Disney+ entered 2024 facing a crowded streaming market where viewers had more choices than ever. The platform answered with a mix of familiar faces and fresh risks that pulled families and longtime fans back in. This ranking examines the strongest releases of the year, looking at how each one performed with audiences, navigated creative hurdles, and left a mark on the service. We consider critical scores, viewing figures, and the broader conversations these projects sparked around animation, superhero stories, and live-action adventures.
Outside pressures shaped the year, including lingering effects from industry strikes and shifting viewer habits. Disney+ leaned into its strengths while testing new tones and formats. The list draws on data from Nielsen, Rotten Tomatoes, and wider cultural responses to order the titles from solid crowd favorites to the ones that truly broke through.
The Top 10 Countdown
10. Echo (Limited Series)
Kicking off the list is Echo, the gritty Marvel street-level series that premiered on 9 January 2024. Directed by Sydney Freeland and starring Alaqua Cox as the deaf Native American hero Maya Lopez, this five-episode arc explores her Choctaw heritage, family ties, and brutal confrontation with Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio). Echo marks Marvel’s first TV-MA rated show on Disney+, embracing a darker tone with intense action sequences and cultural authenticity that earned praise from Indigenous communities.
Critics lauded its grounded approach, a refreshing pivot from cosmic spectacles, with a 66% Rotten Tomatoes score reflecting its niche appeal. Viewership topped 18.2 million views in its first week, per Nielsen, proving demand for mature Marvel tales. While pacing issues held it back from higher ranks, Echo’s bold visuals, blending sign language, flashbacks, and brutal fights, set a template for future Daredevil universe expansions. It is essential viewing for fans craving realism in the MCU. The choice to center Indigenous perspectives gave the story extra weight, showing how personal history can drive superhero narratives without needing world-ending stakes. By early 2025 the series had already influenced the tone of Daredevil: Born Again, which carried forward the same street-level focus and earned strong word-of-mouth into 2026.
9. Descendants: The Rise of Red (Film)
Family musicals remain Disney’s bread and butter, and Descendants: The Rise of Red, released on 12 July 2024, delivers vibrant energy for younger audiences. Starring Kylie Cantrall as Red, daughter of the Queen of Hearts, and Malia Baker reprising Chloe from Auradon, the film flips the script with a time-travel plot linking Auradon to Wonderland. Director Jennifer Phang infuses it with catchy songs like “Jolly’s World” and dazzling dance numbers.
Earning a family-friendly 70% audience score, it amassed 16.6 million views in week one, underscoring Disney’s grip on Gen Alpha. While formulaic compared to edgier entries, its inclusive casting and empowerment themes shine, bridging nostalgia from the original trilogy with fresh faces like Frankie Rodriguez. Perfect for sing-alongs, it ranks here for reliable fun amid heavier fare. The time-travel element opened doors to new character dynamics that kept the series feeling alive rather than repetitive. Its success echoed earlier Disney Channel hits like High School Musical, proving that light-hearted franchise extensions still hold power when they feel inclusive and energetic.
8. Young Woman and the Sea (Film)
Daisy Ridley returns to Disney+ with Young Woman and the Sea (31 May 2024), a biographical drama chronicling swimmer Trudy Ederle’s 1926 English Channel triumph, the first woman to conquer it. Directed by Joachim Rønning (Kon-Tiki), the film captures early 20th-century grit through stunning ocean cinematography and Ridley’s committed performance, supported by Tilda Cobham-Hervey and Stephen Graham.
With a 92% Rotten Tomatoes rating, it stands as an underseen gem, blending sports drama with feminist history. Limited theatrical run led to modest streaming numbers, but its inspirational arc and historical accuracy resonate. Disney+ unearthed a crowd-pleaser that elevates women’s sports stories, much like Hidden Figures, though its niche focus keeps it at eight. The film reminds viewers how determination against physical and social barriers can still inspire decades later. In the years since its release it has been cited in discussions around renewed interest in early female athletes, with sports documentaries on other platforms drawing similar inspiration from its approach.
