*This list was updated on 1 June to properly reflect the titles that are actually available on the Disney Plus Hotstar Malaysia service.
So Disney Plus Hotstar is finally (almost) here. Yay.
Look. We get it. Money is tight. You’re already paying for Astro (but why though?), and Netflix, and maybe even Amazon Prime Video (I signed up for The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel. What’s your excuse?). Do you need to subscribe to yet ANOTHER streaming site?
We don’t know about NEED but if you were considering it, we thought we’d pull together a quick list of things we recommend you check out if you decide to sign up for that three month subscription.
Listen, there’s going to be a lot of newly available content that will be dropped on us on the 1st of June (800 films, 18,000 episodes of TV!), so we thought we’d give you a place to start. 18 months after the launch of Disney Plus in the U.S., we know that (almost) ALL the Star Wars, Marvel, Disney, and Pixar movies will be on the service (go on Disney, give us that Star Wars Holiday Special!), but here are some of our top recommendations for you to start with, broken by the different libraries that will be available. We’ve also included some notable mentions.
PIXAR
Soul, Pixar’s 23rd animated feature film was released temporarily in Malaysian cinemas last December, but due to the movement control order in effect at the time, was only shown in very few cinemas. And while nothing beats being able to watch it on the big screen, with Disney Plus Hotstar you can now watch this jazz infused story of a music teacher trapped in the afterlife within the safe confines of your own home. Soul is dripping in style, with such great animated scenery and computer generated light, that you sometimes forget that it wasn’t captured through the lens of a real camera. With it’s dual soundtrack of jazz, by pianist Jon Batiste, and surreal otherworldly atmospheric music, by Nine Inch Nail musicians Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, Soul is a great way to spend a weekend afternoon with the family.
Notable Mentions
Inside Pixar
Want to know what it’s like to work at Pixar? Then this is the series for you. Each episode is a short look at the people behind the scenes, from directors and writers, to animators and musicians, to the all important pastry chef. Inside Pixar does exactly what it says on the tin, and then some more.
The Pixar Shorts
All of them! From 1984’s The Adventures of André & Wally B, to Luxo Jr., Lava, and Bao, all of those magnificent shorts are all here in one place! *Edit: We had initially assumed that all the Pixar shorts would be available on the new service but unfortunately it seems that only some are. Which is a strange decision to make. You can still watch some of the more famous ones, including Luxo Jr., Bao, and Lava, but The Blue Umbrella, For The Birds, Tin Toy, Geri’s Game, Lou, and others are missing. Let’s hope they bring the excellent short Us Again, that played before Raya and the Last Dragon, to the service.
NAT GEO
Over the course of 26 episodes and two seasons (Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey and Cosmos: Possible Worlds), the Internet’s favourite scientist, astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson, takes audiences to the far reaches of space and theoretical science to teach us about the origins of our planet and to show us what life could be on distant worlds. Both seasons are designed to inspire wonder and thought. One part science, one part history, and one part speculation, Cosmos is a wonderful journey into the all the knowns and unknowns of the universe.
Notable Mentions
The Right Stuff
Loosely based on the Tom Wolfe novel, and the 1983 film it inspired, Nat Geo’s The Right Stuff is a dramatic retelling of America’s Mercury Seven astronauts that charts the origins and growth of America’s fledgling space program in the early 1960s. The series, however, was canceled at the end of its first season.
The Real Right Stuff
Want a more accurate account of the Mercury Seven? Then this 90 minute documentary will fill it all in without all the personal drama and stories that may, or may not, have happened.
The World According to Jeff Goldblum
Although I found the series both a little too much and nowhere near enough, The World According to Jeff Goldblum is a fun enough watch as you follow Jeff Goldblum bounce from one seemingly random topic to the next. This is a charming docuseries to watch with the whole family, and with its second season dropping soon, you might as well get into this now.
DISNEY
Yes, this is a Disney documentary series about the making of Frozen 2. Yes, I put this ahead of Hamilton. Mostly because Into The Unknown: Making Frozen 2 is a true behind the scenes look at the making of an animated feature film. From script rewrites right up to premiere, to tense coast-to-coast tele-meetings (uh-oh), to the process of writing the iconic music for a Disney animated feature film, this series has it all. With interviews with the writers, directors, cast, and songwriters, the docuseries breaks down every aspect of the production, and shows you how perfection is achieved.
Notable Mentions
The Imagineering Story
In six, hour long episodes, The Imagineering Story tells story of the formation of Disney’s Imagineers, a vaunted group of artist engineers and engineer artists that built, and continue to build, Disneyland and everything that we associate with that most wonderful place on Earth.
Hamilton
You know what Hamilton is. It’s Lin-Manuel Miranda’s inspired, race-swapped, hip-hop history about America’s ten dollar founding father without a father. We’ve written about it twice already. Go watch it.
Big Shot
John Stamos plays a renowned college basketball coach who, after a very public outburst, takes a job coaching at a private girls high school. Hijinks ensue! Not really. Read our full review here.
