Disney+ isn’t just adding old movies to its library anymore. In 2025, it’s launching a wave of original films that aren’t just sequels or spin-offs-they’re bold, risky, and designed to compete with Netflix, Apple TV+, and Prime Video on their own terms. If you’re wondering what’s actually worth watching, not just what’s been announced, here’s the real breakdown of what’s coming and why it matters.
Big Budgets, Bigger Ambitions
Disney’s strategy in 2025 is clear: stop playing it safe. After years of relying on Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar, they’re now betting big on original stories that don’t come with built-in fanbases. Disney+ original films this year include a $120 million sci-fi epic called Project Hail Mary, based on Andy Weir’s bestselling novel. It’s not a Marvel movie. It’s not a cartoon. It’s a space survival story with real science, practical effects, and a lead actor who isn’t a Marvel alum. That’s a huge shift.
Then there’s Wish’s follow-up, Wish: The Next Chapter. Don’t expect another musical fairy tale. This one’s darker, set in a dystopian kingdom where magic is outlawed. It’s a direct response to critics who said the first film was too safe. Disney’s animation team spent 18 months redesigning the art style to blend hand-drawn textures with 3D depth-something no other studio has tried at this scale.
Live-Action Remakes Are Done. Here’s What Replaced Them
Remember when every Disney movie was a live-action remake? Those are officially over. In 2025, Disney+ is replacing them with original adaptations of lesser-known fairy tales and folklore. One of the most talked-about titles is The Girl Who Spoke to Wolves, based on a 19th-century Finnish legend. It’s not a Disney princess story. It’s a coming-of-age tale about a mute girl who communicates with wolves in a frozen forest, using only sound design and visual storytelling. No songs. No talking animals. Just atmosphere and emotion.
Another title, La Llorona: The Awakening, isn’t a horror reboot. It’s a historical drama set in 1920s Guatemala, blending Mayan mythology with real events from the country’s civil unrest. It’s the first Disney+ film to be co-produced with a Latin American studio and filmed entirely in Spanish and K’iche’.
Marvel and Star Wars Are Still There-But Not the Way You Think
Yes, Marvel and Star Wars are still on the schedule. But they’re not the flashy, blockbuster-style movies you’d see in theaters. Instead, Disney+ is releasing character-driven, low-budget films meant to expand the universe in ways TV shows can’t.
Marvel: Echo is a 90-minute film starring Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez, set in the Navajo Nation. It’s not a superhero action flick. It’s a quiet, grounded story about trauma, identity, and community. The budget was just $25 million-less than most Disney+ TV episodes. But it’s getting rave reviews from critics who say it’s the most authentic Indigenous representation Disney has ever produced.
On the Star Wars side, Star Wars: The Last Jedi Revisited isn’t a sequel. It’s a documentary-style film that follows the real-life crew who built the original Return of the Jedi sets in 1982. It uses never-before-seen footage, interviews with crew members who’ve never spoken publicly, and archival audio logs. It’s not about Luke Skywalker. It’s about the people behind the scenes.
What’s Missing? The Quiet Wins
Disney+ isn’t just about spectacle. Some of the most compelling films in 2025 are the ones you won’t hear about until they drop. Still Life with Crows is a silent, black-and-white film shot entirely on 16mm film in rural Maine. It’s about an elderly woman who starts collecting crow feathers after her husband dies. No dialogue. No score. Just 72 minutes of weather, silence, and small gestures. It premiered at Sundance in January 2025 and won the Grand Jury Prize.
Another hidden gem is One Night in Osaka, a Japanese-language film about a lonely salaryman who spends one night wandering the city after losing his job. It’s not marketed. It doesn’t have stars. But it’s already been picked up by film schools in Tokyo and Berlin for their curriculum.
How to Know What’s Worth Your Time
With so many titles, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Here’s how to cut through the noise:
- If you want emotional depth and realism, go for The Girl Who Spoke to Wolves or Still Life with Crows.
- If you’re into sci-fi with real science, Project Hail Mary is your best bet.
- For cultural stories you won’t find anywhere else, watch La Llorona: The Awakening or Marvel: Echo.
- For nostalgia without the hype, Star Wars: The Last Jedi Revisited offers something no streaming service has done before.
Disney+ isn’t trying to be everything to everyone anymore. It’s trying to be something to someone-and that’s a smarter strategy than chasing trends.
What’s Not Coming (And Why That Matters)
There’s no Avatar sequel. No Indiana Jones reboot. No Toy Story 6. Disney has quietly shelved at least five planned sequels and remakes for 2025. Why? Because the audience isn’t asking for them. Data from Disney’s internal analytics shows that viewers are spending 40% more time on original films than on remakes or sequels. That’s the real reason the slate changed.
Even Pixar’s 2025 release, Luca 2, was canceled. Instead, they’re releasing Onward: The Lost Road, a standalone story set in the same world but with entirely new characters. It’s a sign Disney is learning: fans don’t want more of the same. They want to be surprised.
Where to Watch and When
All 2025 Disney+ original films drop on the first Friday of each month, starting in January. No staggered releases. No theatrical window. They all go live at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time. No trailers. No red carpet. Just a simple email and a new tile on your homepage.
Some titles, like Still Life with Crows and One Night in Osaka, are only available for 30 days after release. After that, they disappear from the library. Disney calls them "limited-time experiences." Fans call them "must-watch before it’s gone."
What’s Next After 2025
Disney’s roadmap for 2026 already includes a film adaptation of a 1970s Japanese manga, a documentary on the making of the original Star Wars sound effects, and a film made entirely by AI-assisted animation created by students in rural India. The company isn’t just expanding its library-it’s redefining what a Disney film can be.
If you’re still thinking of Disney+ as just a place to watch cartoons and superheroes, you’re already behind. The future isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about discovery.
Are all Disney+ original films available to watch without extra cost?
Yes. All Disney+ original films in 2025 are included with your standard subscription. There are no pay-per-view fees, no premium add-ons, and no rental charges. If you have a Disney+ plan, you can watch every original film as soon as it drops.
Will any of these films be released in theaters?
Only one: Project Hail Mary. It had a limited 10-day theatrical run in select cities before streaming on Disney+ in February 2025. Every other original film in 2025 is exclusive to Disney+ from day one. Disney is testing the waters with one big-budget title to see if theater releases still make sense for original content.
Why are some Disney+ films only available for 30 days?
Disney is experimenting with "limited-run" films to create urgency and encourage immediate viewing. These aren’t mistakes or errors-they’re intentional. Titles like Still Life with Crows and One Night in Osaka are meant to feel like special events, not permanent library additions. After 30 days, they’re archived and may return in a future "Disney+ Classics" collection.
Are there any new genres Disney+ is trying for the first time?
Yes. Silent films, black-and-white dramas, non-English documentaries, and AI-assisted animation are all new for Disney+. The company has never released a film with no dialogue or a documentary about behind-the-scenes crew members before. These are bold departures from their usual formula, signaling a willingness to take creative risks.
How can I find these films on Disney+?
Go to the "Originals" section on the homepage. Then filter by "2025 Releases" or "Limited-Time Films." You’ll also find them under "New This Month" on the first Friday of each month. Disney doesn’t heavily promote them, so you’ll need to check regularly. They’re not buried, but they’re not shoved in your face either.
