy of their month-long recording process.

Let It Be also served as the starting point for Jackson’s 2021 miniseries The Beatles: Get Back, an eight-hour epic pieced together from nearly 60 hours of behind-the-scenes footage initially shot for Lindsay-Hogg’s film.

Jackson’s version of Let It Be employs the same technology used in Get Back to restore the vintage footage, Variety reports.

Let It Be has not been available in any official form since the early 80s, though low-quality bootleg versions copied from earlier VHS and laserdisc releases have circulated among fans over the years.

“I’m absolutely thrilled that … Let it Be has been restored and is finally being rereleased after being unavailable for decades,” Jackson said in a statement. “I’ve always thought that Let It Be is needed to complete the Get Back story.”

Jackson said that he considers the two projects as “one epic story”.

“Michael Lindsay-Hogg was unfailingly helpful and gracious while I made Get Back,” he continued. “It’s only right that his original movie has the last word … looking and sounding far better than it did in 1970.”

In an interview with the New York Times on Tuesday , Lindsay-Hogg said that Jackson was “the catalyst” of Let It Be’s rerelease, advocating for the project with the Beatles’ company Apple Corps.

In the same interview, Lindsay-Hogg said he had no preconception of the Beatles’ split while shooting his documentary.

Hey Jude at 50: four things you may not know about the Beatles hit – video

“What you see in the movie is that the affection is eternal between the four of them. But they were living very separate lives,” the 83-year-old film-maker told the Times.

“I thought they might go off and do their own thing, follow their heart and release separate albums, but then get together … I didn’t think the Beatles were going to break up till they broke up.”

Let It Be will premiere globally on Disney+ on 8 May.

Let It Be’s restoration arrives during a glut of Beatles news. Earlier this month, James McCartney and Sean Ono Lennon – sons of Paul McCartney and John Lennon – released a song titled Primrose Hill; Ringo Starr also released a new single, February Sky, the same day.

And in February, Sam Mendes announced that he will direct four films centred on each Beatle , due for release in 2027.

The Beatles
Documentary films
Music documentary
Peter Jackson

Long-Lost Beatles Documentary 'Let It Be' Will Be Released on Disney+

Peter Jackson has extensively restored the 1970 documentary.

The Big Picture

Long-lost 1970 Beatles documentary Let It Be hits streaming May 8 on Disney+, restored by Peter Jackson.
Let It Be shows recording of the titular album and final band concert - tense times captured on film.
Interest in the Beatles remains strong over 60 years later, with more projects on the horizon including Midas Man.

Good news, Beatlemaniacs - the long-lost 1970 documentary Let It Be will finally hit streaming next month. Peter Jackson , who used Let It Be's extensive outtakes to create his own Beatles documentary, Get Back , in 2021, has had the footage restored by his Park Road Post Production team to make it seem more vital than ever. Variety reports that Jackson worked with Michael Lindsay-Hogg , the director of Let It Be , to meticulously restore Let It Be 's footage. The resulting restoration will hit Disney+, which also released Get Back , on May 8.

This will be the first-ever digital release of the documentary, which was last released on VHS in the 1980s. While Get Back was an eight-hour epic depicting the last gasp of the biggest band of the 1960s, Let It Be is a more stripped-down version, presenting the story of the titular album's recording in a tight 80 minutes. Said Jackson in a statement, "I’ve always thought that Let It Be is needed to complete the Get Back story", and continues on to say, "The two projects support and enhance each other: Let It Be is the climax of Get Back , while Get Back provides a vital missing context for Let It Be ". Says Lindsay-Hogg, "It looks now like it was intended to look in 1969 or 1970, although at my request, Peter did give it a more filmic look than Get Back , which had a slightly more modern and digital look."

Why Was 'Let It Be' Locked Away For Forty Years?

The documentary chronicles the recording of the Beatles' final album, Let It Be , and their final concert , the famous impromptu set on the rooftop of their Apple Corps headquarters in London. It was a famously fractious time for the band, who would break up shortly afterwards. The documentary captures some of the tensions between members of the band; in fact, George Harrison quit the group during filming, although he eventually returned. The film was released in 1970, but the Beatles were unhappy with how their fractures were portrayed on-screen, even after the most contentious parts of the film were removed at their request. Various attempts to re-release the film were made over the years; clips of it were remastered for the 1995 Beatles doc The Beatles Anthology , and a full remaster was originally planned to be released alongside Let It Be... Naked , a version of Let It Be that was remastered in 2007 to remove producer Phil Spector 's heavy hand. However, the Beatles could not come to an agreement about its release until now.

Over sixty years after they released their debut album, interest in the Beatles remains strong. The next cinematic retelling of the band's story is Midas Man , which will chronicle the short life of their original manager Brian Epstein and wrapped filming last year. Next on the docket is an ambitious four-movie project that will dramatize the life of all four Beatles.

Let It Be will be released on Disney+ on May 8 . Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.

