Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter
This week, we've added Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever and Theater Camp to this guide. Appendage has also been removed from the list as we don't consider it to be a new entry anymore. Lastly, we've updated our 'coming soon' section at the end of our article.
Searching for all of the new Disney Plus movies to join the streaming giant recently? You've come to the right place. Below, we've rounded up all of the new movies that have debuted on Disney Plus since early November, so you don't need to spend hours scouring Google for what's new on Disney's primary streamer.
As one of the world's best streaming services, Disney Plus is home to tons of great (and not so great) movies, including animated classics, numerous offerings from Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars, and so much more. Our best Disney Plus movies article has plenty more in the way of top-tier choices but, if you're after more recent fare to stream this weekend (or any day, for that matter), stick with this guide.
US readers should note that Hulu is home to some of the entries in this guide stateside, so you won't find them on Disney Plus over there. To make things easier for those of you in America, we've made a note of the films this applies to. But we digress – here are all of the new movies to debut on Disney Plus over the past few weeks.
New Disney Plus movies: December 2023
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever
Release date: December 8
Director: Luke Cormican
Cast: Wesley Kimmel, Erica Cerra, Hunter Dillon, and Spencer Howell
The latest entry in Disney's animated film adaptation series of Jeff Kinney's beloved books has landed on Disney Plus. In it, perpetually anxious protagonist Greg Heffley is concerned he won't get this year's must-have video games console after he accidentally breaks a snowplow while making a snowman with good friend Rowley. Oh, and then there's the fact Greg gets snowed in with his unimpressed family – just in time for (supposedly) the most wonderful family-oriented time of the year.
It won't be a smash hit, but Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever will surely keep the kids entertained for a couple of hours. Its predecessors have been popular enough for Disney to continue churning out more entries, so it must be good in some respects, right?
Theater Camp
Release date: December 6 (UK only)
Directors: Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman
Cast: Ben Platt, Molly Gordon, Noah Calvin, and Jimmy Tatro
This sweet, satirical take on US-based student camps and stage plays has finally made its bow on Disney Plus UK – and it's a barnstorming and heart-warming comedy not to be missed.
Ben Platt (Dear Evan Hansen) and Molly Gordon (Booksmart) star as Amos and Rebecca-Diane, lifelong friends who run a struggling drama camp in upstate New York. The arrival of tech-bro Troy (Tatro) further threatens the camp's existence, leading the duo and production manager Glenn (Calvin) to band together with the camp's kids to save the institution by putting on a stage play masterpiece.
Theater Camp earned rave reviews upon initial release earlier this year, with critics praising its on-form ensemble, hilarious and moving mockumentary-style story, and illumination of the struggles small businesses face, particularly in the present.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Release date: December 1 (December 15 in the UK)
Director: James Mangold
Cast: Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, and Antonio Banderas
Ford's last hurrah as Indiana Jones has finally swung its way onto Disney Plus. Well, in the US, anyway – in our view, Indiana Jones 5's unusual Disney Plus release schedule doesn't make any sense, but that's a discussion for another time.
So, what's The Dial of Destiny about? The iconic archaeologist races against the clock to – yep, you've guessed it – prevent a mysterious artefact landing in the lap of those pesky Nazis. To do so, however, the aging Indy will need to enlist the help of goddaughter Helen (Waller-Bridge) to ensure Jürgen Voller (Mikkelsen) doesn't change the course of history with the titular macguffin.
Indiana Jones 5's first reviews weren't great, with critics left wanting more from legendary actor Ford's final outing as the titular character. Still, audiences seemed to enjoy it – its 88% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes showcasing as much – meaning it might be worth streaming after all. See where The Dial of Destiny placed in our Indiana Jones movies ranked piece while you're here.
New Disney Plus movies: November 2023
A Haunting in Venice
Release date: November 22
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Cast: Kenneth Branagh, Tina Fey, Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Dornan, Jude Hill, and Riccardo Scamarico among others
Of all the new Disney Plus movies on this list, A Haunting in Venice might seem a tad out of place. After all, Halloween 2023 has been and gone, so it seems strange to release Branagh's third Poirot film weeks after spooky season ended.
