While the original release of Disney+ was popular, utilizing the full library of movies and television shows from the company's past, the launch of STAR helped to take the streaming platform to new heights. STAR expanded Disney hugely, with content from multiple Disney subsidiaries, including FX Networks, Hulu, Freeform, ABC Signature, MTM Enterprises, Touchstone Television, 20th Television, 20th Television Animation, 20th Century Studios, 20th Century Animation, Searchlight Pictures, Touchstone Pictures and Hollywood Pictures. Through STAR, Disney+ has gained plenty of new content, giving s choices beyond the family-friendly Disney movies the service started with.
STAR launched on Feb 23, 2021.
Disney+ continues to push its STAR content globally, with the platform becoming a fantastic place to check out those shows and movies that might not have been on the traditional service. Marvel and other major franchises may still be looking to keep their content front and center, but STAR features plenty of the best Disney+ shows for adults as well as feature films, especially those acquired during Disney's merger with FOX and content originally produced for its US-only Hulu service.
35 Castle (2009-2016)
The Comedy-Mystery-Drama Hybrid Starring Nathan Fillion
When Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion), a famous mystery novelist, finds himself struggling with writer's block, he begins shadowing edgy NYPD homicide detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) for inspiration. His mind for mystery proves useful to the NYPD, making him Beckett's unofficial partner, and the pair work to solve various homicides and mysteries throughout the city - despite the fact that the detective can hardly stand the author.
- Seasons
- 8
While many viewers either know Nathan Fillion for his classic role as Malcolm Reynolds in Firefly, or more recently as John Nolan in The Rookie, he also won the hearts of many fans during his tenure leading the procedural comedy-drama Castle between 2009 and 2016. During its initial 6 season run on ABC, Castle was nominated for and won a variety of awards. These include Emmy nominations, and several wins at the People's Choice awards, including Favorite TV Crime Drama and Favorite TV Drama actor for Fillion, and Favorite TV Drama Actress for co-star Stana Katic.
While it may have been off the air for almost a decade, Castle continues to find new fans globally in the 2020s thanks to its presence as one of the best available shows on Disney+ STAR. Nathan Fillion delivered one of the best performances of his career as Richard Castle, a crime novellist-turned-consultant with the NYPD. The show perfectly balances legal drama with hilarious comedy, and is definitely a highlight of the library of shows under the STAR label on Disney+.
34 Grey's Anatomy (2005-Present)
The Most Successful Medical Drama Of All Time
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Grey's Anatomy
- Release Date
- March 27, 2005
- Network
- ABC
- Directors
- Rob Corn, Kevin McKidd, Debbie Allen, Chandra Wilson, Allison Liddi-Brown, Jeannot Szwarc, Tony Phelan
Cast
Ellen PompeoDr. Meredith Grey
Chandra WilsonDr. Miranda Bailey
WHERE TO WATCH
Grey's Anatomy is a medical drama series revolving around surgical interns, residents, and attendings at the fictional Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. The show features the professional and personal lives of these medical professionals, led initially by Dr. Meredith Grey, played by Ellen Pompeo. Created by Shonda Rhimes, the series highlights the complexities of medical cases while delving into the interpersonal relationships among the hospital staff.
- Seasons
- 21
With 21 seasons and counting since it debuted in 2005, Grey's Anatomy is arguably among the best medical dramas ever to grace the small screen (and, in the eyes of many critics and fans alike, is the champion of the genre). The cast has changed dramatically over the years, but chiefly focuses on Dr. Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), who starts the show as a medical intern and, by the current season, is one of the most accomplished of the surgical team at the show's fictional Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.
Few TV shows can boast being as critically acclaimed as Grey's Anatomy. It's won a host of awards throughout its many years on the air, including the Golden Globe for Best Television Series - Drama, as well as 38 Primetime Emmy Nominations so far. Few shows in the Disney+ STAR category are as gripping or offer so many seasons for viewers, making it one of the most bingeable shows on the platform, and one that's guaranteed to win over newcomers and turn them into devoted fans.
33 How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014)
The Groundbreaking Sitcom About Entering Adulthood
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How I Met Your Mother
- Release Date
- 2005 - 2014-00-00
- Network
- CBS
- Showrunner
- Craig Thomas
Cast
Ted Mosby
Barney Stinson
WHERE TO WATCH
How I Met Your Mother is a television series that follows a father telling his children about his past. Released in 2005, it explores his experiences and adventures with four close friends, leading up to meeting their mother, as depicted through a series of flashbacks.
- Seasons
- 9
How I Met Your Mother last graced screens a decade ago, but it remains one of the most widely-discussed and celebrated sitcoms of the 21st century so far. International viewers can find it as part of the Disney+ STAR library, and it's inarguably one of the best shows on the platform. Not only does How I Met Your Mother contain dozens of laugh-out-loud episodes, it also has plenty of heartfelt and emotional ones too, dealing with a variety of topics such as infertility and the death of a parent which many others with a similar format shy away from.