MARVEL
Being a child of the 90s, the X-Men Animated Series was a cultural touchstone for many of my generation. Looking back, however, I realize that this was more than just a cartoon. Introducing kids to heavy social issues including divorce, religion, race, and mental health, it was always about more than just some comic book caper about good overcoming evil. Characters had layers and arguments had nuance. Nothing is ever truly black and white. But more importantly the show had a kick-ass theme song. *Edit: For some weird reason, the 90s animated X-Men series has been omitted from the Disney Plus Hotstar library. There is nothing more to say on the matter other than heart = crushed.
For the first time, (almost) all of the Marvel Cinematic Universe films are available to be streamed in one place. You can watch them in release order, starting from 2008’s Iron Man? Or, if that is too mainstream, what about watching it in chronological order, beginning with Captain America: The First Avenger? With Disney Plus Hotstar finally here in Malaysia, now there’s nothing stopping you from that 50 hour binge watch. (The Incredible Hulk exists in a weird shared rights space with Universal Pictures which is why it’s not available on the service.)
Notable Mentions
Wandavision
From the moment that black and white, 4×3 image shows up on screen, we were hooked. From its homage to our favourite TV shows of yore, to setting up the wider world of Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Wandavision is a must watch. And when you do, we have an episode by episode explainer here.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
Marvel’s (and dare I say, Disney’s) most political series yet, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier addresses so many things in its six episode run, the realities of a post-Blip world, the real face of America, and the politics of race and class, while at the same time giving us the Sam and Bucky buddy-cop show we all wanted. Click here for all our The Falcon and the Winter Soldier content.
STAR WARS
Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian is a behind the scenes look at the making of Disney Plus’ first big hit. The series provides an interesting, if slightly nerdy, insight into the making of the series. Each episode talks about a specific topic, from directing the series, to the legacy of Star Wars, the utilization of new technology, and the production team’s processes in bringing this new character into an existing narrative universe. If you enjoyed The Mandalorian, this is a good look behind the curtain.
Notable Mentions
The Mandalorian
What more is there to say about Din Djarin and Grogu that hasn’t already been said. You like Star Wars? Then watch The Mandalorian. We reviewed Season 1 here and did an episode by episode recap of Season 2 here.
All the Star Wars Movies
More Star Wars than you can shake a lightsaber at! All the 9 Skywalker saga films. Rogue One. Solo. All the LEGO Star Wars movies. Every episode of every animated series. EVERYTHING. Caravan of Courage? Yeap it’s there. The 1985 Ewoks animated series? All 26 episodes. The only thing missing is that infamous Holiday Special. *Edit: We spoke too soon. It seems only the major titles are on the Disney Plus Hotstar service.
OTHERS
If you don’t know M.O.D.O.K., don’t worry about it. Done in a stop-motion style similar to Robot Chicken (whose producer, Seth Green is also a producer on this), M.O.D.O.K. tells the story of, well, M.O.D.O.K., and his attempts at running the villainous organisation, A.I.M., all while trying to keep his family together. The series is hilarious, irreverent, bloody, gory, and absolutely not for the kids. It’s great seeing Marvel poke fun at itself in such an honest, funny, and open way. Check out our full review here. (Note: Episodes of M.O.D.OK. will be released week by week here in Malaysia.)
The Simpsons (31 seasons) and Family Guy (19 seasons)
All episodes of The Simpsons (684 episodes, up to Season 31) and Family Guy (369, up to Season 19) are all going to be at your fingertips. Sure, the later seasons have fallen a little flat, but why not check out IMDB’s lists for the best episodes of The Simpsons and Family Guy and just do those instead?
Jojo Rabbit
Taika Waititi’s 2019 comedy-drama was a revelation when it came out. The story of a ten year old member of the Hitler Youth who finds a Jew hiding in his attic, Jojo Rabbit reminds us that war is stupid, and that judging a person by their religion is stupider. Now you have no excuse for not having seen this masterpiece. Iain McNally reviewed it ahead of the 2020 Academy Awards here.
Celtics/Lakers: Best of Enemies
A 3 part series on the rivalry between two storied NBA dynasties? YES PLEASE! The docuseries focuses on the teams’ dominant performances in the 1980s.
FUTURE SHOWS
But wait, there’s more! If 800 films and 18,000 episodes aren’t enough, here’s a list of what SHOULD be coming to Disney Plus Hotstar Malaysia.
Peter Jackson’s Get Back
Peter Jackson has just reedited the most hallowed Beatles documentary ever in order to show us that the original cut was fake news. It’s expected to be released on Disney Plus in the U.S. at the end of August 2021. Here’s hoping it hits our shores at the same time.
More Star Wars
With The Mandalorian Season 3, The Book of Boba Fett, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi (with Ewan McGregor!), Ahsoka, The Acolyte, and Lando, Disney is really milking Star Wars for all it’s worth. Not that we’re complaining.
More MARVEL
Loki, What If…?, Hawkeye, Ms. Marvel, Moon Knight, She-Hulk, Secret Invasion, and a whole host of other unscheduled Marvel shows will also be coming soon to the streaming service.
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