Frozen’s Olaf is one of the best Disney animated sidekicks due to his lovable personality and heartwarming belief that “some people are worth melting for.” However we can’t forget about voice actor Josh Gad, who's helped make the adorable snowman the endearing figure that he is. Apparently, he’s got a fan in Borat’s Sacha Baron Cohen, as Gad recalled a memorable encounter involving a bathroom.

It’s understandable that a Disney character like Olaf would have so many fans, especially considering that Frozen is one of the top-grossing Disney films. While Anna’s friend is made of snow, he’s got such a warm heart. Amid D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Gad spoke to People about the immense love for his frosty alter ego and mentioned a memorable fan experience he had with Baron Cohen during an event:

Not the Ali G actor directing Gad! I guess it was for his kids, though, so the message had to be top notch. What's sweet, though, is that the Beauty and the Beast actor also mentions that he will only do voice messages as the Disney snowman instead of videos. That way, his fans will only picture Olaf and he can maintain the illusion that the character is real, as he likely is to some very young fans.

There's a lot of weight and honor that comes with voicing a popular Disney character. In fact, that’s why Gad got real about regretting not changing his voice to play the Frozen character, as he could be easily recognized by kids whenever he talks. Still, it’s hard to imagine Olaf sounding any differently from how the Floridian actor naturally sounds in vocally.

Another way that voicing Olaf didn’t work in Gad’s favor was when he was driving with his family and saw kids in the car next to him singing Olaf’s “In Summer.” The Annie Award winner wanted to “blow their minds” by singing along with them, but he scared the kids away. Whether you cause a car to drive away or are asked to record as Olaf multiple times for a famous actor like Cohen, it seems there’s never a dull moment when you’re the memorable voice behind a beloved Disney character.

While I can't say I would've guessed Josh Gad’s most memorable fan experience would be recording with Sacha Baron Cohen recording in a bathroom, it's definitely a funny story. Also, I hope that Cohen’s kids were ultimately satisfied with what they heard, especially given all of those takes.

I’m sure Sacha Baron Cohen’s kids will be excited to hear Josh Gad voice Olaf in the upcoming Disney film, Frozen 3, which opens in theaters on November 24th, 2027. You can also catch up on the entire animated franchise available for streaming with your Disney+ subscription.

Ever since the Frozen cast began dishing on the upcoming third movie, I’ve been enjoying whatever updates I can get. We’ve already been given the first Frozen 3 footage during Disney’s big D23 event, and I’m definitely feeling the excitement. There are new songs (loving the duet between Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel), but I wasn’t expecting Olaf actor Josh Gad to make a “throuple” comment while hyping up a big Frozen 3 moment. And now it’s all I can think about.

Gad, Bell, and Menzel were truly living it up at D23 where they gave us little insights and winks to what we can expect. When the cast stopped by to share with Fandango correspondent Zuri Hall, they offered some interesting Frozen 3 teases. I thought the biggest thing I would be thinking about is Bell referring to Kristoff as Elsa’s brother-in-law, but Gad’s comments about Olaf is planning the wedding definitely took the cake. As he put it:

Somehow, I shouldn’t be surprised to hear that Olaf gets things a little mixed up. After all, this is the same snowman who wanted to experience summer. But the way Gad talks, our lovable little sidekick is going to learn more about love and even has his own “little long song.” This was teased during D23 when the actor came on stage and serenaded someone named Samantha. Does this mean we’re getting a snow(wo)man? Or was it a reference to Olaf's funny Samanatha scene from Frozen 2?

No one seems more excited than the cast themselves. They’ve done nothing but sing directors Jennifer Lee and Trent Correy’s praises, but it’s the way they’re promoting the movie that has me most excited. Bell has already proven she has no chill when it comes to promoting the threequel. Just check out her surprising duet with The Savannah Bananas player Derek Klena. But both she and Gad have given little teases into their first days working on Frozen 3. However, nothing has me more excited than hearing how Olaf will be evolving in the upcoming movie:

I just hope he doesn’t change too much. Now while Olaf’s relationship status has piqued my interests the most, we did get some other teases from the cast. The little teaser shown at D23 did give a glimpse at Anna and Kristoff's big day so I’m hopeful we’ll actually see it. The closest we’ve come to this was when the characters stopped by ABC’s Once Upon a Time. Even then all we saw was the dress. And while that show didn't feature actors who the OG cast chose to play the characters in a live-action remake, that didn't stop fans from being happy to see the sisters on the small screen.

But the confidence the cast has in this third movie has me positive I’m going to love it. While I may be disappointed that we won’t be seeing it as one of 2026’s upcoming movies, I’m anxiously anticipating what new characters will show up. We won’t see Frozen 3 until November 24, 2027, but the cast did tease that following this movie will be a fourth. Though the cast said they’re focusing on recording Frozen 3 first and had no other details to share.

Still, if Frozen 3 turns out as epic as they’re making it out to be, I’ll happily take a fourth.

Voicing a character in a Walt Disney Animation movie has got to be the dream of so many actors, especially if you can sing. When it comes to Frozen alone, Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell and others have spoken about the joys of being part of the franchise. But, for every Hollywood star who’s earned a role among Disney legacy, there’s a ton of actors who’ve auditioned and been rejected for the role. And, as it turns out Nick Jonas auditioned for a role in the aforementioned 2013 movie.

Nick Jonas and his brothers were named Disney Legends last weekend at Anaheim’s D23 Expo for their history with Disney Channel. Interestingly, enough, Jonas recently revealed that he went out for a key character in Frozen. In his words:

Whoa! Just imagine being in the Camp Rock veteran's shoes at the time Frozen was released and became a runaway hit. Nick Jonas actually told this story to Bell, Menzel and Josh Gad during a special D23 episode of the Jonas' Brothers' Hey Jonas! podcast. The role, of course, ultimately went to Broadway actor Jonathan Groff, who's definitely great as the endearing iceman.

Nick Jonas definitely has an incredible range as a singer, so I doubt he truly “bombed” the audition. But, in fairness, the movie ended up casting more Broadway-leaning talent. Yes, Jonas actually got his start on Broadway, but he primarily did that as a child actor. On the other hand, Groff had a whole resume of work in musical theatre under his belt by the time Frozen came along.

Still, it's worth mentioning that in 2012, just a year before Frozen’s release, Jonas ended up returning to his Broadway roots for his first on-stage stint since he was a kid. He played the starring role inHow to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. But how did Jonas ultimately feel after the film was released to critical acclaim and box office success. Here’s what he said:

Jonas isn’t the only actor who has spoken of a rough Frozen-related audition. Dylan O’Brien also tried out for a later-cut Frozen 2 character at an audition, where he didn’t know he’d have to sing. As he recalled, a “poor” casting associate had to “painfully” ask him to sing the chorus even though he knew he “[couldn't] sing.”

Nick Jonas’ audition story comes as fans await the release of Frozen III as part of the 2027 movie release schedule. Bell, Menzel and Gad attended D23’s Entertainment Showcase, where details on upcoming Disney movies were revealed. It was there that the trio revealed the first footage from the threequel. With this franchise still going strong, it would be cool if Jonas was able to land a spot in it at some point. If not, though, it seems that when it comes to his failed audition, he has definitely "let it go."

While we wait for Frozen III, you can watch the previous movies (and plenty of Nick Jonas as well) using a Disney+ subscription.

These days, there’s always a new live-action remake among upcoming Disney movies. But will Frozen ever get one? Well, Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel and Josh Gad (the voices of Anna, Elsa and Olaf, respectively) were asked about the possibilities. I have to say, they threw some solid ideas for Anna and Elsa out there.

Kristen Bell And Josh Gad Have Ideas For The Live-Action Frozen

The cast of Frozen III came together at D23 last week, ahead of the sequel being released on the 2027 movie schedule, to share the first footage. And when they stopped by the Jonas Brothers’ podcast, they were asked about a live-action Frozen. Here are their best ideas for the leading roles:

• Kristen Bell: "I already know who I want to play Anna, though, it's Joey King."
• Josh Gad: "You know who is campaigning for [Idina Menzel's] role, I found out, Anya Taylor-Joy."

Just prior to this answer, Kristen Bell shared that she tried to get the cast to star in the Broadway musical with her. But they weren’t up for it. Then, Bell said her pick for Anna: 27-year-old Joey King, and I can totally see it. The actress is charismatic and fun like Anna, and has even been rocking red hair lately. She’s best known for The Kissing Booth movies and is set to be in Practical Magic 2 this fall.

Josh Gad then brought up Anya Taylor-Joy, who actually campaigned for the role before. Back in 2024, the Dune actress said it’s her “dream” Disney role. She also said it “would be very fun to shoot ice out of your hand” and “be the favorite at every kid’s birthday party”. Taylor-Joy definitely has the right look for the role.

And, yes, both actors have a history with singing, too. Though it’s not to the extent of the original voice actors.

What Idina Menzel Thinks About Live-Action Frozen

But, then Elsa herself, Idina Menzel, came in with an icy hot take! In her words:

The actress behind Elsa is talking about 2019’s The Irishman, where Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci were aged down digitally to play younger versions of their roles in the crime epic. As Menzel pitched it, why doesn’t Disney do that so Anna and Elsa could be played by their original voice actors? They also joked about Josh Gad wearing a physical Olaf suit, so there’s that, too.

Given how beloved the animated movie continues to be, it does seem possible Frozen could get the live-action treatment someday. The next animated movie to get it, though, is a remake of Tangled starring Teagan Croft as Rapunzel, Milo Manheim as Flynn Rider and Kathryn Hahn as Mother Gothel. It’s coming to theaters on March 31, 2028. Before that, we’ll see Frozen III when it comes to cinemas on November 24, 2027. Then, maybe after that, Anna and Elsa will make their way into the world of live-action.

The first trailer for Shrek 5 is here, and I can't believe I didn't see it roasting one of the more current fairy tale stories coming. The latest sequel sends Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, and his children to "Further Further Away," where, apparently, jokes about Frozen can happen.

It's a quick but unforgettable moment in the latest look at the long-awaited sequel, which is due out next year after the upcoming movies in 2026 wrap. As Shrek and company arrive in the new city, they're propositioned by a shady-looking snowman in an alley, who looks close to but distinctly different (likely for legal purposes) from Frozen's Olaf. He says:

It's hilarious, and exactly what I want from Shrek 5. Frozen came out three years after the last Shrek movie, and now I'm just sitting here wondering what other fairy tales may be parodied from the Disney family. Will we see the film take a shot at the live-action Moana remake? I'm crossing my fingers and toes the answer is yes, but in the meantime, I'm loving this snowman:

I also couldn't help but notice Fiona hitching a ride from a green witch while mermaids breached the water below them. I'm wondering if this means we're also going to get some references to Wicked, or at the very least The Wizard of Oz. It's funny because I just assumed Shrek would lean on the old fairy tales for its upcoming movie, and didn't even realize there was fresh content to tackle.

The more bizarre realization for me is that Shrek is older than Frozen, and has now come full circle to parody the popular Disney film. Heck, Shrek is so old the franchise's characters got a considerable facelift in the way of animation changes, which are apparent in this latest look.

As for what the plot is about, we've heard that a Donkey-centric spinoff is in the works. My guess is that it'll set the stage for him to strike off on his own, maybe with Further, Further, Away being his new home with Dragon and his kids. Speaking of which, where are they, and some of the other beloved characters? I'm going to be sad if Pinocchio isn't back!

Of course, there's also plenty else to love about this trailer, including the Gingerbread Man getting a BBL thanks to some new gumdrops and icing on his butt. It's the perfect vibe I expected from this movie, and I can't wait to see it come next summer.

Shrek 5 is in theaters on June 30th, 2027. It may seem "further, further away" than other movies, especially after it dodged Avengers: Doomsday, but with so many great movies out right now, I'm not complaining about waiting a bit to see this one.

Normally, April is my favorite time of the year. The weather is nice, my roses start budding, and April 25th is the perfect day, obviously. This year, though, there’s been a lot of rain and personal upheaval, and April has not been doing it for me. That is, until Walt Disney World dropped an amazing video of Josh Gad acting as a greeter at Disneyland.

Honestly, what’s not to love about wholesome content like this? From the early morning dawn light splayed on the guests, to Josh Gad’s hot take train jabs, this video has it all: Surprise, humor, and most of all, a little magic. Take a look.

This wouldn’t be the first time Josh Gad has taken over someone’s job at a Disney theme park. This time, he thought he would be becoming a storyeller on the relaxing Storybook Land Canal Boats ride (a middlingly-ranked Disneyland attraction). Instead, a cast member assigns him as a “barker,” which is certainly a lesser-ranking job and he jokingly seems unamused about.

Early in the full video, when Gad does get recognized, I’m obsessed with his first impulse, which is comedy. When a fan asks if “that’s Josh Gad,” he turns around and hollers, “Where?” I've interviewed the actor before, and he really is a larger-than-life personality, so I can't imagine running into him unexpectedly in a theme park setting. I'm sure it was amazing.

Eventually, he does steal the mic and crack jokes about Pinocchio whale endoscopies and having more fun than the guests on the “train.” You can see more from his unexpected day in the parks, below.

Josh Gad was also supposed to be on hand for a World of Frozen event at Disneyland Paris earlier this month, but had to bail on the event due to a family health issue that took him back home. It is nice to see he did make it to one of the parks this month, even if he missed the “intense” malfunction of the Olaf animatronic over in Europe. The good news is his mom was rushed to the ER in time, and in his last update he mentioned she’s slowly gotten better. Since then, he’s been able to get back to “work.” Which, in this case means amusing his fans with funny Disney commentary, and heading to Japan. It's not a bad gig, being an actor.

Gad’s a longtime Disney guy, and he has work outside Frozen for Disney right now too. In fact, he recently did voiceover work for the DisneyNature Orangutan doc, which is set to be available to those with a Disney+ subscription on Earth day. You can see more of what's heading to streaming with our 2026 TV schedule.

Disney Experiences always seems to be pushing the boundaries of what’s possible when it comes to entertaining its guests, and the company recently did that in a big way with Frozen’s Olaf. The free-roaming and talking Olaf animatronic recently became operational at Disneyland Paris, though the adorable, mechanized puppet had a malfunction just recently. While Olaf is operational again, fans across the internet have been joking about the situation. Now, Josh Gad – who voices the character – has entered the chat.

Like some of his peers, Gad appears to remain plugged into what fans are discussing across social media. So it was probably just a matter of time before he decided to weigh in on the animatronic based on his beloved Frozen character. Gad took to Instagram to share the clip of the malfunction, which happened in front of a group of people at Disneyland Paris. While that video may still generate a chuckle or two from users, it’s Gad’s witty (and completely relatable) comment that has me laughing:

I can imagine there are plenty of people who can relate to the feeling of being overwhelmed by emails after returning from some well needed time off. Personally, I can think of more than a few occasions when I’ve gone out of town for a while and have been met with a stuffed inbox upon my return to work. (Whew, I’m getting jittery just thinking about it.) My own experiences aside, though, I’m impressed that Gad never seems to miss a cue. Check out his post down below:

Based on the clip, that was a relatively intense moment for guests, who were intently watching Olaf before he essentially became frozen (no pun intended) and fell over. Gasps and shrieks from park attendees can be heard when the mechanical creation takes that tumble, and even I have to admit I probably would’ve been a little shook had I seen that in real time. It’s good that everything’s been sorted out on that front, but the internet is forever, which means this clip could continue to circulate and generate jokes.

What isn’t a laughing matter, though, is the considerable time and effort that Walt Disney’s Imagineering team put into crafting the Olaf animatronic, which was announced to be in the works back in November 2025. Also announced to be a fixture at Disneyland Hong Kong, the life-like robot was also a product of the Imagineers collaborating with Gad and the Frozen character’s lead animator. Given the finished result, I’d say that partnership paid off in a big way.

Although fans are now in a position to interact with Olaf like never before, they’ll also still be able to see him on the big screen in a new adventure. Frozen 3 is officially in the works, and it’s set to be released in 2027. Plot details are, of course, being kept tightly under wraps, though Gad provided an update this past February by sharing a behind-the-scenes photo. That snapshot appeared to indicate that the actor had begun recording his work on the threequel.

So, if it weren’t clear already, the Frozen franchise (of which the films and spinoffs are streamable with a Disney+ subscription) continues to permeate pop culture in different ways. The Olaf animatronic, in particular, could also set a new standard for the kind of fare that awaits guests at Disney’s parks. We’ll see how that pans out but, in the meantime, I’m eager to see how the Olaf robot makes waves in his own right (and whether it garners another funny response from Josh Gad).

A couple of weeks ago, before he made his debut at Disneyland Paris, I got to “meet” Walt Disney Imagineering’s Olaf robot. It’s an incredible piece of technology that, thanks to major leaps forward in design, is able to battle many of the issues that might cause the Olaf to fail while iterating with guests. But that doesn’t mean that Olaf can’t fail at all, as we recently learned.

Olaf had his first, though certainly not his last, public failure this week when the robot collapsed in front of guests at Disney Adventure World at Disneyland Paris. The memes went viral, but good news, everybody. Olaf is just fine, as a recent video showed.

Of course, just because Olaf is fine now doesn’t mean that fans are done with the jokes. The comments and quotes on the original Twitter post are all reactions to how the snowman is handling his traumatic incident. Some of the best include…

• Good to see Olaf is out of concussion protocol. - @ScottGustin
• I can tell he has no recollection of the incident and that’s what’s so scary.. - @aallleeexxxxxx1
• Acting like nothing f—ing happened - @esjesjesj
• And on the third day he rose again, ascended into Arendelle - @xrachaelxoxo
• Even in the face of great tragedy one must keep living - @w1lld0mk3

Watching Olaf’s quiet walk across World of Frozen at Disney Adventure World, knowing about his recent… incident, which saw him completely freeze and fall backward, with even his detachable carrot nose falling to the ground, does feel very strange. He has the same smile on his face, but he knows what happened…he knows. You can just tell.

Of course, the actual truth is that we don’t even know if this is the same Olaf robot that collapsed. Exactly how many exist is unclear, but I’m guessing Disneyland Paris has more than one snowman robot specifically to deal with the situation where one of them doesn’t work for some reason.

Olaf is the most technologically advanced of a new breed of mechanical creations from Walt Disney Imagineering. Over the last couple of years, we’ve seen a new generation of traditional audio animatronics, including an audio-animatronic Walt Disney at Disneyland.

That said, it's been a rough week for animated Disney characters. The same week that Olaf "died," the audio-animatronic Rapunzel at Tokyo DisneySea was attacked by crows. It's not a good time to be a Disney robot.

Olaf is the first of what will certainly be a series of robot characters walking around all the Disney parks and interacting with guests. While the technology is already quite impressive, the fact that Olaf is the first means there will be some challenges to overcome, likely some that Walt Disney Imagineering is only now beginning to understand, now that Olaf is out in public.

Walt Disney Imagineering has never ceases to amaze, but today we’re seeing the technical achievements in Disney Parks reach new levels. The newest groundbreaking creation from WDI is a free-roaming robot of Frozen’s Olaf the snowman. He looks just like the character from the film, and it turns out that’s not the only thing he has in common with his animated predecessor.