7. The Acolyte (Series)
Star Wars ventured into the High Republic era with The Acolyte (4 June 2024), created by Leslye Headland. Amandla Stenberg plays twin sisters Osha and Mae amid a mystery-thriller plot involving Jedi Master Sol (Lee Jung-jae) and shadowy Sith influences. The six-episode run dazzles with lightsaber duels, twin twists, and a fresh prequel aesthetic.
Despite polarising reviews (78% critics, 15% audience on RT due to “woke” backlash), it drew 25.5 million views in five days. Innovative fight choreography by the Revenge of the Sith team and Headland’s genre mash-up, a knives-out whodunit in space, make it compelling. Cancellation rumours aside, it boldly expands lore, ranking for ambition over consensus love. The series showed that Star Wars can explore moral gray areas and still pull strong numbers when the action and mystery land. Its influence lingered into later High Republic projects announced for 2026, where similar mystery elements returned in animated form.
6. Percy Jackson and the Olympians – Season 1 Impact (Series)
Though debuting late 2023, Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 1’s full 2024 streaming surge and awards buzz cement its spot. Walker Scobell shines as the demigod teen, with Leah Jeffries and Aryan Simhadri rounding out the trio in Rick Riordan’s myth-infused quest. Crystal Kung’s effects bring monsters to life vividly.
Boasting 90%+ RT scores and Emmy nods, it hit 26.5 million views early on. Faithful to books yet cinematic, it revitalised YA fantasy on Disney+, outpacing rivals like Shadow & Bone. Season 2 teases promise this entry for enduring appeal. The careful adaptation proved that respecting source material while adding visual scale can win over both readers and new viewers. By the time Season 2 arrived in 2025 the show had already become a benchmark for how to handle young adult properties without alienating their core book audience.
5. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (Film)
Fresh from theatres, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes streamed in August 2024, directed by Wes Ball. Owen Teague voices chimp Noa, allying with orangutan Raka (Peter Macon) against pro-Caesar cult leader Proximus (Kevin Durand). Epic scope and motion-capture mastery continue the franchise’s legacy.
80% RT, it grossed over $400 million globally before streaming dominance. Themes of legacy and society echo original Planet of the Apes, with breathtaking VFX. Mid-pack for bridging cinema to small screen seamlessly. The film kept the series’ thoughtful questions about power and community alive while delivering the spectacle audiences expect. Its thoughtful follow-up to the earlier trilogy helped set the stage for further Apes stories that continued exploring those same ideas into 2026.
4. Wish (Film)
Disney’s 2023 anniversary film Wish exploded on Disney+ in 2024, with Ariana DeBose voicing aspiring mage Asha challenging king Magnifico (Chris Pine). Directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn, its hand-drawn hybrid animation and Julia Michaels songs sparkle.
Climbing to 80% audience love post-streaming, it amassed massive family views. Meta nods to Disney history elevate it, though box-office struggles initially. Ranks high for enchanting visuals and empowerment anthems. The anniversary angle gave long-time fans extra reasons to connect with the story’s themes of hope and creativity. Its visual style drew comparisons to classic Disney features from the 1990s, reminding viewers how hand-drawn techniques still hold emotional power even in a digital age.
3. Agatha All Along (Series)
Marvel’s witchy spin-off Agatha All Along (18 September 2024) Kathryn Hahn’s cackling Agatha leads a coven through the Witches’ Road. Aubrey Plaza, Joe Locke, and Patti LuPone steal scenes in this horror-comedy. Jac Schaeffer directs nine campy, musical episodes.
82% RT early, it revives MCU TV with 70s sitcom vibes and queer rep. Viewership rivals WandaVision; bold risks like no Iron Man cameos pay off. Bronze for reinvigorating Marvel fatigue. The lighter tone and strong ensemble proved that character-driven stories can refresh even the busiest corners of the MCU. Its success helped pave the way for more ensemble-focused Marvel series that arrived in 2025 and 2026.
