10 Best Disney+ Movies Released In 2020, Ranked According To Rotten Tomatoes

2020 marked the first full calendar year for Disney+ as a streaming service. It was a rousing success as they racked up an incredible number of subscribers, released a well-received second season of The Mandalorian, and continued to add to its impressive library of movies and television shows.

However, they took things to the next level when it comes to original films. There were several released to the platform including animated adventures, sports dramas, and even a stage play. Disney+ also became the home for the blockbuster live-action take on Mulan with premier access. Some of these were met with high acclaim from critics around the world.

10 Godmothered (69%)

One of the most recent releases on this list, Godmothered arrived on Disney+ on December 4. A lot of films from 2020 hit streaming services after being originally meant for theaters. That wasn’t the case here as this was always intended for a Disney+ release.

Godmothered was perfect for that as it’s an ideal flick for the entire family to enjoy around the holiday season. The story follows a struggling fairy godmother named Eleanor (Jillian Bell) out to prove herself by helping a girl who had her request ignored, only to find that the girl is now a grown woman named Mackenzie (Isla Fisher).

9 The One And Only Ivan (70%)

Unlike the previous entry, The One and Only Ivan was indeed scheduled to be released on the big screen. Based on a children’s novel of the same name, this film ultimately came to Disney+ on August 21. It focuses on a gorilla who works together with an elephant to put together the pieces of his past.

Along with the impressive visuals, The One and Only Ivan stands out because of the spectacular cast. Bryan Cranston leads the way but the voices of Angelina Jolie, Sam Rockwell, and Phillipa Soo can also be heard. It was praised for being a heartwarming tale.

8 Stargirl (72%)

When most people hear about a project titled Stargirl released in 2020, their mind tends to go towards the Arrowverse series. However, Disney+ got its own Stargirl, an original film that hit the streaming service on March 13 and is based on a novel of the same name.

The premise of Stargirl sees the free-spirited titular girl (Grace VanderWaal) form a bond with a grieving boy (Graham Verchere). Critics appreciated the earnest performances, emotions, and non-conformity but did feel like it wasn’t entirely original. Still, it was something of a hidden gem this year.

7 Mulan (73%)

At the start of 2020, Mulan was supposed to be a huge hit for Disney. It was going to be another live-action remake blockbuster but was pushed back until September 4 with premier access for Disney+ users. It had a lot to live up to as the 1998 Mulan is beloved.

Most viewers seemed to be disappointed with the film, as it scored just 49% with audiences. Like the original, it sees a Chinese woman disguise herself as a man to join a war and save her father. The action was heavily praised as being epic but there was a lack of comedic aspects and the music from the original.

6 Clouds (76%)

Released on October 16, Clouds is one of those true stories that Disney seems to usually handle so well. It is based on Laura Sobiech’s memoir Fly a Little Higher: How God Answered a Mom’s Small Prayer in a Big Way.

Laura’s son Zach dreamt of being a musician. He gets diagnosed with cancer and decides to make an album, only to find that it goes viral and becomes bigger than he could’ve imagined. The consensus is that even though not every emotional moment hits, the director did great work.

5 Safety (82%)

Speaking of true stories that Disney handled well, there’s Safety. It might be Disney’s best take on a football flick since Remember The Titans. Released on December 11, Safety tells the tale of Clemson football player Ray McElrathbey back in the late 2000s.

McElrathbey, a freshman on the team, has to take over care of his little brother when their mom goes to rehab. He struggles to balance school, his family, and his team. Although it doesn’t do anything new with the genre, it’s an uplifting tearjerker of a story.

4 Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made (84%)

Not many people would’ve expected to find this movie ranked so high. After all, Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made sounds like a typical kid’s film on paper. Something that is easy to digest and doesn’t have all that much to say. That isn’t actually the case, though.

The film, which arrived on February 7 after a Sundance run, centers on Timmy (Winslow Fegley), a kid who believes he is the town’s greatest detective. He opens his own agency and is accompanied by an imaginary polar bear. Critics appreciated how fun it is and how much it celebrates imagination.

3 Soul (95%)

As usual, Pixar delivered in a big way in 2020. After a strong outing with Onward early in the year, they added a Christmas present with the December 25 Disney+ release of Soul. Reception was overwhelmingly positive, citing the visuals, creativity, and emotional heartfelt story.

Soul puts the focus on a struggling jazz musician named Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx). Just as he’s about to get his big break, he has an accident and his soul gets trapped in the Great Beyond and Great Before. While there, he bonds with an infant soul as he tries to get back to his body.

2 Hamilton (98%)

Debuting in 2015 on Broadway, Hamilton became a massive success. Everybody wanted to see the musical genius of Lin-Manuel Miranda and the delightful take on the story of Alexander Hamilton. A theatrical version was set for October 2021 but was pushed up for Disney+ release to July 3, 2020.

It ended up being remarkable. Showcasing the original stage cast, this adaptation manages to somehow perfectly capture the infectious energy of the play. From tremendous performances to emotional highs and lows to comedy to the incredibly catchy songs, nearly everyone who experienced Hamilton fell madly in love.

1 Phineas And Ferb The Movie: Candace Against The Universe (100%)

While it doesn’t have nearly as many total reviews as some other entries on this list, there’s no denying just how much of a joy it is to watch Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against The Universe. It does exactly what fans of the now-iconic series would want, capturing the tone of it.

Released to the streaming service on August 28, this was the second film spawned from the series and a third is possible. The story sees Phineas and Ferb attempting to rescue their sister from an alien abduction, only to find that Candace may want to stay on the other planet since she’s respected there.

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