I recently got a chance to see the new Olaf robot up close and speak with two members of the team behind its creation, Kyle Laughlin and Mortiz Bächer. They revealed that one of the challenges of making Olaf work, somewhat fittingly for the character, was heat. Laughlin explained…

Without getting too deep in the mechanical weeds, the issue was that Olaf’s physical model involves a very large head attached to a very small neck. Since these proportions were fixed, otherwise the robot wouldn’t look like Olaf, it limited the components that could be used in the neck to small ones, which resulted in Olaf overheating and breaking down.

The solution was to use simulation, previously only used to model the mechanical systems of the robot, to model the thermal dynamics. Now, much like Olaf in Frozen 2, who has the benefit of permafrost, the robot is able to manage its own temperature and always stay cool. Mortiz Bächer said…

This is a massive technical achievement in humanoid robotics, but that’s not all it is. The fact that the Olaf robot is able to do this has real-world benefits to fans visiting theme parks, like Disneyland Paris, where the robot Olaf will make his official debut with the opening of World of Frozen later this month. Because Olaf is able to keep from “melting,” there should be less need for the robot to be pulled due to technical problems. Laughlin explained...

While those of us who can’t make a trip to Disneyland Paris or Disneyland Hong Kong may not get a chance to see Olaf up close anytime soon, it’s clear there are long-term plans not only for Olaf, but for the future of robotics in Disney Parks. The fact that these technical hurdles have been overcome means that when that day comes, there’s a better chance that the robots won’t fail because the Orlando or Anaheim sun got too hot.

When I went to Disneyland last year and sat in a room where Walt Disney himself stood up and spoke, I was blown away by what Walt Disney Imagineering had made real. And yet, less than a year later, I have seen something that leaves that in the dust. I have met WDI’s robot Olaf, and he is absolutely incredible.

Ahead of his appearance on the stage at NVIDIA GTC today, I got a special preview of the robot Olaf that will make his official debut when the new World of Frozen opens at Disneyland Paris later this month. I also got to speak with Kyle Laughlin & Mortiz Bächer, two members of the Imagineering team who developed the free-roaming robot, who have made something that truly looks like Frozen’s favorite snowman has stepped off the movie screen.

Disney's New Olaf Robot Got Its Personality From Josh Gad

Disney Parks have been working on robots for a few years, but Olaf is a new milestone in the technology as he'll be the first to be available to the general public in Disney Parks.

Part of the work that was required to do that included going back to the source. That meant both working with Olaf’s lead animator and Olaf’s voice actor Josh Gad, in order to learn how Olaf first came to life as an animated figure, and to give him the right personality. Imagineering’s Kyle Laughlin told me…

Working with creative people behind characters in order to bring them into the Disney Parks is standard practice. The same things happen when animated characters become live-action characters in the parks. This is traditionally a long-running process that involves multiple conversations as elements of a character are constantly tweaked in order to get it right.

Oalf's Movements Came Directly From The Movie

But when it came to Olaf going from animated character to robot, much less of this was needed. Because in a true leap forward, the same assets used to create Olaf’s movements in the Frozen movies could be used directly to create Olaf’s movements as a robot. Laughlin continued…

There's something to be said for what Disney calls its flywheel, the way that the different elements of the company can influence and assist each other. Imagineering's ability to go to the source animation meant there was nothing lost in translation.

Olaf Looks Incredible In Person

A few moments after this conversation Olaf walked into the room I was in, and I saw exactly what the Imagineers had been talking about. Olaf walked in with a smile on his face and said hello to me. It was honestly shocking just how “real” it felt. He certainly looked exactly like what you would think Olaf would look like if you were to meet him in reality. And with the voice of Josh Gad, he sounded exactly like him, but it was the way he moved that truly made him feel alive.

The Olaf robot will make its official debut later this month at Disneyland Paris and will also appear at the World of Frozen at Disneyland Hong Kong. I asked about a potential visit from the snowman at Epcot’s Norway pavilion, and while nothing was confirmed, it’s clear that there are a lot of plans for the future. Not only for Olaf specifically, but for this technology going forward.

Josh Gad is a true Disney Legend. He achieved that status two years ago at D23, but even outside of the award, he’s been a mainstay for the studio, appearing in everything from Frozen to Disney+ documentaries to Marvel Studios’ Wonder Man. He’s also seen often in Disney Parks as he's part of a YouTube series where he takes on Cast member jobs. Unfortunately, his most recent appearance at a Disney park had to be cancelled as his mother is apparently quite ill.

Gad recently posted to Instagram that he had only just arrived in Paris in order to see the new World of Frozen that is part of the newly redesigned Disney Adventure World at Disneyland Paris, when he had to turn around and head home to deal with a medical emergency. He wrote in part…

This is certainly going to be heartbreaking to Josh Gad’s many fans, and I certainly hope everything turns out ok. Nobody wants to learn about a close family member having what is clearly a serious medical problem, especially when you’re thousands of miles away.

Of course, family comes first, and Josh Gad is asking all his followers to keep his family in their thoughts right now. Whatever is going on is clearly serious. He added at the end of his post…

The new World of Frozen is set to open at Disney Adventure World on March 29, so Gad was clearly on hand to get an early peek at the new land. It likely would have been filmed as part of the park’s new promotion. This is Disney Parks' second Frozen-themed land, the first opened at Hong Kong Disneyland in 2023. It includes a version of the first Frozen ride that you’ll find at Disney World’s Epcot, but also has other attractions, including a family coaster.

The land will also spotlight one of the newest innovations from Walt Disney Imagineering, a free-roaming Olaf audio-animatronic that I can only imagine would have been something Josh Gad was looking forward to seeing.

I will certainly be keeping Josh Gad and his mother in my thoughts. I hope everything turns out ok for everybody, and the worst thing that comes of this is a postponed Disneyland experience.

Few Disney franchises are quite as big as Frozen, so the news that we’re getting not one, but two more Frozen movies is sure to have a lot of people very excited. Disney certainly has a lot riding on the success of the films, and the rumor was they were paying very well to ensure the core cast was on board. However, it sounds like maybe the Mouse hasn’t been quite as generous as rumored.

Last year, it was reported that Frozen’s main trio of Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel and Josh Gad had all signed deals that were in the realm of $60 million each to appear in both Frozen 3 and 4. ET caught up with Bell ahead of the Actor Awards, which she hosted, and the voice of Anna said that while she’s getting paid well for the sequels, she’s not getting paid that well. Bell explained…

The $60 million number seemed bizarrely high when it was announced. $30 million per film for two movies is a massive up-front number that most live-action stars don’t get these days, as many take their salary on the back end based on a film’s success. Perhaps the $60 million number is the cost for the three stars together, as it would still equal a pretty impressive payday per actor. I hope Jonathan Groff got a decent contract, too.

It’s also possible that the reported number was technically accurate, though it may encompass more than just two movies of work. Being the voice of Anna from Frozen doesn’t mean simply doing work on two films, after all. It could include additional voice work for anything from animated shorts to toys to Frozen theme park attractions. It could be a larger contract designed to make sure that Kristen Bell and the rest of the team are involved with Frozen for the long haul.

Whatever the truth, it’s clear that Kristen Bell and her co-stars are getting paid well to continue with Frozen. It’s only fair considering how much money Frozen has brought to Disney over the years. But again, I really hope Jonathan Groff got a nice deal, too.

It’s impossible at this point to understate the power of Frozen. The original film was a massive hit that has since spawned one sequel (that was an even bigger hit at the box office), an entire theme park land (at two Disney theme Parks), and sold more merch than just about anything. It’s no wonder that the stars of the film, like Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, and Josh Gad, are reportedly being paid the big bucks for two more Frozen sequels.

Anybody who was involved in Frozen has earned the right to be at least a little proud, though it seems that showing off that you’re related to one of the stars didn’t have quite the same effect. It seems that back when Idina Menzel’s son was all of four years old, he tried to impress some girls that his mom sang “Let it Go,” but it didn’t exactly have the desired effect. Menzel told ET:

It’s a hilarious, if not particularly surprising, response from a bunch of little kids. I have a four-year-old now, and while she certainly understands there’s a difference between live action and animation, I’m not sure she really understands the mechanics involved in giving Elsa a voice. These kids literally didn’t understand what he was saying.

To be fair, this would have been back shortly after Frozen was released in theaters, and back then, yes, everybody’s mom was singing “Let it Go.” The song was everywhere, to the point that even Kristen Bell was apologizing for the way the movie had seemingly invaded every aspect of pop culture. If you weren’t hearing the song, you were probably hearing some cover or parody version of it that was trading on the song’s popularity. Idina Menzel knew how much the song annoyed some parents.

Idina Menzel’s son is much older now, and people are probably a lot more impressed today with the fact that his mom sings “Let It Go” even if the song itself isn’t quite anywhere anymore. Of course, with not one, but two Frozen sequels currently in development, there are going to be plenty more opportunities for a new Frozen song to take the world by storm.

Frozen 3 only recently appears to have begun recording voice actors. Idina Menzel probably isn’t allowed to tell her son what she’s doing, but I’m sure if he can get a few early details, it will impress some girls.

We’ve known for quite some time that a new Frozen movie was coming. In fact, we know there are two Frozen movies in development. That said, all we’ve had to talk about as fans for the last couple of years has been a single piece of concept art. However, it looks like the Disney animation machine may be getting ready to wind up, as it appears Josh Gad has begun his work on Frozen 3.

Gad posted an image to Instagram that shows him alongside Frozen franchise lead Jennifer Lee, producer Christina Chen, and Trent Correy, who will co-direct the new film alongside Lee. It looks like this is Gad’s first day recording lines for the new movie, which means Frozen 3 is just that little bit closer.

I’m not expecting a flood of leaks to come out of Jash Gad’s recording session or anything, but the fact that the work is happening likely means that we’ll start to learn more about Frozen 3 at a little faster pace than we have been. If Gad is recording, then his Frozen castmates, Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, and Jonathan Groff likely are as well. So are any other voice actors who will be in the new film, including any who may be returning and new characters as well.

We could end up getting casting announcements for any actors being added to Frozen 3, and that might give us some detail about the characters being played and how they may fit into the plot of the new film. As somebody who loves both Frozen movies, I’m excited to see where this franchise is going.

Frozen 3 is a little less than two years away, with a release date of Thanksgiving weekend in 2027. There’s plenty that can happen in that time. As the documentary series on the release of Frozen II showed, animated movies are in a state of constant flux, and the story is always changing. This may be Gad’s first day recording for Frozen 3, but he’ll likely return multiple times as the movie takes shape... which is pretty normal for animated films.

Frozen is clearly important to the future of Disney Animation. Jennifer Lee stepped down from her role as CCO of Walt Disney Animation Studios to take on a role as a franchise manager for Frozen. Considering the first two films have been some of Disney’s most successful, expectations will be high for the next two movies, which are planned. It’s been indicated that Frozen 3 and Frozen 4 will have some sort of connected story, but those details, along with all the others, are still a big question, at least for now.

SPOILER ALERT! This story discusses all eight episodes of the new Marvel series Wonder Man. The entire season is available to stream now with a Disney+ subscription.

There are several highly-anticipated upcoming Marvel movies hitting theaters this year, but thankfully fans don’t have to wait until this summer’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day for their next MCU fix. Wonder Man hit the 2026 TV schedule this week starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Ben Kingsley, and not only was I captivated by its fun meta story and MCU bromance, but I was taken aback by two all-time great cameos — especially one that made brilliant use of Marvel’s Disney connections.

Wonder Man centers on Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), a superpowered actor who’s desperate to win the titular role of the in-series remake of Wonder Man, and Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley), who is also up for a part in the movie, but has ulterior motives in helping Simon. Critics praised these performances — and I agree they were great — but I daresay Josh Gad and Joe Pantoliano threatened to steal the show by playing exaggerated versions of themselves.

Josh Gad Brought Big Humor And Huge Stakes To The World Of Wonder Man

Marvel has slipped some amazing cameos into its films over the years (you may have even needed a rewatch to catch all the surprise appearances in Deadpool & Wolverine) but it’s hard to picture many hitting as hard as Josh Gad and “Joey Pants.” This is especially true with Wonder Man falling under the Marvel Spotlight banner, meaning you don’t have to have watched every MCU movie in order to understand the joke.

Josh Gad appears in the series’ fourth chapter, “Doorman,” which is effectively a bottle episode, shown in black-and-white, as we flash back to the events that resulted in “The Doorman Clause” that plagues Simon Williams. Gad plays himself, the life of the party at the height of his Frozen fame, as he frequents the nightclub that employs DeMarr Davis (Byron Bowers). A bartender teases what’s to come when she tells DeMarr at the end of one shift:

The actor ends up having a huge impact on the series’ story, as after DeMarr uses his new, ooze-enabled superpowers to save the club’s patrons from a fire (more on that later), Josh Gad convinces him to become an actor, hilariously brushing off DeMarr’s protestations by saying:

Josh Gad becomes a tragic figure in this alt-Hollywood, ultimately disappearing inside The Doorman when a stunt goes wrong on set. This results in the creation of The Doorman Clause, which makes it all but impossible for superpowered individuals like Simon Williams to get work in Hollywood.

Before things got dark, though, Gad was responsible for one of the most delightful scenes in the whole series.

Josh Gad Singing ‘In Summer’ At A Raucous Nightclub Was Absolutely Unhinged

It would seem Josh Gad was a regular performer during his visits to the club, regaling patrons with songs by the Frozen snowman who likes warm hugs, and I couldn’t get enough of him fully rocking out to “In Summer.” A club remix of the tune pumps over the speakers as the voice of Olaf sings along and works the crowd by shouting things like:

What makes this scene so great is that it’s not exactly portraying this beloved Disney character in his typical family friendly light, especially as the pyrotechnics accompanying J-Gad’s performance started the fire that would ultimately lead to The Doorman’s rise and fall.

His pouring his drink on that guy (pictured above) was also definitely a choice, and I loved it. I mean, what are you even doing if you’re Marvel and you’re not taking advantage of Disney IP like this?

Joe Pantoliano Was A Hilarious Rival For Ben Kingsley’s Trevor

Before Wonder Man even hit Disney+, fans were excited to see what role Joe Pantoliano would have in the MCU series. Despite playing some of the most ruthless villains in entertainment history, he’s a favorite of both fans and fellow actors — well, except for Trevor Slattery.

Ben Kingsley’s character’s disdain for Joey Pants is established early in Episode 2, “Self-Tape,” when the woman sitting next to Trevor on a plane recognizes him from South Shore Hospital and says she loves Pantoliano. This is met with an eyeroll from Trevor and an exhausted, “Yeah, people do.”

We learn soon after that Joey Pantoliano had Trevor’s character killed off of the medical series after three episodes, so you just know things are going to go down when the Wonder Man wannabes are forced to film their audition tapes at Pantoliano’s house.

The Sopranos star is over the top from the jump, showing off his luxury home, complete with skylights for his indoor tree, a shelf of trophies and a spread of delicacies that include “mozz flown in from Hoboken.” He’s so deliciously charming with his microaggressions, praising the art of the audition process before telling Simon:

But Joe Pantoliano takes it a step too far by telling his former co-star that he’s jealous that Trevor is done acting because he can eat what he wants and not worry about the trades. Simon snaps and delivers the most hilarious takedown, saying:

The use of Joe Pantoliano’s full name twice in that rant is everything, and wow, he goes hard at Baby’s Day Out. Simon and Trevor stormed out of the lavish mansion, but that’s not the last we’d see of “Joseph Trousers,” as Ben Kingsley apparently called the actor on set.

Joe Pantoliano’s Cameo Pays Off In Finale Surprise

In the finale, "Yucca Valley," Trevor returns to prison after taking the fall for an explosion caused by Simon in a fit of rage. We see Trevor film his scenes as Wonder Man without a Barnaby, only to learn via time jump to the movie’s premiere that it was none other than Joe Pantoliano who replaced Trevor in the role.

It was a laugh-out-loud reveal, made only funnier when Simon went to break Trevor out of prison and faced a barrage of questions:

• Trevor: So? Who replaced me?
• Simon: Oh, it's not important.
• Trevor: Pierce Brosnan?
• Simon: Let's not get into it.
• Trevor: De Niro?
• Simon: No.
• Trevor: Antonio Banderas? We always get mistaken for each other.

In so many TV shows and movies, cameos can just be throw-away appearances — fan service through face recognition. In Wonder Man’s case, though, I love how seamlessly Josh Gad and Joe Pantoliano fit into the meta storylines and make major contributions to Simon and Trevor’s journeys.

Relive these great performances by streaming all eight episodes of Wonder Man on Disney+.

Disney Parks are amazing places where guests can experience their favorite stories in ways that simply watching movies can’t provide. Theme park attractions make you part of the story, and the chance to meet your favorite Disney characters can be an incredibly special experience. Starting next year, a beloved non-human character is coming to the parks in a truly unique way, and I hope it's the first of many.

Olaf the Snowman from Frozen is one of Disney’s most popular characters, and while he can be met in the parks today, it’s in the form of a costumed character who is far too large to make him feel like his on-screen counterpart. Today Walt Disney Imagineering announced on YouTube that a new free-walking Olaf audio animatronic will be coming to the two World of Frozen lands: at Disneyland Hong Kong which opened in 2024, and at Disneyland Paris, which will see its land open early next year, and he looks incredible.

two World of Frozen lands, at Disneyland Hong Kong, and opening next year at Disneyland Paris, early next year, and he looks incredible.

This isn’t the first audio-animatronic that we’ve seen with the ability to walk freely, as Walt Disney Imagineering previously teased us with a Groot figure that could also walk around untethered. However, that figure was never made available to interact with guests in the park, and was clearly a proof of concept. Beyond that, we’ve also seen the BDX droids at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

Over the last couple of years, Walt Disney Imagineering has progressed the tech of audio-animatronics in significant ways. The figures at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure look like animated characters brought to life. The new Walt Disney audio-animatronic at Disneyland looks more lifelike than anything we’ve ever seen before.

This audio-animatronic will be walking around World of Frozen in two Disney Parks next year, and it may be worth the price of a plane ticket just to check at least one of them out. From a technological standpoint, Olaf is an absolute wonder. The fact that something like this can exist is just wild...and adorable.

Yet, the idea that I could be standing in World of Frozen and Olaf could just walk up to me and start talking is also a bit disconcerting. When Olaf is talking in the voice of Josh Gad, he looks cute, but when he’s not talking, he just sort of stares at you, and looks like something primed for a game-over jumpscare in Five Nights at Freddy's.

At this point, it appears that guests at the domestic parks will need to wait to see this technology appear. There’s always the chance that Olaf could appear at the Norway pavilion at Epcot, where the Frozen attraction can be found. This certainly makes me wish that we might see a third World of Frozen as part of the planned Disneyland expansion, as it would mean Olaf would almost certainly come with it.

The Frozen movies are big business for Disney. At the box office, the two big screen releases – 2013's Frozen and 2019's Frozen II – have earned over $2.7 billion worldwide, and the amount of brand merchandising that has been produced is overwhelming. It's for this reason that the studio is very much committed to making more sequels to the blockbuster hits , and as a big part of that plan, the company has reportedly closed some major deals with stars Kristen Bell, Josh Gad, and Idina Menzel.