Disney+ makes exciting Beatles, Let It Be remaster decision

Beatles purists will be thrilled to hear the news today. Disney+ will be releasing a remastered edition of the long-lost Let It Be documentary.

Not to be confused with Peter Jackson’s The Beatles: Get Back, Let It Be is the original companion piece to the legendary album. On May 8, Let It Be will be available to stream on Disney+. This is the first time that the documentary has been restored.

Disney+’s music collection

Disney+ has been diving deep into the world of music. The Let It Be news comes on the heels of Disney+ announcing they will release a restored edition of Queen’s legendary concert film, Queen Rock Montreal.

The streaming service has been dipping its toe into the music world a lot lately. They have produced documentaries for Olivia Rodrigo, Ed Sheeran, and Taylor Swift. Bono and The Edge of U2 got their own special called A Sort of Homecoming, which tied in with their Songs of Surrender release in 2023.

Not to mention, the streaming service acquired the rights to Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour. The concert film was a blockbuster hit in theaters, grossing over $260 million worldwide. This came after Swift went straight to AMC Theatres to distribute the film. The bet paid off and Disney+ subsequently acquired the streaming rights, releasing Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) with more songs.

Mary McCartney, daughter of former Beatle Paul McCartney, directed If These Walls Could Sing for Disney+ as well. The documentary was a telling of the story of the iconic Abbey Road studio. McCartney and Beatles bandmate Ringo Starr headlined the names featured. John Williams, Elton John, Noel and Liam Gallagher, Jimmy Page, and Roger Waters also appeared in the documentary.

The Beatles’ Let It Be

Let It Be was the Beatles’ final studio album as a group. Released in 1970, the album also got a tie-in documentary directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg. It chronicled the group’s rehearsals and recording sessions for the album.

The most noteworthy part of the film is the rooftop concert. All four Beatles got on the roof of Apple Corps’ building and played an unannounced show.

For the documentary, the Beatles won an Oscar for Best Original Score. It beat out the likes of The Baby Maker, A Boy Named Charlie Brown, Darling Lili, and Scrooge.

However, this isn’t the first time the Let It Be sessions have been remastered. Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings) previously released The Beatles: Get Back. That docuseries was a three-part, 468-minute-long deep dive into the sessions. There was some overlap in the footage, as Jackson also remastered the rooftop concert.

Disney+ also released the rooftop concert portion of the series in IMAX. The full performance is also available on streaming services.

The post Disney+ makes exciting Beatles, Let It Be remaster decision appeared first on ClutchPoints .

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Beatles Documentary Let It Be Heads to Disney+ — Get Release Date

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A restored version of the classic Beatles documentary Let It Be is headed to Disney+.

The streamer announced Tuesday that director Michael Lindsay-Hogg’s original 1970 film about The Beatles will drop on Wednesday, May 8. This is the first time the film has been made available in over 50 years.

Peter Jackson, who oversaw the restoration of Lindsay-Hogg’s footage for Get Back , is also behind Let It Be , having restored the film from the original 16mm negative. Sound has also been remastered using the same MAL de-mix technology used for Get Back .

“ Let It Be was ready to go in October/November 1969, but it didn’t come out until April 1970. One month before its release, The Beatles officially broke up. And so the people went to see Let It Be with sadness in their hearts, thinking, ‘I’ll never see The Beatles together again. I will never have that joy again,’ and it very much darkened the perception of the film,” Lindsay-Hogg acknowledged in a statement Tuesday. “But, in fact, how often do you get to see artists of this stature working together to make what they hear in their heads into songs? And then you get to the roof, and you see their excitement, camaraderie, and sheer joy in playing together again as a group and know, as we do now, that it was the final time, and we view it with the full understanding of who they were and still are and a little poignancy. I was knocked out by what Peter was able to do with Get Back , using all the footage I’d shot 50 years previously.”

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Who would have thought that 60 years later, the Beatles would still be as big as they were then. I’m a big Beatles fan and I’m glad that their music is still as popular now as it was when I was a kid.

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November 12, 2019

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Behind the magic of every Disney theme park lay mud, sweat and fears. Creating happiness is hard work. For nearly seventy years, a unique blend of artists and engineers - called Imagineers - have cultivated an impossible notion from the mind of one man, Walt Disney, into a global phenomenon that touches the hearts of millions. Given unprecedented access, Academy Award-nominated filmmaker, Leslie Iwerks, leads the viewer on a journey behind the curtains of Walt Disney Imagineering, the little known design and development center of The Walt Disney Company, to discover what it takes to create, design, and build twelve Disney theme parks around the world.

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Lost 1970 beatles doc ‘let it be’ to stream on disney+.

The documentary, directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, will be available to watch for the first time in 50 years.

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The film follows The Beatles as they record 'Let It Be,' and as they perform for what would be their final time as a group.

Disney+ is adding to its library of music documentaries, bringing a long lost Beatles doc to its slate.

The streaming service is adding the 1970 film Let It Be to its platform, beginning May 8, 2024 . It will be the first time that the film, directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, has been made available to watch in 50 years.

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