Bronze: Inside Out 2 (Film)
Pixar’s Inside Out 2 (streaming October 2024) conquered hearts post-$1.6 billion box-office haul. Maya Hawke voices Anxiety, clashing with Joy (Amy Poehler) in teen Riley’s mind. Kelsey Mann directs this sequel masterpiece.
91% RT, universal acclaim for mental health nuance. 100+ million streaming hours quick. Emotional precision and new emotions like Envy cement Pixar dominance. The film demonstrated how animation can handle complex feelings in ways that resonate across age groups, turning a big theatrical success into lasting streaming appeal. Building on the original 2015 film’s groundbreaking approach to emotions, it showed Pixar could still tackle personal growth with both humor and honesty, a balance that kept families returning for repeat viewings well into the following year.
2. X-Men ’97 (Series)
The revival X-Men ’97 (20 March 2024) nails 90s nostalgia with fluid animation and voice cast including Cal Dodd’s Cyclops. Jake Castorena helms arcs like “Lifedeath,” tackling mutant rights.
98% RT, 40 million views first weekend. Superior to original in pacing, themes. Nearly tops for flawless execution. The series showed how updating classic animation can honor the past while sharpening its social commentary for today’s viewers. Returning to the style and spirit of the original 1990s run, it reminded longtime fans why those stories mattered while introducing them to a new generation that discovered the X-Men through streaming.
1. Deadpool & Wolverine (Film)
Crowning 2024, Deadpool & Wolverine streams November, directed by Shawn Levy. Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman unleash R-rated chaos, multiverse cameos galore.
94% RT, $1.3 billion gross. Meta humour, gore, heart revive Fox-Marvel. 2024’s best for sheer joy. The film’s playful approach to multiverse possibilities and character crossovers gave audiences the fun payoff they had waited years to see. Its record-breaking run highlighted how audiences still respond to irreverent takes on established heroes, a lesson that shaped later multiverse projects announced for 2026.
Trends Shaping Disney+ Success
2024 highlights animation’s triumph. X-Men ’97 and Inside Out 2 prove hand-drawn and CG still rule, countering live-action fatigue. Marvel pivots to TV-MA with Echo and Agatha, while Star Wars experiments with The Acolyte spark discourse. Viewership data from Nielsen shows families flock to musicals, adults to mature tales. As explored on Dyerbolical at https://dyerbolical.com/about-us/, these patterns reveal how targeted risks can still deliver broad engagement when the core stories feel personal.
Disney+ grew subscribers via bundles, hitting 150 million globally. Challenges like Acolyte backlash underscore fan expectations, yet hits like Deadpool affirm franchise power. Predictions for 2025 include Moana 2 and Mufasa continuing to dominate. Animation resurgence boosts engagement 30 percent. Hybrids such as musicals and horror widen appeal. Franchise depth over quantity remains the key lesson. Looking back from 2026, the year’s willingness to mix tones and formats helped the platform maintain its position even as new competitors entered the market.
Conclusion
Disney+’s 2024 releases reaffirm its empire status, blending nostalgia, innovation, and spectacle. From Deadpool & Wolverine’s box-office smash to X-Men ’97’s revival magic, these top 10 offer something for every mood. As streaming evolves, Disney leads with bold bets. Stream them now. What is your number one?
Bibliography
Nielsen Streaming Charts 2024. https://www.nielsen.com/insights/2024/streaming-charts/
Variety Disney+ 2024 Highlights. https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/disney-plus-2024-highlights-x-men-97-1236182345/
Rotten Tomatoes Aggregate Scores. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/
Box Office Mojo Worldwide Figures for Kingdom of the Apes and Deadpool & Wolverine. https://www.boxofficemojo.com/
Marvel Entertainment Official Announcements on Agatha All Along and Echo. https://www.marvel.com/
Disney Animation Studio Notes on Wish and Inside Out 2 Reception. https://www.disneyanimation.com/
Hollywood Reporter Coverage of 2024 Subscriber Growth at Disney+. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/
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