When you think of Disney+, your mind may automatically take you to the classic catalogue of movies – and, of course, you'll absolutely find those on the Disney+ content list if that's what you're after.
But as one of the best streaming services, Disney+ is also home to a number of great TV series. It's not all for kids, folks.
The platform is increasing its output of Original dramas, as well as being the UK home of a number of Hulu shows. Heard the buzz about The Bear? That's on there. Want to catch up on a Shonda Rhimes TV show classic now that Bridgerton season three has ended? We got you.
To help you in your pursuit of something great to watch, we've pulled together our recommendations of the best TV series on Disney+. All you need to do is sort the snacks.
The Bear
With Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Ayo Edebiri among its brilliant cast list, the award-winning kitchen comedy-drama has built both critical acclaim and an impressive amount of audience word of mouth across its two seasons.
Following the death of his brother, fine-dining chef Carmy Berzatto (Allen White) must return to his hometown of Chicago to run his family's chaotic and rundown sandwich shop. With season three right around the corner, now is the perfect time to step into the kitchen.
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Shōgun
Debuting with a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and still sitting pretty now with an impressive 99%, the Disney+ Original has been widely praised – with some even describing it as a masterpiece.
John Wick's Hiroyuki Sanada, Cosmo Jarvis and Anna Sawai star in the adaptation of James Clavell's 1975 novel of the same name, set against the backdrop of civil war in 1600s Japan.
Abbott Elementary
Quinta Brunson's comedy series takes us into a public school in Philadelphia, where a group of passionate and dedicated teachers are trying to do their best despite the odds being stacked against them.
The popular sitcom's cast includes Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Chris Perfetti, and there are three seasons to catch up on if you've not experienced Abbott Elementary already.
A Murder at the End of the World
Darby Hart (Emma Corrin) is an armchair detective turned true-crime writer – or "Gen Z's Sherlock Holmes" as she's labelled in the show – who soon finds herself in a sort of high-tech whodunnit.
It's from the creators of The OA, and you won't be able to tear yourself away from the seven-episode series with a final reveal to stick around for.
WATCH A MURDER AT THE END OF THE WORLD NOW
Pose
The groundbreaking LGBTQ+ drama centres the '80s and '90s New York City ballroom scene, particularly popular across queer Black and Latino communities. Pose invites you to really care for its characters, who welcome the viewer into their chosen family with open arms – just as they do for each other.
With the largest transgender cast in TV history, Pose entered the record books instantaneously and has become a beacon for the importance and power of authentic storytelling.
The Acolyte
The new series from the Star Wars universe has already set a record for the streamer, with the premiere episodes marking the biggest launch of the year on Disney+ – beating the likes of Doctor Who and X-Men '97.
The Acolyte's story is set long before the events of George Lucas' prequel trilogy, and it follows Jedi Master Sol (Lee Jung-jae) as he teams up with a former padawan, Osha (Amandla Stenberg), to investigate puzzling crimes connected to their shared past.
Andor
The critically acclaimed Star Wars show has been hailed as one of the franchise's best. Digital Spy's review awarded it five stars, and the series has an impressive 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Starring Diego Luna as Rebel spy Cassian, it follows him finding his place in the nascent struggle against the tyrannical Galactic Empire and embarking on a journey that will earn him hero status.
Only Murders in the Building
Now three seasons in, and with a hotly-anticipated fourth on the way, Only Murders has become one of the most established Disney Originals on the streaming platform – and with good reason.
Tapping into the true-crime zeitgeist, three lonely neighbours – played by Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez – suddenly find themselves wrapped up in a real-life mystery after sharing their love of the genre.
WandaVision
Genuinely one of the most unique and charming on-screen approaches to Marvel, it's easy to forget that WandaVision actually launched the TV output of the MCU.
Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch (or Wanda) and Paul Bettany's Vision are reunited following the events of Avengers: Endgame, only now they're playing happy families in a picturesque suburban '50s house. Clearly, all is not what it seems...
Extraordinary
Putting a different spin on the idea of super-powered shows, Extraordinary introduces us to Jen – the one person who, in a world that dishes out powers to everyone on their 18th birthday, is still waiting for hers seven years later.
