There’s a whole lot of hot content to pick through onDisney Plus, including hours ofSpider-Mancartoons of wildly variable quality and two different versions ofAdventures in Babysitting. But if you’re in the mood for more educational fare, don’t worry – Disney+ has got you covered. (Although I would argue there is plenty to learn fromVincent D’Onofrio’s scene inBabysittingin which he plays an auto mechanic who may or may not be the Mighty Thor.) It’s a little clunkily organized, but there’s plenty of documentary fare available on the streaming platform to sate your appetite for knowledge. We’ve assembled a list of some of the best titles, covering a wide range of topics including nature films, undersea exploration, the history of Disney, and the making of theStar Warstrilogy (the good one). Below, check out our list of the best documentaries on Disney Plus right now.
For more recommendations, check out our list of thebest movies on Disney Plus,best documentaries on Netflix, andbest documentaries on Hulu.
Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Disney+.
Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
Rotten Tomatoes: 99% | IMDb: 8.0/10
Summer of Soul
The Oscar-winning documentary tells the untold story of the 1969 Harlem Culture Festival, a six-week celebration of Black culture, music, and fashion. During the same summer as Woodstock, the Harlem Culture Festival featured legendary performances fromStevie Wonder,Nina Simone, andGladys Knight & the Pips, just to name a few. Despite its popularity at the time, the documentary explores why the historic festival faded into pop culture obscurity. Part music film and part historical record,Summer of Soulrevives the once lost festival for a new generation and stands as a testament to the power of great music in the midst of a tumultuous time in American history, past and present. —Meredith Loftus
Watch TrailerWatch on Disney+
Rotten Tomatoes: 81% | IMDb: 6.9/10
Stan Leeis a fantastic documentary that follows the spectacular life and amazing career of the face of Marvel Comics. Featuring archival interviews from the man himself and behind-the-scenes footage of Lee throughout the creation of the multimedia empire that Marvel has become since the inception of the brand in the late 1930s, directorDavid Gelbmanages to capture the essence of what made Lee such a force in the industry. Though the doc could stand to give a little more credit to Lee’s biggest collaboratorsJack KirbyandSteve Ditko, it is a wonderfully nostalgic journey through the philosophy of one of the most revered and celebrated creatives in comics. –Tauri Miller
Science Fair
Rotten Tomatoes: 97% | IMDb: 7.5/10
An engaging and entertaining documentary about a selection of top-tier high school science students,Science Fairexplores the fascinating world of academic competition peppered in with adolescent infatuations. Hormones rage in this documentary, which follows nine rival students as they grapple for the title of “Best in Fair.” Directed byCristina CostantiniandDarren Foster(Own the Room), who also wrote the documentary withJeff Plunkett,Science Fairexplores how intellect works hand-in-hand with courage and determination, showcased by these remarkable individuals.– Yael Tygiel
Olivia Rodrigo: driving home 2 u (a SOUR film)
IMDb: 7.2/10
This documentary follows young singerOlivia Rodrigoas she reflects on her debut albumSourwhile driving from Salt Lake City, Utah to Los Angeles, California.Indriving home 2 u,Rodrigo’s poignant insight is combined with new arrangements of her songs that show how far the singer has come in the year since her song “driver’s license” propelled her into the spotlight. The vulnerability present in her music continues into the documentary – she’s upfront about how challenging it was to follow the success of her first song. But it’s clear that this experience has given Rodrigo valuable insight and closure. Her youthful perspective gives her a wise outlook on life and relationships that is easy to lose track of as we get older. Even if you’re not a Rodrigo superfan,driving home 2 uis the perfect lowkey watch for all ages. -Brynna Arens
The Beatles: Get Back
Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | IMDb: 9.0/10
Just when you think you’ve seen and heard enough about The Beatles,Peter Jacksoncomes along. In 1970, the documentary of their albumLet It Bewas released. Jackson obtained all the hours of unaired footage and cut it down into athree-part documentary. The stress amongst the group is clear, but the musical genius pouring out of them effortlessly is what you can’t look away from. It’s a feeling of being in the room with the most famous band that ever lived as they look inside their instruments and produce some of the most recognizable songs in history. WatchingPaul McCartneygoofing around on a guitar when suddenly he’s written the titular song, “Get Back,” is a moment you won’t regret witnessing. And seeing the band as bandmates, goofy pals, husbands, and fathers is just about as intimate as you ever thought you could get with a band that has always seemed so untouchable. By the time the rooftop concert starts at the end, you’ll feel like you’ve been through something with them and be saddened knowing that this will be the last time they perform together. -Jennifer McHugh