According to The Wrap, Disney has signed deals with the actors to reprise their respective roles in both Frozen 3 and Frozen 4, and the value of those contracts is said to be north of $60 million. It's a lot of money... but can you really imagine Anna, Olaf and Elsa being voiced by anyone else? Their work as part of the deal will begin soon, as Frozen 3 has been in development since 2023 and it is currently scheduled for release on November 24, 2027 (after being delayed a year from 2026).

Jennifer Lee is set to direct Frozen 3 after she stepped down as Chief Creative Officer at Walt Disney Animation Studios last year, though not much is known about the plot of the film. At the end of Frozen II, Anna is crowned as the queen of Arrendale after Elsa decides to live her life in the enchanted forest, but we don't know what is on the horizon for the characters. At D23 Expo 2024, the first concept art for the movie was released, featuring Anna and Elsa on horseback looking at a city in the clouds while a dark figure looms... but further context for the image doesn't really exist.

Beyond their work in the Frozen movies, Kristen Bell, Josh Gad, and Idina Menzel have all kept very busy. Bell's most high-profile work of late has been on the Netflix series Nobody Wants This, which debuted its second season this fall has has been renewed for a third. Gad has recently been hard at work on Spaceballs 2 (which he is starring in and he co-wrote), and Menzel most recently played the lead in the musical Redwood on Broadway from January to May earlier this year.

By the time Frozen 3 is released, it will have been eight years since Frozen II arrived in theaters, but it will be interesting to see if these contracts signed with the franchise stars ends up accelerating development of Frozen 4 (and that may or may not end up having an impact on the story told in the second sequel). In addition to Frozen 3, Walt Disney Animation Studios is also presently developing the fantasy feature Hexed for next year.

October is coming to a close, but the spooky season is far from over. This week sees a pair of new series that are likely to send chills down your spine, along with much more family-friendly fare and the return of a fan favorite romantic comedy. There’s something for everybody this week.

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle - October 22 (Hulu)

1992’s The Hand That Rocks The Cradle was number one at the domestic box office for a month. While the remake (which sees Mary Elizabeth Winstead take over from Rebecca De Mornay) will only be available with a Hulu Subscription, we can guess that Disney hopes this film about a woman who becomes a nanny to terrorize a family she believes wronged her will be just as successful.

Lazarus - October 22 (Prime Video)

Mystery and thriller author Harlan Coben has written numerous bestsellers. In 2022, he signed a deal with Amazon, which led to a well-received adaptation of his novel Shelter. The newest project from this partnership (available with a Prime Video subscription) is Lazarus, starring Bill Nighy and Sam Claflin as a son who begins to see the dead following the apparent suicide of his father.

Nobody Wants This, Season 2 - October 23 (Netflix)

The hit romantic comedy series starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody returns for a second season as your favorite couple continues to deal with the beautiful and complicated relationship. Despite the title, it seems clear that everybody with a Netflix subscription wants this.

Weapons - October 24 (HBO Max)

A last-minute addition to this list, it was just announced this past Friday that one of the best movies of 2024 so far, Weapons, will be making its streaming debut this week. Make sure you have your HBO Max subscription ready because you won't want to miss this wild ride.

LEGO Frozen: Operations Puffins - October 24 (Disney+)

It’s still going to be a few years before fans get the long-awaited Frozen 3, but those who let it go (sorry) will have some new Frozen fun available with their Disney+ subscription in the form of the latest Disney and LEGO animated collaboration. LEGO Frozen: Operation Puffins sees the Duke of Weselton use the sea birds as an army to attack Arrendale. Several members of the Frozen voice cast, including Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, and Josh Gad, all reprise their roles.

A House of Dynamite - October 24 (Netflix)

From the director of Zero Dark Thirty comes A House of Dynamite. With a stellar cast including Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Jared Harris, and more, the new film from Kathryn Bigelow sees an apparent ICBM launch against the U.S., and the government must take what little time it has left to figure out the right way to respond, and possibly avoid the end of the world.

IT: Welcome to Derry, Season 1 - October 26 (HBO Max)

IT is considered by many to be Stephen King’s greatest work. It’s a story so big it required two films to tell the whole story. And yet, the story isn’t quite complete. From Andy Muschietti (the director of IT) comes IT: Welcome To Derry, which serves as a prequel to the films that explore the evil that came to town in the years before. Be sure to have your HBO Max subscription to check out this one.

Halloween is almost here, so we can bet that a few spooky surprises will be in store on your favorite streaming platform next week. Be sure to check back here to see what’s coming to Netflix, Disney+, and all the rest.

There may be few attractions at Walt Disney World that generate quite the conflicting emotions as Epcot’s Frozen Ever After. While the enduring popularity of Frozen as a franchise makes the dark boat ride one of the most popular attractions in the park, there are many still disappointed that the old attraction, Maelstrom, is gone. There is one thing that basically all Disney World fans agree on: the audio-animatronics are not great.

When Frozen Ever After opened less than 10 years ago, it debuted with a fairly new audio-animatronic design, one that utilized a projected character face rather than a sculpted one. In theory, this meant the face could be much more expressive, but in reality, the animatronics have always looked a little weird. Despite the facial capabilities, they’ve never looked as good as traditional animatronics, especially the newest audio-animatronics, but that’s all about to change.

Frozen Ever After Will Get New Audio-Animatronics

When World of Frozen was announced at Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland, it was revealed that each park would get a version of Frozen Ever After, and that they would use a brand new audio-animatronic design that used a traditional sculpted face. At the time, I thought the new Elsa animatronic looked incredible. Calls of “Be Fair to Florida” rang out almost immediately as fans wanted the Epcot version of the ride to get the same characters. Today, Disney Experiences announced exactly what will happen in early 2026.

This is fantastic news. You can see how much better the image directly above looks compared to the one at the top of the story. The projection-based faces on animatronics were an interesting idea. I see what Walt Disney Imagineering was thinking, but the design simply didn’t work that well in practice. It’s also been reported that maintenance on the projection faces was actually a lot more difficult than anticipated, so Imagineering may honestly be as happy as anybody that this change is happening.

Even More New Audio Animatronics Are Coming To Disney Parks

The announcement of the change to Frozen Ever After comes alongside even more great audio-animatronic news. We got the first look at the new Caluhauser figure that will be part of the brand new Walt Disney World attraction, Zootopia: Better Together, which is set to open at Disney’s Animal Kingdom next month.

We also got great news about the upcoming Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets. We already knew an audio-animatronic of Scooter would feature during the pre-show, but Disney revealed that he won’t be the only new animatronic figure in the new ride. Exactly who or what we’ll get wasn’t revealed, but I’m holding out hope that Stadler and Waldorf will insult riders prior to launch.

We also recently got a realistic audio-animatronic of Walt Disney himself at Disneyland, and a second Walt figure has been announced as part of a new pre-show to the Carousel of Progress at Magic Kingdom.

The summer movie season may be slowing down, but there’s plenty of Walt Disney Studios movies to look forward to on the 2026 movie schedule and in the years to come. Over the summer, the company had one of the biggest movies of the season with $1 billion hit Toy Story 5 and a misfire with the live-action Moana. So, what’s next for the House of Mouse? A lot was just revealed at the D23 Expo's Entertainment Showcase. You can take a look below and find out!

Before you continue, we should note that The Walt Disney Company also has a bunch more than you’ll see here. There are upcoming Marvel movies like Avengers: Doomsday on the way this holiday season and more Star Wars movies like Starfighter coming next summer. Here’s a look at everything Disney has announced for the rest of this year and all the years to come.

Whalefall

Release date: October 16, 2026

Another 20th Century Studios film, Whalefall is based on a novel by Daniel Kraus. It’s about a man scuba diving in search of his fathers remains, who is accidentally swallowed by a whale, and must find a way to escape. It stars Austin Abrams, Josh Brolin, and Elisabeth Shue and is written and helmed by Brian Duffield. You can learn the story behind how it became a movie as we wait for it.

Wild Horse Nine

Release Date: November 6, 2026

Searchlight Pictures has a black comedy starring the likes of John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi, Tom Waits and Parker Posey. It’s about two longtime CIA officers living in 1973 who get stationed in Easter Island. The movie is written and directed by In Bruges and The Banshees of Inisherin filmmaker Martin McDonagh. And, it’s coming out out just in time for awards season.

Hexed

Release Date: November 25, 2026

Announced during Disney’s Destination D23 event in August 2025, Hexed is an original story from Walt Disney Animation Studios. The original animated film follows a teenager named Billie and his “Type-A” mother who discover she has magical abilities. This discovery leads them to a world where magic can run free. Hailee Steinfeld plays Billie and Rashida Jones voices her mom, Alice. It was just announced at D23 Expo that Walton Goggins as a green three-eyed cat named Beef Roger Crumbchuck. Disney legend, Jodie Foster was also announced to be voicing her first animated role for the studio at the villain.

Behemoth!

Release Date: December 4, 2026

Pedro Pascal already leads The Mandalorian & Grogu in the Star Wars Universe and as Mr. Fantastic in the MCU, but this is something different. Behemoth! is a drama from Searchlight Pictures that follows a prolific cellist who returns to Los Angeles to compose film scores. The movie was written and directed by Tony Gilroy, who memorably helmed Rogue One and its spinoff Andor. Behemoth! also stars Olivia Wilde, Eva Victor, Will Arnett and Matthew Lillard.

Ice Age: Boiling Point

Release Date: February 5, 2027

After Blue Sky Studios shut down in 2021, there was a time when more Ice Age movies seemed out of the realm of possibility. However, when it was acquired by The Walt Disney Company as part of its acquisition of 20th Century Fox that soon changed. The new movie brings back all our favorite characters from the series: Ray Romano’s Manny, John Leguizamo’s Sid, Denis Leary’s Diego, Queen Latifah’s Ellie and Simon Pegg’s “Buck” Wild. At D23, we say a first look that included a little friend for Scrat that's gonna be a big hit for sure.

Gatto

Release Date: March 5, 2027

The upcoming original Pixar title is set in Venice and focuses on a cat named Nero who needs to pay back a debt to a feline mob boss. This leads Nero into an unlikely partnership with a street musician. It comes from the filmmaker of Luca, Enrico Casarosa. It stars Mark Ruffalo as the leading kitty, who was pitched on the movie after the filmmakers noticed his love for cats on Instagram. You can check out the first Gatto trailer as we wait for it.

Monitor

Release Date: April 30, 2027

Searchlight Pictures is known for snatching up buzzy movies at film festivals, and they did so at the 2026’s SXSW with Monitor. It’s a horror film by new Texas-based filmmakers Matt Black and Ryan Polly. Monitor follows a group of internet content moderators who accidentally unleash a demonic entity across their screens and beyond.

Beach Read

Release Date: May 7, 2027

Emily Henry has become a formidable name in romance novels, and now she’s got a bunch of adaptations of her books on the way. The next one (after Netflix’s People We Meet On Vacation) is for Beach Read from 20th Century Studios. The rom-com is about a romance novelist named January Andrews who is spending her summer in her late father’s old beach house. There, she runs into her former college rival, an acclaimed literary fiction author, Augustus Everett. As they both admit to be struggling with writer’s block, they decide to challenge each other to write a novel in the other’s specialty genre. Bridgerton’s Phoebe Dynevor will be playing January and Patrick Schwarzenegger will be Everett.

The Bluey Movie

Release Date: August 6, 2027

Bluey, the Australian animated kids show, has proven to be a hit for all ages and is regularly among the most-watched shows on Disney+. Disney will also distribute a feature-length Bluey movie in 2027 directed by the show’s creator Joe Brumm and giving the show’s beloved characters a big-screen debut. The first teaser we saw at D23 showed that the animation style will be 3D. It looks great.

The New Simpsons Movie

Release Date: September 3, 2027

20 years after their last big screen endeavor The Simpsons will once again hit the big screen thanks to Disney’s 20th Century Studios. We don’t have many details about the plot of this one yet.

Frozen III

Release Date: November 24, 2027

Frozen is too big of a phenomenon to not receive another sequel, and it’s on the way for next fall. We know the third movie will feature Anna and Kristoff having a royal wedding. Plus, a mysterious adventure will once again have Elsa using her magical abilities to save her family and kingdom. The Frozen 3 release date for November 2027. Jennifer Lee previously confirmed that the story will probably require two movies, though when we’ll see the second one has yet to be officially announced. At D23, we saw the first teaser which included a mysterious new character.

Ghost Market

Release Date: March 10, 2028

The next Pixar original after Gatto is coming in 2028 and it's the studio's first supernatural ghost story. It's about a teenager and content creator named Kyle who is "forced" to go on vacation to Hawai'i by his mom. During the trip, while on the hunt for a midnight snack, he comes across a haunted market.

Tangled

Release Date: March 31, 2028

The next live-action Disney movie is a remake of 2010 favorite, Tangled. The movie stars newcomer Teagan Croft as Rapunzel, Milo Manheim as Flynn Rider and Kathryn Hahn as Mother Gothel. It's currently being filmed on location in Spain by director Michael Gracey, who previously helmed The Greatest Showman.

Lilo & Stitch 2

Release Date: May 26, 2028

The sequel to the live action Lilo & Stitch was announced quickly after the first film's success, and the release date has already been set, indicating this movie is on the fast track. We expect to see Maia Kealoha’s Lilo, Sydney Agudong’s Nani. The voice of Stitch, Chris Sanders is not only back as Experiment 626, he’ll also direct after co-writing/directing the original movie. At D23, it was announced that the movie will introduce Angel, who is another experiment and Stitch's love interest from the animated series.

Incredibles 3

Release Date: June 16, 2028

Officially announced as being in development at D23 2024, Incredibles 3 has a summer release date which places its release at exactly a decade since the last one came out. Life moves as fast as Dash does! The movie is being penned and produced by Brad Bird, but this time he’s moving aside and leaving directing duties to Elemental’s Peter Sohn. At D23, it was announced that the movie will focus on the Parr kids and feature the return of Frozone and Edna Mode.

Clay

Release Date: November 2028

Walt Disney Animation's next original film after Hexed is called Clay. It will star Oscar winner Kieran Culkin as the titular character Clay, who becomes the mentor to a piece of Clay named Mooshy. The visuals are very whimsical and vibrant. It comes from Wish co-director Fawn Veerasunthorn.

Untitled Disney Movie

Release Date: February 16, 2029

Disney is holding this date on the release calendar for an as yet unnamed movie.

Untitled Disney Movie

Release Date: March 9, 2029

Disney is holding this date on the release calendar for an as yet unnamed movie.

Untitled Disney Movie

Release Date: May 25, 2029

Disney is holding this date on the release calendar for an as yet unnamed movie.

Untitled Disney Animation

Release Date: June 15, 2029

Disney is holding this date on the release calendar for an as yet unnamed animated movie.

Untitled Disney Movie

Release Date: August 3, 2029

Disney is holding this date on the release calendar for an as yet unnamed movie.

Untitled Disney Movie

Release Date: October 5, 2029

Disney is holding this date on the release calendar for an as yet unnamed movie.

Untitled Disney Movie

Release Date: November 9, 2029

Disney is holding this date on the release calendar for an as yet unnamed movie.

Coco 2

Release Date: November 21, 2029

Coco 2 is in development, and officially on the way for the fall of 2029, as announced at D23. The animated sequel will follow Miguel, who's now a teenager. We know that Benjamin Bratt's Ernesto de la Cruz will be coming back to get his revenge and Miguel will reunite with Mama Coco in the Land of the Dead.

Avatar 4

Release Date: December 21, 2029

James Cameron has said that parts of Avatar 4 were filmed alongside Avatar: The Way of Water and Avatar: Fire and Ash, but another massive production will need to get underway to finish out the five-movie cycle. Cameron had hinted the last two films may not actually happen, but thus far, we still expect them.

Avatar 5

Release Date: December 19, 2031

The final Avatar movie will finally arrive in 2031, assuming there are no more delays, or plans change for James Cameron.

Recent Releases

Are you looking for a recently released Walt Disney Company movie that already came out that you may have missed? Check out how you can watch the latest movies that came out within the past year below:

Now In Theaters
The Dog Stars

Now Streaming On Disney+
The Mandalorian & Grogu
The Devil Wears Prada
Orangutan
Hoppers

Now Streaming On Hulu
The Devil Wears Prada
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come
Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice
In The Blink Of An Eye

Available To Buy/Rent
Toy Story 5 (on VOD now, arrives on physical formats on September 22 & Disney+ on September 23)
Moana (on VOD now, arrives on physical formats on October 6)

One of the titles new on streaming this weekend is the stage version of Frozen, and as a huge fan of musical theatre, I’ve been really excited to check it out since it was announced to be hitting Disney+, especially after it ended back in 2020 and the West End version is closing this fall. However, I have to be honest here, it didn’t blow me away like I thought it might. Actually, I’m sort of disappointed with it.

I Was Excited To Catch The Stage Version Of Frozen On Disney+

Before I get into my big disappointment, I want to give you a bit of background on what my expectations were, because perhaps that has something to do with it. I grew up on musical theatre, and I absolutely love seeing shows on stage, and I thought in this case it would be spectacular to see a Disney movie I loved when it came out, translated into this medium. Plus, I loved it when Hamilton arrived on Disney+, and I’ve been hoping that more of their hit musicals might become available on the streamer.

However, I must also admit Frozen isn’t exactly my first choice (we all got a little bit of Frozen fatigue after its massive success, I think). There are a lot of Disney classics I’d be more likely to jump to see on the stage before getting to Frozen, but I do think it’s an iconic one from the House of Mouse. Upon watching the musical on Disney, it had a strong start, and as you might expect, the visuals and performances are solid, but about an hour in, I honestly turned it off before coming back to it later. And, I think there’s a major reason why.

But, As A Fan I'm Disappointed With The Original Songs

Now, ahead of the Frozen Broadway musical debuting in 2018, a bunch of new songs were written for it by the original songwriters of the movie, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. With that in mind, I was particularly excited to uncover these numbers for the first time while watching the stage musical. Unfortunately, the big disappointment from my end was experiencing the original songs. I’m sorry, but I found them very forgettable.

I totally see the need for them. Having a song for Hans to sing, more for Elsa (such as when she becomes queen), and such seems like a really good idea from the outside. It helps stretch out the story and make it feel more ~Broadway~ , especially if you’re shelling out a ticket to see a two-hour performance. But man, they felt like simply that. I couldn’t recite a single lyric from them after watching it, and I ended up waiting for appreciating seeing the songs I already knew more, which is not what I wanted from the experience at all!

Oh, and regarding the songs I knew already, my favorite scene in the whole movie, "For The First Time In Forever (Reprise)" was simply cut? I would have loved to see the live actresses duet and harmony with most of all, so I bummed to see them belting out a lesser song together instead.

Anyways, these are just my thoughts. I, of course, hope you enjoy it if you check it out. Sure, I could see myself liking it when I was younger, but more than anything, it made me get why maybe it’s not one of those Broadway shows that are still running after a crazy amount of time. Here's hoping the next Broadway show that is added to Disney+ isn't as much of a letdown.

Another week means another patch of hot streaming series and movies to watch while avoiding the summer heat. From prestige drama to wacky anime to documentaries on people you thought you knew, there’s a lot to watch on your favorite streaming platforms this week.

