Disney+ was first launched in the UK on March 24th 2020, which turned out to be perfect timing due to the then developing Coronavirus pandemic.
Paul Bettany and Elizabeth Olson in WandaVision / Picture Credit: Marvel Studios
A year on, we’re still in cautionary mode in regard to the virus but luckily we’ve had streaming services like Disney+ to keep us entertained.
Since cinemas haven’t really been accessible, especially to us in the UK, it’s been wonderful still having access to new releases; not only new movies, but new shows too including Marvel’s first small-screen venture with Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany).
In light of the anniversary, here are a selection of films/tv shows that have hit Disney+ in the time since its launch!
The Mandalorian
As part of the Star Wars universe, The Mandalorian was an exceptionally highly-anticipated release.
In the UK, we didn’t get the streaming service until March 24th 2020, which is also when the first two episodes of the show were released. However, March 27th was the next time we’d see The Mandalorian again.
Despite this odd release plan, fans still adored having something from this popular franchise to watch at home, and everyone is still reeling from recent events within the show a year on!
Frozen 2
Frozen (2013) was an instant classic and beloved by almost everyone who watched it.
Kids everywhere absolutely fell in love with Anna (Kristen Bell) and her sister Elsa (Idina Menzel). Elsa has locked herself away for years following an accident involving her powers and her younger sister, Anna.
The second film follows Elsa as she follows a tuneful voice, leading her to right an old wrong.
The first movie was seen in cinemas, but the next instalment was released onto Disney+ straight away as the hope of once again being able to go out to see a film wasn’t holding up.
Anna and Elsa’s second adventure was released onto Disney+ on July 3rd of 2020, and was a big hit just like the first film.
Hamilton
Another release from July 3rd, 2020; Hamilton was a huge hit when the play was released onto Disney+ in filmed form.
The play was simply filmed and shown on Disney+ and fans loved this, as Twitter was set ablaze with thoughts, opinions, and praises for the show.
Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton tells the story of an American founding father Alexander Hamilton. Miranda claims that he drew his inspiration from the 2004 biography about Hamilton, written by Ron Chernow.
Many Disney+ subscribers tuned in for this entertaining performance, making it a much-watched show throughout lockdown after its release.
Soul
Soul is another classically beautiful film from Pixar, and was released onto Disney+ on Christmas Day, 2020.
Jamie Foxx plays high-school jazz teacher Joe Gardener, whose enthusiasm in life is centred on jazz music, and he’s brilliant at it; but his life has not gone quite as he expected.
However, at the brink of a change in his career, he gets caught up in helping another soul find their passion. He soon discovers what it means to have soul.
This film was, as many Pixar/Disney films are, an instant hit. The beautiful message within the film and the simply charming characters and narrative made it a film you want to watch on a cosy evening in with the family.
WandaVision
Since Marvel’s announcement that they plan to bring their big-screen characters to the smaller screen, it’s safe to say fans hit the roof with excitement.
WandaVision was the first show to hit Disney+, and its debut episode being on January 15th, 2021.
Falcon and The Winter Soldier was actually set to be Marvel’s first Disney+ debut, however it got pushed back and Wanda’s chaotic storyline took its place.
We follow Wanda after the events of Avengers: Endgame, as her grief and powers amplify due to the loss of her partner, Vision.
Fans were excited about this show, sure, but it was at the lower end of expectations believe it or not. Now as WandaVision is in high regard for almost every fan, it may be difficult for the other shows to follow suit – maybe.
Bonus – The Falcon and The Winter Soldier
Another Marvel show to hit Disney+ screens is The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. Its first episode wasn’t as fast-paced as we may have expected but it definitely served the purpose of setting the show up in regard to the narrative.
Despite fans’ excitement to dig into two of the perhaps lesser-explored characters, the first episode didn’t get as much attention as it might have deserved.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League came out March 18th, a day before the Falcon and Bucky were set to start their adventure. The DC movie pretty much took up everyone’s weekend.
Despite this, the show will no doubt be brilliant, and episodes will continue to release every Friday until its end on 23rd April, after the sixth and final episode airs.
Written by Melissa, who you can follow on Twitter @melissajournal
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