Disney+ may have started as the “kid-friendly” option, but it has grown into something much more versatile. These shows aren’t just good for a franchise streamer, they’re some of the best TV out there, and in a world of endless scrolls and skipped pilots, that counts for a lot.
From Marvel and Star Wars to Pixar originals and reimagined classics, the streaming platform is delivering a number of hits. However, the real surprise is not just coasting on nostalgia — the shows you’ll find here offer rich storytelling, outstanding performances, and creative risks that may even rival those of Netflix.
Below, we break down the TV series that redefine what Disney+ has to offer.
Andor (2022-Present)
This isn’t just another Star Wars spinoff. Andor is grounded, emotional, and brilliantly written. It skips Jedi lore for a slow-burn rebellion drama and delivers one of the smartest political thrillers on TV—period.
The Lowdown: A prequel to Rogue One, this gritty espionage thriller follows Cassian Andor’s journey from cynical thief to dedicated Rebel spy during the formative years of the Alliance.
Why It Stands Out: While high-stakes political dramas like The Crown or intricate character studies like Ozark explore power dynamics and personal cost, Andor eschews lightsaber duels for intricate plotting, complex characters, and sharp political commentary. It elevates the Star Wars franchise with exceptional writing, amazing performances, and meticulous world-building, proving Disney+ isn’t afraid to deliver sophisticated, character-driven drama.
WandaVision (2021)
WandaVision plays like a love letter to television history while exploring grief and loss through genre-hopping brilliance. It reinvented what a superhero show could be, doing so with style, heart, and just the right amount of weird.
What it is: Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, Wanda Maximoff and Vision live an idyllic suburban life, but reality soon begins to unravel, revealing a deeper mystery tied to grief and power.
Why It Stands Out: Comparable to mind-bending shows with unique formats, such as Russian Doll or quirky superhero takes like The Umbrella Academy, WandaVision pushes the boundaries of MCU storytelling, utilizing its changing sitcom aesthetic not just as a gimmick but as a core narrative device tied directly to the protagonist’s emotional state. Its exploration of grief within the superhero context is groundbreaking and deeply affecting.
Loki (2021-2023)
Part-time-travel mystery, part existential identity crisis, Loki is chaotic in the best way. Tom Hiddleston is magnetic, and the show’s timeline-warping ambition makes most Netflix sci-fi series look tame.
The Lowdown: An alternate version of Loki, escaping after the Battle of New York, is apprehended by the Time Variance Authority (TVA) and forced to help fix the timeline he broke.
Why It Stands Out: A compelling alternative for fans of complex time-travel narratives, such as Dark, or character-focused sci-fi like Altered Carbon, Loki leverages a beloved, established character and throws him into a visually stunning, high-concept scenario that significantly impacts the wider MCU. Tom Hiddleston’s performance, combined with the show’s witty dialogue and exploration of identity and free will, makes it a standout piece of genre television.
X-Men ’97 (2024-Present)
Somehow, this revival of the ’90s classic is one of the boldest animated shows on any platform. X-Men ’97 dives into big themes without sacrificing action or heart. It’s smarter than you expect and better than it has any right to be.
What it is: A revival and direct continuation of the iconic X-Men: The Animated Series from the 1990s. It picks up the story following the loss of Professor X, as the mutant team faces new challenges, familiar foes, and the enduring prejudice of humankind.
Why It Stands Out: X-Men ’97 distinguishes itself through its profound faithfulness to the original series, serving as a direct sequel that honors the nostalgia while adapting the storytelling for modern audiences. It expertly combines thrilling action with the complex socio-political allegories for which the X-Men are renowned, delivering serialized drama that hits home with long-time fans and newcomers drawn to high-quality animated storytelling.
The Mandalorian (2019-2023)
The show that started it all for Disney+ originals. Equal parts spaghetti western and space opera, The Mandalorian gave us Baby Yoda and proved weekly TV could still feel like a cinematic event.
The Lowdown: A lone bounty hunter navigates the outer reaches of the galaxy, protecting a mysterious, Force-sensitive child in the chaotic era after the fall of the Empire.