Regardless, it's absolutely worth watching. After the poor reception its predecessors – Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile – received, A Haunting in Venice is a sinister and thrilling take on Agatha Christie's iconic detective novel. Set during All Hallows' Eve in post-World War II Venice, a retired and self-exiled Poirot (Branagh) is forced to wrestle with his own beliefs and superstitions after one of the guest at an elaborate and expensive party is seemingly murdered by malevolent forces.
With its 75% critical and 77% audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes, A Haunting in Venice is easily the best of Branagh's Christie adaptations. Prepare for chills galore, if you dare stream it.
Dashing Through the Snow
Release date: November 17
Director: Tim Story
Cast: Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges, Lil Rey Howery, and Teyonah Parris
US rapper-turned-actor Ludacris stars alongside Howery (Free Guy) and Parris (The Marvels, They Cloned Tyrone) in this holiday caper that seems like it's trying a bit too hard to be funny.
Ludacris plays Eddie Garrick, a good-hearted man who dislikes Christmas due to a traumatic childhood experience. However, when Eddie and his nine-year-old daughter Charlotte (Madison Skye Validum) run into a mysterious, red-suited man called Nick (Howery) who bears more than a passing resemblance to Santa Clause, Eddie might find his faith in the festive season restored.
Based on its trailer, Dashing Through the Snow certainly knows its target audience, but it's hard to work out if it's one of 2023's best new Disney Plus movies. Critics don't rate it – it's sitting at mediocre 43% on Rotten Tomatoes – but general audiences seem to like it (72%). Maybe one to save until you're really feeling Christmassy in December.
Spider-Man: Far From Home
Release date: November 3 (US only)
Director: Jon Watts
Cast: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jacob Batalon Samuel L Jackson, Cobie Smulders, Marisa Tomei, and Jon Favreau
The second installment in Tom Holland's Spider-Man film trilogy for the MCU, Spider-Man: Far From Home has re-joined Disney Plus' library (NB: UK and Australian viewers can stream it on Netflix instead).
In the first MCU film post-Avengers: Endgame, Holland's Peter Parker finds himself struggling to return to what he'd consider to be a relatively normal life. Parker continues to mourn the loss of his mentor Tony Stark/Iron Man following his heroic sacrifice in Endgame, wrestles with telling M.J. (Zendaya) how he really feels about her, and balancing his superhero adventures with his schoolwork. Things get more complicated when Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and an apparently multiversal superhero called Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal) enlist his help to save the world from a new otherworldly threat, too.
Arguably the weakest of Holland's three films to date – that's subjective, considering it holds 90% critical and 95% audience Rotten Tomatoes scores – Far From Home is still a terrific film filled of humor, great action, tantalizing drama, and emotional gut punches. See where it sits in our best Spider-Man movies piece or find out how to watch the Spider-Man movies in order.
Quiz Lady
Release date: November 3 (available on Hulu in the US)
Director: Jessica Yu
Cast: Awkwafina, Sandra Oh, Will Ferrell, and Jason Schwartzman
Quiz Lady stars Awkwafina (The Boys Presents: Diabolical, Shang-Chi) and Sandra Oh (Invincible, Killing Eve) as Anne and Jenny, estranged sisters who reunite when their mom passes away. Unfortunately for the duo, their mother racked up a mountainous gambling debt before she died – and, to make matters worse, Anne's dog is kidnapped by their deceased parent's criminal debt collectors.
However, when Anne displays an uncanny ability to correctly answer questions on a quiz TV show, the pair set off on a cross-country adventure to turn Anne into a bona fide quiz champion whose winnings will pay off said debt and get her beloved hound back.
Quiz Lady has become a surprise hit among fans and critics. Indeed, its respective 81% and 80% positive ratings on Rotten Tomatoes proves as much. One of 2023's new Disney Plus movies whose heartfelt and comedic slant might make for a worthwhile watch.
New Disney Plus movies: coming soon
There are only two new Disney Plus movies set to land on the streaming platform before 2023 ends, and they're both UK releases (sorry, US and Australia readers). Here's what's coming soon to British shores:
- Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny – December 15
- Harry Brown – December 29
Not up for a movie? Try our pick of the best Disney Plus shows, see if there's a free Disney Plus trial available, read our Disney Plus review, or get the lowdown on the new Disney Plus price points.