12 Best Animated Movies to Watch on Disney+ Right Now, Ranked
Opened Disney+ and found yourself scrolling past a wall of animated favourites without choosing one? A catalogue full of good films can make movie night harder, not easier. You want to know which title fits tonight’s mood—and whether everyone on the sofa will enjoy it.
This guide is for Disney+ viewers in the UK, checked on 25 September 2026. It includes Disney Animation and Pixar films, from familiar classics to the newly streaming Toy Story 5. The ranking reflects how strongly we recommend each film as a watch, not which one was added most recently. Where possible, we have linked to Disney+’s own film pages so you can check the current listing before pressing play.
Streaming catalogues can change, and suitability varies from child to child. We have included a quick “best for” note and a gentle content heads-up with each pick. If you want songs, try Moana or Encanto. If you want a good cry, Coco may be waiting. If you want one of the most consistently entertaining family films ever made, keep reading.
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If Disney+ has put you in the mood for more animation, these related guides will help you find everything from Pixar favourites to hilarious animated sitcoms and iconic TV characters:
Listen After You Watch
When movie night is over, switch to audio and discover original romance, comedy, and drama on That Love Podcast.
12. Cars (2006)
Lightning McQueen expects his racing career to lead him straight towards fame and victory. A detour leaves him stranded in Radiator Springs, a town that has been passed by in more ways than one.
Cars is a comfortable choice when the family wants a gentle, funny adventure rather than a film designed to leave everyone in tears. The world is full of playful vehicle details, and the residents of Radiator Springs have enough personality to make Lightning’s gradual change believable. Mater brings broad comedy; Doc Hudson gives the film a more reflective edge.
Its message is straightforward: winning means less if you overlook the people around you. Compared with the more daring films higher on this list, the route to that conclusion is predictable. But predictability can be a virtue on a relaxed movie night, especially for children who want to return to characters they know.
Adults may find something unexpectedly wistful in the town’s history. Lightning learns to slow down; the film invites us to notice what gets lost when nobody else does.
Best for: Younger viewers who love vehicles and families wanting an easygoing watch.
Before you watch: Racing crashes and brief peril may worry particularly sensitive children.
Disney+ UK lists Cars and describes Lightning’s stay in Radiator Springs.
11. Frozen (2013)
When Elsa’s powers trap Arendelle in an endless winter, Anna sets out to find her sister. The journey brings songs, comic companions and a story that has more to say about family than its fairy-tale romance initially suggests.
Frozen became a phenomenon for a reason. Its music is easy to revisit, but the lasting emotional hook is the distance between two sisters who love each other and cannot work out how to say it safely. Elsa’s attempt to protect Anna becomes a form of isolation. Anna’s determination to reach her gives the adventure its heart.
Olaf supplies welcome silliness, while the snowbound setting makes this an especially good choice for a cold evening. Some of the plot mechanics feel clearer on a first viewing than a fifth, and families who have heard the songs hundreds of times may want a break. Yet the film’s energy and sisterly centre still hold up.
It is also useful for viewers who want a princess story in which romantic love is not the only kind that matters.
Best for: A musical movie night, especially when siblings are watching together.
Before you watch: Elsa’s fear, the winter danger and a few action scenes may unsettle very young viewers.
10. Zootopia (2016)
Judy Hopps becomes the first rabbit police officer in a city that claims anyone can be anything. She soon discovers that a slogan and lived reality are not the same thing. Solving a missing-mammal case requires an uneasy partnership with the fox Nick Wilde.
The mystery gives Zootopia a different rhythm from the musicals and family adventures around it. Younger viewers get visual jokes and lively animal neighbourhoods. Older viewers can follow the clues and watch Judy and Nick confront the assumptions they have made about each other.
The film’s most useful idea is that good intentions do not automatically make someone fair. Judy wants others to look beyond her size, yet she must recognise her own blind spots. Nick’s wit protects a character who has grown used to being misjudged. Their partnership becomes more rewarding as those defences fall away.
A few predator-related scenes grow surprisingly tense, so the cheerful animal designs should not be taken as a promise of an entirely gentle watch.
Best for: Families who like buddy comedies and mysteries.
Before you watch: Some chase scenes and animal transformations may frighten younger children.
Disney+ lists Zootopia and introduces Judy and Nick’s investigation.
For more family viewing ideas, see our feel-good movies with family-first messages.
9. The Incredibles (2004)
Bob and Helen Parr are superheroes living ordinary suburban lives with their three children. When Bob is drawn back into secret heroics, the entire family must discover what it can do together.
The film works because its powers are expressions of character. Violet wants to disappear. Dash cannot sit still. Bob longs to feel exceptional again. Helen is expected to keep everyone together, even when she is the one handling the greatest pressure. Their abilities make for spectacular action, but their relationships make the action matter.
