20 Best History TV Shows on Disney Plus 2026
Find 20 Disney Plus picks that mix history, documentary, action, and comedy, from The Beatles: Get Back to Renegade Nell and beyond.
If you’re hunting for the best history TV shows on Disney Plus, this list brings together big-world storytelling, sharp documentaries, and character-driven drama. You’ll find modern standouts like The Beatles: Get Back, Behind the Attraction, and Drain the Ocean: WWII, alongside newer picks such as Renegade Nell, Whiskey on the Rocks, and The Breslau Murders. The mix stretches from comedy and adventure to serious history, so there’s something here whether you want a deep dive or a lighter binge. Titles like Strangest Things and Ancient X-Files also add a fun, curious edge for viewers who like history with a mystery twist. With 20 picks on the page, it’s easy to match your mood and start watching.
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01
Behind the Attraction
documentary · history
Learn how popular Disney attractions and destinations came to be, how they have changed over time, and how fans continue to obsess over them.
Directed by Brian Volk-WeissCast Paget BrewsterDisney Plus -
02
Strangest Things
documentary · history
From a piece of meteorite found in Tutankhamun's tomb to the Crown of Thorns, explore some of the most perplexing and unusual objects lying hidden away in museums, laboratories and storage rooms.
Directed by Billie PinkCast Corey Johnson, Ruth Goodman, Kevin Macdonald, Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Keon WestHuluDisney PlusMax -
03
Renegade Nell
action · adventure · comedy · crime · drama · fantasy · history
England, 1705: Framed for murder and on the run with her sisters, Nell Jackson turns her hand to highway robbery to survive. Aided by her superpowered sidekick, a plucky little sprite called Billy Blind, Nell realizes that fate has put her on the wrong side of the law for a reason. A reason much bigger than she could have ever imagined: to defeat a magical plot against the Queen of England.
Directed by Amanda Brotchie, MJ Delaney, Ben TaylorCast Louisa Harland, Frank Dillane, Alice Kremelberg, Enyi Okoronkwo, Bo BragasonDisney Plus -
04
Whiskey on the Rocks
biography · comedy · drama · history · war
Inspired by the events of the 11-day standoff in 1981 between Sweden and the U.S.S.R. when a Soviet U-137 'Whiskey'-class submarine ran aground on rocks deep inside Swedish territorial waters.
Directed by Björn SteinCast Rolf Lassgård, Anders Mossling, Artur Svorobovich, Kęstutis Jakštas, Andrius BialobžeskisHuluDisney Plus -
05
The Breslau Murders
crime · drama · history
Police officer Franz Podolsky investigates a horrifying murder.
Directed by Leszek DawidCast Agata Kulesza, Karolina Gruszka, Sandra Drzymalska, Tomasz Schuchardt, Przemyslaw BluszczHuluDisney Plus -
06
The Beatles: Get Back
documentary · biography · history · music
The three-part documentary series, compiled from over 60 hours of unseen footage, captures the warmth, camaraderie, and creative genius that defined the legacy of music's most iconic foursome. The series also includes – for the first time in its entirety – The Beatles' final performance at London's Savile Row.
Directed by Peter Jackson, Michael Lindsay-HoggCast John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Denis O'DellDisney Plus -
07
Drain the Ocean: WWII
documentary · history
What lies beneath the ocean? World War Two left a great number of ships and submarines hidden beneath the waves. Now, as the oceans drain, each vessel reveals its secrets through new data-based 3D reconstructions. From the Arizona in Pearl Harbour’s shallows, whose destruction brought America into the war, to Nazi super ship the Bismarck and its mysterious end three miles down. From the flaming merchant ships secretly torpedoed by U-boats off tourist beaches of the USA, to the covert inventions of the Allies' costly D-Day beachhead, and lastly to the troopship Leopoldville sunk with the needless deaths of 400 soldiers. Drain The Ocean exposes the truth.
Directed by Mike SleeCast Russell BoulterDisney Plus -
08
Ancient X-Files
documentary · history
Ancient X Files travels around the world to solve some intriguing riddles. Each story is a piece of detective work by an expert trying to make sense of some puzzling ancient artefact, to find the truth behind some extraordinary legend, to discover the origins of a bizarre myth or to establish the authenticity of a venerated religious relic. This series explores the bits of archaeology and history which seem to defy explanation.
Our experts are following chains of clues and putting theories to the test, in an effort to explain the unexplained. Ancient X Files investigates claims about the whereabouts of the lost Ark of the Covenant; attempts to establish the authenticity of a cup some believe to be the Holy Grail; tries to de-code the mysterious Phaistos disc; investigates a cloth which is believed to carry traces of the DNA of Jesus Christ; and deciphers an encrypted book of alchemy written by the great Sir Isaac Newton.
Directed by Jon Stephens, Richard Max, John Blystone, Rory Griffin, Will HicklinCast Chris PorterDisney Plus -
09
Destruction Decoded
documentary · history
This series will go back through the record to explore life-altering, earth-shattering, unforgettable events using a combination of carefully selected archive, cutting edge CGI and informative scripting in this popular science format. As well as exploring spectacular archive, illustrating the full toll these disasters can take, we'll dig into the science behind each event, shining a light on the most fascinating elements and giving an understanding on how and why these events occur.
