Disney Movies 2023 Top New! Jun 2026

: A critically acclaimed romantic comedy from Searchlight Pictures that became a standout on and Disney+ [1, 6]. : A highly-rated Disney Original Movie

Let’s address the tide in the room. Before release, the internet was a storm of hot takes. But when Halle Bailey opened her mouth to sing “Part of Your World,” the ocean went silent. This wasn’t a remake; it was a reclamation. Bailey’s Ariel wasn’t just a girl who wanted legs—she was an explorer, a scientist of the surface, with a voice that felt like sunlight on water. Melissa McCarthy’s Ursula chewed the scenery in the best way possible, and the updated lyrics gave Ariel a fierce agency the 1989 version only hinted at. It landed at #3 not because it was flawed, but because the top two were simply untouchable. disney movies 2023 top

Conversely, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny represents one of the year’s most high-profile disappointments. Despite a massive budget and the return of Harrison Ford, the film struggled to find an audience. Its performance highlighted the risks of revisiting dormant franchises without a clear understanding of how to modernize them for contemporary audiences. While critically decent, it failed to justify its production costs, underscoring the limit of nostalgia as a standalone marketing tool. : A critically acclaimed romantic comedy from Searchlight

worldwide. It played a pivotal role in launching Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe by introducing the villain Kang the Conqueror. Celebrating "Disney100" But when Halle Bailey opened her mouth to

For a while, it felt like the Disney magic was running on fumes. But 2023? 2023 was a comeback story written in starlight. It was the year animation found its soul again, and live-action stopped being a cash grab and started being art. Let’s break down the top three films that made us laugh, cry, and believe in wishes again.

| Film | Studio/Label | Release Date (US) | Short summary | Box-office & reception | Key cast/creative | Why it mattered | |---|---:|---:|---|---:|---|---| | Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania | Marvel Studios | Feb 17, 2023 | Third Ant-Man film; Scott Lang faces Kang the Conqueror and multiversal stakes. | Huge global gross for a Phase 5 opener; mixed-to-positive reviews focusing on spectacle and villain. | Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Jonathan Majors (Kang); dir. Peyton Reed | Introduced Kang as MCU multiverse antagonist with major franchise consequences. | | The Little Mermaid (live-action) | Walt Disney Pictures | May 26, 2023 | Live-action remake of the 1989 animated classic, centered on Ariel. | Very strong box office; polarized critical reaction but praised for performances and musical moments. | Halle Bailey (Ariel), Melissa McCarthy, Javier Bardem; dir. Rob Marshall | High-profile remake—commercial success and cultural conversation on casting and modernization. | | Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny | Lucasfilm | June 30, 2023 | Final outing for Indiana Jones (franchise send-off); treasure-hunt adventure with time-related MacGuffin. | Major release with substantial box office but mixed reviews; noted as Harrison Ford’s swan song. | Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge; dir. James Mangold | End of an era for the iconic franchise; bittersweet fanfare. | | Elemental | Pixar Animation Studios | June 16, 2023 | Romantic/dramatic story set in a city where people are embodiments of elements (Fire, Water, Earth, Air). | Solid box office and generally positive reviews for visual worldbuilding and emotional core. | Voices: Leah Lewis, Mamoudou Athie; dir. Peter Sohn | Original-concept Pixar with emphasis on community, identity, and empathy. | | The Marvels | Marvel Studios | Nov 10, 2023 | Sequel/ensemble linking Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, and Monica Rambeau with cosmic threats. | Strong brand visibility; mixed critical reception and uneven box-office vs. expectations. | Brie Larson, Iman Vellani, Teyonah Parris; dir. Nia DaCosta | Expanded MCU cosmic roster and introduced character-team dynamics. | | Wish | Walt Disney Animation Studios | Nov 22, 2023 | Original animated musical exploring the origin of the “wishing star,” blending classic Disney musical elements with modern sensibilities. | Positive to mixed reviews; noted for stylized animation and homage to Disney’s legacy. | Voices: Ariana DeBose; dir. Chris Buck & Fawn Veerasunthorn | Disney Animation’s centennial-era celebration of franchise themes and visuals. | | Strange World | Walt Disney Animation Studios | Nov 23, 2022 (limited late 2022) — notable in early 2023 discussions | (Included because it influenced 2023 Disney animation discourse) Adventure in an unknown world; family legacy themes. | Underperformed theatrically but gained niche fan appreciation. | Voices: Jake Gyllenhaal; dir. Don Hall | Example of Disney taking creative risks in animation storytelling. |

: A direct-to-streaming live-action remake that offered a nuanced perspective on the classic Neverland story [13, 22].