The Incredibles is one of the best choices here for families with older children who want a genuine adventure. Its jokes about capes and superhero identities remain delightful, while its family tensions give adults plenty to recognise.
This is also one of the more intense titles on the list. Children are threatened, and the villain’s plan has serious consequences. If your group wants something quiet, choose Ratatouille instead. If it wants energy and teamwork, the Parrs are ready.
Best for: Superhero fans and families who enjoy fast-moving action.
Before you watch: Sustained peril, including danger to children.
Disney+ UK lists The Incredibles.
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If Disney+ has put you in the mood for more animation, these related guides will help you find everything from Pixar favourites to hilarious animated sitcoms and iconic TV characters:
Listen After You Watch
When movie night is over, switch to audio and discover original romance, comedy, and drama on That Love Podcast.
8. Inside Out (2015)
Riley’s move to a new city sends her emotions into turmoil. Joy tries to keep everything positive; Sadness seems to complicate matters. Their journey through Riley’s mind gradually reveals why that apparent problem cannot simply be pushed away.
Inside Out turns an abstract experience into a vivid adventure. Memories glow, personality takes physical shape, and a child’s changing inner life becomes something everyone watching can discuss. Its imagination is playful enough for younger viewers and emotionally precise enough for adults.
The most valuable moment may come after the film. A child who cannot easily explain why a move, new school or difficult week hurts can point to Riley. An adult may be reminded that listening to sadness is not a failure to help.
It is funny and colourful, but not emotionally lightweight. Some families will see themselves in Riley’s distress, and the film gives them room to feel it.
Best for: A family movie that can open a conversation about feelings.
Before you watch: Riley’s unhappiness and a few poignant scenes may be upsetting.
Disney+ UK lists Inside Out and describes Riley’s move and the emotions guiding her.
7. Toy Story 5 (2026)
Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the toys face a new competitor for Bonnie’s attention: Lilypad, a tablet with ideas about what is best for their child. It is a fittingly contemporary problem for a franchise that has always worried about what happens when play changes.
The practical reason to include Toy Story 5 is clear: it is the freshest film on this list. Disney+ confirmed that it began streaming in the UK on 23 September 2026. If your family has already revisited the earlier films, this is the obvious next stop.
The story’s “Toy meets Tech” premise also makes it useful for a movie-night conversation. The toys have long feared being replaced by something newer. A tablet gives that fear a form many families will recognise immediately. What makes a child’s attention meaningful, and what can toys offer that a screen cannot? Those questions provide an interesting continuation of the series.
We have placed it at No. 7 rather than declaring it an instant classic. It is newly available, and the first three Toy Story films have had years to prove their staying power. That does not make the new entry less worth watching; it gives you the chance to decide where it belongs in your own family ranking.
Best for: Viewers who know the earlier films and want the newest chapter.
Before you watch: Begin with at least the first Toy Story if you want the relationships to carry their full weight.
Disney+ states that Toy Story 5 began streaming in the UK on 23 September 2026.
Disney’s film page outlines the Lilypad premise.
You can also listen to That Love Podcast for more conversations about stories and characters that stay with us.
6. Encanto (2021)
Mirabel lives in a magical family where everyone has a remarkable gift except her. When the magic begins to fail, the relative who has always felt ordinary may be the one who notices what the others have missed.
There are plenty of immediate pleasures: a living house, vivid colours and songs that turn the Madrigal family’s complicated feelings into irresistible music. But the film’s lasting appeal lies in how it examines the roles families assign. One person must be strong, another perfect, another cheerful. Mirabel’s lack of a gift makes her feel invisible, yet it also lets her question the system everyone else is trying to maintain.
That gives Encanto something valuable for a mixed-age audience. Children can follow Mirabel’s mystery and sing along. Adults may hear an uncomfortable echo in the family’s expectation that love and pressure are the same thing.
Its ending encourages compassion without pretending that every hurt disappears immediately. For a family ready for both musical joy and a little self-reflection, it is an excellent pick.
Best for: Song-filled evenings and stories about finding your place in a family.
Before you watch: Family conflict and the house’s collapse can be intense.
Disney+ UK lists Encanto.
5. Ratatouille (2007)
Remy is a rat who dreams of becoming a chef in Paris. Linguini is a kitchen worker who badly needs help. Their secret partnership sets a restaurant—and both their lives—on an improbable new course.
Ratatouille is a wonderful film to choose when the family wants comedy that leaves everyone feeling a little more hopeful. Its kitchen chaos is accessible to children, while its questions about creativity and belonging reward older viewers. Who gets to make something beautiful? Who is taken seriously? How much does it cost to pursue a talent that nobody around you understands?
The Paris setting is lovely, but the film’s real beauty is its attention to the pleasure of craft. Remy does not simply want fame. He loves food, its possibilities and what it can make someone feel. That passion gives the comedy a generous centre.
