Disney acquired Fox on March 20, 2019. Besides bringing the rights to the X-Men back to Marvel and bringing many big franchises to Disney, this also meant many Fox movies could be on Disney Plus. Fox doesn't have its own section on Disney Plus, and unless subscribers are familiar with what movies come from Fox, they may not realize what titles are streaming.
This list will include titles that transferred to Disney with the Fox acquisition and not an earlier acquisition. So the first six Star Wars movies won't be listed here, as they came with the purchase of Lucasfilm. A couple of the films listed have left due to various streaming rights, but are coming back. So, here are the 10 best Fox movies on Disney Plus, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
Because of Winn-Dixie (2005) - 55%
Because of Winn-Dixie is based on the novel of the same name by Kate DiCamillo. The movie is about a girl who finds a dog running around a grocery store and causing trouble, and she claims it as her own so it won't be taken to the pound. The movie stars AnnaSophia Robb, Jeff Daniels, Lara Grice, Cecily Tyson, and Dave Matthews. It was directed by Wayne Wang.
While the film received mixed reviews, AnnaSophia Robb did receive a nomination for Leading Young Actress at the 2006 Young Artist Awards. This was her first big-screen role. She went on to star in such films as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Bridge to Terabithia, Race to Witch Mountain, and Soul Surfer.
The Sandlot (1993) - 61%
The Sandlot is a Fox film currently not on Disney Plus, but it has been before and will be added back at some point. This classic baseball movie may not have a very high score on Rotten Tomatoes, but it has its fans. Directed by David Mickey Evans, the film is about a group of kids in the summer of 1962. Amidst many misadventures in the film, their favorite activity is playing baseball on a field they call the sandlot.
The film is a touching look at what your friends mean to you as a kid, and the time you spend together. It's become a favorite of multiple generations, complete with classic lines like "You're killing me, Smalls!" and "The Sultan of Swat! The King of Crash! The Colossus of Clout!" It also features a brief but memorable role from James Earl Jones.
Home Alone (1990) - 65%
Home Alone is also currently not on Disney Plus, but will also be added back eventually. It tells the story of Kevin, a boy who gets angry and wishes his family would disappear. He gets his wish when they accidentally leave without him when going on vacation. Kevin has the run of the house to himself but takes on the responsibility of protecting it when robbers start snooping.
The film has classic performances by Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, and Daniel Stern. From the quotes, to the story, to the traps set for the robbers, the film is a classic beloved by many. It features supporting roles by Roberts Blossom, John Heard, Catherine O'Hara, and Johny Candy. Home Alone was directed by Chris Columbus.
Ice Age (2002) - 77%
Ice Age is an animated movie that tells the story of a saber-toothed tiger, a sloth, and a mammoth who team up to return a human baby to its home. Besides the main characters Diego, Sid, and Manny, the film also introduced Scrat, the loveable saber-toothed squirrel. It was nominated for the Oscar for Best Animated Feature in 2003.
Ice Age has gone on to be one of the highest-grossing film series of all-time. The first film led to four sequels, seven short films (six of which star Scrat), a Christmas special, and an Easter special. The first film is also the highest-rated film of the series.
Avatar (2009) - 82%
Avatar was directed by James Cameron and stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez, and Stephen Lang. It was nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. It's also one of the highest-grossing movies of all time, being third domestically and second worldwide. It tells the story of humans trying to colonize the world of Pandora, which puts them at odds with the local tribe. To explore the world, they use hybrid bodies called "Avatars."
Even before the purchase of Fox, Disney had built Pandora: The World of Avatar in Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World, which recreated many sights and experiences from the movie. Sequels to Avatar have been planned for many years, with the second and third film having been shot in 2017 and 2018.
The Sound Of Music (1965) - 83%
The Sound of Music stars Julie Andrew and Christopher Plummer. It was directed by Robert Wise. It tells the story of a governess named Maria and the children she looks after. The children's father has lost his wife and is very strict with his children, but Maria is very kind to them. Eventually, the father and Maria begin to fall in love.
Fitting it among the Disney musicals, the film is widely known for its musical numbers. These include "The Sound of Music," as well as "My Favorite Things," "Do-Re-Mi," and "So Long, Farewell." The film also has powerful messages, as evidenced by the scene where Captain Von Trapp takes down a Nazi flag and rips it in half. It was nominated for ten Oscars, winning five, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Journey To The Center Of The Earth (1959) - 86%
Journey to the Center of the Earth is adapted from the Jules Verne novel of the same name. Directed by Henry Levin, the film stars James Mason, Pat Boone, Diane Baker, Arlene Dahl, and Peter Ronson. It follows a group of explorers who follow a path to the center of the Earth. Along the way, they find an ocean, giant mushrooms, and dinosaurs.
The film received three Oscar nominations for Best Production Design, Best Visual Effects, and Best Sound. Screenwriter Walter Reisch was exciting to work on the film because he had wanted to write a biography of Jules Verne. James Mason can be seen in another Jules Verne adaptation on Disney Plus, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
Millions (2005) - 88%
Millions was directed by Academy Award-winner Danny Boyle. It stars Alex Etel, Lewis Owen McGibbon, James Nesbitt, Daisy Donovan, and Christopher Fulford. The film is about a young boy who finds a bag of money flung from a train. He and his brother decide what to do with it, each coming to different results.
Both the screenplay and the novel were written by Frank Cottrell-Boyce. He adapted the novel from the screenplay while the film was being made, but the novel ended up being released first. Boyle has remarked that he wished he had made the film a musical.
The Simpsons Movie (2007) - 88%
The Simpsons Movie was released in 2007, between the shows 18th and 19th seasons. It follows the Simpsons as Homer pollutes a lake and causes the EPA to put a dome over Springfield. The Simpsons created Matt Groening had long wanted to do a movie and planned to make it after the series was over. The continued renewal of the show led to the movie being made when it was.
The Simpsons Movie was directed by a longtime director of the series, David Silverman. The film includes all the regular stars of the show, including Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, and Harry Shearer. Cameos in the film include Tom Hanks and the members of Green Day.
Miracle On 34th Street (1947) - 96%
This film is a Christmas classic directed by George Seaton. It follows a department store Santa Claus who says he is the real Santa. As debate and even a court case go on over whether he really is Santa Claus, a young girl named Susan begins to believe he is real even though her mother discourages such beliefs.
The film was nominated for Best Picture and won awards for writing and supporting actor for Edmund Gwenn. It stars Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Gwenn, and a young Natalie Wood as Susan.