Each month, new films and TV shows are added to Disney+‘s UK library. Here’s Eliza Janssen’s recommendations for the titles most worth watching. Scroll down for the full list of everything arriving on the platform.
Top picks
Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields (April 3)
In the trailer for actor and model Brooke Shields’ revelatory documentary expose, she admits she’s amazed she made it out of her over-publicised childhood. Selected to screen at Sundance, her story features talking heads from other 80s child-star survivors such as Drew Barrymore, all leading to a dark reckoning with how our culture prizes beauty—and, especially sickening, the youthful beauty of underage girls. It’ll be fascinating to hear from Shields herself on how as a middle-aged woman, she finally feels “like a human” rather than an object. Expect plenty of cringeworthy retro TV interviews and heartbreaking anecdotes from a lost adolescence.
The Pope: Answers
Today’s kids are sick of sitting on Santa’s lap and not getting the societal progress they wanted for Christmas: so, in this quite weird documentary special, they’re hitting up the leader of the Catholic Church instead. The current funny-hat-wearer has made some refreshingly liberal gestures at climate awareness and mercy towards issues of divorce, abortion, and homosexuality, but we do wonder how hard-hitting his conversations here can really be with a diverse group of youngsters chosen from all over the world. The intimate, broadly focused discussion does make Pope Francis the first contact of God to get a streaming service exclusive, so yay for that.
Peter Pan & Wendy (April 28)
J.M. Barrie’s original text for Peter Pan shows a little-depicted side of savagery: its ever-youthful hero is capable of being quite cruel, in that callous way that kids often are. I wonder if David Lowery’s gritty retelling of the tale will capture that. He’s wisely cast an actual Indigenous performer, Alyssa Wapanatâhk, as Tigerlily, and a cast of young unknowns will bring a grounded dreaminess to their familiar roles. Plus Jude Law’s got his pirate hat on as Captain Hook, bringing a touch of camp and character to an otherwise totally fresh update.
All new titles arriving on Disney+ UK in April
April 3
Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields
April 5
The Good Mothers: Season 1
The Pope Answers
April 7
Tiny Beautiful Things
April 12
Single Drunk Female: Season 2
April 19
Home Improvement: Seasons 1-8
True Lies: Season 1
How I Met Your Father: Season 2
April 22
Secrets of the Elephants
April 26
Sam: A Saxon: Season 1
Matildas: The World at our Feet
Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures: Season 1
Life In Pieces
April 28
Peter Pan & Wendy