Originally airing on CBS during its broadcast run, How I Met Your Mother was highly acclaimed by critics throughout every single one of its 9 seasons. It was nominated for a staggering 91 awards between 2005 and 2014, winning 21. Its nominations include 30 Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Golden Globe nomination for star Alyson Hannigan. While there are many sitcoms available on Disney+ STAR, few are as consistently solid as How I Met Your Mother and, thanks to the well-thought-out ending, almost none can claim to feel as complete a story by the time they conclude.
32 Ugly Betty (2006-2010)
The Sitcom That Put America Ferrera On The Map
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ugly betty
- Release Date
- 2006 - 2010-00-00
- Network
- ABC
- Directors
- Silvio Horta
Cast
America Ferrera
Ana Ortiz
WHERE TO WATCH
ABC's Ugly Betty is the American adaptation of Fernando Gaitan's world-famous Colombian soap opera Yo Soy Betty, La Fea. Starring America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, the comedy series follows a young woman who lands a job as an editor assistant at Mode, a fashion magazine. Despite her poor sense of fashion, Betty's can-do attitude and work ethic allows her to thrive in the industry.
- Seasons
- 4
America Ferrera was in the spotlight when she appeared in the 2023 Barbie movie alongside Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, but this recent role is far from her most prominent. Over a decade before she appeared in one of the most hyped Hollywood blockbusters of the decade so far, Ferrera won over viewers when she took the titular lead role in the ABC sitcom Ugly Betty, which is now available globally as part of the Disney+ STAR library.
Few sitcoms have a tone that perfectly balances being outlandlishly bombastic and relatably grounded quite like Ugly Betty, which follows the titular character as she tries to navigate the vapid and image-obsessed world of fashion journalism. Ugly Betty was nominated for 163 awards and won 62 during its broadcast run, including several Emmys and 2 Golden Globes (both for the show and for America Ferrera herself). This level of acclaim was and remains an astounding achievement, and cements Ugly Betty as being one of the best shows currently on Disney+ STAR.
31 Black-Ish (2014-2022)
A Hilarious Deep-Dive Into The Struggles Of An Affluent Black Family In A White Suburban Neighborhood
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Black-ish is a television series that premiered in 2014, focusing on a family man navigating cultural identity in a predominantly white, upper-middle-class neighborhood. The show explores themes of race, class, and family dynamics as he balances his roles as a father and husband.
- Seasons
- 8
The ABC sitcom Black-ish stands out from many other shows available on Disney+ STAR for a few reasons. FIrstly, it's easily one of the funniest, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments throughout. Secondly, it also delves into some incredibly important social commentary, exploring race relations in the U.S. in a way that hasn't really been seen since the likes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Like the 1990s Will Smith show, Black-ish takes a unique look at the Black American experience through the lens of an affluent family, and how their race and status create juxtapositions and dissonance both for themselves and their white peers. Black-ish was received incredibly well by critics during its 2014-2022 run, and continues to be highly regarded. It won 28 awards out of the 64 nominations received during the years it was on the air, including an incredible 6 Primetime Emmy nominations for Anthony Anderson for his performance as Andrew Johnson, and 5 for Tracee Ellis Rose for her performance as Dr. Rainbow Johnson.
30 The Dropout (2022)
A True Story Of Corporate Crime
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The Dropout
- Release Date
- 2022 - 2022-00-00
- Showrunner
- Elizabeth Meriwether
- Directors
- Michael Showalter
Cast
Naveen Andrews
WHERE TO WATCH
Based on the true story of the failed health technology company that chronicles the rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes, a woman with unyielding ambition who eventually was indicted for her deception relating to supposedly lifesaving advances in technology. Holme's desire for success ultimately leads her down a dark path - one that, in hindsight to those around her, could be seen from miles away - ultimately to the destruction of her career and eventual incarceration.
- Seasons
- 1
With Disney+ STAR featuring a lot of Hulu content to enjoy, there are a number of acclaimed miniseries the network has become known for. Amanda Seyfried gives her best performance to date in this true story of corporate crime detailing the story of Elizabeth Holmes, the aspiring young entrepreneur behind the groundbreaking company Theranos. However, it was eventually discovered that she had falsified all of the data that made the company look so successful. While there are a lot of different stories to explore in the true-crime genre, The Dropout remains one of the best.
Holmes is a complex and complicated character, appearing sympathetic at times, frustrating and corrupt at others, and always fascinating. Seyfried nailed her performance in the lead role, winning a Golden Globe and an Emmy for her performance. It is a thrilling and entertaining look at a very different true crime story, filled with tension as it becomes clear Holmes' lies are building to a catastrophic level.
29 What We Do In The Shadows
A Dark Comedy About Modern-Day Vampires
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What We Do in the Shadows
- Release Date
- 2019 - 2024
- Network
- FX
- Showrunner
- Paul Simms
Cast
Kayvan NovakNandor the Relentless
Matt BerryLaszlo Cravensworth
WHERE TO WATCH
What We Do in the Shadows, released in 2019, is a mockumentary series exploring the nightly lives of a group of centuries-old vampires residing in Staten Island. The comedic show delves into their interactions with each other and the modern world, providing a humorous take on the vampire genre.