Sally - June 17 (Disney+)

Sally Ride (who Kristen Stewart will portray in an upcoming miniseries) was the first American woman in space, making her a pioneer in every sense of the term. The new documentary Sally will take a look at Ride’s life, including extensive interviews with Tam O’Shaughnessy, the woman with whom Ride secretly shared her life for nearly three decades.

The Waterfront - June 19 (Netflix)

Netflix’s new series, The Waterfront, has a lot of potential to become you’re next streaming obsession. It follows the Buckley family as they attempt to keep hold of their family’s former glory, and they decide that trafficking narcotics is the best way to do that. Created by Kevin Williamson, who is also returning to the horror franchise he pioneered as the director of Scream 7, the series also has an incredible cast that includes Mindhunter’s Holt McCallany, Maria Bello, Melissa Benoist, and more.

We Were Liars - June 19 (Prime Video)

Movies based on popular books usually draw fans but, if there’s a particular area where streaming series seem to thrive, it’s in this particular avenue. The latest adaptation of a hit book comes from E. Lockhart’s We Were Liars, the story of a young girl from a wealthy family, who revisits terrible events that happened to her one summer. If the series is a hit for those with a Prime Video subscription, there are two more where it came from.

Frozen: The Hit Broadway Musical - June 20 (Disney+)

In addition to finding incredible success turning its animated hits into live-action remakes, Disney has also found success on the stage, turning many of those same films into Broadway musicals. Those people who don’t have easy access to Broadway will be able to get a chance to have the experience, however, when a recorded version of Frozen on Broadway arrives for everybody with a Disney+ subscription.

KPop Demon Hunters - June 20 (Netflix)

If you like K-pop, anime and fantasy stories about fighting monsters (and you have a Netflix subscription), this is really the best week to be you. Netflix’s new series KPop Demon Hunters is exactly what it says on the tin. A K-pop girl group fights demons, so those demons fight back by forming their own boy band.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 - June 20 (Prime Video)

Movies based on video games are finally coming into their own after years of less-than-stellar quality. The Sonic the Hedgehog franchise has been at the front of the wave, and with the best performance yet from Jim Carrey, and the addition of Keanu Reeves, many think Sonic the Hedgehog 3 -- which is available this week with a Prime Video subscription -- is the best so far.

Next week already has one major release lined up. The newest Marvel TV comes to Disney+ with Ironheart. For more on that, and everything else hitting streaming at the end of June, come back next week.

When I was a teenage boy, nothing excited me more than what was known as a good ‘ol "catfight." You know, mud wrestling, women pulling each other by the hair... If I saw that, I was in adolescent heaven.

However, as an adult, I can’t think of anything that would turn my stomach faster. Yes, The Jerry Springer Show is my favorite talk show of all time. That said, thinking back, there were way too many episodes where women fought each other over some man. Nowadays, I think women should fight The Man! Not fight over a man.

My colleague, Sarah El-Mahmoud, wrote an excellent article about 20 great movies to watch for Women’s History Month, and some of those movies will end up on this list. However, my focus is purely on movies that highlight women supporting women, since we don’t have nearly enough of them. I have a daughter, and these are the kinds of relationships that I want her to establish. So, without further ado, 10 movies about women supporting one another.

Wicked (2024)

Based on the Broadway show of the same name (though, I much prefer the movie to the show), Wicked tells the story of Elphaba, who would later go on to be known as the Wicked Witch, and Glinda, who would later be called the Good Witch.

If you were to re-watch The Wizard of Oz, you might think that Glinda and Elphaba were enemies. However, Wicked is a re-imagining, in which Glinda and Elphaba went to school together and grew to be friends.

What I love about the story though is that they don’t start out as friends. In fact, they hate each other. Glinda only seems to care about being popular (I’m sorry, pop-Uuuu-lar), and Elphaba is more concerned with learning. However, through events that bring them together, they become the closest of friends.

I love how their friendship blossoms, as it creates a good message that even enemies can become partners.

The Marvels (2023)

Even though The Marvels didn’t kill it at the box office, it still perseveres as one of the better post-Endgame MCU films.

Acting as a sequel to both Captain Marvel and the MCU shows WandaVision and Ms. Marvel, The Marvels sees Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan banding together after their powers make them switch places every time they use them.

They need to figure out how to work together and defeat a Kree Leader who is out for revenge after Captain Marvel destabilized her home.

What I love about The Marvels is that Kamala’s hero worship of Captain Marvel disconfirms the idea that you should never meet your heroes. Yes, she learns that Danvers isn't perfect, but she also learns that she can contribute just as much as her hero whenever the time arises. Couple this with Monica Rambeau’s ability to keep them altogether, and you have a match made in grrl power heaven.

Frozen (2013)

Undoubtedly the biggest Disney animated movie in the past 20 years (though I prefer Tangled), Frozen is a film that is essentially about two sisters with wildly different ambitions.

Queen Elsa—at first, anyway—simply doesn't want to let her people down. That is, until she decides to just “let it go” and not worry about her little snow-controlling secret. Princess Anna, on the other hand, wants to get married to a man she just met.

Through a series of misadventures, Anna and Elsa grow closer than ever, and Anna comes to realize that she doesn't need a man (though, she ends up with a nice one) to feel fulfilled. She only needs the love of her sister.

Frozen is a great film about the importance of sisterhood, and I love that message for young girls and grown-up women alike.

Hidden Figures (2016)

The story of three brilliant women who work at NASA and change history, Hidden Figures doubles as both a movie about females working together, and also as one of the quintessential Black-led movies.

Based on the actual historical figures Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn, and Mary Jackson, Hidden Figures is a period piece that showcases the kinds of racist nonsense that these women had to go through just to do their jobs.

Still and all, they made it work through tenacity and intelligence, and proved their worth many times over by getting the fly boys into space at a crucial time in American history.

The film is phenomenal, because it’s a testament to the idea that women who stick together are stronger than women who work apart. Even though they all worked in separate areas of NASA, they still always came together at the end of the day, which is most important.

Thelma & Louise (1991)

The feminist buddy crime drama of the ‘90s (honestly, one of the best movies of the ‘90s, period), Thelma & Louise is the story of two friends who truly will ride or die together.

Thelma is a housewife with an abusive husband, and Louise is dating a nice (though mostly absent) musician. But, after an incident that results in murder (The bastard had it coming), the two friends go on the lam.

Along the way, they both have good times and bad, but in the end, they ultimately go out on their own terms in one of the most famous endings in cinema history.

Thelma & Louise is a masterpiece, and a story that proves that a woman’s closest ally will always be another woman.

Set It Off (1996)

Since I’m on the topic of crime dramas, Set It Off is another story of women sticking it to the man; this time as bank robbers.

Four friends band together and rob banks because society has done them dirty. They hatch elaborate robberies, getting away with them when they can.

Of course, since this is a film from the ‘90s, it all catches up to them, as four Black women couldn’t possibly get away scot-free and all drive off happily into the sunset.

That said, even with all of their inner squabbling, Set It Off is still a wonderful film about women bucking the norms and taking what they want, together, arm-in-arm.

The Woman King (2022)

Basically Black Panther's Dora Milaje, the movie, The Woman King is about women warriors who actually existed in West Africa during the 17th-19th centuries.

The story of a female general who leads other women into combat, this movie is all about what it takes to fight oppressors, especially those who align with your enemies.

The women train, kill, and survive, all in the name of protecting the kingdom.

The story, which is based on the actual Agojie, is a testament that women can do anything that men can do, and often better. Especially when they work together.

A League Of Their Own (1992)

One of my favorite films as a kid, A League of Their Own is about an all-female baseball team during World War II.

All of the players come from different walks of life, but they come together whenever they can to play a good game of baseball (while doing a split, no less!).

The men in their lives play a part, but in the end, the team is what brings them all together as a unit.

A League of Their Own is a fan-favorite because it’s funny, and the cast is great, but the theme of female teamwork making the dream work is this film’s longest-lasting legacy.

Booksmart (2019)

I envy the young women in Booksmart, who are Ivy-league bound, but also viewed as boring.

What I envy is that they are both reluctant to come out of their shells, but will do so whenever they call a “Malala,” which is their code word for following each other, no matter what trouble they may get into.

It leads them to party after party, and also to trip on hallucinogenic strawberries, because YOLO, right?

Booksmart is a story about two friends who can both be brilliant, but also bawdy and “bad.” What woman doesn’t need a good friend to “Malala” with?

Barbie (2023)

Lastly, I want to talk about Barbie, which surprised a lot of people when it debuted.

The story of the famous doll having an existential crisis and entering into the real world, Barbie’s whole society is a matriarchy, and the men (Ken dolls) basically feel worthless without the women in their lives.

When Ken learns of the patriarchy, though, the women make the men see the errors of their ways, as the matriarchy is superior (as it should be).

This is a story about identity, and womanhood, but it’s also about the positives of a female society. Long live the matriarchy!

Those are just 10 movies about women supporting women. What’s your favorite?

I have heard of some roller coasters being so thrilling that they figuratively scared the shit out of somebody, but I’ve never seen it happen literally. And yet, that’s apparently what happened recently at one of the international Disneyland parks, and in a ride that might honestly be the last ones you’d expect.

A social media post has gone viral from a guest visiting Hong Kong Disneyland who was about to get on Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs, the family coaster in the park’s recently opened World of Frozen. Luckily, they looked before they stepped because things could have been… messy.

Apparently, somebody… just… decided they couldn’t hold things any longer, and so they decided to just… let it go while on the ride itself. Needless to say this is just about the worst thing I can imagine. Now I’m going to have to thoroughly examine every theme park attraction before I get on for something I never thought I’d have to worry about.

Visiting all the Disney Parks, as well as other theme parks, outside the U.S. is something on my personal bucket list. I just so happened to recently start investigating a trip to Hong Kong Disneyland this year, as the park is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Many international Disney Parks have unique versions of classic attractions that you have to travel to in order to experience. World of Frozen was certainly on my list of things I wanted to see. While Frozen is already huge at Disney World, Hong Kong has the first of two Frozen lands, with the second currently under construction at Disneyland Paris.

I’m not sure how this happens. Even the most random and unforeseen accident that I can comprehend doesn’t bring us here. A ride like Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs is exactly the wrong sort of attraction to bring about this reaction. It’s fairly tame as roller coasters go, but it shouldn’t result in people being that relaxed.

But then on top of the mess itself happening, you have the fact that it was left on the seat and not in somebody’s clothes. I’m sure that with the massive number of children wandering around a Disney park on any given day, these sorts of accidents do happen on a fairly regular basis. Still, they should be the sort of things that parents clean up, not Disneyland Cast Members.

It’s also not an inconsequential point that World of Frozen is the newest addition to Hong Kong Disneyland. There’s no good place for this sort of thing to happen, but seeing it in the newest, and therefore the cleanest part of the park is just that little bit more painful.

We all have to share theme parks together people, so can we all do each other favor and try to keep the mess to a minimum? Nothing is going to ruin the magic quite like coming across this sort of thing.

Frozen fans have a lot to look forward to in the coming years. Last year at D23 it was confirmed that not only was Frozen 3 set for release, but Frozen 4 was on the way as well. Unfortunately for those fans, they’ll be waiting a while for these movies. Frozen 3 won’t be hitting theaters until 2027, but Josh Gad has a solid explanation as to why.

Whether or not we could see Frozen 3 any earlier, Josh Gad doesn’t mind that we won’t because he says everybody involved is taking their time with the project. Appearing on The Spotlight with Jessica Shaw (via People) Gad avoids revealing any specific details about the new movie, but says that the movie’s slow progress is all about making sure the movie lives up to its predecessors. Gad said…

It's understandable why the team behind Frozen 3, especially director by Jennifer Lee, who stepped down as the head of Disney animation to manage the franchise, will want to take its time. Animated movies tend to go through a lot of changes during production. We've heard some stories about movies like Toy Story 4 going through massive changes to find the right story. The Into the Unknown documentary showed how parts of Frozen II didn't come together until late in the process. Disney wants to make sure Frozen III has that same chance to find itself.

Frozen 3 certainly has a lot to live up to. The first film was the highest-grossing animated movie ever made when it was released. It held the title until Frozen 2 came out and overtook it. The franchise has become an absolute phenomenon for Disney, selling an incredible amount of Anna, Elsa, and Olaf merch. There’s so much Frozen at Walt Disney World that you could spend a day just doing that.

Back when Frozen 3 and Zootopia 2 were officially confirmed, the expectation was that, due to the already set release dates for upcoming Disney movies, one of them would be released in 2025, and the other would come out a year later. Zootopia 2 was later set for Disney Animation’s 2025 release date, but at D23 last August Jennifer Lee confirmed Frozen 3 for 2027, with an as-yet-unnamed original Disney animation project taking the 2026 release date.

There are certainly plenty of ways to enjoy Frozen over the next few years while you’re waiting for Frozen 3 to come out. With a Disney+ subscription, you can rewatch the first two movies, along with a couple of animated shorts and TV specials, countless times. You can also travel to Hong Kong Disneyland and experience the World of Frozen land which opened last year. Another version of the land will open at Disneyland Paris in 2026.

Have you ever found yourself watching one of the best Disney movies out there and saying, “Whoa, I did not see that coming!” Well, that’s what this list is about today – the best twists that you have probably seen from Disney, which includes the Disney film collection, Pixar movies, and even the Disney Channel. Let’s get into it.

And obviously, spoiler alert!

The Truth Behind Hector And Ernesto (Coco)

In terms of the best Pixar films, Coco ranks high on that list for me, and one of the biggest reasons is because of this fantastic twist that happens. Coco spends the entire movie thinking Ernesto is his biological father. Still, it’s revealed that it’s actually Hector and that Ernesto killed Hector by poison to steal his songs and earn fame for himself. I mean, come on. That’s a good twist.

Lightning McQueen Doesn’t Get The Piston Cup (Cars)

While I’m personally not the biggest fan of the Cars franchise, I can at least say that the twist at the end of the first Cars was spectacular. In the entire movie, we see Lightning trying to train as best he can to win the Piston Cup, and when it looks like he will, he instead turns back to help an injured car across the line and let his opponent win. Talk about a mindset change.

When Cruella Discovers Who Baroness Is To Her (Cruella)

Some Disney live-action remakes or reboots are great, and I really liked Cruella and the changes it made to the iconic Disney villain’s story. In this live-action film, Cruella finds out her biological mother is the person she’s been trying to impress – and then takes it upon herself to try and beat her in the fashion industry.

The Mayor Is Behind It All (Halloweentown)

Disney Channel movies can sometimes be corny, but every once in a while, you’ll get a twist that shakes you to your core, and that was in Halloweentown. The entire city had been under some strange evil force, causing people to turn to mean, but it turns out it was the mayor who was trying to gain more power the whole time.

Hans’ Truth To Anna (Frozen)

I think we all know that Hans’ quote – “Oh, Anna, if only there were someone out there who loved you.” – is pretty much one of the biggest line drops of Frozen. We’ve been watching Hans the entire movie, thinking he’s the perfect prince for Anna, and then he pulls this out from under us, saying that it was all a ploy.

King Triton Lets Ariel Be With Prince Eric (The Little Mermaid)

I know that The Little Mermaid is part of the Disney Renaissance, which usually means that most of those princesses got their happy endings, but it still shocked me that Triton let Ariel be with Eric in a twisty way. If anything, I thought Triton would be more inclined to keep his daughter close to him after what happens, but he lets her go to Eric—which is sweet but also surprising.

Quasimodo Doesn’t Get The Girl (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)

You might wonder why I put this here, and really, it’s because it defies the Disney formula. Quasimodo is the hero of The Hunchback of Notre Dame and is clearly interested in Esmerelda. It seems set up for a happy ending, but instead, Disney decides to give her to someone different, leaving Quasi all alone, which is actually a pretty surprising and sad twist.

When It’s Revealed Who Syndrome Really Is (Incredibles)

Incredibles is hands down one of the best Pixar movies out there. While I could go on forever about how amazing the movie is, I think this twist is one of the best—when we find out that the villain they are facing is the same little boy Mr. Incredible shunned years ago. That’s the epitome of karma biting back.

Meg Sacrifices Herself (Hercules)

Hercules is an underrated Pixar film, so I’m not sure how many people remember this twist. Meg tries to save Hercules during a battle but ends up dying from her injuries. However, it was all to push him out of the way of a falling pillar. While the ending leads to them being together, Meg sacrificing her life for Hercules was not something anyone expected.

Eugene Cutting Off Rapunzel’s Hair (Tangled)

Tangled is undoubtedly one of the best 2000-2010 Disney movies, and the most significant part of it is when Eugene sacrifices his life for Rapunzel to be free of Mother Gothal. It seems Rapunzel will be able to heal him in order for him to live and for her to go with Gothal, but he suddenly lunges up and cuts her hair at the last second to make sure Gothal can never use her again.

Thantos Controls The Darkness (Twitches)

While this reveal comes pretty early in the Twitches film, it’s still surprising. The Darkness is pretty much the villain that these two witches must take on, an evil entity that is killing people, but they find out soon enough that it’s actually their Uncle Thantos who is controlling it for the sake of finding power.

Vanelleope Stays Behind (Ralph Breaks The Internet)

After finding her place in Wreck-It Ralph, it was shocking that Vanelleope decided to find her own path in Ralph Breaks the Internet. While there was an option for her to come back to the arcade at the end of the movie, she chose to stay online with Slaughter Race.

Bowler Hat Guy’s True Identity (Meet The Robinsons)

Meet the Robinsons is such an underrated Disney film, and I think it gets a bad rep for the earlier usage of CGI. The twist is even better—for the entire movie, Bowler Hat Guy is the main villain we follow, but later, we find out that he’s the older version of Lewis’ roommate, Goob, meaning that he was created from Lewis’ interactions with the younger version.

Hades Is Mal’s Father (Descendents 3)

All right, so Descendents 3 is undoubtedly the least-best Descendents movie, but I will say that the fact that we find out Mal’s father is Hades of all people is something I never expected. I mean, her mother is Maleficent, and somehow, she was procreated by someone like the God of the Underworld. How does that even happen?

When We See What Kind Of True Love Is Needed (Frozen)

I think, at the time, the idea that true love doesn’t need to be romantic but can also be familial was an excellent way for Disney to step into the 21st century. I will say, however, that I do miss the days of an evil villain and a romance to root for. Even so, there is no denying that the twist of Elsa and Anna saving each other through sisterly love is a great one.

Stinky Pete Is Actually The Villain (Toy Story 2)

Many regarded Toy Story 2 as one of the best Pixar movies – that is until the third one came around. And there are plenty of great reasons for that. But one of the biggest is the twist villain. Out of all the bad things happening to Woody, none of us ever would have expected it had something to do with Stinky Pete – but it’s revealed towards the end that he planned everything.

That Mike Won The Scare Competition Because Of Sully (Monsters University)

As someone who was genuinely rooting for Mike to win that scare competition, this twist broke my heart. When Mike and Sully are conversing after their win in the scare competition, he fake tries to scare the dummy there, only for the meter to charge up completely. He snaps his fingers, and it does the same thing. Then, after that, he looks under the bed and finds the machine has been tampered with – that Sully cheated to make sure they’d win. So sad.

