13 Best History Movies on Disney Plus 2026
Explore the top Disney Plus picks for history lovers, from Miracle and Hamilton to Red Tails, with family-friendly and dramatic stories to stream now.
If you want movies on Disney Plus that mix real events, big performances, and easy rewatch value, this list gives you a strong place to start. You’ll find crowd-pleasers like Miracle, Secretariat, and Cool Runnings, plus more ambitious picks such as Hamilton and Red Tails. There are also behind-the-scenes stories like Waking Sleeping Beauty and newer additions like The Happiest Place on Earth and Swiped, which help the lineup feel current as of September 2026. With drama, biography, sport, family viewing, and history all in the mix, these titles offer something for different moods and ages.
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01
Miracle
biography · drama · history · sport
When college coach Herb Brooks is hired to helm the 1980 U.S. men's Olympic hockey team, he brings a unique and brash style to the ice. After assembling a team of hot-headed college all-stars, who are humiliated in an early match, Brooks unites his squad against a common foe: the heavily-favored Soviet team.
Directed by Gavin O'ConnorCast Kurt Russell, Patricia Clarkson, Noah Emmerich, Sean McCann, Kenneth WelshNetflixHuluDisney Plus -
02
Secretariat
biography · drama · family · history · sport
Housewife and mother Penny Chenery agrees to take over her ailing father's Virginia-based Meadow Stables, despite her lack of horse-racing knowledge. Against all odds, Chenery - with the help of veteran trainer Lucien Laurin - manages to navigate the male-dominated business, ultimately fostering the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years.
Directed by Randall WallaceCast Diane Lane, John Malkovich, Dylan Walsh, Margo Martindale, Nelsan EllisDisney Plus -
03
Hamilton
biography · drama · history · musical
Presenting the tale of American founding father Alexander Hamilton, this filmed version of the original Broadway smash hit is the story of America then, told by America now.
Directed by Thomas KailCast Daveed Diggs, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Jonathan Groff, Chris Jackson, Jasmine Cephas JonesDisney Plus -
04
Cool Runnings
adventure · comedy · family · history · sport
When a Jamaican sprinter is disqualified from the Olympic Games, he enlists the help of a dishonored coach to start the first Jamaican bobsled team.
Directed by Jon TurteltaubCast Leon, Doug E. Doug, Rawle D. Lewis, Malik Yoba, John CandyDisney Plus -
05
Red Tails
action · drama · history · war
The story of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African-American pilots to fly in a combat squadron during World War II.
Directed by Anthony HemingwayCast Terrence Howard, Cuba Gooding Jr., Nate Parker, David Oyelowo, Tristan Mack WildsDisney Plus -
06
The Happiest Place on Earth
documentary · history
The documentary shows how the park's teams have created a new coaster, explored water, and debuted Luminous The Symphony of Us, the next legacy in nighttime spectaculars.
Directed by David Gordon GreenDisney Plus -
07
Waking Sleeping Beauty
documentary · drama · history
By the mid-1980s, the fabled animation studios of Walt Disney had fallen on hard times. The artists were polarized between newcomers hungry to innovate and old timers not yet ready to relinquish control. These conditions produced a series of box-office flops and pessimistic forecasts: maybe the best days of animation were over. Maybe the public didn't care. Only a miracle or a magic spell could produce a happy ending. Waking Sleeping Beauty is no fairy tale. It's the true story of how Disney regained its magic with a staggering output of hits - "Little Mermaid," "Beauty and the Beast ," "Aladdin," "The Lion King," and more - over a 10-year period.
Directed by Don HahnCast Don Hahn, Roger Rose, Corey Burton, Christopher EmersonDisney Plus -
08
Swiped
biography · drama · history
Whitney Wolfe uses extraordinary grit and ingenuity to break into the male-dominated tech industry.
Directed by Rachel Lee GoldenbergCast Lily James, Ben Schnetzer, Myha'la, Jackson White, Dan StevensHuluDisney Plus -
09
The Finest Hours
action · drama · history · thriller
The Coast Guard makes a daring rescue attempt off the coast of Cape Cod after a pair of oil tankers are destroyed during a blizzard in 1952.
Directed by Craig GillespieCast Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster, Eric Bana, Holliday GraingerDisney Plus -
10
Sea of Shadows
documentary · crime · history
The vaquita, the world’s smallest whale, is nearing extinction as its habitat is destroyed by Mexican cartels and the Chinese Mafia, who harvest the totoaba fish, the “cocaine of the sea.” Environmental activists, the Mexican navy, and undercover investigators are fighting back against this illegal multimillion-dollar business.
Directed by Richard Ladkani, Sean Bogle, Matthew PodolskyCast Carlos LoretDisney Plus -
11
Apollo: Missions to the Moon
documentary · history
The Apollo space program: 12 manned-missions, one impossible goal. With rare archival footage and audio, this remarkable documentary sheds new light on an incredible time in human history.
Directed by Tom JenningsCast Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, Frank Borman, Walter Cronkite, Jim LovellDisney Plus -
12
Clotilda: Last American Slave Ship
documentary · history
This new documentary special is about the most intact slave shipwreck found to date and the only one for which we know the full story of the voyage, the passengers and their descendants.
Cast Sylviane Diouf, Natalie S. Robertson, Mary Elliott, James P. Delgado, Stacye HathornDisney Plus -
13
Newsies
drama · family · history · musical
A week in the life of the exploited, child newspaper sellers in turn-of-the-century New York. When their publisher, Joseph Pulitzer, tries to squeeze a little more profit out of their labours, they organize a strike, only to be confronted with the Pulitzer's hard-ball tactics.
Directed by Kenny OrtegaCast Christian Bale, David Moscow, Luke Edwards, Max Casella, Gabriel DamonDisney Plus
Wrapping Up
This roundup brings together films and specials that make history feel vivid, entertaining, and easy to stream. Whether you want a sports comeback, a music-led stage adaptation, or a true story with studio-insider detail, Disney Plus has plenty worth your time. Bookmark this page if you’re narrowing down what to watch next, since it’s updated regularly to reflect the current lineup. It’s a simple way to keep track of the strongest options without having to search from scratch each time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often is this list updated?
We refresh this list regularly as titles are added or removed from streaming catalogs, so rankings and availability stay current.
Do I need a Disney Plus subscription to watch these?
Yes — every title on this list is currently available on Disney Plus. Availability can change, so we recommend checking the streaming link on each title before you start watching.
How are these history movies ranked?
We rank by a combination of audience rating and current popularity, so you're seeing the history titles people are actually watching right now, not just an old fixed list.
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Last updated: September 4, 2026