- Writers
- Chris Marcil, Lauren Wells, Tom Scharpling, Rajat Suresh, Jeremy Levick, Max Brockman, Duncan Sarkies, Iain Morris, Josh Lieb, Aasia LaShay Bullock
- Seasons
- 6
Fans looking for a mix of horror with their comedy will want to check out the hilarious mockumentary sitcom What We Do in the Shadows. Based on the Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement's movie of the same name, the show follows a group of vampires living together in Staten Island as a camera crew follows them around on their supernatural misadventures and mundane experiences of trying to understand modern human society.
The movie is brought to life by its lovable ensemble with a terrific cast of colorful characters. There are laugh-out-loud moments that come from these oblivious ancient beings doing everyday things like visiting the mall and going to New Jersey. The show also has a lot of fun with various supernatural lore elements, offering hilarious takes on sirens, witches, and other beasts. It is a series that has gradually found more popularity and a wider audience leading up to What We Do in the Shadows season 6, coming later in 2024 to bring the series to an end.
28 The First Omen (2024)
A Prequel About A Plot To Birth The Antichrist
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The First Omen
- Release Date
- April 5, 2024
- Runtime
- 119 Minutes
- Director
- Arkasha Stevenson
Cast
Nell Tiger Free-
Tawfeek Barhom
WHERE TO WATCH
The First Omen is a horror film from director Arkasha Stevenson that acts as a prequel to the 1976 film The Omen. The film follows a young woman who goes to Rome to become a nun but begins to question her faith after encountering a terrifying darkness that aims to spawn an evil incarnate.
There are some great horror options on Disney+ STAR with The First Omen being one of the newest and best entries in the genre, released in 2024. The original The Omen was a hugely influential horror movie that follows a man's investigation into signs that his son might actually be the antichrist. This prequel follows a young woman who comes to Rome to start her new life as part of the church only to gradually uncover a horrifying conspiracy.
Though it did not make much of a splash at the box office, The First Omen was a hit with the critics, being the best-received of movies since the original. Indeed, the modern horror movie seeks to draw on what made that movie so special, with a throwback style that makes it feel like a horror movie plucked out of the 70s. It makes for a terrific slow-burn thrill ride which will be especially entertaining for fans of the original.
27 Poor Things (2023)
A Resurrected Woman Begins A Journey Of Discovery
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Poor Things
- Release Date
- September 8, 2023
- Runtime
- 141 Minutes
- Director
- Yorgos Lanthimos
WHERE TO WATCH
Poor Things is a sci-fi romance film from The Lobster director Yorgos Lanthimos. The story focuses on the bizarre and fantastical world of Bella Baxter after a scientist named Dr. Godwin Baxter brings her back to life. The film is based on the 1992 novel of the same name by Alasdair Gray.
Emma Stone won her second Oscar for Best Actress for this hilarious, thought-provoking, and unique dark comedy from Yorgos Lanthimos. Poor Things stars Stone as Bella, a woman who is brought back to life by an eccentric scientist (Willem Dafoe) using the brain of a baby. The movie follows Bella through her very fast maturity in which she discovers her sexuality and goes on a journey to understand as much of the world as she can.
Stone gives a bold and totally committed performance to the layered character, making Bella shocking, funny, and endearing in her quest to learn. Mark Ruffalo also has a standout role as Bella's boisterous yet insecure lover which earned him an Oscar nomination. Lanthimos' unique vision makes Poor Things an engrossing and surreal experience with a quirky sense of humor and a lot of graphic moments. It will be too much for some viewers but makes for an unforgettable experience.
26 Justified (2010-2015)
A US Marshal Contends With Old Acquaintances After Returning Home
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Based on the fictional stories by Elmore Leonard, Justified is a neo-Western crime drama following the adventures of Old West lawman Marshal Raylan Givens, who is reassigned to his home county in Kentucky after a controversial shooting.
- Seasons
- 6
One of the best Westerns on Disney+ STAR is actually set in the 21st century. Based on the character created by legendary crime novelist Elmore Leonard, Justified stars Timothy Olyphant as Raylan Givens, a US Marshal who sees himself as an Old West cowboy who was born too late. After a questionable shooting of a mob figure in Miami, Raylan is forced to return to his hometown in Kentucky where his lawman ways have him clashing with old acquaintances, including Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins).
The series perfectly captures Leonard's style of writing with grounded, colorful characters in exciting situations. Olyphant brings endless swagger and a dry sense of humor to Raylan while Goggins makes Boyd a layered outlaw who is always entertaining to watch. Both actors were nominated for Emmys in 2011. The series is a terrific mix of a Western action movie and a modern crime thriller. A sequel series, Justified: City Primeval, debuted in 2023 and is also available on Disney+ STAR.
Raylan Givens debuts in Elmore Leonard's 1993 novel Pronto.
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