Troy Decides To Follow Both Passions (High School Musical 3: Senior Year)

Okay, I still love all of the High School Musical movies. Still, one of the funniest and best moments was this twist – where the entirety of the third movie was Troy trying to figure out what to do in college, and then he realized at the end, “Oh wait, I can do both theatre and basketball,” Wow, who would have thought? I think it just shocks me because it’s such a simple solution.

Callaghan’s True Intentions (Big Hero 6)

I feel like so many people forget about Big Hero 6 so often because it came out post-Frozen, and people were still riding Elsa’s ice powers and all that. But Big Hero 6 is a great superhero movie with a great villain twist when Callaghan reveals he’s the man who has been making a mess of everything and blew up the lab Tadashi was in because he wants revenge for losing his daughter in an experiment.

Charles Is Actually Evil (Up)

Up is one of those films that the moment you watch it, you probably will end up crying and feeling all kinds of things, but you never expect a twist so dark as this one. Charles Muntz was an idol of Carl’s, and when he finds out that Charles is actually a horrible person who is enslaving dogs to try and hunt down an age-old bird that Carl and Russell have taken a liking to, it causes nothing but trouble and pain.

The Waternoose Expose (Monsters Inc.)

I think everyone my age was terrified of Waternoose in Monsters Inc., but one of the biggest things that ended up being the best twist ever was how Sully somehow lured him into a scare simulation room and got him to reveal the entire conspiracy that he was doing to keep this company going—before the conversation is recorded and shown to the CDA. Beautiful, no notes.

Mason Reveals His Feelings For Juliette (Wizards Of Waverly Place)

As someone who stands by the fact that Wizards of Waverly Place is just as good as an adult, I believe this scene is still dramatic. Out of nowhere, Mason, who is a werewolf, sees his former flame Juliette for the first time in several years, and he openly admits in front of his girlfriend, Alex, that he has never stopped loving her. WHAT? As a child, this was the most shocking twist in the world for me.

King Candy’s True Identity (Wreck-It-Ralph)

Personally, I think Wreck-It Ralph is way better than the sequel, and this twist is just proof of that. King Candy seemed like a nice guy for the majority of this movie, but towards the end, we find out he is the one responsible for the messed-up code and that he is also Turbo, the character who was knocked out of his own game. It’s a huge twist.

Lotso Is Not A Nice Bear (Toy Story 3)

Another excellent example of a twist straight from the beginning is Lotso in Toy Story 3. I mean, how could a teddy bear who smells like strawberries be bad? But it turns out Lotso is king of the daycare, and if the toys don’t follow what he says, well, that’s too dang bad. It’s a toy again, toy, once again.

When It’s Revealed Who Screen Slaver Really Is (Incredibles 2)

While there are plenty of people who say that Incredibles 2 isn’t as incredible as the first, I’ll be honest and say I still enjoy the heck out of it, and I seriously love this twist. Finding out Evelyn, who has been working alongside Elastagirl this whole time, is actually the person behind everything, which is a great twist. I wish it had been executed a little better in the back half, but the twist itself is excellent.

Jake Reveals His True Feelings About Miley (Hannah Montana)

Okay, okay, don’t you remember when there were all these love triangles in Hannah Montana? I think everyone and their mother gasped when the celebrity, Jake Ryan, fully expressed his feelings for Miley Stewart on national television – not Hannah, her alter ego, but Miley. Like, stop. My heart.

When We Find Out Who Te Fiti Is (Moana)

As someone who has rewatched Moana, I find this twist to be beautiful inside and out. Moana has sailed the entire ocean to restore the heart of Te Fiti, an island, only to find out that Te Ka is actually Te Fiti – just a cold and cruel version who doesn’t have her heart anymore and is instantly turned into a green island once Moana restores it. Amazing.

Dawn Bellwether Is Actually An Evil Genius (Zootopia)

I still can’t help but snicker at this twist. In the entire movie, Mayor Bellwether is this sheep who doesn’t seem like she’s the person behind the animals going rogue, but it turns out she is—a sheep who wanted to gain more power and decided to take out predators to do that.

Bing-Bong’s Fate (Inside Out)

When Bing-Bong died, America mourned, and I did as well. In Inside Out, we see Bing-Bong, a forgotten imaginary friend of Riley’s who travels with Joy and gets stuck with her in Riley’s subconscious. Still, in order to get Joy out, he sacrifices himself by throwing him off their little rocket so Riley can be happy again – even if he gets forgotten. Ugh. Stop.

Maleficent Isn’t As Evil As Everyone Paints Her To Be (Maleficent)

I have to say that for live-action Disney villains, Angelina Jolie knocks it out of the park as Maleficent, and finding out her story in this really is the big twist we all didn’t expect. In this version, Maleficent wasn’t born evil – she was the victim of a cruel society and jokes that slowly tore her down into the woman she became later. That’s a great way to take her story.

When We Find Out Who Mor’du Really Is (Brave)

It felt like Mor’du wasn’t really that intense of a villain in Brave, considering he was just a demon bear. Still, it turns out he’s NOT just a demon bear – Mor’du is actually the prince from an old family legend who was turned into a demon bear after not following his father’s wishes.

Woody Wants To Stay Behind (Toy Story 4)

You know, I still wonder about this twist. Woody, for nearly every Toy Story movie, has always been about staying together, staying with his human, the entire time. But, at the end of Toy Story 4, he decides to become a free toy and stay with Bo-Peep while the others leave him behind. It’s a surprising twist, nonetheless.

These are just some of my favorite Disney twists, and now I want to rewatch them all to see if I can spot them early on. I think it’s time for another movie marathon.

If there is one thing to know about Kristen Bell, it’s that she’s not a regular mom. She’s a cool mom…who also happens to be a really famous actress. If you ask me, that makes her even cooler, especially given her most recent project Nobody Wants This has been renewed for a Season 2 and boasts a 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While her Netflix series is a bit mature for her 11 and 9-year-old daughters, her other super cool project, the Frozen movies, in which Bell voices the main character Anna, should impress them, right? Unfortunately for the Veronica Mars star, this is not quite the case.

Frozen 3 was announced last year among a number of other Disney sequels, but the chances of Kristen Bell’s kids liking this third installment are still slim. The Forgetting Sarah Marshall actress has admitted many times over the years that her two daughters have always unfortunately not fans of the Disney princess films. Now older, they still have not let it go. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, the Bad Moms actress says they have gained some appreciation for the films, although it’s probably not how you’d expect, as she said:

Well, it seems Bell’s kids definitely inherited her humor and honesty! If there is one thing I love about The Good Place star and her husband Dax Shepard, it's how vulnerable and hilariously honest they are when it comes to their personal lives. Sometimes it’s about more serious things, like having to go to couples therapy, but most of the time they're sharing silly stories about how their kids surprisingly outwit them.

It’s not for show either. While filming Frozen 2, the voice of Gossip Girl said she channeled a lot of her own experiences with depression into her character Anna’s own struggles. In fact, it seems Kristen Bell had a huge hand in shaping the Disney princess. For example, in the TikTok below, she explains her one request when agreeing to voice Anna was that she not be perfect like so many princesses before her. She’s just a regular girl, who snores, is clumsy, and likes to build snowmen.

Seems to me Kristen Bell’s characters always seem to mirror some of her own qualities, specifically her quick wit. Why wouldn’t her kids love that?! Therefore, I think the You Again performer might be onto something with this theory about her children just being stubborn.

I hope she knows that even though her kiddos may not be interested in Frozen, I very much am a part of her loyal fanbase. Some people might be skeptical about Frozen 3, but I for one am very excited for an Anna and Kristoff reunion. However, I am curious where this next movie will take us, given Bell previously said the movies should mature with the characters.

What we do know about Frozen 3 is Anna has accepted the crown and Kristoff’s proposal. Perhaps we will see them adopt a snow dog? Maybe it’s a good thing I’m not writing this, but I look forward to finding out more details about Anna and Elsa's next story soon.

Until then, be sure to check out one of the best shows on our 2024 TV Schedule, Nobody Wants This, starring 2000s teen dramedy icons Kristen Bell and Adam Brody, with a Netflix subscription. Of course, if you are in need of a good sing-along too, and you love Anna and Elsa more and Bell's kids, both Frozen movies are always available with a Disney+ subscription.

As Dylan O’Brien is getting ready for the world to see his take on Dan Aykroyd in Saturday Night, which will be released on the 2024 movie schedule in a few weeks, it’s been revealed that the actor once had “hopes” of joining another iconic (yet totally different) ensemble, the Frozen II cast. However, as he hilariously shared, he realized pretty quickly that he did not have what it takes to play a citizen of Arendelle.

O’Brien did not say who he auditioned for, but my instinct tells me he must have auditioned for a later cut character. That's because, in the 2019 movie, only the original cast sang songs in the soundtrack. Here’s what he had to say about what happened during an appearance on Late Night:

Hey, to even be called into Walt Disney Animation to be considered is a rather big honor, isn’t it?

However, O’Brien went into the audition without feeling strongly about his singing skills, and it backfired on him, as you can imagine. With that in mind, he continued his story with a lightness about the whole thing:

It sounds like it was a rather awkward moment for Dylan O’Brien, but perhaps it was all worth it since it makes such a good story, as he also shared:

As I mentioned, O’Brien told the story while on a segment of Late Night With Seth Meyers promoting his new movie, Saturday Night, You can watch the clip below:

While there’s definitely some vulnerable embarrassment about that story, Dylan O’Brien also said that he only remembers it “fondly.” It sounds like one of those instances of an actor trying something out of their comfort zone and it just not being the right fit for them. Props to him for trying!

Hey, perhaps he has another chance on Frozen 3 or 4 if he’d like to go through the pain again? Walt Disney Animation is currently developing another sequel for the Disney princess franchise that has proved to be one of the House of Mouse’s biggest titles ever. Jennifer Lee is set to write and direct the third movie. And no, we don’t know the Frozen 3 release date yet, but we’ll definitely keep you posted with all updates we hear about the movie.

However, when it comes to Dylan O'Brien, rather than holding out hope that he might become a Disney character, you can see him in Saturday Night when it hits theaters on October 11. While the actor has shared that he “did not do a lot of prep” to portray Dan Aykroyd in it, critics have been loving the comedy and his performance in it, showing that he's a man of many talents. However, it sounds like singing isn't one of them.

For many of us, the sound of Disney songs brings in an instant air of nostalgia for our childhoods. And when you look back at the best Disney animated movies (along with some live-action and Pixar) from the House of Mouse’s one-hundred-year history, there are a ton of genuinely hilarious song lyrics. Check out which funny bars from Disney movies we chuckle to whilst singing along.

“Try the grey stuff, it's delicious. Don't believe me? Ask the dishes.“

One of the most charismatic Disney characters has to be Beauty and the Beast’s Lumiere, and he definitely shines the brightest (pun intended) during his solo song “Be Our Guest.” Lyricist Howard Ashman was clearly having a blast imagining what a talking candlestick would say. The lyric that gets us every time is when he asks Belle to try the “grey stuff” before pointing to the dishes as references. It’s so clever and fun.

"I'm in the mood to help you, dude."

Aladdin is one of Robin Williams' best movies, especially for what the actor brought to the character of Genie. In his show-stopping song, “Friend Like Me,” it’s a blast to see Williams’ ancient character blend together elements from Middle Eastern culture of the time with more modern phrases. A funny instance of that is when he literally calls Aladdin “dude.”

"Go ahead, get trampled by a rhino..."

In Disney’s Rapunzel adaptation, her captor is super evil, but one cannot help but love how hilarious Mother Gothel is, either. In her song “Mother Knows Best,” where she reiterates to Rapunzel why she should not leave her tower, it’s rather comical for the audience to hear the random ways she incites fear into the lost princess – especially with this rhino line.

"And, it hurt that my friends never stood downwind!"

Disney songs love wordplay, and “Hakuna Matata” has a hilarious one from Pumbaa. During the song, Pumbaa’s backstory is basically that he is super gassy and felt super embarrassed about it. However, with the phrase of the song, he’s able to embrace himself, smells and all. With that, this line uses “downwind” to have two meanings.

"Don’t know if I’m elated or gassy, but I’m somewhere in that zone.”

When it comes to all the Disney Princess movies, Frozen is definitely high on the list, and much of that has to do with how grounded and real Anna and Elsa feel. While other princesses are so dainty and graceful, Anna sings basically everything that comes into her brain, and in this line in “First Time In Forever,” she’s able to convey her stress about the Coronation in a relatable way.

"There's children throwing snowballs, instead of throwing heads. They're busy building toys, and absolutely no one's dead.”

In The Nightmare Before Christmas, Tim Burton’s concept allows Jack Skellington to experience Christmas for the first time after living his life as the King of Halloween Town. While the lyrics are absolutely true to Jack’s experience when he is singing them in “What’s This?” it is very funny to hear a character announce that no one’s dead or being thrown – and it’s a revelation to him.

"So, you wanna be a hero, kid? Well, whoop-de-do."

Danny DeVito is so great as an old satyr named Philoctetes in Hercules, that it’s no wonder Disney fans really want to see him in the live-action Disney remake! One rather comical moment of his comes from his song “One Last Hope” when he injects some sarcasm into the opening line. It’s a solid way for Phil to comment about his past experiences training heroes, and it's fun to recite with him.

"Cleaning crud up in the kitchen as we sing along!"

Enchanted was an excellent addition to Disney movies because of how candidly it satirized the studio’s clichés over the years. This is especially put on display when Giselle sings “Happy Working Song” by going into detail about all the tidying up she is doing in her new live-action setting. It’s not quite as magical as in her animated land, that’s for sure!

"Don't underestimate the importance of body language, ha!"

During The Little Mermaid’s “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” the deliciously evil villain of Ursula successfully convinces young and naive Ariel to give the sea witch her voice in exchange for a spell that will give her legs. One funny line, especially for the delivery, is when Ursula suggests she uses “body language” while dancing rather playfully.

"I'd rather be called deadly for my killer show-tune medley. Thank you!"

After Rapunzel leaves her tower for the first time in Tangled, it’s fun to see her end up at a pub called “The Snuggly Duckling” full of ruffians. Her presence inspires the criminals to break into song for “I Have A Dream” to share their innermost desires. One great line is when one shady character shares that he’s secretly a pianist who wishes he was recognized for his talents. It’s sweet, too.

“We finish each other's…" "Sandwiches.”

During the first act of Frozen, Anna falls quickly for Prince Hans and they sing a duet called “Love Is An Open Door.” In one moment of the song, Hans says it’s crazy that they “finish each other’s” before Anna interrupts with “sandwiches.” Usually, that line would be “sentences,” but Anna’s quirky way changes things – made even better by him following up that with “that’s what I was going to say!"

“Winter's a good time to stay in and cuddle, but put me in summer and I'll be a... happy snowman”

Frozen was very clever to invent a snowman character who dreams of the summertime and actually devotes an entire song to his dreams around being in the season. It’s kind of a fun dark song because Olaf would technically melt if he was around in those weather conditions. This is played to directly when he says a line that rhymes with “puddle” and looks at one before going into a completely different direction lyrically.

"It just occurred to me that I'm illiterate and I've never actually had to spell it out loud before…”

While the live-action Beauty and the Beast is rather similar to the original animated version overall, Josh Gad’s LeFou brought some additional comedy to the song “Gaston.” He points out he’s illiterate while attempting to spell out Gaston’s name during the tune and it deserves the extra chuckle not found in the '90s original.

"These guys don't appreciate I'm broke."

In Aladdin, “One Jump Ahead” helps introduce Aladdin as a young man on the streets of Agrabah who steals in order to survive. The action-packed song is full of visual gags, but one line delivery that’s funny and relatable to some of us is how he casually says the law enforcement after him just doesn’t appreciate that he’s “broke.” What a mindset!

"Oh I wouldn't climb this tree, if a Pooh flew like a bee. But I wouldn't be a bear then, so I guess I wouldn't care then."

Winnie The Pooh is such a funny guy as is, so it’s no surprise he has his own song to match that energy. In the Sherman Brothers song “Rumbly In My Tummy,” Pooh laments on being all sorts of hungry which he hopes to grab from a honey tree. In a sweet line, Pooh thinks about if he was a bee he could fly up the tree he’s climbing, but then he would no longer be a bear, wouldn’t he?

“Hey! What has two thumbs and pulled up the sky when you were waddling yay high? This guy!”

Maui is a charismatic demigod who tells his story to Moana in “You’re Welcome.” One particularly funny line that Lin-Manuel Miranda cooked up for the lyrics was this one above that has Dwayne Johnson basically rapping in the best way.

"You say put them on your head. Ay, mi amor! Ay, mi amor!”

In Coco, Miguel sings the very catchy tune “Un Poco Loco” while trying to win a contest to go to Ernesto de la Cruz’s concert. Unlike many Disney songs, this one translates to “a little crazy” and is rather random to the narrative itself. The song speaks to how love can make one crazy, by basically saying one’s love tells him the sky is red and he should put his shoes on his head.

"You telling this story, or am I?"

Encanto’s “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” became the biggest hit of the 2021 movie, even though Lin-Manuel Miranda called the big hit the “least likely candidate for breakout success possible.” The whole song is a fun time, but especially when Mirábel’s uncle and aunt are trying to tell her Bruno’s backstory and fight over who is telling the story!

"'Cause when you're older, absolutely everything makes sense!"

After Olaf went viral for being the sweetest talking snowman in Arendelle, he gets another solo in Frozen 2. In the song “When I Am Older,” Olaf talks about his excitement for understanding more things when he grows up more and experiences life further. However, with lines such as this one, adults will especially chuckle because being older doesn’t necessarily amount to things in the world finally making any “sense.”

“What do they got, a lot of sand? We got a hot crustacean band.”

Sebastian the Crab is such a lively character in The Little Mermaid, even if it takes him some time to come around to Ariel’s dreams of being human. This is most apparent in his song “Under The Sea” when Sebastian brings together tons of talented sea creatures to show her that there’s a lot to love as one of them. Sure, it doesn’t work on Ariel, but they make a good case for it.

“Honey, you mean Hunk-ules!”

The Muses in Hercules help tell the story of the Greek hero with a lot of soul and sass. In “The Gospel Truth,” the muses kind of break the fourth wall to showcase how they find the hero attractive by calling him “Hunk-ules” rather than “Hercules,” and it’s an unforgettable part of the song.

"There's only she who is beautiful as me. So, I'm making plans to woo and marry Belle."

At the beginning of Beauty and the Beast, the setting and its characters are established with the ensemble song “Belle.” During the song, Gaston is introduced in a straightforward way by sharing his goals with these lines. There’s also something quite hilarious about Gaston referring to himself as “beautiful.”

“You’re not a voice, you’re just a ringing in my ear. And, if I heard you, which I don’t.”

At the beginning of Frozen 2, Elsa starts to hear a voice calling to her. While she’s singing about it in “Into The Unknown,” the songwriters found a witty way to communicate how she’s denying the voice calling to her with this line, which is also just well executed lyrically.

"It's genetics! Yeah, I got these genes from outer space. Peep the name, I'm magnificent!"

When Chris Pine was cast as Disney’s latest villain in Wish, he was “geeking out” about the process of getting to sing songs in an animated movie from the House of Mouse. In his big villain song, “This Is The Thanks I Get?!” Pine’s character of King Magnifico shows off his charm and sense of humor by commenting on his good looks.

