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Last year was a big one for Disney+, as we saw all kinds of new series and movies hit the streaming service. When it comes to the most-watched Disney+ movies and TV shows, though, some were new and some were classics.
Since streaming numbers can be a little ~secretive~, the tracking website whatsondisneyplus.com summed up the top 10 movies and shows on Disney+ based on how long each title was in the "trending" section of the streamer's homepage. Below are the lists of top movies and shows from 2021. How many have you seen?
10. Zootopia
Disney / lokihiddleston.tumblr.com
It seems like there was still a healthy appetite for this 2016 film, which centers on bunny Judy Hopps as she movies to the big city of Zootopia to become a police officer. There, she runs into fox con artist Nick, and the two become embroiled in a conspiracy to pit predators and prey against each other.
9. Black Widow
Disney / Marvel / Everett Collection
Black Widow was a summer release that hit theaters but was also available on Disney+ to stream for an added $30 fee in July. The movie was available to all subscribers for free in mid-October, though, so there were a couple of months in 2021 where everybody could watch without paying extra. Clearly, the Marvel movie got a lot of eyes on it, as it was #9 in terms of its trending staying power.
8. Cruella
Disney / Everett Collection
Much like Black Widow, Cruella was a simultaneous theatrical and Disney+ release through the Premium Access feature. Since it released earlier in the year, though, it was able to spend more time on the trending list, allowing it to take the #8 spot above Black Widow. The movie, which centered on a young Cruella De Vil, was overall well-liked by critics.
7. Raya and the Last Dragon
Disney / Everett Collection
This action/fantasy movie was released back in March of 2021 (doesn't it seem like that was FOREVER ago?) through Premium Access, and it was a hit with critics (it currently has a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes). The story follows Raya, a survivor of her tribe after the mysterious Druun wiped out much of the land of Kumandra, as she seeks out the dragons that once protected humans from the Druun.
6. Soul
Pixar's Soul actually released at the very end of 2020, but it continued to trend well into 2021. The movie — about a jazz musician who meets his untimely end right before his big shot to make it in music — was typically gorgeous and introspective, as Pixar movies often are. Personally, I'm not sure how great a movie it is for kids, but it struck a chord among many adult viewers.
5. Avengers: Endgame
Disney / Marvel
It's no mystery why this was still a popular and trending movie on Disney+, even two years after it first hit theaters. It's an absolutely epic finale to the first few phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and IMO, a pretty rewatchable one. Who doesn't love time-travel hijinks?
4. Luca
Disney / Pixar
This sea-monster-out-of-water story is already a coming-of-age classic, and Pixar put it together with absolutely gorgeous animation. Since this one was released earlier in 2021 and was immediately available to Disney+ subscribers, it spent many weeks trending and became the #4 most-watched movie on the streamer last year.
3. Frozen
Disney
Yep, Frozen is still a massive hit, and you bet your bottom that kids still watch it all the time. As such, the movie is almost always trending on the app. Heck, if anything, it'd probably have a trending spot just from people wanting to skip to "Let It Go" and watch that song in all its glory.
2. Frozen II
If Frozen is on the list, it makes sense that Frozen II would also be on it. This sequel to one of Disney's biggest hits ever was also a huge success, and while the music never quite reached the popularity of "Let It Go," the soundtrack still has some excellent songs.
1. Moana
Disney
Yep, Moana is #1! The movie is almost always on the trending list, probably because it has catchy-as-heck songs (you can mostly thank Lin-Manuel Miranda for that one), a compelling hero's journey, gorgeous visuals, and fun for the whole family.
And now, on to the top 10 TV shows on Disney+ in 2021!
10. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
Disney / Marvel
Released in March, this series continued the stories of Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes in the wake of saying goodbye to Steve Rogers. It wasn't the best-reviewed Marvel series to hit the streaming platform, but it still did fairly well with both critics and audiences.
9. Grey's Anatomy
ABC / Disney
Here's a tricky one for US viewers, since Grey's isn't available on Disney+ in the US. However, the viewership is good enough in countries where the streamer DOES carry Grey's that the show managed to trend enough to take the #9 spot. It makes sense; this medical drama is incredibly addictive, and there's nothing quite like bingeing the first couple of seasons.
8. Marvel's What If?
Disney / Marvel
This animated series took a different, slightly less serialized approach to the MCU, instead giving us what appeared to be a bunch of one-offs wondering what our favorite Marvel stories would be like if things had gone slightly differently (for example, what if Peggy Carter got the super soldier serum, or what if Yondu and the Ravagers had picked up T'Challa instead of Peter Quill?). The fun part is that they all tied together in the end, and it seems as though we might actually see some of the storylines reprise in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
7. WandaVision
Disney / Marvel
WandaVision was the first of the Marvel series to premiere on Disney+, and did so very early in 2021. The show's stylistic approach and the story's unraveling mystery hooked viewers and critics alike, making this one of the streamer's most popular original series to date.
6. The Mandalorian
Disney / Everett Collection
Two words: Baby Yoda. This original Star Wars series was a huge hit, and not JUST because of how dang cute Grogu is. Season 1 of the show premiered in 2019, and Season 2 premiered in 2020, so the fact that it was still trending so much throughout 2021 gives you an idea of how popular this show is.
5. Loki
Disney / Marvel
I'll admit that when I first heard there would be a Loki series, I wasn't super excited. I felt like we had already spent a lot of time with this character in the movies and that there wasn't much left to do with him. I was dead wrong. Loki was incredibly fun and boasted a tremendously talented cast too. Oh, and the production design! Incredible!
4. Jessie
Disney Channel / Everett Collection
Somehow, this Disney Channel series that aired from 2011–2015 was one of the most trending series on Disney+ in 2021. Perhaps it was the resurgence of Debby Ryan through TikTok memes? Who knows?
3. Bluey
Disney / ABC Kids
This Australian animated children's series about a high-energy blue heeler puppy (anyone who's met one will know that "high-energy" and "blue heeler" go hand-in-hand) has been a massive hit internationally, and it seems US audiences are catching on through Disney+ as well. It doesn't hurt that Rolling Stone named it one of the top 100 sitcoms of all time last year.
2. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
Disney Junior
Another show that you can put on for the kids for when you need some peace and quiet, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse clearly got a lot of plays on Disney+ in 2021. TikTok trends of people dancing to the theme song probably helped its popularity too.
1. The Simpsons
Fox / Disney
That's right, the #1 show on Disney+ is actually The Simpsons! It makes sense when you think about it: Not only is the show a generation-spanning cultural phenomenon, it's also incredibly bingeable in this form since there are hundreds and hundreds of episodes to watch (more than 700, in fact). I, for one, watched several classic "Treehouse of Horror" episodes during Halloween this year.
Are you surprised by any of these titles? Let us know what you think in the comments!
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