Directed by Guilain DepardieuCast Dan NachtrabAmazon Prime VideoDisney PlusFreeveeMax -
10
The Murky Stream
action · drama · history
The fates of a man with a hidden past, a wise and just woman, and an upright man intertwine.
Directed by Choo Chang-minCast Kim Ro-Woon, Shin Ye-eun, Park Seoham, Choi Young-woo, Jo Hyun-wooHuluDisney Plus -
11
The Lions of Sicily
drama · history · romance
Follow brothers Paolo and Ignazio, two small spice merchants who have escaped from a Calabria stuck in the past in search of social redemption. In Sicily they invent a future, turning a small, run-down shop into a flourishing business that young Vincenzo, with his revolutionary ideas, will transform into an economic empire.
Directed by Paolo GenoveseCast Michele Riondino, Miriam Leone, Donatella Finocchiaro, Liz Burnette, Emmanuele AitaHuluDisney Plus -
12
Pirates: Behind the Legends
documentary · biography · history
From legendary John Ward, immortalized in fiction as Jack Sparrow, and English explorer Francis Drake; branded Pirates by their enemies but heroes by their comrades, to the notorious Pirates of the Caribbean shrouded in myth.
Directed by Daniel SharpCast Billy Boyd, Alex Borton, Jürgen Koenen, Tim Cartwright, Rory WiltonDisney Plus -
13
Light & Magic
documentary · history
When George Lucas set out to make Star Wars, little did he know he would end up revolutionizing an industry. This is the story of a team of creative geniuses who put the magic in the movies we love.
Directed by Lawrence Kasdan, Joe JohnstonCast Deborah ChowDisney Plus -
14
Lost Treasures of Egypt
documentary · history
An immersive, action-packed and discovery-led series following International teams of Egyptologists as they unearth the world's richest seam of ancient archaeology - Egypt's Valley of the Kings.
Directed by Gwyn Williams, Ian Glatt, Nicholas Frend, Stuart Powell, Henry FraserCast Julian Barratt, Rick Robles, Maite Mascort Roca, Esta Pons Mellado, Mark LehnerHuluDisney Plus -
15
Lost Cities with Albert Lin
documentary · history
Utilizing ground-penetrating radar, LiDar and 3D scanning, Lin will work with boots-on-the-ground archaeologists to discover and re-create unexcavated worlds still hidden beneath the earth.
Directed by Mike Slee, Renny Bartlett, Russell England, Matthew Thompson, Ben CrichtonDisney Plus -
16
Drain the Oceans: Deep Dive
history
Maritime mysteries—old and new—come to life in this series, combining scientific data and digital re-creations to reveal shipwrecks, treasures, and sunken cities on the bottom of lakes, seas and oceans around the world.
Directed by Anthony Barwell, Marc Tiley, Sophie Elwin-Harris, Michael Davies, Alex WestHuluDisney Plus -
17
Buried Secrets of the Bible with Albert Lin
documentary · history
Albert Lin investigates two great stories of the Bible: Could real events lie behind the parting of the Red Sea and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah?
Directed by Matthew Thompson, Nigel WalkCast Albert Yu-Min LinDisney Plus -
18
Becoming
documentary · biography · drama · family · history · sport
The origin stories of 10 athletes, entertainers, and musicians. Each episode centers around a visit to the celebrity’s hometown, touring important locations central to their upbringing. A supporting cast of family members, coaches, teachers, mentors and friends are interviewed, sharing rarely heard anecdotes and insights into the star’s “becoming” story.
Directed by Dan HowlettCast Colbie Caillat, Caleb McLaughlinDisney Plus -
19
Expedition Amelia
documentary · history
Explorer Robert Ballard sets out to solve the mystery of Amelia Earhart's disappearance as he and a team of experts travel to the remote Pacific atoll named Nikumaroro in search of her final resting place.
Directed by Chad CohenCast Max Roll, Columbia McCalebDisney Plus -
20
Marvel 75 Years: From Pulp to Pop!
documentary · history
In celebration of the publisher's 75th anniversary, the hour-long special will take a detailed look at the company's journey from fledgling comics publisher to multi-media juggernaut. Hosted by Emily VanCamp (S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Sharon Carter), the documentary-style feature will include interviews with comic book icons, pop culture authorities, and Hollywood stars. The special also promises an "extraordinary peek into Marvel's future!" Might Marvel release the first official footage from next year's Avengers: Age of Ultron or Ant-Man? If they do, you'll know about it here.
Directed by Zak KnutsonCast Emily VanCamp, Stan Lee, Hayley Atwell, Scarlett Johansson, Nicole PerlmanDisney Plus
Wrapping Up
This roundup makes it easier to find historical series and specials that actually hold your attention, whether you prefer real events, behind-the-scenes stories, or genre blends with a historical backdrop. From The Beatles: Get Back to Drain the Ocean: WWII, the lineup covers a wide range of eras, tones, and viewing styles. Bookmark this page if you like having a reliable watchlist ready, because it’s updated regularly as new releases arrive and older favorites stay relevant. Come back whenever you want a fresh idea for your next Disney Plus queue.
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 shows 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 11, 2026