I’m just a punky little eyeball, and a funky optic nerve.”

Not every Pixar movie has original songs, but Monsters Inc. does in the form of a duet between John Goodman’s Sully and Billy Crystal’s Mike Waskowski. The song “If I Didn’t Have You” is funny from beginning to end as the friends quip with each other about their friendship, but this line from Mike is especially a great line.

”I love to laugh, it’s getting worse every year.”

Laughing isn’t a “condition” typically, but in the case of 1964’s Mary Poppins, it is for Ed Wynn’s Uncle Albert, who starts floating in the air when he starts laughing uncontrollably. In the song “I Love To Laugh,” it’s simply comical to see this concept come to life as Albert sings (through his laughter) how it’s getting “worse every year.”

“This child is getting wildly out of wing.”

In The Lion King’s “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King,” Simba shares his excitement about being the ruler of Pride Rock someday. However, his majordomo, Zazu, is not impressed with the song. In a great pun moment from the ‘90s hit, he says Simba is getting wildly “out of wing” rather than “out of hand” – because he’s a bird.

”I’m the king of the swingers. Oh, the jungle VIP.”

In 1967’s The Jungle Book, “I Wan'na Be Like You” an orangutan named King Louie attempts to entice Mowgli to teach him about the ways of being human with him. The character voiced by jazz and swing singer Louis Prima makes a great joke about playing a monkey and the genre of the song by calling himself the “king of the swingers.”

"His assets frozen, the venue chosen is the ends of the earth, whoopee! So long, ex-Prince Ali!"

Aladdin’s Jafar is a rather comical villain, even though he’s terrifying as well. In the reprise for “Prince Ali,” which comes at a time when his evil plans are coming together, he uses his cleverness to roast Aladdin as he grabs the Genie lamp for himself and asks to become a sorcerer himself.

“Now when you pick a pawpaw, or a prickly pear…”

This is one of those lyrics that is just funny to say and leaves the tongue tingly. In The Bare Necessities, Baloo the Bear teaches Mowgli his motto for life, which includes how he picks his fruit in a long line full of alliteration.

"Are ya achin' (yup, yup, yup), for some bacon? (Yup, yup, yup.)"

Near the end of The Lion King, Timon and Pumbaa assist Simba in foiling Scar by the art of distraction. They do so by crafting up a hilarious Luau song where they use Pumbaa as bait. It will never not be a funny sequence in The Lion King.

"Who can make up these endless refrains like Gaston?"

Beauty and the Beast’s “Gaston” sequence is loads of fun as LeFou sings about his muscled-up mate in a pub full of people who worship him. One funny bit is when LeFou kind of comments on how they are singing a lot about Gaston by saying he makes up “endless refrains."

Frozen fans already had a lot to look forward to with Frozen 3 recently getting a release date in 2027 and the confirmation that Frozen 4 is also in development. However, one big question was just who would direct the new Frozen films. Jennifer Lee had indicated that her duties as Chief Creative Officer at Walt Disney Animation Studios meant she wouldn’t be able to do it. But apparently, when forced to choose between running the studio and Frozen, Lee has chosen Anna and Elsa.

In a huge and completely unexpected movie, Disney has announced that effective immediately Jennifer Lee is stepping down as CCO of Walt Disney Animation Studios. She will return to filmmaking as the writer and director of Frozen 3 and will co-write Frozen 4. In her place will be Disney Animation veteran Jared Bush, the director of Encanto and Zootopia who has been part of Disney’s Creative Leadership team for many years.

Jennifer Lee’s Return To The Frozen Franchise Is Great News For Fans

This is great news if you’re a fan of Frozen. While there may have been others quite capable of making great Frozen movies, the franchise was created by Jennifer Lee, so the fact that she’ll be returning to the franchise is exciting. Anna and Elsa are in the best hands they could possibly be in.

Lee will essentially run the Frozen franchise going forward, which has grown far beyond films in recent years. World of Frozen opened at Hong Kong Disneyland last year and a second version of the land is set to open at Disneyland Paris in 2026.

Lee took over as CCO of Disney Animation in 2017 following the unceremonious exit of John Lasseter from the post following allegations of misconduct within the company. For the first two years, she split her time between that role and the director of Frozen II. Once the movie was released Lee focused full-time on the CCO role.

Lee is quoted in the announcement from Disney that the decision to step down was hers, but CEO Bob Iger and Disney Studios chief Alan Bergman supported the decision. It’s not surprising that they would. Frozen is a massively important franchise to Disney, and any step that’s going to help ensure that the upcoming Frozen sequels succeed is good news.

Disney Animation’s New CCO Takes Over At A Key Time

Frozen II was the last big hit that Disney Animation had. The pandemic would follow shortly after its release. Raya and the Last Dragon was released while many theaters were still closed. Encanto, Strange World, and Wish were all disappointments at the box office, though Encanto would find new life on Disney+.

Jared Bush now finds himself in a similar situation that Lee was in when she took on the CCO role. Bush is directing Zootopia 2 which will hit theaters in November 2025. He’ll have to take on his new executive roles while still shepherding the film through its completion. Considering the first Zootopia's billion-dollar box office, a lot is riding on the sequel as well as Moana 2 which will hit theaters this November.

Disney has created some of the greatest characters in movie history. The Disney Princesses are a brand unto themselves and Disney Villains include some of the most iconic characters ever conceived. However, there are also those other characters. Sometimes the characters you remember most coming out of the best animated Disney movies aren't the heroes or the villains.

Sometimes the character that steals a scene, or even an entire movie, are the sidekicks. Sometimes it's the characters that are barely in the movie at all, but are so memorable in their few moments of screen time that you want to see an entirely new movie based on them. Here are some of the best Disney side characters who have stolen scenes in our favorite films.

The Genie - Aladdin

There may be no Disney character who stole the show, who was designed to steal the show, like Aladdin's Genie. Voiced by the incomparable Robin Williams, the Genie owns every scene he's in even though the movie is never really about him.

Sebastian - The Little Mermaid

There's no better way to steal a scene in an animated Disney movie than with a great song, and Sebastian gets a great one in The Little Mermaid. "Under the Sea" won the Oscar for Best Original Song in 1990 and it's not hard to see why. Considering songwriter Howard Ashman specifically designed Sebastian with a Jamaican accent so that he could write a calypso song, clearly he knew this little crab would be one of the highlights of the film.

HeiHei - Moana

It takes a certain skill to steal a scene when you can't actually speak, and yet Moana's chicken HeiHei is somehow able to do exactly that. Alan Tudyk's great voice acting (voice clucking?) combined with perfect animation make Heihei unforgettable. It's a good thing Maui didn't eat him or we would have been robbed of some hilarious moments.

Maximus -Tangled

From sword-fighting Flynn Rider to breaking him out of prison, few horses are quite as capable as Maximus. Not simply a mount for the captain of the guard, Maximus himself ultimately becomes the captain of the guard, which is only fitting considering his importance. This horse deserves all the apples.

Kronk - The Emperor's New Groove

The Emperor's New Groove is one of Disney's funniest movies, and Kronk is absolutely the funniest part of it. The sidekick to villain Yzma, Kronk is big and dumb but it's impossible not to love him. He's just so earnest, and he tries so hard, how can you not love Kronk?

Lumiere - Beauty And The Beast

Even as a candelabra, there's something irresistible about Lumiere. Nothing phases him and he can get an entire dining room dancing. He's always sure that everything will work out in Beauty and the Beast, and he does eventually turn out to be right. Clearly, he knew something the rest of us did not.

Mr. Pleakly - Lilo & Stitch

Mr. Pleakly is the last alien who should be sent after experiment 626, but he certainly does give it his all in attempting to recapture the mischievous monster. From his numerous costume changes to his perpetual fear of basically everything, Pleakly is the perfect comic sidekick.

Rutt And Tuke - Brother Bear

Rutt and Tuke are minor characters in Brother Bear but of course, they steal every scene they're in. Why? They're voiced by Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas, and are basically just animated versions of The McKenzie Brothers, the hilariously Canadian duo of SCTV fame that the two played in live-action. Their appearance is almost more of an easter egg than anything else, but it's a welcome one.

Louis - The Princess And The Frog

Louis is a friendly alligator who plays the trumpet in a movie where jazz music plays a pivotal role. Of course, he's going to steal the show. He leads one of the best songs and gets some of the best jokes in The Princess and the Frog.

Vincenzo “Vinny” Santorini - Atlantis: The Lost Empire

Atlantis: The Lost Empire isn't a movie that a lot of people remember, but it had an incredible voice cast including Michael J. Fox, James Garner, and Leonard Nimoy. However, the character you likely remember most is explosives expert Vinny Santorini, who was voiced by Don Novello, best known for his character Father Guido Sarducci who would appear on SNL from time to time. Vinny is a simple man who just wants to blow things up. Is that too much to ask?

Tigger - The Many Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is made up of three different stories, one of which doesn't even include the character of Tigger. And yet, today most people don't even realize that there was a time when there was no Tigger in Disney's Winnie the Pooh. He basically takes over the movie from the title bear from the moment he arrives and never gives it back.

Cheshire Cat - Alice In Wonderland

Wonderland is a strange place full of all sorts of strange characters, but the Cheshire Cat may be one of the weirdest of them all and one of the few who seems well aware of how strange he is. This makes him instantly memorable.

Scuttle - The Little Mermaid

Buddy Hackett was a great comic talent and he brings that incredible ability to the role of Scuttle in The Little Mermaid perfectly. The seagull's cluelessness is quite endearing, making every moment the bird is on screen hilarious.

Valentino - Wish

Alan Tudyk has voiced numerous Disney characters over the last several years, but one of his best is also one of his most recent. Valentino, the goat who gains the ability to speak in Wish does not let his new gift go to waste. He embraces his new speech and every line he speaks is another scene-stealing moment.

Rhino - Bolt

Disney movies teach us that we can do anything and one has to assume that Rhino, the hamster stuck in a ball from Bolt has seen more than his share of Disney movies. Rhino never lets his small stature stand in the way of whatever he believes he can accomplish, and while what he believes he can do is a great deal more than what's actually possible, you have to love the enthusiasm.

Archimedes - The Sword In The Stone

Sometimes in the middle of a bright and happy Disney movie, what you need is an angry curmudgeon who has no patience for any of it. That's the owl Archimedes in The Sword in the Stone. He doesn't like anybody or anything, and honestly, we've all been there.

Iago - Alddin

Voiced by the great Gilbert Gottfried it's literally impossible for Iago not to steal any scene he's in. How could you possibly ignore that voice? Still, Iago is hilariously fun with his endlessly sarcastic quips.

Sgt. Calhoun - Wreck-It Ralph

Most of Wreck-It Ralph takes place inside bright and colorful video games where the characters are all pretty laid back and fun. And then there's Sgt. Calhoun, the no-nonsense hardcore leader of Hero's Duty. She's so different than everything else in the movie that she instantly draws your attention whenever she's on screen.

Meg - Hercules

Oh all Disney heroines, Megara is one of the most overlooked. While she does eventually need rescuing from the hero, she never asks for help and spends a not insignificant amount of her time making fun of Hercules. She's such a shift from what we're used to it that you can't help but want more.

Allan-a-Dale - Robin Hood

Robin Hood isn't one of Disney's musicals, but it still has some great music thanks to Alan-A-Dale, the rooster minstrel voiced by the late great Roger Miller. He's the narrator of our story, but more than once his music becomes the story.

Boun - Raya And The Last Dragon

Raya and the Last Dragon is not lacking for memorable side characters, they're all quite impressive, but restaurant owner Boun, a kid pretending to be a businessman is the best of them. He commands the screen when he's being hilarious as much as when he's being vulnerable.

Olaf - Frozen

Olaf is one of those great Disney sidekicks that could have gone terribly wrong, but great writing and solid work from Josh Gad have continued to make Olaf incredible. There's a reason the little snowman has received his own holiday specials and animated short. The Frozen movies alone can't contain him.

Duke Weaselton - Zootopia

Duke Weaselton only appears in a couple of scenes in Zootopia but they're both quite memorable, with the first being one of the movie's great action sequences, and the second being one of the funniest parts of the film, where Weaselton is selling bootleg DVDs of animal-influenced Disney films.

Bruno - Encanto

They don't talk about Bruno, but after seeing Encanto Bruno was all most people could talk about. He may have gone slightly bonkers living in the walls of his house but the love he has for his family is palpable, making his brief appearance key to the story and the movie's emotional core.

Rafiki - The Lion King

Timon and Pumbaa often get all the credit for being scene-stealing sidekicks in The Lion King but Rafiki is the one who ultimately teaches Simba the lesson that he needs to understand, and he does it in a way that is equal parts magical and ridiculous. He has less screen time than almost any other voiced character in the film, but Rafiki makes it count.

Flora, Fauna And Merriweather - Sleeping Beauty

The master plan of the three fairies to keep Aurora safe for 16 years in Sleeping Beauty doesn't exactly work, but you certainly can't say that Flora, Fauna, and Meriweather don't give it their all. Even if they can't make a decent cake or decide what color to make a dress, these three are the aunts we all would be lucky if we had.

Jock And Trusty - Lady And The Tramp

Many Disney movies deal with incredible friendships but one of the best is happening on the sidelines of Lady and the Tramp. Trusty is an old bloodhound who has lost his ability to smell and Jock is his dear friend who will never tell him that he can't smell anything because Jock knows how heartbreaking that would be for his friend.

Jasper And Horace - 101 Dalmatians

Yes, Jasper and Horace are technically bad guys, but they're hilariously incompetent bad guys, and that makes them a great deal more fun and easier to love. If Cruela deVil had been able to hire anybody smarter she might have actually been dangerous.

Jaq And Gus - Cinderella

Cinderella's little mice friends are small but they are actually a big part of her movie. Jaq is (allegedly) the brains of the operation, but Gus is too cute to ignore. They are able to get the better of Lucifer the cat in a pair of sequences that are among the best in Cinderella.

Baymax - Big Hero 6

In a movie full of superheroes, the real hero is the one who would rather heal than hurt. Baymax is just so innocent and kind that it's impossible not to love him. Eventually, it's the robot who shows the biggest heart.

Scat Cat - The Aristocats

The Aristocats is not one of Walt Disney Animation's best movies, but it does have its moments. Or at least its moment. "Everybody Wants To Be A Cat" is a classic Disney song, even if it's in a largely forgotten movie. Scatman Cruthers is the voice of his namesake kitty, and he rocks the song and steals the show.

Dodger - Oliver And Company

How do you not steal the scene when you're literally Billy Joel? Dodger in Oliver and Company is the cool dog that everybody else wants to be, and he's got the best song in the movie. If you've ever seen this movie you probably don't remember anything else.

Josh Gad has played several memorable characters in his career but it seems more than likely that he will forever mostly be known as the voice of the lovable snowman Olaf in Disney’s Frozen movies. Taking the job in one of the best animated Disney movies was clearly one of the great moves of the actor’s career, but he calls one decision he made with Olaf a “big mistake.”

A TikTok of Josh Gad at a recent Fan Expo event is currently going viral where the actor reveals that he now wishes he hadn’t given Olaf his voice. That’s not to say that he wishes he had turned down the role. Instead, Gad means he wishes he created a different voice for Olaf because the fact that the snowman just sounds like his normal voice means that everybody recognizes him wherever he goes. He said…

There are certainly upsides to being a celebrity. Josh Gad gets the VIP treatment at Disneyland and being recognized probably feels really good a lot of the time. Of course, sometimes you just want to go grocery shopping and not have to talk to every small child you meet. Not all celebrities love being recognized all the time. Many actors go out in disguise to prevent being noticed. That's not necessarily too hard when you're trying to hide your famous face, but if you have a distinctive voice, as Josh Gad certainly does, that's much harder to hide.

If Gad had created a different voice for Olaf then he could use his own voice and not be recognized for it. Certainly, Josh Gad has done his share of live-action movies and would still be recognized now and then, but likely not nearly as often as he apparently is now. Ultimately the actor says he used his own voice because people tell him it's distinctive and so he wanted to use it because people seem to like it. Check out his full comments below.

Unfortunately, Josh Gad will just have to get used to kids recognizing his voice, because Olaf isn’t going anywhere. Frozen 3 is set for release in 2027 and we know a fourth Frozen film is also in development. This means that entirely new Frozen fans will continue to be made over the next several years. Combined with Gad’s voice appearing in Disney theme parks and various other places where Olaf is needed, he’ll need to get used to getting shocked looks from kids all over the world.

Disney’s best live-action remakes have been so successful for the studio that it’s a question of when, not if, your favorite animated Disney movie will get the live-action treatment. Considering how popular Frozen and Frozen II were the first time around, they were the highest-grossing animated movies ever made until Inside Out 2 recently broke that record, it’s a shock that a live-action adaptation hasn’t been announced already.

That announcement could honestly come any day now because Anya Taylor-Joy has expressed interest in playing a live-action version of Elsa. Needless to say, this idea broke the internet, because she certainly does look the part. She also excited the original Frozen cast, as Josh Gad responded to the idea on Threads, indicating he wants to be part of the eventual live-action film, but not as Olaf. Gad said…

Clearly, if Anya Taylor-Joy leads a live-action Frozen simply reprising his role as Olaf won’t be good enough for Josh Gad. Olaf would obviously be a CGI character in such a movie, but Gad seemingly wants to get on set to act opposite Taylor-Joy, so he’s throwing his hat in the ring to play Prince Hans of the Southern Isles, the movie’s villain.

While Josh Gad certainly doesn’t look like Hans in the same way that Anya Taylor-Joy looks like Elsa, he would be an excellent Disney villain. He'd honestly be pretty good in such a role. Hans is charismatic and fun, but secretly underhanded. Gad would be great at all of that. More importantly, playing Hans would give him more scenes with Anya Taylor-Joy than he’d get if he played Kristoff.

Since we know that a live-action Moana movie is on the way, Disney certainly has no issue giving even some of its newest animated films the live-action treatment. It’s been rumored that a live-action Frozen movie is among the planned upcoming Disney live-action remakes, but nothing has ever been officially announced.

If there have been discussions about the project at the studio, it’s difficult to imagine that Anya Taylor-Joy wasn’t already on a casting wish list. She’s an incredible actress, she looks the part already, and we know she can sing. Taylor-Joy performed a haunting rendition of “Downtown” in One Night in Soho. I think we'd all love to hear what she can do with "Let it Go."

The only negative is that Taylor-Joy is almost 30, and Elsa is supposed to be much younger. Still, all that really means is that Disney needs to not dawdle and get this movie made sooner rather than later.

One movie that we know is coming is Frozen 3. That movie, which will be broken into two parts, isn’t set to debut until 2027. There’s a pretty good chance we could see a live-action Frozen before the third animated film even arrives.

So here’s the thing – I may not be the biggest lover of rom-coms, as most tend to be pretty cheesy. But there are some men out there from both movies and TV that I have fallen for – many of which have completely ruined me for real life and have set my standards way too high. And while I’ve been in a committed relationship for several years now, there are just some fictional guys that do it for me – so today, we’ll be going over the top ones. 