It's a show packed with both laughs and emotional beats and, if you don't want to take our word for how good it is, Extraordinary also boasts a rare 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Tiny Beautiful Things
One of the most underrated and probably lesser-known shows on this list, we named Tiny Beautiful Things one of the best shows of 2023.
Clare (played by the superb Kathryn Hahn) is chaotic, flawed and complicated, and it's no wonder her life is falling apart. But when an anonymised advice column falls into her lap, Clare ends up processing her own trauma and finding clarity in the words she writes to help others.
WATCH TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS NOW
This Is Us
This emotional six-season drama plays with the idea that even the smallest of life events can help shape the person that we are. Playing out across multiple generations, and with lives that intertwine, it's a world you'll want to immerse yourself in.
It stars Sterling K Brown, Chrissy Metz, Milo Ventimiglia and Mandy Moore, to name just a few.
Back To Life
This British dark comedy-drama centres around Daisy Haggard's Mira Matteson, who returns to her small hometown – now an adult – after serving 18 years behind bars. She wants to move on with her life, but the local residents won't let her.
Spanning two seasons, the show received deserving critical acclaim. The cast also includes Geraldine James, Richard Durden, Adeel Akhtar and Jo Martin (who is a real standout as Mira's unfiltered parole officer).
Love, Victor
A heartfelt coming-of-age – and coming out – tale set in the same world as the movie Love, Simon.
The series stars Michael Cimino as the titular character, who arrives in a new city and at a new school and is about to embark on a journey towards self-discovery.
Scandal
Of course, Disney+ is a treasure trove of TV classics, like Shonda Rhimes' political thriller starring Kerry Washington as the formidable Olivia Pope – a crisis management expert and 'fixer' who is "in" with the President of the United States (played by Tony Goldwyn).
Lost
Despite it being almost 10 years since it first aired, Lost still holds up as a viewing experience and is both visually and narratively impressive – even if it did have one of the most divisive finales of all time.
Its stellar cast includes the likes of Josh Holloway (Yellowstone), Ian Somerhalder (before his turn as brooding bad boy Damon in Vampire Diaries), Dominic Monaghan (Lord of the Rings) and Harold Perrineau.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Another cult classic, there's always room to revisit the Scooby Gang for a Buffy re-watch – and Disney+ boasts all seven seasons.
The groundbreaking supernatural teen drama centred around Buffy Summers, who was fighting the world's evil while trying not to break a nail or get expelled. The coming-of-age metaphors are universally relevant to every generation (into which a Slayer is born).
The 1992 movie is also available on Disney+ but honestly, we'd probably skip that.
The Walking Dead
If you've not yet dived into the world of The Walking Dead – which spans 11 seasons, along with multiple spin-offs – you're in for a treat.
The survival show follows a group of people as they struggle to evade the undead post-apocalypse. It all starts with Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), who wakes in a hospital to find the world has changed and his family is missing.
You'll need to be subscribed to Disney+ to watch these shows on its platform. There isn't a Disney+ free trial at the moment (though there are still ways of getting Disney+ free), so if you're trying to work out what price tier is best for you, we've included a breakdown below.
The cheapest tier is available for a monthly cost of £4.99, and this plan includes ads. You can also sign up for the £7.99 a month Standard plan, which removes the ads, or opt for the Premium tier for £10.99 a month which includes 4K UHD, HDR and Dolby Atmos support.
There is also an annual plan option with Disney+, which costs £79.90 a year for the Standard subscription and £109.90 a year for the Premium option.
There are also a number of ways you can save on membership – check out our roundup of the Disney+ subscription offers to find out how.
TV Editor, Digital Spy Laura has been watching television for over 30 years and professionally writing about entertainment for almost 10 of those. Previously at LOOK and now heading up the TV desk at the UK's biggest TV and movies site Digital Spy, Laura has helped steer conversations around some of the most popular shows on the box. Laura has appeared on Channel 5 News and radio to talk viewing habits and TV recommendations. As well as putting her nerd-level Buffy knowledge to good use during an IRL meet with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laura also once had afternoon tea with One Direction, has sat around the fire pit of the Love Island villa, spoken to Sir David Attenborough about the world's oceans and even interviewed Rylan from inside the Big Brother house (housemate status, forever pending).
