Everything Coming to Disney+ on November 12
#10: “Home Sweet Home Alone” (2021)
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With their Fox acquisition, Disney sought to revisit several lucrative franchises. While Devin Ratray will pop up as Buzz in “Home Sweet Home Alone,” Macaulay Culkin has denied rumors that he’ll make a cameo as Kevin. Instead, Archie Yates from “Jojo Rabbit” is defending his home from two burglars played by Ellie Kemper and Rob Delaney. Some would argue that we haven’t gotten a good “Home Alone” movie since 1992. Others would go even further, claiming the original is the only classic. Based on the trailer, which has gotten almost 80,000 downvotes on YouTube, we’re not expecting anything groundbreaking. Still, we’re curious to see how this formula will work in the digital age. Throw in a capable cast, and we’ll give it a chance.
#9: Disney Theatrical Shorts
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Disney practically abandoned theatrical shorts for the longest time, even though they helped build the company. The shorts program started to make a comeback in the 2000s and by the 2010s, Disney officially got their mojo back. “Paperman” was a major turning point on a technical and emotional level, winning the Academy Award. Disney got another Oscar nomination for “Get a Horse!,” which seamlessly blended Mickey’s golden years with modern animation. Through “Feast,” Disney won over Oscar voters again with deliciously rendered food and a dog we could just eat up. And since we were all still overcome with “Frozen” fever in 2015, Disney delivered the cure with a new theatrical short. If you missed any of these in the theater, catch them on Disney+.
#8: “Olaf Presents” (2021-)
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Speaking of “Frozen,” the storm continues to rage on with this new series of shorts starring a certain snowman. For many, one of the standout moments from “Frozen II” was Olaf’s 90-second retelling of the first film. If you stayed past the sequel’s credits, you also got a recap of the movie you just watched. In “Olaf Presents,” the snowman provides his own unique takes on five other Disney classics with Josh Gad reprising his role. Olaf will recap “Aladdin,” “The Lion King,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Moana,” and “Tangled.” What’s more, we’ll get to see Olaf in character as Ariel, the Genie, and various others. Given Disney’s vast library, maybe we should make a list of the Top 10 Movies We Want Olaf to Recap.
#7: “The World According to Jeff Goldblum” - Season 2
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This documentary series starring the one and only Jeff Goldblum was among the first Disney+ originals. Where some docuseries focus on one subject, “The World According to Jeff Goldblum” has few limitations. Fireworks, magic, and monsters are just some of the subjects that Goldblum will touch upon in the second season, which was delayed due to the pandemic. While it remains unclear what will make the final cut, Goldblum also mentioned that he interviewed an astronaut for an episode. Season 2 will have 10 episodes with the first half being made available on Disney+ Day. As long as Goldblum’s involved, we’re there. This actor could make ANYTHING sound interesting, even reading from the phonebook. Hey, that’s another topic he should cover someday!
#6: A New “Simpsons” Short
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For years, “The Simpsons” was seen as the anti-Disney. At the same time, you can definitely see how “The Simpsons’” signature humor has inspired many modern Disney projects like “Gravity Falls.” “Simpsons” alumni like Brad Bird and Rich Moore have even worked with the Mouse House. So, it wasn’t a huge stretch when “The Simpsons” library launched with Disney+. Since then, “The Simpsons” has produced a series of shorts through Disney, including “Playdate with Destiny,” “The Good, The Bart, and The Loki,” and “The Force Awakens From Its Nap.” Little is known about the latest “Simpsons” short premiering on Disney+ Day, but it’ll reportedly pay homage to the service’s marquee brands. From “Star Wars,” to Marvel, to Pixar, there’s no shortage of satirical targets.
#5: “Ciao Alberto” (2021)
Although a lot of us were looking forward to seeing “Luca” on the big screen, we were still more than happy to watch the film on Disney+ at no additional cost. If you’re still craving pasta and pesto, “Ciao Alberto” should more than satisfy your appetite. This new short picks up where the film left off. With Luca and Giulia off at school, Alberto settles into his new life under Massimo’s care. The early footage promises comedic hijinks as Alberto tries to earn his keep. This could also be an opportunity to delve deeper into Alberto’s backstory. We know that Alberto was abandoned by his biological father. It’d be interesting to see Massimo fill the role of Alberto’s father figure, exploring the meaning of family.
#4: “Jungle Cruise” (2021)
Although “Jungle Cruise” was released on Disney+ last July, subscribers needed to pay an additional $30 for premiere access. The film simultaneously played in theaters where it went on to make over $200 million. Disney+ subscribers can finally watch this rip-roading adventure at no extra cost. An overreliance on CGI aside, “Jungle Cruise” proved to be among the best Disney movies based on a ride. This is largely thanks to the charisma of Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, and several scene-stealing supporting players. The film captures the spirit of the ride while also poking fun at it. Like the 1999 version of “The Mummy,” it’s lighthearted escapism that we’d gladly watch again. With a sequel in the works, that’s all the more reason to set sail.
#3: “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” (2021)
Unlike some of their other features released during the pandemic, Disney decided to make “Shang-Chi” an exclusive theatrical engagement. While the MCU has no trouble finding an audience, this was still seen as a risky move given the state of theaters and the world. It paid off, however, as “Shang-Chi” opened with a record high for Labor Day weekend and has since grossed over $400 million. With a mix of sharply choreographed martial arts and state-of-the-art special effects, “Shang-Chi” proved to not only be a crowdpleaser, but also a milestone for Asian representation in Hollywood. If you’ve been holding out for its streaming release, the wait is almost over. Even if you did catch it in theaters, it’s more than worthy of another viewing.
#2: “Under The Helmet: The Legacy Of Boba Fett” (2021)
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When you think about it, Boba Fett is kind of an unlikely breakout character. He made his debut in “Star Wars Holiday Special,” which George Lucas wanted the world to forget about. Even in “Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi,” the masked bounty hunter got few lines. Boba Fett’s silent nature and mysterious allure ultimately made him a fan favorite, however. The character recently resurfaced in “The Mandalorian.” With “The Book of Boba Fett” miniseries premiering on December 29, Disney is getting us pumped with a special dedicated to the cult character. While not much has been revealed about the special, we expect it’ll touch upon Boba Fett’s history, behind-the-scenes footage, retrospectives, and - hopefully - a look at what’s to come.
#1: MCU Special
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After releasing little Marvel content in 2020, Disney more than compensated in 2021 with several new features and series. On Disney+ Day, we’re getting “a special celebrating the Marvel Cinematic Universe on Disney+ with an exciting look towards the future.” Aside from that description, Disney hasn’t revealed much about the MCU special. Given how much this cinematic universe has on the horizon, though, we can think of a few things. “Hawkeye” and “Spider-Man: No Way Home” are both set to come out by the year’s end. We’re still waiting on first looks at “Multiverse of Madness,” “Love and Thunder,” and “Wakanda Forever,” among others. Not to get our hopes up, but if any casting for “Fantastic Four” is unveiled, expect the best Disney+ Day yet!
