Best Comedies on Disney Plus Streaming Right Now (January 2024) (original) (raw)
Updated Jan 26, 2024, 7:30 PM EST
Gregory Lawrence (aka Greg Smith) is a writer, director, performer, songwriter, and comedian. He's an associate editor for Collider and has written for Shudder, CBS, Paste Magazine, Guff, Smosh, Obsev Studios, and more. He loves pizza and the Mortal Kombat movie. For more, www.smithlgreg.com
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Disney+ is chock-full of content that can scratch all kinds of itches. You want a Star Wars? You got a Star Wars. Craving Marvel superheroes? Knock yourself out. Need some princesses in your life? Disney Plus is positively saturated with princesses. But what if your particular viewing needs on the Mouse House app aren’t so easily sorted? What if you’re in the mood to laugh, but don’t exactly know how? We’ve got you covered, friend. Below, we’ve sorted some of the best comedies on Disney+. Many of them fall satisfyingly into the Disney wheelhouse, some of them are quite surprising, but all of them will split your sides and tickle your funnybones.
In the mood for something a little more serious? Check out our list of best dramas or action films on the platform, or browse our list of the best movies on Disney+.
Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Disney+.
10 Things I Hate About You
Rotten Tomatoes: 71% | IMDb: 7.3/10
Release Date
March 31, 1999
Runtime
97 minutes
Director
Gil Junger
A high-school boy, Cameron, cannot date Bianca until her anti-social older sister, Kat, has a boyfriend. So, Cameron pays a mysterious boy, Patrick, to charm Kat.
It was a surprisingly progressive take on the teen comedy. A sneaky adaptation of William Friggin’ Shakespeare. A prescient incubator of incredible talent. And one of the many incredible films produced in 1999. It’s 10 Things I Hate About You, and if you’re surprised to hear that the iconoclastic, PG-13-rated romcom is available on the ostensibly family-friendly Disney+ -- buddy, so am I! But I highly encourage you to convert that potential energy into kinetic energy and give this picture a stream. Diving cleverly headfirst into the problematic politics of The Taming of the Shrew headfirst, Julia Stiles stars as the rebellious, snarky, and upon modern eyes “usually correct” Kat. She is set up with bad boy Patrick (Heath Ledger, of course) by good boy Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, of course) in a scheme to help Cameron wind up with Kat’s younger, popular sister Bianca (Larisa Oleynik). Compared to many of the other teen romcoms of this era, 10 Things I Hate About You is uncommonly sensitive, nuanced, and pointed in its comic targets. It’s the perfect film for the “teenager who doesn’t want to admit they have deep feelings even though they absolutely do” in all of us. — Gregory Lawrence
Elemental
Rotten Tomatoes: 74% | IMDb: 7.0/10
Release Date
June 16, 2023
Runtime
102 minutes
Director
Cast
Mamoudou Athie
Wade (voice)
Follows Ember and Wade, in a city where fire-, water-, earth- and air-residents live together.
In a city inhabited by the elements fire, water, air, and earth, fire element Ember Lumen (Leah Lewis) and water element Wade Ripple (Mamoudou Athie) begin a blossoming romance in a **Romeo and Juliet**-style narrative. Disney’s run of discussing challenging world topics in a kid-friendly way continues, with both segregation and xenophobia heavily touched on in this tale. The voice cast is only bettered by the awe-inspiring visuals, with the animated world-building a true highlight of the film. Cute and powerful, Elemental is a perfect Sunday morning watch with the family, with something to enjoy for children and adults alike. - Jake Hodges.
Gulliver’s Travels
Rotten Tomatoes: 20% | IMDb: 4.9/10
Release Date
December 25, 2010
Runtime
85 minutes
Director
Director Rob Letterman (Monsters vs. Aliens) makes his live-action debut with an adaptation of the Jonathan Swift novel starring Jack Black (The Super Mario Bros. Movie) as the titular traveler. This updated classic takes place in the 21st century and finds Gulliver traveling to the Bermuda Triangle to prove himself as an investigative reporter for a prestigious New York newspaper. On his trip, he gets caught in a storm and washes up on Lilliput Island, where he becomes the “protector” of a society of tiny people under false pretenses. But when the island comes under attack, he has to step up and become a real protector — or risk the citizens of the island getting wiped out.
