SETTLING DOWN IN front of a great movie or TV show is as much a part of Christmas as the turkey and trimmings.
Luckily, there’s plenty for the whole family to look forward to this year – whether you’ve got young kids, teenagers at home, or just a rag-tag band of friends and loved ones under one roof.
We’ve rounded up just some of the new releases coming exclusively to Disney+ this Christmas. So when the dinner’s in the oven, the presents under the tree and the fireplace crackling, all you have to do is press play.
Hawkeye
New Marvel series Hawkeye only landed on Disney+ last week, but is already winning rave reviews. It picks up the Marvel Cinematic Universe after the events of Avengers: Endgame, and is set in a post-Blip New York City.
Hawkeye, played by Jeremy Renner, has a time-honoured festive mission: he just has to get back to his family for Christmas. But when things are complicated by a threat from his past, he’s forced to team up with 22-year-old archer Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) – who also happens to be his biggest fan – and the pair must work together to confront an unfurling criminal conspiracy.
Hawkeye is streaming exclusively on Disney+ now.
Olaf Presents
Unless you’ve been living in hermetic solitude for the the last eight or so years, you’ll already know Olaf: the loveable snowman with a sun-drenched personality who befriends Ana and Elsa in Frozen and Frozen 2. And with speculation rife about plans for a third Frozen movie, Olaf (voiced by Josh Gad) has arrived to fill the gap with a series of his very own.
Olaf Presents sees our carrot-nosed friend go from snowman to showman as he entertains the residents of Arendelle with his own retellings of classic Disney tales, from The Little Mermaid to The Lion King. Each short episode takes on a new story, with Olaf bravely tackling the lead role (plus, um, all the other roles). And yes, he wears the shell bikini.
Olaf Presents is streaming exclusively on Disney+ now.
The Book of Boba Fett
In the finale of The Mandalorian – the most recent Star Wars series, and a runaway hit with critics and viewers alike – audiences were left with an enticing teaser: an entire show built around the cult character of legendary bounty hunter Boba Fett.
Well, the wait is over. Starring Temuera Morrison and Ming-Na Wen, The Book of Boba Fett begins where The Mandalorian left off. Fett and his ally Fennec Shand have taken over the underworld throne once occupied by Jabba the Hutt, and are out to make a name for themselves. It’s a safe bet that their quest won’t be uneventful.
The Book of Boba Fett premieres exclusively on Disney+ on December 29, 2021.
Only Murders In The Building
In a world awash with true-crime shows, Only Murders In The Building offers something a little bit different. One of the breakout successes of 2021, the series follows three strangers (Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez) who share an obsession with true crime – then suddenly find themselves wrapped up in one when a death occurs inside their exclusive Upper West Side apartment building.
The trio suspect murder and begin to investigate, recording a podcast (of course) to document the case. This leads them to unravel the complex secrets of the building which stretch back years – and to the realisation a killer might be living amongst them.
Only Murders In The Building is streaming exclusively on Disney+ now.
Jungle Cruise
One of the most entertaining movies of 2021, Jungle Cruise is now available to watch on Disney+. It tells the story of Lily Houghton – a scientist and explorer on the brink of a groundbreaking discovery, played by Emily Blunt – and Amazon riverboat captain Frank Wolff (Dwayne Johnson), whose primary talents are corny puns and hokey thrills.
Thrown together by chance, they must sail in a race against time (not to mention a host of real-life dangers and some nefarious competitors) to track down the magical Lágrimas de Cristal Tree.
Jungle Cruise is now streaming for all Disney+ subscribers.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
The latest blockbuster addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings shattered box-office records for the pandemic on its release. It also broke new ground as the studio’s first movie with an Asian lead.
Shang-Chi, played by Simu Liu, is a martial artist and assassin raised by his father into the secretive Ten Rings terrorist organisation. After completing a brutal mission, he escapes to a ‘normal’ life in San Francisco – where he goes under the name of Shaun – before being drawn back into his former existence when he and a friend are attacked by Ten Rings members. To survive, they must take on not only Shang-Chi’s father, but a host of otherdimensional creatures and the fearsome Dweller-In-Darkness.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is now streaming for all Disney+ subscribers.
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This Christmas, Disney+ is the only place to stream these exclusive new releases. Find something great for the whole family on Disney+ for just €8.99 per month.
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