What to watch on Disney Plus in January 2021

The best movies and TV shows hitting the streaming platform include WandaVision, Marvel Studios: Legends, and Earth To Ned

    1 of 2 2 of 2

      Our critics pick the best new movies and TV shows coming to Disney Plus in January 2021.

      WandaVision

      Avengers: Infinity War ended with Paul Bettany’s android Vision being rather violently decommissioned by the genocidal space baddie Thanos…so the trailer for this six-part limited series—which appears to feature Vision and his beloved Wanda Maximoff (Elisabeth Olsen) reunited and starring in what appears to be a riff on American domestic sitcoms—raises any number of questions. Is this the result of Wanda’s reality-bending abilities? Is it an adaptation of Tom King’s game-changing comics run where the Vision creates his own family of synthezoids, only to watch his suburban utopia slide into a living nightmare? Is it all just going to pull back into a snow globe in the hand of a troubled child? Actually, that one seems like a safe bet. January 15

      Marvel Studios: Legends

      Disney is all about the brand, and it never misses a chance to extend its various properties—and Disney+ has a parade of Marvel spinoff series prepped to launch on the service this year. How to prepare people? Clip shows! Specifically, Marvel Studios: Legends, which “serves as an exciting refresher for the various heroes and villains making their way to highly anticipated streaming shows premiering on Disney+, setting the stage for the upcoming adventures.” The first two episodes will focus on Elisabeth Olsen’s Wanda Maximoff and Paul Bettany’s Vision, whose limited series WandaVision premieres this month. January 8

      Disney+/Christopher Willard

      Earth To Ned

      The silliest talk show since Space Ghost: Coast To Coast, this oddball series from the Jim Henson Company is hosted in an underground bunker by an alien named Ned (Paul Rugg) and his faithful right hand Cornelius (Michael Oosterom), who came to Earth as invaders but decided they liked things the way they were. And now they hang out and chat with famous people, because that’s how talk shows work—and we get to watch a bunch of TV stars interact with some really charming puppets. This second wave of 10 episodes dropping on New Year’s Day includes Alyson Hannigan, Ben Feldman, Yvette Nicole Brown, Kevin Smith, D’Arcy Carden, Ben Schwartz, Mayim Bialik, Tig Notaro, and Chef Roy Choi—because why not? January 1

      Dinosaurs

      Speaking of bizarre versions of domestic sitcoms, another Jim Henson Company puppet project is coming to Disney+ this month: the service is adding all four seasons of the early-'90s Dinosaurs, a sitcom about the Sinclairs, a happy nuclear family of five…dinosaurs. It was Henson’s answer to The Simpsons, with its puppet characters (voiced by Stuart Pankin, Jessica Walter, Jason Willinger, Sally Struthers, and Kevin Clash) coping with issues like vegetarianism, civil rights, and ecological consciousness, all with varying degrees of real-world relevance. Best remembered for its unexpectedly bleak final episode, which brought the series—and the age of thunder lizards—to a chilly end. January 29

      Here’s the full list of new titles available on Disney Plus in January 2021 by date:

      Disney Plus originals

      January 1

      Earth To Ned (episodes 11 to 20)

      Extras—Beyond The Clouds: A Firm Handshake 

      January 8

      Extras—Beyond The Clouds: The Anatomy of Emotion

      Marvel Studios: Legends

      January 15

      Extras—Beyond The Clouds: The Concert of a Lifetime 

      WandaVision (premiere)

      January 22

      Extras—Beyond The Clouds: The Finishing Touches

      Pixar Popcorn

      WandaVision (new episode)

      January 29

      Extras—Beyond The Clouds: A Promise Kept

      Simpsons Forever (Faves of January 2021)

      WandaVision (new episode)

      New Library Titles

      January 1

      Mega Hammerhead

      January 8

      Chasing Mavericks

      Star Wars Forces Of Destiny: Volume 1

      Star Wars Forces Of Destiny: Volume 2

      Star Wars Forces Of Destiny: Volume 3

      Star Wars Forces Of Destiny: Volume 4

      January 15

      Disney Elena Of Avalor (season 3)

      Doctor Doolittle 3

      Isle Of Dogs

      Mary Poppins Returns

      January 22

      The Book Of Life

      Drumline

      Flicka: Country Pride

      Flicka 2

      January 29

      Dinosaurs (seasons 1 to 4)

      Ramona And Beezus

      Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. For more information see our disclosures here

      Comments