In case you haven’t heard, Disney+ is launching imminently (on 24 March, to be exact) and the new streaming service will give you access to over 500 films, 350+ series and 26 exclusive originals.
While there’s a never-ending list of classics we can’t wait to watch, from The Lion King to Beauty And The Beast to the entire Star Wars back catalogue, there’s a number of hidden gems that you may have missed among the blockbuster hits.
But with many either working from home or in self-isolation amid the coronavirus outbreak, a lot of people suddenly have a lot more time on their hands.
To keep you entertained, we’ve scoured the list and picked the movies you simply cannot miss out on. Up ahead are 12 of our favourite lesser remembered stories…
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1. Confessions Of A Teenage Drama Queen
One of the lesser known Lindsay Lohan Disney films, Confessions of a teenage Drama Queen also marked the debut of Megan Fox, as the two girls go head to head in a bid for stardom in the school play.
There’s feather boas, Britney inspired dance numbers, amateur theatre productions and your typical catty high school drama. We can’t get enough of it, tbh.
2. Cadet Kelly
You may not know that another bonafide Disney star, Lizzie Mcguire, branched out into other characters other than herself, but in Cadet Kelly she plays clueless cadet attempting to fit in a military academy, much to the chagrin of commanding officer Captain Stone. Cue chaos.
3. The Game Plan
After WWE but before Jumanji and Fast & Furious, The Rock starred in The Game Plan, playing a major league baseball player whose daughter he never knew he had, turns up on his doorstep.
Together the pair navigate parenthood, fame, death and practical jokes and while some of the humour is predictable, it’s a light-hearted easy watch.
4. Holes
Fresh out of his Even Stevens fame, Shia LaBeouf is the main character of Holes, which follows his time spend in a Texas juvenile correctional facility in Camp Green Lake, following a wrongful conviction for stealing a famous basketball players trainers.
As he and the other boys on the camp fulfil their punishment of digging holes in search of long lost treasure, the plot is full of twists and turns, almost unnecessarily so, but it’s a mash up of comedy, adventure and drama that’s hard not to enjoy.
5. Ice Princess
For any figure skating fans out there, Ice Princess is the Disney film for you, with a plot which explores the tension between Casey’s ambition to be a champion ice skater and her mother’s focus of academics. Between secret coaching sessions, bitchy competition and a budding romantic interest, there’s some pretty impressive skating scenes too.
6. Maleficent
Behold Angelina Jolie’s cheekbones, nothing short of majestic. Honestly, they’re a good enough reason to watch the newest interpretation of the Sleeping Beauty classic. And yes, there was a big buzz around its release, but there’s no harm in reminding you that it’s worth a watch as we discover the story behind the curse she places on Princess Auroroa in the original animation.
7. The Pacifier
The Pacifier, or dummy as we know in the UK tells the comedy of an undercover policeman, played by Vin Diesel, who is assigned the mammoth task of looking after a brood of five kids whose father is tragically killed in a navy seal mission gone wrong. Somehow he manages to juggle babies, wrestling coaches, high school theatre productions and the school run.
8. Ratatouille
Rats in a michelin starred-restaurant kitchen sounds truly ridiculous, but logic rarely applies to Disney animations. In any case, woefully unaware rate Remy, oblivious to humans disdain to his kind, is an aspiring French chef and worms his way into renowned chef Auguste Gusteau restaurant in Paris, forming an unlikely bond with fumbling apprentice Alfredo Linguini.
9. College Road Trip
Martin Lawrence and Raven Symone star in College Road Trip as a father-daughter duo making their way across the states to visit potential colleges. Throw in an overprotective relationship, dad jokes and slapstick comedy and you’ve got yourself an underrated Disney classic.
10. Treasure Planet
Animated teenagers seem to have an awful lot of freedom, take Jim Hawkins, who sets off on adventure across the universe aboard a spaceship – someone clearly doesn’t have a late curfew.
While it’s a classic tale of the underdog overcoming treachery, the stunning visuals are equally as impressive to watch.
11. A Bug’s Life
Only Disney could make bugs, insects and creepy crawlies cute. Led by inventor ant Flik, him and his makeshift crew of circus bugs band together to try and defeat a group of grasshoppers who steal their food every year. It sounds bizarre, but stick with it.