Why It Stands Out: If you appreciate the dynamic of a stoic, skilled warrior reluctantly protecting a special charge against a fantastical backdrop (much like what The Witcher has to offer), The Mandalorian offers a similar appeal. However, it excels with its seamless integration into the beloved Star Wars lore, pioneering virtual production technology (StageCraft), and creating an instantly iconic character duo in Din Djarin and Grogu. It feels both expansive and deeply personal.
Ms. Marvel (2022)
Kamala Khan’s coming-of-age superhero miniseries is charming, grounded, and refreshingly different from typical MCU fare. It balances identity, family, and fantasy with genuine warmth.
What it is: Kamala Khan, a Pakistani-American teenager and Captain Marvel superfan from New Jersey, gains superpowers of her own and must navigate family, faith, high school, and newfound abilities.
Why It Stands Out: While Netflix excels in authentic coming-of-age stories focused on cultural identity, like Never Have I Ever, or energetic high school series like Heartstopper, Ms. Marvel brings a unique, joyful energy specifically to the superhero genre within the massive MCU framework. It’s a brilliant representation of a Pakistani-American Muslim family. Iman Vellani’s star-making performance, along with the show’s distinctive visual language – seamlessly blending animation and live-action to reflect Kamala’s inner world – make it truly special.
The Beatles: Get Back (2021)
This Peter Jackson docuseries is a slow, mesmerizing glimpse into the world of musical genius. You’re not just watching a band rehearse; you’re witnessing history. Netflix has some solid music docs, but nothing this intimate or visually rich.
The Lowdown: An intimate, fly-on-the-wall documentary series, meticulously restored from over 60 hours of unseen footage and 150 hours of unheard audio recorded in January 1969 during the making of The Beatles’ album Let It Be.
Why It Stands Out: The Beatles: Get Back offers fans an unparalleled experience, thanks to the sheer volume and stunning clarity of the decades-old footage, meticulously restored using groundbreaking techniques. Rather than a traditional biographical arc, it’s an immersive time capsule focused purely on the process of creation and band dynamics during a pivotal moment. It powerfully reshapes the narrative around these sessions, showcasing not just friction but also immense joy, humor, and collaboration, making you feel like you’re right there in the studio with legends.
Star Wars: Visions (2021-Present)
Anime meets the galaxy far, far away. Each episode of Visions is a self-contained work of art. It’s experimental and stunning in ways most franchises wouldn’t dare attempt.
What it is: An anthology series where various acclaimed anime studios from Japan (Season 2 features studios from 10 countries), offer their unique creative interpretations of the Star Wars galaxy through stunning short films.
Why It Stands Out: Star Wars: Visions truly shines by unleashing diverse creative voices onto the Galaxy Far, Far Away. Unlike sticking to a single established style, it offers a stunning array of animation techniques, ranging from traditional anime to 3D, stop-motion, and more, across its volumes. It allows creators to experiment with Star Wars lore in non-canonical, visually spectacular ways, delivering fresh, artistic interpretations rarely seen within the main franchise storylines.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians (2023-Present)
A major upgrade from prior movie attempts, this series captures the heart of the books with better pacing (mostly), stronger casting, and a tone that actually fits the source material. It’s a YA win that Disney+ nailed.
The Lowdown: Based on the beloved book series by Rick Riordan, this show follows 12-year-old demigod Percy Jackson as he discovers his true heritage and is accused by Zeus of stealing his master lightning bolt. He must journey across America to find it and restore order to Olympus.
Why It Stands Out: While Netflix has great success bringing YA books to the screen with Young Adult fantasy adaptations like Shadow and Bone or The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Percy Jackson and the Olympians excels due to its extremely faithful adaptation of a beloved global phenomenon. It captures the spirit, humor, and adventure of Rick Riordan’s novels, winning praise from long-time fans for its accuracy, while bringing the rich world of Greek mythology to life for a new generation.
Agatha All Along (2024)
Spun off from WandaVision, this spooky, stylish miniseries leans into its weirdness with delight. Kathryn Hahn carries the show with biting humor and a touch of eerie mystery.
What it is: The much-anticipated spin-off from WandaVision centers on the scene-stealing performance of Kathryn Hahn as the powerful and mischievous witch Agatha Harkness.
Why It Stands Out: While darkly comedic supernatural shows like The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina or quirky character studies like Wednesday offer engaging takes on magic and unique protagonists, “Agatha All Along” provides a specific, campy, and musically infused expansion of the MCU’s magical corner.