As the streaming world continues to evolve with new services and platforms, Disney+ has emerged as a powerful contender to both long-standing competitors and new upstarts alike.
Disney+ is entering its eighth month and has already cultivated a collection of varied and popular original shows and movies. Just over a year ago, Disney acquired 21st Century Fox, which included Hulu, meaning it now has platforms for classic family Disney content as well as more diverse fare.
Here’s what you can look forward to on Disney+ and Hulu this June.
Originally scheduled for a theatrical release, Disney decided months ago to put this large-scale, family-friendly fantasy epic on its streaming service. Based on the book of the same name by Eoin Colfer, the story follows 12-year-old genius Artemis Fowl as he seeks to rescue his kidnapped father. There will be dwarves, fairies, goblins, elves, and the ubiquitous Josh Gad. How well or poorly this film does should help influence future decisions on whether Disney keeps films in theatres or puts them straight to streaming.
“The Mandalorian” successfully and a bit surprisingly kicked off Disney’s foray into live-action televised Star Wars tales. But this fascinating behind-the-scenes series shows that the cast and crew were essentially making a massive film.
“Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian” brings viewers into the creation of the show with in-depth interviews and deep dives into technology, casting, and lore. The final episode airs June 19, focusing on the topic of connections and how the show incorporates characters and props from other parts of the Star Wars canon. Sadly, we probably won’t know exactly how Moff Gideon got his hands on that Darksaber just yet.
Six years passed between the release of the hugely successful “Frozen” and its much-anticipated sequel. “Into the Unknown: Making Frozen 2” is a six-part series that dives into the journey of making the second film. In an uncommon move, Disney will be releasing all the episodes at once, which should make for an enjoyable weekend binge. You may want to cap it off by rewatching the film, too, which Disney dropped on its platform on March 17.
Disney+ is slowly getting back all of the Marvel films that it had licensed to other streaming platforms before launching its own. One of the last few holdouts is “Avengers: Infinity War,” a movie absolutely worth revisiting for a variety of reasons. Firstly, it’s an intense, immersive, exhaustive, and thrilling action fantasy.
Second, it’s worth some retrospection two years after its release. Given the current cinematic climate, it’s easier now to see, especially when “Infinity War” is paired with the follow-up (and quite different) “Endgame,” it’ll be a long time before we have such a grandiose, years-in-the-making shared cinematic experience.
There is a lot of Lin-Manuel Miranda content coming in the next many months and years (for example, a live recording of “Hamilton” is coming to Disney+ in July). “We are Freestyle Love Supreme” is a documentary that recounts the early life of Miranda as an artist, rapper, and collaborator. Freestyle Love Supreme was a hip-hop improv group, and the creatives involved (as well as the work they produced) paved the way for “In the Heights,” “Hamilton,” and much more.
Among the many delayed productions this spring and summer was the latest season of “The Bachelorette” (and presumably a very dramatic “Bachelor in Paradise” to follow). Because Bachelor nation relishes the past, present, and future tales of singles finding love, ABC has put together a clip-show of sorts that will mix in new interviews and updates of those involved in the lengthy history of Bachelor productions. Hosted by Chris Harrison, of course, the 10-episode series premieres on ABC on June 8 but will drop on Hulu the day after.
Adult Swim and “Robot Chicken” fans – and really anyone who enjoys absurd, foul, animated comedy – should indulge in 10 episodes of “Crossing Swords.” This stop-motion animation series is set in medieval times, an age of squires, princesses, dragons, witches, and a lot of adult content. A long list of genre and comedic names will lend their voices, including Mark Hamill, Tony Hale, Yvette Nicole Brown, Seth Green, Kat Dennings, and Felicia Day, among others. This one is definitely not for children but will offer lots of laughs.
Since it premiered in the fall of 2018 on Hulu, “Into the Dark” has established itself as an ambitious horror anthology series. Under the guidance of the very successful Blumhouse Productions, known for high-quality, often low-budget horror, “Into the Dark” has some great moments as well as some bad ones — but it’s worth checking out every time. June’s entry seems promising. It stars Judy Greer and Steve Guttenberg and involves an important part of our families: pets.
The latest in what is a lengthy list of travel cuisine reality shows takes a slightly different angle than most. “Taste the Nation With Padma Lakshmi” stays in the United States, as our savvy host explores the varied meals and delicacies around the country that have originated and been inspired by other places around the world. Lakshmi visits immigrant and indigenous groups and explores what they cook, serve, and enjoy themselves to subvert what viewers may think of as “American” food.
Inspired by the film “Love, Simon,” which was based on a book of the same name, “Love, Victor” tackles teenage gay relationships and love in the serial format. It exists in the same world as “Love, Simon,” as Victor becomes acclimated to his new school and changing identity and expression. Originally anticipated as a Disney+ release, “Love, Victor” came to incorporate tense, adult situations and issues that landed it on Hulu. Expect a lot of laughs and a lot of tears.
The “Charlie’s Angels” reboot/reimagining/continuation in 2019 was not particularly successful, becoming one of the biggest domestic box office flops of the year. That’s despite mostly average reviews and more than a handful of high marks. That may not be a ringing endorsement, but it was a much talked about and curiously contentious movie that still starred a trio of talented actresses and can provide some much-needed fun and frivolous action-comedy.
Production has been delayed on a pair of forthcoming “Mission Impossible” movies, so that means it's worth revisiting the recent ones to pass the time. It took a while for the series to find its groove (the first one was a terrific, tense, spy thriller, and the second and third were….not), but the fourth film — “Ghost Protocol” — established it as a wildly entertaining and thrilling action franchise. It also cemented Tom Cruise as the most daring and dedicated action star. Enjoy this film on Hulu on the biggest screen you have, and hold your breath as Cruise scales and jumps around the world’s tallest building.
