New Disney Plus movies: October 27, 2023 update
Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter
This week’s update sees horror movie Appendage, which initially launched on Hulu in early October, added to our guide as it recently landed on Disney Plus in the UK. We’ve also updated our ‘coming soon’ section with the latest news on what films will release on the platform soon. Finally, we’ve removed every August entry as they’re no longer considered new.
Looking for all of the new Disney Plus movies to join the streaming service since the start of September? You’ve come to the right place.
In this guide, you’ll find a carefully curated list of the most recent new movies to join one of the world’s best streaming services. So, if you’re searching for the latest Marvel movie to stream, or if you’re after a horror flick to scare yourself silly before Halloween rolls around, you need not look anywhere else.
Disney Plus‘ new movie selection can be a bit hit and miss, with the platform sometimes going weeks without a new film landing on its doorstep. In recent times, though, the situation has improved, meaning we’ve been able up regularly update this article and add the very best new offerings to our best Disney Plus movies guide, too.
US visitors should note that a few of the below entries are only viewable on Hulu stateside. We’ve added a memo to the films this applies to for convenience. But we digress – get the lowdown on all of the new Disney Plus movies to stream right now.
New Disney Plus movies: October 2023
Appendage
Release date: October 27 (available on Hulu in the US)
This Anna Zlokovic-directed movie – she also penned the screenplay – could’ve been another underrated Hulu horror film offering when it originally landed on Hulu. However, its critical and commercial reception hasn’t been as terrifyingly terrific as some might have hoped, so it might not seem like an unmissable flick to many.
That said, Appendage has some things going for it. It tells the tale of Hannah (Hadley Robinson), a fashion designer who’s constantly crippled by self-doubt. When her inner demons eventually erupt to the surface and turn into a grotesque growth on her body – the titular appendage – Hannah’s health rapidly deteriorates. But hope springs eternal as she soon learns that she’s not the only one with a debilitating, seemingly sentient tumor.
With its unusual body horror premise and at-times comical leanings, Appendage may have enough about it (for some viewers, anyway) to be worth its 93-minute runtime. For others looking for something more thematically substantial and frightening, though, it’ll do little to scratch that creepy movie-style itch.
The Boogeyman
Release date: October 11 (available on Hulu in the US)
Based on Stephen King’s short story of the same name, The Boogeyman cooked up a few scares when it debuted in theaters in mid-2023.
It follows Sadie and Sawyer Harper (Sophie Thatcher and Vivien Lyra Blair), sisters who struggle to move on from their mom’s recent death and whose grief-stricken therapist father Will (Chris Messina) has alienated them in the process. Things don’t get any easier, though, when one of Will’s patients unexpectedly turns up at their home one day, leaving behind an evil supernatural entity that begins to prey on their trauma.
The Boogeyman was met with mixed reviews upon release, with many praising its occasional jump scares and foreboding, creepy atmosphere, but hitting out at how generic it was. One to stream, sure, but it might leave you wanting more.
Mrs Doubtfire
Release date: October 6
One of the late Robin Williams’ most-adored movies, Mrs Doubtfire has joined Disney Plus’ back catalog with the aim of bringing joy to a new generation.
Williams plays Daniel Hilliard, a freelance voice actor and recent divorcee who disguises himself as a old British woman (the titular character) to convince ex-wife Miranda (Sally Field) to hire him as their kids’ new nanny. Initially buoyed by the chance to reconnect with his children, Daniel soon realizes that keeping up appearances isn’t as easy as he anticipated.
Thanks to Williams’ expectedly endearing and towering display, Mrs Doubtfire is a stone-cold comedy-drama classic, albeit one that’s a tad outdated these days. Kids might not fully understand it, but those looking for some Williams-starring nostalgia won’t get tired of it.
Haunted Mansion
Release date: October 4
Disney is slowly building out a corner of its stacked movie library with films based on some of its most popular theme park rides. We’ve already been treated to live-action adaptations of Pirates of the Caribbean, Tomorrowland, and Jungle Cruise, with each one being received well (or not, in some cases) by audiences worldwide.