It is also relatively gentle compared with the superhero and ocean adventures on this list. There is pursuit and peril, but the overall experience is warm, clever and satisfying. It may even inspire the family to cook together afterwards—though perhaps without inviting a rat into the kitchen.
Best for: Food lovers, creative families and viewers wanting a gentler Pixar film.
Before you watch: Some kitchen danger and lots of rats near meals.
Disney+ UK lists Ratatouille.
You Might Like This
If Disney+ has put you in the mood for more animation, these related guides will help you find everything from Pixar favourites to hilarious animated sitcoms and iconic TV characters:
Listen After You Watch
When movie night is over, switch to audio and discover original romance, comedy, and drama on That Love Podcast.
4. Moana (2016)
Moana feels called to the ocean, but she is expected to remain on her island and prepare to lead her people. When their home is threatened, she sets sail and finds an unpredictable travelling companion in the demigod Maui.
The film has everything many families want from a movie night: big songs, visual spectacle, jokes and a heroine whose courage develops through action rather than being announced in advance. Moana’s journey is not about leaving her family behind. She is trying to protect them while discovering how she can serve them as herself.
Maui’s swagger creates comic friction, but the film never lets him take over Moana’s story. Her persistence, compassion and willingness to learn carry the adventure. The ocean itself feels like a character, sometimes welcoming and sometimes terrifying.
Choose the 2016 animated film listed here; search results may also show other versions or later instalments. This original remains a tremendous starting point for a family that wants music and momentum.
Best for: A big, uplifting musical adventure.
Before you watch: Monsters and open-water danger may frighten younger viewers.
Disney+ lists the 2016 animated Moana.
For more animation to watch together, explore our animated films of 2024.
3. Coco (2017)
Miguel wants to make music despite his family’s long-standing ban. A journey into the Land of the Dead lets him investigate the history behind that rule—and discover how much a family story can change when the missing pieces are restored.
Coco is rich with colour, music and invention, but it earns its place near the top because its emotion grows from its central idea. Remembering someone is not a vague sentiment here. Songs, photographs and stories have a real role in preserving connection between generations.
The film treats Miguel’s ambition and his family’s fears as worthy of attention. He does not have to stop loving music to love his relatives. They do not have to stop caring about him to recognise that their protection has become too rigid. That balance makes the eventual emotional release powerful.
This is not the most carefree choice on Disney+. Death and grief are essential to the story. Yet its warmth makes it an extraordinary option for a family ready to talk about loved ones, memories and what gets passed down.
Best for: Families who enjoy music and stories about generations coming together.
Before you watch: Expect skeleton imagery and direct themes of death and remembrance.
Disney+ UK lists Coco.
2. Finding Nemo (2003)
Marlin crosses the ocean after his son Nemo is taken from the reef. Dory accompanies him, bringing a generosity and optimism that challenge the fear he has carried for years.
Finding Nemo is close to an ideal family adventure because it respects both parent and child. Marlin’s anxiety makes sense in light of what he has lost. Nemo’s desire for independence makes sense too. The film does not ask one of them to be wrong so the other can be right. They must learn to trust what each can do.
The ocean gives the story endless variety, from comic creatures to genuinely threatening encounters. Dory makes the journey funny and kind without magically resolving Marlin’s worry. Her presence gives the film one of Pixar’s most durable friendships.
Its opening is sad, and some predators can scare younger viewers. For families ready for those moments, the payoff is beautiful: love can protect, but it must also make room for growth.
Best for: A colourful adventure with a strong parent-child story.
Before you watch: The opening loss and several frightening ocean scenes may be upsetting.
Disney+ UK lists Finding Nemo.
Before No. 1, you can advertise with That Love Podcast or discover more of our podcast episodes.
1. Toy Story (1995)
Woody is Andy’s favourite toy. Buzz Lightyear arrives and threatens everything Woody believes about his place in Andy’s life. When the two end up in trouble together, rivalry becomes the beginning of a friendship.
There are newer films on Disney+ with more detailed animation. Few tell their stories as cleanly or as generously as Toy Story. Children see the irresistible idea that toys have lives of their own. Adults may recognise Woody’s fear of being replaced, Buzz’s painful discovery that he is not who he thought he was, and the difficult work of becoming friends with someone who first felt like a threat.
The supporting toys make Andy’s room feel like a community. The journey beyond it delivers comedy and suspense. And the film never relies on its technological place in history to earn affection: Woody and Buzz are compelling because their flaws make them human, even though neither is one.
That is why it wins this Disney+ ranking. It is the film we would recommend most confidently when different ages are sharing the sofa—and a perfect starting point before exploring the rest of the series, including the newly streaming fifth film.
Best for: A classic family movie night when nobody can agree what to watch.
Before you watch: Sid and his altered toys may frighten very young children.
