5 Disney Movies to Watch in August
If the August heat has you camping out in the air conditioned indoors, then do it in style – with a Disney movie on Netflix. Here are five Disney movies to watch to beat the heat. Oh, who are we kidding? Pop a bigger batch of popcorn and binge watch ‘em all before they are gone!
Coco
Coco is a beautiful story based on Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. Miguel is an aspiring musician, but his family that has banned music due to the abandonment of their great-great-grandfather, who was also a musician. While “borrowing” a famous musician’s guitar from his crypt, Miguel is transported to the Land of the Dead and must find a relative who is willing to give him his blessing to return to the living. This movie touches on the themes of family, bravery, passion, and forgiveness. The animation is absolutely stunning and truly shows the unique style of Dia de los Muertos. The songs are fun and emotional, as well as tear-jerky at times. Trust us that this is the perfect movie to watch with your family.
The Princess Diaries
This 2001 film based on the novel of the same name is a household movie among Disney fans. It stars both Anne Hathaway (in her film debut!) and the iconic Julie Andrews, who make quite the comedic duo. The plot centers around Mia Thermopolis, who discovers that her grandmother is not only the Queen of the Kingdom of Genovia, but that she is their heir to the throne. Now Mia has to go from being a plain Jane high school girl to a princess with perfect manners and knowledge of foreign affairs. This movie is hilarious from start to finish and is a great light-hearted flick to put on when you want a good laugh.
Moana
This movie-musical will have the songs stuck in your head for weeks after you finish watching it. Moana is a girl living in the village of Montuini that has been cursed. She wants to leave the island to help bring food to the village, but her father, the island’s chief, forbids it. However, once the ocean chooses Moana to save the island, she sets off to find Maui, a demigod, and restore the heart of the goddess Te Fiti and lift the curse. This film is all about finding the courage to be yourself, follow your dreams, and do what is right. Both Moana and Maui go on life-changing journeys that show the power of claiming your destiny.
Hercules
Hercules is a great movie both to revisit and to enjoy with someone who hasn’t seen it before. It takes inspiration from the stories of the gods, including Hercules. In this film, Hercules is stripped of all his powers but strength at a young age by the evil Hades. He grows up an outcast until he discovers he is actually the son of Zeus, and starts training to both regain his powers and stop Hades from taking over Olympus. This movie has many memorable lines, including; “I think you mean Hunk-ules!” and “I’m a damsel, I’m in distress, I can handle this, have a nice day.” The soundtrack is also a plus, with great songs like “The Gospel Truth,” “Go the Distance,” and “I Won’t Say (I’m In Love).”
Mulan: Mulan is an inspiring Disney movie for those of all ages. It follows the story of Mulan, who is struggling to find a balance between pleasing her family and being her true self. When she discovers that her elderly father must enlist in the army, she decides to disguise herself as a man and take her place. She becomes trained as a soldier and helps to fight off the Huns and save China. Like Hercules, this movie is filled with memorable lines and songs. It also very inspiring as it shows the lengths someone will go to protect their family and country, and also shows that girls are strong and capable of doing anything.
So, what are you waiting for? Are you ready to get out of the heat and watch any of these Disney classics? I am! If you can’t be in the Disney parks, there’s not much better than one of these Disney movies to watch!