June 5
Alaska’s Grizzly Gauntlet (S1)
America’s Greatest Animals
Chasing the Equinox
Howie Mandel’s Animals Doing Things (S1-2)
Secrets of Wild India (S1)
The Greeks (S1)
Weird but True! (S1-2)
Wild Hawaii (S1)
Women of Impact: Changing the World
Be Our Chef, Season Finale Episode 111, “The Spectacular”
Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian, Episode 106, “Visualization”
Disney Family Sundays, Episode 131, “101 Dalmatians: Onesie”
One Day At Disney, Episode 127, “George Montano: Plasterer”
It’s a Dog’s Life with Bill Farmer, Episode 104, “Disaster Rescue Dogs & A Dog Mayor”
Disney Insider, Episode 106, “Artemis Adventure, Taste of Disney, Runaway Railway”
June 12
Mighty Med (S1-2)
The Liberty Story
The Story of the Animated Drawing
Walt & El Grupo
Artemis Fowl
It’s a Dog’s Life with Bill Farmer, Episode 105, “The Surfing Corgi & Bee Dogs”
Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian, Episode 107, “Score”
Disney Family Sundays, Episode 132, “Winnie the Pooh: Bag Toss”
One Day At Disney, Episode 128, “Scot Drake: Imagineering Creative”
June 19
101 Dalmatians (1997) (S1)
Big Sur: Wild California
Muppet Babies Play Date (S1)
Schoolhouse Rock (S1)
Tinker Bell and the Pirate Fairy
Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian, Finale Episode 108, “Connections”
It’s a Dog’s Life with Bill Farmer, Episode 106, “Stunt Dogs & Water Rescue Dogs”
Disney Family Sundays, Episode 133, “Monsters, Inc. Water Bottles”
One Day At Disney, Episode 129, “Candice Valdez: Radio Disney Host”
June 26
Man in Space
Mars and Beyond
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
Raven’s Home (S3)
Tarzan
Tarzan II
Into the Unknown: Making Frozen 2
It’s a Dog’s Life with Bill Farmer, Episode 107, “Detective Dogs & Truffle Hunting Dogs”
Disney Family Sundays, Episode 134, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”
One Day At Disney, Episode 130, “Marc Smith: Story Artist”
June 1
Celebrity Family Feud: Season 6 Premiere
Children’s Hospital: Complete Series
Match Game: Season 5 Premiere
Mike Tyson Mysteries: Complete Seasons 1-3
Press Your Luck: Season 2 Premiere
Above & Beyond
Almost Adults
The American President
Born to be Wild
Casino
Charlie Wilson's War
Cliffhanger
Constantine
The Cookout
Dave
Digging for Fire
Dirty Dancing
Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights
Equilibrium
Fair Game
4th Man Out
Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell
Futureworld
Grown Ups
Happily N'Ever After
Happily N'Ever After 2
Honey
Honey 2
I Am Legend
I Love You, Beth Cooper
I Still Know What You Did Last Summer
Incident at Loch Ness
Joyride
Just Eat It: A Food Waste Story
Kingpin
Losing Isaiah
The Marine 3: Homefront
Meet Me In Montenegro
Meet the Fockers
Meet the Parents
Mo' Money
My Girl
My Girl 2
Nate and Hayes
October Sky
The Pawnbroker
Quigley Down Under
Robin Hood: Men in Tights
Sex Drive
The Scout
10 Year Plan
Thelma & Louise
Trade
Treading Water
True Romance (Director's Cut)
The Tuxedo
Undertow
Up in the Air
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins
Women and Sometimes Men
The Wood
Wristcutters: A Love Story
The X-Files
You Don't Mess With the Zohan
Zardoz
June 2
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
June 4
Miss Snake Charmer
June 5
We Are Freestyle Love Supreme: Documentary Premiere (Hulu Original)
Intrigo: Dear Agnes
Shirley
June 6
The Appearance
June 7
Where's Waldo?: Complete Season 1
June 8
My Absolute Boyfriend: Complete Season 1
Radiant: Complete Season 1
From Paris With Love
June 9
The Best of The Bachelor: Series Premiere
June 10
Tyler Perry's The Haves and the Have Nots: Complete Season 7
June 12
Crossing Swords: Series Premiere (Hulu Original)
Don't: Series Premiere
Into the Dark: Good Boy: New Episode Premiere (Hulu Original)
Awakenings
Child's Play
Fools Rush In
Intrigo: Samaria
Poetic Justice
Seven Pounds
June 13
Dragonheart
Eye in the Skye
Windtalkers
June 15
Breakup at a Wedding
Dustwalker
Pan
The U.S. vs. John Lennon
June 16
Brockmire: Complete Season 4
Larry Crowne
June 17
Nostalgia
June 18
Buffaloed
Crawl
June 19
Love Victor: Series Premiere (Hulu Original)
Taste the Nation With Padma Lakshmi: Series Premiere (Hulu Original)
Bean
Gigli
Hart's War
La Bamba
Mr. Bean's Holiday
Natural Born Killers
Out of Sight
The Peacemaker
Tears of the Sun
Zoom
June 22
Clemency
XX
June 25
Charlie's Angels
Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and the Band
June 29
Carrion
June 30
The Gallows Act II
Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol
One For The Money
6 Souls
That's My Boy
Anthony Marcusa is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money. BestReviews never accepts free products from manufacturers and purchases every product it reviews with its own funds.
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