Chandler Bing (Friends)

I know that out of everyone in the Friends cast, people talk about Joey being the cutest or however you want to play it, but for me, it’s always been Chandler. I don’t think there’s ever been a better interpretation of best friends to lovers than him with Monica, and I swear to God, he loves her so much. In today’s world, it’s rare to find someone as loving as Chandler Bing. 

Graham Simpkins (The Holiday)

Because who isn’t attracted to Jude Law? But on a real note, Graham Simpkins in The Holiday is probably a clear example of a great movie boyfriend. He’s straightforward with his feelings, is sweet, and somehow still looks good even when he’s pouring his entire heart out. Every time I see him on my TV screen, I know it’s Christmas time again. 

Kevin (Shameless)

Shameless is hands-down one of the best Showtime shows, but you want to know how it’s one of the best characters. Kev, and how he absolutely adores Veronica. This man will go with whatever his wife says or wants and do anything to make her happy, even if it’s totally out there and nonsensical, but he has a good heart – and that’s all that really matters in the end, if we’re being honest. 

Ian Miller (My Big Fat Greek Wedding)

Any man—and I mean any man—who is not from a Greek Orthodox family but is willing to learn all the traditions and rules that it entails while throwing themselves into a huge and intense family is a man worth loving. Trust me—as someone who is dating a Greek Orthodox person, this movie is the most clear-cut example of what it’s like—and how loving Ian Miller truly is. 

Gomez (The Addams Family)

Any portrayal of Gomez, whether it be older versions or Luis Guzmán from the Wednesday cast, sets our standards so high. There is no other man in movies and TV who loves his wife more than Gomez loves Morticia. That’s the kind of love that we take to the grave – and it’s something that they clearly intend to do as well. 

Troy Bolton (High School Musical Franchise)

Okay, so maybe this is little me who absolutely adored Troy Bolton and the High School Musical movies, but Troy really was the perfect teen boyfriend. While he certainly had his moments of selfishness (as all teenagers do), he cared for both his friends and, of course, Gabriella, trying to figure out how he could work things out while making everyone happy. That’s dedication. 

Flynn Rider (Tangled)

Oh, Flynn. I swear to God, this man was the love of my life when I was about twelve years old and pretty much set me up for the type of men I would have crushes on in movies and TV. He literally sacrificed his life to cut off Rapunzel's hair so she could be free from Mother Goethel. That is love right there. 

Jesse (Full House)

Every girl at some point in their lives had a crush on Jesse from Full House. I mean, if we’re being honest, the entire Full House cast was good-looking, and all had their fair share of good traits, but Jesse was just another level of dreamboat man – and John Stamos plays him. You can’t get much better than that. 

Augustus Waters (The Fault In Our Stars)

You know how every girl always has that one character that absolutely shatters their soul at a young age? Yeah, Augustus Waters was mine. When I saw The Fault in Our Stars in the theater at the ripe age of fourteen years old, I was beside myself with this teenager and how lovely he was and I was devastated by the end. He was the epitome of mindfulness and listening to what the other person wanted. 

Prince Philip (Sleeping Beauty)

He literally slayed a dragon for Aurora. He got off his horse and took on a whole mythical beast. You can’t raise your standards higher than that. Honestly, he’s underrated when it comes to Disney princes. 

Charlie (The Perks Of Being A Wallflower)

To this day, I don’t think I have ever met a more sensitive soul than Charlie from The Perks of Being a Wallflower. He’s not precisely the hunky type, obviously, but there’s something about Charlie’s sensitivity and how much he truly cares about others that makes me want someone just like him, and I could only imagine how those feelings would adapt as he grew older. 

Kristoff (Frozen)

While we all anxiously wait for more Frozen movies, let’s be honest here and say that Kristoff is actually one of the best Disney princes because he’s real. He doesn’t hide behind fancy suits and high titles. He’s an ordinary man who loves his reindeer and his trade, and he clearly loves Anna. Sometimes, that is literally all you need. 

Matt Flamhaff (13 Going On 30)

As someone who had an unhealthy obsession with this movie and the 13 Going On 30 cast, Matt Flamhaff was the movie's boyfriend for a long time. He’s loyal and sweet and tells it like it is, even when he and Jenna haven’t been in contact for years in the film. I really, really love it. 

Simon Bassett (Bridgerton)

When Bridgerton was first released back in 2020, it seemed that everyone was focused on Simon Bassett, and while the character hasn’t been in the show since the first season, he is undoubtedly still highly handsome and was able to beat his trauma in order to be with the women he loved and give her the child she desperately wanted. They’re both not perfect, but I think they work well for each other, and she helped him become a better version of himself. 

Noah Calhoun (The Notebook)

Noah from The Notebook is the definition of a man who waits. Who waits for just that single chance to be with the person he wants and craves more than anything in this world. There’s a reason why people love Noah and cry every time they watch this movie. He’s just that romantic, even if he comes from nothing. It just goes to show that love has no boundaries. 

Jake Perry (Sweet Home Alabama)

Oh, there is nothing like little kids meeting, falling in love, falling out, and then coming back together. Jake Perry is that and more. While he’s almost as stubborn as Melanie, he knows how to keep up with her like no one else and still loves her just as much to this day. I just get all warm and tingly inside when I watch this film. 

Nick Young (Crazy Rich Asians)

Nick is just uncomplicated. He’s uncomplicated and a good guy who happens to have a boatload of money and loves his girlfriend even more than his family. Do you know how many men are portrayed as being emotionally closed off but have fortunes? So many. So many. But Nick is just good – and that’s really what matters if we’re being honest. 

Edward Lewis (Pretty Woman)

Oh, Edward. Pretty Woman was one of those films that I ended up watching as a teenager, and it became a comfort film. It’s certainly one of Julia Roberts’ best rom-coms, but Edward, in general, is the definition of “I Can Change Him.” A man with money and emotionally closed off but learns how to appreciate life and open himself up to someone new – like, come on. Plus, Richard Gere is always a win. 

Jack Dawson (Titanic)

Good god, Jack Dawson was every teenage girl’s dream back in the 1990s. I mean, I wasn't even born yet when Titanic was released, but I can see the appeal even now. Even if he comes from nothing, he has a good soul, is quippy and handsome, and has an appeal for breaking the rules and having fun. He’s like a good, bad boy, if that makes sense.

Nick (New Girl)

Okay, I want to preface this by saying that I mean Nick from later seasons of New Girl. I think he had some serious growing up to do for a bit, but once he started to date Jess and especially when they ended up getting back together later down the line, he really turned into a great boyfriend, a good listener, and he’s just funny. Sometimes, all you need is a jokester. 

Mr. Darcy (Pride And Prejudice)

Mr. Darcy was the pride of my entire generation. I can’t tell you how many people are so focused on this man, how just his movements and how he shows his love are everything. This film is the epitome of an enemies-to-lovers movie, and yes, I eat it up every single time, no matter what. 

Westley (The Princess Bride)

What makes Westley such a great pick from The Princess Bride is that he knows when to listen. He knows when to take charge and save the people he cares about, but he also knows when to back off and listen to those around him. He’s brave but not stubborn, and so many men are the complete opposite in films. We need more of him, and I will stand on that hill.

Luke (Gilmore Girls)

I think Luke is another example of the type of man that we all fall for at least once in television shows. And what makes him such a great pick is that he waited. He waited for eight years so that that woman he loved would be ready for him, and that isn’t just the most romantic thing you have ever heard. I mean, he even kept a picture of her in his wallet, for crying out loud. 

William Thacker (Notting Hill)

God, William Thacker is such a sweetheart. I love him so much. Notting Hill, in general, is a great rom-com, but Thacker is what makes it so good. He stumbles over his words, but he is sweet and has this whole nerdy thing going for him that works handsomely. Hugh Grant plays him, so you can’t really get much better than that.

Rick Grimes (The Walking Dead)

It’s Rick Grimes. The Rick Grimes. The entire The Walking Dead cast is excellent, but I don’t think any other man comes close to Rick Grimes and what he has done for his family. He’s ripped out the throats of people to protect them. He’s looked for hours to find his family. And, of course, he and Michonne’s romance is the perfect example of slow-burn. 

Patrick Verona (10 Things I Hate About You)

Heath Ledger is obviously a well-known actor who had plenty of critically acclaimed roles back in the early and later 2000s, but I’ll always remember him as Patrick Verona in 10 Things I Hate About You. He was the boy who ended up loving the girl he didn’t expect to and the boy who sang on the steps. Granted, he started off just wanting to make extra money, but we all know he ended up falling in the end. 

Hercules (Hercules)

I want to specify that I’m talking about Disney’s version of Hercules, not the mythical version because the Greek Gods were not super great people. However, this version of Hercules is actually the best and sets my standards so high. Hercules is an underrated film, but the fact that the titular character dives into a literal pool of death to save his loved one makes him that much more attractive. 

Anthony Bridgerton (Bridgerton)

While Anthony Bridgerton certainly has an acquired taste (we all know those side-burns were not doing him any favors in Season 1), he’s really grown on me in Bridgerton, and honestly, the third season did me in. He just loves his wife. He’s so dedicated to her and just wants to make her happy, and any kind of man that does that is worth it. 

Ricky Ricardo (I Love Lucy)

Ricky Ricardo is the blueprint of the best TV husbands. Married to Lucy in I Love Lucy, he somehow is able to put up with Lucy’s schemes, and though she drives him crazy, he still loves her in the end and makes her feel safe at home. These two were such a great example of a loving relationship in the earlier years of TV. 

Jack Pearson (This Is Us)

The This Is Us cast is insanely talented, but let me tell you, Milo Ventimiglia set my standards insanely high when I started watching this show and seeing him as Jack Pearson. I mean, he is a loving husband, a doting father, and a hard worker—that’s the recipe. And of course, throw in a little dash of his own trauma, and it adds complexity. I will forever be a Jack Pearson lover. 

Mr. Sheffield (The Nanny)

Mr. Sheffield is the type of life I think we all secretly want—to work as a nanny, fall for the rich man who hired us, and somehow become a part of his family. But I think the reason I love him so much is that he’s able to keep up with Fran, which is hard. Fran knows what she wants and is an independent woman, but he is with her every step of the way, and I love it. 

Grey Worm (Game Of Thrones)

I didn’t think I’d be putting anyone from the Game of Thrones cast on this list, but thinking about it, I realize that Grey Worm is definitely high-ranking. He and Missandei don’t have the kind of relationship you would expect, and it’s not perfect, but there is no denying his love for her and how much he wants to keep her safe, doing anything in his power to do so. And he’s a great fighter, so there’s a plus there. It makes their relationship that much more tragic towards the end of the series. 

This just makes me want to rewatch every single one of these shows and movies again. I think it’s time for a marathon with some wine and fun times. 

In case Disney has gone so long without big updates on the Frozen 3 front that you were beginning to let it go, prepare for some exciting news! The company has dropped some big new details for the third film in the franchise of upcoming Disney movies, which also may not be the last big screen adventure for Anna and Elsa. At the same time, a different Frozen project will come to streaming for Disney+ subscribers, and I'm actually more excited for the latter than the former.

New Frozen 3 Details

A third Frozen movie was officially confirmed more than a year ago, but that confirmation in February 2023 didn't come with a lot of details. That has changed thanks to the D23 Expo's Disney Entertainment Showcase panel. Frozen 3's release date is set for 2027, according to Frozen franchise writer/director Jennifer Lee.

Lee also said that it "will take two films to answer" the questions that were lingering as of the end of Frozen 2, which released in 2019. She did not explicitly confirm that Frozen 4 is on the way as well, but it sounds like the next installment in the franchise will be the first half of a big screen two-parter.

She didn't establish when exactly in 2027 to expect Frozen 3, but if it follows the precedent of the first two movies, then a pre-Thanksgiving release in November is likely. The presentation also showed the first concept art for the second Frozen sequel, which shows Elsa on the back of a white horse and Anna on the back of a brown, both wearing their primary outfits from Frozen 2 and Olaf on the back of Anna's horse.

Looming behind the sisters is what appears to be the shadowy figure of a viking carrying a spear, while ahead of them is what appears to be a castle in the sky. All in all, there's a lot to look forward to... but considering just how long we'll be looking forward, I'm more excited for a more imminent release.

Broadway's Frozen Is Coming To Disney+

The plot of the original Frozen film was adapted into a stage musical that debuted on Broadway in 2018, a.k.a. before the franchise even expanded into releasing a second movie. The musical mostly follows the plot of the movie, with a few tweaks and additions that make it well worth a watch even if you're a diehard fan of the 2012 original.

I say that as somebody who saw Frozen: The Broadway Musical when it was on tour to my hometown. The production brings the magic of the movie to the stage in a way that almost boggles the mind, and I'm excited that its arrival on Disney+ means not only that I can revisit it, but those who don't have access to stage musicals can check it out as well.

And the reason why I'm more excited for the musical coming to Disney+ than Frozen 3? Well, you can expect the musical to start streaming a la Hamilton in 2025. Depending on when it arrives in 2025 (and if Frozen 3 does indeed get a November 2027 premiere), this project could be available two years before Elsa and Anna's next theatrical adventure. So why not get more excited for the one that's coming first?

If you want a Frozen fix sooner rather than later, Disney+ has you covered. Not only are the original versions of the first two films available, but also the sing-along versions, several specials, and Into the Unknown: Making Frozen 2.

More times than not, if there is a pet in a movie, we’re going to love them more than the rest of the cast. We’ve seen it in everything from family-friendly comedies like Babe to all-time great sci-fi thrillers like Alien and countless others. And since we had so much fun looking back on the greatest movie dogs, we thought we’d give the rest of the animal kingdom some love by breaking down 32 of the best pets in Hollywood history. 

Let’s look at some of the beloved cats, dogs, fish, and alien creatures that have stolen our hearts over the years.

Gizmo (Gremlins)

While the rest of his siblings are off causing all kinds of mayhem in Kingston Falls, Gizmo spends the entirety of Gremlins being not only a cute and adorable pet, but also a brave companion for Billy Peltzer (Zach Galligan). He’s not your typical pet, but this furry and brave mogwai is a creature we’d all love to have in our house.

Beethoven (Beethoven)

Sure, Beethoven destroys the Newton home on more than one occasion, likes to steal bacon, and uses dress shoes as his chew toys, but there’s no denying this massive St. Bernard is one of the best movie pets in Hollywood history. Like, come on, he even turns George Newton (Charles Grodin) from a neurotic mess of a man who hates dogs to a slightly less neurotic man who takes in no fewer than a dozen dogs at the end of the movie.

Babe (Babe)

Babe, one of the best family movies from the ‘90s, features what is perhaps the most beloved on-screen pig in Hollywood history. The titular sheep-pig, which warmed everyone’s hearts including James Cromwell’s farmer in the 1995 classic, never lets the other animals’ comments or attitudes get the best of him. 

Jonesy (Alien)

One of only two survivors of the Nostromo incident in Alien, Jonesy the cat has become one of the most recognizable felines in Hollywood history. The orange tabby cat that was on a yearslong mission to deep space for some reason, shows up again in Aliens, but doesn’t get to leave Earth’s orbit, which is a shame.

Oliver (Oliver & Company)

Sure Billy Joel’s Dodger is the definition of cool in Oliver & Company, but the titular feline is there to melt our hearts and teach us about bravery and new beginnings. Though he starts out as an orphan, Oliver, an adorable kitten voiced by Joey Lawrence, does eventually find a family and does everything he can to make it his forever home.

Toto (The Wizard Of Oz)

One of the most well-known terriers in Hollywood history, Toto is a major part of The Wizard of Oz and is quite crucial to its plot. Not only does he give the Wicked Witch of the West a hard time throughout the movie, but he also doesn’t fall for the Wizard’s act and exposes him for the fraud he is.

Hedwig (The Harry Potter Movies)

What other movie pets have their own iconic theme composed by the legendary John Williams? This alone puts Hedwig in the top tier of animals in Hollywood history, but it’s honestly just one part of Harry Potter’s trusty owl’s on-screen accomplishments. And the way she puts her life on the line to protect the young wizard is nothing short of commendable.

Toothless (How To Train Your Dragon)

Dragons don’t have to be massive, ferocious, or obsessed with gold to earn a spot in Hollywood history, and that’s the case for Toothless in the How to Train Your Dragon franchise. Ever since his first appearance in the 2010 franchise starter, this adorable yet courageous pet and companion has come through big for Hiccup time and time again.

Blofeld's Cat (From Russia With Love)

There are quite a few recurring characters in the James Bond franchise and one of the most frequently featured is Blofeld’s cat, which was a major fixture in the early movies. The pet belonging to the fearsome leader of Spectre, this white cat is adorable even if it’s part of one of the biggest crime syndicates in Hollywood history.

Abu (Aladdin)

Sure, Genie makes a case for himself with “You Never Had A Friend Like Me,” but the titular hero in Disney’s Aladdin had a great pet and friend all along: Abu. This crafty monkey with a knack for lifting valuable objects and artifacts, has more street smarts than just about any other animal in the studio’s history, which is saying something.

Jiji (Kiki's Delivery Service)

One of Hayao Miyazaki’s best movies, Kiki’s Delivery Service features one of the most beloved Studio Ghibli characters with its titular witch, but the movie also has an all-time great movie pet. Jiji, Kiki’s talking cat, who was voiced by the late Phil Hartman in the 1998 English dub, is crafty, sassy, and devoted to his human. With a quip and morale boost at every turn, we’d all be better with a cat like this.

Wanda (A Fish Called Wanda)

Wanda, the angelfish and not the character played by Jamie Lee Curtis, in A Fish Called Wanda doesn’t do as much as other pets on this list, but it is key to one of the most iconic scenes from this hilarious ‘80s crime comedy. Anyone down for fish and chips?

Sassy, Chance and Shadow (Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey)

For folks of a certain age, Sassy, Chance, and Shadow are three of the most recognizable pets of all time. Sure, they wouldn’t have had to cross a mountain pass if they had just stayed put, but we have to give it to them for going to extreme lengths to get back to their owners, even if it means almost dying multiple times in Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey.

Vito Corleone's Cat (The Godfather)

Despite only being featured in one scene, Don Vito Corleone’s cat in The Godfather has become one of the most unforgettable characters in the crime epic as well as one of the most recognizable pets in Hollywood history. And the notoriously dark and shadowy opening scene with Vito and the cat is even better in the 4K remaster, which adds so much to the feline’s character. 

Arthur (Beginners)

Beginners is a charming and heartful romantic comedy that touches on love, happiness, loss, and new beginnings (hence the name). And while Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer, and Melanie Laurent are all masterful in their respective roles, it’s the dog, named Arthur, who steals the show. This Jack Russell terrier, whose thoughts are shown in subtitles, has great comedic timing, which makes the 2011 movie so much more fun.

Cat (Breakfast At Tiffany's)

Holly Golightly’s pet, appropriately named “Cat,” is honestly one of the best things about Breakfast at Tiffany’s and helps make the iconic Audrey Hepburn movie so beloved. And who is there in the timeless final scene in which Holly and Pual Varjak get back together in the pouring rain? Yep, it’s Cat.

Benji (Benji)

When it comes to legendary on-screen pooches, Benji is near or at the top of the list. Ever since the 1974 classic, Benji, the beloved dog has melted audiences’ (of multiple generations) hearts and provided for some adventurous moments along the way.

