One of the main reasons why Disney+ has been able to rank among the most impressive streaming services in history is the slate of original programming it offers up. While the back catalog of animated films and projects from Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar are welcome, those originals are highlights.
Not counting documentary shows, these original series include animation, live-action, Star Wars, Marvel, and so much more. Some are just good fun, others are big-budget science fiction tales, and a few even scored several Emmy nominations. Most of them have impressive ratings on IMDb.
Monsters At Work (2021-Present) - 7.3
The most recent Disney+ series is something rather historic. Monsters at Work is actually the first full-length TV show made by the critically acclaimed Pixar Studios. Set in a familiar world, it follows characters originally introduced in 2001's Monsters Inc. in the aftermath of that film.
While Sully and Mike are back, Tylor Tuskmon is the protagonist as a talented scarer who gets a job at Monsters Inc., only to find out that they no longer scare and instead focus on jokes. It puts him in a unique position and though the series is new, reviews have been solid so far.
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (2019-Present) - 7.3
On paper, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series feels like something that shouldn't work. Based on the popular film series of the same name, the show focuses on teenagers who put on a High School Musical play at the actual school where the movies take place.
However, it works well due to some fantastic musical numbers and performances from a talented cast that includes pop sensation, Olivia Rodrigo. Along with praise from critics and fans, it won a GLAAD Media Award and is likely Disney's most diverse show.
The Falcon And The Winter Soldier (2021) - 7.4
One of the biggest selling points of Disney+ is access to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After being pushed back to 2021, the MCU debuted its first official shows that line up and interact with the blockbuster movies. The second of these series was The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
It dealt with the fallout from Avengers: Endgame and Sam Wilson's struggle to accept Captain America's shield. He partnered with Bucky Barnes in a show that was heralded for its social commentary and acting but criticized for the pacing and its ending. It did set up a fourth Captain America film, though.
Big Shot (2021-Present) - 7.5
The premise of Big Shot is not exactly a new one but it's tried and true and works again here. The story is centered on a basketball coach with anger control issues who is fired from his high-paying job and sent to coach at a private school for girls.
John Stamos takes on the lead role of Marvyn Korn and the show has been well-received for the adorable bond he forms with the team. While it doesn't do anything fresh with the genre, the series features quality performances and sucks you in with the sweet setup.
The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers (2021-Present) - 7.5
The aforementioned Big Shot has plenty of similarities to 1992's The Mighty Ducks. In that iconic sports film, the coach of the ragtag team of young hockey players doesn't want to have that role at first but ends up bonding with them. Decades later, a spin-off show arrived on Disney+.
That is The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, which takes place years in the future with Coach Bombay being recruited by the mother of a child who was cut from his hockey team. The show was a hit for how the underdog story was told and the nostalgic elements from the original films.
The Mysterious Benedict Society (2021-Present) - 7.7
In 2020, Disney+ released Artemis Fowl, which is based on a popular novel. It was critically panned and was seen by many as a failure but in 2021, Disney+ released a TV series also based on a book series with a strong following that was a much bigger success.
The eight-episode season 1 of The Mysterious Benedict Society is a fun mystery adventure where gifted orphans are recruited to a school run by an eccentric benefactor. So far, it has been a critical hit that families everywhere are enjoying.
WandaVision (2021) - 8.0
The start of Disney+'s MCU run came with WandaVision. The high concept show centered on Wanda Maximoff and Vision as they lived in sitcoms through various decades. Though that led to many fun moments, there was a heavy heart underneath it all as it dealt with grief, loss, and trauma.
The big-budget series set many things in line for the MCU's future including introducing Monica Rambeau, Billy, and Tommy. Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Kathryn Hahn, and several others scored Emmy nominations, with WandaVision getting eight in total.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021-Present) - 8.3
Like Marvel, Star Wars is getting a handful of shows on Disney+ in the coming years. The second one (not counting the final season of The Clone Wars) is Stars Wars: The Bad Batch, which is actually a spin-off of The Clone Wars. The show's titular group of clones were introduced during that final run of episodes.
This animated series is once again created by Dave Filoni, who is basically the franchise's guru. It is already a favorite thanks to the unique characters, beautiful animation style, and intriguing connections to greater Star Wars lore. In fact, it already featured the likes of Caleb Dume, Emperor Palpatine, Saw Guerra, Admiral Tarkin, and Fennec Shand.
Loki (2021-Present) - 8.6
The third and most recent MCU series is Loki and many agree that it is the best one to date. Following the God of Mischief after he disappeared with the stolen Tessaract in Avengers: Endgame, Loki was captured by the Time Variance Authority for his crimes.
Of course, all is not what it seemed, with Loki and his other variants uncovering a sinister truth about the TVA, leading to a finale that will change the future of the MCU forever. The special effects, plot twists, and performances by the stellar cast including Tom Hiddleston, Sophia Di Martino, Owen Wilson, and Jonathan Majors were all praised.
The Mandalorian (2019-Present) - 8.8
When Disney+ launched, The Mandalorian came with it and proved to be an immediate hit. Set in the Star Wars universe, the series follows the exploits of a Mandalorian bounty hunter named Din Djarin as he travels the galaxy and protects Grogu, a child he bonds with.
History was made when the series scored Disney+ an Oustanding Drama Series nomination at the Emmys. Season 1 was a huge success but season 2 proved to be even better, getting another nomination and delivering on huge moments involving series favorites like Ahsoka Tano, Luke Skywalker, and Boba Fett.