Now, it’s Haunted Mansion‘s turn to get the ride-turned-film treatment. The supernatural horror-comedy stars Rosario Dawson (Star Wars: Ahsoka) as Gabbie, a widowed doctor who moves into Gracey Manor with her son Travis (Chase W Dillon), only to find it’s, well, haunted. Determined not to be kicked out of their new home by the scary spirits that inhabits its walls, Gabbie enlists the help of numerous ghost experts – astrophysicist Ben Matthias (LaKeith Stanfield), Father Kent (Owen Wilson), supernatural professor Bruce Davis (Danny DeVito), and psychic Harriet (Tiffany Hadish) – to exorcise her and Travis’ new abode.
A film that fared far better with general viewers than critics, Haunted Mansion seems like the perfect, somewhat-family-friendly spook-filled adventure to get you in the mood for Halloween.
New Disney Plus movies: September 2023
No One Will Save You
Release date: September 22 (available on Hulu in the US)
20th Century Studios delivered a pre-Halloween scare with a terrifying sci-fi horror-thriller that makes for a spook-filled and enthralling watch any weekend of the year.
No One Will Save You stars Kaitlyn Dever as Brynn, a social outcast in her small US hometown. When a race of mind-controlling extraterrestrials suddenly invade and take control of the local populace (sans Brynn), though, our protagonist is forced to fight for her survival and freedom – and confront her past in the process.
The movie’s official trailer already gave us unsettling and frighteningly atmospheric vibes thanks to its creepy alien creatures when it arrived in early September. And, given the hugely positive reception it’s received since (its ending will throw you for a loop, believe us), No One Will Save You is worth letting invade your TV screen.
Elemental
Release date: September 13
Elemental looked like it would fall foul of the same issues that have plagued recent Pixar movies. Yes, it looks visually spectacular and would likely tug at the heartstrings, but it appeared to lack story substance and the smart, snappy humor we’d come to expect from the Disney subsidiary.
After some questionable critics-based reviews and a lackluster start to its theatrical run, though, Elemental proved it wasn’t a complete failure. Thanks to positive word of mouth, it earned $484 million worldwide and a 93% positive audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Even better, Elemental smashed The Little Mermaid‘s Disney Plus movie record in its first five days on the platform.
Set in a world inhabited by anthropomorphic elements of nature, Elemental stars the short tempered, fire-based Ember and free-flowing water-type Wade. After a chance encounter, they grow close, and begin to positively challenge each other’s worldview and the overarching theme that elements cannot mix. Find out where Elemental ranks on our best Pixar movies list while you’re here.
The Little Mermaid
Release date: September 6
Over three months after it debuted in theaters, The Little Mermaid‘s live-action retelling has surfaced from under the waves to join Disney Plus’ movie library. Just five days into its streaming run, it became the most-watched Disney Plus film of all-time (although that’s been broken by Elemental since).
Thankfully, Disney’s latest adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s iconic tale is now available to watch. The musical comedy-drama film, which – eventually – follows the human-obsessed Ariel’s quest to stop sea witch Ursula from becoming the oceans’ new overlord, did okay at the global box office with a near $570 million haul to its name. We expect it to be more popular on Disney’s primary streamer, though, especially with little in the way of new Disney Plus movies to watch right now.
Before you load it up, be sure to read our review of The Little Mermaid. Next, find out why the film took inspiration from David Attenborough, not Avatar 2, then which of its songs was its composer’s favorite track and, lastly, where it ranks in our best Disney live-action movies list.
New Disney Plus movies: coming soon
There are plenty of new Disney Plus movies coming out in November, including a batch of new and fan-favorite Christmas films to get you in the mood for the most festive time of the year. Check out what’s on the way below:
- Quiz Lady – November 3 (UK only)
- Spider-Man: Far From Home – November 3 (US only)
- Killer Vacation – November 8 (UK only)
- Jingle All the Way 2 – November 10
- Dashing Through the Snow – November 17
- The Naughty Nine – November 23
- Deck the Halls – November 24
Not up for a movie? Try our pick of the best Disney Plus shows, learn if there’s a free Disney Plus trial available, or read our Disney Plus review to see if it’s better than Netflix.
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