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
Rotten Tomatoes: 76% | IMDb: 6.4/10
Release Date
June 23, 1989
Runtime
93minutes
Director
Based on a story by horror masters Stuart Gordon and Brian Yuzna and serving as the directorial debut of animation and design master Joe Johnston, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids is a total blast. There’s a playfulness and visual sophistication to the story of the children of a mad scientist who accidentally shrink themselves down, especially due to Phil Tippett’s jaw-dropping stop-motion effects. The other MVP is Rick Moranis. Moranis’ run in the 1980s, when he starred in two Ghostbusters movies, Streets of Fire, Little Shop of Horrors and Spaceballs, is totally unparalleled, and his performance in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids is often overlooked but just as electric and vitally alive as any of these other greats. From the opening moments of the movie, with a killer early CGI title sequence and dynamite James Horner score, you’ll be hooked. – Drew Taylor
Bend It Like Beckham
Rotten Tomatoes: 85% | IMDb: 6.7/10
Release Date
April 12, 2002
Runtime
112 min
Director
Gurinder Chadha
Parminder Nagra (ER) and Keira Knightley (The Imitation Game) kick it up a notch as two young women who have big ambitions to play professional soccer — despite their parents viewing their dreams as a red flag. Bend It Like Beckham is a British sports comedy that takes a few shots at the male-dominated football association while delivering an inspirational story about friendship and perseverance. Nagra and Knightley are the biggest draws in the movie, as their relationship is the driving force, and their tenacious spirit keeps audiences rooting for their success no matter what obstacles they face…even if an obstacle is a needless love triangle. – Tauri Miller
The Game Plan
Rotten Tomatoes: 30% | IMDb: 6.4/10
Release Date
September 28, 2007
Cast
Madison Pettis
Peyton Kelly
Roselyn Sanchez
Monique Vasquez
The Game Plan is one the best films in Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s early career, and we will not be taking questions. Made at a time when a common studio formula was to pair a tough guy with a young girl to soften him up, this movie stands out among the crowd due to the full cast of huge personalities giving their all to draw out as many laughs as they can. Johnson plays an NFL Quarterback who finds out he has an eight-year-old daughter, which forces him to reevaluate his priorities — will it be playoffs or playtime that wins his attention?
Enchanted
Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | IMDb: 7.1/10
Release Date
November 21, 2007
Runtime
107 minutes
Director
Kevin Lima
Considering Enchanted came out before the latest wave of Disney Princess films like Tangled, Frozen, and The Princess and the Frog, it's fair to say that Giselle (Amy Adams) paved the way for the last decade and a half of princesses. And how could she not, since Disney's first real dissection of their own films is ridiculously charming, thanks in no small part to an endlessly delightful performance by Adams, who is somehow always gleeful, but never irritating. As an animated princess who comes to New York City, Adams' Giselle is in awe of this new world she's fallen into, one where happily ever after isn't as easy as it seems. With an equally great supporting cast that includes an over-the-top James Marsden and a pre-Frozen Idina Menzel, Enchanted isn't just the catalyst for Disney princess films, it's also one of Disney's best live-action films in recent memory. — Ross Bonaime
Holes
Rotten Tomatoes: 78% | IMDb: 7.0/10
Release Date
April 18, 2003
A young boy is unjustly sentenced to a juvenile detention camp where the inmates are made to dig holes in the desert under the guise of building character. The real reason for the digging is soon discovered, as the boy and his fellow detainees uncover clues to a hidden treasure and a century-old family curse.
Runtime
117 minutes
Director
Andrew Davis
Holes is one of the most beloved and cherished performances from Disney channel alum Shia LaBeouf (Transformers). LaBeouf stars as Stanley, a boy wrongfully convicted of a crime whose punishment is served by inexplicably digging mysterious holes in a brutal detention camp in the desert. Based on the novel by Louis Sachar and directed by Andrew Davis, Holes is a unique story with a charming message supported by an unparalleled cast, including Sigourney Weaver(Avatar: The Way of Water) and Jon Voight ( Ray Donovan). Capturing the story’s humor and heart, Davis integrates the vastness and dry scenery in Holes to captivate his audience. – Yael Tygiel
Ratatouille
Rotten Tomatoes: 96% | IMDb: 8.1/10
An adorable animated comedy about following your dreams, Ratatouillecomes from Brad Bird (The Incredibles), who co-directed it with Jan Pinkava. Taking place in Paris, France, Ratatouille follows a foodie rat with dreams to experience the finest flavors and become a renowned chef. Featuring **The Sandman**’s Patton Oswalt as the voice of Remy the rat, Ratatouille explores themes of persistence and passion – even when infeasible and contrary to family expectations. Pairing Remy with an unlikely ally, accident-prone garbage boy Linguini (Lou Romano), Ratatouille shows these two learn to trust each other in hopes of changing their lives, as well as the culinary world they wish to call home. – Yael Tygiel
Cadet Kelly
IMDb: 5.5/10
Release Date
March 7, 2002
Runtime
100 minutes
Director
Larry Shaw
Writers
Gail Parent
Producers
Jerry Leider, Kevin Lafferty
Cast
Christy Carlson Romano
Cadet Captain Jennifer Stone
Hilary Duff (How I Met Your Father) stars in the cherished classic Disney Channel Original Movie Cadet Kelly as an artistic girl who is sent to military school. Fighting to keep her individuality and creativity alive, Kelly stands up against the institution and the commanding officer intent on keeping her in line (Christy Carlson Romano). The tension and chemistry between these two young actors captivate, generating immense excitement as their journey from enemies to sisterhood unfolds. A funny and meaningful film about inner strength, friendship, and overcoming adversity, Cadet Kelly is an inspirational movie for young women everywhere. – Yael Tygiel