Summary
Since its launch in 2019,Disney+has established itself as a leading streaming service, offering a vast collection of movies and shows that span the company’s century-long history. This platform allows generations to enjoy the content they grew up with while also providing opportunities for all demographics to explore new and original programming. However,certain titles are noticeably absent from the Disney+library, either from the beginning or due to their more recent removal.
From live-action comedies to animated adventures, Disney+ has excluded some films that have ties to the Disney brand. Some of these titles are co-produced by other studios, which prevents them from being added to the Disney+ catalog. Additionally, there are full Disney movies that seem like they should be included, but are not available on the platform.
Despite being made by Touchstone Pictures, none of the Ernest P. Whorrell films are on Disney+. The Ernest films began withErnest Goes To Campand have slowly developed a fan base over the years. This is mainly due to the series' central star, Jim Varney, who remained dedicated to the over-the-top antics and slapstick humor throughout every film, just like he did in the commercials where Ernest got his start.
Ernest Goes To Campfeatures Ernest trying his bestto run a summer campso that it doesn’t get shut down by a mining company. It’s cute and fun entertainment for kids and adults alike that teaches the importance of accepting oneself. However, it and the many sequels were mainly produced by Universal in partnership with Disney. Even Universal’s Peacock doesn’t feature theErnestfilms.
Mickey’s House of Mousewas an animated seriesthat featured famous Disney charactersoperating a nightclub while showcasing classic Disney shorts from the 30s, 40s, and 50s. The movie tie-in,Mickey’s House of Villains, keeps that concept but features a team-up of many iconic Disney villains, such as Jafar and Cruella de Vil, who take over the house.
Disney fans have been disappointed thatMickey’s House of Mousehas never been on Disney+, and the same can be said aboutMickey’s House of Villains. Other shows and their respective movies have made it onto the service, so fans find the exclusion odd, as it was a favorite for many kids in the late 90s and early 2000s.
Bicentennial Manis one of many movies showing how diverse Robin Williams' filmography and characters are. It blends sci-fi, drama, and comedy to create an ambitious odyssey about an android who progressively transforms physically and emotionally to be more human over two hundred years of his artificial life.
WhenBicentennial Manwas released in 1999, not only were critics harsh on it, but it was also released in competition with box office juggernauts likeThe Green MileandStuart Little, whileBicentennial Manbarely recouped its budget. Over the years, however, many have come to love the film for Robin Williams' nuanced performance combined with its impressive production design.
Before they madeDeadpool & Wolverinetogether, director Shawn Levy teamed up with Hugh Jackman to create the closest thing to a Rock ’em, Sock ’em Robots movie withReal Steel. It depicts a future where all boxingis replaced with robot battles, and an ex-boxing champion allies with his son and an unlikely bot to rise in the ranks of the robot-fighting world.
It borrows many elements from other sports films about an underdog facing the odds, butReal Steelmanages to execute familiar elements effectively. It also helps that the robots are brought to life with CGI that is still effective after so many years. However, despite being distributed by Disney’s own Touchstone Pictures, it has yet to appear on Disney+.
In a strange case,Maleficentwas once on Disney+, but is one of the few Disney films to be removed. Currently, it is not available on any subscription-based streaming service. Meanwhile, fans can enjoy its sequel,Maleficent: Mistress Of Evilon Disney+, a result of Starz once acquiring the rights to the first film, but that is no longer the case.
Of all the live-action Disney remakes,Maleficentproved to be one of the better examples because it didn’t attempt to recreate the originalSleeping Beauty, but created an origin story forone of Disney’s more beloved villains. It also shows the events ofSleeping Beautyfrom Maleficent’s perspective, with Angelina Jolie praised for being an uncannily perfect casting choice for the character.
Starring, written, and directed by Hollywood legend Warren Beatty,Dick Tracyis a bizarre movie, but it is praised for looking exactly like the pulp detective comics it is based on. From the shots resembling comic book panels to the bizarre caricature villains straight out of the source material,Dick Tracyis arguably one of the most comically-accurate comic book films ever made.
Like the comics, it focuseson a lone private investigatorfighting crime and going after gangsters, with Warren Beatty showing his love for the comics from beginning to end.Dick Tracyis another Touchstone movie that is strangely absent from Disney+, despite there being many other films from the studio on the service, such asSister Act,Signs, andSplash.
In partnership with Paramount Pictures, Disney made one of their darkest fantasy films,Dragonslayer, which utilized revolutionary go-motion animation to bring the dragon to life. Even four decades later, the dragon Vermithrax remains a source of fear and a paragon of special effects. The go-motion effects would even go on to be the initial method for bringing dinosaurs to life inJurassic Parkbefore the series shifted to CGI.
While many fantasy stories portray dragons as majestic beings,Dragonslayerrepresents Vermithrax as a dark and brutal creature. This portrayal is somewhat similar to thedragons found in certain video games, particularlyin The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, where they are renowned for their stunning designs and terrifying nature.
1The Brave Little Toaster
The Original Classic Is Lost, While The Sequels Thrive
Not since the official launch of Disney+ hasThe Brave Little Toastergraced its servers, but fans have access to both sequels on the service. The original movie was ahead of its time, showcasinginanimate objects that can move and talkwhen their owner is not around, which is essentially the plot of Pixar’sToy Story, but with household appliances.
Many fans ofThe Brave Little Toasterhave requested that the movie be added to Disney+, as it was another film developed by Disney. However, its distribution by Hyperion Pictures has led to conflicts over ownership rights, whileThe Brave Little Toaster Goes To MarsandThe Brave Little Toaster To The Rescuewere made and distributed exclusively by Disney.