Folklore: The Long Pond Sessions
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 8.4/10
Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions
JoinTaylor Swiftat the historic Long Pond Studios for a personal concert in the comfort of your home. Directed by Taylor Swift herself,Folklore: The Long Pond Sessionsis an intimate look inside her GRAMMY-winning Album of the Year alongside her co-producers,Jack AntonoffandAaron Dessner. It includes stripped-down performances of each track fromfolklore, which are the first in-person performances since recording the album remotely. Plus, Taylor also takes the time to reveal the creation and intended meaning behind each track. This documentary is not just for Taylor Swift fans but every music lover who wants to know more about the creative process of one of the best songwriters in the industry today. —Meredith Loftus
Rotten Tomatoes: 94% | IMDb: 7.5/10
Howard Ashman, the lyricist and screenwriter behind some of the most successful films of the so-called Disney Renaissance. But his unparalleled winning streak was tragically cut short when he contracted HIV and died of AIDS beforeBeauty and the Beastwas even released (the film is dedicated to him). Writer/director Don Hahn, who worked with Ashman onBeauty and the Beastand who directedWaking Sleeping Beauty(also on this list) tenderly recounts Ashman’s life, from his childhood putting on shows for his sister using toys as performers to his life as an Off-Broadway wunderkind to his devastating debut on Broadway that helped lead him to Disney. Like with Waking Sleeping Beauty, Hahn stays away from talking head interviews, instead letting new and archival audio interviews run over old footage, photographs and clips from the movies he worked on. (ComposerAlan Menkenstill sounds broken up about Howard’s death.) It’s a story that is told free of sentimentality but one that will, nonetheless, still make you cry buckets. Ashman died so young and worked on so few films; it’s amazing to think what he could have accomplished and how many lives he would have touched if he’d survived. –Drew Taylor
Rotten Tomatoes: 98% | IMDb: 8.1/10
Free Solofollows rock climberAlex Honnoldas he sets out to do a free climb of Yosemite National Park’s El Capitan. Free climbing, for the uninitiated, is climbing without any harness or safety line. Basically, it’s the scariest activity human beings can engage in that doesn’t involve space travel and/or uncaged lions.
Free Solo won the Academy Award for Best Documentary in 2018, and it’s easy to see why when you watch it. Honnold’s trip up the 3,000 foot rock formation is dizzying, and if you’re like me, you will spend the entirety of the film with your butt firmly clenched. Relaying the minor spoiler that Honnold is alive and well at the time of this writing might alleviate some of the tension for you, but his quest is still undeniably thrilling to watch.
Waking Sleeping Beauty
Rotten Tomatoes: 71% | IMDb: 7.5/10
If you have any interest whatsoever in the Disney Renaissance, you absolutely have to watchWaking Sleeping Beautyright this second. It’s a surprisingly candid look at Disney’s revitalization in the late 80s and early 90s, thanks to a string of hits likeThe Little Mermaid,Beauty and the Beast,Aladdin, andThe Lion King.
Narrated and directed by Disney producerDon Hahn, the film is composed entirely of archival interviews with Disney animators and executives and personal footage shot by the various employees working behind-the-scenes during what is arguably the most important period of the company’s history. Like I said, it’s surprisingly candid and doesn’t paint Disney in the most flattering light, although most of the shade thrown is cast inJeffrey Katzenberg’s direction, the one-time head of film at Disney who resigned in the mid-90s to found DreamWorks. There’s clearly no love lost there.
The Imagineering Story
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% | IMDb: 8.9/10
At the time of this writing,The Imagineering Storyis still an ongoing docuseries, but it’s absolutely worth watching for anyone interested in Disney’s history. It chronicles the creation of Disneyland and the various Disney theme parks, from Walt Disney’s initial vision to the design and construction of the actual rides to how the company has continued creating entertainment destinations in the decades since Walt’s death.
“Imagineers” are the engineers that design the attractions that Disney’s theme parks, and they’ve done some undeniably incredible work over the years. (The Haunted Mansion in particular is a landmark of special effects wizardry.) The six episode series was produced byLeslie Iwerks, an accomplished documentary filmmaker who also happens to be the granddaughter of Disney legend and Mickey Mouse co-creatorUb Iwerks. (Her filmThe Pixar Storyis slated to come to Disney Plus in 2021.)