You Might Like This
If Disney+ has put you in the mood for more animation, these related guides will help you find everything from Pixar favourites to hilarious animated sitcoms and iconic TV characters:
Listen After You Watch
When movie night is over, switch to audio and discover original romance, comedy, and drama on That Love Podcast.
Final Thoughts
The best thing about Disney+’s animated library is not that it contains a single obvious winner. It is that different moods lead to different excellent choices. Frozen, Moana and Encanto bring the songs. The Incredibles supplies action. Ratatouille offers a more relaxed evening. Inside Out and Coco make room for feelings that are harder to put into words.
And as of 23 September 2026, Toy Story 5 gives UK subscribers a fresh reason to revisit Woody and Buzz. Whether it becomes your family’s favourite is for you to decide. We would start with the 1995 original, then see how the characters—and your own view of them—change across the series.
Check the current title page before you settle in, especially if you are reading this guide well after its September 2026 update. Then put down the remote, make the snacks and let the film do the rest.
If our guides help you choose, consider supporting That Love Podcast and listening to our episodes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best animated movie on Disney+ UK right now?
Our choice is the original Toy Story. It balances comedy, suspense and an emotionally convincing friendship in a way that still works for viewers of different ages. If you want a musical instead, choose Moana or Encanto. If you would rather watch something new, Toy Story 5 began streaming in the UK on 23 September 2026. The best pick for tonight depends on your group’s mood.
Is Toy Story 5 on Disney+ in the UK?
Yes. Disney+’s UK site says Toy Story 5 began streaming on 23 September 2026. Availability can change over time, so confirm the listing in your account if you are reading this later. The film introduces Lilypad, a tablet that challenges the toys’ role in Bonnie’s playtime. Source: Disney+ UK.
Do I need to watch the earlier films before Toy Story 5?
You can understand the new film’s basic setup from its premise, but the characters carry a long history. At minimum, watch the original Toy Story to meet Woody and Buzz and understand what being a child’s toy means to them. Watching the other instalments will add more context, particularly to the changing relationships among Woody, Jessie, Buzz and Bonnie. A series marathon may be the most satisfying approach.
Which Disney+ animated film is best for young children?
Cars is a relatively gentle choice for many families, though it includes race crashes and brief peril. Frozen and Encanto may appeal to children who love songs, but both have emotionally intense moments. No rating or “family” label can predict every child’s reaction. Check the film’s current age guidance and consider whether your child is particularly sensitive to danger, separation or grief.
Which movie should adults watch without children?
Ratatouille is a wonderful choice for adults interested in creativity and ambition. Inside Out can be surprisingly affecting if you are thinking about change or emotional wellbeing. Coco offers a moving story about family memory, and The Incredibles remains a sharp superhero adventure. These films are accessible to children, but their ideas are not limited to childhood.
Which animated movies on Disney+ have the best songs?
Moana, Encanto and Frozen are the obvious starting points for a singalong. Each has a different emotional centre: Moana’s voyage, Mirabel’s complicated family and Anna and Elsa’s bond. Coco also makes music essential to its story, though it is less of a conventional Disney singalong. If songs are tonight’s deciding factor, let the family choose among those four.
Is Coco too sad for a family movie night?
It depends on who is watching. Coco is full of colour, humour and warmth, but death, remembrance and family loss are central themes. Some children will enjoy its imaginative world and ask thoughtful questions; others may find it upsetting. It can be a beautiful film to watch together precisely because it creates an opportunity to talk about relatives and memories afterwards.
What is the difference between Disney and Pixar films on this list?
Disney Animation made films such as Frozen, Moana, Encanto and Zootopia. Pixar made titles such as Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Inside Out, Coco, Ratatouille, Cars and The Incredibles. Both groups appear on Disney+. The studio label does not determine whether a film is musical, funny or emotionally intense, but it can help you explore related titles once you find a favourite.
Is the animated Moana on Disney+?
Yes, the 2016 animated Moana has a Disney+ listing. Be attentive to the year and format when searching, because other Moana titles may appear beside it. Our recommendation is specifically the animated film starring Auliʻi Cravalho as Moana. Film listing: Disney+.
Will all these movies stay on Disney+?
We cannot guarantee a permanent catalogue. Streaming rights, territories and subscription details can change, even for familiar titles. This UK-focused guide was checked on 25 September 2026, with particular attention to Toy Story 5’s newly confirmed arrival. If you are planning a future movie night, open the individual Disney+ listing shortly beforehand rather than relying on any article’s “right now” claim indefinitely.
More Places to Find Great Movies and TV Shows
For current availability, start with Disney+ UK. For film details and other perspectives, explore Disney Movies, Pixar’s feature-film catalogue, IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Collider, Screen Rant, CBR, MovieWeb, /Film and ComicBookMovie.
For more reviews, rankings and podcast news, visit That Love Podcast.
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