Jinxy (Meet The Parents) 

Jinxy cat can wave, flush toilets, and make life miserable for Greg Focker in Meet the Parents, but despite being antagonistic against Ben Stiller’s character in the 2000 comedy, he’s still one of the best. Who else can make Rober De Niro’s Jack Byrnes turn into a big softy like that? No one, not even his daughters.

Max (How The Grinch Stole Christmas)

At the heart of every version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas is Max, the Grinch’s best friend, trusty assistant, and beloved pet dog. It’s hard not to feel sympathetic towards the iconic pooch, especially before the Grinch’s heart grows three sizes…

Buddy (Air Bud)

We’ve lost count of how many times Buddy has saved the day in the Air Bud movies, but it’s a lot. It all goes back to the ‘90s kids sports movie where the Golden Retriever joins the basketball team after escaping from an abusive circus clown. Are there any other dogs that can shoot hoops (and later play football and just about every other team sport)?

Mike Tyson's Tiger (The Hangover)

Mike Tyson has a pet tiger in The Hangover because of course he does. Probably the most exotic, deadly, and out-of-left-field pet in the history of cinema, the infamous boxer’s tiger is involved in one of the movie’s most hilarious sequences, one that’ll leave you laughing and scratching your head as you try to figure out how this happened.

Stitch (Lilo and Stitch)

Yeah, Stitch is technically an alien lifeform and not an animal from Earth, but the little blue creature from Disney’s Lilo & Stitch is just too good to not mention. We can’t understand a thing he says and he causes a lot of mischief, but isn’t that true about all pets?

Ulysses (Inside Llewyn Davis)

Ulysses, the cat Oscar Isaac’s titular character in Inside Llewyn Davis brings with him after getting locked out of a friend’s apartment, is honestly one of the best big-screen feline characters of the 21st century. He represents the struggling folk singer’s life so well and adds so much to this Coen brothers movie.

Daisy (John Wick)

Daisy, we didn’t know you all that long, but you’ve remained in our hearts for the past decade. A present from John Wick’s late wife to help him with his grief ended up becoming the spark for the retired hitman’s return back to the underworld. There have been more John Wick dogs over the years, but Daisy will always be the first.

Clyde (Every Which Way But Loose)

Clyde the orangutang playing the comedic relief to Clint Eastwood’s straight man in Every Which Way But Loose is one of those great primate movie performances and provides for so many great moments. Who wouldn’t want to hang out with a rambunctious ape that likes to flip people the bird?

Virgil (Project X)

Virgil isn’t your typical pet, which is what makes this chimpanzee so great in Project X (the 1987 sci-fi drama and not the 2012 party flick). Part of a secret military project and later the best friend of Matthew Broderick’s Jimmy Garrett, this advanced primate embarks upon an epic adventure as he and his human counterparts seek a better life.

Goose (Captain Marvel)

Goose may look like a normal housecat, but this isn’t your everyday tabby. Instead, as seen throughout Captain Marvel, Goose is an alien creature known as a flerken and has all kinds of crazy strengths and powers. Just watch your eye.

The Ranchor (Star Wars: Episode VI - The Return of the Jedi)

On the surface, the ranchor looks like a ferocious and massive monster in Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi, but as we see after the creature’s death, it’s actually someone’s pet. Just look on the trainer’s face when Luke kills the beast in Jabba’s palace. Heartbreaking.

Dug (Up)

There have been countless pets in Pixar movies over the years, and one of the best is Dug from Up. Equipped with a collar that turns his thoughts into words, this fun-loving, ball-obsessed, and adventurous canine is a source of entertainment throughout this beloved 2009 animated gem.

Rajah (Aladdin)

What makes Rajah such a great pet, well, besides being a freaking tiger? Well, he projects Jasmine from countless threats throughout Aladdin and never falls for Jafar’s games, which is more than you can say about pretty much every character in this Disney staple. But don’t let that fool you, because he’s actually a big softie.

Sven (Frozen)

Reindeer are better than people, especially when it comes to Sven in Frozen. The longtime friend, companion, and pet of Kristof’s in this massive box office hit. He doesn’t talk, but this trusty character has all kinds of emotions and never ignores the call to adventure.

Wilbur (Charlotte's Web)

There’s a good chance Charlotte’s Web would have earned an Oscar if the Best Animated Feature category existed at the time of its release. A lot of that is because of the infectious energy of Wilbur, the prized pig who becomes the source of inspiration for the titular spider and her incredible creations. Sure, he doesn’t become a sheep-pig, but he’s still pretty great.

When it comes to Disney movies, there are plenty of instances where I’m sure we all look at the TV screen, look at our partner next, and sigh, wondering how our lives could never be as romantic as the couples in Disney movies. Alright, well, maybe that was a bit dramatic, but you get what I mean – and today, we’ll be going over some of the best romantic scenes in Disney movies that give me hope in true love. 

Ariel And Eric During “Kiss The Girl” (The Little Mermaid)

One of my favorite Disney scenes comes from The Little Mermaid. Not only does the “Kiss the Girl” scene provide one of the best Disney songs ever, but it’s also a significant turning point in Eric and Ariel’s relationship.

Hercules Literally Risking His Life To Save Meg (Hercules)

Hercules is such an underrated Disney classic, and while it has gotten plenty of praise in the last few years, including talk of a live-action remake, I will never forgive it for not being nearly as big as it should have been. Hercules and Meg were the definition of the ‘it’ couple, and I’m pretty sure not every man would dive into a river of death, risk losing their lives, and so much more to save their significant other—the definition of love. 

Lady And Tramp Sharing A Dinner (Lady And The Tramp)

It’s funny when I watch The Lady and the Tramp now as an adult because I can’t help but think that these dogs are getting celebrity treatment, getting fresh spaghetti and meatballs from a chef. But of course, I have to put down the two main characters swapping meatballs and spaghetti. 

Carl And Ellie’s Montage (Up)

I’m not crying; you are. 

Rewatching Up as an adult is always a hard-hitter, but you want to know what still hits just as hard? Watching Carl and Ellie’s montage of their love story. Heck, I recall seeing this film in the theater with my dad and remembering it as the first time I ever saw him cry. It’s profound love, people. 

Simba And Nala Reuniting (The Lion King)

There is literally nothing better than a friends-to-lovers romance, and I stand by that because now, we have a cemented foundation on which to start a new relationship. And nothing tells a better story than Nala and Simba when they reunite after years apart in The Lion King. Look at these two – they are so in love, and it’s so adorable. 

Eugene And Rapunzel In The Boat (Tangled)

Tangled is a better movie than Frozen, and one of the reasons is that the central relationship between Eugene and Rapunzel legit gives me butterflies even now. I could point out so many scenes between them, but for the sake of space, I’ll say the lantern scene. Eugene is renting out a boat for them on a lake to watch the lanterns in the sky – peak romance moves right there, my man. 

Kiara And Kovu’s Little Love Boat Ride (The Lion King 2)

A lot of people don’t really know that much about The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride, considering that it was never released in theaters, but I have a soft spot for it. In the central love story, Kiara (Simba’s daughter) and Kovu (the son of a leader of outcast lions) are great enemies to lovers. One of their best moments is when they are on a love-boat ride, thanks to Rafiki, during the song “Upendi.” I still dance to it now. 

Eve Trying Her Best To Save Wall-E (WALL-E)

WALL-E is undoubtedly one of the best Pixar movies by far, and while it paints a dystopian view of the world (that almost feels like it’s slowly coming true), at its core is a love story between two robots. The final scene, where Wall-E has basically been destroyed and Eve is trying her absolute hardest to save him – brings tears to my eyes every time. 

Kristoff Getting Anna Home When The Coldness Spreads (Frozen)

Frozen is a great movie about sisterly love, but in terms of romance, Kristoff and Anna are pretty great, too. A great scene to point out is when Kristoff rides Sven home back to Arendelle for even a chance that Anna could live after the coldness in her spreads. He started off not even wanting to travel with her to save her. Adorable. 

Pongo And Perdita Literally Bringing Their Owners Together (101 Dalmatians)

I always say that there is no purer love than a dog’s love, and I think Pongo and Perdita perfectly exemplify that. But you want to know what’s better than them? The fact that these two were so enamored with each other that they literally brought their owners together, too. Talk about fate. 

Aladdin’s Carpet Ride (Aladdin)

I’m, like, 99% sure that “A Whole New World” has become one of the most iconic romance songs of all time, so of course, I have to include the scene from Aladdin that features him taking Jasmine out on a magic carpet ride. Haven’t we all wished for a prince to sweep us off our feet literally? 

Prince Charming Literally Going From Town To Town To Find His Love (Cinderella)

While Cinderella to me isn’t one of the best Disney films ever, there’s no denying its impact and the fact that the Prince did make a very romantic gesture. He’s so enamored with Cinderella, not knowing her name, that he uses a shoe going from town to town in order to find her. 

The Beast Gifting Belle A Library (Beauty And The Beast)

As someone who is counting down every upcoming book-to-screen adaptation that is coming out, do you know the things I would do to be gifted a library like Belle? The Beast in Beauty and the Beast just casually had this whole library in his castle and decided to give it to Belle when feelings began to arrive. I wish. That’s so sweet. 

Prince Phillip Fighting A LITERAL Dragon For Aurora (Sleeping Beauty)

I mean, you really can’t get a better protector than Prince Phillip, who literally went to defeat a dragon for Aurora in Sleeping Beauty. It’s not like he had a giant crossbow or anything like that – he went in with just a sword, and my god, I can’t help but admire that and also love that kind of energy for Aurora. 

Elizabeth And Nicholas Marry Again (The Parent Trap)

I always love second-chance romances in any of the best rom-com out there, and The Parent Trap is an excellent example of that. While we do see Elizabeth and Nicholas kiss at the very end of the film, it’s the pictures we see of their second wedding that make me swoon and awe and practically cry.

Eric Giving Ariel The Reigns (The Little Mermaid)

You know, upon watching The Little Mermaid as an adult, I’ve slowly come to realize that Eric and Ariel were actually a decent couple, considering it felt like everyone fell in love so quickly with older Disney movies. Eric, who barely even knows Ariel, takes her out on a journey into town for fun and lets her control the carriage of a horse because she showed interest. Was it necessarily wise? No, but it was still fun. 

Giselle And Robert Finally Kiss (Enchanted)

Rewatching Enchanted is always fun when you’re older, especially when you realize that the songs are incredible and I could jam to them every time. But after seeing Giselle and Robert dance around each other for an entire movie, their kiss at the very end is so fulfilling, and I always feel myself take a deep sigh of relief whenever it happens. 

Eugene Telling Rapunzel That She Was His New Dream (Tangled)

God, that's the gut punch that this scene always gives me. In Tangled, when Mother Goethel stabs Flynn, Eugene cuts off Rapunzel’s hair in order for Goethal to die, rendering her unable to heal him. As he dies, he says to Rapunzel that she has become his new dream, referencing a song earlier in the movie. Thankfully, she’s able to bring him back, but this moment is so beautifully sad. 

When Belle Danced With The Beast For The First Time (Beauty And The Beast)

I’m pretty sure Beauty and the Beast has some of the most iconic romantic scenes ever, and one of them is undoubtedly Belle and the Beast dancing for the first time. It’s slow at first; both are not used to the feelings that are there, but they eventually relax and have fun, and – ugh, I’m swooning thinking about it. 

Troy Decides To Do Both Theater And Basketball To Be Closer To Gabriella (High School Musical 3: Senior Year)

Okay, let’s not address the fact that Troy’s most significant issue in life was whether he wanted to play basketball or theater and that his friends were criticizing him for it – because my man did not deserve that pain. But what we can talk about is how Troy decides to follow his heart and go to a school closer to home so he can be closer to Gabriella at Stanford. I love it. 

Tiana Teaches Naveen How To Mince (The Princess And The Frog)

Tiana is an underrated Disney princess and a great role model. One of my favorite parts about her is that she can cook like no one is watching. When she and Prince Naveen are frogs and need food, she decides to teach Prince Naveen himself how to mince mushrooms. I don’t know what it is about this scene, but it makes me smile every time I see the look in his eyes when he’s impressed with her knife skills. 

Pocahontas Saving John Smith (Pocahontas)

Forget the historical inaccuracies of this film. Instead, let’s talk about how Pocahontas and John Smith were a decently good couple (in the movie) and that she threw herself against her people to save him. Only the fictional versions of these characters make me believe in love again – not the actual figures they are based on. But it’s still a good scene. 

Wade And Ember Finally Embrace (Elemental)

I don’t think you can really get better than fire and water finding a way to co-exist. It is a significant plot point in Elemental that both Wade and Ember wouldn’t be able to touch each other if romance ever entered the picture, but at the very end of the film, they embrace it. It’s a moving scene, and it is one I still love to watch. 

Kristoff Dressing Up For Anna (Frozen 2)

Kristoff is a very manly man – meaning his dressing up in a fancy suit with slicked-back hair isn’t really his style. However, he does do this for Anna’s coronation in Frozen 2, and it’s a charming gesture – although she does say she prefers him in leather after. 

Will And Elizabeth Marry In The Middle Of A Battle (Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest)

Literally, how can you get more romantic than getting married in the middle of a battle? The Pirates of the Caribbean movies drop off with Will and Elizabeth’s romance in later films, but man, these first few were top-tier – and then tying the knot while fighting for their lives with that Hans Zimmer score in the background? Chills, every time. 

The Beast Lets Belle Go (Beauty And The Beast)

To lose something is to have loved something, and that phrase is thoroughly used in Beauty and the Beast. Despite falling for Belle, the Beast lets her go after their dance because she sees that her father is in trouble. He cares about her happiness more than anything else, and…that is true love right there. 

Jane Decides To Stay In The Jungle With Tarzan (Tarzan)

You know, I always wonder how Jane adapted to Tarzan because the fact that she stays behind to be with him is the most significant act of love on this list. Think about it – she left behind her entire world to stay with this man. I’d love to know how their interactions went once the movie was done. 

When Aladdin Stares At Jasmine For The First Time (Aladdin)

Everyone dreams of having someone stare at them the way that Aladdin does the first time he spots Jasmine in Aladdin. That look of utter infatuation and love at first sight – it gets me every time. He’s so down bad it’s not even funny. 

Opposites Truly Attract Between Sergeant Tamora Jean Calhoun And Felix (Wreck-It-Ralph)

Wreck-It Ralph is a great 2010s Disney movie with many great themes and relationships. One I never expected was between Sergeant Tamora Jean Calhoun and Felix, two people from two very different games who somehow find their way to each other through this crazy journey. Opposites truly do attract. 

Ariel Singing To Eric (The Little Mermaid)

I think everyone would love to wake up to a mermaid singing to them, but the way that Ariel does it is so ethereal – and it makes total sense why Eric would fall in love with that voice. I mean, come on – saving someone and then singing to them? Pure love, right there. 

Hercules Being The Absolute Cutest With Meg In The Garden (Hercules)

Hercules and Meg are one of my absolute favorite couples in all of Disney, and I can’t get over their date and walking in the garden afterward. I don’t know what it is – maybe it’s the fact that this super strong man who is so nerdy and silly in front of Meg, this headstrong girl, melts her defenses, and it makes me swoon. Either way, it’s adorable. 

Ben Getting A Sign From His Wife (Haunted Mansion)

2023’s Haunted Mansion had no right to be as emotional as it was, and it was made even more emotional when Ben, at the very end, received a sign from his wife from the beyond. His wife, who loved tater tots – and now Ben himself found a cat named Tater Tot. Shut up. Shut up. I am getting tears in my eyes just writing about it. 

This is making me excited for all the upcoming Disney movies and any romantic scenes that will make me swoon. I’m here for the tears, the laughs, and so much more. 

While Broadway and Hollywood are often thought of as their own entities on the opposite side of the United States, they share a lot more in common than one might think. Particularly, a ton of popular and very good musicals over the years have been created thanks to the movies they are based on. Check out all these instances of Broadway musicals being inspired by Hollywood movies! 

The Lion King 

Following Disney’s The Lion King becoming the highest-grossing animated movie of all time upon its release in 1994, it was developed into a rare stage musical that has gone on to become one of Broadway’s mainstays. The Lion King musical reimagines the 2D animated epic into an impressive visual experience complete with elaborate animal costumes and giant hollow puppets. The stage show also includes six indigenous African languages which are spoken throughout the show. 

Little Shop Of Horrors

In 1960, director Roger Corman made The Little Shop Of Horrors, which is about a florist’s assistant who grows a plant that turns into a flesh-eating monster. Twenty years later, legendary composer-lyricist duo Alan Menken and Howard Ashman developed a musical version of the storyline which premiered off-off Broadway in 1982 to a successful five-year run. It has since been on Broadway numerous times. Plus, the musical was adapted into a movie in 1986 starring Rick Moranis, Steve Martin, John Candy, James Belushi, and Bill Murray. 

Waitress

In 2007, Adrienne Shelly’s Waitress became an indie darling when it premiered at Sundance at the front of the year. The movie stars Keri Russell as a small-town waitress who unexpectedly gets pregnant amidst an abusive marriage. In 2015, with the help of Sara Bareilles, who wrote the music and lyrics, Waitress became a smash hit on Broadway from 2016 to 2020. The musical is so beloved, the production was filmed and brought to theaters in 2023. 

Hairspray 

Back in 1988, John Waters made a cult classic in Hairspray. The movie follows an overweight teen Tracy Turnblad living in Baltimore, Maryland in the year 1962, who dreams of appearing on the popular local TV program The Corny Collins Show. In 2002, it was turned into a Broadway musical that would go on to win eight Tony awards, including Best Musical. Its musical version was adapted into a movie in 2007. 

School Of Rock

One of the best music movies of all time has to be School of Rock starring Jack Black. The Richard Linklater movie is about Dewey Finn, a down-on-his-luck musician who impersonates his roommate and becomes a substitute teacher for a prep school where he forms an underground band on campus made up of his students. The 2015 Broadway musical, composed by the legendary Andrew Lloyd Webber, ran in New York until 2019. 

Some Like It Hot

One of Marilyn Monroe’s most famous movies is 1959’s Some Like It Hot, which also stars Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. It's about two men who make their escape from Chicago after witnessing a Mafia murder by dressing as women and joining an all-female jazz band, led by Monroe’s sultry singer character. In 2022, the movie was turned into a musical by Hairspray’s composer, Marc Shaiman. The show is set to embark on its first North American tour in the fall of 2024. 

The Color Purple 

In 2023, The Color Purple stage musical was turned into a movie. The release came nearly 20 years after the Broadway version of the story first opened with the likes of Quincy Jones and Oprah Winfrey as producers. Before The Color Purple ran from 2005 to 2008 and had a successful revival back in 2015, it was first a novel by Alice Walker before Steven Speilberg adapted it in 1985. The beloved story revolves around an African-American teen named Celie as she is raised in rural Georgia in the early 1990s. 

Beauty and the Beast 

Disney’s “tale as old as time” became a Broadway musical just two years after the animated hit became a huge success for the House of Mouse in 1991. Just like the movie, the stage production is about the book-loving Belle who stumbles upon an enchanted castle while looking for her father where a Beast lives. While she’s initially held there against her will, she starts to fall in love with her captor, who is a lot more than meets the eyes.